The Art of Pretend

Ren is a publicist in New York City. As a child, she was abandoned by her mother, making her insecure. She attended NYU with her wealthy friend Etta, to whom she is still close. Etta’s money and family connections offer Ren opportunities she would not otherwise have, and Etta takes Ren’s friendship for granted. When Etta suddenly moves to Barcelona, Ren feels abandoned. Then Etta’s brother, Archer, shows up. When Ren and Archer begin to date, Ren worries that Etta will feel betrayed and convinces Archer to keep their relationship secret. Etta finds out eventually and overreacts, as expected, but her reaction is dampened by the bigger news that Archer has been involved in a money laundering scheme. Kuhl creates characters readers will love to hate, as they display how money and influence can impact relationships, and as their progress toward positive change is minimal. The novel underscores how power imbalances in friendships can skew the relationship. Sadly, the moral seems to be that the rich can do anything they want, with minimal consequences.