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Double Standard: An 831 Stories Romance
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26A Hollywood fake-relationship romance goes to Nashville—for fans of Elissa Sussman and Ava Wilder.
Up-and-coming actress Ana Barlow is about to go on location to film a Greek-god epic at Nashville’s replica of the Parthenon…when a viral photo with her married co-star threatens to tank her career. So she comes up with a She’ll pretend to date her leading man’s stunt double Levi and let everyone believe he was the one in the photo. New city, new fake relationship—what could go wrong?
Up-and-coming actress Ana Barlow is about to go on location to film a Greek-god epic at Nashville’s replica of the Parthenon…when a viral photo with her married co-star threatens to tank her career. So she comes up with a She’ll pretend to date her leading man’s stunt double Levi and let everyone believe he was the one in the photo. New city, new fake relationship—what could go wrong?
- GenresRomance
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
About the author
Mallory Thomas
3 books40 followersMallory Thomas (@mallorythomas_writes on all platforms) is a writer and reader of soft love stories that make you swoon, squeal, and blush. When she's not writing, she can be found picking up after her two kids, joking with her handsome husband, and planning trips to the beach. She's also a baby formula expert and content creator. She strives to write books that are better than your phone-- she hopes the time spent reading her books will leave you happier and more hopeful than time spent on social media. If she accomplished this, please leave a review!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 19, 2026
A fun and fast-paced romantic comedy with characters you can’t help but fall in love with.
When Ana Barlow needs help to fix her image and keep her dream role as the Greek goddess Athena, the only person she can turn to is Levi Stephens, who currently works alongside her as a stunt double for the male lead of the movie. And because Levi himself has as much to gain from this PR relationship, these two strike up a deal. Faking it for the cameras; what could go wrong?
As someone who suffers from a chronic illness myself, I did see a lot of my own mental struggles mirrored in Ana, which only made me appreciate her that much more. She and Levi are two very different characters, but seeing them grow closer and connect really did warm my heart. I would read several hundred more pages of these two together!
The fake dating trope is normally one of my least favourites, though I really, REALLY loved it here, and I think that only speaks to how good of a job Mallory Thomas did. Both our FMC and MMC had something real at stake, so the fake dating aspect seemed both genuine and realistic.
The pacing was perfect, and I also found the amount of cute and spicy scenes to be well-balanced.
Side note: NEVER has making pizza been that sexy… wow!
The publisher very kindly provided this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Ana Barlow needs help to fix her image and keep her dream role as the Greek goddess Athena, the only person she can turn to is Levi Stephens, who currently works alongside her as a stunt double for the male lead of the movie. And because Levi himself has as much to gain from this PR relationship, these two strike up a deal. Faking it for the cameras; what could go wrong?
As someone who suffers from a chronic illness myself, I did see a lot of my own mental struggles mirrored in Ana, which only made me appreciate her that much more. She and Levi are two very different characters, but seeing them grow closer and connect really did warm my heart. I would read several hundred more pages of these two together!
The fake dating trope is normally one of my least favourites, though I really, REALLY loved it here, and I think that only speaks to how good of a job Mallory Thomas did. Both our FMC and MMC had something real at stake, so the fake dating aspect seemed both genuine and realistic.
The pacing was perfect, and I also found the amount of cute and spicy scenes to be well-balanced.
Side note: NEVER has making pizza been that sexy… wow!
The publisher very kindly provided this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2026
3.25 - didn’t have the depth I expect of 831 Stories, but entertaining nonetheless. Would love a sequel about the director.
April 21, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up! Thank you netgalley and 831 stories for the e-arc!
This was such a fun little read! I am not huge into novellas as I always feel that there can be more depth added to the story, and this was not an exception to that rule. While I would have loved more, the romance in this was so lovable, as well as both of the main characters. Their chemistry was oozing off the page and not only did you root for their relationship, but you rooted for both of them.
I really loved Ana and understood why she puts walls up around her to protect herself from how everyone perceives her. Seeing her open up to Levi was one of my favorite parts of this story. I loved watching Levi grow into his confidence throughout the story, firmly believing that he can be enough for Ana.
I would’ve liked more about Levi’s family, though I understood that would make this story a lotttt longer. This is my first 831 story and I am definitely going to read more.
This was such a fun little read! I am not huge into novellas as I always feel that there can be more depth added to the story, and this was not an exception to that rule. While I would have loved more, the romance in this was so lovable, as well as both of the main characters. Their chemistry was oozing off the page and not only did you root for their relationship, but you rooted for both of them.
I really loved Ana and understood why she puts walls up around her to protect herself from how everyone perceives her. Seeing her open up to Levi was one of my favorite parts of this story. I loved watching Levi grow into his confidence throughout the story, firmly believing that he can be enough for Ana.
I would’ve liked more about Levi’s family, though I understood that would make this story a lotttt longer. This is my first 831 story and I am definitely going to read more.
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April 28, 2026831 never disappoints. This was a fun read that reminded me of Ava Wilder’s books.
