If you can’t already tell, I’m a sucker for romance, but I’m also a sucker for stories that focus on character development, and this book has a wealth of both. If you’re coming into this looking strictly for romance, you might be disappointed as a large portion of the story is focused on Gracie’s character development and arc, thus the Women’s Fiction tag, but I also think that it makes for a much richer story in the end. THE STAND-IN isn’t perfect, and it’s more than a bit cliche and cheesy at times, but it’s a fun book nonetheless and one I’d recommend picking up if it sounds up your alley.

THE STAND-IN chronicles Gracie Reed, a Chinese-Canadian woman who, after being mistaken for actress Wei Fangli, gets swept up in an agreement to pretend to be Fangli so the actress can rest. Along the way she’ll learn about herself, the extremely attractive actor that Fangli is rumoured to be dating, and make her own organisational tool that’s all Gracie.

Watching Gracie grow in this story was so gratifying, both in recognising where she misstepped and could do better, but also realising that she is not to blame for all of the things in her life. This book shows a woman gaining self confidence, and developing her own internal self as she allows room to be more than what others want to be. As a character arc, I really enjoyed this book, though there were times where elements of the story did feel a bit disjointed, it all came together beautifully at the end.

My friend, after reading the synopsis said this sounded like enemies to lovers, and let me clarify that it’s not. There is certainly some less-than-friendly tension between Gracie and Sam at the start, but it’s not to that level. Additionally, there’s a decent development of a platonic relationship before it goes fully romantic. Nonetheless, chemistry is very there, even as Gracie doubts it. The switch from platonic to romantic was a little bit abrupt. I always say that I would have loved to see the LI’s POV when it comes to romance, but I truly think that this romance would have benefitted from just a glimpse of Sam’s perspective, or at least more development of his feelings. All of the building blocks are there, but they needed one last little push to take this to the next level.

So friends, Romans, Canadians (I had to make the joke), lend me your ears and suspend your disbelief for a second to fall into the magical world of Toronto, Canada, to fall in love with Gracie Reed as she falls in love with Sam Yao, and everyone gets to be a little bit of a better version of themselves along the way. And then when you finish, you’ll wish you had an organisational tool like Eppy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Initially, when I read the synopsis, it reminded me of the movie the princess switch. But this book is different, and it covers several important topics. Especially, the topic mental health is described quite well and how important it is to take care of one's mental health. Moreover, it also shows how it is to have an ill parent, loss, Alzheimer, sexual harassment at work, racism and experiences of people with migration background. Although this book was a fun, easy romance read, these deep topics made the book better. It makes you think about them and how common mental health issues are.

I will make a post about this book on my instagram account (unlimitedbooklove).

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars! this book was SO much fun; despite a few mini-gripes, i really really enjoyed this.

every time i come across an ownvoices rom-com set in toronto, i feel like it's a dream come true. and in many ways, the stand-in truly was a dream - a love story i fell into the same way gracie fell for sam.

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gracie reed is a biracial chinese-canadian woman living in toronto - and she's down on her luck. not only must she contend with fallout from her boss's sexual harassment, she's also been fired - at a time when she most needs a job: her beloved mother has alzheimer's and gracie is fighting to get her into the nursing home that will support her the way she deserves.

but gracie's life changes in many incredible, irrevocable ways when she's approached by wei fangli and sam yao, china's cinematic golden couple, in toronto for the summer and in need of gracie's help. gracie and fangli bear a remarkable resemblance to each other, and gracie agrees to be fangli's stand-in. what ensues is stardom and friendship and romance, as gracie is swept up into the glitter and luxury of fangli and sam's world.

will she be able to pull it off? what happens when she starts falling for infuriating, sexy sam? and, most of all: will gracie stay true to herself throughout it all?

