The Pretenders is the bizarre tale of two brothers, their partners, two friends and endless secrets. When Jasper gets engaged he brings his fiancé and two friends to celebrate at his brother, Edmunds, house. Weirdly enough Edmund doesn’t know they’re coming which sets the scene for an awkward visit. What Jasper walks into is Edmunds mysterious life with Jaspers ex (abusive) girlfriend. A very strange afternoon of secrets very slowly unravels from there. The story constantly takes unsuspecting turns!

This entire book takes place in one day. So creative and difficult I’m sure for an author to master an entire novel in 24 hours. It was a cool way to learn so much about the characters.

I must say this story was bizarre. I think I was 30% in and still had no real idea what was going on. The secrets were lingering in the air but were not obvious to the reader. 5 of the 6 main characters had crazy secrets- often intertwined with the other characters. I will say that I did want to keep reading to figure out what was going on. Each secret was shocking and something I would have never thought of. I often thought “what?!” The book began with what one would assume was the possible loss of a child but I never guessed how until it was so strangely revealed at the end. My facial expression during this entire read would be eyes wide open in shock. The book had a very slow build but was interesting.

I did it really enjoy this book. That’s not to say it wasn’t well written but I didn’t like any of the characters, the setting was just one place and the ending was quite traumatic

I was really looking forward to reading this but after the initial wondering of how the characters fit together I found it slow and upsetting in equal parts.

The front cover does not match the story at all

The Pretenders are three couples, newly engaged Jasper and Holly are in a taxi with older couple Anne and John travelling to call in unexpectedly on Jasper’s brother Edmund. They clearly arrive when something is badly amiss between Edmund and his partner Ovidia. The events take place across one day and track back to several years earlier.

This is a good debut and it’s evident that Agatha Zaza has a lot of talent. She has created a good domestic noir with seething undercurrents which sometimes break through the surface and you hold your breath in anticipation of what may happen next. There are some shocking revelations which catch you unawares and shake you to the core. All the characters have secrets and some are BIG and difficult to get your head around. The characters of Jasper, Edmund and especially Ovidia are very well fleshed out but Holly, Anne and John less so. The storyline does take a while to get going and it is a slow burn but it’s well worth sticking with as it really ramps up and becomes compelling. I think the end, though not a happy one, is realistic and fits well with the narrative and kudos to the author for resisting any temptation to make it more rose coloured.

Overall this is a well written, interesting, clever and multi layered slow burner and be prepared to be stunned in places.

With thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for the arc for an honest review.

I was ecstatic when i got approved for this title as i found it calling me, it BEGGED TO BE READ.

The story majorly takes place on one Saturday where major secrets unravel and confrontations take place.
Jasper and Holly, a newly engaged in love couple plan to celebrate their engagement with his elder brother Edmund who stays in London. He asks his best friend and his best man, John and his wife Anne to accompany them.

But this innocuous, tiny celebration trip turns to something somber and unanticipated.

It breaks my heart to write that I struggled to read this book after the initial 35%.
I felt the character development was weak and rushed, the plot incoherent and haphazard and even though I was intrigued to continue it didn't really add to the reading experience due to the aforementioned points.

I got bored, too much conversation and "thinking inside the head" chapters of the book rather than the conversations between the characters contributed to the lacklustre feeling.

Maybe this is not the book for me but I would look forward to read some others from the author as this was her debut, so many more to come.

Thankyou NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an e ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly for me this book did not live up to the cover. It seemed to take so long for all 3 couples to be introduced and described. I could not get into the story or have any sympathy or connection with any of the characters. The book is so negative, and the characters are the type I would give a wide berth to in my life.
There was a good section from 60% to 80% through the book, where the story came together, then it crashed out again. I kept hoping that at least one of the characters would take some responsibility but no.
Disconnected, difficult to read, the essential story over one day did not hold my attention. I could see what should have been achieved, but it wasn't.
I won't share this review as very negative.
Generally a very sad negative dysfunctional book.

CW: Infant loss, domestic violence.
I'm not sure the cover quite matches how dark and disturbing this book is.
The premise of this book is interesting and parts of this book are very well written. Just be prepared for very dark themes including domestic violence and infant loss.

