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The Decoy Girlfriend
A laugh-out-loud funny and whip-smart romantic comedy from the author of The Shaadi Set-Up, about a young woman who takes the place of her celebrity doppelgänger, and must fake-date the actress’s sexy costar boyfriend.
Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Her second novel is due in a month, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. Desperate to shake off her writer’s block, Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in some mistaken identity for simple perks, like scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub.
Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. But what nobody knows is that their relationship is a PR stunt, and after years of playing make-believe, he’s yearning for something real.
When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love. But as Freya and Taft play house, it becomes impossible to ignore that their instant chemistry isn’t just for the cameras. While faking it, they might have just found the real thing.
Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Her second novel is due in a month, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. Desperate to shake off her writer’s block, Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in some mistaken identity for simple perks, like scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub.
Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. But what nobody knows is that their relationship is a PR stunt, and after years of playing make-believe, he’s yearning for something real.
When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love. But as Freya and Taft play house, it becomes impossible to ignore that their instant chemistry isn’t just for the cameras. While faking it, they might have just found the real thing.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
184 people are currently reading
17714 people want to read
About the author
Lillie Vale
6 books564 followersLillie Vale is the USA Today bestselling author of books for both teens and adults, including Hit Me with Your Best Charm, Wrapped with a Beau, The Decoy Girlfriend, Beauty and the Besharam, The Shaadi Set-Up, and Small Town Hearts, an American Library Association 2020 Rainbow Books List selection. She writes about secrets and yearning, complicated and ambitious girls who know what they want, the places we call home and people we find our way back to, and the magic we make. She currently lives in an Indiana college town.
Find her on Twitter @LillieLabyrinth and Instagram @labyrinthspine, or visit her website lillielabyrinth.com.
Find her on Twitter @LillieLabyrinth and Instagram @labyrinthspine, or visit her website lillielabyrinth.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 928 reviews
May 11, 2022
fake-datingception!! fake dating squared!! fake-dating on steroids!!! FREYA AGREES TO PRETEND TO BE MANDI, THE WOMAN TAFT IS ALREADY FAKE-DATING. ISN'T THIS THE BEST PREMISE YOU'VE EVER HEARD?? IT IS. IT SO IS.
not to mention: 1) the beautiful meet-ugly-turned-meet-flirty, 2) the fact that Freya is a writer who's on the struggle bus and on a journey to re-finding her self confidence (her mom, who used to be her main beta reader and encourager, recently passed), 3) Taft, who is not only a very bangable hero but also someone that I want to intensely protecc (you deserve the world Taft you don't need to compromise 😭), and 4) an amazing cast of secondary characters (the writing group! Stori! Mandi and her friendship with Taft! Hen!!!)
also: Shaadi (another super fave of mine) was closed doors, and that totally fit the book, but The Decoy Girlfriend is beautifully open door, just letting my fellow hoes know 😊
Disclosure: received an ARC! I was hashtagblessed!
not to mention: 1) the beautiful meet-ugly-turned-meet-flirty, 2) the fact that Freya is a writer who's on the struggle bus and on a journey to re-finding her self confidence (her mom, who used to be her main beta reader and encourager, recently passed), 3) Taft, who is not only a very bangable hero but also someone that I want to intensely protecc (you deserve the world Taft you don't need to compromise 😭), and 4) an amazing cast of secondary characters (the writing group! Stori! Mandi and her friendship with Taft! Hen!!!)
also: Shaadi (another super fave of mine) was closed doors, and that totally fit the book, but The Decoy Girlfriend is beautifully open door, just letting my fellow hoes know 😊
Disclosure: received an ARC! I was hashtagblessed!
June 28, 2022
This book has unique fake relationship concept! A debut writer who became famous at young age struggles to write her comeback book and finds herself in a scheme that she impersonates a movie star, replacing her at photo shoots and special events, sharing a condo with her extra hot actor boyfriend she has a crush on for years!( one of the longest summaries I formed)
The main character: Freya Lal is quick witted, straightforward, suffering from writer’s block and grief after losing her mother, moving from NY to LA to work at her auntie’s bookshop.
Freya keeps secret that she cannot write anything and her panic grows at each day as her deadline is approaching. Impersonating the movie star Mandi Roy is only thing making her happy, helping her getting free products, merchandises from experience stores, skipping VIP lines and having excess to places without having reservations.
When Mandi Roy and her long time crush/ also her boyfriend Taft Bamber are shooting a movie at their next block, she hardly restrains her excitement. And when Taft comes to their bookstore in disguise, she finds herself in the middle of flirty banter with him. She thinks she’s not gonna see him again till she gets caught by him at a bar when she impersonates his girlfriend. Yeap! She’s also photographed by paparazzis. Everybody thinks Mandi Roy and Taft Bamber had a big fight because Taft cheated on him.
Freya thinks she will get away from this scandal she’s created but when Mandi Roy finds her and blackmails her to switch places for four weeks.
This means she has to share a house with her hot boyfriend she’s drooling over and act like a movie star, handling her over consuming agent and her noisy friends! Can she handle it? Well, if she is able to resist the charms of Taft who insist his relationship with Mandi is fake, she can easily handle anything!
Taft also has hard time to resist that girl he’s falling for because there’s so much at stake including his and Mandi’s careers.But as Emily Dickinson said: The heart wants what it wants, or else it does not care!
Overall: the faking an already fake relationship in the entertainment industry was interesting concept and I loved both of the characters. Taft was sweet, caring, flirty and the man is hell of a great book. Freya knows what she wants. She’s funny, peculiar, smart, quirky, strong. I loved her, too.
Absolutely recommend it to the lovers of romcoms!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
The main character: Freya Lal is quick witted, straightforward, suffering from writer’s block and grief after losing her mother, moving from NY to LA to work at her auntie’s bookshop.
Freya keeps secret that she cannot write anything and her panic grows at each day as her deadline is approaching. Impersonating the movie star Mandi Roy is only thing making her happy, helping her getting free products, merchandises from experience stores, skipping VIP lines and having excess to places without having reservations.
When Mandi Roy and her long time crush/ also her boyfriend Taft Bamber are shooting a movie at their next block, she hardly restrains her excitement. And when Taft comes to their bookstore in disguise, she finds herself in the middle of flirty banter with him. She thinks she’s not gonna see him again till she gets caught by him at a bar when she impersonates his girlfriend. Yeap! She’s also photographed by paparazzis. Everybody thinks Mandi Roy and Taft Bamber had a big fight because Taft cheated on him.
Freya thinks she will get away from this scandal she’s created but when Mandi Roy finds her and blackmails her to switch places for four weeks.
This means she has to share a house with her hot boyfriend she’s drooling over and act like a movie star, handling her over consuming agent and her noisy friends! Can she handle it? Well, if she is able to resist the charms of Taft who insist his relationship with Mandi is fake, she can easily handle anything!
Taft also has hard time to resist that girl he’s falling for because there’s so much at stake including his and Mandi’s careers.But as Emily Dickinson said: The heart wants what it wants, or else it does not care!
Overall: the faking an already fake relationship in the entertainment industry was interesting concept and I loved both of the characters. Taft was sweet, caring, flirty and the man is hell of a great book. Freya knows what she wants. She’s funny, peculiar, smart, quirky, strong. I loved her, too.
Absolutely recommend it to the lovers of romcoms!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 22, 2022
All the FAKE DATING, and the GLAMOUR, and the WRITER'S BLOCK, and the FEELS and the TENSION and the FORCED PROXIMITY and the SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL THINGS TAFT DOES FOR FREYA and the LOVE. Aaaaaaall the love.
February 12, 2025
There’s a lot of suspension of disbelief required here, and I'm afraid I've lost my balance. Most of all, there's the fact that Freya looks so much like a famous actor named Mandi, that it's to the point where she could plausibly pretend to be her for several weeks? Was this supposed to be a commentary and criticism on the racist notion that "all Asians look alike?" Well, as a part-time Asian myself, I'm no stranger to the whole, “hey! You look just like [insert literally any other random Asian dude],” so it was a little hard to read this without wondering if the racially charged comparisons were intentional or not. Hmm. It's also funny how the book pretends like a romcom would be a massive summer tentpole movie, as if it were still 2005. Sorry, but this movie would be a flop! Taft, that's the love interest's name, not just a word I'm saying, was such an annoying schmuck too! Shallow and devoid of charm, I seriously couldn’t stand even one second of him on the page. But hey! At least we've been blessed with a dual-pov, so we get to understand what’s really going on in his head with insights like these gems:
“He’s always been an emerald-green man the way some men are ass or boob men, but he’s starting to reevaluate that.”
Or,
“Her sleep-rough groan goes straight to his cock.”
OH BROTHER, this guy STINKS!
“He’s always been an emerald-green man the way some men are ass or boob men, but he’s starting to reevaluate that.”
Or,
“Her sleep-rough groan goes straight to his cock.”
OH BROTHER, this guy STINKS!
June 7, 2022
This was absolutely gripping and so entertaining! I've read a few "fake celebrity girlfriend" books lately, but this one has taken the cake. I was completely engaged and read this book in one setting. I love how Freya is as a character and person throughout the story. As well as Taft, he is like a perfect book dream guy! So many quirky, cute moments even a few moments I got a little teary eyed.The story flowed effortlessly and such a great ending to wrap it all up. Loved this one!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true opinion after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true opinion after fully reading this book.
September 7, 2022
read like a celebrity x y/n (who’s an author gasp) fanfiction but like it was cute sometimes
dnf
November 22, 2022dnf @ 20% this just isn’t for me, i don’t really like the whole “switching lives with celebrity lookalike” plotline
September 3, 2022
2.5 stars
rep: Indian-American protagonist and side character; (Indian-American author)
cw: mentions of death of a parent (mother)
This will be a short review because I don't want to rag on this book too much. I really do think other people will enjoy it much more, especially given the premise; it's just that so much of it didn't work for me. I did want to expand on some of my issues past my original review (below) though so here goes.
I admit that I'm not a huge fan of dual POV books BUT I find that I enjoy them much more when both characters actually have their own character arcs. That being said, this book started out fine with the dual POV...but didn't pay off in regards to Taft's POV. Taft did have some stuff going on (wanting to break out of his typecast "hot boyfriend" roles, upset that his former cast mates and best friend(s) don't bother including him anymore) but this stuff just felt like it was barely in the story to me because he spends most of his chapters thinking about how much he loves Freya, how hot she is, etc. Which is not a problem but I'll touch on that in my next point. The latter part about him missing his former cast mates comes out in a prominent scene but is never really resolved. Like I'm fine with it being used as a chance for Freya to stand up for him, but why did we not learn more about that.
My next point is that I just felt like there wasn't much development between first interactions and falling in love. Most of their dynamic is based on their intense physical attraction to each other, which is fine I guess but I can never get into that unless it feels like they're at least connecting on some other level. They do technically get to know each other but it feels very surface-level. For one thing, they have to move in together because of the whole decoy thing but I feel like the book kinda skips over most of the interactions that would've made me actually feel like they were bonding (instead they're just brought up as small flashbacks).
