This was a truly great read! I’m not normally a big reader of historical fiction but this was very enjoyable. Reminded me of Maggie O’Farrell writing, which I love. She brought much depth and life to her characters. There was fascinating commentary on politics, power, and identity. Jo Harkin is definitely a writer I will be keeping an eye on! Looking forward to her future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this work, I really enjoyed it!

Novelist Karen Russell calls this book "A work of genius, a wellspring of laughter and sorrow, a feat of time-travel, and a feast of language." I couldn't say it better myself, which is why I'm launching this review with Russell's summation.

"A wellspring of laughter and sorrow" is right. I laughed out loud at the endearing narrator's innocence, his sincerity, his misunderstandings, and his youthly woes. And then I (quite unexpectedly) found myself devastatingly heartbroken by the end and sobbing so loudly I thought I would wake my husband and toddler. It honestly takes a lot to make me cry in a book, but this one wrecked me in the best way. You grow to care for the main few characters so dearly and ache so terribly for them to find peace.

The Pretender's narrator is a delight: ten-year-old farm boy John worries tremendously about getting into heaven, wages war with a cantankerous goat, and will win your heart almost immediately. Almost immediately, John is whisked away to a land of nobility and gentilesse, upon learning that he is (allegedly) the son of a now-deceased earl (and thus in line for the hotly contested throne of England--circa War of Roses). The rest of the novel is a perfectly blend of historical fiction, romance, and coming-of-age.

"A feast of language": this is a beautiful tribute to 15th century language. The language of the book feels well researched (whether it actually is or not, I couldn't tell you, but it feels authentic), and by the end of the book, the 15th century vernacular felt as natural to me as anything else. It's not so foreign as to feel inaccessible or to make the reading difficult, but it is wholly immersive.

Heads up for any super sensitive readers, it can be coarse (but in a way that feels historically accurate, having read my fair share of Canterbury Tales). Some sexual content, but it is all character-driven, not erotic or titillating in nature. I don't know that I would recommend this book to every single reader; if your typical fodder is Sarah J Maas, or Freida McFadden (no hate), then this is likely not going to check your boxes. But if you like literary fiction, period pieces, and character-driven books, then this is a MUST-READ. If you have at any time in your life taught English, this is a must-read. And if you, like me, prioritize having characters about whom you care deeply over almost every other aspect of a book, then this is a must-read.

Final thoughts: The Pretender is an absolute triumph. It's the book I haven't been able to shut up about since I read it, and I already pre-ordered my copy. I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley; Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor; and Jo Harkin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

The Pretender has everything I want from historical fiction - it tells a great story, teaches me something and has characters I enjoy. And it does all this with a healthy dose of humor. The story is based on Lambert Simnel, also known as Edward, Earl of Warwick. The son of the Duke of Clarence, with a claim to the throne, he was raised in obscurity by a farmer to prevent Richard III from treating him like the princes in the Tower. But in 1480, at age 10, he’s taken from the only life he’s ever known. He becomes a pawn for the York side in the War of the Roses. Even after Richard’s infamous death, there is a movement to place him on the throne occupied by Henry VII. When that goes awry, Henry forgives him and makes him a spy.
Harkin has done an excellent job placing the reader in the time and place of late 15th Century England, Burgundy and Ireland. The language has just enough of the old style to give you a feel without being incomprehensible. And it’s a hoot - lots of bawdy terms to keep you chuckling.
Lambert/Edward struggles with his identity and learning whom to trust. And with each passing identity, he becomes more and more jaded and bent on revenge. He recognizes that he’s been used by multiple sides.
In Ireland, he encounters Joan, a determined young woman not afraid to do whatever it takes to get her way. In a book filled with great characters, she was my favorite. If this were a movie, she’d be nominated for best supporting character.
The book has a lot to say about political power, about religion, about revenge and justice. It’s a book that gets darker as it goes along.
I do hope that the author adds an Author’s Note before publication. I’m always curious about the research that goes into an historical fiction account.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.

