I really wanted to like this! I thought it had so much potential and gave off a Gossip Girl esque to a time that I think we're missing of dramatic dramas of rich people...that arent like Succession. I was really rooting for Ren, the main girl, the whole time, but we were about 50% into the book and she had no redemption or like backbone scene of finding her voice or just her character...and while she was giving nothing...neither was the plot. It definitely was a book about the rich but mostly just envious of them and more negative. If I wanted to read about negativity in upper class communities, I would turn on any daytime newscast.

This was okay. It was more about the rich and being envious of them. Ren was an interesting character but it took a long time for her to find herself even a little bit. This a for sure a character driven novel which I enjoy but I guess I thought some shady stuff was going to happen.

This is not formatted properly and makes it difficult to read on a Kindle. I recommend checking the eBooks for formatting to make sure they appear on the Kindle properly.

“I felt like a runaway, ambling from one place to the next, each experience, each destination shockingly impermanent.”

“The Art of Pretend,” by Lauren Kuhl

Ren has complicated feelings about her best friend Etta. Etta showers Ren with her wealth and has great connections. When Etta suddenly moved to Barcelona, Ren must learn to live without her. Etta’s brother Archer keeps finding reasons to see Ren as their relationship grows and gets more complicated.

I loved the envy of wealth of being a social climber and relying on the good graces of the wealthy friends she knows. Ren’s feelings were confused which was relatable about wanting to fit in but also getting irritated with the sway of the people around her. Ren has serious separation anxiety. It’s a good forbidden love romance that’s really complicated. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

A character driven novel about a woman who has hitched herself to a wealthy friend. Ren has doggedly followed Etta for years- and to be honest Etta more or less encouraged it- but Etta's left New York and Ren's in a quandary. Can she. should she have the same relationship with Etta's brother Archer? I kept waiting for something awful to happen (it doesn't) and ultimately realized that this is more about class and obsession but without the bad stuff. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd like to see more from Kuhl.

Ren has a complicated relationship with her best friend Etta. They come from different walks of life and value different things. When Etta moves away, Ren moves into her apartment and starts spending time with her brother, painter Archer.

This was an interesting one. I was fully invested in this story. I liked Ren and was rooting for her the entire time. Etta always rubbed me the wrong way, but she was written that way. The relationship between Ren and Archer was interesting. They ran the line of a situationship for a long time and I was happy when they finally got together for real. But their relationship was a complicated one. Overall, I think I wanted more of a conflict than just Ren trying to navigate in a world she didn't feel like she belonged in.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

In Lauren Kuhl’s debut novel The Art of Pretend, protagonist Ren is a bit of a lost soul. Her apartment is less desirable, her job is thankless, and her love life is unrequited; this is not the life she envisioned when she graduated from NYU.

Ren wants more out of life, but it is hard to find the motivation, and it does not help she has been stuck being her best friend Etta’s shadow since college. When Etta leaves for Barcelona, Ren finds herself lost and lonely and latches on to the next best thing: Etta’s brother Archer. As their relationship deepens, Ren finds herself unsure of what she wants, and at risk of losing everything.

This is a bit reminiscent of early Bret Easton Ellis (but without (most of) the sex and drugs), with the brooding tone of overprivileged intellectuals who lack self-awareness. As a result, the reader feels invested in characters who are either not the most likable (Etta) or too aloof (Archer). This is likely the result of Ren being the sole narrator; it would have been more compelling and added more depth had Etta and Archer’s points of view also been shared.

While the plot moves slowly, it is well-written and a solid debut. Kuhl captures the environment well, and fans of Saltburn and Gossip Girl will appreciate the atmosphere she creates. It will be interesting to see what Kuhl does next.

Page turning story and the cover give it the thriller aspect needed to pill you in ,
friendship, wealth and power, art and ambition—and the stories we tell ourselves and others to get what we want.

The Art of Pretend by Lauren Kuhl is a captivating exploration of class, friendship, and desire. This intriguing novel delves into the lives of the super-rich in the art world of New York City, where the ambitions of Kuhl's characters inevitably clash in their pursuit of power. Through the art of pretending, the complexities hidden beneath the surface are exposed, making for a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

I wanted to like this. I really, really wanted to like this.

But....nothing happened? In this entire book? I still have no idea what the conflict or the point of it was, if I'm being honest.

The first 50% of the book is Ren being jealous of Etta and her wealth/connections/life/wanting to be her while simultaneously wanting to hide in the shadows. Then Etta leaves, and she basically becomes her, then it ends.

