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Pretend She's Here
Emily Lonergan's best friend died last year.
And Emily hasn't stopped grieving. Lizzie Porter was lively, loud, and fun -- Emily's better half. Emily can't accept that she's gone.
When Lizzie's parents and her sister come back to town to visit, Emily's heartened to see them. The Porters understand her pain. They miss Lizzie desperately, too.
Desperately enough to do something crazy.
Something unthinkable.
Suddenly, Emily's life is hurtling toward a very dark place -- and she's not sure she'll ever be able to return to what she once knew was real.
From New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a breathless, unputdownable story of suspense, secrets -- and the strength that love gives us to survive even the most shocking of circumstances.
And Emily hasn't stopped grieving. Lizzie Porter was lively, loud, and fun -- Emily's better half. Emily can't accept that she's gone.
When Lizzie's parents and her sister come back to town to visit, Emily's heartened to see them. The Porters understand her pain. They miss Lizzie desperately, too.
Desperately enough to do something crazy.
Something unthinkable.
Suddenly, Emily's life is hurtling toward a very dark place -- and she's not sure she'll ever be able to return to what she once knew was real.
From New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a breathless, unputdownable story of suspense, secrets -- and the strength that love gives us to survive even the most shocking of circumstances.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
732 people are currently reading
7566 people want to read
About the author
Luanne Rice
109 books3,145 followersLuanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, translated into thirty languages. Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. Most recently she has written thrillers, including one based on a murder that affected her family. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 804 reviews
April 23, 2023
This book is one of the only books I would read again in a heartbeat. It is that good. I like reading books where everyone thinks there is no hope but eventually survive in the end against all odds. I feel like this book is so true. I believe that a mother who has lost her child would go crazy and force someone to be her daughter again. It is so scary that I could be walking on the street and all of a sudden I wake up in someone else's house because I have been kidnapped.
Emily was different when she was not forced to be Lizzie anymore. I guess having to pretend to be Lizzie and hear people call her by that name all the time made her feel a little bit like Lizzie as well. As if Lizzie was now a deeper part of her.
Casey held Emily together when she was dying. Mrs. Porter was going to kill Emily and I saw it coming. Was it because Emily would not call her mom or just because she was that desperate for a daughter she could see, feel, and touch? Emily's spirit was flying away and I thought she was going to die. Casey held her together. I mean that both ways. I think she would have died if Casey didn't keep the blood from coming out of the wound. Their relationship needs to work but long-distance ones never so... They are the power couple of the century.
Emily was different when she was not forced to be Lizzie anymore. I guess having to pretend to be Lizzie and hear people call her by that name all the time made her feel a little bit like Lizzie as well. As if Lizzie was now a deeper part of her.
Casey held Emily together when she was dying. Mrs. Porter was going to kill Emily and I saw it coming. Was it because Emily would not call her mom or just because she was that desperate for a daughter she could see, feel, and touch? Emily's spirit was flying away and I thought she was going to die. Casey held her together. I mean that both ways. I think she would have died if Casey didn't keep the blood from coming out of the wound. Their relationship needs to work but long-distance ones never so... They are the power couple of the century.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2021
HOLY MOLY
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD
i freaking loved it.
okay. I'm not even going to try and write a good review so here:
this book was very fast paced and engaging. a very quick and enjoyable read
i loved everything sooooo much <3##333
the ending thoughhhhhh
ahhhhh
highly recommend:)
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD
i freaking loved it.
okay. I'm not even going to try and write a good review so here:
this book was very fast paced and engaging. a very quick and enjoyable read
i loved everything sooooo much <3##333
the ending thoughhhhhh
ahhhhh
highly recommend:)
January 5, 2021
9 out of 10
ревью на русском/review in russian
This is a story about a kidnapping and its aftermath. About madness that grew upon grief on an already quite abusive and manic soil. About children imprisoned by love for their parents, no matter what they do. About sophisticated ways to break the will and reshape a personality that has not formed yet due to age. About what happens next.
Imagine that you had a fight with your brother and sister and walked from school through the cemetery, wanting to visit the grave of your best friend who died a year ago. There you meet her family, which you considered your own, your relationship was really close. They offer to give you a lift home. At some point, you realize that you're not being taken home. And they start to address you with the name of your dead friend. Omg, what's happening?
A psychological thriller, ya romance, family drama, and incredible suspense, because of which I couldn't go to bed until I finished the book, are entangled here. You worry about the heroine from the first page, the situation is dire, you can't help your nerves.