Three couples. Two exes. One day. One reckoning. #thepretenders #agathazaza #netgalley #netgalleyreads #bookstagram well. Y’all. Oof. If those four lines don’t sum up the book perfectly 😱 a brother just gets engaged. The next day he and his fiancée go to visit his brother. With his best friend and wife in tow. When they walk in to the house they realize that things aren’t quit right. Edmund has a girl with him. Not just any girl. But the brothers ex. From there things go all tipsy turvy. I really enjoyed this book. We were able to explore the three couples. Sneak peeks in to their lives and experiences. You were rooting for them. You cringed with them. And. You may shed a tear or two with them. This book is a definite should read. #booklover #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookaddict

A very impressive debut novel with well developed characters, and the page turning question of what did Edmund need to do? The reason for the friendship between John and Jasper didn't quite work for me, but I look forward to recommending it to my bookgroup friends and discussing the motives and actions of Ovidia (trying not to give spoilers here!) and I look forward to reading further books by Ms Zaza
Thank you to netgalley and Agora books for an advance copy of this book

this book is a must read. Compelling, dramatic and heartbreaking. It covers the story of one day as Jasper and his friends surprise his brother at his home, to celebrate his engagement to Holly. But it swiftly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems, and a series of vignettes show a deeper, darker story,

The present day moments are all captured at the house of Jasper's brother Edmund, and the tension in the room is palpable as the various characters come to terms with events. Although the book is a slow burn, it had me gripped and I found it unputdownable.

Spoiler alert - this book portrays domestic abuse, baby loss, and child abuse. All very sensitive topics but delivered in a way to really make you think. It would be a good choice for a book club,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this book of secrets .
From the very beginning we are left with a sense of unease.
What was planned for today? What has been interrupted? What is being hidden?
The narrative was well written and the secrets were woven skillfully into the tale.
The characters were layered and had depth to them which made them engaging and created empathy.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I couldn’t get into this book. It was super slow right at the Start and didn’t hold my attention. I jumped ahead a couple times but gave up. I just couldn’t get into it.

This was a bit if an odd book to be honest, a lot happened, and some of it made no sense. However, the writing was really good! And kept me entertained throughout. An impressive debut.

Actual rating 4.5 stars

The Pretenders is an intensely dark thriller which had me intrigued from the very first page. Edmund is demolishing a playhouse in the garden of his architecturally modern impressive home. My immediate question was why? There’s a strange tense atmosphere as Edmund and partner Ovidia, returning from a long run, converse and the reader is left in no doubt that today is portentous for both of them. Again, you automatically want to know why. The spotlight then transfers to Edmund’s brother Jasper and his fiancée Holly together with friends John and Anne as they make their way to Edmund’s for a surprise visit. That Jasper is unsure he has the correct address for his brother, the fact he finds this suburban family home at odds with his brother’s character piques your interest. Furthermore when finding the front door ajar and Ovidia in residence in the kitchen you have to wonder why Jasper is so alarmed by her presence. Finally discovering Edmund, normally impeccably attired, in his pyjamas in the garden with the crossword and a tumbler of whiskey by his side completes the sense that this Saturday will be far from ordinary for all involved. You could literally cut the atmosphere with a knife and I was excited to discover what the author had up her sleeve in terms of ‘thrilling’ the reader. As with any thriller there are bound to be secrets that will become exposed as the day progresses but it is the manner in which these are divulged that will really hold your attention.

Reading this thriller was like a breath of fresh air in terms of the writing style. In a departure from the norm, the author employs an understated way of revealing some earth shattering secrets that will shock you to the core, the impact of which is far greater simply because it doesn’t conform to what you may ordinarily expect. She doesn’t rely on cliffhangers or dual timeframes or multiple points of view but instead weaves these unpalatable truths into the narrative seamlessly, focusing on conversations that take place over the course of one Saturday. I loved the fact the narrative is simply divided into sections of one day in which individual backstories are revealed so that we can make sense of the uneasy atmosphere hanging in the air, learning of the secrets occupying their inner thoughts and shaping their current state of mind. It’s quietly compelling, shocking and sad in equal measure.

In terms of the characters a few are either rather odd or simply detestable. Their relationships with their partners are perplexing and definitely complex which adds to the sense of intrigue. The problem is I couldn’t really relate to any of them although Ovidia’s obsession with running as a way of removing herself from reality does make total sense. Both Edmund and Ovidia come across as cool and aloof, almost detached from life going on around them which is again understandable once you learn of the turmoil and secrets they have endeavoured to keep hidden. Jasper is perhaps the most complex character in this group, his relationship with his brother Edmund playing an integral role in proceedings and is a pitiful figure. John is frankly quite repulsive, in terms of his behaviour particularly towards his partner Anne, who in turn is the most down to earth,pragmatic individual of them all. Holly, Jasper’s fiancée, being the outsider in this group is maybe the most deserving, alongside Jasper, of the readers sympathy. She reminded me of a rabbit caught in the headlights as she desperately tries to understand the reasons behind the tense atmosphere pervading this impromptu gathering on what should have been a happy day for her.

