Double Standard: An 831 Stories Romance

by Mallory Thomas

A 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?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Disability, Novella, Contemporary Romance

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Mallory 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!

Reviews

[maria (will I fully comeback?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

short n’ sweet!!!

this was honestly so cute and easy to read, I see myself rereading it if I ever fall into another reading slump! It was also surprisingly emotional in some parts for it to be a novella. It kinda have insta love but i didn’t mind it since its only a 180 pages story lmao.

if you love fake dating, I highly recommend it🤭

[daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[NRC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 - didn’t have the depth I expect of 831 Stories, but entertaining nonetheless. Would love a sequel about the director.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read from 831 Stories! I’m always such a sucker for the fake dating trope and this is definitely a new favorite! I think movie star x stuntman is such a fun pairing! Ana and Levi were such a fun couple and I loved their banter!

I’m a chronic illness girlie myself so I definitely related to Ana and some of the mental struggles she dealt with in the book. I really enjoyed her as a character and I loved the representation! She was incredibly well done and I hope we can see more disability representation from 831 Stories in the future!

I think this book was the perfect length. It’s a fun short read absolutely perfect for a little escape!

I definitely recommend checking this one out if you love a good fake dating trope!

Read if you like:
Movie star romance
Fake dating
Only one bed
Disability rep!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[claire]

thank you 831 stories and netgalley for the digital arc!

831 stories i am trying so hard to rock with your shit…but good lord these characters are so flat and shallow, it’s like i’m drowning in a kiddie pool.

i think the premise here is great: the fake dating trope explored in a pr relationship. i’m so into that. and then these characters have absolutely nothing going for them other than being hot people in proximity with one another.

there is no communication, there is no character development, their backstories are never adequately explored. perhaps instead of anna dealing with chronic illness and an eating disorder and having also suffered exploitation from her mother as a child actor, we just focus on one of those things and do it justice? rather than cram everything in and fail to create any successful narrative arcs?

and don’t even get me started on that dumb ass third act conflict. i refuse to engage with nonsense like that any longer, we simply have to do better as a community. i don’t want to read that shit, and you as an author shouldn’t want to write it.

everything just felt so rushed and yet i was so painfully bored that i fell asleep multiple times while reading this. like i literally fell asleep during one of the sex scenes because it was the most cliched, recycled use of phrasing.

and also just structurally, i think a disservice was done by having this told through dual perspectives. because any revelations about thoughts or feelings were told from one character to another through dialogue, the most important moments ended up being all telling not showing, which is just not satisfying as a reader.

and finally, there was no reason why the villain acted the way he did. like his character was just cartoonishly mean for no discernible reason, and his dialogue was stupid.

despite what this overwhelming negative review may lead you to believe, i will never think of this book again. sorry!!!!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Tara]

831 never disappoints. This was a fun read that reminded me of Ava Wilder’s books.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[kailin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🖤

[kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!!

Ana is an actress trying not to mess up her big break into serious film when an innocent interaction with a married costar gets photographed and goes viral for the worst reason. Ana is resourceful tho, she’s been in the industry long enough to know how to get ahead of an issue. She proposes to fake date her costars stunt double, making everyone assume it was him in the photo instead of the married coworker.

Levi is genuinely a sweet and caring stunt man who comes from a tiny farm town in the Midwest and jumps at the chance to help Ana. This is definitely a fun concept for a novella, taking place entirely during the filming of the movie and it’s enough time to really get a feel for Ana and Levi’s growing feelings.

Overall this is a fun and quick read that has romance, chronic disease rep, and yucky married men who really deserve the villain rep.

[Maria Bru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks a million to Netgalley and 831 Stories, big fan of your work 💅
This was a fun romcom where the fmc lands a leading role in a movie that might be jeopredized by a rumor of her sleeping with the male lead. To prevent a scandal over something that is not even true, she decides to approach the male lead’s stunt double and ask him to pretend they are together, to fool the press and get them off her back.
You know where this is goingggg 💐
Had fun but felt too short and fast-paced for me, I needed a bit more yearning and tension

[grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to 831 Stories for sharing this reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions!