Perhaps a little later I'll be back to raise the rating to 10 stars, but so far I'm in such a state of mind that I'm not interested in teenage romances, I can feel how my fascination with the plot muffles when I see talking about school balls, datings in garages and so on. Not because it's bad itself or badly written. It just doesn't touch me. The main plotline is very intense and such pauses on teen everyday life Feel like tachycardia - here you go crazy, here you're discussing songs, crazy again, now think of a boy. Don't worry, it was a minor part of the plot) But it showed me that I actually don't need a break from the suspense. Yes, it exhausts me, but those 'breaks' made me worry even more.
I recommend the book anyway! A similar topic was brought up in Losing Leah but the story was not very believable, therefore didn't move me hard. This book crushed me. The finale didn't surprise me a lot, rather brought relief and confirmed my love for the main character. She's incredible!
Oh, and I think that's the case when all that glitters is not gold and vice versa. One family seemed to be happy and good from the outside and turned to be dark and creepy while the other seemed dysfunctional due to stereotypes and past mistakes but turned out to be full of love.
March 20, 2019
The synopsis for this book made it seem really interesting but I had such a hard time getting into it. I was going to rate it 2-3 stars but then the ending aggravated me so I chose 1 star. Parts of the book were way too predictable.
Also for the last few hours, the word ‘said’ was used every fourth word pretty much which drove me up a wall listening to it on audiobook!!
I especially hated how easily Chloe was forgiven and supported as if she wasn’t a part of the whole kidnapping at all. I thought the romance with the neighbour and their house catching fire was unnecessary. Emily frustrated me because she had many chances to escape but didn’t and protected/ thanked the people that were keeping her captive. I understand she was trying to protect her mom but they were states apart.. how fast did she think Mrs Porter could travel??
Also for the last few hours, the word ‘said’ was used every fourth word pretty much which drove me up a wall listening to it on audiobook!!
I especially hated how easily Chloe was forgiven and supported as if she wasn’t a part of the whole kidnapping at all. I thought the romance with the neighbour and their house catching fire was unnecessary. Emily frustrated me because she had many chances to escape but didn’t and protected/ thanked the people that were keeping her captive. I understand she was trying to protect her mom but they were states apart.. how fast did she think Mrs Porter could travel??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2019
2.5 stars. This was a really interesting concept but the characters and Lifetime-channel plot fell flat for me.
May 19, 2021
MY RATING: 3.5
April 5, 2019
A great YA psychological thriller. Mama was craycray. And it gave insight to the "conditioning" that kidnapped ones receive from their kidnappers. There was even room for a bit of a love story in the mix, and it was tastefully done. Never did you forget these were children, but even if you are no longer a child, you could empathize with being there once. Great story that I could not put down. It is not a light, feel-good read though, so know what you are in for. Its drama, it has some stressful moments, but ends well. It has some very realistic tones, and whatever happens, it will be ok.
February 20, 2021
He said, she said, I said, she said, he said angrily.
Oh my grrrrrrrrrr. Learn a new word or, even better, learn how to create dialog WITHOUT using the word 'said'.
Oh my grrrrrrrrrr. Learn a new word or, even better, learn how to create dialog WITHOUT using the word 'said'.
December 15, 2023
Don’t judge I remember reading this when I was young and loving it.
June 5, 2025
ˋ°•*⁀➷ 3 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔
I can not tell if I loved it or hated it. So many parts of it are so so so ridiculous that it's funny, but it was a really quick, fun and enjoyable read. Definitely not a high quality book, but I was able to read it in less than a day, which says something. It's hard to put down (not as addivctive as the naturals though...), and if you don't have much time to read but want to read something enjoyable, I would recommend it. If you're looking for a good high quality book to obsess over, this is not it.
Ages 12+
𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼
Attempted murder (stabbing, if that matters), kidnapping, alchoholism, death of a best friend, brief mention of child abuse (past, not on page, not detailed), mentions of drugs/overdose, some talk of depression, kissing, crushes
EMETOPHOBIA WARNING: Multiple v* scenes, one in the car, another at the hospital, multiple mentions of v*
Possible spoilers from this point on ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
16 year old Emily's best friend, Lizzie, died from cancer a year ago. Lizzie's mom, driven insane by grief, kidnaps Emily, forces her to live in a basement, and then dyes her hair, and everything else to make her look like Lizzie. She makes her pretend to be her, go to school as her, everything else. Emily's mom is a recovered alchoholic, so Mrs Porter (The kidnapper), forces her to write an email lying and saying that her mom is back to drinking and she ran away. Mrs Porter threatens to kill Emily's mother if she calls the police or tells anyone. A lot happens, she goes to school, falls in love with a boy names Casey, and then, eventually, the police come. Mrs Porter stabs Emily, she gets a bunch or surgeries, and eventually recovers. Mrs and Mr Porter and in jail, same with Chloe, their daughter. She is let out, and Emily's family adopts her.
𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
⤷ Emily- Hmmm.... she was alright, idk what to think of her, she really didn't have much personality
⤷ Casey- I don't have a reason to dislike him. And yet, I do
⤷ Chloe- I can't blame her for what her parents did, she was young and was manipulated by her parents. I actually feel bad for her
⤷ Carole- Why do all the names start with the letter "C"? like seriously?? Aside from that, I don't like her. She's kind of annoying tbh
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓭
⤷ The concept- It was interesting, and I haven't read many books like it
⤷ The writing style- easy to read, entertaining, a solid writing style except for a few parts
⤷ The pacing/plot- It was super fun to read, hard to put down, definitely not boring
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 (be prepared for a rant)
⤷ The romance- AHHHH IT WAS SO CHEESY!!! YOUR TELLING ME 16 YEARS OLD FALL SO IN LOVE IN LIKE A WEEK THAT HE WRITES MULTIPLE SONGS ABOUT HER AND SITS BESIDE HER WHEN SHES IN THE HOSPITAL?!? No teenage boy writes songs for his "girlfriend" who he never went on a date with, barely knows, and kissed ONCE?! I'm sorry, but this is soooo unrealistic!
⤷ This one scene near the beginning- After she was kidnapped, Mrs Porter (the lady who kidnapped her), lets her out of the car to go to the bathroom. Except, there is no bathroom. She is told to pee in the bushes. So, thats a bit weird to add to a book, but it gets weirder. Mrs Porter tells her to pee, right? obviously she can't. Then Mrs porter says: "let the waterfall flow", and suddenly, it works! Also there is some unnecassary details about pee.... WHAT THE HECK? Its a YA book, was this supposed to be funny? I'm sorry, I did laugh at it, but it feels like a scene targeted towards 9 years olds.
⤷ The medical parts- Ok, so apparently she starts thinking about Lizzie, her dead best friend who she is forced to take a place of while giving a presentation, and she says "LIZZIE IS DEAD!", it shocks everyone, of course, because they think she is Lizzie, and then... she passes out? I get that people can faint from extreme stresss and stuff like that, so it would make sense, but then it shows her waking up in a hospital room and them telling her that shes been unconsious for 40 MINUTES?!? No, most people do not stay passed out for 40 minutes if its from stress. I'm just saying... i think she has an underlying medical condition. Then, she tells the doctor that it was because she skipped breakfast, and they let her go?! Yes, that is realistic, but I feel like they would know that skipping breakfast can not cause you to pass out for almost an hour.
⤷ The medical parts (continued)- Ok, next thing. After she gets stabbed, it says in literally these words "I felt my spirit lifting out of my body and I could see myself lying on the floor". I'm just saying, that is PRETTY unrealistic. And then, when shes in a coma, it describes her trying to talk and move but not being able to. YOU ARE IN A COMA, YES SOME PEOPLE IN COMAS CAN HEAR, BUT THEY CAN NOT USUALLY TRY TO MOVE. And it keeps getting worse like that, and then when shes awake and everything, theres all the dramatic parts, and then they say "Oh no, these surgery's gave you tachycardia!! we have to rush to to the best hospital for emergency surgery!!". Tachycardia is a heart rate over 100 bpm. I have tachycardia. Yes, if you have it after surgery it could damage the healing or something, but it just feels unrealistic to suddenly rush her in for emergency surgery.
⤷ The whole Lizzie and her boyfriend marriage thing- before Lizzie died, she wanted to marry her boyfriend. She got Emily to sign up to be one of the people who officiates weddings (i forget what they're called), and she did, and they got married secretly. There is just one *tiny* flaw... they were FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. You can not legally get married until you are sixteen, and that is with parent permission, which she did not have. and a fifteen year old can not be the one to do the wedding (i forget the term lol). It just makes no sense 😭😭😭
It is not a very quality book, and is kind of immature at times, but still fun and easy to read, and very enjoyable. I recommend it if you want a quick read and don't need a book to obsess over!
I can not tell if I loved it or hated it. So many parts of it are so so so ridiculous that it's funny, but it was a really quick, fun and enjoyable read. Definitely not a high quality book, but I was able to read it in less than a day, which says something. It's hard to put down (not as addivctive as the naturals though...), and if you don't have much time to read but want to read something enjoyable, I would recommend it. If you're looking for a good high quality book to obsess over, this is not it.
