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We Could Be Anyone
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26True deception is a work of art.
Lola and Lisandro are actors during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but you won’t see them on any silver screen. Instead, these siblings use their talents to scam the rich and famous out of their ill-begotten cash. They have their act down to a science: Lola plays the tragic ghost who haunts the mansions of the wealthy, and Lisandro plays the brave spiritualist who will help her soul find peace. For a small fee, of course.
The siblings have their sights set on their next target: The Coterie, the opulent estate of newspaper tycoon Bixby Fairfax and his famous mistress Blythe Bell. A score this big will allow them to move… well, anywhere but here. But this job requires them to do something they’ve never done before: switch roles. And as strange things keep happening at The Coterie… things that even Lola and Lisandro can’t explain.
As they are drawn deeper into The Coterie’s gleaming façade and tensions rise between brother and sister, one question looms over them. Will they be able to pull off their act? Or will this be their last performance?
Lola and Lisandro are actors during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but you won’t see them on any silver screen. Instead, these siblings use their talents to scam the rich and famous out of their ill-begotten cash. They have their act down to a science: Lola plays the tragic ghost who haunts the mansions of the wealthy, and Lisandro plays the brave spiritualist who will help her soul find peace. For a small fee, of course.
The siblings have their sights set on their next target: The Coterie, the opulent estate of newspaper tycoon Bixby Fairfax and his famous mistress Blythe Bell. A score this big will allow them to move… well, anywhere but here. But this job requires them to do something they’ve never done before: switch roles. And as strange things keep happening at The Coterie… things that even Lola and Lisandro can’t explain.
As they are drawn deeper into The Coterie’s gleaming façade and tensions rise between brother and sister, one question looms over them. Will they be able to pull off their act? Or will this be their last performance?
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
537 people want to read
About the author
Anna-Marie McLemore
32 books3,506 followersAnna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist The Weight of Feathers; Wild Beauty; Blanca & Roja, one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time; Indie Next List title Dark and Deepest Red; Lakelore, an NECBA Windows & Mirrors title; and National Book Award longlist selections When the Moon Was Ours, which was also a Stonewall Honor Book; The Mirror Season; and Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix. Their latest release is Venom & Vow, co-authored with Elliott McLemore, and Flawless Girls will be released by from Feiwel & Friends in May 2028. Their adult debut, The Influencers, is forthcoming from Dial Press.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Lola and Lisandro are siblings who are actors out to swindle the rich. Lola pretends to be a ghost haunting the home of a wealthy person, while Lisandro pretends to be a spiritualist who can help. Bixby Fairfax, newspaper tycoon and owner of The Coterie estate, is the siblings' next target. But things start to go wrong the moment Lola and Lisandro decide to switch roles. Weird things keep actually happening at The Coterie, and no matter how hard the siblings try to solve the mystery, they’re dragged further in. Can they pull off their biggest scam or is their act about to be unraveled? This historical thriller sounds fun. —Kelly Jensen
Lola and Lisandro are siblings who are actors out to swindle the rich. Lola pretends to be a ghost haunting the home of a wealthy person, while Lisandro pretends to be a spiritualist who can help. Bixby Fairfax, newspaper tycoon and owner of The Coterie estate, is the siblings' next target. But things start to go wrong the moment Lola and Lisandro decide to switch roles. Weird things keep actually happening at The Coterie, and no matter how hard the siblings try to solve the mystery, they’re dragged further in. Can they pull off their biggest scam or is their act about to be unraveled? This historical thriller sounds fun. —Kelly Jensen
January 29, 2026
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. Some parts of it I found very enjoyable and readable and other parts felt forced into it.
Brother and sister act Lola and Lisandro aren't actors in the technical sense, rather they have a tried-and-true spiritual act in which Lola plays a ghost haunting a wealthy individual's home, and Lisandro is the spiritualist who helps solve the haunting, for a healthy fee. Their parents died while working on The Coterie, so when a job requiring their talents appears, the two (especially Lola, who hasn't told Lisandro the whole truth about their parents passing) are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. The Coterie is a large estate owned by Bixby Fairfax, a newspaper tycoon, who resides there with his mistress Blythe Bell, a famous actress. But when they need to switch roles to get the job and there are strange happenings neither is responsible for, will they be able to do this like any other job? With the help of Fairfax's black sheep son and a well-read handsome bartender, the siblings hope they can make it through, while keeping secrets from those closest to them, including each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Brother and sister act Lola and Lisandro aren't actors in the technical sense, rather they have a tried-and-true spiritual act in which Lola plays a ghost haunting a wealthy individual's home, and Lisandro is the spiritualist who helps solve the haunting, for a healthy fee. Their parents died while working on The Coterie, so when a job requiring their talents appears, the two (especially Lola, who hasn't told Lisandro the whole truth about their parents passing) are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. The Coterie is a large estate owned by Bixby Fairfax, a newspaper tycoon, who resides there with his mistress Blythe Bell, a famous actress. But when they need to switch roles to get the job and there are strange happenings neither is responsible for, will they be able to do this like any other job? With the help of Fairfax's black sheep son and a well-read handsome bartender, the siblings hope they can make it through, while keeping secrets from those closest to them, including each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
February 18, 2026
We Could Be Anyone is a paranormal, gothic YA novel set against the glitz and shadow of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Siblings Lola and Lisandro arrive at a crumbling mansion with one goal: pull off a high-society scam that could change everything.
Despite its short length, this story carries impressive themes. It explores socioeconomic disparities, queer identity, and Latinx representation, while weaving in sibling tension, risk versus reward, honesty, loyalty, family loss, folklore/magic, gendered power structures, and teen romance. At its heart is the intoxicating thrill of the con—layered with emotional stakes that elevate the narrative beyond a simple scheme.
It’s disappointing to see low ratings without context, particularly for a story that offers representation. I believe many teens will not only enjoy this book, but genuinely see themselves reflected in it.
Only took me a few hours to read and I’d probably rate it 3.5 based on the age group.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite its short length, this story carries impressive themes. It explores socioeconomic disparities, queer identity, and Latinx representation, while weaving in sibling tension, risk versus reward, honesty, loyalty, family loss, folklore/magic, gendered power structures, and teen romance. At its heart is the intoxicating thrill of the con—layered with emotional stakes that elevate the narrative beyond a simple scheme.
It’s disappointing to see low ratings without context, particularly for a story that offers representation. I believe many teens will not only enjoy this book, but genuinely see themselves reflected in it.
Only took me a few hours to read and I’d probably rate it 3.5 based on the age group.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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October 3, 2025Thank you to Anna-Marie McLemore and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. ♡
₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: the cover style def intrigued me!! teen siblings scamming the rich and end up in a potentially haunted mansion? please!
₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts:
₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: the cover style def intrigued me!! teen siblings scamming the rich and end up in a potentially haunted mansion? please!
₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts:
October 23, 2025
This was a decent story, but I wasn't sure where it was going. I liked it to a point, but not to another. It was very slow and just not moving at a decent pace. I will try again later, or maybe even have my kid read it and see what she thinks.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dnf
I'm not sure this book was for me. I wasn't enjoying it like I thought I would.
Thank you to NetGalley, Anna-Marie McLemore, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure this book was for me. I wasn't enjoying it like I thought I would.
Thank you to NetGalley, Anna-Marie McLemore, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Upon looking further into this book, I discovered that it had some content that I am not comfortable reading. I wish the publisher and author the best of luck when this book releases. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 16, 2025
full review to come
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews