The Fake by Zoe Whittall, started off with a strong plot but lost me as it went on. I just did not connect with the writing/plot.

So this came out a while ago, I let it sit around for a while (...oops). And I gotta say the whole time I was reading it I thought of that woman Amanda or whatever her name was, who pulled the decade long scan of having cancer, working for Grey's Anatomy and the whole time she was fine. I think I didn't take in much of the story, because that was all I could think about the whole time, so I'm rating this one four stars.

it feels cliche to say that a book feels like a breath of fresh air but thats exaclty what this story felt like.

Grief, Lies, and Relationships

The Fake by Zoe Whittall delves into the lives of two grieving and vulnerable characters, Shelby and Gibson, who are drawn into the orbit of a charismatic scam artist named Cammie. Shelby is grappling with the death of her wife and is struggling with severe anxiety and isolation. Gibson, on the other hand, is a middle-aged man dealing with depression after a recent breakup. Both find solace in Cammie, who brings a whirlwind of excitement into their lives, masking her true intentions.

The Fake stands out as a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the impact of deception. Whittall's skillful storytelling and keen observations make it a compelling read, though some readers may wish for a more fleshed-out narrative. The book's strength lies in its ability to evoke empathy and provoke thought, making it a worthwhile addition to contemporary fiction.

In conclusion, The Fake by Zoe Whittall is a poignant and engaging novel that masterfully explores the themes of grief, vulnerability, and deceit, leaving a lasting impression on its readers.

I loved this book and recommended it to about 30 people, so it’s gotten a lot of buzz around my reading community. The prose is well constructed. The writing is clever but authentic. It’s funny. The characters are engaging but they feel real enough that their growth is rewarding. The plot has everything!!!! that I want in a book. This was definitely one of my top books of the year and I’m so glad I read it. I find myself referring to it constantly in conversation. I would love to see it as a series or a movie!

I enjoyed the concept of this book. With two people grieving for different reasons at a vulnerable point in their lives and getting taken by a con artist.

But the execution left something to be desired. It was too predictable.

What an enthralling read! I was surprised by my overall enjoyment of this book having seen the pretty average ratings, but I thought this was an impressive novel. I found myself incredibly intrigued from the jump. I would compare my feelings to how I felt when reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: completely sucked in by messy characters and messy truths.

Gibson is getting a divorce. He still doesn't know how to feel about it when he meets Cammie. What seems to be a one night stand after a night out at a bar, turns into a full-fledged relationship. A relationship that seems to be moving too fast. Gibson ignores his friends concerns regarding his intense adoration for Cammie, but he can't help the fact that he starts catching Cammie in some pretty big lies.
Shelby is constantly struggling on her day-to-day after her wife, Kate, passed away. Shelby has been suffering with severe health-anxiety for a long time, and Kate was her rock, the only person that actually understood and helped Shelby, all while loving her for who she is. Shelby finally decides to go to a grief therapy group, in hopes that she will feel more motivated to progress in her grieving and get better enough to consistently leave the house. This is where Shelby meets Cammie, and their friendship blooms quickly, giving Shelby someone to connect with for the first time since Kate's passing. Unfortunately, Shelby's kindness could be taken instead for naiveté. Perhaps that's what Gibson and Shelby have in common, a quality that Cammie looks for in others, just so she can get what's hers, and stay afloat.

I applaud Whittall for how well she constructed our two MCs. Shelby's health anxiety was so well-written, I started to feel anxious whilst reading. Gibson's struggles post-divorce and his infatuation with Cammie made for an introspective narrative sprinkled with suspense. I was always eager to pick this back up again, and this story felt so real to me, that I would find myself wanting to bring it up to my friends as if these characters were real individuals that I knew.

The only reason I was a bit disappointed once I finished was the ending itself. I suppose I found it lacking in comparison to the rest of the novel.

Thank so much to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for an ARC of thus book in exchange for an honest review (:

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and Zoe Whittal for free e-ARC of The Fake in return of my honest review.

"The Fake" offers a glimpse into the world of deception, betrayal, and self-discovery through the intertwined lives of Shelby and Gibson as they navigate their relationships with the enigmatic Cammie. The novel presents a compelling premise that touches on themes of trust and personal growth.

While the pacing of the story may be slow at times, the character development is a strong point. Shelby and Gibson are well-crafted characters with relatable struggles and inner conflicts that add depth to the narrative. The evolution of their relationships with each other and with Cammie is intriguing to follow.

The revelations about Cammie's true nature as a scammer inject a sense of tension and intrigue into the plot, keeping readers engaged and guessing about what will happen next. The dynamics between the characters are explored in a nuanced way, highlighting the complexities of human relationships.