The all important question is did I like this debut thriller and how would I rate it in terms of enjoyment? For writing style alone The Pretenders is worthy of at least 4 stars, providing the reader with a welcome change from what is usually on offer with this genre. I did struggle to engage with the narrative initially because of the cool detached tone in which events are relayed but it did grow on me so that I found myself applauding the author for her fresh approach. Having had the opportunity to consider my thoughts before writing this review I still can’t decide exactly how I felt once I’d read the last page but my feelings veer towards a more favourable opinion overall. The fact I found at least a couple of the characters strange and aloof also didn’t help when processing my thoughts;with their introduction I immediately felt that this group of individuals were pretentious and I would find it difficult to understand their mindset, which admittedly I did! Of course you don’t necessarily need to like the characters in a novel to engage fully in the storyline and it’s fair to say they are not the easiest people to relate to. As debuts go I think this is impressive and I will be interested in seeing how the author manages that ‘difficult second novel dilemma’. On the strength of this thriller we should be in for a treat. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars, maybe 2.5 for this one, I thought it was an ok book but nothing all that great. I found the book to be quite slow in places and not as dramatic or twist filled as I expected based on the description. I was hoping for more of a thriller type book or even just more dramatic secrets to come out over the course of the story but none of them really shocked me all that much and I kept reading hoping for something shocking but nothing really blew me away.
In The Pretenders 3 couples spend a Saturday together and their secrets are exposed. While there are secrets that come to light I wasn't all that invested in the characters and found that the book mainly focused on Edmund, Ovidia and Jasper, while the other 3 characters aren't as well developed and don't get included in the plot as much as the others. The book also jumps around in time a lot, on one page it's the fateful Saturday where they're all together and the next page it'll have jumped back in time to tell what happened at a different point in time, I found this confusing and while this background information added to the storyline I think it could've been incorporated in a less confusing way. I wanted more drama out of this book and got a few dark secrets but overall this book didn't mess with my head or surprise me.
Bottom line is I think some people could enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the confusing narration style and felt the secrets weren't as scandalous as I would've liked.

Thank you to Netgalley and Agora Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the tale of three couples whose violations, indiscretions, and deceptions culminate in a suburban show home. Over a period of about twelve hours secrets and lies are revealed and the couples are left to come to turns with the aftermath of their revelations and the tragic consequences of in-actions.
The author touches on a subject matter rarely broached by others, however, the characters lacked depth to become emotionally involved or invested in what becomes of them.
A good easy read.

This book was definitely a page turner for me and I finished this in 3 sittings,
Tree couples come together to celebrate an engagement with their friends but as the day goes on so many secrets are uncovered.

I loved the issues that were discussed and the bombshells we came across. A page turner as i said,

I did feel we had unanswered questions at the end so maybe a sequel is needed? It felt slightly rushed maybe,

I would definitely recommend this book but you wont expect the ending.

Families are complicated but this one more than most. Jasper and Holly’s visit to his brother Edmund was to reveal the surprise of their engagement but Edmund has a life they knew nothing about. At first, it seems just like a group of family with little to say to each other. The fact that Jasper’s friend John and his wife
Anne are there too and have never met Edmund makes for strained conversation. The real problem, though, is Edmund’s girl friend whose existence he has concealed for four years. Why? Because his brother and his girlfriend have a bad past. Not even the most dysfunctional families clock up so much cause for distress. The underlying tensions are well written and there are constant surprises for the reader. The prevailing question throughout is how it will end. This is a very well written, tense book and I recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book all the way through. It had a really good plot, great main characters and really keeps you hooked on the plot. I would highly recommend this book.

The story begins with Edmund smashing a child's outdoor activity centre. We are not told why but from chapter one you know you are in for a bumpy ride. The story follows the lives through flashbacks as they each tell their story.

A very powerful and gripping story. Lots of shocking twists and raw emotion. I couldn't stop reading even though I was so emotional reading some of the pages. This would make a good TV show.

So good I read it in a day. A lovely writing style, accompanied by a solid set of main characters. I love the multiple perspectives throughout and the fact that the story is told cleverly, throughout one day. Or at least, the events unfold in one day. The mixture of past and present was a great way to have this story explored / explained. It was eye opening, heart breaking and honestly amazing.