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The Replacement
A Hollywood icon struggling to revive her career befriends a gifted newcomer with a secret agenda in a twisty short story about the true price of fame by a New York Times bestselling author.
Once Hollywood royalty, Veronica Van Arden has been upstaged by box office flops and tabloid gossip. But when she lands a role in a promising film, a comeback finally seems possible, especially with the support of her young and adoring costar, Sienna Vale. As Veronica weathers a new scandal, Sienna stays firmly by her side, a bright spot in Veronica’s days. But as Veronica welcomes her protégé into every part of her life, they both might find that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows.
Once Hollywood royalty, Veronica Van Arden has been upstaged by box office flops and tabloid gossip. But when she lands a role in a promising film, a comeback finally seems possible, especially with the support of her young and adoring costar, Sienna Vale. As Veronica weathers a new scandal, Sienna stays firmly by her side, a bright spot in Veronica’s days. But as Veronica welcomes her protégé into every part of her life, they both might find that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2026
About the author
Liv Constantine
20 books11.5k followersLiv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times and international bestselling authors with millions of copies sold worldwide. Winners of the 2025 Silver Falchion awards for Best Book and Best Suspense, their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. Visit Liv at www.livconstantine.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,037 reviews
May 19, 2026
All About Eve...
THE REPLACEMENT: A Short Story
by Liv Constantine
4 stars. What no one tells you about fame is that it doesn't make you happy. The promise of fame is seductive...
No one is immune to its siren song...
Veronica Van Arden thought fame would make her happy. That's why she worked so hard to attain it...
But, it's never enough...
If she could start over, she'd go to college, find a career, and stay far away from Hollywood...
Happiness is who you are...
Not what you are...
Today, Veronica is starting over with 102 days of sobriety under her belt, and she's ready to face the cameras again...
Without the drama of booze...
But, she still takes the occasional pill...
Late one night, Veronica got a butt-dialed phone call from her husband. She heard another woman in the background...
Next day...
A friend confirmed the affair between Veronica's husband and her BFF Dakota and has receipts in the form of pictures posted to social media...
Veronica confided the breakup of her marriage to her co-star Sienna Vale, and the two women become inseparable...
This short story was very much like All About Eve, a 1950 movie starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. It was a selection from this month's Amazon First Reads program. While this is not my kind of story, it was good for what it was. It just needed to be longer because the ending was a bit rushed and muddled.
THE REPLACEMENT: A Short Story
by Liv Constantine
4 stars. What no one tells you about fame is that it doesn't make you happy. The promise of fame is seductive...
No one is immune to its siren song...
Veronica Van Arden thought fame would make her happy. That's why she worked so hard to attain it...
But, it's never enough...
If she could start over, she'd go to college, find a career, and stay far away from Hollywood...
Happiness is who you are...
Not what you are...
Today, Veronica is starting over with 102 days of sobriety under her belt, and she's ready to face the cameras again...
Without the drama of booze...
But, she still takes the occasional pill...
Late one night, Veronica got a butt-dialed phone call from her husband. She heard another woman in the background...
Next day...
A friend confirmed the affair between Veronica's husband and her BFF Dakota and has receipts in the form of pictures posted to social media...
Veronica confided the breakup of her marriage to her co-star Sienna Vale, and the two women become inseparable...
This short story was very much like All About Eve, a 1950 movie starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. It was a selection from this month's Amazon First Reads program. While this is not my kind of story, it was good for what it was. It just needed to be longer because the ending was a bit rushed and muddled.
May 2, 2026
This was… interesting. It felt both too slow and too fast at the same time. About Hollywood scandal. The ending seemed thrown together. Not horrible, but not great.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the free copy.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the free copy.
June 2, 2026
30 minutes of intense intrigue!
June 16, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
The Replacement is proof that a book does not need hundreds of pages to deliver a powerful idea. This is a short, precise thriller where every scene, every conversation, and almost every sentence carries meaning.
What stayed with me most was not the twists, but the theme beneath them. The title is chosen perfectly. The story is not simply about one person replacing another. It asks whether changing the face, the status, or the position changes anything at all if the same flaws, desires, and illusions remain.
A Swarovski-covered Oval Vodka bottle appears in the novel and became the perfect symbol of the story for me. The bottle is beautiful and expensive, yet most people would never know if the contents had been replaced. In the same way, the novel constantly challenges us to look beyond appearances and question the difference between image and reality.
A clever, tightly written psychological thriller that respects the reader's intelligence and proves that sometimes a short story can say as much as a much longer book.
The Replacement is proof that a book does not need hundreds of pages to deliver a powerful idea. This is a short, precise thriller where every scene, every conversation, and almost every sentence carries meaning.
