Identity Crisis: A hilarious and moving story of midlife mayhem and mistaken identity from the bestselling author of Swimming For Beginners

by Nicola Gill

'Engaging, devastating, humorous and believable. This book will tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone all at once.' Gillian Harvey

'The queen of fresh, funny, uplifting fiction...made me laugh out loud and properly cry' Frances Quinn

'Uplifting and at times heart-breaking, but ultimately packed with joy, humanity and real depth'. Eleni Kyriacou

'You always know you're going to get a good story with Nicola Gill, and Identity Crisis is no exception... It's heartwarming and funny.' - Laura Pearson author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

Be yourself, people say. But the last person Clare Palmer wants to be is herself – she's lost everything she once had and now can barely get through a bus ride without wanting to thump someone. (People who don't wear headphones, sniffers, fried chicken guzzlers.)

So when she discovers her resemblance to beloved reality TV presenter Jenna Cox, Clare jumps at the chance to become a lookalike, earn some cash and get her life back together.

But it's all too easy to cross the line between celebrity lookalike and pretending to be the real Jenna – and becoming someone else is about to take Clare's life down a track that's even rockier than the one she's on…

'Identity Crisis is hilarious, heartbreaking and uncomfortably relatable. I loved it.' Nikki Smith

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel I have read by Nicola Gill and it didn’t disappoint. It’s very different to the books that I normally read which added to my enjoyment of the story of Clare. I was drawn to the story based off the name of the book and the blurb as I have been questioning my own identity and what I thought was my path seems to be crumbling around me. This was a very emotional read, a lot more emotional than I thought it was going to be, however, there were funny parts to it. You follow Clare as she is pivoting around her life and trying to work out where she can go next, her life has crashed around her as what she once had was no longer there. Life throws another lifeline at her when she is gets an opportunity to be someone else however, pretending to be someone famous is not as glamorous and easy as she once thought it would be. There are blurred lines between who she is and who she is pretending to be.
The story was very engaging with a combination of funny and sad parts. I really enjoyed the character Clare as I felt she was very relatable. If you are looking for light-hearted read then please check this one out. I will point out it does touch on some sensitive topics so please check any trigger warnings.

Thank you to Novel Tours and Nicola Gill for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

[Marte Haga · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

very enjoyable and the snarkyness (in a good way) and darkish humor makes it feel light and feel good despite the serious emotions our main character is suffering through - being desperate for a child, but unable to have one, having suffered multiple abortions. In addition to this, she's unable to write her second book (having already published one several years ago) and she hates her current job. So when she gets the opportunity to not be her self but someone else, the famous and popular Jenna, of course she does! Taking on impersonation-giggs is innocent enough, but what if she can be Jenna outside of work commitments as well? Well... it gets messy! And also quite funny!

This was a pleasure to read! The idea was fun and the story well developed with a clear building of tension. Also, the characters are so good! Even when exasperated and annoyed with her choices and actions, I still felt for her and wanted it all to work out.

My main complaint is that it felt a bit like the "moral of the story" / "the lesson is: ___" was a bit too clearly stated at the end, making it feel a little preachy. I don't want the author to tell me what the message is, I want to get to that through my own thought.process.

[rachೃ⁀➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. I went into it completely blind, without looking at the synopsis, so I was totally unprepared for where the story went, but in the best possible way.

The premise is unconventional. After being mistaken for a famous TV presenter, Clare accepts a gig as a professional lookalike for the beloved celebrity Jenna Cox. But the more she’s recognised as Jenna in public, the harder it becomes for her to separate herself from the persona she’s pretending to be. Naturally, things start to spiral from there, and I was so invested in the chaos.

Clare was such a relatable main character, which made her incredibly easy to root for, even in the wildest moments. Her story as Jenna was funny, emotional, and unexpectedly deep. What started as a lighthearted, entertaining read ended up taking a more poignant turn, exploring themes of grief, identity, and self-worth. It’s worth checking out the content warnings before diving in, as Clare’s journey involves some heavy emotional moments.

This was my first Nicola Gill book, and it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing perfectly balances humour and heart, and I was completely hooked from start to finish.

A huge thank you to Bedford Square Publishers for sending me an early copy, this one’s going to stick with me for a while!

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clare is fed up with her life and with everyone else around her. So, when she becomes aware that she bears a resemblance to the beloved TV presenter Jenna, it is tempting to allow people to believe that she is in fact Jenna - at least for casual encounters.

Because let's face it, fame and popularity make life so much easier at an everyday level. Or do they?

There is certainly momentary pleasure to be had from such an impersonation. But is it really sustainable? Or is Clare about to open up a can of worms that she will very soon regret?

Gill's storytelling offers a light touch and a relatable protagonist. This one will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers and gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[KathVBtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotionally charged story with layers of complexity woven through. Clare is mourning the loss of her life as she imagined it, she is desperate to become a mother but this has not happened, contributing to the breakdown of her marriage. And her professional life is equally floundering, her previous successes as a copywriter forgotten and her freelance work a pittance of what she is used to.
Against this background, Clare begins an unlikely sideline as a lookalike for a TV presenter- and she’s really good at it. The problem is knowing where she ends and her fake life begins. As the boundaries blur between the two, Clare is caught in the middle of it all and doesn’t know where to turn.

[Clarisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had the pleasure of reading a few of Nicola’s books, and this one might just be my favourite! “Identity Crisis” is a rollercoaster of emotions – I laughed, I cried, and I was totally invested. It’s such a fresh, funny, and heartfelt read. The story follows a lookalike who, mistakenly thought to be her celebrity twin, goes along with the charade for the best of reasons. She then finds herself stuck in a situation she can’t escape. I could totally see this as a movie! Claire is such a relatable character that you can’t help but root for her, even when she’s spiralling into chaos.

The book is packed with humanity, featuring flawed, believable characters, and is also incredibly entertaining

3.5/5 amazing stars

[Helen Arrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identity Crisis by Nicola Gill
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An engaging story which I didn't want to put down!

Clare hasn't had a great time of late and is struggling to get her life back on track when she discovers she has a resemblance to celebrity, Jenna Cox. Signing up to a lookalike agency she starts getting work as 'Jenna' but what happens when the line gets crossed from being a lookalike to pretending to be the real Jenna!

Clare tries so hard (even if some of it is a little misguided) and I was rooting for her all the way through.

A little heartbreaking and a lot hopeful with some funny bits thrown in, a lovely read.

I received a gifted copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Louise Fein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all of Nicola’s books, but this one might just be her best yet! Identity Crisis truly has all the feels. I laughed, cried, held my breath and metaphorically covered my eyes as I took every step alongside the oh-so-relatable Clare Palmer as, despite all her best intentions, events snowballed around her. The author handled the pain of loss with a tender, light touch and her wonderful sense of humour threads throughout the novel. A beautiful combination of the funny and sad, tragic and relatable, all wrapped up in a page turner. Fabulous.

[Hollie Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from Nicola, and certainly won't be my last! Our story follows celebrity lookalike Clare, who's life has fallen apart. When she gets mistaken for a celebrity in every day life, the boundaries begin to blur.

Clare is definitely one of a kind! Although i did have to shake my head at a few of her actions, her intentions were always good and I grew to love her character.
I really enjoyed this story, it was lighthearted, funny and engaging. Definitelya page-turner that i couldn't put down. This does touch on sensitive topics so please check any trigger warnings.