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Pretending to Be Erica
Seventeen-year-old Violet’s entire life has revolved around one thing: becoming Erica Silverman, an heiress kidnapped at age five and never seen again.
Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle.
But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.
Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle.
But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2015
About the author
Michelle Painchaud
1 book117 followersMichelle Painchaud is the author of the young adult thriller PRETENDING TO BE ERICA, (Viking Children's, 2014).
She likes anime and you and has a twitter if you want to chat or say hi!!
https://twitter.com/Michelleiswordy
She likes anime and you and has a twitter if you want to chat or say hi!!
https://twitter.com/Michelleiswordy
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Want to read
May 23, 2013Um hello? Why wouldn't I want to read a book about someone pretending to be me? ;)
June 6, 2015
"Over time we all become our own doppelganger, we look the same but we're completely different people."
----Ted, How I Met Your Mother
Michelle Painchaud, an American author, pens her debut novel, Pretending to be Erica that traces the journey of a con artist who pretends to be a dead and rich princess to steal a million dollars painting, but it is not an easy road to try to have the best of the both worlds, because in reality she is just a regular teenager who has a normal lifestyle.
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Violet’s entire life has revolved around one thing: becoming Erica Silverman, an heiress kidnapped at age five and never seen again. Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle. But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.
Violet was seven years when she was adopted from the foster home by Sal, a very notorious and famous con-man in Vegas, and all her life she has been groomed like the dead and kidnapped princess named, Erica Silverman belonging from a very wealthy family. To play Erica's role, Sal has provided both medical and psychological training to Violet, so that not only even her looks and DNA matches with the dead princess but also she talks and walks like her. And right now Violet is 16 year old and she has to step into her father's quest to steal the famous Silverman painting by van Gogh. But on the other hand, Violet has her own life with school, projects, boys and friends, will she be able to completely embody herself into Erica's demeanor? And will she be able to come out of Erica's life after stealing the paining?
The writing style of this first time author is something beyond perfection. From the very first page, the author pulls us into the deep web of mystery behind two lives played the same person. The pacing is also quite fast given the fact that instead of thrilling me, it entertained me most of the time. The narrative and the thoughts of Violet while behaving as Erica are articulate and easy to contemplate thus made me feel closer to Violet as a person.
The main theme of the book is underlined with a mystery of stealing a painting was not that strongly put since most of the time, the author's focus was on both Violet and Violet-as-Erica, so this book is more like a transformative journey of a regular teenager. The characters are all very strongly developed and etched out with enough reality, especially the way the author have crafted the life and style of a con-artist and their demeanor.
Erica is a strong and brave heroine and the author have vividly projected her sometimes confused mind of pretending to be somebody else. Her decisions based on her emotions and her intelligence sets her apart from a normal teenager, since she was groomed in such a way that she became a mature woman even before her age. There is also a bit of romance and chemistry in the book which is not too strongly featured in the book and that what kept me wanting for a bit of love drama.
Although the premise promises to be a thriller, the book on the other hand, doesn't keep up to it's promise as there are only elements of mystery going on the background of Violet's dual lives. In short, it is entertaining and perfect for any teenager/adult looking for a bit of mystery and identity crisis drama of a teenager.
Verdict: YA lovers look out for this book, because I believe this is going to be quite huge.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Ted, How I Met Your Mother
Michelle Painchaud, an American author, pens her debut novel, Pretending to be Erica that traces the journey of a con artist who pretends to be a dead and rich princess to steal a million dollars painting, but it is not an easy road to try to have the best of the both worlds, because in reality she is just a regular teenager who has a normal lifestyle.
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Violet’s entire life has revolved around one thing: becoming Erica Silverman, an heiress kidnapped at age five and never seen again. Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle. But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.
Violet was seven years when she was adopted from the foster home by Sal, a very notorious and famous con-man in Vegas, and all her life she has been groomed like the dead and kidnapped princess named, Erica Silverman belonging from a very wealthy family. To play Erica's role, Sal has provided both medical and psychological training to Violet, so that not only even her looks and DNA matches with the dead princess but also she talks and walks like her. And right now Violet is 16 year old and she has to step into her father's quest to steal the famous Silverman painting by van Gogh. But on the other hand, Violet has her own life with school, projects, boys and friends, will she be able to completely embody herself into Erica's demeanor? And will she be able to come out of Erica's life after stealing the paining?
The writing style of this first time author is something beyond perfection. From the very first page, the author pulls us into the deep web of mystery behind two lives played the same person. The pacing is also quite fast given the fact that instead of thrilling me, it entertained me most of the time. The narrative and the thoughts of Violet while behaving as Erica are articulate and easy to contemplate thus made me feel closer to Violet as a person.
The main theme of the book is underlined with a mystery of stealing a painting was not that strongly put since most of the time, the author's focus was on both Violet and Violet-as-Erica, so this book is more like a transformative journey of a regular teenager. The characters are all very strongly developed and etched out with enough reality, especially the way the author have crafted the life and style of a con-artist and their demeanor.