March 16, 2026
The fake dating trope wins in this quick and enjoyable romance between an actress and the stuntman for her co-star. All Ana Barlow and Levi Stephens want is the chance to be taken seriously in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. When Ana lands her first serious role she’s blindsided when the paps turn an innocent moment between her and her co-star Colt and frame it as a scandalous affair. Complicating matters, Colt is the husband of Francesca, the director of the film Ana’s currently filming, and Francesca refuses to let any bad press screw up her success on her first big-budget film. If Ana wants to keep her role, she’ll have to do damage control, fast. Enter Levi Stephens, Colt’s stuntman and a former farm boy from Ohio. Ana has a fake dating plan to save her career and give Levi the connections to ensure that he’s able to keep working in the job he left his small-town roots behind to pursue. It’s a win-win situation, as long as no one finds out the truth about their relationship and Levi doesn’t fall in love with her. But as Ana and Levi shoot the film in Nashville and put on a show for the paparazzi, Ana finds herself falling hard for the sweet and sexy stuntman and the feeling is mutual.
TW for some body shaming and misogyny, Ana’s had to fight for her roles in Hollywood and there’s a reason why this book is titled double standard. Loved the Nashville setting and the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome representation. I learned a lot more about EDS and liked Ana more because she didn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. There’s one open-door spicy scene but it’s not explicit. I really liked how the book focuses on how much harder Hollywood is on women, not just the actresses. Francesca isn’t the villain in this one and I really liked how it was handled. This was a single-sitting read that’s perfect for fans of the fake dating trope and Hollywood romances!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from 831 Stories!
TW for some body shaming and misogyny, Ana’s had to fight for her roles in Hollywood and there’s a reason why this book is titled double standard. Loved the Nashville setting and the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome representation. I learned a lot more about EDS and liked Ana more because she didn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. There’s one open-door spicy scene but it’s not explicit. I really liked how the book focuses on how much harder Hollywood is on women, not just the actresses. Francesca isn’t the villain in this one and I really liked how it was handled. This was a single-sitting read that’s perfect for fans of the fake dating trope and Hollywood romances!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from 831 Stories!
April 10, 2026
4.75 ★
“she’s something isn’t she?”
“i’m pretty sure she’s everything.”
i started this week by reading an 831 stories novella in one sitting so it’s only fitting that i end the week the same way.
what starts as a mutually-beneficial pr relationship between an actress and a stuntman quickly blossoms into something more. with his midwestern charm, levi shows ana it’s okay to let your guard down while ana teaches levi the importance of showing up for the people you love, even (and especially) when it’s difficult. i really loved how levi continued to challenge the ways growing up in hollywood had shaped ana’s perceptions of herself, her relationship to food, etc. while their connection was palpable from the start, it had a natural build and never felt like insta-love, which i really appreciated.
as usual, i loved the nods to other characters from the 831 stories universe. jack felgate forever <3
thank you to mallory thomas, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc 🖤
“she’s something isn’t she?”
“i’m pretty sure she’s everything.”
i started this week by reading an 831 stories novella in one sitting so it’s only fitting that i end the week the same way.
what starts as a mutually-beneficial pr relationship between an actress and a stuntman quickly blossoms into something more. with his midwestern charm, levi shows ana it’s okay to let your guard down while ana teaches levi the importance of showing up for the people you love, even (and especially) when it’s difficult. i really loved how levi continued to challenge the ways growing up in hollywood had shaped ana’s perceptions of herself, her relationship to food, etc. while their connection was palpable from the start, it had a natural build and never felt like insta-love, which i really appreciated.
as usual, i loved the nods to other characters from the 831 stories universe. jack felgate forever <3
thank you to mallory thomas, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first time reading something from 831 Stories. This book had so much potential, but most of the plots weren't properly explored, and when that happens, I think sticking to one or two ideas is the best approach. Their relationship felt rushed; a few more dates or mentions of prior encounters between the characters would have strengthened the narrative and my investment in their romance. It's a mix of liking the way the author writes and wanting her to write a bit more, so I can fully love the characters. I understand it's a small book, which is why focusing on one or two plots would have worked better.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from 831 Stories!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from 831 Stories!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you 831 Stories for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
Ana Barlow has been acting since she was a kid, and though she's done few adult roles, this next movie could really solidify her as a bona fide grown-up actress. So what she doesn't need is the tabloids insinuating that she's having an affair with the film's leading man, who happens to be married to the director. Enter Colt's stunt double, who of course, looks just like him. Scandal averted if she and Levi just fake date while the movie's filming and she has the chance to prove herself. Don't catch feelings - no problem, right?
This was a fun one! It grabbed me right from the jump, and I couldn't put it down. I know the novella format requires that things move at a faster pace than a typical 300-400 page romance novel, but I couldn't believe how fast the percentages were flying by as I got sucked further into the story.
Both characters actually seemed like real people, in an all too realistic situation for film industry folx. In addition to everything else, Ana's got EDS and Levi left home to pursue he's Hollywood dream without saying goodbye to his family (who live on a farm) in the Midwest. We do get a lot more backstory on Ana than Levi, even with the dual POV, but sometimes, you just need a guy who can look you in the eye and say I see you, I want to understand, and your reality isn't a burden.
The issues leading to the third act break up are laid well in the plot, so it's not a surprise when it comes to a head, but you don't even care because it's resolved so nicely. It's not often that the main characters will think "am I the drama?" and actually take appropriate ADULT steps to correct their behavior. The ending comes almost too quickly, but I love where we leave them in a way that feels more realistic than most - and blessedly no epilogue!