I could say more but again I don't want to dig into all of it when in the end, most of this book just didn't work for me. All of this is very arbitrary though! If you're interested in this book, please don't let my review completely discourage you. I hope that you like this more than me!
uhhhh yeah no one is more disappointed than me lmao like why was I only interested by 0-10% then 90-95%?? I probably would’ve enjoyed this more if the ending had more payoff :/
my own opinions, pls don’t take my review too seriously, etc etc! I think a lot of other ppl will enjoy this book more…I just don’t vibe with a lot of dual-pov books + romances where their “intense” physical attraction makes up for most of their relationship
i'm simply obsessed with this premise!!
rep: Indian-American protagonist and side character; (Indian-American author)
cw: mentions of death of a parent (mother)
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
This will be a short review because I don't want to rag on this book too much. I really do think other people will enjoy it much more, especially given the premise; it's just that so much of it didn't work for me. I did want to expand on some of my issues past my original review (below) though so here goes.
I admit that I'm not a huge fan of dual POV books BUT I find that I enjoy them much more when both characters actually have their own character arcs. That being said, this book started out fine with the dual POV...but didn't pay off in regards to Taft's POV. Taft did have some stuff going on (wanting to break out of his typecast "hot boyfriend" roles, upset that his former cast mates and best friend(s) don't bother including him anymore) but this stuff just felt like it was barely in the story to me because he spends most of his chapters thinking about how much he loves Freya, how hot she is, etc. Which is not a problem but I'll touch on that in my next point. The latter part about him missing his former cast mates comes out in a prominent scene but is never really resolved. Like I'm fine with it being used as a chance for Freya to stand up for him, but why did we not learn more about that.
My next point is that I just felt like there wasn't much development between first interactions and falling in love. Most of their dynamic is based on their intense physical attraction to each other, which is fine I guess but I can never get into that unless it feels like they're at least connecting on some other level. They do technically get to know each other but it feels very surface-level. For one thing, they have to move in together because of the whole decoy thing but I feel like the book kinda skips over most of the interactions that would've made me actually feel like they were bonding (instead they're just brought up as small flashbacks).
I could say more but again I don't want to dig into all of it when in the end, most of this book just didn't work for me. All of this is very arbitrary though! If you're interested in this book, please don't let my review completely discourage you. I hope that you like this more than me!
alternate review:
uhhhh yeah no one is more disappointed than me lmao like why was I only interested by 0-10% then 90-95%?? I probably would’ve enjoyed this more if the ending had more payoff :/
my own opinions, pls don’t take my review too seriously, etc etc! I think a lot of other ppl will enjoy this book more…I just don’t vibe with a lot of dual-pov books + romances where their “intense” physical attraction makes up for most of their relationship
original review:
i'm simply obsessed with this premise!!
Want to read
February 2, 202201.02.2022 do i really have to tell you all every time i come across one of lillie vale's upcoming books how excited i am, because i mean, look at that premise and that cover, come on (!!!)
May 16, 2022
Dear Reader,
May I have have the pleasure of introducing you to my second Adult novel, The Decoy Girlfriend? Early reviewer copies are up for request on Netgalley, so now is a good time to share more about what you can find between the *ahem* sheets.
This book has been the most personal, tender, sexy, and joyful project I’ve ever worked on, and I want to be very upfront that unlike my previous books, there is a friggin' gleeful amount of explicit on-page sex.
It's about the ways careers and success can define us: a writer who thinks she's peaked early in life and is agonizing about her unfinished novel, an actor who's been typecast his entire career and finds true success after a decade in the biz. It's a novel about defining happiness and dreams and what that looks like—and the ways those things can, and should, evolve.
This is especially meaningful to me, because this book holds a huge chunk of my heart and represents a new direction for me as an author. This is, as you might imagine, a little terrifying! I want this book to find its readers, so here are the tropes, themes, and content warnings for The Decoy Girlfriend.
🎭 fake dating (or, more accurately, fake dating someone who is fake dating someone else!)
👩🏻❤️💋👨🏻 author/actor dual POV
🧲 forget opposites attract, these are simpatico soft nerds™️
😍 Taft falls first
💓 pines quite a lot actually
🍳 woos her with home cooking
🥺 and has boundless golden retriever energy
🍆 and is just very unapologetically horny for her
👔 Freya likes wearing his shirts almost as much as he likes seeing her in them
🗡 fights his corner like a fierce Valkyrie
💓 make that mutual pining
🪞 never felt truly special until she met him—and he makes sure she sees herself how he sees her
📍 also this is set in LA and is a love letter to books, bookshops (like Skylight Books!), and a teensy bit Notting Hill
🐓 and there is a DOG CALLED HEN who does his best to be a writing assistant
CW: Please be aware that through the course of the novel, Freya recounts fond memories of her mother, who passed away before the book begins (off-page), and the ways in which that love is intertwined with her writing. Taft stands firm against toxic masculinity and learns to let go of toxic friendships.
May I have have the pleasure of introducing you to my second Adult novel, The Decoy Girlfriend? Early reviewer copies are up for request on Netgalley, so now is a good time to share more about what you can find between the *ahem* sheets.
This book has been the most personal, tender, sexy, and joyful project I’ve ever worked on, and I want to be very upfront that unlike my previous books, there is a friggin' gleeful amount of explicit on-page sex.
It's about the ways careers and success can define us: a writer who thinks she's peaked early in life and is agonizing about her unfinished novel, an actor who's been typecast his entire career and finds true success after a decade in the biz. It's a novel about defining happiness and dreams and what that looks like—and the ways those things can, and should, evolve.
This is especially meaningful to me, because this book holds a huge chunk of my heart and represents a new direction for me as an author. This is, as you might imagine, a little terrifying! I want this book to find its readers, so here are the tropes, themes, and content warnings for The Decoy Girlfriend.
🎭 fake dating (or, more accurately, fake dating someone who is fake dating someone else!)
👩🏻❤️💋👨🏻 author/actor dual POV
🧲 forget opposites attract, these are simpatico soft nerds™️
😍 Taft falls first
💓 pines quite a lot actually
🍳 woos her with home cooking
🥺 and has boundless golden retriever energy
🍆 and is just very unapologetically horny for her
👔 Freya likes wearing his shirts almost as much as he likes seeing her in them
🗡 fights his corner like a fierce Valkyrie
💓 make that mutual pining
🪞 never felt truly special until she met him—and he makes sure she sees herself how he sees her
📍 also this is set in LA and is a love letter to books, bookshops (like Skylight Books!), and a teensy bit Notting Hill
🐓 and there is a DOG CALLED HEN who does his best to be a writing assistant
CW: Please be aware that through the course of the novel, Freya recounts fond memories of her mother, who passed away before the book begins (off-page), and the ways in which that love is intertwined with her writing. Taft stands firm against toxic masculinity and learns to let go of toxic friendships.
September 6, 2022
When I tell you I would die for this man
March 10, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Library Book 📕
Fake Dating Trope Times Two. An actor fake dating his co-star starts fake dating her look alike who’s an author. It was different and totally enjoyable so I gave it four stars!
Fake Dating Trope Times Two. An actor fake dating his co-star starts fake dating her look alike who’s an author. It was different and totally enjoyable so I gave it four stars!
August 9, 2022
✅️ RomCom
✅️ Fake Dating Actor
✅️ Dual POV
⚠️ (Prior) Death of a parent
Fake dating someone you are fake dating?🤔
Different! I like it! 😏
Freya moves to LA to work at her aunt's bookstore while working on her book. She uses her likeness to actress Mandi Roy to get free stuff/VIP access. 🍾
She first meets Mandi's boyfriend Taft Bamber when he happens to show up at the bookshop and again later on while she is impersonating Mandi! 😅
She ends up being blackmailed into being Mandi for 4 weeks, which is where the sparks start flying with Taft. 🎆
Gave me Hallmark feels 🥰
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!
✅️ Fake Dating Actor
✅️ Dual POV
⚠️ (Prior) Death of a parent
Fake dating someone you are fake dating?🤔
Different! I like it! 😏
Freya moves to LA to work at her aunt's bookstore while working on her book. She uses her likeness to actress Mandi Roy to get free stuff/VIP access. 🍾
She first meets Mandi's boyfriend Taft Bamber when he happens to show up at the bookshop and again later on while she is impersonating Mandi! 😅
She ends up being blackmailed into being Mandi for 4 weeks, which is where the sparks start flying with Taft. 🎆
Gave me Hallmark feels 🥰
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!
October 12, 2022
The Decoy Girlfriend was a super cute rom-com with fake romance squared! Definitely my kind of read!
Our heroine, Freya Lal, an author struggling with writer's block, is often mistaken for Hollywood It-Girl, Mandi Ray. The resemblance between the women has gotten Freya into clubs and led to loads of free drinks and merchandise from local retailers. One night, while out with friends, Freya takes the ruse a little too far and her actions cause some nasty rumors of a possible breakup between Mandy and her actor boyfriend, Taft Bamber.
Mandy does some sleuthing to find Freya and issues an ultimatum: Give Mandy a break from the spotlight by pretending to be her for a month or she'll be exposed. Freya moves in with Taft, gets a crash-course in life as Mandy and learns that Mandy and Taft's relationship is also a showmance!
I won't give away too much, but remember that sometimes fake romances turn into something real...
My thoughts:
• I loved reading about Mandy's wardrobe and beauty regimen. Rouge Dior 999 Lipstick? Yes, please!
•The sex scenes were way too cringey for me. Sadly, this is a common occurance with the way these scenes are written in cute rom coms. Over the top metaphorical descriptions of human anatomy and unrealistic dialogue just don't do it for me. If I never have to read the word "nub" again, it will be too soon
•I also thought there was way too much description of the characters' feeling and way too much "inner monologue" when I would have enjoyed more plot. I also hate when male love interests call the female MC "sweetheart." It just feels condescending and patriarchal to me.
•That being said, I really loved Freya and Taft together and loved the premise of the book. Rounding up to four stars.
•BTW - I totally pictured Aaron Tveit as Taft while reading this book because I have a dear friend who is a huge Broadway/Moulin Rouge/Aaron fan and posts/talks about him often - somehow she planted him in my brain for the duration of this book!😂💗
Trigger Warnings: Death of a parent
Our heroine, Freya Lal, an author struggling with writer's block, is often mistaken for Hollywood It-Girl, Mandi Ray. The resemblance between the women has gotten Freya into clubs and led to loads of free drinks and merchandise from local retailers. One night, while out with friends, Freya takes the ruse a little too far and her actions cause some nasty rumors of a possible breakup between Mandy and her actor boyfriend, Taft Bamber.
Mandy does some sleuthing to find Freya and issues an ultimatum: Give Mandy a break from the spotlight by pretending to be her for a month or she'll be exposed. Freya moves in with Taft, gets a crash-course in life as Mandy and learns that Mandy and Taft's relationship is also a showmance!
I won't give away too much, but remember that sometimes fake romances turn into something real...
My thoughts:
• I loved reading about Mandy's wardrobe and beauty regimen. Rouge Dior 999 Lipstick? Yes, please!
