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Augusta Pine Does Not Exist
A teen criminal hacker turned secret operative must outwit a band of cyberterrorists in this gripping novel from the acclaimed author of The Bone Houses.
I was fifteen when I became a murderer.
After a hack gone tragically wrong, a teen girl is given an accept a harsh prison sentence or leave her old life behind, adopt a new identity, and use her talents in the service of a covert 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 sentient AI spybot. So when she is sent to Portland for her next assignment, she seizes the chance to catch a glimpse of her grandmother and rents the apartment next door.
What begins as a little nostalgic stalking turns into a fight for survival when a group of cyberterrorists hacks the building and imprisons the residents. Augusta doesn’t know what they want, but she does know they are ready to murder for it. With her quick wits, tech savvy—and help from a distractingly hot fellow hostage—Augusta must race against the clock to stay one step ahead of the killers.
AUGUSTA combines the suspense of a thriller and the intrigue of spy fiction to create a totally original novel about identity, connection, and the struggle to build a future on the scars of the past.
I was fifteen when I became a murderer.
After a hack gone tragically wrong, a teen girl is given an accept a harsh prison sentence or leave her old life behind, adopt a new identity, and use her talents in the service of a covert 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 sentient AI spybot. So when she is sent to Portland for her next assignment, she seizes the chance to catch a glimpse of her grandmother and rents the apartment next door.
What begins as a little nostalgic stalking turns into a fight for survival when a group of cyberterrorists hacks the building and imprisons the residents. Augusta doesn’t know what they want, but she does know they are ready to murder for it. With her quick wits, tech savvy—and help from a distractingly hot fellow hostage—Augusta must race against the clock to stay one step ahead of the killers.
AUGUSTA combines the suspense of a thriller and the intrigue of spy fiction to create a totally original novel about identity, connection, and the struggle to build a future on the scars of the past.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Emily Lloyd-Jones
13 books2,343 followersEmily 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.
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November 22, 2025And the book is out!! I’m so happy readers will get to meet Augusta, my chaotic little hacker heroine.
AUGUSTA PINE DOES NOT EXIST is my white whale of a book. It took 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.
The book is now available for preorder wherever books are sold!! Preorders are so helpful for authors - I would really appreciate it!
AUGUSTA PINE DOES NOT EXIST is my white whale of a book. It took 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.
The book is now available for preorder wherever books are sold!! Preorders are so helpful for authors - I would really appreciate it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
꣑ৎ⋆˙⟡⋮ 3.25 stars ☆
carmen sandiego x home alone 🙂↕️ think carmen sandiego heists & hacks meet home alone chases & traps (except set in a hotel) to outsmart the villains.
i can’t lie, this was a bit silly and quirky so it kind of felt like a fever dream at times…but not necessarily in a bad way. overall, this was an entertaining and cute spy reverse heist! it was also a pretty quick read as it kept me on my toes throughout—there was never a lack of action and there were some plot twists i did not see coming. i adored augusta’s cleverness and resilience and the whole premise of the ISD (identity security division) was quite interesting.
i loved the messages in this book as well! the technology was innovative and quite original (i especially thought the tattoo tech was interesting) and it explored some of the ethics behind deepfakes and ai, including the possibility of sentient ai, which is super relevant in today’s day and age. it was also an interesting exploration of moral complexity—the modus operandi of the ISD was, in many ways, about doing the wrong things for the right reasons.
however, it did feel a little more middle grade/younger ya than true ya, and i do feel like it should be marketed a little more towards a younger audience. this was due to a variety of factors. the mc’s jokes and quips and nicknames for others felt a lil juvenile and sometimes a tad cringe to me. the worldbuilding drops were a bit explicit and i wish they had been shortened and integrated more (there were paragraphs of background into various pieces of tech, and direct connections to modern-day tech were framed as references to the “past," since this book was set in the future). it wasn’t terrible but it did make the book feel a lil more middle grade, since it didn’t feel like the reader was trusted to put it together based on the context.
overall, though, i did enjoy! but i would recommend to a younger audience than it's marketed to. tldr: lighthearted, quirky, and quick-paced reverse spy heist.
thank you so much to emily lloyd-jones, macmillan children’s publishing, and netgalley for an arc (my first one!) in exchange for my honest review 🤍 this book comes out july 7, 2026!