Ana is fighting to hold on to her biggest role yet in a guaranteed box office hit movie, but she will need Levi's help as her fake boyfriend to do it. To clean up her image and pull the spotlight off of her co-star, Levi agrees to take on the additional role on top of his stuntman position for the film. But when real feelings spark between them and they open up to each other in ways they never had with anyone else, will they be able to keep faking it for the media?

A perfect bite-sized celebrity romance that talks about more than just the romance between our two main characters. While Ana and Levi's relationship is at the center of this novella, I also really enjoyed talking about what it is like being a woman in the movie industry and just how misogynistic it can still be.

[alice ✧.* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed the buildup of this story, and I genuinely think it could have been a fantastic book if it had been full length instead of a novella. This was my first time reading an 831 imprint title, and while it was entertaining, there just wasn't enough room for the story to develop.

I especially loved the EDS representation and found myself wishing we'd gotten to see much more of it. Unfortunately, the characters all felt underdeveloped. They came across as fairly one-dimensional, which made it difficult to fully connect with them or their relationship.

Overall, this had so much potential. The premise was strong, the pacing in the beginning worked well, and I wanted more from the story. In this case, less definitely wasn't more—I think this would have truly shined as a full-length novel.

[Saanvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Double Standard” was an entertaining read but the entire time I genuinely felt like I was reading a Sydney Sweeney × Jacob Elordi fan fiction pulled straight from a celebrity gossip magazine.

The characters themselves felt underdeveloped and surface-level. I, unfortunately, did not connect with the FMC. She came across as unlikeable, performative and entitled at times, and while the book clearly wants the audience to sympathise with the way the public treats her, I struggled to fully do so because her character never really showed much regard for anyone outside herself.

Ana wanted to overcome the “dumb blonde with big boobs” stereotype but sadly, she ended up reinforcing the image in my mind. The author was telling, rather than showing, how this stereotype had a real-life impact on her in a meaningful way. This was a recurring issue throughout the entire book, a reliance on telling over showing, which dulls the emotional impact of any story.

The MMC also felt very one-dimensional, which disappointed me because both protagonists had careers that could have made for SUCH compelling discussions. An actress and a stuntman? There was so much room to explore the emotional and physical demands of their professions, the meaning they attach to their work, the relationship a celebrity shares with the audience, the weight of fame, the art and craft behind performance… but none of it was explored with much depth.

The characters never truly felt like individuals outside the romance. Their pasts, personal histories, motivations and identities were barely explored, so I never got a strong sense of who they actually were beneath the celebrity façade. Everything revolved around this romance, which itself felt forced and rushed. There was no build up or structure to the story. None of the dynamics outside of what these two people have with each other was explored, such as with peers or family.
Because of that, the relationship felt like it existed in a vacuum, with very little emotional foundation or character depth to support it, which makes it difficult to root for them.

The third act breakup also felt unnecessary because their relationship barely felt established before it happened, and then suddenly everything was resolved through a declaration of love.

The book also touches on gender dynamics in the entertainment industry and media double standards, which is a genuinely interesting theme, but I personally felt the discussion stayed very surface-level and never fully dug into the complexity of the topic. The author introduced a lot of topics that called for interesting and layered discussions but most of them ultimately fell flat because they were brought up briefly rather than explored with real depth or thoughtfulness.