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i adore the contemporary romance genre, particularly ownvoices narratives by and about women of colour. and the stand-in exemplifies why i'm drawn time and again to these stories: here we have an earnest, imperfect, endearing protagonist grappling with issues of identity, family, loneliness, and yearning for love in a multitude of forms.

above all, this novel was a lighthearted romp rife with all the pleasure of wish fulfillment (and absurd yet entertaining plots). at the same time, it's undergirded by serious issues that enriched the rom-com narrative, as gracie navigates her experiences as a biracial woman; her grief and love for her mother and her mother's culture and past; sexual harassment and misogyny in the workplace; and what it means to carve out one's own identity and path.

i related deeply to gracie's struggles with accommodating other people to the detriment of our own needs and welfare. this is much more complex than simply condemning "people-pleasing" - especially for east asian women in the west, who often 1) confront, navigate, and subvert stereotypes of being docile and accommodating; and 2) engage in emotional labour (including people-pleasing) to cope with racism and sexism. the book highlights these complexities.

there were two main parts that dimmed my otherwise incandescent reading experience. first, i grew quickly tired and frustrated that gracie continually accused sam of placing fangli above herself. i think, given how sam's known and (platonically) loved fangli for many years - and only known gracie a few weeks - this would, in theory, make sense...? this besides, i wasn't a fan of the implication that men and women (and people of other genders) can't simply love each other fiercely as friends; does sam really have to choose fangli *or* gracie? i was empathetic when this happened initially - i understand that this is part of gracie working through her insecurities - but didn't enjoy the fact that this, of all things, constituted the third-act conflict.

second, there's a scene toward the end where gracie forces sam to do something that he's not comfortable with, and that he's already expressly said no to; moreover, she hurls insults at him. i understand that gracie was swept up in the moment and desperately needed sam to help her calm her mother. what i didn't understand, however, was why gracie was never held accountable for her actions - though she recognized it as wrong, she was never given an opportunity to apologize and flesh out that moment in a way that would've made it clear that intention doesn't equal impact.

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last but CERTAINLY not least: oh, how i loved reading gracie live her life in toronto, a city so near and dear to my heart! i absolutely can't wait to read more of lily chu's writing (lily chu, you had me the moment i laid eyes on your bio - "romantic comedies set in Toronto with strong Asian characters" are one-hundred-percent my JAM).



many thanks to netgalley and sourcebooks casablanca for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this. It felt sort of like a twist on the classic "Prince and the Pauper" trope, and while mostly a fun, lighthearted book, I really liked how it thoughtfully touched on more serious topics like mental health and identity.

The romance was cute, but I personally would classify this as closer to "women's fiction" than straight romance, since Gracie's relationships with Fangli and her mom were such crucial components on the story.

There were two things that annoyed me, though they didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment of the story:
1. The app development process. It just came across as totally unrealistic to me. The timelines didn't seem to match up, and I didn't understand if Gracie was actually single-handedly developing this app or just working on mocks and concepts.
2. The third-act misunderstanding. It felt so out of character, and the misunderstanding was so obvious and should have been resolved in 3 minutes. I don't like that it was dragged out for so long.

This book! So cute. Celebrity switches. Found family. And all with the sexiest man in the world by Gracie’s side guiding her through celebrity life challenges. Yes to all of it. Adorable book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this ARC in exchange for a review!!

This was an unexpectedly beautiful story with a lot of heart! I connected with Gracie so much it was almost scary. So many of my thoughts and feelings had been laid out so plainly on paper and it was such a comfort to watch her grow.

Gracie's relationship with her mom is something I am familiar with, Not as someone who has a parent with Alzheimer's, but as someone who works at a facility that houses residents with Alzheimer's and Dementia, I think it was depicted quite well.

My only issue with the story and what kept it from being a 5 star read, was the overall pacing of the book. It felt very inconsistent in many aspects. The first month of Gracie's time as Fangli is detailed and drawn out in comparison to the climax and tie up of the story, which felt glossed over and a bit rushed. A lot that happened in that first month was very heavy with Gracie's inner monologue. If there had maybe been some more moments spent with Sam or Fangli or even Anjali in that first month it would have felt more balanced with the rest of the story.