Ages 12+
𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼
Attempted murder (stabbing, if that matters), kidnapping, alchoholism, death of a best friend, brief mention of child abuse (past, not on page, not detailed), mentions of drugs/overdose, some talk of depression, kissing, crushes
EMETOPHOBIA WARNING: Multiple v* scenes, one in the car, another at the hospital, multiple mentions of v*
Possible spoilers from this point on ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
16 year old Emily's best friend, Lizzie, died from cancer a year ago. Lizzie's mom, driven insane by grief, kidnaps Emily, forces her to live in a basement, and then dyes her hair, and everything else to make her look like Lizzie. She makes her pretend to be her, go to school as her, everything else. Emily's mom is a recovered alchoholic, so Mrs Porter (The kidnapper), forces her to write an email lying and saying that her mom is back to drinking and she ran away. Mrs Porter threatens to kill Emily's mother if she calls the police or tells anyone. A lot happens, she goes to school, falls in love with a boy names Casey, and then, eventually, the police come. Mrs Porter stabs Emily, she gets a bunch or surgeries, and eventually recovers. Mrs and Mr Porter and in jail, same with Chloe, their daughter. She is let out, and Emily's family adopts her.
𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
⤷ Emily- Hmmm.... she was alright, idk what to think of her, she really didn't have much personality
⤷ Casey- I don't have a reason to dislike him. And yet, I do
⤷ Chloe- I can't blame her for what her parents did, she was young and was manipulated by her parents. I actually feel bad for her
⤷ Carole- Why do all the names start with the letter "C"? like seriously?? Aside from that, I don't like her. She's kind of annoying tbh
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓭
⤷ The concept- It was interesting, and I haven't read many books like it
⤷ The writing style- easy to read, entertaining, a solid writing style except for a few parts
⤷ The pacing/plot- It was super fun to read, hard to put down, definitely not boring
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 (be prepared for a rant)
⤷ The romance- AHHHH IT WAS SO CHEESY!!! YOUR TELLING ME 16 YEARS OLD FALL SO IN LOVE IN LIKE A WEEK THAT HE WRITES MULTIPLE SONGS ABOUT HER AND SITS BESIDE HER WHEN SHES IN THE HOSPITAL?!? No teenage boy writes songs for his "girlfriend" who he never went on a date with, barely knows, and kissed ONCE?! I'm sorry, but this is soooo unrealistic!
⤷ This one scene near the beginning- After she was kidnapped, Mrs Porter (the lady who kidnapped her), lets her out of the car to go to the bathroom. Except, there is no bathroom. She is told to pee in the bushes. So, thats a bit weird to add to a book, but it gets weirder. Mrs Porter tells her to pee, right? obviously she can't. Then Mrs porter says: "let the waterfall flow", and suddenly, it works! Also there is some unnecassary details about pee.... WHAT THE HECK? Its a YA book, was this supposed to be funny? I'm sorry, I did laugh at it, but it feels like a scene targeted towards 9 years olds.
⤷ The medical parts- Ok, so apparently she starts thinking about Lizzie, her dead best friend who she is forced to take a place of while giving a presentation, and she says "LIZZIE IS DEAD!", it shocks everyone, of course, because they think she is Lizzie, and then... she passes out? I get that people can faint from extreme stresss and stuff like that, so it would make sense, but then it shows her waking up in a hospital room and them telling her that shes been unconsious for 40 MINUTES?!? No, most people do not stay passed out for 40 minutes if its from stress. I'm just saying... i think she has an underlying medical condition. Then, she tells the doctor that it was because she skipped breakfast, and they let her go?! Yes, that is realistic, but I feel like they would know that skipping breakfast can not cause you to pass out for almost an hour.
⤷ The medical parts (continued)- Ok, next thing. After she gets stabbed, it says in literally these words "I felt my spirit lifting out of my body and I could see myself lying on the floor". I'm just saying, that is PRETTY unrealistic. And then, when shes in a coma, it describes her trying to talk and move but not being able to. YOU ARE IN A COMA, YES SOME PEOPLE IN COMAS CAN HEAR, BUT THEY CAN NOT USUALLY TRY TO MOVE. And it keeps getting worse like that, and then when shes awake and everything, theres all the dramatic parts, and then they say "Oh no, these surgery's gave you tachycardia!! we have to rush to to the best hospital for emergency surgery!!". Tachycardia is a heart rate over 100 bpm. I have tachycardia. Yes, if you have it after surgery it could damage the healing or something, but it just feels unrealistic to suddenly rush her in for emergency surgery.
⤷ The whole Lizzie and her boyfriend marriage thing- before Lizzie died, she wanted to marry her boyfriend. She got Emily to sign up to be one of the people who officiates weddings (i forget what they're called), and she did, and they got married secretly. There is just one *tiny* flaw... they were FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. You can not legally get married until you are sixteen, and that is with parent permission, which she did not have. and a fifteen year old can not be the one to do the wedding (i forget the term lol). It just makes no sense 😭😭😭
It is not a very quality book, and is kind of immature at times, but still fun and easy to read, and very enjoyable. I recommend it if you want a quick read and don't need a book to obsess over!
August 7, 2020
Did not love this, I found all the characters flat and unrelatable. I don't know why but I just found this so hard to believe, I think if it had been written differently it would have been more believable but it just wasn't for me.
