This book keeps you gripped in from the outset and lots of questions added throughout. I couldn't put this down!

Jasper and Holly go to his brother, Edmund's house to help him celebrate their engagement. His friend John and his wife Anna come along too. But when they get there, a surprise awaits. It seems that Edmund has a secret relationship with Jasper's ex, Ovidia. All six have secrets and tonight is the time of reckoning.
I am not sure about this debut story from Agatha Zaza. It's certainly un unusual. It is a study in relationships and how even great relationships are not as perfect as they may seem. The narrative takes place over one day and by the end, nothing will be the same.
Does the book make you think? Yes.
Is it a comfortable story? No.
Will it shock you? Possibly.
Does everything get resolved at the end? No and I think that although the stories of the six people affect each other going forward, there is not much hope.
Thanks Netgallery for ARC for an honest review

This book had me from the first page...and kept me until the end. It is a tragic tail of relationships, deceit, family, abuse, and love. 3 couples spend an unexpected day together as the story twists and turns and unravels. The reader is unable to put the book down trying to solve the tragedy of the character’s lives.

I love a novel where everyone has secrets and that you know it’s going to end with it all being out there in the open. This is that novel. Well worth a read and as a debut can’t wait to read more.

This is a taut psychological drama about lies, sibling connection and betrayals. Set in one place (Edmund’s soulless mansion) and on one day (unannounced guests arriving to celebrate an engagement) it has the intensity of a well-written play where drop by drop hidden truths are unveiled and the characters’ worlds are irrevocably shaken. The pace of the novel is good, with drama from the offset quickly segueing to the uninvited party, the tensions that follow, and deftly woven in backstories. I found it gripping and enjoyable, but one to avoid if you’re in the mood for some cheering up!

I’m not one to give up halfway through a book but I have conceded defeat on this one.. I found it really slow going and the ‘secret’ between Edmund and Ovidia became orating rather than intriguing as it dragged on and on. I stopped reading at Chapter 14.
I was curious what the link between Jasper and Ovidia but not enough to read on. I was also confused about why Anne and John were dragged along on this impromptu visit to Edmund’s house to
announce an engagement,
The characters seemed nice enough and I felt a bit annoyed that I couldn’t get to know them a bit better.. I think I would have liked both Holly and Ovidia but couldn’t warm to Jasper at all.
Sorry but this wasn’t for me.

Sorry this book was not my cup of tea. I could not get interested in the characters at all.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I could not get into this book at all. I really tried but it was just so slow with not nice characters. Sorry could not finish it#ThePretenders#NetGalley

Sorry I couldn't like this book or really get into it. I was aware it was well written, it was just the subject matter and the characters I couldn't warm to or care about.

For me, this was a difficult book to get into. It was mainly about Ovidia and her relationship with two brothers, Jasper and Edmung. Bit players are Jasper's fiancee Holly and friends John and Anne. The story explores secrets, domestic violence, adultery and lies, amongst other things. I find it difficult to see why anyone would like Ovidia let alone put up with her behaviour! I didn't really warm to any of the characters and it seemed to take an age to find out what was really going on. On the other hand, I did keep reading to the end to find out what the secrets were!

So Ovidia and Edmund live together but she still has her flat across the street. When the novel begins, it’s obvious that all is not well with this couple. His brother Jasper decides to pay him a visit one Saturday morning with his brand new fiancé, Holly, and their close friends John and Anne. Talk about incredibly bad timing for a random and unannounced visit!

So let me start with my criticism, but mind you, it’s minimal. This book started out incredibly boring for me. I started reading it and put it down several times to watch t.v., which I never do. However, if you give it a little bit to warm up, it’s so worth it.

Moving on to what I love about this book – pretty much everything except for the slow start. I have read books by authors that have been writing for years or even decades that can’t develop their characters as thoroughly as Agatha Zaza. Mind you, I really have no clue what anyone looked like in this book except for Ovidia, but she painted a beautiful and painful picture of each of their souls, making me feel all of their emotions right along with them.

The Pretenders is a slow burn novel, but painfully so. As soon as the two couples show up at Edmund and Ovidia’s home, you immediately know that there is going to be tension and discomfort. But she reveals everything in very careful layers that are completely unexpected. I hate spoilers so I am trying my best to hold my tongue, but this author addresses a seldom discussed and almost taboo topic concerning Ovidia that I feel is long overdue. Ovidia and Edmund have some major issues. John and Anne have some major issues. And then there is Jasper and Holly’s relationship that by the end, almost seemed to be an afterthought.

This novel is a character study involving lies, charades, masks that we wear, and the difficult moments of removing those masks. It begs the question of, “how well do we really know our family and our friends?” Even more important however, is the question, “how much are we willing to overlook concerning the ones that we love?” This book contains just about every screwed up issue you can think of. There’s emotional and physical abuse, miscarriages, death, eating disorders, co-dependence, adultery, depression, and so much more. However, I can say without pause, that The Pretenders is one of the best things I have read this year.

I cannot fathom how this debut author can improve with her next novel, but she is certainly someone I would consider an author to watch and I cannot wait to see what else she brings us in the future. Take a chance on this new author and give this one time to settle in. It’s not a HEA novel but one that you should read. 5 amazing and enthusiastic stars!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Quite honestly I'm not sure how to rate this book cause I went in thinking this was a Mystery/Thriller and for me it wasn't. So 3 STARS because it was a decent read but not the genre I prefer to read.

This is not the type book I usually read. I’m partial to domestic thrillers, a bit of blood & whatnot. Had thought this was one. It wasn’t but glad I read it. It was deep, emotional & an unusual read. There was a bit of mystery....you never knew exactly what had previously transpired until the end. The only part about the end was that I wanted to know what happened afterwards. It is a great & moving read & I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This one wasn't for me. unfortunately. I didn't get on with any of the characters and the whole set-up felt somewhat forced. The slow drip feed of mini-revelations didn't give the story enough momentum, although the issues covered are obviously very important ones that deserve further exploration..

The Pretenders is set over the course of one day and follows six people who are all currently in the same house. Their lives are all interlinked in some way, yet it appears that most of them have secrets of some sort that they want to keep hidden. I initially thought this was quite a clever book the way it was written and with the different characters that were all feeding in but after I short while I found the book completely lacked pace that wasn’t picked up until the very end. Sorry but it wasn’t one for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Agora Books and the author for the chance to review.

A very different compelling story of six people including two brothers both attracted to the same woman! Their shared history takes place in Edmund’s house and I was soon deeply involved in the intrigue, the deceit and the psychological complications of the relationships. Once I started I found I needed to keep reading until the end. I was not disappointed.

I enjoyed this book. The author weaves the characters and their lives together well. The secrets the characters are hiding are revealed gradually through the book, and the impact this has on the others is explored perfectly. A great read

I really did not like this at all. It rambles on, giving hints at secrets to be revealed but not revealing them, It all happens within a day and you have to live through every tedious minute, with descriptions of the house and it's extensions; clothing choices; social media posts and lots of drinking from 10am.!! There are half conversations and flashbacks which do not explain much. It is miserable from start to finish and the characters are sketchy. Very poor.

Wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was pleasantly surprised. The ploy was really good and not what I was expecting. Lots of twists and turns to keep the pages turning.

Ms Zaza has written a taunt, dark thriller that found its way inside my head and seeped deep into my bones.

Ovidia is a character who I thought about long after I had finished the book.

Ms Zaza your ending is haunting, but absolutely perfect.

This is Agatha Zaza’s debut novel, but she certainly knows her craft and I just hope she has a second novel in the pipeline.