Erica is a strong and brave heroine and the author have vividly projected her sometimes confused mind of pretending to be somebody else. Her decisions based on her emotions and her intelligence sets her apart from a normal teenager, since she was groomed in such a way that she became a mature woman even before her age. There is also a bit of romance and chemistry in the book which is not too strongly featured in the book and that what kept me wanting for a bit of love drama.
Although the premise promises to be a thriller, the book on the other hand, doesn't keep up to it's promise as there are only elements of mystery going on the background of Violet's dual lives. In short, it is entertaining and perfect for any teenager/adult looking for a bit of mystery and identity crisis drama of a teenager.
Verdict: YA lovers look out for this book, because I believe this is going to be quite huge.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
Read
February 13, 2015DNF 58%
I'm just incredibly bored with this one. It started out intriguing enough but far-fetched, too. And the whole priceless painting bit was just not convincing. Her being this perfect teenage con artist was not convincing either. I was kept mildly curious due to the tagline on the cover - does that mean she's the real Erica somehow? Or decides to play the con forever? But I just have no interest in these characters at all :(
I'm just incredibly bored with this one. It started out intriguing enough but far-fetched, too. And the whole priceless painting bit was just not convincing. Her being this perfect teenage con artist was not convincing either. I was kept mildly curious due to the tagline on the cover - does that mean she's the real Erica somehow? Or decides to play the con forever? But I just have no interest in these characters at all :(
July 27, 2015
3.5 stars
At a Glance:
Pretending to be Erica was an intriguing thriller, full of moral complexity. It got a little bit slow in the middle, with a lot of repeating internal dialogue, but for the most part it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
Cover:
I adore this cover! The typography is fantastic, giving the book a slightly eery feeling. It's so well done!
First Sentence:
"I still haven't gotten used to writing my new name."
The Characters:
The characters in Pretending to be Erica were all pretty fantastic. Violet, having been raised to become Erica, was constantly struggling with who she was. It was almost like she had multiple personality disorder, and her two personalities were fighting to gain control. All the supporting characters were interesting as well, and were each thoroughly explored, bringing something extra to the story.
Action:
There was some action in this story, but most of the book was about Violet/Erica coming to grips with what she was expected to do, and then pulling off the act of being Erica. However, a very persistent Private Investigator, an adopted father that cared more about the prize than his daughter, and a mysterious fellow student, made the book a little more tense.
Romance:
The romance between Violet/Erica and the boy she meets in her new high school is very subtle and sweet. It's hard because she (and you) knows that it can't possibly end well, but it was a tension I really enjoyed reading.
Favorite Supporting Character:
I honestly can't pick one. Taylor was a snarky, tell-it-how-it-is girl. James was thoughtful and had his own issues and insecurities. Poor Mrs. Silverman was such an amazing mother, just trying to regain her relationship with her lost daughter. Even the "villains" were exciting to read.
Something I loved:
I love the premise. I thought a lot about what Violet's life would've been like as a child. I liked watching her struggle with herself about what she should do, once she got close to her "mother" and her friends.
Something(s) I hated:
In the middle of the book, things started to drag a little for me. Violet/Erica does a LOT of contemplating herself internally. She is constantly examining herself, and while I did like that, she seemed to have the same thoughts and conversations in her head over and over again. I get that it's realistic, but it just got a little tedious to read after awhile.
Cliffhanger?
This book is a stand-alone, but it's definitely left a little open in the end. Not really open for another book, but open for the reader to contemplate what may have happened next.
Would I recommend it?
Yeah, if you're looking for a light crime novel, I think you'll enjoy this one. If you're looking for something a little more complex and involved, you might check out Daughter of Deep Silence, by Carrie Ryan.
Will I buy/keep it/read the sequel?
I'm keeping my ARC. If I come across a finished copy at a used bookstore, I'll probably snag it.
Book Doppelgangers:
Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, Heist Society by Ally Carter
-Andye
Reading Teen
At a Glance:
Pretending to be Erica was an intriguing thriller, full of moral complexity. It got a little bit slow in the middle, with a lot of repeating internal dialogue, but for the most part it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
Cover:
I adore this cover! The typography is fantastic, giving the book a slightly eery feeling. It's so well done!
First Sentence:
"I still haven't gotten used to writing my new name."
The Characters:
The characters in Pretending to be Erica were all pretty fantastic. Violet, having been raised to become Erica, was constantly struggling with who she was. It was almost like she had multiple personality disorder, and her two personalities were fighting to gain control. All the supporting characters were interesting as well, and were each thoroughly explored, bringing something extra to the story.
Action:
There was some action in this story, but most of the book was about Violet/Erica coming to grips with what she was expected to do, and then pulling off the act of being Erica. However, a very persistent Private Investigator, an adopted father that cared more about the prize than his daughter, and a mysterious fellow student, made the book a little more tense.
Romance:
The romance between Violet/Erica and the boy she meets in her new high school is very subtle and sweet. It's hard because she (and you) knows that it can't possibly end well, but it was a tension I really enjoyed reading.
