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Fake
10 hours, 26 minutes
From the author of The Boys’ Club, a gripping novel set in the high-stakes world of art forgery that moves across the globe, from the trendy art galleries of Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood to the high-flying international art fairs of Hong Kong.
Can you spot the difference?
Emma Caan is a fake.
She’s a forger, an artist who specializes in nineteenth-century paintings. But she isn’t a criminal; her copies are commissioned by museums and ultra-wealthy collectors protecting their investments. Emma’s more than mastered a Gauguin brushstroke and a van Gogh wheat field, but her work is sometimes a painful reminder of the artistic dreams she once chased for herself, when she was younger and before her family and her world fell apart.
When oligarch art collector Leonard Sobetsky unexpectedly appears with an invitation, Emma sees a way out—a new job, a new path for herself, and access to the kind of money she needs to support her unstable and recently widowed mother.
But every invitation incurs an obligation . . . and Emma isn’t prepared for what’s to come. As she’s pulled further into Leonard’s opulent scene, she will discover what’s lurking beneath the glitz and glamour. When she does, the past she’s worked hard to overcome will collide with the present, making her wonder how much of her carefully curated life is just as fake as her forgeries . . .
From the author of The Boys’ Club, a gripping novel set in the high-stakes world of art forgery that moves across the globe, from the trendy art galleries of Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood to the high-flying international art fairs of Hong Kong.
Can you spot the difference?
Emma Caan is a fake.
She’s a forger, an artist who specializes in nineteenth-century paintings. But she isn’t a criminal; her copies are commissioned by museums and ultra-wealthy collectors protecting their investments. Emma’s more than mastered a Gauguin brushstroke and a van Gogh wheat field, but her work is sometimes a painful reminder of the artistic dreams she once chased for herself, when she was younger and before her family and her world fell apart.
When oligarch art collector Leonard Sobetsky unexpectedly appears with an invitation, Emma sees a way out—a new job, a new path for herself, and access to the kind of money she needs to support her unstable and recently widowed mother.
But every invitation incurs an obligation . . . and Emma isn’t prepared for what’s to come. As she’s pulled further into Leonard’s opulent scene, she will discover what’s lurking beneath the glitz and glamour. When she does, the past she’s worked hard to overcome will collide with the present, making her wonder how much of her carefully curated life is just as fake as her forgeries . . .
Audiobook
First published February 22, 2022
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About the author
Erica Katz
4 books393 followers"Erica Katz" is the pseudonym for a graduate of Columbia Law School who began her career at a major Manhattan law firm. A native of New Jersey, she now lives in New York City, where she’s employed at another large law firm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
March 21, 2024
If boredom could kill, this book would have done me in for sure.
Emma is an artist at Gemini, copying priceless works of art for an elite clientele who want to enjoy their art but don't want to run the risk of something happening to it. So they commission Gemini to create an exact replica that they can display. One of Emma's biggest clients is a Russian billionaire with shady ties to the art world. When he asks more and more from her, she just goes and does it all without question.
First, let's think on this for a minute. What could possibly be happening to the copies Emma is creating? It's obvious, right? Well, that's indeed what happens and it's the whole story. I thought, with art forgery being such a fascinating topic, that I would find this story dazzling and riveting. Instead, what's in my head turned out to be more interesting than what's actually happening in the pages, and I don't even know anything about art.
This story suffers from a real lack of imagination. Quick, what do you think of when I ask you for a wealthy Russian oligarch? All the vodka you can drink? Check. Extravagant parties with caviar? Check. Private planes with many bathrooms? Check, check, check. And that's it. There was nothing else in addition to this parade of banality. Even though that's just one example, it is the crux of the problem with this whole story.
The characters aren't any better. Emma is the among the blandest and possibly dumbest main character I have ever read. She mostly gapes and stares at everything, and occasionally comes up with some dull/awkward one-liner to say, which makes me cringe so hard. What's even more strange is that her words are treated as if they're the funniest and most clever things anyone's ever uttered and that she herself is the most special of all people. Like at one point, she's working in a gallery selling art, and she says some simple words to a buyer, and he immediately buys the art. She's then congratulated effusively by her coworkers, as if she's some sort of art-selling god that has graced them with her presence.
And it's not just that she's bland, but that she's also a walking and talking cliché of what a twenty-something is. Even though she's dull as a brick, everyone wants to be her BFF. Some random guy smiles at her once, and she obsesses over him, acting as if they're going out. She starts an Instagram account, and we are forced to read her every middling post and track her follower numbers, which go from the thousands to the millions in like two weeks (she being special and all).
Because Emma has zero personality, the author does something which I find super annoying, which is to give her a random trauma in order to make her seem three-dimensional. She's afraid of fire, which is mentioned as often as possible, every time someone lights up a cigarette, or she's eating in a restaurant with a little candle at the table, or she sleeps and dreams of fire. How is it even relevant to the story? It's not, but it does fluff out the pages.
Speaking of fluffing the pages, it feels like the whole book is just boring and irrelevant details, one after another. Details should advance the plot or the characters, but in this case, there is no discernable plot or characters, so they are just random tidbits added for page count. For example, whenever a scene has a few people in it, there would be many sentences establishing where every person is standing/sitting in relation to everyone else. Who cares.
For the vast majority of this book (250 pages), nothing happens. Then the last 50 pages finally gets to the development that I've been waiting for. But the kicker is that it's not even a surprise; it really is exactly what I thought it would be just from reading the blurb.
This book killed me. How can such an interesting premise turn into such a dull non-story, with the blandest characters and the lamest dialogue and one cliché after another? Everything in here was so obvious. There was no surprise, no insight, no spark of imagination. You can skip entire paragraphs and pages, and not miss anything. Or better yet, just skip the book altogether.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Emma is an artist at Gemini, copying priceless works of art for an elite clientele who want to enjoy their art but don't want to run the risk of something happening to it. So they commission Gemini to create an exact replica that they can display. One of Emma's biggest clients is a Russian billionaire with shady ties to the art world. When he asks more and more from her, she just goes and does it all without question.
