Pretend I'm Dead


Pretend I’m Dead is the first novel published by writer Jen Beagin. It was followed by a sequel novel titled Vacuum in the Dark.
The title was originally published as a paperback by NU Press, and has since been published in the UK with new book cover art.
With a new cover designed by Alex Merto, the novel was reissued as a hardcover in 2018 by Simon & Schuster.

Reception

In Kirkus Reviews, the novel received a starred review and was listed on Kirkus' Best Debut Fiction of 2018.
"What gives this novel its heart is Beagin’s capacity for seeing: As Mona cleans peoples’ homes, we learn that the wealthy, well-dressed, superior individuals who pay her to scrub their toilets are just as messed up as the addicts and prostitutes and gamblers she encounters outside of work. This is not a new theme, of course, but Beagin makes it fresh with her sly, funny, compassionate voice. This is a terrific debut. Singularly enjoyable." Kirkus Review

Emily Books gave an early positive review of the first edition of , published in 2015 as a paperback by Northwestern University Press.
was shortlisted for The Center for Fiction’s 2018 First Novel Prize.

Excerpts

  • "Yoko and Yoko" excerpt from Pretend I'm Dead
  • Excerpt from "Hole" in Pretend I'm Dead