Augusta Pine Does Not Exist

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Combining the suspense of a thriller, the intrigue of spy fiction, and the emotional resonance of a confessional narrative, this is gripping, wholly original novel about a teen secret operative who must outwit a band of murderous cyberterrorists.

I was fifteen when I became a murderer.

After a hack gone tragically wrong, a teen girl is given an ultimatum: accept a harsh prison sentence or leave her old life behind and use her talents in the service of a shady government agency.

Three years later, the newly-named Augusta Pine has become a skilled wraith, one of the Identity Security Division’s secret operatives. She has no home, no family, and her only friends are her coolly professional handler and a snarky AI spybot. So when she is sent to Portland for an assignment, she seizes the chance to catch a glimpse of her beloved grandmother and rents the apartment next door.

What begins as nostalgic stalking turns into a fight for survival when a group of cyberterrorists hacks the building and imprisons the residents. Augusta doesn’t know exactly what they want, but she does know they are ready to murder for it. With her quick wits, tech savvy – and help from an intriguing fellow hostage – Augusta must race against the clock to stay one step ahead of the killers.

Unfolding through a suspenseful narrative interspersed with case-file excerpts, this is a pulse-pounding novel about identity, connection, and justice.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

416 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Emily Lloyd-Jones grew up on a vineyard in rural Oregon, where she played in evergreen forests and learned to fear sheep. After graduating from Western Oregon University with an English degree, she enrolled in the publishing program at Rosemont College just outside of Philadelphia. She currently resides in Northern California.

Reviews

[Emily Lloyd-Jones]

Some books are easy to write. And then there are books that take seven years.

This is the latter.

AUGUSTA PINE DOES NOT EXIST is my white whale of a book. It took the aforementioned seven years, several drafts, and a lot of heist planning. It’s about a lot of things: the lengths we go to for family, how technology is encroaching into our lives, how we recover from mistakes we’ve made, and of course, a very snarky heroine.

It also has a slightly sociopathic AI spybot that looks like a bumblebee. And he is everyone’s favorite.

This book (and the whole fictional world) is very dear to me, and I hope readers will love Augusta as much as I do.

And! Right now I’m running a Goodreads Giveaway where you can win an advance, signed copy!

[Starr ❇✌❇]

not at ALL what I expected from ELJ but okay !

[Natalie Unsinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was all sorts of action-packed thriller but also adorably warm. It covers fighting your fears, loneliness, and the importance of family while also touching on moral dilemmas of technological advancement in a spy girl setting. And it was the found family side characters that really got me, making me laugh and giving me warm fuzzy feelings that left me hugging this book.
The pacing of the book in the beginning (with the use of flashback scenes) took me out of the main plot sometimes but I got used to it pretty quickly.

Thank you to Emily Lloyd-Jones, Macmillan Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such a huge fan of Emily's books, and I've become an even bigger fan after this shift from fantasy to dystopian/scifi. God, the humor is TOP NOTCH and the emotional core is stark in the best possible way. Of course I fell so utterly in love with the book as whole.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This book was a fun read. It was fast paced and I enjoyed the layout of the book with the case study passages and flashbacks for some background information. Edgar the sentient AI bumblebee was probably my favorite character. His and Augusta’s interactions were fun and witty. I think if you like YA spy books or black mirror-esque themes then you will enjoy this. It didn’t end on any cliffhangers or set up for a second book but if there was one, I’d definitely read it.

[Ashley Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring on the robot uprising. I'll happily let Edgar take over the world. Throughly enjoyed this one. The humor was a delight and I loved the interactions between the characters. The format is a little different with the case studies, but it works well for the story. A quick paced, fun, spy filled read with a strong emotional core. Emily Lloyd-Jones has become one of my favorites!

[Gabrielle Belisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

(proper review to come)