Favorite Supporting Character:
I honestly can't pick one. Taylor was a snarky, tell-it-how-it-is girl. James was thoughtful and had his own issues and insecurities. Poor Mrs. Silverman was such an amazing mother, just trying to regain her relationship with her lost daughter. Even the "villains" were exciting to read.
Something I loved:
I love the premise. I thought a lot about what Violet's life would've been like as a child. I liked watching her struggle with herself about what she should do, once she got close to her "mother" and her friends.
Something(s) I hated:
In the middle of the book, things started to drag a little for me. Violet/Erica does a LOT of contemplating herself internally. She is constantly examining herself, and while I did like that, she seemed to have the same thoughts and conversations in her head over and over again. I get that it's realistic, but it just got a little tedious to read after awhile.
Cliffhanger?
This book is a stand-alone, but it's definitely left a little open in the end. Not really open for another book, but open for the reader to contemplate what may have happened next.
Would I recommend it?
Yeah, if you're looking for a light crime novel, I think you'll enjoy this one. If you're looking for something a little more complex and involved, you might check out Daughter of Deep Silence, by Carrie Ryan.
Will I buy/keep it/read the sequel?
I'm keeping my ARC. If I come across a finished copy at a used bookstore, I'll probably snag it.
Book Doppelgangers:
Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, Heist Society by Ally Carter
-Andye
Reading Teen
July 2, 2015
So good! Nice balance of flash backs and current day. I wouldn't change a thing!
January 3, 2016
The microwave clock spills into midnight, and the marionette girl walks up the stairs to sleep in her puppet bed in the puppet house, filled with not-puppet people.I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked Pretending to be Erica up, but it certainly delivered in both the premise and the execution. This is an eloquently written and thought-provoking novel.
They are made of flesh and blood, and she is made of lies and wood.
More than a decade ago, Erica Silverman, the young daughter of a wealthy heiress, was kidnapped and never seen again. Years later, she finally returns. Except she's not Erica.
17-year-old Violet has prepared her whole life for this con: masquerade as Erica, get inside the Silverman mansion, and steal the Silverman's billion dollar painting.
Violet is an incredible and well-developed protagonist. She is intelligent, observant, and careful. Yet, she also possesses the ability to think for herself. Eventually she realizes that she envies the normalcy of Erica's life - friends, family, school, crushes - and that she wants it for herself. Her struggle of wanting a normal life continually overlaps with her sense of duty, and it's fascinating to see how it plays out.
I’m the shadow of a dead girl. A shadow does not have friends.Pretending to be Erica is a gripping read from start to finish. Violet is a protagonist you can't help but root for, and the way Painchaud incorporates an emphasis on friends and family is wonderful.
A dead girl does not feel guilt.
July 27, 2015
Real rating 2.5
The number-one rule of a con artist: even if you have no confidence, act like you do.
Pretending to be Erica is a pretender book. If you expect this book to be funny and witty and want to learn a con world from the inside - you are for a big disappointment. This book is sheer melodrama. It seems author took her own advice and pretended to write a solid book but it was only an act - the deeper you look, the lesser you see. This book wasn't bad, but mostly I was tired of MC's crying and ambivalence. I wanted action, I wanted something like How to steal a million with Audrey Hepburn. I wanted to see a con world from the inside. All I got from con world is how hard it was for little Violet to grow up with her foster dad and con master Sal, how she wanted to belong, how she wanted to be real Erica and ect.Sal’s face is never angry. Even in the darkness, even when he hits her, he never shows his real emotion. The face game is useless on him. He hides everything too well. Or he just has nothing to show.
Highly trained con artists raised from a young age to be perfect criminals. It’s not true, but if it were, how many more kids are there like us? More puppets for Sal to pull the strings of? How many more have come before us and are being groomed to come after us?
I am Erica and I have everything. I am Erica and I have everything. I am Erica. I have everything.
I am Violet and I have nothing.The microwave clock spills over into midnight, and the marionette girl walks up the stairs to sleep in her puppet bed in the puppet house, filled with not-puppet people.
They are made of flesh and blood, and she is made of lies and wood.
Like I said, drama part wasn't bad, just too much of it for my taste, but there were times I really liked MC and sympathized her. But, the annotation said that we are going to get a book about painting's robbery. I didn't get this one either. And mostly, because I felt robbed by this book I couldn't enjoy it. I was expecting the whole time that maybe now I'll get my robbery and real fun will begin. Nope? But what else does this book has except how bad MC feels lying to people she started to love like her own family? BTW, wasn't she supposed to be highly trained con artist who knows how not to get attached to your victims? Considering all the money and effort was given into making Violet Erica - and I mean multiply surgeries to make them look alike, and private information about real Erica - this all couldn't be cheap and took years to prepare and it also took four month to crumble down. No a very good score for a con artist.
