Augusta Pine Does Not Exist: An edge-of-your-seat reverse heist thriller

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Everyone thinks she's dead. Turns out she went undercover.

An edge-of-your-seat reverse heist thriller about a teen spy who must outsmart a team of criminals in order to free a building full of innocent hostages . . . and herself. Masterfully weaving together the undercover secrecy and thrills of The Naturals series, the killer twists and turns of Five Survive and the futuristic setting of Cyberpunk 2077.

In the near future, to combat identity theft, paper and plastic IDs have been replaced with permanent biometric tattoos. But governments still need people to work in the shadows. These people are called wraiths.

THEN
When she was fifteen, Augusta Pine (alias) hacked a car’s autopilot and accidentally killed her first crush. She was given two 1) Spend twenty years in prison for manslaughter or 2) serve ten years in the Identity Security Division as a wraith – an undercover spy with no official existence. Augusta chose the second.

NOW
Eighteen-year-old Augusta has no fixed home and all her family think she died in the car crash. Her only friends are her coolly professional handler, Prefect, and a snarky sentient Al spybot called Edgar. On a rare weekend to herself, she decides to rent a room in a smart apartment complex and makes grand plans to do nothing but relax . . . until six cyber criminals hack the building and imprison all the residents.

To save everyone, Augusta will have to rely on her wits and her own criminal skills to stay one step ahead of the killers. For the first time in her life, could it pay to not exist?

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

Kindle Edition

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.

Right now you can bid on an advanced reader copy!

[ananya ౨ৎ (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 🙂‍↕️🕵️‍♀️💻💐

[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.

[Starr ❇✌❇]

not at ALL what I expected from ELJ but okay !

[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.

[zaheerah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun! Definitely for young reader fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and shows like Veronica Mars or Totally Spies!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's one thing that's true for any Emily Lloyd-Jones book, it's that I'm going to get way too emotionally attached.

I added Augusta Pine Does Not Exist to my TBR almost immediately after seeing it because I've recently fallen in love with several of Emily Lloyd-Jones's other books, and I was super excited to get approved for it in Netgalley. If I'd had the time, I easily could've consumed this in one sitting, and I'm already craving a reread because I was completely enthralled with this story. It reminded me a lot of Chloe Gong's Coldwire mixed with the action and suspense of Amie Kaufman's Red Star Rebels. Also, I really appreciated the social commentary on AI and exploitation of the poor in times of crisis, and in general, I thought the worldbuilding with the wraiths and the technology used were super fun. I do want to mention that I've seen some other reviews claiming this is more of a lower YA, and I think I'm inclined to agree, but I think it's still an enjoyable read for everyone.

Augusta Pine does not exist. She's a wraith (a spy, essentially, whose past has been erased) working for the Identity Security Division as a means of escaping the prison sentence she deserves. When Augusta takes a chance to revisit her past, she gets caught up in a cyberterrorist attack, and if she wants to protect herself and those she cares for, she'll need to put a stop to it herself. Part Home Alone-esque plot, part spy fiction, this book was action-packed from beginning to end. Sometimes the pace is slowed by mini reports on Augusta's past missions (which were super fun to read), but overall, I felt that the pace was quite fast and the tension was high almost the entire time. There were quite a few plot twists throughout (one of which I spoiled for myself) with a mix of predictability, but I think all of them were foreshadowed in one way or another. The suspense kept me hooked the entire time, and I loved how the cleverness of the characters pushed the plot along. The ending is mostly satisfying, but I feel like it's open for more, and I would absolutely love to follow Augusta's story further in the future. I'm holding out hope that the author decides to continue because this was such a fun read.

The character dynamics tied the whole thing together for me. Augusta was an amazing protagonist to follow; she has a great sense of humor, she's incredibly clever, and her backstory made me root for her from the beginning. She's easily earned herself a spot as one of my favorite characters ever, which is another reason I really hope there's more in store for her. Eames and Piper were great additions as well. Piper's commentary was as hilarious as Augusta's, and I really liked Eames's sense of justice as well as his interactions with Augusta. Eames definitely has a lot more depth to him than we saw here (sequel sequel sequel). Nonna was also a fun character and I really liked her devotion to protecting three random kids, so I'm assuming that's where the found family aspect comes from. Oh, and Edgar was adorable. I love him so much. The character that intrigued me the most was Prefect, if only because he's so mysterious. I went back and forth between trusting him and not, and I'm so unsure about him that it intrigues me even further. The characters and their dynamics are all amazing, and the humor was just perfect.