꣑ৎ⋆˙⟡⋮ pre-read
YAY first arc (thank you to netgalley & macmillan publishing!) i'm so excited to read this one 😚 i've been meaning to get more into thrillers & the heist vibes here are immaculate (which i'll def be needing more of after finishing my lunar chronicles reread). anyways i have a feeling this will be fun 🙂↕️🕵️♀️💻💐
carmen sandiego x home alone 🙂↕️ think carmen sandiego heists & hacks meet home alone chases & traps (except set in a hotel) to outsmart the villains.
i can’t lie, this was a bit silly and quirky so it kind of felt like a fever dream at times…but not necessarily in a bad way. overall, this was an entertaining and cute spy reverse heist! it was also a pretty quick read as it kept me on my toes throughout—there was never a lack of action and there were some plot twists i did not see coming. i adored augusta’s cleverness and resilience and the whole premise of the ISD (identity security division) was quite interesting.
i loved the messages in this book as well! the technology was innovative and quite original (i especially thought the tattoo tech was interesting) and it explored some of the ethics behind deepfakes and ai, including the possibility of sentient ai, which is super relevant in today’s day and age. it was also an interesting exploration of moral complexity—the modus operandi of the ISD was, in many ways, about doing the wrong things for the right reasons.
however, it did feel a little more middle grade/younger ya than true ya, and i do feel like it should be marketed a little more towards a younger audience. this was due to a variety of factors. the mc’s jokes and quips and nicknames for others felt a lil juvenile and sometimes a tad cringe to me. the worldbuilding drops were a bit explicit and i wish they had been shortened and integrated more (there were paragraphs of background into various pieces of tech, and direct connections to modern-day tech were framed as references to the “past," since this book was set in the future). it wasn’t terrible but it did make the book feel a lil more middle grade, since it didn’t feel like the reader was trusted to put it together based on the context.
overall, though, i did enjoy! but i would recommend to a younger audience than it's marketed to. tldr: lighthearted, quirky, and quick-paced reverse spy heist.
thank you so much to emily lloyd-jones, macmillan children’s publishing, and netgalley for an arc (my first one!) in exchange for my honest review 🤍 this book comes out july 7, 2026!
꣑ৎ⋆˙⟡⋮ pre-read
YAY first arc (thank you to netgalley & macmillan publishing!) i'm so excited to read this one 😚 i've been meaning to get more into thrillers & the heist vibes here are immaculate (which i'll def be needing more of after finishing my lunar chronicles reread). anyways i have a feeling this will be fun 🙂↕️🕵️♀️💻💐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: AI: an always-wrong miracle created by always-wrong godlets.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"And so along came Lawyerbot : the first virtual defense lawyer. Technically a defendant couldn’t be represented by an app. The founding fathers wouldn’t have approved. But a person could represent themselves pro se— and if they happened to be following the advice of an app, that was their choice. It wasn’t really a choice. But the illusion made the whole system seem less dysfunctional. If I’d gone to court, I probably would’ve been repped by Lawyerbot." p124
In Short:
This one starts out with a strong concept and a setting so corrupt and despicable, it completely changes the standards for moral judgment. It's a brilliant setting because the reader doesn't have to wrestle with questions of justice. They can accept that "this is just how it is here" and then see how the story unfolds under those conditions.
This is a book with a concept so strong, it carries the whole book. I've read a lot of anti-AI books, but this one has a completely new thing to say about the tech and its proliferation. Though I tend to be supportive of AI for many uses, I agree with the author's criticism here. The element is well thought out and applied, brilliantly, through an unstable setting. Just beautiful construction.
"I think of those times when I was a kid, playing on the swings with my sisters. I remember swinging as high as we could go, then leaping from the rubber swings: the arcing path we would take through the air, then the slam of feet into bark dust and dirt. This is just another leap. Something I used to do for fun. I jump." p208
Preread:
Great concept and setting!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
"Content Warnings:"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
murder, kidnapping/abduction, isolation, loss of family, attachment/identity wounds, jumping, falling,
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"And so along came Lawyerbot : the first virtual defense lawyer. Technically a defendant couldn’t be represented by an app. The founding fathers wouldn’t have approved. But a person could represent themselves pro se— and if they happened to be following the advice of an app, that was their choice. It wasn’t really a choice. But the illusion made the whole system seem less dysfunctional. If I’d gone to court, I probably would’ve been repped by Lawyerbot." p124
In Short:
This one starts out with a strong concept and a setting so corrupt and despicable, it completely changes the standards for moral judgment. It's a brilliant setting because the reader doesn't have to wrestle with questions of justice. They can accept that "this is just how it is here" and then see how the story unfolds under those conditions.