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
Ana Barlow has been acting since she was a kid, and though she's done few adult roles, this next movie could really solidify her as a bona fide grown-up actress. So what she doesn't need is the tabloids insinuating that she's having an affair with the film's leading man, who happens to be married to the director. Enter Colt's stunt double, who of course, looks just like him. Scandal averted if she and Levi just fake date while the movie's filming and she has the chance to prove herself. Don't catch feelings - no problem, right?
This was a fun one! It grabbed me right from the jump, and I couldn't put it down. I know the novella format requires that things move at a faster pace than a typical 300-400 page romance novel, but I couldn't believe how fast the percentages were flying by as I got sucked further into the story.
Both characters actually seemed like real people, in an all too realistic situation for film industry folx. In addition to everything else, Ana's got EDS and Levi left home to pursue he's Hollywood dream without saying goodbye to his family (who live on a farm) in the Midwest. We do get a lot more backstory on Ana than Levi, even with the dual POV, but sometimes, you just need a guy who can look you in the eye and say I see you, I want to understand, and your reality isn't a burden.
The issues leading to the third act break up are laid well in the plot, so it's not a surprise when it comes to a head, but you don't even care because it's resolved so nicely. It's not often that the main characters will think "am I the drama?" and actually take appropriate ADULT steps to correct their behavior. The ending comes almost too quickly, but I love where we leave them in a way that feels more realistic than most - and blessedly no epilogue!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel is cliché, but I believe that is somewhat intentional. It follows two stars one who is blonde and highly criticized. Another who is an up-and-coming stunt double, playing the role for a classic ‘entitled leading man’ in Hollywood.
It covers a lot of relevant themes, and to me the one I appreciated most was hyper mobility because I feel that it’s increasingly discussed lately—a lot of women are becoming aware of the fact that they are hypermobile and the ways that affects them in life.
This was one of the more drastic cases I’ve encountered, but it still stood to kind of enlighten me about how to care for my body and how important it is for women to understand when things are not normal because otherwise you push yourself past limits that are not standard for most people.
This story was pleasant to read. However, I’m not obsessed with movie star plot lines, and I didn’t relate to any of the stars in this book on a deeper level.
I did like some of the points. Like the impact of considering someone and letting them know that they were considered by you. I do feel like that’s a very common pitfall in relationship. Also, what intimacy could mean if you let it and how that defines what comes next. Kind of like the idea of parallel realities based on what you’re willing to admit is actually happening. That’s not fully what was expressed in the book, but that’s what I thought about and I liked contemplating that concept.
Overall, this was a good book and I would rate it a three out of five for its immense readability and entertainment value.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
It covers a lot of relevant themes, and to me the one I appreciated most was hyper mobility because I feel that it’s increasingly discussed lately—a lot of women are becoming aware of the fact that they are hypermobile and the ways that affects them in life.
This was one of the more drastic cases I’ve encountered, but it still stood to kind of enlighten me about how to care for my body and how important it is for women to understand when things are not normal because otherwise you push yourself past limits that are not standard for most people.
This story was pleasant to read. However, I’m not obsessed with movie star plot lines, and I didn’t relate to any of the stars in this book on a deeper level.
I did like some of the points. Like the impact of considering someone and letting them know that they were considered by you. I do feel like that’s a very common pitfall in relationship. Also, what intimacy could mean if you let it and how that defines what comes next. Kind of like the idea of parallel realities based on what you’re willing to admit is actually happening. That’s not fully what was expressed in the book, but that’s what I thought about and I liked contemplating that concept.
Overall, this was a good book and I would rate it a three out of five for its immense readability and entertainment value.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the advanced reader copy.
Ana needs PR relationship to help her clean up her image and keep her dream role. Enter Levi, the handsome stuntman of her leading man, who is happy to step in. Five events, kissing for the cameras, no dating anyone else, and no falling in love...
TW: Body image and restricted eating. References to childhood abuse.
It was fast-paced, but given this is a novella, I forgive the speed between plot points. I'm pretty familiar with 831 stories at this point, I just accepted it's more snapshots. I enjoyed the writing style. I finished this in a couple of hours :)
There is one open-door medium spice scene, which I think was well done. Classic one-bed trope strikes again!
I've read a lot of fake dating stories recently, so I have been a bit tired of the trope; however, this is a nice, easy read. There were some specifics I really liked: the fact that they were faking to the public, not to colleagues. That was refreshing!
I did like the specifics of the MMC/FMC characterisation; it was interesting that they both have complex feelings about their bodies and working in the film industry. Levi is in stunt work, Ana was a child actor who grew up in the media and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Like all 831 books, I always want more. For example, did Levi fix things with his family? What did Francesca do next? :)
I guess that's the point, I'm intrigued now!
Ana needs PR relationship to help her clean up her image and keep her dream role. Enter Levi, the handsome stuntman of her leading man, who is happy to step in. Five events, kissing for the cameras, no dating anyone else, and no falling in love...
TW: Body image and restricted eating. References to childhood abuse.
It was fast-paced, but given this is a novella, I forgive the speed between plot points. I'm pretty familiar with 831 stories at this point, I just accepted it's more snapshots. I enjoyed the writing style. I finished this in a couple of hours :)
There is one open-door medium spice scene, which I think was well done. Classic one-bed trope strikes again!