The Pretender is described as being in the style of Hillary Mantel and Maggie O'Farrell. That was my motivation for reading this Jo Harkin novel, which is loosely described as historical fiction. I have read all of Mantel's work and much of O'Farrell's. Readers should know The Pretender is a very different and unusual novel, not at all in the style of either of those previously referenced authors. The Pretender is written as a fictional biography of Lambert Simnel, a Yorkist pretender to the throne at the end of the York and the beginning of the Tudor monarchies during the late 15th century. Harkin writes The Pretender in the voice of a child, a youth, and later as an adult, who has been told he is the "pretender to the throne." Not every reader will enjoy this character's voice. However, Harkin made a solid effort to make Lambert's voice authentic to this time period.

I picked up Lambert's voice right away and found it easy to follow, as are the other voices, who speak according to their social class. The Pretender is far more historically accurate than many of the literary works from the 16th century. More's history of King Richard III is filled with inaccuracies and total fictions, which simply reflects More's effort to turn Henry the VII into a righteous king, and not a man, who murdered a king and seized the throne. Shakespeare's histories suffer from the same historical fictions. When the monarch is paying the writer's salaries, truth suffers.

While The Pretender will not appeal to everyone, Harkin does provide an interesting voice and a unique use of historical fiction. I did like The Pretender and I do recommend it. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I do not want to provide spoilers, but for people who enjoy historical fiction in an authentic voice, The Pretender way be just right. 4 stars

An inspired imagined biography of Lambert Simnel, one of the Yorkist “pretenders” (scare quotes because who knows?) during the reign of Henry VII. Harkin creates a plausible backstory for the historical Simnel — one which conveniently never fully affirms or refutes his claim to the throne — and invents a life story for him that doubles as a reflection on the nature of identity.

I … love this book.

From the beginning, I was hooked on this story. The writing style was so original, so captivating. I loved the unique vocabulary, the characters, and the intrigue. What I think I enjoyed most were the secondary characters, especially Jennott, Beatrice, and Elyn. The heartache and the humor are woven together throughout Simnel's life, and the themes of identity, revenge, and love are beautifully crafted.

What a treat this was to read. It was bawdy but still had emotional stakes and extrapolated feasibly on known history. I would happily read 10 more books in this style. One of my new favorites.

The humor was excellent and wasn’t tryhard or over the top. To me, it was reminiscent of Ariana Franklin/Diana Norman’s dry, sometimes absurdist humor. I loved the mentions of the pranks or hijinks people got up to and all the well-placed swearing. The dialogue and narration, particularly early on in the book, reminded me of reading the Canterbury Tales and Shakespearean comedies (admittedly that was ages ago).

I appreciated the journey the MC goes through and the glimpses of turmoil he faces throughout. It kept the story grounded.

It did take me the first 2-3 chapters to get into it and adjust to the prose. But after that, I was off to the races.

If you like historical fiction, particularly stories set in the 15th Century, The Pretender should be right up your alley. It details the battle for the Crown between the York and Tudor dynasties, with much of the drama centered on a small boy, aka, “the pretender.” Jo Harkin's sweeping saga is full of intrigue and murder, plots and passions, mystery and majesty, love and wanton lust. The language stays true to the times and the tone reminds me of Maggie O’Farrell’s “The Marriage Plot.” But be warned: this tale spans about 500 pages.

I struggled initially with this book, and the kindle was not being sent to my book and I couldn’t download. But being able to read it in the NetGalley app helped finally solve that problem.

I have never read anything by Jo Harmon and this one really intrigued me. The book was a little slower that I struggled with the pacing but when the plots and twists came I could not put it down. The idea of reality versus illusion reminds of inception in my brain!

Definitely worth the read!

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!! And the opportunity to read on your app!