The book is well written, just....doesn't have any plot? No conflict other than Ren making Etta mad every time she opens her mouth. There were half a dozen ways this could have gone to create an interesting story using these same characters and the same idea but instead it went nowhere. It felt like I was sitting at the beach in the Hamptons listening to rich people talk for 4 hours, then everyone got up in left with no conclusion to the conversation.

I can't even write a full review on this one because it was so flat. The characters ranged from one to three dimensional depending on the page, but each time they started to become well rounded and have a new thought the conversation ended and that flew away.

I don't know, maybe this just wasn't as "for me" as the blurb made me think it was, but I was bored. Which is a shame, because this had potential to be A Simple Favor-esque.

I was invited to read an ARC of this book and after reading the synopsis I decided to give it a try. It sounded like a good summertime read and I was hoping it would get me out of a little reading slump.

The book started out good and I was quickly absorbed into the NYC lives of Ren and her rich friend Etta. I thought this was indeed the book that would get me out of my slump. But then....

This book seemed to go nowhere. I've heard of slow burn books but this book barely smoked. It was the same thing over and over. Ren followed who she was supposed to, whether it was Etta or Archer, to whatever event they were going to. Then she basically seemed ignored everytime when they chose their rich friends over her. I got bored quickly with this and kept hoping for something or anything to happen.

The climax of the book fell flat too. I won't say anything so as not to spoil for future readers but it kind of made sense but still wasn't very climatic.

Maybe I am too old for this book. I got tired of reading about rich people who did absolutely nothing but party and mingle and look down on Ren. But at the same time I couldn't really have much empathy for her. She kept putting up with it while seeming blind to it happening. Again, maybe I'm just too old for this type of story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

I was really excited to get approved for the ARC of this book. I think this was a great debut for Lauren Kuhl! This book had a little of everything. Forbidden love, best friend’s brother, Rich MMC and ‘poor’ FMC, struggles with identity and a New York setting.

Our FMC Ren finds her identity through her wealthy best friend Etta while living in New York. When Etta leave for Baraclona, Ren’s identity is in crisis. Ren begins to live in Etta’s apartment and be in the orbit of Etta’s brother, Archer. They start to fall for each other and everything is at stake.

This gave me a “talented Mr.Ripley” vibe minus the murder. I read this book very quickly. It is a character driven book, not plot. So if you favor plot over character development this one might not be for you.

A synopsis from the publisher; "A tantalizing debut about a woman drawn into the orbit of her friend's wealthy artist family in New York City and the complications and consequences that arise when she embarks on a secret relationship with the golden-boy older brother

Ren loves and hates Etta, her best friend since they met at NYU nearly a decade ago. Etta defines Ren's New York. She lavishes her with designer hand-me-downs and takes her along to parties at trust fund lofts and Hamptons estates. But when Etta moves to Barcelona with no warning, Ren is left to face who she is without her, her unremarkable life of shoebox apartment, thankless job, and estranged family.

Enter Archer, Etta’s older brother, whom Ren’s always been infatuated with. In his sister’s absence, suddenly he’s inviting Ren to visit his art gallery, to prestigious galas, on weekend trips with his friends to Amagansett. Archer’s interest makes Ren feel alive in whole new ways, but she knows Etta can't find out. As their relationship intensifies, so does her unease. If it all blows up, who will she be on the other side?

Set over a heady New York summer, The Art of Pretend is an alluring novel about wealth, power, art, ambition—and the stories and lies we tell others and ourselves."

With class differences and New York being a huge theme in this book, I do love the way Lauren Kuhl shows the reader the depths of it with the descriptions of places and the attitudes she give main and background characters. If there is anything that comes to mind when thinking about a story taking place in New York, I feel opulence and snobbery do come front in mind.

If readers grew up loving Gossip Girl and reality shows like The Hills or even the Real Housewives they will love this book. There is drama galore and I loved every single second of it.

Dive into the intoxicating world of "The Art of Pretend," a captivating debut novel by Lauren Kuhl. Ren finds herself entangled in the glamorous lifestyle of her friend Etta's wealthy artist family in New York City. When she begins a secret romance with Etta's older brother, Archer, Ren is torn between desire and the fear of discovery. As their relationship deepens, Ren grapples with questions of identity and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant New York summer, this novel explores themes of wealth, power, ambition, and the masks we wear in our relationships and personal narratives.

Art is a lie that makes us realize truth. —Pablo Picasso

rating: 4.25

sweetbitter x saltburn (minus the murder and grotesque grave humping lol)

this was an intriguing read. while the plot follows a secret budding romance between the protagonist ren and her best friend's older brother, archer, the themes are very much centered on wealth, power, class, and the effects of all of the above on intrapersonal relationships.