The book takes place in Vegas. Vegas, people, is a city of great possibilities for fraud. I didn't see Vegas in this book, nope. No description, no city's vibe. I don't know how someone can write about Vegas without actually mentioning Vegas? This book feels undeveloped in every aspect. It has a skeleton but needs a great deal of working on it entrails. Seems like Michelle Painchaud wanted to write all about everything and in the end got only drama part executed... here and there.
Overall, if you want to read a book about criminal world taking place in Las Vegas - you won't find it here, but if you are in a mood for a melodramatic set and ready to miss all the holes inside - you will totally like this one. But I need to give some of deserved praise to the author - she conned me well by her book.
August 22, 2015
This book trapped me, I liked it from the very beginning even if I knew it wasn't going to be a happy book.
In fact it is a novel about loss , the inability to cope with it and the will not to give up hope no matter what. The loss of a daughter because of a kidnapping and the loss of a husband due to mental illness.
It is also a book about wanting to have a normal life with loving parents, a family and friends. Things that other people take for granted but Violet , the main character, needs more than she knows.
Halfway through the book I thought that perhaps there could be a twist in the plot and everything would turn out nicely for everyone. That is , I guess, the definition of wishful thinking.
I admire Violet's strength , resilience and good heart . Michelle Painchaud has created a wonderful teenage heroine who stands up for herself.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
In fact it is a novel about loss , the inability to cope with it and the will not to give up hope no matter what. The loss of a daughter because of a kidnapping and the loss of a husband due to mental illness.
It is also a book about wanting to have a normal life with loving parents, a family and friends. Things that other people take for granted but Violet , the main character, needs more than she knows.
Halfway through the book I thought that perhaps there could be a twist in the plot and everything would turn out nicely for everyone. That is , I guess, the definition of wishful thinking.
I admire Violet's strength , resilience and good heart . Michelle Painchaud has created a wonderful teenage heroine who stands up for herself.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
April 30, 2017
Más bien un 3'74-4. Me ha sorprendido gratamente, porque pensé que sería una historia más, pero lo cierto es que nunca había leído nada del estilo y me ha gustado. Tanto por la narración que me pareció muy buena, como por la trama y la historia en sí. Quizás demasiado predecible en algunos momentos pero aún así me gustó mucho.
July 16, 2015
Whoa. I did not expect to like this one as much as I did. The main character and the writing are both superb. I really enjoyed the conning aspect and secondary characters too. I'd definitely rec this one! Review to come.
Want to read
April 8, 2015I want to read this because of the title.
June 29, 2016
“Dear God, forgive me for my sins. I'm pretending to be a girl who went missing thirteen years ago. A girl who's rich.
A girl who's dead.”
Este libro fue totalmente increíble, además de que se lee bastante rápido, el trama y todo en sí es increíble.
Me encantó todo el trama, desde el inicio además de que engancha, se van resolviendo bastante cosas y descubriendo, una de las cosas que más me gustaron es que va desde el pasado al presente así no solamente saltando las dudas de una vez y poniendo más intriga y misterio a todo el trama sino que van poniendo más detalles uno detrás de otro hasta no saber qué puede pasar en unos momentos.
Los personajes quedaron perfectos, Violet/Erica hicieron gran parte de todo el libro, no solamente por el enfrentamiento que tienen entre sí sino por todo el desarrollo que va contando y lo que más me gustó: El hecho de que cuenta cómo se siente en todos los capítulos.
“Violet. Violet is there, eclipsed before by my professionalism. Violet is getting tired of pretending. [...] She hates Erica. Everything Erica has, she covets. Violet wants to stop pretending and still have the things Erica does. But that's impossible. [...] And because Erica is sweet and kind and perfect, she does not hate Violet in return. She envies her. Violet is alive in ways she will never be.”
Otra de las cosas que más me gustaron fue que la autora se destacó más en el desarrollo de la historia que en los propios personajes, dándole así no solamente más emoción al libro sino historia y profundación a todo el libro.
“When I adopted you, you said you wanted to be like me. Why do you want to be like me, Vi? I'm not a nice person.”
“I want to be with you,” Violet murmurs.
“Why do you want to be with me?”
“Because I don't wanna be alone.”
El romance, que nunca falta, es totalmente sencillo, una cosa totalmente positiva. Se mantiene lento, sencillo y más que nada, sin drama total, me gustó bastante en la manera en que se fue desarrollando y aún así quedando encajada con toda la historia.
“Right after we talked in the mall, I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were going to be the first girl to break my heart.”
El final fue lo que menos me esperaba. Totalmente genial este libro.
Si ésta autora sigue publicando libros, totalmente los leeré.
February 21, 2017
Me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo por la tensión que me ha generado no saber que iba a pasar con la protagonista (no tanto qué decisión iba a tomar que eso sí lo veía venir).
La forma de hablar y pensar de la protagonista me ha encantado, parte racional y emocional luchando entre ellas. A la vez, la descripción de sus relaciones tanto con la madre como por las supuestas amistades o pareja me ha parecido que tenía un toque muy especial que personalmente me ha agradado mucho.