February 21, 2019
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I didn't want to read Pretend She's Here at first.
But as I read the synopsis, Luanne Rice's latest book sounded dark and twisted and Pretend She's Here sounded very much like a book up my alley.I love a book that is dark.
I found myself pleasantly surprised... and disappointed at the same time.
There were a few things that worked well with Pretend She's Here and a few things that didn't, but some of it is a matter of my own personal tastes. 😅
1. Flashbacks work well here (for the most part).
As much as I'm not a huge fan of a ton of flashbacks, this worked really well! Although Emily Lonergan lost her best friend Lizzie Porter a year ago, she continues to grieve over Lizzie's death. The flashbacks helped reinforce her friendship with Lizzie and how much the two meant to each other.
2. I love the family support.
Emily comes from a somewhat large family and she keeps her family in mind to help her survive each day she is stuck with the Porters, who returned to town to come and visit. Instead of coming and going, however, they take Emily away and have her live as Lizzie. Through the flashbacks, we find out Emily and her family are a close-knit group despite the size, and they're supportive through the ups and downs.
3. Engaging storyline.
For my personal enjoyment of the book, I wasn't a huge fan. I found myself interested in continuing Pretend She's Here, but I also found myself putting a distance with the book. While there is a solid storyline that will keep readers interested in finding out what happens to Emily, everything comes together easily. However, I loved the ending when the characters reflect on everything that has happened, and I know full well younger me would have loved this book. I highly recommend Pretend She's Here for fans of April Henry or for those who are interested in the bigger picture rather than the thrills and excitement.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
I didn't want to read Pretend She's Here at first.
But as I read the synopsis, Luanne Rice's latest book sounded dark and twisted and Pretend She's Here sounded very much like a book up my alley.
I found myself pleasantly surprised... and disappointed at the same time.
There were a few things that worked well with Pretend She's Here and a few things that didn't, but some of it is a matter of my own personal tastes. 😅
1. Flashbacks work well here (for the most part).
As much as I'm not a huge fan of a ton of flashbacks, this worked really well! Although Emily Lonergan lost her best friend Lizzie Porter a year ago, she continues to grieve over Lizzie's death. The flashbacks helped reinforce her friendship with Lizzie and how much the two meant to each other.
2. I love the family support.
Emily comes from a somewhat large family and she keeps her family in mind to help her survive each day she is stuck with the Porters, who returned to town to come and visit. Instead of coming and going, however, they take Emily away and have her live as Lizzie. Through the flashbacks, we find out Emily and her family are a close-knit group despite the size, and they're supportive through the ups and downs.
3. Engaging storyline.
For my personal enjoyment of the book, I wasn't a huge fan. I found myself interested in continuing Pretend She's Here, but I also found myself putting a distance with the book. While there is a solid storyline that will keep readers interested in finding out what happens to Emily, everything comes together easily. However, I loved the ending when the characters reflect on everything that has happened, and I know full well younger me would have loved this book. I highly recommend Pretend She's Here for fans of April Henry or for those who are interested in the bigger picture rather than the thrills and excitement.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
February 6, 2019
This story has a dark side and Emily goes through experiences we can hardly begin to imagine. She is betrayed by people she once considered to be family. The relationship between Emily and Casey is a redeeming factor in this narrative. Without Casey in the story I could not have finished. Reading all the way to the end reveals the power of redemption and forgiveness.
Thank you, Scholastic and Edelweiss for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Scholastic and Edelweiss for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
**Nonspecific, general spoilers at the end**
5 Big Ugly Cry STARS
Emily mourns the death of her best friend Lizzie Porter, gone nearly a year. The Porters miss their daughter so much they try to replace her with Emily, literally not figuratively. Under threat of death to her mother, Emily must become Lizzie in order to survive.
I’ve enjoyed Luanne Rice books for years, particularly the ones focusing on family and friendship. I didn’t like Rice’s YA debut THE BEAUTIFUL LOST, but wanted to give PRETEND SHE’S HERE a shot because of the strength of Rice’s storytelling abilities. I’m so glad I did.
Emily is a great character, the youngest of seven Irish Catholic siblings, each with a distinct role and personality. She’s spunky, even when Mrs Porter tries to turn her into Lizzie 2.0.
I love fiction that makes me feel sobbed for the last 20% of PRETEND SHE’S HERE. I don’t think this is a book everyone will love, with a plot too outlandish to be real. Rice’s writing makes the impossible plausible with likable, unique character traits and subplots including: partial blindness, alcoholism, grief, friendships, family, siblings and the healing powers of love and forgiveness.
PRETEND SHE’S HERE is a book I will read more than once.