First, let's think on this for a minute. What could possibly be happening to the copies Emma is creating? It's obvious, right? Well, that's indeed what happens and it's the whole story. I thought, with art forgery being such a fascinating topic, that I would find this story dazzling and riveting. Instead, what's in my head turned out to be more interesting than what's actually happening in the pages, and I don't even know anything about art.
This story suffers from a real lack of imagination. Quick, what do you think of when I ask you for a wealthy Russian oligarch? All the vodka you can drink? Check. Extravagant parties with caviar? Check. Private planes with many bathrooms? Check, check, check. And that's it. There was nothing else in addition to this parade of banality. Even though that's just one example, it is the crux of the problem with this whole story.
The characters aren't any better. Emma is the among the blandest and possibly dumbest main character I have ever read. She mostly gapes and stares at everything, and occasionally comes up with some dull/awkward one-liner to say, which makes me cringe so hard. What's even more strange is that her words are treated as if they're the funniest and most clever things anyone's ever uttered and that she herself is the most special of all people. Like at one point, she's working in a gallery selling art, and she says some simple words to a buyer, and he immediately buys the art. She's then congratulated effusively by her coworkers, as if she's some sort of art-selling god that has graced them with her presence.
And it's not just that she's bland, but that she's also a walking and talking cliché of what a twenty-something is. Even though she's dull as a brick, everyone wants to be her BFF. Some random guy smiles at her once, and she obsesses over him, acting as if they're going out. She starts an Instagram account, and we are forced to read her every middling post and track her follower numbers, which go from the thousands to the millions in like two weeks (she being special and all).
Because Emma has zero personality, the author does something which I find super annoying, which is to give her a random trauma in order to make her seem three-dimensional. She's afraid of fire, which is mentioned as often as possible, every time someone lights up a cigarette, or she's eating in a restaurant with a little candle at the table, or she sleeps and dreams of fire. How is it even relevant to the story? It's not, but it does fluff out the pages.
Speaking of fluffing the pages, it feels like the whole book is just boring and irrelevant details, one after another. Details should advance the plot or the characters, but in this case, there is no discernable plot or characters, so they are just random tidbits added for page count. For example, whenever a scene has a few people in it, there would be many sentences establishing where every person is standing/sitting in relation to everyone else. Who cares.
For the vast majority of this book (250 pages), nothing happens. Then the last 50 pages finally gets to the development that I've been waiting for. But the kicker is that it's not even a surprise; it really is exactly what I thought it would be just from reading the blurb.
This book killed me. How can such an interesting premise turn into such a dull non-story, with the blandest characters and the lamest dialogue and one cliché after another? Everything in here was so obvious. There was no surprise, no insight, no spark of imagination. You can skip entire paragraphs and pages, and not miss anything. Or better yet, just skip the book altogether.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
February 22, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Can you spot the difference?”
Emma Caan is an artist whose job is to copy famous paintings, stroke by stroke. The job is legitimate, but she would love to be painting her own work. One day, art collector Leonard Sobetsky asks to meet with Emma. He’s been buying her copied art for years, and wants to see the face behind the easel.
One thing leads to another, and Emma finds herself in a new job as the Assistant Director at Florence Wake Gallery, a prestigious gallery in New York. It’s a dream job that she never imagined. Working for Florence is hard work, and yet Emma also agrees to work for Leonard on the side.
The money is great. The parties are fabulous. Emma’s becoming an art influencer, and her Instagram following is high on the rise. It sounds like the perfect life…until Emma realizes that nothing comes for free. Before she knows it, she’s in way over her head.
This is an entertaining story that simmers with suspense, as we already know the FBI is interviewing Emma about her new job while she tells the story of her rise in the art world. Emma is fully fleshed out, with a backstory and her current story. Author Erica Katz has clearly done her homework in regards to the art world and specific art pieces and artists. I thought it might get a little dry, but the whole thing was interesting.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but otherwise wrapped up nicely. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read, but don’t go into it expecting twists and turns throughout. It’s pretty straightforward, but very well done and engrossing.
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
“Can you spot the difference?”
Emma Caan is an artist whose job is to copy famous paintings, stroke by stroke. The job is legitimate, but she would love to be painting her own work. One day, art collector Leonard Sobetsky asks to meet with Emma. He’s been buying her copied art for years, and wants to see the face behind the easel.
One thing leads to another, and Emma finds herself in a new job as the Assistant Director at Florence Wake Gallery, a prestigious gallery in New York. It’s a dream job that she never imagined. Working for Florence is hard work, and yet Emma also agrees to work for Leonard on the side.
The money is great. The parties are fabulous. Emma’s becoming an art influencer, and her Instagram following is high on the rise. It sounds like the perfect life…until Emma realizes that nothing comes for free. Before she knows it, she’s in way over her head.
This is an entertaining story that simmers with suspense, as we already know the FBI is interviewing Emma about her new job while she tells the story of her rise in the art world. Emma is fully fleshed out, with a backstory and her current story. Author Erica Katz has clearly done her homework in regards to the art world and specific art pieces and artists. I thought it might get a little dry, but the whole thing was interesting.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but otherwise wrapped up nicely. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read, but don’t go into it expecting twists and turns throughout. It’s pretty straightforward, but very well done and engrossing.
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
January 9, 2023
This is my second novel by Katz. I loved the first one and had high hopes for this one as well. Although it didn’t blow me away I still enjoyed it immensely. Being invited into a glamorous art world was thrilling. The attraction towards a different lifestyle was convincing, the buzz of another sale, an expensive apartment. Being an instagram influencer chasing likes. Getting a glimpse into completely different way to live was interesting. The main character was maybe a bit naive, but might we not have been too?