That said, I still had fun reading this. It’s definitely one of those fast, dramatic, popcorn-style reads that can keep you entertained for a few hours, even if it lacks emotional depth and nuance. And despite my criticisms, I do think the author has potential. There are glimpses of strong ideas throughout the book, and I’d absolutely be interested in seeing how her writing evolves in future works.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC copy!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I am still getting my footing in the romance genre and trying to figure out what I like, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

For how short this was, I genuinely enjoyed it. I think this provided a good idea of what a longer form version of this could be (even if not the intention of the author since this is a short story romance publisher it seems). There were scenes of desire and yearning that hinted at a slower burn, but obviously things cant go that slow when the book is a little over 200 pages. So, it is best to curb any expectations of that. I believe this was so sweet and cutie that I wasn't even mad at this though. What I think adds to this is the two person perspective. This way we know for sure it's not just her falling and that his desire for her is pretty sweet, not just lustful (which there is nothing wrong with lust, I just can't believe a romance leads to LOVE if it is more lustful than romantic).

There was also a sex scene, which featured something I have never before seen in a romance novel! I loved, loved, loved the representation there. Sex isn't some uniform experience, and everyone's body is different. I can't wait for more readers to get their hands on this for this scene specifically, because I love when someone can see themselves in a character and know they're not "weird". That's such a lovely feeling.

Now the reason I rated this a 3.75 stars is because I HATED the miscommunication. The mmc reaches a point where he understands the fmc trusts him deeply, but he still questions on if he should come forward with something he knows regarding their job....why?????!!!!??? And then when that is revealed in an argument, he does not fight for her at all. He just accepts everything and is broody about it. This just felt so inaccurate to how he was written in the rest of the book. He advocates for her and feels a desire to protect her. I know people can't be perfect, but this is a book, so actually he can be! I also wish we had more information on the rest of the filming of the movie and weirdly, the status of the director's marriage hahaha

I think this was cute, and would recommend it to readers who don't mind a quick romance read.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher 831 Stories, and the author Mallory Thomas for providing me an eARC. I want to say another thanks for making it accessible on Kobo!

[Aléxia · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.



Having no exploration of Ana's trauma with her parents, or at least not enough to create the empathy necessary to understand her as a character. Levi's family having zero significance besides a TikTok video didn't sit well with me. We’re throwing material into a book and doing practically nothing to explore those aspects in an in-depth narrative approach. The "villain" arc was okay for Colton; I wasn't surprised by that part, but it could have been better played. I don't know, there's a lot that could have been explored more thoroughly.

I do love the banter between them, and the sex scenes were hot. One would have been enough to get the point across, and the hiking scene could have added a bit more emotional depth, so we could feel the couple blossoming beyond just physical chemistry, which most of the time was all they had. They related in odd ways. And maybe that's why everything felt rushed in the second part. Or the "betrayal"—even if reasonable—I couldn't fully support or be mad or sad about it. They were too busy eating with their eyes for me to connect with their romantic and friendly bond.

Honestly, this feels a bit like the first draft of a future really good book. And maybe that's why I am a bit upset with it. Nonetheless, the writing in general was good; the flow between dialogue, narration, and description was well delivered. I just needed a bit more words :)



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from 831 Stories!

[Emmerson Jull · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I feel terrible rating this book so low, but I was frankly disappointed by Double Standard. I give a wide berth to romance novellas, and have enjoyed the 831 imprint in the past. But this one missed the mark for me—I actually think I would have really loved it as a full-length novel with enough pages to grow into the romance!

Double Standard is a fake dating romance novella featuring Ana Barlow, an actress shooting her first feature film who’s been caught up in cheating rumours between her and her married costar. She decides to pretend to date his stunt double, Levi Stephens, but the two start to realize their connection isn’t just for the tabloids.

Off the bat, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story. I wasn’t immediately drawn to Ana’s character, and the stakes felt artificially high because the fake dating scheme is devised right in the first few pages. I didn’t feel a semblance of chemistry between Ana and Levi throughout the book, so overall their connection read as lusty and shallow to me.

I appreciate that the author tried to add complexity by writing Ana as a private actress with secret health issues (EDS, disorder eating history) and an estranged relationship with her mother. Similarly, Levi left his family abruptly to pursue his Hollywood career. But without time to truly explore the characters and their lives outside of the romantic connection, I struggled to buy in to their stories.