This is a book with a concept so strong, it carries the whole book. I've read a lot of anti-AI books, but this one has a completely new thing to say about the tech and its proliferation. Though I tend to be supportive of AI for many uses, I agree with the author's criticism here. The element is well thought out and applied, brilliantly, through an unstable setting. Just beautiful construction.
"I think of those times when I was a kid, playing on the swings with my sisters. I remember swinging as high as we could go, then leaping from the rubber swings: the arcing path we would take through the air, then the slam of feet into bark dust and dirt. This is just another leap. Something I used to do for fun. I jump." p208
Preread:
Great concept and setting!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
"Content Warnings:"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
murder, kidnapping/abduction, isolation, loss of family, attachment/identity wounds, jumping, falling,
June 30, 2026
4.3 ⭐️
[7:42pm — 02/07/2026]
𐙚⋆°🐝⋆♡ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ thriller
⤷ spy fmc
⤷ young adult
⤷ founded family (?)
𐙚⋆°🐝⋆♡ 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
❛❛𝐢'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧.❜❜
⤷ 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 by 𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲
-`♡´- 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 -`♡´-
Okay, first of all, thank you to Penguin for sending me an ARC copy. I'm forever grateful!
This book was interesting, I'm quite surprised actually at how cool it turned out to be!
I've been in a sorta slump lately, hence reading only a little in the beginning and then finishing the remainder in one go. I'll say the structure of this book is new; I've not seen many books like this, and I really enjoyed it.
Looking at the characters first, Augusta Pine. Oh dear God, my heart ached for her from the beginning. Augusta's life is complex, and I love how she was written, given the detour her life unexpectedly took after the car crash. I love her personality. She's straight-up, humorous, just your average teenager. She reassured me that the version of me a couple of years ago was very normal and valid lol.
I want to speak of other characters; however, I do not want to accidentally spoil anything. So, I'll do a very brief overview. Eames, Nonna, Piper, Prefect, Edgar etc, every single character was written very well. I loved the way each of them played their roles very well. And I mean very well; they even fooled me. That's all I'm saying! Read it to find out 👀.
Moving on to the plot. It was INSANE. This book made me realise how much I love and miss reading thriller books. The plot twists were amazing; I was gasping at the most random times. I'm still lost at how everything was happening on the same day; it was crazy, but I was hooked like no other. Again, I'm not going to say too much because I do not want to spoil this book for anyone. It was that good.
The structure of the book. I LOVED this layout. It was interesting because I did not expect it to go that route. Regardless, it was a new spin. It kept the flow very intriguing, to say the least, though it took me some time to get used to. It got me out of my comfort zone in a way, and I admire that, actually, a lot. I expect no less from a thriller book, but truly, this was wonderful to read.
I hope we get another book, and if we do, consider me THERE!! Because I need an Eames book or maybe even one about Piper (ifykyk). Overall, this was a great read, and I genuinely recommend it if you're into thriller, spy, and mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Penguin
[8:07pm — 02/07/2026]
[7:42pm — 02/07/2026]
𐙚⋆°🐝⋆♡ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ thriller
⤷ spy fmc
⤷ young adult
⤷ founded family (?)
𐙚⋆°🐝⋆♡ 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
❛❛𝐢'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧.❜❜
⤷ 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 by 𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲
-`♡´- 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 -`♡´-
Okay, first of all, thank you to Penguin for sending me an ARC copy. I'm forever grateful!
This book was interesting, I'm quite surprised actually at how cool it turned out to be!
I've been in a sorta slump lately, hence reading only a little in the beginning and then finishing the remainder in one go. I'll say the structure of this book is new; I've not seen many books like this, and I really enjoyed it.
Looking at the characters first, Augusta Pine. Oh dear God, my heart ached for her from the beginning. Augusta's life is complex, and I love how she was written, given the detour her life unexpectedly took after the car crash. I love her personality. She's straight-up, humorous, just your average teenager. She reassured me that the version of me a couple of years ago was very normal and valid lol.
I want to speak of other characters; however, I do not want to accidentally spoil anything. So, I'll do a very brief overview. Eames, Nonna, Piper, Prefect, Edgar etc, every single character was written very well. I loved the way each of them played their roles very well. And I mean very well; they even fooled me. That's all I'm saying! Read it to find out 👀.