February 15, 2022
Loved her last book… loved this even more!! ❤️ RTC
May 24, 2022
“Life is complicated. That’s why we have art. To help us make sense of it”Emma Caan is a technically brilliant painter who failed to make it as a professional artist after college. She’s been working for several years for a company that creates perfect copies of valuable paintings for museums and collectors. But after crossing paths with Leonard Sobetsky, a Russian oligarch and art collector, she soon has a job—Assistant Director at a high-end gallery, while continuing to paint for him on the side—and a life that she always wanted. But, and I mean this as nicely as possible, OF COURSE there’s a catch, something darker, that will threaten to unravel more than just Emma’s new lifestyle ….
Fake is a very interesting glimpse into the world of high-end art. Through Emma’s experience, we see how the galleries and auctions really work. How collectors use (and misuse) free ports. How virtual galleries, NFTs, AI, and even Instagram are changing the art world. And, of course, the novel weaves through the art world’s social scenes, from hangers on to events like Art Basel. It is a fun, voyeuristic journey for the reader.
But more than that, Fake explores all the different ways we present false stories to the world—from carefully curating a persona on Instagram or other social media to simply hiding our past from people in the real world. Emma is a complicated character, and she has her share of secrets. In fact, I’m not sure there’s a single character in the novel that isn’t presenting a false front to the world about something.
Fake really reminded me of the immortal movie Wall Street, with Emma’s journey being very similar to that of Bud Fox. It makes for a fast, entertaining read. Recommended.
November 18, 2021
No one does the 1% quite like Erica Katz. This book goes into the world of high art, and I found it fascinating!
January 16, 2025
This one is for all my fellow poors who like to escape into books about the one percenters while wailing . . . .
The title says it all here - Fake is the story of Emma Caan who makes her living reproducing multimillion dollar works of art for museums and the super elite while the original is maintained safely in storage. Frequent client Lenny offers Emma a deal she can’t refuse – a chance to work at an exclusive gallery and to cut out the middleman and make recreations directly for Lenny on the side. She’ll also get to travel via private plane, experience fine dining she could never have imagined, be invited to the most exclusive parties and watch her social media following go from 20 to hundreds of thousands. But is it all too good to be true????
Okay so there are absolutely no surprises with this one, but oh my word did I have some fun reading it. Many thankings to the local library for recommending it as part of the . . . .
The title says it all here - Fake is the story of Emma Caan who makes her living reproducing multimillion dollar works of art for museums and the super elite while the original is maintained safely in storage. Frequent client Lenny offers Emma a deal she can’t refuse – a chance to work at an exclusive gallery and to cut out the middleman and make recreations directly for Lenny on the side. She’ll also get to travel via private plane, experience fine dining she could never have imagined, be invited to the most exclusive parties and watch her social media following go from 20 to hundreds of thousands. But is it all too good to be true????
Okay so there are absolutely no surprises with this one, but oh my word did I have some fun reading it. Many thankings to the local library for recommending it as part of the . . . .
December 12, 2021
teetering between 4/4.5 stars as i take more time to digest the story! thank you to Erica and Harper for the gifted advanced copy ❤️
FAKE does what i loved most about THE BOYS CLUB—immersed me in a foreign world i knew nothing about but couldn’t get enough of. instead of big law, this time it was art and the art culture scene and all the politics within it.
FAKE is hard to stick into a genre… it’s not a thriller, but suspenseful. it’s not a drama, but dramatic. there’s lots of character development and personal growth, lies and deceit, mystery, and an interesting twist at the end 👏🏼 it’s also a very slow burn and builds right up until the final 40ish pages.
full review to come on my Instagram closer to pub day in February. overall, i enjoyed myself and loved getting lost in the story 🤓
FAKE does what i loved most about THE BOYS CLUB—immersed me in a foreign world i knew nothing about but couldn’t get enough of. instead of big law, this time it was art and the art culture scene and all the politics within it.
FAKE is hard to stick into a genre… it’s not a thriller, but suspenseful. it’s not a drama, but dramatic. there’s lots of character development and personal growth, lies and deceit, mystery, and an interesting twist at the end 👏🏼 it’s also a very slow burn and builds right up until the final 40ish pages.
full review to come on my Instagram closer to pub day in February. overall, i enjoyed myself and loved getting lost in the story 🤓
June 11, 2022
“Fake” made my plane trip fly by! I always enjoy novels about the art world and this one had all the elements to keep me turning the pages.
February 10, 2022
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) for promotional purposes.
I give this book 4.5 stars.
I previously read the author’s debut book, The Boys’ Club, and loved it, so I knew I just had to read this one. Once again, I was not disappointed!
Like her previous novel, this one is highly engaging. From the very beginning it takes you on a roller coaster of a ride through the glamorous world of high art.
The storyline unraveled at a steady pace. The use of the interview transcripts at the beginning of each chapter were a great foreshadowing tool. The book was a little predictable towards the end, but it was still an entertaining read.
The characters are all fascinating and dynamic. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of Emma’s three friends, Sienna, Leah, and Jules. It was interesting to see her friend dynamic with each of them since they all came from different art backgrounds.
I enjoyed the theme of being a “fake” and how it was explored throughout the book. I liked how the book incorporated being an Instagram influencer. I found its portrayal of what is “real” and what is “fake” to be so relevant and current.
Overall, I found this book to be an enthralling read. I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
I give this book 4.5 stars.
I previously read the author’s debut book, The Boys’ Club, and loved it, so I knew I just had to read this one. Once again, I was not disappointed!
Like her previous novel, this one is highly engaging. From the very beginning it takes you on a roller coaster of a ride through the glamorous world of high art.
The storyline unraveled at a steady pace. The use of the interview transcripts at the beginning of each chapter were a great foreshadowing tool. The book was a little predictable towards the end, but it was still an entertaining read.