I've read a lot of fake dating stories recently, so I have been a bit tired of the trope; however, this is a nice, easy read. There were some specifics I really liked: the fact that they were faking to the public, not to colleagues. That was refreshing!
I did like the specifics of the MMC/FMC characterisation; it was interesting that they both have complex feelings about their bodies and working in the film industry. Levi is in stunt work, Ana was a child actor who grew up in the media and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Like all 831 books, I always want more. For example, did Levi fix things with his family? What did Francesca do next? :)
I guess that's the point, I'm intrigued now!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and 831 stories for the advanced reader copy.
3.5 stars
Ana Barlow thinks she's finally on her way up in the acting world, getting a major role in a big Marvel-style movie, but when she's romantically linked to her married co-star (whose wife is also the director of the movie), she sees her shot at stardom going down in flames. Needing to come up with a way to salvage this opportunity, she pitches the idea of fake dating Levi, her co-star's stunt double. What starts out as connecting for the cameras turns into real feelings, but can their romance survive the insecurities and politics of Hollywood?
This wasn't my favorite of the 831 novella-length romances, but it's a good one. Sweet without too much conflict (which is probably a bit of its downfall) both Ana and Levi are likable enough that you want them to get together at the end. I appreciated that Ana was portrayed as differently abled (having Ahlers-Danlos syndrome) but the chronic illness felt tacked on at times--there was never discussion of how an illness that affects her joints and muscles would be impacted by being in an action movie. Levi's story was also a bit anemic and with more pages might've been able to be fleshed out more. Overall this is a quick, frictionless, sweet romance.
Double Standard is out July 28, 2026.
3.5 stars
Ana Barlow thinks she's finally on her way up in the acting world, getting a major role in a big Marvel-style movie, but when she's romantically linked to her married co-star (whose wife is also the director of the movie), she sees her shot at stardom going down in flames. Needing to come up with a way to salvage this opportunity, she pitches the idea of fake dating Levi, her co-star's stunt double. What starts out as connecting for the cameras turns into real feelings, but can their romance survive the insecurities and politics of Hollywood?
This wasn't my favorite of the 831 novella-length romances, but it's a good one. Sweet without too much conflict (which is probably a bit of its downfall) both Ana and Levi are likable enough that you want them to get together at the end. I appreciated that Ana was portrayed as differently abled (having Ahlers-Danlos syndrome) but the chronic illness felt tacked on at times--there was never discussion of how an illness that affects her joints and muscles would be impacted by being in an action movie. Levi's story was also a bit anemic and with more pages might've been able to be fleshed out more. Overall this is a quick, frictionless, sweet romance.
Double Standard is out July 28, 2026.
May 3, 2026
I love 831 Stories and it is rare that I am not a huge fan of the novellas that get released. Unfortunately, this was not one of my favorites. The story told felt really rushed, which I can understand as being a likely outcome when the novella only has 224, but this is just something that I haven't seen in this line of stories, so it felt especially disappointing.
Double Standard by Mallory Thomas tells the story of up and coming actress, Ana Barlow, as she films her biggest role yet. Problem is, before she can even begin filming, rumor spreads that she's sleeping with her co-star, who also happens to be the director's husband. In an attempt to save her career, Ana hatches a plan to fake-date the leading man's stunt double, midwestern farm-boy Levi Stephens. The premise is cute, if not slightly overdone, it was just the pacing of the novel that fell flat. Everything happened so fast and felt really rushed. A third-act break-up is okay for me if done well, but this one didn't feel super well done in my opinion and didn't make a ton of sense.
I still had a relatively good time reading and it did make me smile, this one was just not up to par in the way other 831 Stories novellas have been for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Double Standard by Mallory Thomas tells the story of up and coming actress, Ana Barlow, as she films her biggest role yet. Problem is, before she can even begin filming, rumor spreads that she's sleeping with her co-star, who also happens to be the director's husband. In an attempt to save her career, Ana hatches a plan to fake-date the leading man's stunt double, midwestern farm-boy Levi Stephens. The premise is cute, if not slightly overdone, it was just the pacing of the novel that fell flat. Everything happened so fast and felt really rushed. A third-act break-up is okay for me if done well, but this one didn't feel super well done in my opinion and didn't make a ton of sense.
I still had a relatively good time reading and it did make me smile, this one was just not up to par in the way other 831 Stories novellas have been for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love that books in the 831 imprint are like little snapshot stories. You peek into the lives of the characters and are left satisfied but wanting more. Double Standard left me wanting more. Now this is a good thing in that I loved the characters of Levi and Ana (her name a nod to the Julia Roberts character in Notting Hill maybe?), but it also means I am left thing "eh." I wanted more. More from their story, more character arc, a less quick and pat reconciliation and ending, just more. Ana's physical health condition was interesting- how did it affect her life and roles. How did she get this reputation? How is Levi so nice and considerate to/of Ana but was such a jerk to his family? I'm just missing information that would make this snapshot really sing.