Despite the slight issues I had with the pacing, I truly enjoyed this story! It had so much heart and wit and such well rounded characters that I couldn't help but fall in love! I think the topics were handled really well and with such care that I look forward to reading more of this author in the future!

(4.5 ⭐️) From the moment I read the premise, which teased a one-sided Princess and the Pauper-esque plot line, I was immediately intrigued — and now that I’ve read this adorable story, I can say it was completely worth it!

Gracie’s character experiences many conflicts that are hurled her way - a less-than-ideal dilemma for a strict planner - yet handles them and their individual details with a realistic approach, something I really appreciated given that she is the main character. I was so happy to see her and Fangli form a friendship out of this crazy situation, and even more so when Gracie and Sam overcome their differences and become a cute couple.

For the majority of this book, each chapter played out like a fun rom-com, which greatly helped me visualize the plot. I’d love to see this story adapted in the future (possibly with Henry Golding as Sam, because he was the first person to pop into mind when the character was introduced 😆)

Overall, a very cinematic and dynamic story with some unexpected heavier themes (TW: depression, panic attacks, workplace harassment, Alzheimer’s) that I thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you to Netgalley, Lily Chu, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💕

I laughed. I cried. I couldn't put it down.

CW: depression, sexual harassment, family death/grief

If you're looking for a heartfelt, clean (PG-no over-the-top descriptions of kissing and any sex is closed door with only very slight references), beautifully written rom-com novel that thoughtfully covers hard topics, this is the book for you.

I haven't read a good rom-com book in a long time. Lots of authors get the romance aspect, but the comedy is lacking. This book had a fantastic balance and reminded me of the golden rom-com movies of the early 2000s.

Our protagonist, Gracie, is truly a character you can root for. I found her relatable and easy to understand. The love interest was everything you could want: standoffish at first, but soft and kind with time.

Honestly, I was shocked this was Lily Chu's first novel because it's so well written. I want more content from this author ASAP.

An ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was great, and the story was very engaging and easy to get lost in. I loved Gracie and her search for the perfect to-do list / planner / life organizer app. Because...same. I loved watching Gracie bring Fangli and Sam out of their sheltered, private bubble and show them how to live a little. This isn't spicy by any means - it's very closed-door. But the progression of Gracie and Sam's relationship was perfect.

I loved how the author tackled the stigma surrounding depression and taking medication. As someone who has depression/anxiety and an advocate of getting the help you need, whether it be therapy or medication, I think it was wonderfully represented.

The twist at the end was great (even if it was a little predictable), and I was left wanting more! It left me with a smile on my face. If there's ever a sequel to The Stand-In, I'll most definitely be reading!

not a fan of gracie.. she really lacks decision making skills like girl plsss do better. it's exhausting reading about her not doing anything about her life

A fun prince and the pauper spin-off that I enjoyed from cover to cover. I don't usually think that romantic comedies need sequels, but I'd love to see one for this book because these characters still have more story to be told!

This story was so sweet.

Gracie Reed is approached by a mega celebrity, Wei Fangli (whom she discovers she strongly resembles) and is propositioned to impersonate her. She is to pretend to be this woman and attend events, be seen publicly… be escorted by the insufferable Sam Yao, Fangli’s longtime friend and rumored lover. This man is infuriating but so incredibly handsome. Gracie of course says yes because she needs the money to give her mother the health care she needs and deserves.

This was fun and full of really sweet and silly moments. But at its core, it’s about family and doing the right thing. I thoroughly enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Sam and Gracie and well as the wonderful friendship between Gracie and Fangli. I will admit the ending was a little too on the nose, but still enjoyable. I just kind of expected exactly that so the surprise wasn’t there.