La forma de hablar y pensar de la protagonista me ha encantado, parte racional y emocional luchando entre ellas. A la vez, la descripción de sus relaciones tanto con la madre como por las supuestas amistades o pareja me ha parecido que tenía un toque muy especial que personalmente me ha agradado mucho.
March 21, 2015
This was quite an interesting idea and the execution was clever.
Loved Violet. Her inner monologue was captivating. I enjoyed reading her struggle with being Violet and Erica. Taylor and James were the best part of the book and I definitely wanted more scenes with the 3 of them together.
There was a pretty good twist and the ending was definitely wasn't what I was expecting.
All in all, a quick read with an authentic voice.
Loved Violet. Her inner monologue was captivating. I enjoyed reading her struggle with being Violet and Erica. Taylor and James were the best part of the book and I definitely wanted more scenes with the 3 of them together.
There was a pretty good twist and the ending was definitely wasn't what I was expecting.
All in all, a quick read with an authentic voice.
July 29, 2015
Невыносимо скучно и надуманно.
Автору ни разу не удалось меня удивить или хоть сколько-нибудь заинтересовать. Я не могу сказать, что роман прям плохой, просто когда после прочтения в голове вертится только "И чего?", это, наверное, показатель.
Автору ни разу не удалось меня удивить или хоть сколько-нибудь заинтересовать. Я не могу сказать, что роман прям плохой, просто когда после прочтения в голове вертится только "И чего?", это, наверное, показатель.
February 22, 2017
Me ha gustado pero si este libro fue el ganador del premio de mejor libro juvenil de thriller del año 2016 pues me planteo cómo serían los demás. No digo que no sea bueno, es entretenido y se deja leer y la lo que es la historia en sí está bien elaborada pero hay algunas cosas predecibles.
August 19, 2015
I have been trying to write a review, but I keep erasing it. I'm just not sure what to say. This wasn't an easy book to get into.
Violet was raised to become a dead girl. She learned how to read people, to lie, to con, and she learned everything there was to know about Erica (the girl she was selected to become). But being Erica is harder than she thought it would be. Things aren't black or white anymore. Violet is starting to see grey, and that scares her more than anything else ever could. Sounds interesting right? I mean I was completely sold after I read the blurb.
However, the writing was just too dry for my tastes. It didn't matter how interesting the story was, I still found myself bored out of my mind. I can say that it gets better, but not enough to redeem it. There is some great material in the novel though. I liked the witty banter between James and Violet and the brief flash backs. I enjoyed the flash backs with Sal because they helped mold the story, and make the reader understand Violet better. I thought that Violet's story before she became Erica was more interesting than the story that was being told.
I guess overall I just think the novel could have been executed better. Even the ending was a bit of a let down. It was rushed, and it was not at all satisfying. After taking that journey with Violet I expected more. I do want to reiterate the fact that I don't believe it was all bad. It just didn't stand out enough in any way for my particular tastes.
Violet was raised to become a dead girl. She learned how to read people, to lie, to con, and she learned everything there was to know about Erica (the girl she was selected to become). But being Erica is harder than she thought it would be. Things aren't black or white anymore. Violet is starting to see grey, and that scares her more than anything else ever could. Sounds interesting right? I mean I was completely sold after I read the blurb.
However, the writing was just too dry for my tastes. It didn't matter how interesting the story was, I still found myself bored out of my mind. I can say that it gets better, but not enough to redeem it. There is some great material in the novel though. I liked the witty banter between James and Violet and the brief flash backs. I enjoyed the flash backs with Sal because they helped mold the story, and make the reader understand Violet better. I thought that Violet's story before she became Erica was more interesting than the story that was being told.
I guess overall I just think the novel could have been executed better. Even the ending was a bit of a let down. It was rushed, and it was not at all satisfying. After taking that journey with Violet I expected more. I do want to reiterate the fact that I don't believe it was all bad. It just didn't stand out enough in any way for my particular tastes.
September 14, 2020
Un 3,5. Novela diferente, bien estructurada, con una protagonista nada convencional y unos personajes secundarios que aportan a la historia.
Siempre me han gustado las novelas de misterio, thriller e intriga. Y que una protagonista suplante la identidad de alguien fallecido me parecía una premisa muy interesante para una novela juvenil.
Si bien la historia no ha tenido grandes dosis de tensión, creo que la autora ha conseguido plasmar la identidad de los personajes y de la protagonista de tal forma que seamos capaces de ver su evolución y sus motivaciones.
La forma en la que está tratado el tema de la suplantación y el sufrimiento que ello conlleva, tanto a nivel familiar como de la propia suplantadora me ha parecido de lo mejor de la novela: evoluciona con lógica y como lector te pasas toda la lectura debatiéndote entre la tristeza, la comprensión hacia la protagonista y la aberración de la situación en su conjunto.
Una novela diferente pero recomendable si te apetece leer algo diferente a lo habitual.
