I really enjoyed this fly on the wall style look at a very VERY awkward surprise gathering. What am I going to find out about how they are linked, why are they acting so strangely? Is someone not telling us something? (most definitely). Thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it over a few days! Don't want to give anything away but for those that like to read about family drama, conflicting interests and what goes on behind closed doors will love this book.

This book is uncomfortable. The writing implies something very dark is coming and nothing is what it seems.

It is I suppose a domestic thriller but it really just had a very disjointed way of using the prose.

Read in a daybswept right into the story from opening pages.Three couples separate points of views secrets revealed.So many surprises twists and turns loved the writing,#netgalley#agorabooks

To celebrate their very new engagement, Jasper decides to take his fiancée, Holly, to meet his brother, Edmund. Jasper brings his best friend, John, and John’s partner, Anne, not wanting to be left out, joins the raucous group.

When the group arrives at Edmund’s, it’s clearly a surprise. Usually dressed impeccably, a disheveled Edmund appears in a dressing gown. His girlfriend, Ovidia, is distracted to the point of rudeness. Celebrating is obviously the last thing on their minds, yet something keeps John anchored to the house, and if he doesn’t leave, his friends feel they can’t leave, either. Throughout the day, secrets and lies come to light.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 addresses issues not commonly discussed in novel which I appreciated. I also liked the ripple effect among the group—how a revelation from one character gave another an epiphany about their own life.

Personally, I didn’t always like the writing style, and for the book to be effective there was some manipulation of the reader which I didn’t enjoy.

However, the book does a good job addressing mental health issues, plus the interchange among the six characters in this domestic suspense novel (and how it differs from their inner dialogues) is pretty fascinating.

I weren’t really keen on this one. I found it very difficult to get into and the plot confused me in parts and I found my attention wavering throughout parts.

I really enjoyed The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza.
It is a dark thriller with many twists and turns which had me hooked right up to the end.
The story involves 3 couples and the secrets they keep. I enjoyed all the characters and their complicated relationships.
I definitely look forward to reading more by Agatha Zaza in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for my ARC.

Insieme agli amici John ed Anne e alla futura moglie Holly, Jasper decide di fare una sorpresa al fratello Edmund, recandosi da lui per festeggiare il proprio fidanzamento.
Ma lì, in quella casa che sembra uscita da una rivista, trova l'ultima persona che mai si sarebbe aspettato: Ovidia, che riporta a galla sentimenti e terrori mai sopiti...

The pretenders è un romanzo che comincia in modo difficile, astruso, direi: che cosa è successo, ci si chiede, tra Edmund e Ovidia? Perché sembrano entrambi così privi di vita? Cos'è la cosa importante che devono fare quello stesso giorno?
Con il procedere della narrazione, tuttavia, la storia avviluppa come in un vortice e non ti lascia più andare.
L'azione si svolge tutta in una sola giornata, densa e pesante, mentre svariati flashback fanno luce su quelle che sono le relazioni tra i sei personaggi (i pretenders, coloro che mentono), le piccole o grandi finzioni in cui vivono, le bugie dietro cui si nascondono.

Il risultato è una storia che avvince, stupisce, fa male, e che opprime, soffoca, forse in modo eccessivo verso la fine.

Benché il rapporto tra Jasper, Edmund e Ovidia e ciò che è successo tra loro mi sia sembrato qualche volta implausibile, tutti i personaggi sono invece profondamente realistici.
Mentono agli altri e a se stessi, sono egoisti, invidiosi, fragili.
Descrivendoci le loro vicende, l'autrice tocca molti temi importanti, come quello della violenza domestica, del tradimento e della depressione.

In molti hanno definito il finale di questo romanzo "unhappy", triste; di certo non è lieto, ma io lo definirei semplicemente umano. È così che vanno le cose, a volte, nella vita.

Six friends, a lifetime of lies and a day of reckoning. The plot is complicated and it subtly moves between the present and the past. I found it hard to follow all the different characters and situations but was so intrigued that I needed to keep going to find answers. Addictive.

The writing style of this book irritated me, it jumped between characters, past and present very quickly and haphazardly. I really struggled to get into the story, at all. I expected a little more from the story line and was disappointed with the ending. Not one for me.

Six people. Three couples. And too many secrets. Ann, John, Edmund, Ovidia, Jasper and Holly. They all have a past. Will they have a future?
This is a very well constructed story, full of turning points. The characters are complex and correctly developed.
It's not the story I was expecting when I read the premise, but it worked out great in the end.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything can change in a day.

Theres some uncomfortable subjects in this book which might put some readers off. For me some of the detail didnt read add any benefit and I'd rather have had more at the end rather than the unknown. I think the uncomfortable situation everyone finds themselves in means you dont really empathise with any of the characters making it hard to like them.

I really enjoyed this one in the long run more than I did to start. This book goes into some deeper issues than I was expecting. And the twist that we learn were really well done. I enjoyed this book.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I couldn't get into the beginning and I just didn't see a point to the plot. There was too much going on right off the bat and I couldn't push through. Hopefully someone else will enjoy it!