The characters are all fascinating and dynamic. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of Emma’s three friends, Sienna, Leah, and Jules. It was interesting to see her friend dynamic with each of them since they all came from different art backgrounds.
I enjoyed the theme of being a “fake” and how it was explored throughout the book. I liked how the book incorporated being an Instagram influencer. I found its portrayal of what is “real” and what is “fake” to be so relevant and current.
Overall, I found this book to be an enthralling read. I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
March 5, 2022
The parts of this book that aren’t mediocre are just annoying. The lead is a naive idiot who is perfect at her job, charming to all who meet her, and effortlessly brilliant at everything she does, but she also trips when she wears high heels, omg so clumsy and relatable. She has everything handed to her, which is lucky because as I already said… she’s a moron.
August 23, 2022
Maybe 4.5
Thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful glimpse into the NYC art world and the lives of the rich and glamorous, the shady shit and the forgery. Our main characters trauma as written through the first person past tense was a good choice for the writing. The novel’s structure of alternating the FBI interrogation and Emma’s experiences navigating her new relationships with rich art collectors and art galleries was not unique or groundbreaking, but helped propel the plot nonetheless, in a pacy and interesting way. I really enjoyed the suspense and environment of this, as well as all of the art and art world stuff! Would recommend to anyone interested in the art world and forgeries and shit.
Thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful glimpse into the NYC art world and the lives of the rich and glamorous, the shady shit and the forgery. Our main characters trauma as written through the first person past tense was a good choice for the writing. The novel’s structure of alternating the FBI interrogation and Emma’s experiences navigating her new relationships with rich art collectors and art galleries was not unique or groundbreaking, but helped propel the plot nonetheless, in a pacy and interesting way. I really enjoyed the suspense and environment of this, as well as all of the art and art world stuff! Would recommend to anyone interested in the art world and forgeries and shit.
May 19, 2022
A glimpse into a world most of us will never experience—Erica Katz balances suspense, entertainment, and morality in Fake. I didn’t want this novel to end!
Every once and awhile I read a book that delivers on so many levels for me that I struggle to move on to a new book after finishing. After finishing Fake, a novel by Erica Katz, I didn’t want to read anything else. This book takes you everywhere from a tiny rundown apartment with noise blaring in the building to an elite Manhattan gallery to an upscale artist’s loft to a world class art show in Hong Kong. I devoured each page of this book and truly wanted it to continue.
Emma Caan is employed by a company as an artist making fake copies of famous paintings for collectors who want to display the artwork while still preserving the original in temperature controlled, secured safe locations. Though never succeeding at selling her own artwork, Emma is a brilliant forger, able to recreate each brushstroke of masterpieces.
But Emma also lives paycheck to paycheck, barley scraping by. At times it seemed if Emma wondered if she is even truly living her own life. With consultants onsite, she is sure she will lose her job. But an offer she can’t refuse to attend a party with one of her biggest client’s Lenny brings a new career to Emma. Suddenly she’s the assistant director at one of the most prestigious galleries in Manhattan and being paid to continue creating copies of paintings for Lenny.
I found it an interesting play that as Emma got further into this more lucrative and arguably successful career, she herself starts to become a bit of a fake. Not in any major way—I felt the whole time that Emma was a rootable character and still had appropriate boundaries when it came down to it. But as she falls into influencer fame on Instagram and private flights to Hong Kong and a romance with a man who is so deeply and totally using her, we saw Emma learning who she is as a person and who she wants to become.
Ultimately Emma’s story is one of someone who went from living someone else’s life, to living a life that looked good on social media but wasn’t as glamorous or amazing as she projected, to a life where… well you’ll have to read to find out what happens to Emma Caan!
Through it all, Erica Katz not only writes a completely salacious story set in the glamorous and at times dark art world, but she also touches on themes of feminism, finding yourself, testing your boundaries, and ultimately discovering who you really are. At her core, is Emma Caan a fake? You’ll have to read to find out!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. I loved it so much I bought the hardcover for my collection.
Every once and awhile I read a book that delivers on so many levels for me that I struggle to move on to a new book after finishing. After finishing Fake, a novel by Erica Katz, I didn’t want to read anything else. This book takes you everywhere from a tiny rundown apartment with noise blaring in the building to an elite Manhattan gallery to an upscale artist’s loft to a world class art show in Hong Kong. I devoured each page of this book and truly wanted it to continue.
Emma Caan is employed by a company as an artist making fake copies of famous paintings for collectors who want to display the artwork while still preserving the original in temperature controlled, secured safe locations. Though never succeeding at selling her own artwork, Emma is a brilliant forger, able to recreate each brushstroke of masterpieces.
But Emma also lives paycheck to paycheck, barley scraping by. At times it seemed if Emma wondered if she is even truly living her own life. With consultants onsite, she is sure she will lose her job. But an offer she can’t refuse to attend a party with one of her biggest client’s Lenny brings a new career to Emma. Suddenly she’s the assistant director at one of the most prestigious galleries in Manhattan and being paid to continue creating copies of paintings for Lenny.
I found it an interesting play that as Emma got further into this more lucrative and arguably successful career, she herself starts to become a bit of a fake. Not in any major way—I felt the whole time that Emma was a rootable character and still had appropriate boundaries when it came down to it. But as she falls into influencer fame on Instagram and private flights to Hong Kong and a romance with a man who is so deeply and totally using her, we saw Emma learning who she is as a person and who she wants to become.
Ultimately Emma’s story is one of someone who went from living someone else’s life, to living a life that looked good on social media but wasn’t as glamorous or amazing as she projected, to a life where… well you’ll have to read to find out what happens to Emma Caan!
Through it all, Erica Katz not only writes a completely salacious story set in the glamorous and at times dark art world, but she also touches on themes of feminism, finding yourself, testing your boundaries, and ultimately discovering who you really are. At her core, is Emma Caan a fake? You’ll have to read to find out!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. I loved it so much I bought the hardcover for my collection.