What stayed with me most was not the twists, but the theme beneath them. The title is chosen perfectly. The story is not simply about one person replacing another. It asks whether changing the face, the status, or the position changes anything at all if the same flaws, desires, and illusions remain.
A Swarovski-covered Oval Vodka bottle appears in the novel and became the perfect symbol of the story for me. The bottle is beautiful and expensive, yet most people would never know if the contents had been replaced. In the same way, the novel constantly challenges us to look beyond appearances and question the difference between image and reality.
A clever, tightly written psychological thriller that respects the reader's intelligence and proves that sometimes a short story can say as much as a much longer book.
Review of advance copy received from Book of the Month
Well, I spent 30 minutes reading this and $0, so I guess all I lost were 30 minutes.
This was predictable, cringey, and the only character that was interesting was Chloe, who was written out. Both MCs were dreadful. Which I guess was the point but, damn, this was just not good.
At least I didn’t pay for it 🥴
This was predictable, cringey, and the only character that was interesting was Chloe, who was written out. Both MCs were dreadful. Which I guess was the point but, damn, this was just not good.
At least I didn’t pay for it 🥴
June 4, 2026
the setup…
Hollywood icon Veronica Van Arden is putting everything into her latest film. She’s counting on it to be her comeback after a series of box office failures and problems with drugs and alcohol. Her young costar is Sienna Vale who is an adoring fan and Veronica decides to take her under her wing, pay it forward to help her get a good start into the business. But when Veronica shows up on set clearly under the influence, it all threatens to come tumbling down.
the heart of the story…
I smugly thought I knew where this was going and got knocked back on my heels, and hard. Never saw it coming.
the narration…
Suzanne Elise Freeman provides most of the narrative and she was excellent in capturing Veronica and the storytelling. Rachel L. Jacobs delivers the final punch with absolute flair.
the bottom line…
Shades of All About Eve with a double twist of lemons and bitters. This little gem may be short but it’s one to sip and savor. Talk about jaw dropping, all the way to the very end. Kudos to this stellar writing team.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Hollywood icon Veronica Van Arden is putting everything into her latest film. She’s counting on it to be her comeback after a series of box office failures and problems with drugs and alcohol. Her young costar is Sienna Vale who is an adoring fan and Veronica decides to take her under her wing, pay it forward to help her get a good start into the business. But when Veronica shows up on set clearly under the influence, it all threatens to come tumbling down.
the heart of the story…
I smugly thought I knew where this was going and got knocked back on my heels, and hard. Never saw it coming.
the narration…
Suzanne Elise Freeman provides most of the narrative and she was excellent in capturing Veronica and the storytelling. Rachel L. Jacobs delivers the final punch with absolute flair.
the bottom line…
Shades of All About Eve with a double twist of lemons and bitters. This little gem may be short but it’s one to sip and savor. Talk about jaw dropping, all the way to the very end. Kudos to this stellar writing team.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 10, 2026
Great short story! This could have been a whole novel and I would eaten it all up, lol.
May 10, 2026
3.75⭐️
An “All About Eve” martini with a twist… of “Sunset Boulevard.”
Amazon First Reads short story.
An “All About Eve” martini with a twist… of “Sunset Boulevard.”
Amazon First Reads short story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This one totally lost me
May 2, 2026
Veronica is a Hollywood star. Her life is in turmoil. Her husband is having an affair with her best friend. She has a bit of an alcohol problem. And she’s cast in a new film, which more or less is considered a comeback for her. Starring opposite her is a new upstart, Sienna.
Her fatal flaw is that she trusts the wrong people. This leads to her downfall. She’s set up during filming to appear as doped up on drugs. This ends in her dismissal. She’s betrayed by Sierra, who ends up taking over her role in the film and wins an Oscar. And on top of that a death warrant is written on her career when an unspeakable secret is revealed to the public.
Told in the form of a short story. The Replacement is an entertaining tale.
Her fatal flaw is that she trusts the wrong people. This leads to her downfall. She’s set up during filming to appear as doped up on drugs. This ends in her dismissal. She’s betrayed by Sierra, who ends up taking over her role in the film and wins an Oscar. And on top of that a death warrant is written on her career when an unspeakable secret is revealed to the public.
Told in the form of a short story. The Replacement is an entertaining tale.
May 8, 2026
Waaaay too many plot points for this to work as a short story. Whiplash near the end
July 30, 2026
The Replacement is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps you questioning everyone’s motives until the very end. The story expertly builds suspense through family secrets, shifting loyalties, and unexpected twists, making it difficult to predict what will happen next. While the story is packed with tension, it’s the morally complex characters that make it truly engaging. Entertaining, addictive, and full of surprises, this is the kind of thriller that’s hard to put down.
June 27, 2026
Even though this novella was short, it had everything a good story needs: a compelling plot, an intriguing mystery, and enough suspense to keep me interested from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy
Currently reading novellas in anticipation of Kennedy Ryan's Score coming out on 5.18.