I found this book a bit slow but half way through started getting into it and the characters. It’s good that the storylines in this book are both realistic and thoroughly researched. It was very well written and bought together at the end.

I was confused in the beginning but I'm glad I stuck with it. There are a multitude of feelings in this book being told by the different characters but the common denominator is that just about everyone is lying or hiding something. Everything comes to a head on one important day.

Such a good read. A violent start with Edmund smashing to pieces the playhouse in the garden, moving to his to his grief and sadness at something we the reader are not made aware of . His partner is also incredibly sad and accepting that this is a relationship that will be over at the end of the day. However, we are party to the love they share, so something doesnt make sense. This mystery and tension prevail throughout the book as we wait patiently for the denouement. The sadness is interrupted by the arrival of his brother Jasper, and his fiance Holly, together with another couple. The book explores each individuals story, whilst building further on the initial tension.
A well written book that could easily transition to stage or screen. Contains some very original concepts

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I dont really know where to begin with this review, I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book but I feel a little bit disappointed. For the first 60% of this book I really didn’t enjoy it. In fact I had to force myself to pick it up to read but then once I got to the 60% mark I couldn’t put it down I felt like there were so many twists and turns and very unexpected ones at that! I felt like I didn’t really connect with the characters in this book however the topics that were highlighted in it are so important and they are also so well written. This review is of my opinion so I would definitely recommend giving this book a try as it may be a read that someone absolutely loves and just because I didn’t doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. The transitions between the characters were written so well. And the topics were a hard read but important!
Trigger warning - Domestic Violence

Of all the days in a year, Jasper had to pick that one day to turn up on his brother's doorstep with his new fiancée, Holly and friends Anne and John. There was something about that day, dark and unsettling, from the opening chapter, the reader is aware that Edmund's life is falling apart. Something has happened, but what? Something has come between him and his girlfriend, Ovidia. Something is wrong.

The story develops through a day, one that should be a joyous occasion to celebrate an engagement. There are fragments from the past filters through each chapter that gradually builds a background story and fills the gaps. I was intrigued to know about the characters, and what connected them, what secrets they had, what had happened?  The reader's fed enough information to be left hanging and wanting to know more. 
    
There were some intense and disturbing issues raised, but not as I expected and with a few surprises in store. It was well written and enjoyable read, a well-structured story that flowed from past to present. The characters were interesting and developed well. It was interesting to read about their memories and discovering what had happened, what connected them. The book was a quick read, fast pace in places and slow other times. I did, however, feel emotionally detached when the truth was unfolding, I'm usually easily absorbed into the characters and care about them. As the recalling of the past were only memories, I did not ride that emotional journey with them, thus becoming more of a told story than a shown story. Perhaps that's what the Zaza wanted, the reader to remain detached and more observant.
    
I would recommend The Pretenders to anyone that likes a mystery it kept me guessing and intrigued to the end. I did enjoy the Zaza's writing style, and I would read other books by this author in the future.

The main action of this book takes place over the course of a Saturday; however, through internal monologues, conversations and flashbacks we cover snippets of the previous four or five years to bring the situation up to date.

Edmund and Ovidia have plans for Saturday, which are thrown in to chaos when Edmund’s brother Jasper arrived unannounced with his new fiancé and two friends, John and Anne. What follows is a very awkward “celebration” for the happy couple, with everyone trying to work out what’s going on.

This is a hard book to review without stumbling in to spoiler territory. I initially struggled because the plot is slow moving; however, it is all part of the scene setting and, if you can persevere, it is arguably worth it. I found it hard going at times because I had too many questions in my head, but if you like making predictions and trying to puzzle things out, then this could be the perfect read for you.

I liked the darker themes within the story – especially Agatha’s take on them, which should be commended. Though, I can see how some readers may struggle if they are triggered by domestic and emotional abuse. Whilst not gratuitous in any way, it is handled frequently throughout.

A strong debut, and definitely an author to keep an eye on.

The Stars
I’ve struggled trying to decide how to star this particular read. On one hand the concept is excellent; however, the execution let it down slightly. Whilst I understand the need to have more than just the three main characters, at times it felt the other three were just fluff filling in the gaps. There was not enough character development, and it seemed pointless. What they added to the momentum could have bene provided in a different way that wouldn’t have felt so contrived.

Equally, I felt there was a little too much left unsaid at the beginning in an attempt to build suspense. It made it so slow-moving that it could have been tempting to leave this as a DNF.

I also struggled with the fact this needed a good proofreading. There were so many errors that it was really distracting in parts, and many times I had to re-read sentences. Such a shame, as without the editor dropping the ball, this would have been a four stars.

Jasper and Holly arrive at his brother’s house to announce their engagement, along with another couple of friends.
What ensues is a complex web of overlapping relationships, secrets and lies.
This novel reminded me of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends. The characters aren’t always likeable or endearing, but it’s well-written and intriguing, if a tiny bit cold..
Zaza has quite a matter of fact writing style -this felt more plot than character-driven - but I enjoyed the story slowly developing and touching on some unexpected and challenging themes.
In summary, I’m sure this will be a bestseller. It’s topical and interesting although a little bit of a slow burn.