None of this is a knock on Mallory Thomas, who I think is probably a great romance writer overall. She certainly has a knack for steamy scenes—the chemistry within those scenes were the best in the novella. I didn’t inherently dislike the plot or the characters, everything just felt so sudden and rushed to me.

I think this should have actually been a full-length romance instead!! With enough space to explore Ana and Levi’s families, become more attached to their characters, and develop their attraction to each other more slowly, I would have loved this story so much more. But as it stands at 144 pages, it was too abrupt for me to really dive in.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to 831 Stories for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

I had a really fun time reading this one!

Fake dating is one of my absolute favourite tropes, and I personally felt that it was done well. Because it’s a novella, it was a short and sharp read and did leave a little more to be desired at times, but I always expect this with a novella. I actually paced myself with reading this over a couple of days, but I could have easily flown through this in a single sitting.

The story is a dual POV, which was done nicely overall. However, there were a few scenes where I felt like the thoughts or feelings of one character were explored via dialogue, and I think I might have enjoyed them a bit more if it had been done more through "showing" between them.

While the shorter length means there wasn't a massive amount of character development, the central focus remains firmly on the relationship between Ana and Levi. Ana clearly knows what she wants and is fiercely protective of her image. Levi clearly has a lot of time and respect for Ana and is mindful of her issues. I would have actually loved to dive even deeper into his background, as parts were mentioned that possibly could have impacted the story more if explored (again, it’s a novella so there is only room for so much).

The story tackles some great elements, including chronic illness representation and the realities of misogyny within the film and media industry. That said, when combined with a specific plot point regarding Ana’s past, the story felt a bit crowded. Had the book been longer, these elements would have had the room they deserved to breathe. In a novella format, a couple of these points could have been scaled back to smooth out the third act.

This was an incredibly fun read for a novella, and if you don’t mind not getting too much character development and want something quick to read, definitely give this one a go!

Also, I’ve seen other reviewers mentioning that they would love a sequel following Francesca, and I am officially jumping on that bandwagon. I would love to see it too!

[RUTH GUCKIEAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the earc! 🎬

okay confession: i have been in a novella slump. i KNOW novellas are having a whole moment right now, especially on booktok, and i WANT to be on board, but i keep getting burned by ones that read like a full-length novel that didn't get the page count it needed. rushed chemistry. emotional beats that haven't earned themselves. trope-as-shortcut instead of trope-as-foundation. you know the vibes.

SO. coming into double standard a little side-eye. and reader, mallory thomas pretty much fixed me.

things that absolutely worked:
- the CHEMISTRY. genuinely well-developed for a novella, which is the hardest possible needle to thread. thomas knows where to spend her real estate and it shows
- fake dating remains my undefeated trope of all time and this is fake dating done RIGHT — high stakes on both sides, real reasons, no cute-filler nonsense
- the setting?? a hollywood fake-relationship romance unfolding in NASHVILLE during the filming of a GREEK GOD EPIC at the nashville parthenon replica?? please. that's such a specific and underused setting and the meta layer of "fake relationship during a mythological film shoot" is doing thematic work whether thomas meant it to or not (i think she did)
- the PW starred review is real and earned. she really did spin gold in a tight word count

the half star i'm holding back:
literally just… i wanted more. i wanted a full novel. i wanted more ana interiority, more levi backstory, more on-set hollywood ensemble texture, more SCENES of these two existing in the same room together. this is a "please sir i want some more" situation. i finished it and immediately wanted a sequel, a companion novel, a sequel to the sequel, anything.

if mallory thomas writes a follow-up i will be in line opening day. and if she's reading this: PLEASE.

tl;dr: short, punchy, charming, fake dating perfection, broke my novella curse. recommend to anyone who loves hollywood romance, fake dating loyalists, and anyone who needs a one-sitting palate cleanser between bigger reads 🏛️✨

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Double Standard by Mallory Thomas! I'm a huge fan of the 831 novellas, and this one was truly a standout.