•The sex scenes were way too cringey for me. Sadly, this is a common occurance with the way these scenes are written in cute rom coms. Over the top metaphorical descriptions of human anatomy and unrealistic dialogue just don't do it for me. If I never have to read the word "nub" again, it will be too soon
•I also thought there was way too much description of the characters' feeling and way too much "inner monologue" when I would have enjoyed more plot. I also hate when male love interests call the female MC "sweetheart." It just feels condescending and patriarchal to me.
•That being said, I really loved Freya and Taft together and loved the premise of the book. Rounding up to four stars.
•BTW - I totally pictured Aaron Tveit as Taft while reading this book because I have a dear friend who is a huge Broadway/Moulin Rouge/Aaron fan and posts/talks about him often - somehow she planted him in my brain for the duration of this book!😂💗
Trigger Warnings: Death of a parent
September 6, 2022
freya lal, a writer struggling to complete a draft of her second book, commonly gets mistaken for her doppelgänger, famous actress mandi roy. so much so that sometimes she likes to pretend to be there. after getting caught, though, mandi gives her a choice: freya can live as mandi for a few weeks to give the latter a break, or mandi will report her. freya goes with the former option, promising to pose as mandi—which means posing as taft bamber’s girlfriend.
i liked seeing freya’s journey of working on a deadline when she hasn’t felt inspired in so long. this actually gave the book a good portion of its plot, since the rest was pretty character-driven.
though freya and taft kinda had an insta-love connection, this didn’t bother me much. freya was a fan of taft’s before they met so it felt a little more realistic, at least on her part.
this was a super fast-paced book that was easy to read, which is just what i needed right now!
i liked seeing freya’s journey of working on a deadline when she hasn’t felt inspired in so long. this actually gave the book a good portion of its plot, since the rest was pretty character-driven.
though freya and taft kinda had an insta-love connection, this didn’t bother me much. freya was a fan of taft’s before they met so it felt a little more realistic, at least on her part.
this was a super fast-paced book that was easy to read, which is just what i needed right now!
August 12, 2022
fake date?👀
•••
4.5✨
(thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review)
He looks at you like I look at pickles.
i enjoyed this so much that i barely took notes🥲
~
so, originally, i picked this book because of the cover, i mean, obviously. but the plot is really intriguing.
there was kind insta love in this but like i’m trying to ignore it.
i don’t really know what to say about this, considering there’s no notes, but seriously, read it🙌🏼 (out september 6)
•••
i’m writing more cuz i wrote this when i was tired and it looks so fucking lazy.
okay so i have a question:
1: how the fuck are they gonna explain their relationship??
“oh yeah we met at a bookstore, she looked like my girl friend but not my REAL girlfriend. my fake girlfriend. but i decided to date HER in place of my fake girlfriend because they look alike. i’m attracted to HER but not the OTHER girl i’m fake dating even though they’re supposedly identical.”
that’s it. that’s the question. still like it though. and the smut✨🫶🏼
dear god. i see what you’re doing for others-
•••
4.5✨
(thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review)
He looks at you like I look at pickles.
i enjoyed this so much that i barely took notes🥲
~
so, originally, i picked this book because of the cover, i mean, obviously. but the plot is really intriguing.
there was kind insta love in this but like i’m trying to ignore it.
i don’t really know what to say about this, considering there’s no notes, but seriously, read it🙌🏼 (out september 6)
•••
i’m writing more cuz i wrote this when i was tired and it looks so fucking lazy.
okay so i have a question:
1: how the fuck are they gonna explain their relationship??
“oh yeah we met at a bookstore, she looked like my girl friend but not my REAL girlfriend. my fake girlfriend. but i decided to date HER in place of my fake girlfriend because they look alike. i’m attracted to HER but not the OTHER girl i’m fake dating even though they’re supposedly identical.”
that’s it. that’s the question. still like it though. and the smut✨🫶🏼
dear god. i see what you’re doing for others-
August 22, 2022
An adorable, fun fake dating book that left a smile on my face. A huge fan of all of Lillie’s books!
June 24, 2022
Lately I’ve been in the mood for romance and after reading the Stand-In this month and loving it, I thought, why not give another doppelgänger story a shot?
My biggest issue with this book was the writing style, which just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into the story and to me it felt clunky, convoluted, and weird, which in subsequence led to me not having the best reading experience I could have had. For me it didn’t get better throughout this book, but I honestly think this is a me-problem.
I did enjoy the characters, Freya especially. She seemed strong minded, knew what she wanted and didn’t compromise herself. She grew throughout this story, and the growth was realistic. That made the drama that happened seem not over the top, like it does in most other books. Which was the thing I liked best about this book.
I will check out more books by Lillie Vale to see if I like her writing style more in other books, because the whole story and the ending especially made this book worth the read.
My biggest issue with this book was the writing style, which just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into the story and to me it felt clunky, convoluted, and weird, which in subsequence led to me not having the best reading experience I could have had. For me it didn’t get better throughout this book, but I honestly think this is a me-problem.
I did enjoy the characters, Freya especially. She seemed strong minded, knew what she wanted and didn’t compromise herself. She grew throughout this story, and the growth was realistic. That made the drama that happened seem not over the top, like it does in most other books. Which was the thing I liked best about this book.
I will check out more books by Lillie Vale to see if I like her writing style more in other books, because the whole story and the ending especially made this book worth the read.
September 5, 2022
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I was unable to force myself to feel the way I wanted to.
As expected, I did had high expectations because the first quarter of the book was very engaging and I couldn't wait to see where this thing went.
Unfortunately, I found the next 25% to be a little shaky; I would say the chemistry was there, but the burn just wasn't there.
The last 50% was bland. Although the characters aren't flat, there isn't much character development, and that was a big NO for me, especially considering how mediocre their romance is.
lso want to mention how inconsistent & forgettable the writing is in the last 50%, how messy I find it, and how I couldn't merely care about it because of the inconsistent writing and lack of character development.
