LoveReading Says
Perfect for tweens and young teens looking for exciting female-lead action stories, Augusta Pine Does Not Exist has plenty of twists that will have readers racing to the end.
Main character Augusta is a complex character, officially dead, she has been recruited to work undercover for a secret, ethically-dubious government department. Flashbacks of her past deeds and missions are skilfully woven into the narrative, providing both context and further potential for action-filled thrills.
Readers might not always agree with Augusta’s actions, but they’ll enjoy getting to know her and sympathising with her current situation. In comparison, they will undoubtedly fall slightly in love with her sidekick, Edgar, a sentient AI in the form of a very cute bumblebee. However, though he might initially seem cute, Edgar’s lack of a moral compass and willingness to complete tasks by any means necessary, will surely send a shiver of fear through any reader considering the possibility of a future robot uprising.
A well-balanced hint of romance slowly builds, which will be enough to satisfy those of a romantic leaning, without alienating readers who prefer their books to be hearts and flowers free zones.
Perfect for readers who are excited by advances in technologies, Augusta Pine Does Not Exist depicts a steady stream of fresh new inventions that may be futuristic now, but feel like they will be utterly possible in the near future. I particularly enjoyed ruminating on the pros and cons of identity tattoos as a means of combatting identity fraud.
Young readers who don’t instantly trust authorities and/or those who enjoy reading about the grey areas between moral binaries, will love this book. Rather than clear cut villains and heroes, each character has a degree of ambiguity that keeps the reader guessing to the very end. And whilst that ending is entirely satisfying, there remains the potential for further books in what could be bestselling series.
I’m sure other readers will join me in eagerly awaiting August Pine’s next mission.
Reviewed by Amy McKayAmy is a knowledgeable, innovative and enthusiastic school librarian, living and working in Cumbria. Amy is a past UK School Librarian of the Year.
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Augusta Pine Does Not Exist Synopsis
Everyone thinks she's dead. Turns out she went undercover.
An edge-of-your-seat reverse heist thriller about a teen spy who must outsmart a team of criminals in order to free a building full of innocent hostages . . . and herself. Masterfully weaving together the undercover secrecy and thrills of The Naturals series, the killer twists and turns of Five Survive and the futuristic setting of Cyberpunk 2077.
'An incredibly fun, fast-paced blend of a spy thriller mixed with speculative elements. A fantastic, immersive read.' Ravena Guron, author of This Book Kills
In the near future, to combat identity theft, paper and plastic IDs have been replaced with permanent biometric tattoos. But governments still need people to work in the shadows. These people are called wraiths.
THEN
When she was fifteen, Augusta Pine (alias) hacked a car's autopilot and accidentally killed her first crush. She was given two options: 1) Spend twenty years in prison for manslaughter or 2) serve ten years in the Identity Security Division as a wraith - an undercover spy with no official existence. Augusta chose the second.
NOW
Eighteen-year-old Augusta has no fixed home and all her family think she died in the car crash. Her only friends are her coolly professional handler, Prefect, and a snarky sentient Al spybot called Edgar. On a rare weekend to herself, she decides to rent a room in a smart apartment complex and makes grand plans to do nothing but relax . . . until six cyber criminals hack the building and imprison all the residents.
To save everyone, Augusta will have to rely on her wits and her own criminal skills to stay one step ahead of the killers. For the first time in her life, could it pay to not exist?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780241772416 |
| Publication date: |
9th July 2026 |
| Author: |
Emily Lloyd-Jones |
| Publisher: |
Penguin Books an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
408 pages |
| Reading age: |
12+ |
| Primary Genre |
Young Adult Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Emily Lloyd-Jones Press Reviews
PRAISE FOR AUGUSTA PINE DOES NOT EXIST:
'Thrilling, clever and wickedly funny - Augusta Pine is the heroine we deserve.' Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders
'Masterfully blends classic, adrenaline-pumping action with futuristic tech and next gen espionage. This is the future of thriller books - literally.' Kayvion Lewis, author of Thieves' Gambit
'Bold, clever and original. A twisty, tense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.' Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First
'A tense thrill ride of a book. Augusta Pine is the fearless anti-heroine we all need.' Benjamin Dean, author of How to Die Famous
'Clever, twisty and very funny. I absolutely inhaled the book.' Emily Barr, author of The One Memory of Flora Banks
'Big thrills, stunning twists and heaps of fun, this is a wickedly smart, fast-paced, up-all-night thriller.' S. J. Green, author of Noah Can't Even
'Utterly unputdownable. Get used to being on the edge of your seat! A twisty, clever and compelling thriller.' Emily Cooper, author of Season of Fear
'A super-smart, speculative spy thriller with a kickass main character.' J. L. Simmonds, author of Run Away With Me
'A high stakes, high adrenalin, high-tech spy thriller that grips you from the explosive first page and does not let go.' Kate Francis, author of Circle of Liars
'Fresh, futuristic and filled with suspense. A technology drenched thriller with heart and humour that has you hooked until the very last page.' Isabella Galbraith, author of The One
'Spy novels are SO back. A darkly funny, futuristic thrill.' Beth Tomlin, author of To Hell With You
'The fun and adventure of Mission Impossible meets the emotional grit of The Girls I've Been. This book was a thrill ride from start to finish!' Kalyn Josephson, author of This Dark Descent
About Emily Lloyd-Jones
Emily Lloyd-Jones is a former bookseller turned author of middle-grade and YA novels. She lives in Northern California, where she enjoys wandering in redwood forests, playing with her cats and indulging in video games.
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