**Here’s the spoiler**
Teen abduction stories are among my favorite. PRETEND SHE’S HERE stands out from the others because it’s not a story that begins or finishes and the end of the abduction, just like the victim’s story does end upon release. Emily has a story before, during and after the abduction.
I just listened to the Audible version which is wonderful.
5 Big Ugly Cry STARS
Emily mourns the death of her best friend Lizzie Porter, gone nearly a year. The Porters miss their daughter so much they try to replace her with Emily, literally not figuratively. Under threat of death to her mother, Emily must become Lizzie in order to survive.
I’ve enjoyed Luanne Rice books for years, particularly the ones focusing on family and friendship. I didn’t like Rice’s YA debut THE BEAUTIFUL LOST, but wanted to give PRETEND SHE’S HERE a shot because of the strength of Rice’s storytelling abilities. I’m so glad I did.
Emily is a great character, the youngest of seven Irish Catholic siblings, each with a distinct role and personality. She’s spunky, even when Mrs Porter tries to turn her into Lizzie 2.0.
I love fiction that makes me feel sobbed for the last 20% of PRETEND SHE’S HERE. I don’t think this is a book everyone will love, with a plot too outlandish to be real. Rice’s writing makes the impossible plausible with likable, unique character traits and subplots including: partial blindness, alcoholism, grief, friendships, family, siblings and the healing powers of love and forgiveness.
PRETEND SHE’S HERE is a book I will read more than once.
**Here’s the spoiler**
Teen abduction stories are among my favorite. PRETEND SHE’S HERE stands out from the others because it’s not a story that begins or finishes and the end of the abduction, just like the victim’s story does end upon release. Emily has a story before, during and after the abduction.
I just listened to the Audible version which is wonderful.
February 25, 2019
This book took off from the beginning. It's not one of those books that picks up half way. I did not however find the kidnapping appropriate for young adults. But the storyline was done very well and held my attention. I would say this book is more for almost adults.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
January 8, 2020
This is the second Luanne Rice I've read, both YA, and both books have similar characteristics I don't like. The unrealistic and dramatic situations for one. And two a focus on romance when something bigger should be driving the plot.
Longer RTC
Longer RTC
June 10, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner
Thanks to the #KidLitExchange network for the review copy of #PretendShesHere. All opinions are my own. .
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When Emily's best friend, Lizzie, dies of childhood cancer, she worries her life will never be the same. The two girls were like sisters. What Emily didn't think about was just how far Lizzie's family would go to preserve her memory.
This book was such an interesting read. All details were very well thought out and written down. It sucks you into the story and really makes you feel like you know Emily.
The book really knows how to pull at your heart strings. I would definitely recommend it to about 7th grade and up. .
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#books #bookstagram #bibliophile #bibliophilebesties #IGreads #ireadtoo #teacherreads #YA #ARC #reviewer #27SummerReads
Thanks to the #KidLitExchange network for the review copy of #PretendShesHere. All opinions are my own. .
.
When Emily's best friend, Lizzie, dies of childhood cancer, she worries her life will never be the same. The two girls were like sisters. What Emily didn't think about was just how far Lizzie's family would go to preserve her memory.
This book was such an interesting read. All details were very well thought out and written down. It sucks you into the story and really makes you feel like you know Emily.
The book really knows how to pull at your heart strings. I would definitely recommend it to about 7th grade and up. .
.
#books #bookstagram #bibliophile #bibliophilebesties #IGreads #ireadtoo #teacherreads #YA #ARC #reviewer #27SummerReads
March 7, 2022
DNF @ 35%
CW so far: grief, kidnapping, alcoholism, cancer
I'm really struggling with this one. Obviously the concept is ridiculous - I accepted that going in. But we've spent the first chunk of the book being told that the MC was raised as a "tough Irish girl" in a great family (aside from the mother's alcoholism) and yet she has multiple opportunities to get help and does absolutely nothing. She could have easily taken Chloe out on the walk and no one would know. At this point in the book, Mrs. Porter is supposedly holding her down - but a strong 16-year-old girl can take on a middle aged woman. All she has to do is OPEN THE DAMN DOOR.
The writing was bogged down with inane details. I don't care about every single saint her bajillion siblings are named after. I don't care what brand name products you use. The description of the MC peeing in the woods was grossly done and unnecessary.
CW so far: grief, kidnapping, alcoholism, cancer
I'm really struggling with this one. Obviously the concept is ridiculous - I accepted that going in. But we've spent the first chunk of the book being told that the MC was raised as a "tough Irish girl" in a great family (aside from the mother's alcoholism) and yet she has multiple opportunities to get help and does absolutely nothing. She could have easily taken Chloe out on the walk and no one would know. At this point in the book, Mrs. Porter is supposedly holding her down - but a strong 16-year-old girl can take on a middle aged woman. All she has to do is OPEN THE DAMN DOOR.