Moving on to the plot. It was INSANE. This book made me realise how much I love and miss reading thriller books. The plot twists were amazing; I was gasping at the most random times. I'm still lost at how everything was happening on the same day; it was crazy, but I was hooked like no other. Again, I'm not going to say too much because I do not want to spoil this book for anyone. It was that good.
The structure of the book. I LOVED this layout. It was interesting because I did not expect it to go that route. Regardless, it was a new spin. It kept the flow very intriguing, to say the least, though it took me some time to get used to. It got me out of my comfort zone in a way, and I admire that, actually, a lot. I expect no less from a thriller book, but truly, this was wonderful to read.
I hope we get another book, and if we do, consider me THERE!! Because I need an Eames book or maybe even one about Piper (ifykyk). Overall, this was a great read, and I genuinely recommend it if you're into thriller, spy, and mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Penguin
[8:07pm — 02/07/2026]
June 29, 2026
No matter how Emily Lloyd-Jones dresses up these baby potatoes, they’ll be fun and delicious.
This felt like an interesting jump for Lloyd-Jones after 3 intriguing fantasy books (The Bone Houses, The Drowned Woods & The Wild Huntress). When I heard she was making a futuristic ya mystery thriller, I was so curious, I asked for an ARC- so TY MacMillian Audio. 🥰
Maybe because I was a kid growing up with Men in Black and Alias this kinda felt like cat nip in my TBR.
The non-linear timeline threw me a little, but I understood why she did it in the end.
I kinda adored how this felt more like a radio drama. The audio makes me hope there is more in this world in the future.
Augusta Pine Does Not Exist is out 7 July 2026.
This felt like an interesting jump for Lloyd-Jones after 3 intriguing fantasy books (The Bone Houses, The Drowned Woods & The Wild Huntress). When I heard she was making a futuristic ya mystery thriller, I was so curious, I asked for an ARC- so TY MacMillian Audio. 🥰
Maybe because I was a kid growing up with Men in Black and Alias this kinda felt like cat nip in my TBR.
The non-linear timeline threw me a little, but I understood why she did it in the end.
I kinda adored how this felt more like a radio drama. The audio makes me hope there is more in this world in the future.
Augusta Pine Does Not Exist is out 7 July 2026.
August 29, 2026
liked this a lot, especially edgar 🩷
it was super fast paced and intriguing, plus the world building was very interesting. unfortunately the characters felt a bit underdeveloped except for augusta, and i would've loved more details about her and her relationships. i also don't think the romance subplot was necessary with everything that was going on, but i wasn't exactly bothered by it
it was super fast paced and intriguing, plus the world building was very interesting. unfortunately the characters felt a bit underdeveloped except for augusta, and i would've loved more details about her and her relationships. i also don't think the romance subplot was necessary with everything that was going on, but i wasn't exactly bothered by it
July 26, 2026
I requested this on Emily's name alone and when I read the synopsis, I was really excited.
Augusta is an awesome MC. She's smart and maybe a little jaded with a skewed sense of humor. There are a few other characters, but I won't spoil anything. I will say that the sentient AI spybot was so much fun.
Plot wise, it's fast paced, layered, and filled with tension. I loved the mystery, the second guessing everything and everyone, and most of all, how we got glimpses of Augusta's previous jobs.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read. I can't wait to see what's next from Emily.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
Augusta is an awesome MC. She's smart and maybe a little jaded with a skewed sense of humor. There are a few other characters, but I won't spoil anything. I will say that the sentient AI spybot was so much fun.
Plot wise, it's fast paced, layered, and filled with tension. I loved the mystery, the second guessing everything and everyone, and most of all, how we got glimpses of Augusta's previous jobs.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read. I can't wait to see what's next from Emily.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
July 13, 2026
2026: 4.25
This was fun
Totally different vibe from the other E L-J books I have read, but in a way that shows range
This was fun
Totally different vibe from the other E L-J books I have read, but in a way that shows range
December 7, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Super fun! Definitely for young reader fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and shows like Veronica Mars or Totally Spies!
July 12, 2026
Augusta Pine does not Exist was interesting. Really, really interesting.
I'm glad I read it
I'm glad I read it
July 22, 2026
This teen dystopian was so much fun and one of the few times that I read a book and hoped it will be made into a movie! Part spy thriller, part future tech mystery, I was invested from chapter one and sad to see the story end. This is one of those books full of satisfying twists and surprising depth. I think it’s set up for a series while still a satisfying stand alone. Plus I loved the story-within-story way the reader is introduced to things that happened before. Really fun, great for 14+ teens, a solid mix of action and intensity and heart, highly recommended!