This was disappointing all around.
*Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc*
As expected, I did had high expectations because the first quarter of the book was very engaging and I couldn't wait to see where this thing went.
Unfortunately, I found the next 25% to be a little shaky; I would say the chemistry was there, but the burn just wasn't there.
The last 50% was bland. Although the characters aren't flat, there isn't much character development, and that was a big NO for me, especially considering how mediocre their romance is.
lso want to mention how inconsistent & forgettable the writing is in the last 50%, how messy I find it, and how I couldn't merely care about it because of the inconsistent writing and lack of character development.
This was disappointing all around.
*Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc*
September 25, 2022
I feel like I have a theme "Fake Girlfriend" romance books lately, but I have to admit they all have been really good. This one was funny and sweet; I loved the spark between Freya and Taft. Freya is doppelganger to movie star Mandi Roy, Taft's on-screen off-screen girlfriend. However, what nobody knows is their off-screen romance is just a PR stunt.
When Mandi catches on to Freya looking like her and using this influence for free stuff, VIP entrance, etc. Instead of getting mad at her Mandi ask Freya to be her for the next four weeks so she can take a much-needed vacation. Freya doesn't think she can pull this off, but what choice does she have, she owes Mandi. What she doesn't plan on is falling for Taft and him her. But is this all just acting or is real?
I am sucker for a good Rom-Com and this one is a must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putham for copy of this book for my honest review.
When Mandi catches on to Freya looking like her and using this influence for free stuff, VIP entrance, etc. Instead of getting mad at her Mandi ask Freya to be her for the next four weeks so she can take a much-needed vacation. Freya doesn't think she can pull this off, but what choice does she have, she owes Mandi. What she doesn't plan on is falling for Taft and him her. But is this all just acting or is real?
I am sucker for a good Rom-Com and this one is a must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putham for copy of this book for my honest review.
September 6, 2022
This was such a fun and quick escape! Sometimes a girl just needs a good Hollywood celebrity fake dating trope and this one certainly satisfies that!
I flew through this one in a day and totally relished in all the fun that Vale created from the amusing wittiness to the swoon worthy chemistry! I also loved that Freya was a writer and worked at a bookstore, so delightful!
This one definitely fits romcoms desirable 3 s’s of smart, sweet and sexy and is surely worth checking out!
I flew through this one in a day and totally relished in all the fun that Vale created from the amusing wittiness to the swoon worthy chemistry! I also loved that Freya was a writer and worked at a bookstore, so delightful!
This one definitely fits romcoms desirable 3 s’s of smart, sweet and sexy and is surely worth checking out!
August 30, 2022
This was such a perfect romance book! I love the fake dating trope so much because you actually get to see the two main characters interact and why they fall for each other, and this book did it perfectly!
Freya is a bookseller and an author struggling through the second book slump manuscript writing process but she also has an uncanny resemblance to a very famous actress, Mandi Roy, she occasionally leans into to get into a trendy restaurant or club.
Taft Bamber is Hollywoods IT man and is in a showmance for PR with Mandi Roy. When Mandi needs to get away for a bit after she catches Freya impersonating her, Mandi has Freya go to lots of events and start staying with Taft, where Freya and Taft really do start falling for each other for real.
This was lovely! The characters had chemistry, the growth in Taft was delightful and I adored Freya’s journey of coming into her own.
5 stars, totally recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Freya is a bookseller and an author struggling through the second book slump manuscript writing process but she also has an uncanny resemblance to a very famous actress, Mandi Roy, she occasionally leans into to get into a trendy restaurant or club.
Taft Bamber is Hollywoods IT man and is in a showmance for PR with Mandi Roy. When Mandi needs to get away for a bit after she catches Freya impersonating her, Mandi has Freya go to lots of events and start staying with Taft, where Freya and Taft really do start falling for each other for real.
This was lovely! The characters had chemistry, the growth in Taft was delightful and I adored Freya’s journey of coming into her own.
5 stars, totally recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 17, 2022
woefully average, is what this is.
the blurb interested me because this could've been executed so much better. the cover is amazing too, it's been love at first sight. but... the plot just didn't do it for me.
firstly, what kind of names are taft and freya? they exude so much side character energy, i couldn't take them seriously. it's SUPER instalove and they also don't have any chemistry at all.
they fall in love within a single interaction and the MMC finds everything the FMC does, arousing and adorable. taft bamber is the literal definition of a simp. there's no other word for what he is.
he's perfect too, the kind of perfect only a man written by a woman can be? the exact kind of boyfriend you'd want but you know doesn't exist because he's just that unrealistic.
it felt like i was reading about a golden retriever more than an actual, legit man. but, at least he has some personality which other romance novel MMCs lack (cough adam carlsen cough aaron blackford).
it really didn't have much in the way of plot, honestly, and it has no business being in the 3rd person. it's slow and kind of boring after a while. even the conflict is simple and easily dealt with. i was generally disappointed with the execution. it could've been handled so differently and elegantly.
in any case, it was a light-hearted, very sweet and wholesome romcom that though i've been nitpicky, i still liked.