The Pretender was written for historical fiction fans in mind. With the start of this book, I did not know who Lambert Simnel was nor was I familiar with late fifteenth-century British history. We learn that Lambert Simnel is a pretender to the throne of England as well as a threat to King Henry VII. He grows up as John, son of Will Collan, or so he thinks until he learns he is Lambert Simnel, son of George, The Duke of Clarence? He is whisked away to Oxford where he learns there are big plans in store for him including an education and being next in line for the throne. He is now only going through the motions set forth for him by his new teachers but is actually questioning everything going on around him. Who is he? Why the secrecy and changing of his name? These questions and more constantly consume him. Jo Harkin has done a wonderful job bringing her story to life and showing the depth of the characters throughout the book.

The Pretender is a gripping, richly detailed historical novel that brings to life one of history’s most intriguing but little-known figures, Lambert Simnel. With sharp prose and immersive storytelling, the book follows Lambert’s journey from an unsuspecting village boy to a pawn in the dangerous game of monarchy, where his fate teeters between a crown and a grave.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its character work. Lambert is a fascinating protagonist—his transformation from humble peasant to a supposed heir to the throne feels both believable and compelling. The political intrigue surrounding him is enthralling, but it’s his relationship with Joan that truly shines. Joan is an absolute force—intelligent, ruthless, and unafraid to bend the world to her will. The dynamic between her and Lambert adds both tension and depth to the narrative, making their alliance one of the book’s most captivating elements.

The historical backdrop is meticulously crafted, immersing the reader in the tumultuous landscape of 15th-century England and Ireland. From Oxford’s academic halls to the dangerous plotting of the Yorkist rebellion, the novel balances historical accuracy with a fast-paced, engaging story. It doesn’t just recount history—it makes you feel the weight of every decision, every betrayal, and every battle.

While The Pretender is steeped in political intrigue and courtly machinations, it also has a sharp wit and a lively energy that keeps it from ever feeling dry. It’s a novel that respects history while never losing sight of the human drama at its core. If you enjoy historical fiction that’s both intelligent and exciting, this is a book well worth reading.

I loved it. The writing was amazing, the first half was funny as hell, and the descriptions and people were so well done they felt absolutely vivid and alive. I loved that it was a interesting take on Lambert Simnel and adored bringing history to life. And yet. By the time I closed the book I cried and felt/feel utterly hopeless about humanity as a whole. So on one hand, it was amazing and fabulous! On the other, people suck. I did not feel hopeful that Lambert was going off for an adventure. I pictured him dying of the plague after a week on a ship...

This is a deeply rich historical story set in the 1480s that follows the life of a young boy who was raised in secrecy to protect him as he is supposedly to be King Edward VI one day.

I struggled with this one. The writing sticks closely to historical accuracy. There are lots of stops and starts and is in dire need of more editing. At nearly 500 pages, it was daunting. The story didn’t keep me engaged enough to be excited to pick it up. I spent a lot of time reading other books between passages of this one.

I’m sure this will be a phenomenal read for those who enjoy this style of writing. I was looking forward to seeing the author’s take on this true historical story but it’s just not hitting me like I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preview this book.

4.5 🌟

I was excited for this release, but I was not expecting to fly through this book as quickly as I did!

Harkin’s writing makes the Wars of the Roses so easily digestible and (especially early on in the story) it is FUNNY. I was living for the passing commentary of all the characters as king after king usurped another. Because after a while how much did the common man really care? lol

Young John/Lambert/Simnel/Edward is portrayed as so incredibly endearing. It was so hard not to root for him even knowing how his story ends. My heart broke and raged for him a million times. I only hope there is an alternate universe where he gets the peace he deserves.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for sending me a copy of this ARC!