July 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This book is sooo much fun. Set in a futuristic world, so close to our reality, that you can truly imagine coming to pass, Augusta is such a great FMC. She’s got sass, I loved her attitude and she does not play by the rules.
I really enjoyed that the book alternated between memos, stories and case briefings. With Die Hard vibes which was always going to suck me in, a really great sci-fi/futurist YA thriller. I would love to read more of August and this world.
Thanks to Penguin YA for the advance copy for review
This book is sooo much fun. Set in a futuristic world, so close to our reality, that you can truly imagine coming to pass, Augusta is such a great FMC. She’s got sass, I loved her attitude and she does not play by the rules.
I really enjoyed that the book alternated between memos, stories and case briefings. With Die Hard vibes which was always going to suck me in, a really great sci-fi/futurist YA thriller. I would love to read more of August and this world.
Thanks to Penguin YA for the advance copy for review
July 10, 2026
Augusta Pine Does Not Exist By Emily Lloyd-Jones is absolutely phenomenal! This audio book was Narrated extremely well & beautifully! Throughout the audio book, there are announcements & hacks, YES, the audiobook gets "hacked"! The story line kept me on the edge of my seat, the cast of characters have a special place in my heart, & the ending has me on a hook! I truly hope that I can read more About Wrathe Augusta Pine! This book was such a fun listen! 10/10!
November 19, 2025
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.
Want to Read
November 12, 2025not at ALL what I expected from ELJ but okay !
July 12, 2026
When our main character, a nifty hacker in the near future with a rebellious side, was fifteen, she hacked a car, which ends in a terrible accident and death. She’s given two options: twenty years in jail or ten working for an off-the-books security division, doing their bidding as a Wraith—basically a ghost, skipping between cities and jobs, infiltrating lives and using her hacker skills for her covert government agency. Her name isn’t Augusta but that’s who she is now, no set home or contact with her family is allowed, instead she must follow her handler to whatever task is at hand.
A few years passes after her initial switch from ordinary citizen to full-time hacker, and Augusta has never missed her family so much. Unbeknownst to her handler she’s been keeping tabs on her grandmother and sister via her grandmother‘s email. So when she has a little time before her next job and rents the place next to her grandmother’s, she’s so close yet so far away. She knows she can’t make contact, but just being close and hoping to catch a glimpse of her feels fulfilling enough. Only, when tragedy strikes and a group of cyber criminals hack her grandmother‘s building that she’s staying in, imprisoning all of the residents, Augusta is thrown into a new challenge with an entirely different set of requirements. Going in blind has never been something her agency willingly does but this time they don’t know who or what is behind it, only that Augusta is the only person they have on the inside. Good thing she has her trusty bot, and knows how to work technology to her advantage, a skill she knew how to do even before she joined the agency. She takes brother and sister Eames and Piper, who are staying with their Aunt in the building, under her wing as she tries to disarm the criminals one by one. But face-to-face with danger whilst trying to protect people she cares about is harder than ever, yet it’s never been so useful to be a ghost. Augusta just needs to stay alive long enough to use her learned skills as a Wraith to her advantage.
There was so many things I loved about Augusta Pine Does Not Exist. Being set in the future gave it this exhilarating yet astute edge, blending modern technology advancements to the extreme into the storyline, and it’s not hard to imagine that someday there will be things like in the book in our day-to-day life (which is quite frightening if you ask me, as I am not a fan of AI.) I really felt for Augusta, she didn’t mean to become a murderer at the start of her story, the thing that made her have to choose to become a wraith. I felt her pain as she could only read about the lives of her sister and grandmother through emails and in passing, knowing so much yet so little, and not being able to tell them she was still alive and would hopefully be coming back someday once she served her sentence with the agency. Emily wrote the technology-meets-assassin storyline so exquisitely gripping that it felt almost like there was a movie playing in my head of the book as I read, vivid and heart-pounding. The Eames and Piper storyline took me on such a rollercoaster that I wasn’t expecting—I couldn’t help but feel emotional at the way that Augusta took them under her wing and how close they became by the end of the story. I could definitely see there being a sequel and that is something I would really love to read because I feel like the ending did leave it open to there being another adventure for Augusta. This was my first book by Emily Lloyd-Jones but it certainly won’t be my last. This was such a tantalising, twisty, edge-of-your-seat YA thriller-meets-sci-fi novel that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
A few years passes after her initial switch from ordinary citizen to full-time hacker, and Augusta has never missed her family so much. Unbeknownst to her handler she’s been keeping tabs on her grandmother and sister via her grandmother‘s email. So when she has a little time before her next job and rents the place next to her grandmother’s, she’s so close yet so far away. She knows she can’t make contact, but just being close and hoping to catch a glimpse of her feels fulfilling enough. Only, when tragedy strikes and a group of cyber criminals hack her grandmother‘s building that she’s staying in, imprisoning all of the residents, Augusta is thrown into a new challenge with an entirely different set of requirements. Going in blind has never been something her agency willingly does but this time they don’t know who or what is behind it, only that Augusta is the only person they have on the inside. Good thing she has her trusty bot, and knows how to work technology to her advantage, a skill she knew how to do even before she joined the agency. She takes brother and sister Eames and Piper, who are staying with their Aunt in the building, under her wing as she tries to disarm the criminals one by one. But face-to-face with danger whilst trying to protect people she cares about is harder than ever, yet it’s never been so useful to be a ghost. Augusta just needs to stay alive long enough to use her learned skills as a Wraith to her advantage.