March 23, 2022
I love books that are somehow about art.'
Fake was a fantastic read about wealth, secrets, and the underground art forgery world. I loved main character Emma Caan, and artist who is limping along as a copycat painter for the rich who want to protect the real art. Revered as one of the best copycats, Emma is selected by wealthy collector Leonard Sobetsky and set on a path of success. He gets her an assistant director position at her dream gallery and offers large sums of money to copy his private collection. Swept up into a world of parties and wealth, she doesn't discover until it's too late that Sobetsky isn't famous just for being a collector, but rather for his vast wealth made through selling forgeries.
Emma isn't your typical female character; she's young and naïve, yes, but she's also brilliant. Her experience in art is lightyears beyond her experience with boys, which is quite obvious in Fake, but it's make it enjoyable to read such a unique perspective of growing up. Erica Katz brings the characters, art, and settings to life. Taking us on private planes, paint splattered studios, and galleries for the elite. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
Fake was a fantastic read about wealth, secrets, and the underground art forgery world. I loved main character Emma Caan, and artist who is limping along as a copycat painter for the rich who want to protect the real art. Revered as one of the best copycats, Emma is selected by wealthy collector Leonard Sobetsky and set on a path of success. He gets her an assistant director position at her dream gallery and offers large sums of money to copy his private collection. Swept up into a world of parties and wealth, she doesn't discover until it's too late that Sobetsky isn't famous just for being a collector, but rather for his vast wealth made through selling forgeries.
Emma isn't your typical female character; she's young and naïve, yes, but she's also brilliant. Her experience in art is lightyears beyond her experience with boys, which is quite obvious in Fake, but it's make it enjoyable to read such a unique perspective of growing up. Erica Katz brings the characters, art, and settings to life. Taking us on private planes, paint splattered studios, and galleries for the elite. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
March 1, 2022
Fake isn’t bad but it isn’t great either. Two things about this book really appealed to me: the fact that it takes places in the art world and the protagonist going from barely making ends meet to living a life of luxury. I personally love reading stories where the character is invited into a new world filled with wealth and power. I probably like those stories because I don’t live in that world lol. As an art studio minor in undergrad I was also excited to read a book set in the contemporary art world. I enjoyed the setting of this book and the commentary around contemporary art, NFT’s and the role of social media in the art world.
But there were a few things that didn’t work for me. I didn’t care for the narrator’s shoe-horned traumatic backstory which didn’t add much to the overall story. I also found the narrator naive and annoying. The story was predictable and I knew from the start what was going to happen and how it would end. Because there was no suspense I lost a little interest at times. Overall, I liked but didn’t love Fake.
But there were a few things that didn’t work for me. I didn’t care for the narrator’s shoe-horned traumatic backstory which didn’t add much to the overall story. I also found the narrator naive and annoying. The story was predictable and I knew from the start what was going to happen and how it would end. Because there was no suspense I lost a little interest at times. Overall, I liked but didn’t love Fake.
March 24, 2022
this was quite possibly the worst book i’ve ever read. it’s an embarrassment to anyone who knows anything about the art world, laughable at best. the main character might be the dumbest person to have ever existed.
May 13, 2022
This is the story of Emma, who is good at copying famous paintings for a legit business that does just that, but her own art lacks emotion. Copying paintings is literally the only thing she's good at. She is quite terrible at doing any of the things independent human women are able to do, like dressing or having conversations. Yet somehow we are to believe she charms everyone she meets and sells million-dollar paintings to people who wander in off the street.
Her mother is a disaster. She has a best friend who seems to exist only to serve her. A toxic influencer gloms onto her. There is a guy with whom she has a few pathetic and gross encounters, and yet she's sad when he doesn't want anything to do with her. She has a childhood secret that you'll guess early on, and it doesn't make her more interesting.
Oh, and if you wondered if she was copying or forging, it's , but it's not her fault.
If I read about those red shoes one more time, I was going to scream.
Her mother is a disaster. She has a best friend who seems to exist only to serve her. A toxic influencer gloms onto her. There is a guy with whom she has a few pathetic and gross encounters, and yet she's sad when he doesn't want anything to do with her. She has a childhood secret that you'll guess early on, and it doesn't make her more interesting.
Oh, and if you wondered if she was copying or forging, it's , but it's not her fault.
If I read about those red shoes one more time, I was going to scream.
May 25, 2022
Do you know anyone who happens to be an art forger.
I met talented Emma in this novel Fake where Emma makes her living by copying the paintings of famous artists. Her clients are private individuals, social institutions, and commissions from the ultra wealthy. Being hired to do these jobs is certainly not illegal.
The synopsis says Emma is a fake, which she is, so what could possibly happen? What happened was that Erica Katz wrote a very clever book about this subject.
I met talented Emma in this novel Fake where Emma makes her living by copying the paintings of famous artists. Her clients are private individuals, social institutions, and commissions from the ultra wealthy. Being hired to do these jobs is certainly not illegal.
The synopsis says Emma is a fake, which she is, so what could possibly happen? What happened was that Erica Katz wrote a very clever book about this subject.
April 18, 2022
I love a crime novel and I especially love one with a unique premise or setting. Katz nailed it for me in this one. Fake is a well-crafted crime novel. You can guess generally about the broad framework of the central crime from the first chapter, but the specifics are metered out so carefully that it's hard to put down. What I think Katz is most skilled at, is drawing her reader into a world. Fake is as much about a particular crime as it is about the flaws of the art world itself. I enjoyed this just as much as The Boys Club and look forward to reading more from Katz.
September 13, 2022
Disappointing, horrible ending, stupid, 90% fluff.
Maybe I'll write a longer review when I'm not as angry at this book for being so bad.
Maybe I'll write a longer review when I'm not as angry at this book for being so bad.