— 3 stars.
the blurb interested me because this could've been executed so much better. the cover is amazing too, it's been love at first sight. but... the plot just didn't do it for me.
firstly, what kind of names are taft and freya? they exude so much side character energy, i couldn't take them seriously. it's SUPER instalove and they also don't have any chemistry at all.
they fall in love within a single interaction and the MMC finds everything the FMC does, arousing and adorable. taft bamber is the literal definition of a simp. there's no other word for what he is.
he's perfect too, the kind of perfect only a man written by a woman can be? the exact kind of boyfriend you'd want but you know doesn't exist because he's just that unrealistic.
it felt like i was reading about a golden retriever more than an actual, legit man. but, at least he has some personality which other romance novel MMCs lack (cough adam carlsen cough aaron blackford).
it really didn't have much in the way of plot, honestly, and it has no business being in the 3rd person. it's slow and kind of boring after a while. even the conflict is simple and easily dealt with. i was generally disappointed with the execution. it could've been handled so differently and elegantly.
in any case, it was a light-hearted, very sweet and wholesome romcom that though i've been nitpicky, i still liked.
— 3 stars.
Read
August 4, 2022DNF. This book gave me the ick
July 17, 2022
The Decoy Girlfriend
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/6/22
Author: Lillie Vale
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 336
Goodreads Rating: 3.80
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub. Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love.
My Thoughts: One of the tropes that I tend to gravitate towards is the fake dating relationship, this story puts an interesting spin on that trope that I really enjoyed. The story is told in a dual POV, which I liked, from the perspectives of Freya and Taft. Freya was developed well, she has layers of depth that made her an outstanding characters, strong, smart, and stayed in her truth, the amount of growth and coming into her own throughout this story was brillant. The other characters were witty, charismatic, and creative. There was an instant connection between Freya and Taft and the chemistry did build, however, I would like to have seen it build a little more. Vale’s idea of this faking celebrity turned to faking relationship to lovers is a brilliant endeavor. I enjoyed the writing style, it had some complexity, it was creative, and kept me engaged throughout the book. The con is I would liked to have seen more character development and more building of the relationships, even a bit more insight into Mandi. This was still a pleasant read that went pretty fast.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/6/22
Author: Lillie Vale
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 336
Goodreads Rating: 3.80
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub. Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love.
My Thoughts: One of the tropes that I tend to gravitate towards is the fake dating relationship, this story puts an interesting spin on that trope that I really enjoyed. The story is told in a dual POV, which I liked, from the perspectives of Freya and Taft. Freya was developed well, she has layers of depth that made her an outstanding characters, strong, smart, and stayed in her truth, the amount of growth and coming into her own throughout this story was brillant. The other characters were witty, charismatic, and creative. There was an instant connection between Freya and Taft and the chemistry did build, however, I would like to have seen it build a little more. Vale’s idea of this faking celebrity turned to faking relationship to lovers is a brilliant endeavor. I enjoyed the writing style, it had some complexity, it was creative, and kept me engaged throughout the book. The con is I would liked to have seen more character development and more building of the relationships, even a bit more insight into Mandi. This was still a pleasant read that went pretty fast.
September 7, 2022
I'm a sucker for Hollywood romances and this one was REALLY well done! Perfect for fans of The stand-in by Lily Chui, Scandalized by Ivy Owens or Donut fall in love by Jackie Lau, this book sees a struggling writer fake dating a Hollywood leading man.
Lots of witty banter, some SIZZLING open door love scenes and great emotional depth as the characters struggle with career choices and balancing life and love. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Lots of witty banter, some SIZZLING open door love scenes and great emotional depth as the characters struggle with career choices and balancing life and love. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 29, 2022
thank you netgalley and g.p putnam for an eARC of this book.
the decoy girlfriend is the perfect novel for people who loved monte carlo and the princess switch and is overall a perfect romcom read.
freya is such a loveable main character–she's funny, sweet, and her personal growth arc of overcoming her writer's block and insecurity as an author was interesting to read. taft was alao a really well written love interest: witty, caring, and also a perfect flirt that will make you swoon as you read the dialogue.
i genuinely love the interactions between the two characters. their chemistry is so clearly written between the lines and you genuinely get to read them pining for one another in such a fun way. i'm a SUCKER for the close proximity leading to intense longing and this book DELIVERS!!
i always get scared of third act conflicts in fake dating books, but this one did it in a really nice way. it also tied in perfectly with wrapping up taft's personal growth, and it just felt like a win to me.
for as much as i loved this book, though, it did feel as though something was missing. the romance was done really nicely, however i do wish we got just a BIT MORE insight into freya and taft as characters. i feel like vale played it extremely safe with their plotlines to make way for other scenes, and i just wish they were elaborated on. i'm also one who favors seeing things rather than reading summarized versions, and a lot of their early interactions got summarized or time skipped in favor of other things–i just wish we got a bit more of the falling, than the jump to romance.
all in all, though, a very, very cute read that i can't wait to see on shelves <3
the decoy girlfriend is the perfect novel for people who loved monte carlo and the princess switch and is overall a perfect romcom read.
freya is such a loveable main character–she's funny, sweet, and her personal growth arc of overcoming her writer's block and insecurity as an author was interesting to read. taft was alao a really well written love interest: witty, caring, and also a perfect flirt that will make you swoon as you read the dialogue.
i genuinely love the interactions between the two characters. their chemistry is so clearly written between the lines and you genuinely get to read them pining for one another in such a fun way. i'm a SUCKER for the close proximity leading to intense longing and this book DELIVERS!!
i always get scared of third act conflicts in fake dating books, but this one did it in a really nice way. it also tied in perfectly with wrapping up taft's personal growth, and it just felt like a win to me.
for as much as i loved this book, though, it did feel as though something was missing. the romance was done really nicely, however i do wish we got just a BIT MORE insight into freya and taft as characters. i feel like vale played it extremely safe with their plotlines to make way for other scenes, and i just wish they were elaborated on. i'm also one who favors seeing things rather than reading summarized versions, and a lot of their early interactions got summarized or time skipped in favor of other things–i just wish we got a bit more of the falling, than the jump to romance.
all in all, though, a very, very cute read that i can't wait to see on shelves <3
November 1, 2022
One of the more unique fake-dating scenarios I've read, but the execution wasn't my favourite.
