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A review by carriepond
Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The main character in Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin is Mona, a woman in her 20s who works as maid and volunteers with a needle exchange non-profit. It is through the latter that she meets and begins dating an older man, whom she calls "Mr. Disgusting," just as he emerges from rehab. From there, Mona interacts with a varied cast of characters, all the while sifting through her own baggage in moving and weird ways.
I've read Beagin's most recent novel, Big Swiss, and liked it very much, so I knew what I would probably get with this one, her debut. For those who have read Big Swiss, Pretend I'm Dead is similar vibes, and both very much live in a category of book that I am drawn to-- dark but funny character studies of women who are kind of fucked up but somehow remain endearing. I really enjoyed this one.
I've read Beagin's most recent novel, Big Swiss, and liked it very much, so I knew what I would probably get with this one, her debut. For those who have read Big Swiss, Pretend I'm Dead is similar vibes, and both very much live in a category of book that I am drawn to-- dark but funny character studies of women who are kind of fucked up but somehow remain endearing. I really enjoyed this one.