Ana Barlow has finally achieved leading lady status as the star of an upcoming Greek-mythology-inspired action movie, but when a photo of her and her married costar is taken out of context, spawning cheating rumors, she finds herself in a precarious position, her job and reputation on the line. Enter Levi, her co-star's stunt double, and a crazy fake-dating plan. Fight the rumors by creating new ones. But fake feelings turn real (as they always do), but will their romance survive beyond the film set? And can they keep the press from finding out the truth?

The reason I jumped on this one IMMEDIATELY is the EDS rep. Ana has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that affects joint stability, flexibility, balance, and more, and can lead to excessive bruising and injury if the person isn't careful. I really appreciated the way Mallory portrayed EDS. Chronic health issues are so difficult to live with, especially if they're "invisible." Ana's feelings of being a burden are so familiar, and her compulsive urge to handle everything herself was like staring into a mirror.

The romance rapidly heated up (the opposite of a slow-burn), but I get it. When you're writing a romance novella, you have a limited word count to work with. Even with the quick pace, Levi and Ana's instant chemistry was believable, and forced proximity does wonders for forcing sparks to fly.

I also really liked how Mallory called out Hollywood and the media for their unequal treatment of men and women in the industry. Ana bore the brunt of the scorn and criticism for the photo that was leaked (even though it was totally innocent), while her co-star suffered no repercussions. Women are consistently judged more harshly, and Mallory shines a light on that double standard.

Definitely pick this one up! It's fantastic.

Thank you to 831 and Mallory Thomas herself for my ARC.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun! It was my first 831 Stories book, but I've been seeing them talked about everywhere and I love the visual aesthetic so I thought I'd give it a try. Plus this cover is my favorite color (yellow) and it has one of my favorite tropes (fake dating). So it felt like kismet. The whole vibe of 831 stories is novella-size romances. Novellas can be hit or miss, but this one really worked for me.

Ana is a leading lady about to star in her first action movie when rumors swirl that she's having an affair with her coster - who is married to the director of the movie. She's not, but we all know that truth doesn't matter once those rumors start flying. In an effort to avoid being fired from the project for being a "problem," and to avoid the wrong kind of publicity for the movie, she comes up with a plan: she'll fake date her costars STUNT DOUBLE, Levi. After all, the whole point is that they look similar, it's a mistake that could absolutely be behind the rumors. Despite the classic rule - "you can't fall in love with me" - you'll be shocked by this ending.

The character development here was top notch. The sometimes-great-sometimes-challenging thing about a novella is that you really can't spend time on things that don't move things forward. And yet somehow, nothing about the way that Ana and Levi came together (lol) felt rushed or unearned. They start hanging out together to sell the story, but then realize that they actually are so impressed by each other and are interested in the other person. They were so cute and communicative. And one of the few times that dirty talk has genuinely totally worked for me. Sometimes it can feel so forced or like the characters somehow become totally different people. But that felt so consistent with the tone of the rest of the book. Also, beautiful chronic illness rep here, as Ana has EDS. They were so cute and communicative.

Anyway, tl;dr version: I loved this and I'm looking forward to reading more 831 Stories offerings. I think this would be a great addition to my little shop.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Julia (Shakespeare and Such) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.8/5 stars -- OHHH BABY we are SO back, and by "we" i mean me in my hollywood 831 stories niche. preordering my physical copy immediately.

Plot: 5/5 - i literally can't even get into it bc the book is so short but it's perfect (I'M BEING SO GENEROUS AND FORGIVING THE THIRD ACT BREAK UP ONLY BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION WAS SO GOOD)

Characters: 5/5 - ana barlow i know you have taurus placements in your chart, you cannot hide from your kindred. also shoutout to the eds rep, which i clocked before she even mentioned it. levi, our consensual midwestern king, what can i even say about a man who is the perfect balance of sincerity and playfulness? literally to quote the book: what did you pray for @anabarlow i need THE EXACT WORDS. and their chemistry together is OFF THE CHARTS!!!