"I'm Glad My Mom is Dead" does a better job at exposing the insidious nature of Hollywood, eating disorders, and stage parents. "While We Were Dating" by Guillroy and all of Ava Wilder's work especially "How to Fake It In Hollywood" rings more of the celebrity dating a non-celeb trope. I appreciated Thomas' writing style, liked the characters, but just wish there was 40 more pages and more judicious editing to bring the novel home more. I read an advanced copy, so perhaps this will be rectified. As it is this book is a good palate cleanser after a more weighty novel; a fun pool-side read. Thanks to Net Galley and 831 Stories for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.25 stars
"I'm Glad My Mom is Dead" does a better job at exposing the insidious nature of Hollywood, eating disorders, and stage parents. "While We Were Dating" by Guillroy and all of Ava Wilder's work especially "How to Fake It In Hollywood" rings more of the celebrity dating a non-celeb trope. I appreciated Thomas' writing style, liked the characters, but just wish there was 40 more pages and more judicious editing to bring the novel home more. I read an advanced copy, so perhaps this will be rectified. As it is this book is a good palate cleanser after a more weighty novel; a fun pool-side read. Thanks to Net Galley and 831 Stories for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.25 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What starts as a strictly transactional, fake relationship quickly heats up to be a steamy romance. Ana, our leading lady, has been ridiculed by Hollywood since she began acting as a child. When yet another tabloid headline threatens her spot in a new role, Ana is forced to create a unique solution. Enter Levi, new to Hollywood stuntman, and now Ana’s “boyfriend”. Do these two have what it takes to pull off a fake dating scandal? Or better yet can they resist the urge to turn this fake relationship into something real?
The fake dating trope is super hit or miss for me but this was done so well! I really felt the chemistry between these two characters and found the care of the MMCs words and actions around our FMCs illness to be so sensitive and sweet. Loved the EDS representation!
I was hoping to see Levi address his family in some way at the end, that was a large part of his story that I didn’t feel was wrapped up before the end. Otherwise, I felt like this concluded perfectly.
Overall, really like this quick read! Super Hollywood and the perfect summer read.
Edit: I saw someone else mention they’d like a sequel following Francesca, and I could not agree more! 831 and Mallory Thomas please make this happen!!
Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The fake dating trope is super hit or miss for me but this was done so well! I really felt the chemistry between these two characters and found the care of the MMCs words and actions around our FMCs illness to be so sensitive and sweet. Loved the EDS representation!
I was hoping to see Levi address his family in some way at the end, that was a large part of his story that I didn’t feel was wrapped up before the end. Otherwise, I felt like this concluded perfectly.
Overall, really like this quick read! Super Hollywood and the perfect summer read.
Edit: I saw someone else mention they’d like a sequel following Francesca, and I could not agree more! 831 and Mallory Thomas please make this happen!!
Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️2.25⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC in return for an honest review!
Coming from someone who has genuinely had a good time with 831 Stories and their novellas, this one just didn’t hit the nail on the head for me. I enjoy the formulaic style of these stories usually, but I felt as if this one was undercooked.
The characters felt very one dimensional, even with all of their traumas and health issues. I feel like some of the plot lines added in didn’t have time to be developed as much as the author wanted. If we got to see more about the FMC & the MMC’s struggles on a deeper level I think that would’ve strengthened their characters.
I feel like the plot was fine and a solid fake-dating trope, but again, because the characters had so little to work with it just felt like they were thrown together so fast without any build. Again, some parts either needed to be thrown out completely or given more room to grow. I know it’s a novella, but I just wanted more.
Overall, I think this story just didn’t hit for me. I had a decent time & I know I love 831 Stories for their fast paced and spicy love stories, but maybe this one just isn’t my cup of tea. Definitely read this if you want something to read that is like cotton candy for the brain, but don’t go into it thinking it’ll be much deeper than that.
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC in return for an honest review!
Coming from someone who has genuinely had a good time with 831 Stories and their novellas, this one just didn’t hit the nail on the head for me. I enjoy the formulaic style of these stories usually, but I felt as if this one was undercooked.
The characters felt very one dimensional, even with all of their traumas and health issues. I feel like some of the plot lines added in didn’t have time to be developed as much as the author wanted. If we got to see more about the FMC & the MMC’s struggles on a deeper level I think that would’ve strengthened their characters.
I feel like the plot was fine and a solid fake-dating trope, but again, because the characters had so little to work with it just felt like they were thrown together so fast without any build. Again, some parts either needed to be thrown out completely or given more room to grow. I know it’s a novella, but I just wanted more.
Overall, I think this story just didn’t hit for me. I had a decent time & I know I love 831 Stories for their fast paced and spicy love stories, but maybe this one just isn’t my cup of tea. Definitely read this if you want something to read that is like cotton candy for the brain, but don’t go into it thinking it’ll be much deeper than that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 rounded up. 831 romance always keeps the punches rolling with their novellas and this fake dating romance was no exception to my expectations of a quick, spicy read. But this one does something a little different, and haven’t seen yet from 831: it weaves in a storyline about the FMC Ana’s EDS diagnosis. Any sort of chronic pain/illness inclusion is important as 6 in 10 people in the US have one chronic disease. I found it refreshing to have this representation, especially in a FMC who is a movie star.
My other favorite aspect is that the MMC Levi is not a celebrity, but a stunt double - again, another trope I’ve never read. It was fun to imagine them working on the movie while reading. Ana and Levi have insane chemistry and their ability to connect in those quiet moments is what propels the story forward.
