Libby Lawrence is Good at Pretending

Two years ago, Libby Lawrence and her best friend Ella escaped their country town and moved six hours away so they could attend university. Now 19-years-old, Libby has played a stream of bit parts and chorus roles with the uni theatre group, while longing for the opportunity to play lead. 

Ella’s twin brother Emery died from a snake bite when they were 16-years-old, and her mental health is fragile. Libby is the one who always looks out for her and soothes her when she has nightmares. Ella sees Libby as the sensible, smart one who never makes mistakes, but that is far from the truth.

Unbeknownst to Ella, Libby’s first sexual experience was in the costume room with the dodgy director who took off with the theatre group’s money. Libby knows that he slept with many other girls from the group, and finds it difficult to come to terms with her split-second decision and his callous treatment of her after the event. 

The theatre group is quite insular and it’s common for the best roles to go to whoever the director is sleeping with. But that all changes when a new director is appointed. Although Will is dating Caro, he casts roles based on who performed best in the auditions. Consequently, Libby finds herself in the lead role of Much Ado About Nothing, playing opposite Will’s foster brother, Roarke. 

When Ella heads home for the annual memorial of her brother’s life, it’s the first time Libby won’t be going with her, as one of her workmates/friends is getting married. Will and Roarke are mutual friends, and after the wedding, Libby and Roarke sleep together. Roarke doesn’t want a relationship, and is quick to make sure Libby knows it.

Keeping these secrets from Ella starts to cause even more problems when Ella and Rourke get together. It’s clear Rourke is head-over-heels, which is hard for Libby to take given how vehement he was about not being interested in a relationship. 

When Libby finally tells Ella the truth, it leads both of them to some serious introspection. Ella realises how much she has always relied on Libby and how that has stopped Libby from being her flawed and genuine self. 

While obviously geared more towards New Adult than Young Adult, this is a well written, enjoyable story filled with relationship angst, self-doubt, a strong and enduring friendship, and learning how to be real instead of living behind a façade. A light read with deeper underlying themes, and a great contrast between healthy relationships and choices you might regret.

friendship, grief, loss, sexual relationships, theatre, creative arts, university life, romance, self-esteem, honesty, courage

1. Language: shit x 65, Christ x 1, bitch x 9, bastard x 1, dick x 8, prick x 1. 2. While it’s clear the characters have sex, there are no detailed descriptions - it almost all happens off the page. 3. Drinking/getting drunk (all characters are over 18).