"Etta was my best friend, but in getting involved with her brother, I would be too close to her equal. She wouldn’t like that."

ren is quiet, timid, and self-depracating; she follows her best friend etta, admiring her boldness but knows she doesn't fit into etta's upper society world. while etta is away, she flounders on where they stand as friends; ren feels guilty for the secret tryst that develops between her and archer, but at the same time recognizes the power trips and callousness etta holds over her, comparing it to the dealings with her boss natalie.

"I felt very alone, very ordinary, and like I might never amount to anything. Did all people feel this way? Like you might never be enough?"

reading this reminded me so much of the instability and insecurity of being in your 20s, especially in a big city; the constant feelings of identity crisis coupled with the panic of what am i doing with my life / will i ever be able to do what i truly want to do? there's a sympathy i can extend to ren, etta, and archer in regards to that tumultuousness.

“But art is a risk. And risk is inherent to anything you truly care about.”

i enjoyed the writing itself as well. while there is some fun designer or luxury namedropping and descriptions to luxuriate over, kuhl focuses more on the subtle microtells between characters and complex dynamics. these characters felt very real to me. i think of the scene when ren's mother plum approaches ren to investigate the celine sunglasses. it's one of kuhl's many examples of the unspoken rules of behavior in upper class society; subtle confrontation, quiet luxury but extreme possessiveness over their belongings, the quiet smirks of response to faux pas while offering a patronizing grace. reminders that while you might be hanging around, you'll never belong.

"Etta was being thoughtful, but her actions felt rooted in something else. Something like control."

"How money was power, and power was the only currency that would ever really matter."

toxic relationships are certainly centered: ren's parental relationships, her examination of etta and archer's relationships to their aloof parents, ren's respective dynamic to etta and archer each contrasted to her work husband jeff. but there is also some reflection on the struggles as an artist; how to balance art and actually making a living, how capitalizing on art affects the process and satisfaction, the legitimacy of the identity of an artist. this is of course compounded by things like money, nepotism, and imposter syndrome.

if you prefer your reads focused on imperfect dynamics with plenty of reflection juxtaposed to a backdrop of the glamor of the new york city elite, you'll enjoy this.

"After all, pretending is an art and all art comes at a price."

A contemporary fiction with themes of wealth, envy, and forbidden love. Set in New York, this story focuses on Ren. She has been friends with Etta for over a decade. Etta has wealth, privilege and a large social circle. Ren has a shoebox apartment, a passionless job, and no dating life. She often feels overshadowed and jealous of her friend Etta's near perfect life. When Etta leaves for Barcelona, Ren finds herself feeling more alone than ever. That's until Archer, Etta's brother, begins showing interest in her.

I really wanted to like this. There was so much potential in this story, but I sadly had to DNF at 45%. There was no plot progression. I was nearly halfway thru the story and Ren hasn't even began finding her voice or even a little independence. It seems she just replaced Etta with Archer. Her life still evolved around being a lovesick puppy dog to people with more status and wealth than her. I also found the author's writing longwinded and too descriptive.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this advanced reader copy. The opinions are of my own and given freely.

unique dramatic romance with some very intriguing aspects. thanks so much for the arc. would recommend

After reading the synopsis I really wanted to love this book. I went into it with high expectations and kind of hoping for a gossip girl kind of vibe but I couldn’t form a connection with any of the characters. I think a lot of people will enjoy this! It just wasn’t my cup of tea but thank you for letting me read this and giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.

A tantalizing debut about a woman drawn into the orbit of her friend's wealthy artist family in New York City and the complications and consequences that arise when she embarks on a secret relationship with the golden-boy older brother.

A terrific book about friendship and love. The difference in the status and money between the main characters made this an intriguing book. For me, this book was all mood, all vibes, and I was here for it. New York City, the feeling of being in your young/mid 20s and not knowing what you want; the feeling of not belonging.

Another character driven book rather than plot driven.

What a book. WOW. To me, this book was all mood, all vibes, and I was here for it. New York City, the feeling of being in your young/mid 20s and not knowing what you want; the feeling of not belonging.
This book felt very personal to me, maybe because I'm a third culture kid. That feeling of measuring your words, knowing yourself to be the outsider? I have never read a novel that captured it like this one does.
This book's strength, for me, was in its lack of plot (there is definitely a character arc, but it's a very meandering story). It was a slice of life. An experience to dip into. Incredible.