I’ll Pretend You’re Mine out now from HarperCollins; 352 pages
Content Warning: Racism, homophobia, verbal abuse, underage drinking
About the Author: “Tashie Bhuiyan is the author of Counting Down with You, A Show for Two, Stay with My Heart, and I’ll Pretend You’re Mine. She is a New Yorker through and through, and hopes to change the world, one book at a time. She loves writing stories about gaining agency through growth and surviving against all odds. When she’s not doing that, she’s probably traveling, attending a concert, or bothering her cat, Zuko” (Bio from author’s Goodreads profile).
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I’ll Pretend You’re Mine follows famous singer Summer Ali as she navigates popularity, independence, and a fake relationship all on her own. After firing her parents as her managers, Summer is determined to find her own path while keeping her reputation as a “good girl” intact. When paparazzi catch her and famous actor Jules Moradi bumping into each other, Summer begins to worry that she can’t manage it all on her own. Jules knows that his stained reputation has created issues for him in the acting world, so he suggests to Summer that they fake date in hopes that her image will rub off on him, but Summer is hesitant. After being offered the opportunity to write a song for the soundtrack of Jules’ upcoming film, however, Summer decides to take the risk. Between pap walks and scheduled outings, Summer starts to see the truth behind Jules’ bad-boy image and wonders if a real relationship with him might be worth a chance.
This was such an entertaining read, and it reminded me of why I love the YA genre so much. Summer and Jules’ relationship developed so naturally that it truly felt believable. The headlines at the beginning of each chapter were fun to read, especially when contrasted with the truth behind Summer and Jules’ relationship, and it was nice to feel like I was let in on the secret they were keeping. One thing I enjoyed about this book was that Summer is a famous singer. I adore music, and reading about her process of creating lyrics, writing her sophomore album, going on tour, and attending award shows was so interesting. A huge part of this book was Summer’s toxic relationship with her parents. Summer’s inability to let go of her parents because of her relationship with her younger sisters was painful to read, but when she finally put her own needs first, it felt like the greatest prize. Her independence was further strengthened when she came to terms with her sexuality and came out to the world as pansexual, which was an incredibly brave thing to do. I am so proud of her and all she accomplished in this story. There was a lot packed into this book; I loved seeing Summer strengthen her relationships with her friends, sisters, and with Jules while also watching her confidence grow. I’ll Pretend You’re Mine is YA at its best.
Emersen Cooper, Pine Reads Review Writer and Editor