The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza
Published by Agora Books
Publication Date 5th November 2020 (ebook), 3rd December 2020 paperback
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction
Book Description:
"I’m perfectly happy lying to myself…If it means getting to stay with you."
Jasper is ready to surprise his brother; Holly is ready to celebrate their engagement.
Anne tags along for fear of missing out, and John might just be going for another drink.
But Edmund and Ovidia had other plans for their Saturday.
Over the course of one day, these couples must own up to the secrets they’ve been hiding from one another and the lies they’ve been telling themselves. And face the devastating consequences.
Three couples. Two exes. One day. One reckoning.
My Thoughts:
Well, where to start with this book? It was really not what I was expecting but after a bit of a slow start as I settled in to the story I was soon drawn into the lives of brothers Jasper and Edmund. In some ways they seem very close siblings but in others they barely seem to know each other at all.
Jasper has decided to call in to surprise Edmund at his home in London to announce his engagement to girlfriend Holly. Best friend John and his wife Anne have tagged along too, having heard so much about Edmund and his high-flying career from Jasper. So when they arrive at Edmund's home something feels very off. He's sitting in his contemporary glass cube conservatory in his pyjamas and food-spattered dressing gown staring out into the garden. Hardly the successful, focused businessman they were expecting.
The enigma grows as a woman arrives at the house dressed in running gear. Her body language at first suggests that she lives here but then changes in an instant as she becomes unsure of herself and the situation she finds herself in. Meanwhile, Jasper is looking as if he's seen a ghost.
The book gradually peels back the layers of the six people's lives and we are presented with twist after shock revelation until we get to point where it all makes some kind of sense. There are quite a few triggers which people should be aware of before indulging in this book - domestic abuse and depression to mention just a couple.
This won't be a book for everyone as it's a bit of a slow burner which hits on some sensitive subject material but the style of writing is excellent and the facts are disclosed very cleverly so I would encourage people to stick with the slow introduction as it leads to a pretty shocking conclusion.About the Author:
Agatha Zaza is a Zambian and Finn at present living in Auckland, New Zealand. Her writing is a departure from her work in fundraising and international development.
The Pretenders was born in Singapore, where she spent three years as a trailing spouse, where she rekindled a long-dormant love of writing. Aside from Singapore, Agatha has worked and lived several countries, among them Uganda and in the then Soviet Union. While in Ireland, she earned a Master’s in Equality Studies from University College Dublin and worked in a genuine Irish pub.
Agatha’s work can be seen in the Johannesburg Review of Books and in a PEN International special edition on African writers. She has also published three short books on Amazon. She’s been a passionate slow runner for two and half decades and has recently given up composting.
The Pretenders was born in Singapore, where she spent three years as a trailing spouse, where she rekindled a long-dormant love of writing. Aside from Singapore, Agatha has worked and lived several countries, among them Uganda and in the then Soviet Union. While in Ireland, she earned a Master’s in Equality Studies from University College Dublin and worked in a genuine Irish pub.
Agatha’s work can be seen in the Johannesburg Review of Books and in a PEN International special edition on African writers. She has also published three short books on Amazon. She’s been a passionate slow runner for two and half decades and has recently given up composting.
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