February 21, 2022
I know next to nothing about art in general and even less about legitimate forgeries but I sure learned about it after this one. Emma specializes in recreating 19th century paintings and works on commissions for museums and collectors alike. While she enjoys her job well enough she’s always hoped to paint original work and be recognized for it. Leonard is a wealthy collector who takes an interest in Emma and offers her a job. Soon enough she’s living a glitzy life she only dreamed about and she’s making a name for herself as an art influencer and attending glamours events and making new powerful friends. Sounds amazing right? But you know right away that Emma is being interviewed by the FBI about her job so clearly things aren’t as picture perfect as they seem. I thought this one was pretty smart, if a bit predictable but I didn’t even care because it was entertaining and it introduced me to a whole new world. I did listen to the entire thing and highly recommend that, Andi Arndt is one of my favorite narrators, she’s fantastic!
May 2, 2022
4 Stars
This 4 Star thriller was a fun escape into the art world. Such a treat for me to get an inside look at that glamorous life.
SUMMARY
Emma is an artist who, after being turned down buy multiple agents, works for a company that copies original works of art so their owners can keep the valuable originals safely in climate, light controlled storage while displaying a quality copy. It's all perfectly legal and above board. Each copy is documented and discretely signed on the back as a duplicate by the copying artist. Although Emma's work is technically perfect, her original art has been said to be lacking emotion. She dreams of leaving her dead end job and creating her own work. Her life is definitely in a rut. All she does is work and on very rare occasions, she hangs out with her BFF/ coworker.
Did I mention she has daddy issues? Her parents are fairly well off, and her father recently passed away. Her mother seems pretty unhappy lately, she feels like she should look into that, but there never seems to be time. She was never close to her father and refuses to take any money from him. More on that in the book, and it's quite a story...
One day, when she's at work, one of the collectors, for whom she has done several copies, asks to meet her. He's exceptionally wealthy and a huge art collector. He likes the work she does for him and asks her to attend a party at his house. He offers her a much better paycheck to copy his pieces independently and introduces her to a very well known gallery owner who offers her a job as a gallery director. From there she is thrust into the uber glam art world; two weeks later finding herself on a private jet to Hong Kong for a huge art show. It just keeps getting better and better, but is it too good to be true???
WHAT I LOVED
Such a fun escape!!! I loved every second of her move from an "all work and no play" life to a super luxe life. So fun to watch.
I loved her family back story. It makes great reading.
I loved her BFF. They had such a great friendship. Every girl should get to have a friend like that.
I liked how her relationship with her mother evolved through the story. And the story ended exactly how it should have. I appreciate that in a story.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
Emma seemed so naive and even dumb sometimes! I kept wanting to remind her that there's no such thing as a free lunch!!!!
OVERALL
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fun escape. I recommend it for my GR friends who love a good, fast paced thriller with a little glam and a life lesson.
This 4 Star thriller was a fun escape into the art world. Such a treat for me to get an inside look at that glamorous life.
SUMMARY
Emma is an artist who, after being turned down buy multiple agents, works for a company that copies original works of art so their owners can keep the valuable originals safely in climate, light controlled storage while displaying a quality copy. It's all perfectly legal and above board. Each copy is documented and discretely signed on the back as a duplicate by the copying artist. Although Emma's work is technically perfect, her original art has been said to be lacking emotion. She dreams of leaving her dead end job and creating her own work. Her life is definitely in a rut. All she does is work and on very rare occasions, she hangs out with her BFF/ coworker.
Did I mention she has daddy issues? Her parents are fairly well off, and her father recently passed away. Her mother seems pretty unhappy lately, she feels like she should look into that, but there never seems to be time. She was never close to her father and refuses to take any money from him. More on that in the book, and it's quite a story...
One day, when she's at work, one of the collectors, for whom she has done several copies, asks to meet her. He's exceptionally wealthy and a huge art collector. He likes the work she does for him and asks her to attend a party at his house. He offers her a much better paycheck to copy his pieces independently and introduces her to a very well known gallery owner who offers her a job as a gallery director. From there she is thrust into the uber glam art world; two weeks later finding herself on a private jet to Hong Kong for a huge art show. It just keeps getting better and better, but is it too good to be true???
WHAT I LOVED
Such a fun escape!!! I loved every second of her move from an "all work and no play" life to a super luxe life. So fun to watch.
I loved her family back story. It makes great reading.
I loved her BFF. They had such a great friendship. Every girl should get to have a friend like that.
I liked how her relationship with her mother evolved through the story. And the story ended exactly how it should have. I appreciate that in a story.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
Emma seemed so naive and even dumb sometimes! I kept wanting to remind her that there's no such thing as a free lunch!!!!
OVERALL
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fun escape. I recommend it for my GR friends who love a good, fast paced thriller with a little glam and a life lesson.
March 16, 2022
Thank you so much to Harper books and Erica Katz for my copy of this book. It's about Emma, a forger who specializes in painting for museums so collectors can protect their investments. She dreamed of being an artist before her family fell apart. When an art collector appears with a new job for Emma she thinks it's the perfect opportunity. But as she's pulled into Leonard's life, she realizes that the past she’s worked hard to overcome will collide with the present, making her wonder how much of her carefully curated life is just as fake as her forgeries.