There was so many things I loved about Augusta Pine Does Not Exist. Being set in the future gave it this exhilarating yet astute edge, blending modern technology advancements to the extreme into the storyline, and it’s not hard to imagine that someday there will be things like in the book in our day-to-day life (which is quite frightening if you ask me, as I am not a fan of AI.) I really felt for Augusta, she didn’t mean to become a murderer at the start of her story, the thing that made her have to choose to become a wraith. I felt her pain as she could only read about the lives of her sister and grandmother through emails and in passing, knowing so much yet so little, and not being able to tell them she was still alive and would hopefully be coming back someday once she served her sentence with the agency. Emily wrote the technology-meets-assassin storyline so exquisitely gripping that it felt almost like there was a movie playing in my head of the book as I read, vivid and heart-pounding. The Eames and Piper storyline took me on such a rollercoaster that I wasn’t expecting—I couldn’t help but feel emotional at the way that Augusta took them under her wing and how close they became by the end of the story. I could definitely see there being a sequel and that is something I would really love to read because I feel like the ending did leave it open to there being another adventure for Augusta. This was my first book by Emily Lloyd-Jones but it certainly won’t be my last. This was such a tantalising, twisty, edge-of-your-seat YA thriller-meets-sci-fi novel that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
September 20, 2026
3.5 Stars
Okay… Augusta Pine does not exist. Except she absolutely does.
This book threw me straight into the world of teenage secret operatives, shady government agencies, cyberterrorists, hacked buildings and an AI spybot with attitude… because apparently being fifteen and getting into trouble wasn’t dramatic enough.
Augusta’s story is definitely not your typical thriller. At fifteen, she becomes a murderer after a hack goes horribly wrong and is given the choice between prison or disappearing completely and becoming an operative for a mysterious government agency. Fast forward three years and she’s basically a ghost. No home, no family, barely any normal human connections, and a whole new identity.
And then she decides to secretly rent the apartment next to her grandmother because apparently casually stalking your own family is the logical thing to do when you’ve been erased from existence.
Of course, things go spectacularly wrong.
When cyberterrorists take over the building and trap the residents, Augusta suddenly has to switch from undercover operative to “how the hell do I keep everyone alive?” mode. There’s hacking, secrets, murder, danger, and a race against time, with Augusta relying on her quick thinking and tech skills to stay ahead of people who are very much prepared to kill for what they want.
I really enjoyed the concept here. The combination of thriller, spy fiction and those case-file excerpts made the story feel different, and I liked the whole exploration of identity, justice and what happens when your entire life is built around a name that isn’t really yours.
Augusta herself was definitely the star for me. She’s smart, resourceful and damaged in a way that makes you want to know what happened to the girl she used to be underneath the operative she’s become.
The pacing kept me interested, although there were a few moments where I felt the story lost a little of its momentum for me. I also think I wanted just a tiny bit more emotional depth in certain places.
Overall though, this was a really original YA thriller with a seriously intriguing premise.
Okay… Augusta Pine does not exist. Except she absolutely does.
This book threw me straight into the world of teenage secret operatives, shady government agencies, cyberterrorists, hacked buildings and an AI spybot with attitude… because apparently being fifteen and getting into trouble wasn’t dramatic enough.