Siempre me han gustado las novelas de misterio, thriller e intriga. Y que una protagonista suplante la identidad de alguien fallecido me parecía una premisa muy interesante para una novela juvenil.
Si bien la historia no ha tenido grandes dosis de tensión, creo que la autora ha conseguido plasmar la identidad de los personajes y de la protagonista de tal forma que seamos capaces de ver su evolución y sus motivaciones.
La forma en la que está tratado el tema de la suplantación y el sufrimiento que ello conlleva, tanto a nivel familiar como de la propia suplantadora me ha parecido de lo mejor de la novela: evoluciona con lógica y como lector te pasas toda la lectura debatiéndote entre la tristeza, la comprensión hacia la protagonista y la aberración de la situación en su conjunto.
Una novela diferente pero recomendable si te apetece leer algo diferente a lo habitual.
May 5, 2016
Probably 3.5 stars
Finally! A book about thieves/con artists that doesn't suck!
I enjoyed reading this book.
There's kind of not as much conning as I would like though. However, unlike most teen con characters Violet is ACTUALLY skilled. She is plausible. And also practical. She can read people like nobody's business, but everything she does makes sense.
So while this book is based around a con, it feel more like a coming of age novel. Violet is split between being herself and being Erica. She's never been a normal teen before. She has a very interesting character arc.
I liked the ending. I almost wish it had happened differently. But I liked how it ended. It made the most sense.
Finally! A book about thieves/con artists that doesn't suck!
I enjoyed reading this book.
There's kind of not as much conning as I would like though. However, unlike most teen con characters Violet is ACTUALLY skilled. She is plausible. And also practical. She can read people like nobody's business, but everything she does makes sense.
So while this book is based around a con, it feel more like a coming of age novel. Violet is split between being herself and being Erica. She's never been a normal teen before. She has a very interesting character arc.
I liked the ending. I almost wish it had happened differently. But I liked how it ended. It made the most sense.
January 20, 2016
Originally reviewed on Hey Teen Books Hey
I picked up this book after spending too much time researching a real and nearly equally fantastical case of Frédéric Bourdin, a French conman pretending to be a missing American teenager.
Violet has been getting groomed to become Erica for years. This included plastic surgery and having a bone broken because Erica had that bone broken too. Despite a faked positive DNA test lots of the characters still doubt that Violet is Erica and a PI is investigating her. Violet has struggling between loyalty to the new who care about her, and Sal, her father figure who expect her to finish the con.
Weirdly this high stakes plot comes off as low stakes and boring. Violet is supossed to be experiencing intense internal conflict but she mostly seems annoyed and bored–and not in a “I’m acting detached to hide how much I care” way. No one is at all likable. There’s a half hearted romantic subplot with a Sad Boy™ but I couldn’t even tell you his name.
The pacing is also kind of wonky. Most of the narrative it is dedicated to Erica/Violet hanging out with her new friends while low key dealing with committing fraud, while the action-y third act happens in was feels like 12 pages then suddenly it’s over.
All this said, I finished this book VERY quickly and stayed up past my grown-up-bedtime to finish it, so it’s got readability going for it.
I picked up this book after spending too much time researching a real and nearly equally fantastical case of Frédéric Bourdin, a French conman pretending to be a missing American teenager.
Violet has been getting groomed to become Erica for years. This included plastic surgery and having a bone broken because Erica had that bone broken too. Despite a faked positive DNA test lots of the characters still doubt that Violet is Erica and a PI is investigating her. Violet has struggling between loyalty to the new who care about her, and Sal, her father figure who expect her to finish the con.
Weirdly this high stakes plot comes off as low stakes and boring. Violet is supossed to be experiencing intense internal conflict but she mostly seems annoyed and bored–and not in a “I’m acting detached to hide how much I care” way. No one is at all likable. There’s a half hearted romantic subplot with a Sad Boy™ but I couldn’t even tell you his name.
The pacing is also kind of wonky. Most of the narrative it is dedicated to Erica/Violet hanging out with her new friends while low key dealing with committing fraud, while the action-y third act happens in was feels like 12 pages then suddenly it’s over.
All this said, I finished this book VERY quickly and stayed up past my grown-up-bedtime to finish it, so it’s got readability going for it.
April 23, 2019
4.5 STARS
For Violet, a teenage con artist raises as a con artist, PRETENDING TO BE ERICA, the missing presumed dead of a wealthy Las Vegas family, is her biggest scam yet. All she has to do is steal a famous painting and she and her dad Sal will be set for life. Violet doesn’t count on becoming attached to Erica’s mother and her life. She doesn’t count on making friends for the first time in her life. She doesn’t count on meeting a guy, for the first time in her life.
While PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET requires suspension of disbelief, I quickly became immersed in Violet/Erica’s saga. She has a conscience, despite Sal trying to erase it. I wanted a happy ending for her and for Erica’s long suffering mother and for her friends and boyfriend. Violet is a great character who grows incrementally through the book.
The pacing and tension of PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET grows until the unpredictable crescendo.
As far as I can tell PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET is Michelle Painchaud’s only book or I’d check out her other works.