Augusta Pine Does Not Exist is a YA dystopian/cyberpunk spy adventure featuring a main character with an impeccable sense of humor and her robotic bee friend, perfect for fans of Chloe Gong's Coldwire and Amie Kaufman's Red Star Rebels.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.5/5

[Alicia Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun YA book! So many genres rolled into one: part thriller, part mystery, part sci-fi, part dystopian, part found family, a hint of romance, part action, and part retro/nostalgic. I threw that last one in because the story reminds me of if Princess Leia and Nancy Drew merged into one being, combining the girl-boss skills of the former with the sleuthing skills of the latter. And then you added in a sentient AI bumblebee sidekick with R2-D2's personality and mannerisms, and the flying abilities of a Golden Snitch, and--voila- an unstoppable, "crime"-stopping duo. Add in a "handler" who is like how Oscar Goldman was for Steve Austin, combined with who "M" was for James Bond, as a mentor and sympathetic shoulder to lean on. In addition to the "old school" Spy Kids kind of vibes, it is mostly a clean read, which would be appropriate for most kids ages 12 and up. I could easily see many sequels being made in order to create a book series (although it works perfectly fine as a standalone as well), and I would not be surprised if this novel ends up being made into a tv series or a movie. Along the lines of Stranger Things, but not as dark. **I was provided this ARC in a GoodReads giveaway, but all opinions are my own.

[Cathy Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book a lot! It sort of reminded me of an older middle-grades/YA version (mildly sanitized) of the tv show Alias. The writing is great, and the characters are all excellent (I especially loved Edgar). I wasn't sure at first how I would like the interludes, but I ended up mostly enjoying them as a good window into the past to add context to current characters and events, without interrupting the current story too much. The reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I think I got lost a little bit in the bigger picture of the motivation for the whole building hacking and taking the residents hostage. There was the storyline about the daughter and the storyline about Vale selling... something? info? I missed how these storylines are connected and what, exactly, was Vale's motivation for such a drastic tactic of taking hundreds of hostages and killing the security guard, which seems way extreme for just getting her kid back.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story! I really enjoyed getting to know "Augusta" right from the start- she's snarky but kind, guilt-ridden but decisive, strongly principled with a good head on her shoulders. The book is engaging the whole way through- when it's not following Augusta chasing criminals through back passages a la Die Hard (it's much more fun than Die Hard though), it's giving us flashbacks that hit all the right emotional beats without losing the story's momentum. There's a little bit of YA-typical romance, but it's not the focus at all; much more attention is given to family relationships (and human-robot relationships. For as little on-page time as Edgar gets, he has a surprising amount of character and importance to Augusta's story). Would recommend to anyone looking for a light thriller with some thoughtfulness to it.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC copy of Augusta Pine Does Not Exist in return for my honest review.

While this story didn't completely captivate me from start to finish, I must admit it was absolutely brimming with action-packed moments that kept the pace lively. It took me a surprisingly long time to initially get through the opening chapters and truly immerse myself in the narrative world and the characters' plights. The writing style and thematic elements definitely categorize this as an older Young Adult (YA) novel, leaning more toward the classic structure of the genre. Despite my initial struggle to connect, I firmly believe that a young adult audience—especially one looking for an energetic and fast-paced adventure—would find significant enjoyment in this book. It serves its purpose well as a solid, if slightly dated, entry into YA fiction.

[Sukie · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜AUGUSTA PINE DOES NOT EXIST💜

Augusta Pine Does Not Exist had me immediately hooked. I tore through this book, constantly on edge, needing to know what was real and what wasn’t.
It’s eerie and tense, you'll feel like you're right there screaming at the characters but no one can hear you. The atmosphere comes to life, the suspense never lets up, and the questions it raises about identity and truth linger long after the last page.
I loved every second of it!! Highly recommend if you like unsettling, can’t put down reads. 🌲📖

@em_llojo @fiercereads @goodreads thank you for the opportunity to have read this!!

#emilylloydjones #psychologicalsuspense #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookrecommendations📚❣️

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was such an interesting story. I'm so thankful that I got approved for an e-arc.

I'm not usually a thriller reader, but the summary for this book was appealing. There is something about Emily Lloyd-Jones writing that is so addictive to read. I had to know what was going to happen next. I honestly could read an entire series following Augusta Pines. I was not expecting the twist. I was just vibing. The characters were well-written. The flashbacks helped to create a well-rounded story. I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Lloyd-Jones, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[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)