Thoughts: I loved the topic of this book. The art world is so fun and I felt like is was in The Thomas Crown Affair. The characters were so unique and fun and I did enjoy the format the book was written in. It was definitely a slow burn and not a thriller in my opinion. The story was predictable but it was still a fun reading journey and a good way to pass the time. 3-stars
Thoughts: I loved the topic of this book. The art world is so fun and I felt like is was in The Thomas Crown Affair. The characters were so unique and fun and I did enjoy the format the book was written in. It was definitely a slow burn and not a thriller in my opinion. The story was predictable but it was still a fun reading journey and a good way to pass the time. 3-stars
April 18, 2022
i have very complex feelings on FAKE. while it’s miles better than THE BOYS CLUB, it’s still not great. i flew through the book - the pacing and events made it go by quickly, but the characters are bad in an undeveloped way, not a ‘they’re doing bad things’ thrilling type of way. it’s also a predictable story but with random other pieces that didn’t seem to fit together.
emma is an art forger who specializes in 19th century paintings, but she isn’t a criminal; her copies are commissioned by museums and overly-weathly collectors to protect their investments. when lenny, one of those wealthy art collectors, unexpectedly appears at her work with an invitation, emma sees a way out - a new job, a new path, and the money she desperately needs to support herself and her recently widowed mother. but every invitation incurs an obligation and emma isn’t prepared for what’s to come.
i liked the length and the pacing of FAKE. it’s a quick read and the chapters are relatively short so it feels like you’re flying through it. i liked the FBI questioning log at the beginning of each chapter - it helped the plot move quickly and touch on the important events that happened.
emma was bland and her personality was that she was a ramen-eating failed artist. she had a bleak backstory explaining why she was TERRIFIED of fire, like, she couldn’t even paint fire on a canvas without having a panic attack or see someone lighting a cigarette. but the second she faces her past, she isn’t afraid of fire?
also, she’s one of those people who sees someone attractive and immediately obsesses and thinks they’re meant for each other. even after multiple people have told her the guy is known as being a playboy. there doesn’t even need to be a love interest.
it felt like katz doesn’t trust her readers to remember and connect details. there were a few times when something would happen or someone would say something and emma had some inner dialogue of putting the pieces together.
i was hoping the story was different than what i could have guessed from reading the synopsis, but i hoped wrong. even with the epilogue, everything was perfect and worked out exactly as i guessed it would.
overall, how do you rate and review a book that kept your attention until you finished it, had good pacing, but the characters are underdeveloped, naive, and boring?
emma is an art forger who specializes in 19th century paintings, but she isn’t a criminal; her copies are commissioned by museums and overly-weathly collectors to protect their investments. when lenny, one of those wealthy art collectors, unexpectedly appears at her work with an invitation, emma sees a way out - a new job, a new path, and the money she desperately needs to support herself and her recently widowed mother. but every invitation incurs an obligation and emma isn’t prepared for what’s to come.
i liked the length and the pacing of FAKE. it’s a quick read and the chapters are relatively short so it feels like you’re flying through it. i liked the FBI questioning log at the beginning of each chapter - it helped the plot move quickly and touch on the important events that happened.
emma was bland and her personality was that she was a ramen-eating failed artist. she had a bleak backstory explaining why she was TERRIFIED of fire, like, she couldn’t even paint fire on a canvas without having a panic attack or see someone lighting a cigarette. but the second she faces her past, she isn’t afraid of fire?
also, she’s one of those people who sees someone attractive and immediately obsesses and thinks they’re meant for each other. even after multiple people have told her the guy is known as being a playboy. there doesn’t even need to be a love interest.
it felt like katz doesn’t trust her readers to remember and connect details. there were a few times when something would happen or someone would say something and emma had some inner dialogue of putting the pieces together.
i was hoping the story was different than what i could have guessed from reading the synopsis, but i hoped wrong. even with the epilogue, everything was perfect and worked out exactly as i guessed it would.
overall, how do you rate and review a book that kept your attention until you finished it, had good pacing, but the characters are underdeveloped, naive, and boring?
March 25, 2022
I read Fake right after finishing Lisa Barr's Woman On Fire and, as someone with an undergrad Art History degree, it felt absolutely decadent to luxuriate in the art word for a few weeks! I also stopped by two museums while reading these books! As both books include Art Basel (one in Miami and the other in Hong Kong) and both books festure characters named Jules, I did sometimes forget which story I was reading - lol!
Fake was a really fun venture into the luxurious world of billionaire art collecting and the doors opened for talented "art copier" Emma Caan once she strikes a friendship with a very wealthy patron of the arts, Leonard Sobetsky . Emma goes from stretching her budget by eating Ramen a few days in a row to flying across the world on private jets and scoring invites to exclusive drug-filled parties.
In addition to all the art talk, I really enjoyed Emma's journey to becoming a social media Influencer, pretty much overnight. I loved Leonard's response when Emma tried to explain social media influence to him: "Higher number indicating increased value is just a trick of capitalism, my dear."
Overall, this is a fun read for anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes of the art world or even the heavily curated lifestyles of social media influencers.
Fake was a really fun venture into the luxurious world of billionaire art collecting and the doors opened for talented "art copier" Emma Caan once she strikes a friendship with a very wealthy patron of the arts, Leonard Sobetsky . Emma goes from stretching her budget by eating Ramen a few days in a row to flying across the world on private jets and scoring invites to exclusive drug-filled parties.
In addition to all the art talk, I really enjoyed Emma's journey to becoming a social media Influencer, pretty much overnight. I loved Leonard's response when Emma tried to explain social media influence to him: "Higher number indicating increased value is just a trick of capitalism, my dear."
Overall, this is a fun read for anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes of the art world or even the heavily curated lifestyles of social media influencers.
January 2, 2022
Overall I really enjoyed this one. I absolutely loved the art world elements and thought the Instagram plot points were especially relevant to bookstagram 🤪
What I liked:
🎨 Cool format starting chapters with an interview transcript
🎨 Loved the art world setting and the glitz/glamour
🎨 Unique characters- favs were Siena, Leah, Florence
🎨 GREAT writing
What I didn’t like:
🎨 Felt the main character was a little too naive at times
🎨 Some parts were predictable but that didn’t bother me as much I went into this considering it fiction rather than a thriller. If you are reading this for a thriller, you might be a little disappointed.
It’s a little slower paced but I absolutely loved the theme of being fake- with art, emotions, and Instagram vs reality. This would be a great tv show- it gives me The Flight Attendant vibes and I picture Margot Robbie or Riley Keough in the lead.
Thank you to City Book Review for the arc.