Augusta’s story is definitely not your typical thriller. At fifteen, she becomes a murderer after a hack goes horribly wrong and is given the choice between prison or disappearing completely and becoming an operative for a mysterious government agency. Fast forward three years and she’s basically a ghost. No home, no family, barely any normal human connections, and a whole new identity.
And then she decides to secretly rent the apartment next to her grandmother because apparently casually stalking your own family is the logical thing to do when you’ve been erased from existence.
Of course, things go spectacularly wrong.
When cyberterrorists take over the building and trap the residents, Augusta suddenly has to switch from undercover operative to “how the hell do I keep everyone alive?” mode. There’s hacking, secrets, murder, danger, and a race against time, with Augusta relying on her quick thinking and tech skills to stay ahead of people who are very much prepared to kill for what they want.
I really enjoyed the concept here. The combination of thriller, spy fiction and those case-file excerpts made the story feel different, and I liked the whole exploration of identity, justice and what happens when your entire life is built around a name that isn’t really yours.
Augusta herself was definitely the star for me. She’s smart, resourceful and damaged in a way that makes you want to know what happened to the girl she used to be underneath the operative she’s become.
The pacing kept me interested, although there were a few moments where I felt the story lost a little of its momentum for me. I also think I wanted just a tiny bit more emotional depth in certain places.
Overall though, this was a really original YA thriller with a seriously intriguing premise.
September 21, 2026
It's been a while since I picked up a YA thriller, and Augusta Pine Does Not Exist reminded me why the genre is so fun when it's done right. This is the kind of fast-paced guilty pleasure you consume in one sitting without caring too much about pristine execution.
Almost the entire book takes place over a single chaotic blackout and hostage situation in a Portland apartment building, and the one thing holding it all together is Augusta herself, easily the best thing about this book. You'd expect a girl who went through what she did at fifteen to come out cold, bitter, and resentful of everyone. Instead, she's trying to be a better person every day, risking everything to protect strangers because she believes they deserve better.
Her handler I'm less sure about. Prefect has a habit of throwing Augusta into deadly field operations with zero briefing so she'll “learn to be observant.” Given she started this job at fifteen, I call that endangering a minor. There are also a handful of plot holes that I'd gladly overlook on a good day, which, thankfully, this was.
The twist got me, for the record. But then again, I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed so there's also that. I'd happily read a sequel to see Augusta getting into more shenanigans later in her career, and I'm hoping certain characters find their way back into her orbit.
Recommended for anyone who wants a quick escape into a cyberpunk world full of cool tech, shady government agencies, and a heroine who is very, very hard to kill.
September 28, 2026
I loved this book! I wasn't sure how I'd feel going in because I haven't connected with Emily Lloyd-Jones' work in the past, but Augusta Pine was the perfect balance of thrilling and snarky and emotionally resonant. It's a really fabulous book for teens. I wish she'd leaned a little harder on the dossier setup (these sections read like plain flashbacks rather than the fun found-document type interludes theyre supposed to be) and I expected more to be done with Prefect, but it was still super fun and cute.
July 24, 2026
edgar (the sentient AI in the body of a robot bumblebee with a 1940s transatlantic accent) was the star of the show
July 22, 2026
I had so much fun with this espionage adventure! The audiobook was fantastic, especially with all the sound effects that made the action feel even more immersive. I loved Edgar and the entire cast of characters, and I already can't wait for Augusta's next adventure (it sounds like it can be continued).
The story was packed with exciting missions and nonstop action, but it also had so much heart. My favorite part was the found family dynamic, the friendships, and watching the characters grow while Augusta tackled one mission after another. It was an exciting, feel-good story that left me smiling from beginning to end.
This is definitely a YA novel, so don't expect a gritty spy thriller. Instead, it's a light, fun read with plenty of adventure, humor, and heart. It was exactly the kind of book I could relax with and simply enjoy.
The story was packed with exciting missions and nonstop action, but it also had so much heart. My favorite part was the found family dynamic, the friendships, and watching the characters grow while Augusta tackled one mission after another. It was an exciting, feel-good story that left me smiling from beginning to end.
This is definitely a YA novel, so don't expect a gritty spy thriller. Instead, it's a light, fun read with plenty of adventure, humor, and heart. It was exactly the kind of book I could relax with and simply enjoy.
April 7, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Balzer + Bray for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. This was the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for more! I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought it was well written. It was such a fun book to read and I liked how I was in the mind of a killer. I would definitely recommend this book!
August 6, 2026
DNF @ 62%
“Most people overlook teenage girls. It’s their mistake.”