The Pretender is about a little-known footnote in history, when John Collan/Lambert Simnel/Edward, Earl of Warwick, was crowned as King of England by the remaining supporters of the House of York as an act of rebellion against King Henry VII. John was raised on a farm, believing himself to be the son of a well to do farmer in a small town, when a nobleman in disguise takes him away to Oxford to be educated, telling him that he is the rightful heir to the English monarchy after the death of Edward IV, and the disappearance of the young Princes in the Tower under Richard III. From there, his journey to taking his place on the throne takes him to Mechelen, taken under the wing of Margaret of York, before being sent to Ireland under the protection of the Earl of Kildare, the Lord Deputy of Ireland. At each point in his journey, he takes on a new name, and a new understanding of his place in the world, while dreading the day when he forced to take the crown from Henry VII.
I knew nothing about this time in history prior to reading this book, and I enjoyed learning more about the time period, while also sympathizing heavily with Edward as he is used as a pawn by men with more power to further their own ambitions. The style of the prose felt authentic to the time period, but was admittedly somewhat inaccessible for me, until I became more comfortable with the style and vocabulary used. The first 25% of so dragged and felt difficult because of the writing, but once I became more immersed in the story, the verbiage used enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it felt true to the late 1400s. Overall, this was a book centered around a young man as he comes of age, struggling to understand if he truly is an Earl or is merely a peasant, a pawn, and finding his own place in the world. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of Historical Fiction.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Set in late 1400’s England following the life of John Collan, a farm boy who is taken from the farm, whose real name is said to be Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick. As we follow his journey we find he is the center of a plot as a pretender of the English throne. Groomed by powerful political men of the times, he is claimed to be the rightful heir during the reign of Richard III. At the hands of these men, he is a boy trying to find his rightful identity. Excellent research and well written this is an amazing story, part of the history of England. Not to be missed, I highly recommend reading this piece of English history. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review..

Ok I loved this refreshingly funny, tender, curious book. This is my dream version of historical fiction: a beautifully written and playful exploration of the strange humanness of it all! Would recommend to anyone. Huge thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced reader copy.

At the start of The Pretender, the protagonist is a young farm boy named John Collan, who is eventually taken away, given the name Lambert Simons, and sent to Oxford to be trained as a gentleman. His true identity is gradually revealed to be Edward, Earl of Warwick, and his fate is tied to the throne. However, after being captured, he fades into obscurity as Lambert Simnel, and finally, as John Crossey by the end of the story. The central mystery that propels the narrative is the question of his true name at birth: was he a royal heir or simply an ordinary boy?

I have a deep appreciation for historical fiction, whether it’s meticulously rooted in historical fact with citations and footnotes, or the more speculative kind that bends the rules for a thrilling, action-packed read. This Advanced Readers Copy of The Pretender left me feeling somewhat confused, and I hope the final version includes an Author’s Forward or Afterword to clarify certain points. Another issue I had was with the dialogue—it felt somewhat authentic to the late 1400s, but not consistently so, and it seemed to become more profane as the book went on. At nearly 500 pages, the book is quite long, and with the numerous characters spanning different phases of the Pretender's life, as well as various foreign royal lineages, I found it difficult to keep track of everyone. There were just too many characters for me to follow over such a long period.

That said, I did enjoy the plot and the premise. The story of a farm boy who learns to become a prince, grapples with the excesses of royalty, and embodies the theme of loss is compelling. Despite its challenges, the book offers a rich exploration of ambition, identity, and fate.

My first 5 star in a while! This was intense and perfect! I havnt read a historical fiction book and this was amazing!

This is a well done novel about a Yorkist challenge to Henry VII, the first Tudor king. This particular "pretender" is named Simon Lambert in history, in this novel he has many names. He starts off as John Collan, a beautiful, blond boy who is taken off to be educated in order to take his rightful place as the Earl of Essex, hidden son of the Duke of Clarence and rightful heir to the throne. It is interesting to see the pretender's view point as he is trained, passed about, and used for political ends. It is also interesting to see his evolution into a survivor. And there is always the question of who is he really?