It can be hard not to find yourself wanting more with novellas, and I definitely wanted more depth between Ana and Levi. The story is around 200 pages but I think it could’ve easily been a longer contemporary romance. That said, I’m looking forward to reading more from Mallory Thomas.
Thank you to the author & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
My other favorite aspect is that the MMC Levi is not a celebrity, but a stunt double - again, another trope I’ve never read. It was fun to imagine them working on the movie while reading. Ana and Levi have insane chemistry and their ability to connect in those quiet moments is what propels the story forward.
It can be hard not to find yourself wanting more with novellas, and I definitely wanted more depth between Ana and Levi. The story is around 200 pages but I think it could’ve easily been a longer contemporary romance. That said, I’m looking forward to reading more from Mallory Thomas.
Thank you to the author & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
New favorite from 831 Stories dropping in July!
Ana Barlow finally lands her big break starring in a Greek God epic filming in Nashville, only to get caught in a messy tabloid misunderstanding involving her married co-star, Colt. Enter Levi: stunt-man, fake-boyfriend, multi-hypenate, and unfortunately for Ana, he is simply too easy to fall for. Double Standard follows your classic fake-dating-to-real-love pipeline, but it works because the chemistry is ridiculously good, the characters are charming and the tension teems.
What really sold me, though, was Ana herself. She lives with a chronic illness and Mallory Thomas handled it with a lot of care without making the reader feel like Ana’s whole personality revolves around her suffering. Levi being patient, attentive, and lowkey obsessed with making Ana comfortable absolutely earned him book-boyfriend points. I folded, too. Like, damn.
The books from 831 Stories always leave me with the warm-and-fuzzies, and Double Standard delivered. There's a good chance I will revisit Ana and Levi ahead of the July release.
Thank you to Netgalley, 831 Stories, and Mallory Thomas for the arc! <3
Ana Barlow finally lands her big break starring in a Greek God epic filming in Nashville, only to get caught in a messy tabloid misunderstanding involving her married co-star, Colt. Enter Levi: stunt-man, fake-boyfriend, multi-hypenate, and unfortunately for Ana, he is simply too easy to fall for. Double Standard follows your classic fake-dating-to-real-love pipeline, but it works because the chemistry is ridiculously good, the characters are charming and the tension teems.
What really sold me, though, was Ana herself. She lives with a chronic illness and Mallory Thomas handled it with a lot of care without making the reader feel like Ana’s whole personality revolves around her suffering. Levi being patient, attentive, and lowkey obsessed with making Ana comfortable absolutely earned him book-boyfriend points. I folded, too. Like, damn.
The books from 831 Stories always leave me with the warm-and-fuzzies, and Double Standard delivered. There's a good chance I will revisit Ana and Levi ahead of the July release.
Thank you to Netgalley, 831 Stories, and Mallory Thomas for the arc! <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc!! I always love 831 stories; they are so fast-paced and easy to read, and love stories are ones that I honestly could read 100 more pages of. This one was no different than the rest. I loved our FMC, Ana. I think she was so complex and just so comforting to read. We see her have the same struggles a lot of women in the media do, which is being judged based on merely a moment and not really being able to explain yourself. I loved getting those little snippets of her past and childhood growing up as a child in the industry. The romance in this book while I wish we could have gotten more what we did get was just so good! Insta love usually really isn’t for me, but with these stories, I just really enjoy it. The instant comfort these characters had in eachother and then seeing that care and protectiveness with the fake dating just become so much more was so good!! Overall, loved the tropes and both main characters, and this story was just really good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun read & I loved Ana so much, I felt her frustrations and I was really rooting for her from the beginning. The writing was engaging and flowed beautifully.
I will say I don’t think the book needed to be dual POV, and I think if we had just had the story from Ana’s perspective, the tension between Ana and Levi would have been more tangible. I didn’t really feel the connection between the two main characters, and their relationship felt rushed. However, if we had been given the chance (alongside Ana) to figure out Levi, who is an outsider to this world, it would have been much more exciting to read, and the beautifully written intimate moments would have felt more deserved and fulfilling, as we worked to figure out who this man is, what he wants, what he stands to lose, and his true feelings for Ana, instead of it just being handed to us. I think this could have been achieved through the use of a single POV
Thank you so much to 831 Stories and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this eARC early.
I will say I don’t think the book needed to be dual POV, and I think if we had just had the story from Ana’s perspective, the tension between Ana and Levi would have been more tangible. I didn’t really feel the connection between the two main characters, and their relationship felt rushed. However, if we had been given the chance (alongside Ana) to figure out Levi, who is an outsider to this world, it would have been much more exciting to read, and the beautifully written intimate moments would have felt more deserved and fulfilling, as we worked to figure out who this man is, what he wants, what he stands to lose, and his true feelings for Ana, instead of it just being handed to us. I think this could have been achieved through the use of a single POV
Thank you so much to 831 Stories and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this eARC early.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
831 is back again with another fun, and quick romance.
Double Standard follows our lead Ana who has landed the biggest movie role for her so far, but when a photo gets leaked of her and her male co-star (and the director's husband) Ana needs to come up with a plan fast on how to save her career. Enter Levi the male co-star's stunt double. From there we have some fake dating fun!
I adored Levi, he was loveable and down bad for our girl Ana! And how strong Ana was as a character.