Pacing: 5/5 - no notes

Writing: 5/5 - "he already knows more than anyone else in my life, but he seems eager for all of it. my fear loses ground to the desire to be known." your honor, i rest my case. and YES there were funny quotes and HELL YES there were sexy quotes but the intimacy of levi and ana just getting to know one another? i was weak.

Enjoyment: 4/5 - here's where you lose that point for pissing me off with that third act break up. everything else was perfection! we could have had an external conflict i'm just sayinnggggg there was so much opportunity for misunderstanding outside of that lie by omission :( my boy was trying his best

cw: mentions of disordered eating

thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for this arc, I look forward to reading more from this publisher

I think this was a draft more than a finished and polished story. So many storylines were not finished and concluded or exploited to their full extent. The love story was rushed, and I know this is a short book but this feeling was particularly present in this story.

We know nothing of importance of the characters, no deep feelings and thoughts are written. Ana’s chronic illness is written in a way that feels cringy and like she’s an old person ; the way she talked about her joints and everything didn’t feel genuine at all and brought nothing to the story. Ok her nerve endings hurts so she hits a sexy position while doing yoga with the mmc. Completely useless to the story and to her character development.
Levi is equally badly written, he’s a puppy following everything that Ana says, we know nothing of him but that he’s estranged from his family and that his sister does a TikTok video saying Levi call us. Ok ?

Colt, the antagonist in this love story is written up to be trouble but in the end nothing happens of him, the fact he’s the one throwing all the rumors around about Ana. He’s a jerk and no one cares.

The third arc conflict was cringe and very useless really, and as I said the love story was very rushed. Fake dating but they fall in love instantly and start being in a “real” relationship from the start. There was no tension and no evolution on their relationship. There was no emotional depth.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

Summary: Actress Ana Barlow has a reputation for being difficult to work with. To make things worse, she’s photographed in a seemingly intimate position with her married co-star just as she’s about to begin filming for her dream role. In an attempt at damage control, she pretends to date his stunt double, Levi Stephens, and claims he was the guy in the photo. Levi, an industry newbie, goes along with the plan in exchange for the promise that he’ll be the double in the movie’s sequel.

What I liked: The fake-relationship trope is common and can veer toward shallow, but strong character development, a solid cast of supporting characters, and powerful chemistry make the novel memorable and give it depth.

At the start of the story, Ana is guarded and likes to be in control — two traits contributing to her reputation. Levi, on the other hand, is a risk-taker and often vulnerable physically and emotionally. He makes Ana feel safe, and she lets down her walls with him and others around her.

I love how these two characters complement each other. Despite Ana’s hard exterior, she too is physically vulnerable due to a condition that makes her overly flexible and prone to injury. Additionally, she’s been at odds with her body since she was a child actor facing pressure and criticism about her appearance from both her mother and agent. As a result, she often ignores her body’s needs. Conversely, Levi must be in tune with his mind and body in his line of work.

The supporting characters are also strong — particularly Edwin, Levi’s driver, and Francesca, the director of the movie. Edwin is the novel’s sage. He’s kind and dependable and offers Levi wise advice at a critical moment. Similarly, Francesca is incredibly likeable. She’s determined to make a name for herself in the industry, but through hard work versus stepping on others (as her husband does). She’s also perceptive, whip smart, empathetic, and fair. I’d love to see a spin-off story in which she’s the MC.

What didn’t work for me: Ana and Levi have strong chemistry, but it happens quickly — perhaps too quickly to be believable at first. After only one “date,” Ana is “itching to make [physical] contact” with him. I would have liked a slower buildup to create tension and anticipation.

TL;DR: This romance has chemistry and depth, with strong characters who remain with you long after the last page.

[Mal · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Aysia · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Megan megmakestimetoread · Rating 3 out of 5]

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