Though the writing style may lack emotional depth at times, the dialogue is effective in conveying the characters' thoughts and feelings. The interactions between the characters, while occasionally forced, ultimately serve to drive the story forward and reveal more about their motivations.

Overall, "The Fake" is a decent read that offers a thought-provoking exploration of trust, betrayal, and self-discovery. While it may not be a groundbreaking work, it provides an entertaining and engaging look at the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of deception.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into The Fake and I was hooked from the very first page. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling ride filled with unexpected surprises.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I LOVE a grifter story. I love the audacity of these people to just say what they want to be true, and live a life they don't have any place living, just because they felt like it. It is endlessly fascinating to me, whether it is real or fiction. So I really enjoyed The Fake. Give me Anna Delvey vibes all day long, and I will eat it right up. Big fan.

The Fake is realistic but somewhat shallow. Dragged a bit and might have worked better as short fiction.

Zoe Whittall is one of those author's whose novels I really, really want to love. Unfortunately, there's something about her characters/writing style that ends up irking me. The beginning usually hooks me, but halfway through, the story starts to unravel and never fully recovers. Too bad "The Fake" didn't intrigue me, I don't think this author is for me.

Not a big fan about reading about someone who fakes cancer and cons friends and others. Well written and I did come to see how it could happen, but still not a fan of the subject.

The Fake by Zoe Whittall is a story about con artists and liars. It didn't really have any likable characters, but I thought it did a good job staying sympathetic to people with mental health issues. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

The Fake by Zoe Whittall adds a fictional flair to the recent popular craze of con artist tales. Lying about cancer just isn't a theme I can have a lot of support for, however, and I know that's a me thing. That said, I think lots of readers will enjoy the writing of this one.

Since binge watching Inventing Anna with my family, we have been drawn to series and movies about con artists, and I (sadly being the only one in my immediate family who also loves to read), also am drawn to books with the same topic. When I read the summary for The Fake, I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to read it.

The book opens with “a note from Camilla”, giving us a life summary that is so intriguing and compelling, and told in such a voice that I knew I would love reading this. She even ends the note questioning and daring the reader to choose a side and who they will believe. It is such a unique opener and was just a perfect way to draw me in! I loved the final note from Camilla, too, at the end of the book.

The characters are great, they each have such strong and fitting personalities, and are ones you want to read more about. It was easy to form opinions about not only the characters themselves, but also about their actions as well. Whether you have had a Cammie in your life or not, I think everyone can guess as to whether they would be able to call them out or not, and how quickly you can see through them.

This was such a fun read but I hope to see this one on film one day, it would be awesome to watch, too! Perfect if you love to read about con artists like Anna Delvey!

Two people become embroiled in the life of Cammie, a whirlwind that comes into Gibson and Shelby's lives and stirring up quite a bit of sh*t. She makes them feel alive but is what she saying to them the truth? Lie upon lie upon lie adds up and they band together to see what is real after she has torn up their worlds. Gibson is just getting over his wife and their divorce when Cammie comes onto him and okay, I think for him, it was the sex, even though he said she saw him and understood him. For Shelby, she lost her wife and has lived in her house with their dog and not much interaction from the real world. She attends a grief support group, where she meets Cammie. As Cammie destroys their lives, they befriend each other and try to "fix" Cammie.

I loved everything about the story until the epilogue at the end. I cannot believe that there was some kind of deliverance for Cammie. She was an awful character but it is a fascinating look at how we invite people into our lives, seeing what we want to see, be it good or bad. It was a good, quick book for my last book of 2023.

Thanks to Negalley and Random House Ballantine for a copy for review.

I read this spicy light-hearted con artist book in a single day. It was easy to read but also easy to forget.

Shelby and Gibson have both been going through pivotal upheavals in their lives. Gibson, once happily married, is now processing his impending divorce. Shelby also has lost her spouse tragically through her wife's unexpected death.

These losses and longings for something new are why they both become enraptured by a new woman who has entered their life. Cammie is a charismatic character who promises the sympathy and excitement they crave. The fact that she's overcoming a string of calamities only makes her more endearing and intriguing.

As Shelby and Gibson become more intertwined, they realize that things aren't as they seem, leading the reader on the kind of soapy adventure that you likely, know where you are headed but will still keep you flipping pages for the satisfying reveal.

As so many stories glamorize the con artist, it was refreshing to see the script flipped, giving us insights into how Cammie exploits the vulnerabilities of her victims. Despite all her flaws, Whittall makes her weirdly lovable even when destroying people in her path.

Ultimately, the plot twists didn't deliver anything too shocking, but at under 200 pages, this is the kind of book you can rely on when you need a quick win or are working towards a reading challenge goal.

Book 2 was just as enjoyable as the first! Loved the witchy vibes and this witchy town! I cannot wait to revisit this series!

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review