The writing was bogged down with inane details. I don't care about every single saint her bajillion siblings are named after. I don't care what brand name products you use. The description of the MC peeing in the woods was grossly done and unnecessary.
March 11, 2019
Once I started this book I just couldn't put it down. Luanne gives us a story of extreme grief and love. Emily loses her best friend to cancer and talks to her everyday as she misses her terribly. Lizzie's family is also grieving but their grief takes on a terrifying event. They kidnap Emily wanting her to become their daughter they love and miss so much. Each character is so true to life in their reactions and manipulations. What is terrifying about this story is that this may and has happened.
So beautifully written!
So beautifully written!
Read
March 21, 2019It was really good! It was good,sad and scary at the same time
February 6, 2025
AHHHH!!! OH MYYY
10/10 book, my friend recommended me this book and as soon as I started reading, I could not put it down!! I love how fast-paced it was and how, at the end of every chapter, you were left wondering what would happen next. I wish I could read this for the first time again 😭
10/10 book, my friend recommended me this book and as soon as I started reading, I could not put it down!! I love how fast-paced it was and how, at the end of every chapter, you were left wondering what would happen next. I wish I could read this for the first time again 😭
August 6, 2025
Took me all of 6 hours to finish. Such a good book!
Read
May 8, 2019(pg 1, US ARC edition)
Nothing is scarier than real life. I hate reading or watching the news because there is so much messed up stuff happening in the world. PRETEND SHE'S HERE by Luanne Rice could have been ripped straight from the headlines:
Girl goes missing. Is she a runaway, or did something more sinister happen? Sometimes the people who hurt us are the people we'd never expect...
Emily Lonergan had no clue what was in store for her the day she saw her childhood best friend Lizzie Porter's little sister waiting for her after school. Emily passed away the previous year and Emily has been missing her desperately. Seeing Chloe again and being invited back to the truck to reunite with Mr. and Mrs. Porter thrills her. She never suspects that the family will drug and kidnap her, forcing her to pretend to be Lizzie. Mrs. Porter has been unable to cope with her daughter's death and figures that nobody will miss Emily. Emily's own mother did some horrible things in the past and is a "bad mother who doesn't deserve her healthy kids." She also has seven kids. Why would she miss one of them? The Porters know that Emily tried to run away once before until her mother cleaned up her act and is now sober. Emily and Lizzie knew one another like the back of their own hand. Emily is like another daughter to Mrs. Porter. Why shouldn't Mrs. Porter be allowed to have her and recover all that was lost?
Terrifying stuff, right? When horrible stuff happens, not everyone can handle it and something inside of them snaps. Mrs. Porter definitely snapped and went off the deep end. The fact that this book feels real and like something that could happen is horrifying. The Porters plotted this kidnapping for a long time and already told new neighbor's about their daughter's time abroad and had her enrolled at the local school. They kept Emily captive and threatened the lives of her family if she didn't follow along and pretend to be Lizzie. Mrs. Porter would go to Mrs. Lenergan and run a muted video chat so that Emily could see the knife ready to slit her mother, or bring home items from her personal closet to prove how easy it was to break into the house. Emily was terrified that if she didn't play along, her family would be murdered. There is a lot of psychological torment at play, and a focus on the way kidnapping victims are conditioned into going along with everything in order to survive. That can be the most powerful form of scary.
It's hard to talk about this book without a lot of spoilers, so instead, I will say that I'm glad we've added another psychological suspense title to YA. I wouldn't call it a thriller (We need more of these as well), but definitely contemporary suspense! There aren't nearly enough of them, even though there is an abundance in adult fiction, and we need more titles because there is a market. It's nice to see typically adult authors such as Luanne Rice also crafting YA titles, and the read is absolutely appropriate for its targeted audience!
Nothing is scarier than real life. I hate reading or watching the news because there is so much messed up stuff happening in the world. PRETEND SHE'S HERE by Luanne Rice could have been ripped straight from the headlines:
Girl goes missing. Is she a runaway, or did something more sinister happen? Sometimes the people who hurt us are the people we'd never expect...
Emily Lonergan had no clue what was in store for her the day she saw her childhood best friend Lizzie Porter's little sister waiting for her after school. Emily passed away the previous year and Emily has been missing her desperately. Seeing Chloe again and being invited back to the truck to reunite with Mr. and Mrs. Porter thrills her. She never suspects that the family will drug and kidnap her, forcing her to pretend to be Lizzie. Mrs. Porter has been unable to cope with her daughter's death and figures that nobody will miss Emily. Emily's own mother did some horrible things in the past and is a "bad mother who doesn't deserve her healthy kids." She also has seven kids. Why would she miss one of them? The Porters know that Emily tried to run away once before until her mother cleaned up her act and is now sober. Emily and Lizzie knew one another like the back of their own hand. Emily is like another daughter to Mrs. Porter. Why shouldn't Mrs. Porter be allowed to have her and recover all that was lost?