I picked this up because I got it as an Amazon Read First, and what can I say, this is another book that didn't need to be written. Perfect for people who have 20 minutes to spare!
I picked this up because I got it as an Amazon Read First, and what can I say, this is another book that didn't need to be written. Perfect for people who have 20 minutes to spare!
June 17, 2026
Intriguing story about revenge and the lengths people will go through to get it. I was curious to see what was the relationship was between Veronica and Sienna, as I knew there had to be something sinister lurking. Decent fast pace short story thriller, definitely could have been longer with elaboration on the main characters as well as some backstory from them. Overall a good read
May 1, 2026
Full of typical Hollywood drama, twists and turns. Great short read.
June 1, 2026
oh wow
June 8, 2026
I listened to it twice because I didn't get it. It turns out the mystery was rather underwhelming, so much so that it felt like I missed something big, but no. At least it was free on Prime.
May 25, 2026
obsessed with stories about fictional hollywood actresses
May 1, 2026
Did not expect all those twists and turns
The twists and turns this one took were fantastic to read and unexpected! The only thing that could make it better was if there is a full novel coming with the back story!
The twists and turns this one took were fantastic to read and unexpected! The only thing that could make it better was if there is a full novel coming with the back story!
June 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I enjoyed this short story following a Hollywood scandal. I didn’t find myself shocked at all but I didn’t expect it either.
I enjoyed this short story following a Hollywood scandal. I didn’t find myself shocked at all but I didn’t expect it either.
May 4, 2026
Twist after Twist
This was a really good little short story and I enjoyed it I was not expecting that ending at all
This was a really good little short story and I enjoyed it I was not expecting that ending at all
May 3, 2026
4 ⭐️
Hollywood drama, deception, and just the right amount of tension. For a short story, it really delivers. It’s quick-paced without feeling rushed, and everything ties together in the end. I didn’t finish it with a bunch of lingering questions like I usually do with shorter stories, which made it even better. Clean, sharp, and entertaining the whole way through. Definitely worth the read.
Hollywood drama, deception, and just the right amount of tension. For a short story, it really delivers. It’s quick-paced without feeling rushed, and everything ties together in the end. I didn’t finish it with a bunch of lingering questions like I usually do with shorter stories, which made it even better. Clean, sharp, and entertaining the whole way through. Definitely worth the read.
May 3, 2026
“Rule number one: Trust no one. The cameras are all on me now. And I’ll make sure they never call Cut.”
Very Liv Constantine! A devious short story that is layered with replacements. Absolutely could have been developed into a longer novel.
Very Liv Constantine! A devious short story that is layered with replacements. Absolutely could have been developed into a longer novel.
May 4, 2026
Short fuse....
Vengeance is sweet, but it can bite back. Caught by your own trap. Enjoyed the short but sweet tale of vengeance with a twist.
Vengeance is sweet, but it can bite back. Caught by your own trap. Enjoyed the short but sweet tale of vengeance with a twist.
June 4, 2026
Hmm… an intriguing premise, but overall I was underwhelmed.
The writing felt somewhat juvenile, and the plot was extremely predictable. For a thriller, there really wasn’t any suspense.
It’s a short story so you can only do so much, but I found myself wishing the author had explored several important aspects in greater depth. A lot of things felt glossed over, despite having the potential to add emotional weight and complexity to the story.
The writing felt somewhat juvenile, and the plot was extremely predictable. For a thriller, there really wasn’t any suspense.
It’s a short story so you can only do so much, but I found myself wishing the author had explored several important aspects in greater depth. A lot of things felt glossed over, despite having the potential to add emotional weight and complexity to the story.
May 15, 2026
Hmm..
3 Stars
Short read about a Hollywood scandal. Took me about 30 minutes or so to read. Had an interesting twist to it. But the ending was all over the place. That's why my rating was low.
3 Stars
Short read about a Hollywood scandal. Took me about 30 minutes or so to read. Had an interesting twist to it. But the ending was all over the place. That's why my rating was low.
May 9, 2026
This book didn’t work for me. It wasn’t long enough to fully flesh out the plot so the ending felt rushed. I even had to reread parts because it just was confusing.
Not horrible just not great.
Not horrible just not great.
May 4, 2026
Twisting story
TW: substance abuse, suicide, murder, infidelity
Interesting short story about the twists life can take. Nice little mystery/suspense story. Didn't resolve entirely and I feel like there were plot holes with the "supporting" character.
Free read from Amazon first picks.
TW: substance abuse, suicide, murder, infidelity
Interesting short story about the twists life can take. Nice little mystery/suspense story. Didn't resolve entirely and I feel like there were plot holes with the "supporting" character.
Free read from Amazon first picks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,037 reviews