A fun rom com that incorporates some serious topics. Overall the characters were great and the story was a little over the top. A case of celebrity mistaken identity and rags to riches and back again. A fun time and a quick read.

this book felt like the swipe movies i was used to watch. it was really entertaining, funny but also had a touch of emotional substance, talking about society issues and taking us on a character's growth journey. it was a good book that reads itself easily and fast enough!

Gracie Reed is keeping it together despite getting fired from her job and caring for her mom. But one day a mysterious SUV pulls up next to her and next thing she knows, Gracie is being asked to pretend to be famous Chinese actress Fangli, and act as her stand-in. Gracie agrees to this crazy plan knowing the money will help her now that she is jobless and will get her mom into a nicer nursing home. But can she keep up with this double life?

This book was so much fun! I adored Gracie as a main character and seeing her find her confidence and her identity throughout the book was a beautiful journey. I loved that while the romance between Gracie and movie star Sam was a big part of this story, this was more a women’s fiction and spent just as much time developing the friendship between Gracie and Fangli as well as Gracie’s relationship with herself. This book has some heavier/emotional science along with a few laugh out loud moments, and was really just a wonderful reading experience.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy!

I adored this book! It was such a fun read and would happily recommend this to anyone.

I really felt Gracie’s growth through the story. Sam and Fangli also evolved throughout the book and it was amazing to see. Nothing felt rushed.

I want to reread it already just to have more of Sam and Gracie!!!

This was a quick enough read, but all I can really say about it is that it was fine. I appreciated how many complex and serious topics the author deals with, but I didn’t feel like all of them were handled well.

Overall, the concept is very fun—celebrity romances are usually a blast, and this was certainly entertaining. It felt more Lifetime or Hallmark-level over the top and unbelievable than most romances I read, but if that’s your thing then definitely pick this up! Unfortunately, though, it just didn’t really work for me and I ended up DNFing about halfway through.

I think the author sincerely wanted to tackle a lot of issues in spciety, but there are too many problems brought up and not any real attention given to any of them. Plus the entire plot is incredibly unbelievable. I like my romance to be at least tangentially in line with reality. It didn't help that Gracie and Sam were both confusing and yet still boring.

This was a fun and quick romance read that didn’t shy away from embracing topics like multi-racial identity, depression, anxiety, dementia, workplace harassment, racial and gender microaggressions, and more. In the author’s debut romance novel we meet Gracie Reed who is living in Toronto and just lost her job, all while caring for her mother who has Alzheimer’s. Two globally famous Chinese actors, Fangli and Sam, are in town for a play and discover that Gracie and Fangli are nearly identical in appearance. From there a somewhat wacky plan to have Gracie act as Fangli for networking and social events is hatched in order to give Fangli a much-needed rest from the spotlight.

The premise is a bit far-fetched (perhaps not for a romance novel) and the romance story between Gracie and Sam is a slow build, however the bond and relationship between Gracie and Fangli is what made me love this book. I liked that there was no competition in romance and they were able to find each other in challenging times. The way mental health was represented as a central part of the story was wonderful to see and I was happy that the author wove in a career change for Gracie so it wasn’t all centered on her love story. The romance and relationship building is on point, however if you are looking for a spicy or explicit romance book this is not it.

I would LOVE another book so we can see how all three of these characters transition to their new lives together.

The Stand-In was released as an audiobook through Audible, performed by Phillipa Soo, in 2021 and the print copy is available May 3, 2022. It’s Target’s book club pick for May so snag yourself a copy and let me know what you think. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review – I enjoyed reading it!

Content warnings: workplace discrimination, mental illness, dementia, racial microaggressions, abandonment

4 stars

This is such a cute romantic comedy by Lily Chu. As her debut book she did a good job.I really like the doppelgänger element in this book along with the issue of metal health.
Grace is the heroine in this book just trying to get her mother into a nursing home but she can’t afford it. Her just go fired from her job when she meets Wei Fangli and Sam Yao a famous Chinese actors. Wei wants grace to pretend to be her and she will give her money. I liked how Grace and Sam relationship develop throughout the book.

*A special thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for a honest review.