For Violet, a teenage con artist raises as a con artist, PRETENDING TO BE ERICA, the missing presumed dead of a wealthy Las Vegas family, is her biggest scam yet. All she has to do is steal a famous painting and she and her dad Sal will be set for life. Violet doesn’t count on becoming attached to Erica’s mother and her life. She doesn’t count on making friends for the first time in her life. She doesn’t count on meeting a guy, for the first time in her life.
While PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET requires suspension of disbelief, I quickly became immersed in Violet/Erica’s saga. She has a conscience, despite Sal trying to erase it. I wanted a happy ending for her and for Erica’s long suffering mother and for her friends and boyfriend. Violet is a great character who grows incrementally through the book.
The pacing and tension of PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET grows until the unpredictable crescendo.
As far as I can tell PRETENDING TO BE VIOLET is Michelle Painchaud’s only book or I’d check out her other works.
July 20, 2015
3.5 stars Great premise, and surprisingly engaging and plausible execution.
Review to come.
Review to come.
January 17, 2016
A Con Artist with a Heart! Love it!!
Want to read
December 16, 2012Ohhh sounds soo good!!!
March 11, 2017
En la piel de Erica ha sido una novela que me ha gustado bastante. Tiene una trama original, adictiva y llena de intriga y tensión. Me ha dejado con muchas ganas de más y me habría gustado que la autora le hubiese añadido una páginas más al final. La protagonista me ha fascinado por completo, sobretodo por la dualidad contra la que lucha durante toda la novela y por ser diferente a la mayoría de cosas que he leído. Si os gustan este tipo de libros, con mucha intriga y suspense, os recomiendo esta novela.
July 23, 2015
Pretending To Be Erica is one of the most interesting books I’ve read this summer. Even though Violet was really doing something pretty terrible to this grieving family, I felt deeply sorry for her. She was clearly wanting to be a part of something, of a family that loved her, and her childhood with a conman was the only love she’d ever really known. There were times that I felt more sorry for Violet than I did for her grieving mother, which I think is a testament to Violet’s development as a character. I really felt her growing unease with the job and her desire to be herself rather than the constructed Erica. Her inner dialogues gave a lot of insight into the sometimes painful journey to becoming Erica Silverman, both physically and emotionally. The long con of assuming such a high profile identity is not for the weak, and I really hated her adopted father for putting her through that. At school, Violet as Erica tries to conform, and it’s the friends she makes that really made me love this part of the book. It was such an interesting idea, to be one in a line of con artists trying to be Erica, and the reactions of her “friends” added to the feeling that Violet was having a crisis of conscience.
The darkness of this story is what made it stand out for me. Places where other books might have looked away, Pretending to Be Erica went there. The grief and desperation of Erica’s mother, the mental illness of Erica’s father, and the constant fear of being discovered, all created a very sad and tense world for the book. The plot itself relied on a lot of things going just so, but as with all thrillers, it made the incredible synchronization of events leading up to Erica’s “rediscovery” seem plausible. The tone and pace gave it the edge it needed to keep me guessing. The ending was hopeful, but it didn’t seem out of place amongst the darker corners of the story. I found myself flying through this book, unable to put it down for more than a few minutes. Pretending to be Erica was more than just a thriller, and its ability to tap into my feelings about identity and grief made it a very fun and substantive read.
The darkness of this story is what made it stand out for me. Places where other books might have looked away, Pretending to Be Erica went there. The grief and desperation of Erica’s mother, the mental illness of Erica’s father, and the constant fear of being discovered, all created a very sad and tense world for the book. The plot itself relied on a lot of things going just so, but as with all thrillers, it made the incredible synchronization of events leading up to Erica’s “rediscovery” seem plausible. The tone and pace gave it the edge it needed to keep me guessing. The ending was hopeful, but it didn’t seem out of place amongst the darker corners of the story. I found myself flying through this book, unable to put it down for more than a few minutes. Pretending to be Erica was more than just a thriller, and its ability to tap into my feelings about identity and grief made it a very fun and substantive read.
January 18, 2018
Salve amici lettori, oggi vi parlo di “Al posto tuo. Due ragazze. Un'identità” di Michelle Painchaud, un romanzo con una trama davvero originale che mi ha subito incuriosito e che mi sono subito fiondata a leggere. Parla di Violet, una ragazza che è stata cresciuta dal padre adottivo, uno dei più importanti truffatori di Las Vegas, con l’unico scopo di prendere il posto di Erica, scomparsa da anni ma che i genitori milionari non si sono mai arresi di cercare. Molte hanno provato a fingersi Erica per prendere il suo patrimonio e sono state subito smascherate, ma Violet è da tutta la vita che si prepara a questo momento. Dopo plastiche facciali e studi psicologici approfonditi inizierà la missione, sa che non fallirà e riuscirà ad appropriarsi del quadro “Surprise” che vale milioni e milioni di dollari, dopotutto sente Erica come una seconda pelle addosso a lei.