♫ | now playing
WONDERLAND
🔍🔪⋆｡༄⋆ overall thoughts :
I was hoping for this to be a good read. I love mysteries/thrillers, and this sounded like a good read. I was trying to fly through it, and I eventually realized it just wasn’t interesting to me. It was a different kind of book to me, although it was a ‘thriller’. It just wasn’t thrilling at all to me. The characters were bland, and yeah.
⋆｡༄⋆ tropes !
secret identity
“dead” protagonist
deadly mistakes
✶⋆. hoping my next few reads will be better!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-arc of this book.
One more quote!
“The most dangerous thing in the world is self-awareness. Knowing who and what you are, how you can affect the world. Now that is power. Of course, some people will always ignore the laws.
“Most people overlook teenage girls. It’s their mistake.”
♫ | now playing
WONDERLAND
🔍🔪⋆｡༄⋆ overall thoughts :
I was hoping for this to be a good read. I love mysteries/thrillers, and this sounded like a good read. I was trying to fly through it, and I eventually realized it just wasn’t interesting to me. It was a different kind of book to me, although it was a ‘thriller’. It just wasn’t thrilling at all to me. The characters were bland, and yeah.
⋆｡༄⋆ tropes !
secret identity
“dead” protagonist
deadly mistakes
✶⋆. hoping my next few reads will be better!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-arc of this book.
One more quote!
“The most dangerous thing in the world is self-awareness. Knowing who and what you are, how you can affect the world. Now that is power. Of course, some people will always ignore the laws.
July 12, 2026
*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this one. I wasn't sure what to think when I first started it but once I got into the story, I really loved it. I liked the plot and the setting and it all just kept me on my toes from the very beginning to the very end. The main character was really layered and interesting and I liked her badass ways. I loved getting to know her and I also liked seeing her grow throughout the story. I was just very into all of it and I had the best time. This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last!
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this one. I wasn't sure what to think when I first started it but once I got into the story, I really loved it. I liked the plot and the setting and it all just kept me on my toes from the very beginning to the very end. The main character was really layered and interesting and I liked her badass ways. I loved getting to know her and I also liked seeing her grow throughout the story. I was just very into all of it and I had the best time. This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last!
July 11, 2026
SUCH A CRISP BOOK VERY GOOD VERY GOOD
July 30, 2026
I had a great time reading this, it reminded me of Criminal Minds (for some reason) and Nikita, except a lot less dark and more towards the younger audience. I couldn't help thinking how fun it would be to have a TV show inspired by Augusta Pine.
There were some humorous parts that made me chuckled, but also parts where I felt sad for Augusta. She's definitely a character that I would like to read about, and follow her journey. I loved how Augusta was not that perfect genius. Despite having high IQ, she was not always so quick to figure things out. The way she solved things was rather reckless, yet relatable. Because she was still a teenager, not a highly trained spy with a decade of experience. She's not a character that I felt was too good to be true.
My favourite character is probably Edgar <3
The plot was fun, there were twists that I liked. It's a book filled with action, thrill and tension. The writing was easy to read and fast paced which made reading this a breeze. Also the WRAITH CASE STUDY excerpts were fun to read! I really liked that we got flashbacks too.
I hope there's another book coming, because I really want to read more of Augusta Pine.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House UK Children's for sending me a copy via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
There were some humorous parts that made me chuckled, but also parts where I felt sad for Augusta. She's definitely a character that I would like to read about, and follow her journey. I loved how Augusta was not that perfect genius. Despite having high IQ, she was not always so quick to figure things out. The way she solved things was rather reckless, yet relatable. Because she was still a teenager, not a highly trained spy with a decade of experience. She's not a character that I felt was too good to be true.
My favourite character is probably Edgar <3
The plot was fun, there were twists that I liked. It's a book filled with action, thrill and tension. The writing was easy to read and fast paced which made reading this a breeze. Also the WRAITH CASE STUDY excerpts were fun to read! I really liked that we got flashbacks too.
I hope there's another book coming, because I really want to read more of Augusta Pine.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House UK Children's for sending me a copy via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2026
4.5⭐️ i was hooked the entire time, such a face paced, gripping book had me second guessing everything. augusta pine im obsessed with you don’t ever change girl
November 25, 2025
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Balzer & Bray for providing a free digital ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Balzer & Bray for providing a free digital ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Want to Read
March 30, 2026sometimes I need a little spy fiction mystery
this one sounds good!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
this one sounds good!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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