The painting in the background belonged to my grandparents but I thought Emma would appreciate it 🤓 I am DEF immediately adding Boys’ Club to my tbr.
⚠️: Cancer, infidelity, arson, drug use, death of parent
What I liked:
🎨 Cool format starting chapters with an interview transcript
🎨 Loved the art world setting and the glitz/glamour
🎨 Unique characters- favs were Siena, Leah, Florence
🎨 GREAT writing
What I didn’t like:
🎨 Felt the main character was a little too naive at times
🎨 Some parts were predictable but that didn’t bother me as much I went into this considering it fiction rather than a thriller. If you are reading this for a thriller, you might be a little disappointed.
It’s a little slower paced but I absolutely loved the theme of being fake- with art, emotions, and Instagram vs reality. This would be a great tv show- it gives me The Flight Attendant vibes and I picture Margot Robbie or Riley Keough in the lead.
Thank you to City Book Review for the arc.
The painting in the background belonged to my grandparents but I thought Emma would appreciate it 🤓 I am DEF immediately adding Boys’ Club to my tbr.
⚠️: Cancer, infidelity, arson, drug use, death of parent
January 3, 2022
Emma Caan is hired by museums and super rich art collectors to paint “fakes”! She has a special talent for creating replicas of 19th century artists such as Gauguin and Van Gogh. She is making enough to get by, but always had dreams of becoming a successful artist by creating her own original work. Finally Emma is offered a path to the success she seeks by a wealthy art collector named Leonard. Emma is quick to jump at the opportunity, but what is the catch?
I really enjoyed that this book was centered around the topic of fine art. This made the story very unique and I was just so interested in the content that the book held my interest perfectly. There were not many “jaw dropping” reveals here, but the characters were all very interesting and it was a really fun and gripping read. I am already an Erica Katz fan from her first book, this was another great story and I can highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I really enjoyed that this book was centered around the topic of fine art. This made the story very unique and I was just so interested in the content that the book held my interest perfectly. There were not many “jaw dropping” reveals here, but the characters were all very interesting and it was a really fun and gripping read. I am already an Erica Katz fan from her first book, this was another great story and I can highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
August 3, 2022
Cringe. One cringe after another, all the way through (and you might ask me why I finished it, and my answer is that I have no freaking idea).
Amateurishly written. Poor characterizations. Poorly edited (on one page alone, the author misspelled both "excited" as "exited" and "whoa" as "woah").
The main character is a moronic, whining ninny, though every person in the book finds her charming, and she's quickly catapulted into the heady world of billionaires and influencers (all of whom are equally cringey). Following in the clunky footsteps of Emily Giffin, perhaps, a character "smirks" every other page. (FIND. ANOTHER. WORD.) The childhood trauma suffered by the main character is tortured and nonsensical (she's so afraid of fire that she can't abide people lighting cigarettes near her or walking past small candles on tables at restaurants).
Katz's previous book, "The Boys' Club," was tolerable. This one is not even that.
We can sum it up this way by adding a comma to the words on the cover: "Fake a novel, Erica Katz." She did.
Amateurishly written. Poor characterizations. Poorly edited (on one page alone, the author misspelled both "excited" as "exited" and "whoa" as "woah").
The main character is a moronic, whining ninny, though every person in the book finds her charming, and she's quickly catapulted into the heady world of billionaires and influencers (all of whom are equally cringey). Following in the clunky footsteps of Emily Giffin, perhaps, a character "smirks" every other page. (FIND. ANOTHER. WORD.) The childhood trauma suffered by the main character is tortured and nonsensical (she's so afraid of fire that she can't abide people lighting cigarettes near her or walking past small candles on tables at restaurants).
Katz's previous book, "The Boys' Club," was tolerable. This one is not even that.
We can sum it up this way by adding a comma to the words on the cover: "Fake a novel, Erica Katz." She did.
November 16, 2021
Emma is a failed artist that now makes a living painting high quality copies of incredibly rare works of million dollar art. These dupes hang on the walls of wealthy clients so their investments can stay tucked away under lock and key. When Emma get caught up in the secret world of the luxury art market her safe and quiet existence starts to crack. After she's allowed a peak behind the curtain she starts to realize more about this world is fake than just her forgeries.
I absolutely loved this book! I know nothing about the luxury art world, but I couldn't put this one down. I thought there was an excellent balance of glitz and glamour with a touch of mystery and intrigue. Once the pieces started falling together I was glued to the pages until I finished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
I absolutely loved this book! I know nothing about the luxury art world, but I couldn't put this one down. I thought there was an excellent balance of glitz and glamour with a touch of mystery and intrigue. Once the pieces started falling together I was glued to the pages until I finished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
April 19, 2022
I was completely fooled by the sexy book cover and mysterious title.
Emma is an aspiring artist whose profession is to masterfully replicate fine paintings at the request of wealthy art enthusiasts. The replicas are displayed instead to protect the requestor’s original, authentic copy. She leaves her company when she’s offered an exciting leadership opportunity at a premier art gallery by a powerful, wealthy art enthusiast.
I was excited to read this book, thinking it would give readers a fun and sexy glimpse into the sophisticated fine art industry, but…nope. Between the main character’s naïveté, my lack of connection to the main character (continually rude to her mother and self-absorbed), the extremely slow pacing, and the rushed ending, I struggled to get through this book.
Emma is an aspiring artist whose profession is to masterfully replicate fine paintings at the request of wealthy art enthusiasts. The replicas are displayed instead to protect the requestor’s original, authentic copy. She leaves her company when she’s offered an exciting leadership opportunity at a premier art gallery by a powerful, wealthy art enthusiast.
I was excited to read this book, thinking it would give readers a fun and sexy glimpse into the sophisticated fine art industry, but…nope. Between the main character’s naïveté, my lack of connection to the main character (continually rude to her mother and self-absorbed), the extremely slow pacing, and the rushed ending, I struggled to get through this book.
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