The Art of Pretend

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 love and friendship, wealth and power, art and ambition—and the stories we tell ourselves and others to get what we want.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Harlequin Enterprises (Graydon House).

Book club questions for The Art of Pretend by Lauren Kuhl

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Discuss Ren and Etta’s relationship. What does Ren gain from Etta, and vice versa? Do you think this type of friendship can still be genuine? How is their dynamic different or similar to Ren and Jeff’s?

Did you feel Ren was justified in hiding her relationship with Archer from Etta? Why or why not? Have you ever withheld a big secret like that from a close friend or loved one?

In the novel, certain characters pay the consequences of their actions, whereas others don’t. Discuss how wealth, or the lack of it, defines how much power one has. What kind of power does Ren seek? How does she try to get it?

Did you understand the compromises Archer made for his career? Why or why not? Were you surprised by them?

Compare Ren’s friendship with Etta and her relationship with her boss, Natalie. How are they similar and different, and how does each evolve over the course of the novel?

How are Ren’s relationships informed by her mother’s abandonment? Do you think she’ll ever fully break away from its shadow?

Discuss the novel’s ending. Why do you think Ren chose to be with Archer? Was it a decision purely motivated by love, or by something more complicated than that?

Having now read the book, what does the title, The Art of Pretend, mean to you?

The Art of Pretend Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the The Art of Pretend discussion questions

“Delicious and biting, The Art of Pretend probes the artifice of even our most intimate relationships. Lauren Kuhl’s art world canvas is covered with the bold strokes of a wealthy New York family and the dark shading of an uneven friend dynamic. It kept me up way too late, with a sophistication that removed all guilt from the pleasure.” —Avery Carpenter Forrey, author of Social Engagement

“This fun and twisty novel is a delicious take on class, friendship and desire. Set among the super rich in the art world of New York City, Kuhl's cast of characters' ambitions inevitably collide in the ultimate pursuit of power, exposing the complexities hidden beneath the art of pretending.” —Christina McDowell, author of The Cave Dwellers

“Spend a summer with the pretty young things as they traipse through the Hamptons, New York City, and Europe in Lauren Kuhl’s compelling and beautifully written debut, The Art of Pretend. Kuhl explores the nuances of friendship and romance, while also capturing the absurd antics of the rich and Insta-famous. Poignant, funny, and elegant from start to finish, this artful book is a must-read.” —Lauren Edmondson, author of Ladies of the House and Wedding of the Season

“The Art of Pretend is a compulsively readable, voyeuristic journey into the wealthy world of New York City, filled with unforgettable characters and razor-sharp dialogue. I devoured this page-turner. ” —Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of The Fiction Writer