Terrifying stuff, right? When horrible stuff happens, not everyone can handle it and something inside of them snaps. Mrs. Porter definitely snapped and went off the deep end. The fact that this book feels real and like something that could happen is horrifying. The Porters plotted this kidnapping for a long time and already told new neighbor's about their daughter's time abroad and had her enrolled at the local school. They kept Emily captive and threatened the lives of her family if she didn't follow along and pretend to be Lizzie. Mrs. Porter would go to Mrs. Lenergan and run a muted video chat so that Emily could see the knife ready to slit her mother, or bring home items from her personal closet to prove how easy it was to break into the house. Emily was terrified that if she didn't play along, her family would be murdered. There is a lot of psychological torment at play, and a focus on the way kidnapping victims are conditioned into going along with everything in order to survive. That can be the most powerful form of scary.
It's hard to talk about this book without a lot of spoilers, so instead, I will say that I'm glad we've added another psychological suspense title to YA. I wouldn't call it a thriller (We need more of these as well), but definitely contemporary suspense! There aren't nearly enough of them, even though there is an abundance in adult fiction, and we need more titles because there is a market. It's nice to see typically adult authors such as Luanne Rice also crafting YA titles, and the read is absolutely appropriate for its targeted audience!
April 15, 2025
“I couldn’t believe how crazy it felt to have these feelings for a boy in the midst of everything that was happening to me.”
Yeah, Emily. Neither can I.
Yeah, Emily. Neither can I.
December 27, 2024
Wow.
If you know me at all, you know that I give out "wow"s and five stars extremely sparingly. But here we are. (And I finished it in a day!!)
The book got right to the action right away. It terrified me, but kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Ugh, I hate Mrs. Porter so much. What a messed-up person. But the fact that the book managed to make me feel this way is all the better.
I also loved that this book delved deep into Emily's emotional realm and thoughts - I got to understand her and know her very well as a person. Her grief, her fear, her confusion; it was all so real to me.
Her friends and family were also the best - Carole deserves more appreciation, though! And the romance was actually well-handled and I didn't mind it.
I also liked that the book didn't just suddenly end, like "Oh, I'm okay, and I have hope that things will be better soon." It's absolutely one of my pet peeves when authors do this. Emily had gone through some pretty serious trauma, and she needed time to heal. I liked that the book delved into mental health for the second part.
Overall, it was really good. Scary, but good.
If you know me at all, you know that I give out "wow"s and five stars extremely sparingly. But here we are. (And I finished it in a day!!)
The book got right to the action right away. It terrified me, but kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Ugh, I hate Mrs. Porter so much. What a messed-up person. But the fact that the book managed to make me feel this way is all the better.
I also loved that this book delved deep into Emily's emotional realm and thoughts - I got to understand her and know her very well as a person. Her grief, her fear, her confusion; it was all so real to me.
Her friends and family were also the best - Carole deserves more appreciation, though! And the romance was actually well-handled and I didn't mind it.
I also liked that the book didn't just suddenly end, like "Oh, I'm okay, and I have hope that things will be better soon." It's absolutely one of my pet peeves when authors do this. Emily had gone through some pretty serious trauma, and she needed time to heal. I liked that the book delved into mental health for the second part.
Overall, it was really good. Scary, but good.
July 15, 2020
When I first picked up this book it was at my schools book fair. I thought ya, maybe, I’ll read it eventually. I actually really regret thinking that. Last summer I read it and it was really good! Not only did I really enjoy the book, but it really opened my eyes. It was one of the first books that have really made me love books. It introduced some great new genres and topics I didn’t think to check it! I am really appreciative of this book and the opportunity it gave me. Additionally this book was written very well. I fell in love with all the characters. And the plot twists fit in perfectly with the mold of the plot.
February 3, 2020
I think tweens and teens would like this, though it was slightly ridiculous. I did like that
July 23, 2020
I am:
-Disturbed
-also bored haha
-Idk how to feel about the writing style
-Casey was adorable and I wanted more of him
-Disturbed
-also bored haha
-Idk how to feel about the writing style
-Casey was adorable and I wanted more of him
March 7, 2023
This book was really good. I love how many details it gives, I couldn’t put it down!
January 24, 2023
This book was amazing! I needed to pick a book fast from my school library because the bell was about to ring. I only had time to quickly scan through the summary and check it out. I started reading this the next day and immediately I was sucked in. This book has a unique plot that I've never read in a book before. I felt like I WAS the main character. This story of her misfortune is so vivid and enrapturing! I got so frustrated with her situation and was in it all the way. The book has a sweet ending too. 100%!! 5 starss! Please read!
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