La protagonista, però, non ha fatto i conti con i suoi sentimenti, che spingeranno per uscire fuori, e la sua volontà di vivere un vita vera, dove può essere se stessa.
“Non sono Erica. Svanirò misteriosamente nella notte insieme alla Surprise e non tornerò mai più. Non sono vera. Sono l’ombra di una ragazza morta. Un’ombra non ha amici. Una ragazza morta non prova rimorso.”
Di questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero tanto la battaglia interna che vive Violet, il suo essere divisa in due persone distinte. È da tutta la vita che si esercita ad essere Erica e la sente vera quasi vivesse nel suo stesso corpo, ma la sua reale personalità si sente compressa nella bugia che deve vivere.
Violet è aggressiva, pronta a mettersi in gioco, pronta a rischiare fregandosene delle conseguenze.
Erica è gentile, impacciata, è una brava ragazza, segue le regole e si fa in quattro per gli altri.
Ma Violet è Erica. Ed Erica è Violet.
Quando inizia a provare affetto per i Silvermann e stringere legami con alcuni suoi compagni di scuola la situazione non potrà che peggiorare e la sua missione iniziale sarà sempre più difficile da portare a termine.
Leggero e scorrevole, tiene incollati alle pagine grazie alla suspense creata e allo stile di scrittura molto piacevole. È una lettura ideale che ci accompagna in una giornata tranquilla all’insegna di profumo di carta e una tazza di tè.
La protagonista, però, non ha fatto i conti con i suoi sentimenti, che spingeranno per uscire fuori, e la sua volontà di vivere un vita vera, dove può essere se stessa.
“Non sono Erica. Svanirò misteriosamente nella notte insieme alla Surprise e non tornerò mai più. Non sono vera. Sono l’ombra di una ragazza morta. Un’ombra non ha amici. Una ragazza morta non prova rimorso.”
Di questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero tanto la battaglia interna che vive Violet, il suo essere divisa in due persone distinte. È da tutta la vita che si esercita ad essere Erica e la sente vera quasi vivesse nel suo stesso corpo, ma la sua reale personalità si sente compressa nella bugia che deve vivere.
Violet è aggressiva, pronta a mettersi in gioco, pronta a rischiare fregandosene delle conseguenze.
Erica è gentile, impacciata, è una brava ragazza, segue le regole e si fa in quattro per gli altri.
Ma Violet è Erica. Ed Erica è Violet.
Quando inizia a provare affetto per i Silvermann e stringere legami con alcuni suoi compagni di scuola la situazione non potrà che peggiorare e la sua missione iniziale sarà sempre più difficile da portare a termine.
Leggero e scorrevole, tiene incollati alle pagine grazie alla suspense creata e allo stile di scrittura molto piacevole. È una lettura ideale che ci accompagna in una giornata tranquilla all’insegna di profumo di carta e una tazza di tè.
December 13, 2018
This was sooooo close to a 5 star review. I loved the pace, the characters, the dialogue but I could not get on board for how the swap was pulled off. Cheekbone shaving and eyelid reshaping on an underage girl? They barely had money and what doctor wouldn’t rat them out the second he saw Erica on tv. Faked parents fled the country for promises of riches later? Who paid for their flights and the housing to wherever they fled? The FBI didn’t follow? Someone was bribed to fake the DNA test? How would you even know which tech to bribe? The real perpetrator gave Sal a swatch of hair from the real Erica. When? In prison?
And my personal pet peeve...the complete nonsense and how Sal was able to adopt young Violet from foster care. He adopted her because she fit the look but how did he come across her in the first place? It’s not like there is a catalog. And why wasn’t a child who went into foster care as a healthy female infant not adopted already? I cry bullshit. I’m a foster parent one state over from Nevada. I’ve adopted from foster care. Nothing about that scenario felt plausible.
And my personal pet peeve...the complete nonsense and how Sal was able to adopt young Violet from foster care. He adopted her because she fit the look but how did he come across her in the first place? It’s not like there is a catalog. And why wasn’t a child who went into foster care as a healthy female infant not adopted already? I cry bullshit. I’m a foster parent one state over from Nevada. I’ve adopted from foster care. Nothing about that scenario felt plausible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2020
Definitely a young adult book. I think they did a fairly good job at portraying the difficulty of attempting to subsume another life, but didn’t go as in-depth as they could have. The way the teenagers acted and talked at the beginning was extremely unrealistic, but got slightly better throughout the book. Almost too clean of an ending— didn’t really resolve the Violet-Erica distinction which was what I expected to be the focus of the whole book. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys books about younger teens and potentially with the excitement of a life of crime and a hard decision to make.
May 27, 2019
I’m giving this one a 3.5. I loved the storyline: teenage con artist torn between two very different lives. In fact, it almost felt like the main character suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder sometimes. The character development was great and I enjoyed the coming-of-age aspects of the book as well. I think the only negative thing was that it was slightly repetitive in some parts. Overall, an easy and fast-paced read!
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