After being caught impersonating her famous actress doppelgänger, Freya agrees to take Mandi Roy's place for a month while the actress gets a much-needed break from the limelight. This means fake-dating Mandi's fake boyfriend, moving into his house, and cozying up to him for the paparazzi. But what happens when real sparks fly between them?
The Decoy Girlfriend would be perfect for romance readers who love a lot of fluff. And I mean a lot. The two main characters spend most of the book thinking about how much they like the other person, to the point where it takes away their individuality and ability to develop as characters. This ruined the romance and any semblance of chemistry for me because they didn't feel realistic at all, but I can understand how other readers might adore the quick and syrupy-sweet romance.
Side note: most of the euphemisms in this book felt more humorous than sexy, like "plump globes". I don't know why authors do this (I imagine it's unintentional) but I kinda love it.
I liked the overall plot, but I think it would've made more sense if Freya was more hidden (like sunglasses when they go out, distance from paparazzi, etc). Surely die-hard fans of the show/actress would notice subtle differences if an impersonator took Mandi's place in photoshoots and stuff, right? It just doesn't seem realistic to me.
Overall, I liked a lot of this book. The messages/themes were great and the set-up was more unique than most fake-dating books I've seen. Unfortunately, however, I never really felt invested in the romance or characters and that really impacted my experience.
After being caught impersonating her famous actress doppelgänger, Freya agrees to take Mandi Roy's place for a month while the actress gets a much-needed break from the limelight. This means fake-dating Mandi's fake boyfriend, moving into his house, and cozying up to him for the paparazzi. But what happens when real sparks fly between them?
The Decoy Girlfriend would be perfect for romance readers who love a lot of fluff. And I mean a lot. The two main characters spend most of the book thinking about how much they like the other person, to the point where it takes away their individuality and ability to develop as characters. This ruined the romance and any semblance of chemistry for me because they didn't feel realistic at all, but I can understand how other readers might adore the quick and syrupy-sweet romance.
Side note: most of the euphemisms in this book felt more humorous than sexy, like "plump globes". I don't know why authors do this (I imagine it's unintentional) but I kinda love it.
I liked the overall plot, but I think it would've made more sense if Freya was more hidden (like sunglasses when they go out, distance from paparazzi, etc). Surely die-hard fans of the show/actress would notice subtle differences if an impersonator took Mandi's place in photoshoots and stuff, right? It just doesn't seem realistic to me.
Overall, I liked a lot of this book. The messages/themes were great and the set-up was more unique than most fake-dating books I've seen. Unfortunately, however, I never really felt invested in the romance or characters and that really impacted my experience.
July 28, 2022
Reading Lillie Vale's books has a 4/4 success rate for me, which I'm very pleased about, and I would definitely consider her a favourite author. I love that all of her books are very different from each other, but are all so enjoyable and all speak to me in different ways.
When the story was being set up, I immediately felt connected to both of these characters and the struggles they were going through. And when the fake dating/impersonating started, it was just so much fun to read about, exactly like I was hoping it would be.
I do have to say Taft Bamber (yes, Taft. Bamber.) is the absolute worst name I've ever seen for a love interest IN MY LIFE. It's so bad it's funny. He deserved a better name because he is SO lovely.
When the story was being set up, I immediately felt connected to both of these characters and the struggles they were going through. And when the fake dating/impersonating started, it was just so much fun to read about, exactly like I was hoping it would be.
I do have to say Taft Bamber (yes, Taft. Bamber.) is the absolute worst name I've ever seen for a love interest IN MY LIFE. It's so bad it's funny. He deserved a better name because he is SO lovely.
September 1, 2022
4/5 ⭐️
2.5/5🌶
thank you netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing for this arc!! this book will be released in september 6th, 2022!
this was SUCH a good contemporary romance read!! this book features the fake dating trope within another fake dating scenario and i loved how unique that whole set up was. i absolutely loved the banter between freya and taft from their first interaction and all the way through their relationship. freya is such a smart and witty character and taft is a total flirt, but undeniably loyal and supportive. i also loved how the beginning and ending scene sort of allowed the book to come full circle and all the beautiful character development in between. i highlighted so many things in my KU version featuring some really beautiful and honest talks that i really loved. this story revolves around taft realizing that what is wants is just as important as what others want and feyra finally fins her true self and is able to accomplish her goals. also the spice was pretty good; i enjoyed the tension and the chemistry between taft and feyra and i was so happy that the spice felt authentic without being cheesy and repetitive! overall, this is an amazing read that you will not want to miss out on!!
“there is no greater magic in all the universes combined than someone who builds a home for you in their heart.”
2.5/5🌶
thank you netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing for this arc!! this book will be released in september 6th, 2022!
this was SUCH a good contemporary romance read!! this book features the fake dating trope within another fake dating scenario and i loved how unique that whole set up was. i absolutely loved the banter between freya and taft from their first interaction and all the way through their relationship. freya is such a smart and witty character and taft is a total flirt, but undeniably loyal and supportive. i also loved how the beginning and ending scene sort of allowed the book to come full circle and all the beautiful character development in between. i highlighted so many things in my KU version featuring some really beautiful and honest talks that i really loved. this story revolves around taft realizing that what is wants is just as important as what others want and feyra finally fins her true self and is able to accomplish her goals. also the spice was pretty good; i enjoyed the tension and the chemistry between taft and feyra and i was so happy that the spice felt authentic without being cheesy and repetitive! overall, this is an amazing read that you will not want to miss out on!!
“there is no greater magic in all the universes combined than someone who builds a home for you in their heart.”
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