The only drawback was I felt I was missing some depth to the characters, despite being short 831 stories usually have some more flushed out characters. I had so many questions like what happened with Levi and his family and the farm?
Going into an 831 story, expect some insta love, a small breakup and then a quick rekindle, and overall enjoyable plot. But the best part, the romance is enjoyable depsite being short and fast paced.
If you need a book to get out of a slump, or maybe you just wanna read some good romance, pickup Double Standard it was such a feel good read!
Double Standard follows our lead Ana who has landed the biggest movie role for her so far, but when a photo gets leaked of her and her male co-star (and the director's husband) Ana needs to come up with a plan fast on how to save her career. Enter Levi the male co-star's stunt double. From there we have some fake dating fun!
I adored Levi, he was loveable and down bad for our girl Ana! And how strong Ana was as a character.
The only drawback was I felt I was missing some depth to the characters, despite being short 831 stories usually have some more flushed out characters. I had so many questions like what happened with Levi and his family and the farm?
Going into an 831 story, expect some insta love, a small breakup and then a quick rekindle, and overall enjoyable plot. But the best part, the romance is enjoyable depsite being short and fast paced.
If you need a book to get out of a slump, or maybe you just wanna read some good romance, pickup Double Standard it was such a feel good read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up. Mallory writes with such a heartwarming style- never too much or instalovey. I thought this romance between an actress and a stunt double ticked all the boxes for a celeb/normal person fake dating romance.
I loved how we hit the ground running in this story without preamble- it felt like we were really inside the story from the start.
I liked how gentle, protective and sweet the MMC was towards Ana. Mallory's MMC's are always tender, warm and caring with dirty mouths. This was spicy perfection with a very hot pizza scene.
Something that was really good to see here was Ehler-Danlos syndrome representation. I enjoy diverse stories and this added depth.
Due to the short length (it is a novella) I did find this a little rushed and could have always had more. However, Mallory excels at the slow burn even in a short story and writes authentic characters and this met the 831 stories brief perfectly.
Thank you to Mallory, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
I loved how we hit the ground running in this story without preamble- it felt like we were really inside the story from the start.
I liked how gentle, protective and sweet the MMC was towards Ana. Mallory's MMC's are always tender, warm and caring with dirty mouths. This was spicy perfection with a very hot pizza scene.
Something that was really good to see here was Ehler-Danlos syndrome representation. I enjoy diverse stories and this added depth.
Due to the short length (it is a novella) I did find this a little rushed and could have always had more. However, Mallory excels at the slow burn even in a short story and writes authentic characters and this met the 831 stories brief perfectly.
Thank you to Mallory, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Publishing for the arc to read and review. Another win for me from this publisher. I always look forward to new releases!
I am a sucker for a fake dating plot and even more so when it comes to famous actors! Ana is an actress being cast in her first feature film. When a rumor starts about her and her costar who is actually the director’s husband, she figures fake dating his stunt double just might be the answer. After years of hiding herself and letting the public perception shape her, she finds herself comfortable with Levi in ways she doesn’t expect. I just loved how their relationship progressed - although fast since this is a short book. Ana also suffers from a chronic illness (EDS) and i found that really interesting and insightful and added a lot of depth. I wanted to know more about Levi’s complicated relationship with his family and also would like to see Colt get his. But for a novella, I can’t be too greedy. 4/5⭐️
I am a sucker for a fake dating plot and even more so when it comes to famous actors! Ana is an actress being cast in her first feature film. When a rumor starts about her and her costar who is actually the director’s husband, she figures fake dating his stunt double just might be the answer. After years of hiding herself and letting the public perception shape her, she finds herself comfortable with Levi in ways she doesn’t expect. I just loved how their relationship progressed - although fast since this is a short book. Ana also suffers from a chronic illness (EDS) and i found that really interesting and insightful and added a lot of depth. I wanted to know more about Levi’s complicated relationship with his family and also would like to see Colt get his. But for a novella, I can’t be too greedy. 4/5⭐️
April 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, 831 Stories and Mallory Thomas for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5⭐️ rounded up for a fellow Mallory
I really liked the messaging behind this book. The double standard of women taking the blame, the misconceptions of someone having boundaries, the assumptions made on someone’s talent and the ways people can cause harm by “helping”.
The book itself is short as all 831 stories are. Due to the length and how things wrapped up, I found myself a little frustrated we didn’t get closure on how the rest of filming went, if there were consequences for Colt, how the director handled things, etc. Also, if they worked together in the future or continued in movies. If Levi ever reached out to his family.
I enjoyed reading this and love a fake dating trope but wish there was more closure for a nosy reader like me who loves an epilogue.
Loved the chronic illness rep. I was overwhelmed just reading it so living with it would be exhausting.
3.5⭐️ rounded up for a fellow Mallory
I really liked the messaging behind this book. The double standard of women taking the blame, the misconceptions of someone having boundaries, the assumptions made on someone’s talent and the ways people can cause harm by “helping”.
The book itself is short as all 831 stories are. Due to the length and how things wrapped up, I found myself a little frustrated we didn’t get closure on how the rest of filming went, if there were consequences for Colt, how the director handled things, etc. Also, if they worked together in the future or continued in movies. If Levi ever reached out to his family.
I enjoyed reading this and love a fake dating trope but wish there was more closure for a nosy reader like me who loves an epilogue.
Loved the chronic illness rep. I was overwhelmed just reading it so living with it would be exhausting.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anna has been working in Hollywood since she was a kid and is finally getting her biggest leading lady role. When a bogus story gets out that she's cheating with her co-star, who happens to be married to the film's director, she needs to do some damage control. Of course, these rumors cast her in a bad light, but not her male counterpart, Cole. Enter Levi, Cole's stunt double. Anna and Levi concoct a story that it was him all along that she was dating. Through fake dating, forced proximity and one bed Anna finds her walls coming down and real feelings starting to grow but can she really trust Levi or is he just looking to boost his own career?
This was a quick and fun novella with some cute banter and chronic illness rep. 3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC! Publishing July 28th.
This was a quick and fun novella with some cute banter and chronic illness rep. 3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC! Publishing July 28th.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a well-written romance. While reading, I felt that everything tied up nicely in the end and I didn't have any unanswered questions about where Ana and Levi stood relationship-wise. Both seemed to have a genuine connection from the beginning even if it may have started as a ploy to distract from a film production having negative publicity. I do wish that there was a bit more background into Cole and Francesca and what happened to their relationship, but from what was provided, one can imagine that it had run its course. Overall, could not put this story down and I read it in one sitting. Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy short romance novellas that feature fake dating and the Hollywood setting.
Thank you to the author and 831 Stories for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author and 831 Stories for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
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April 12, 2026Ana es una actriz que por fin está teniendo su gran oportunidad, pero esto se pone en peligro cuando empiezan rumores de que tiene algo con su coprotagonista, un actor casado cuya esposa además dirige la película. Con su reputación en juego y el riesgo de perder el papel, decide hacer algo desesperado: fingir una relación con Levi a quien apenas conoce. Lo que empieza como un acuerdo para limpiar su imagen poco a poco se complica, porque actuar enamorados frente a todos empieza a sentirse demasiado real. Y mientras los rumores, la presión y el set siguen encima de ellos, Ana tendrá que decidir qué es más importante, su carrera o lo que está empezando a sentir.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 24, 2026
wow i absolutely would’ve ate up 200 more pages of this. i enjoyed it immensely! i especially really liked ana and levi as individual characters, as well as them together as a couple. their dynamic was just super sweet, and i loved how they interacted with each other.
obviously with this being shorter, not everything was fully fleshed out. it would’ve been cool to explore more about levi’s family, francesca and colt’s relationship, the whole colt plot, and just more of ana and levi being together. but these 831 stories are meant to be novellas, and this one was a really lovely time!
“she’s something, isn’t she?” “i’m pretty sure she’s everything.” 🥺
thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for the arc!
obviously with this being shorter, not everything was fully fleshed out. it would’ve been cool to explore more about levi’s family, francesca and colt’s relationship, the whole colt plot, and just more of ana and levi being together. but these 831 stories are meant to be novellas, and this one was a really lovely time!
“she’s something, isn’t she?” “i’m pretty sure she’s everything.” 🥺
thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A short and sweet Hollywood fake dating between an actress and stunt double. Ana and Levi were just gorgeous together, at no point did I feel they were fake at all since they effortlessly complemented each other. I appreciated the exploration of misogyny on women in the industry as well as ableism - Ana has Ehler Danlos Syndrome which she hides or will be seen as 'difficult' and not hired. I love the way they held each other accountable to communicate with each other, any conflict was resolved maturely. I just wish we had a bit more to flesh out Levi's backstory with his family - its thrown out there but never really worked through.
Delightful. I hope Mallory Thomas is able to expand this universe.
Delightful. I hope Mallory Thomas is able to expand this universe.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really solid celebrity romance novella! After the press is speculating about a relationship between Ana and her married costar, she makes a plan to fake date his stunt double to save her role in an upcoming movie.
I could definitely have read a full length novel of this story! I enjoyed Ana and Levi’s relationship and how they trusted each other while their fake relationship turned real. There was also great representation with Ana’s EDS condition and her struggles as a woman in Hollywood.
The romance was strong in this book and altogether was another great read from 831 stories!
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I could definitely have read a full length novel of this story! I enjoyed Ana and Levi’s relationship and how they trusted each other while their fake relationship turned real. There was also great representation with Ana’s EDS condition and her struggles as a woman in Hollywood.
The romance was strong in this book and altogether was another great read from 831 stories!
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 20, 2026
An easy, quick read!
A fake dating trope, set in the world of Hollywood, between an actress & the stunt double for her costar.
I genuinely enjoyed the FMC and MMC, but I felt like this story lacked…substance? The conflict fell flat. We all know fake dating leads to real falling in love — this just didn’t have enough plot in my opinion.
Still worth the read, especially knowing it’s meant to be a novella style.
I��m always a fan of what 831 Stories publishes and I’ve been fortunate to get a few of their upcoming releases early. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A fake dating trope, set in the world of Hollywood, between an actress & the stunt double for her costar.
I genuinely enjoyed the FMC and MMC, but I felt like this story lacked…substance? The conflict fell flat. We all know fake dating leads to real falling in love — this just didn’t have enough plot in my opinion.
Still worth the read, especially knowing it’s meant to be a novella style.
I��m always a fan of what 831 Stories publishes and I’ve been fortunate to get a few of their upcoming releases early. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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