Always love a Prince and the Pauper/Freaky Friday concept for a book, and Fake Famous by Dana Davis offers a charming turn on the trope.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

As fun as the premise sounds, this book falls apart if you question it too much so it didn't work for me. It required too much suspension of disbelief and too many naive characters.

This is a sweet story about finding yourself.

The characters were a bit much at the beginning, and Red seemed to completely change her personality about a 1/4 way through the story. Also, I felt like it was fairly obvious when she was acting like Zay. The story itself was cute and an easy read, if a tad predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley for proving an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Uh this is the second book of mine from Dana and she typically writes in a very dated jargon like it's what she believes the kids these days talk like. This one did not do it for me ultimately.

The very first thing you need to know about this book to ensure that you'll enjoy it is that you need to suspend your disbelief from the very beginning. As the title suggests, our main character ends up being the stand-in for a celebrity, following the Price-and-the-Pauper storyline that has been adapted many times in the past. This is the kind of story that you'll enjoy if you don't try to rationalize any details. Even though Red, its main character, is eighteen (I'm pretty sure), this reads like a middle grade novel, so again, if you go into it thinking that it's targeted to younger readers, you might forgive that it is at times a bit too absurd to be believable.

I enjoyed this book! It was cute and fun and (as an adult) an easy read. It reminded me in some ways of "As Told by Ginger" — the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

I had an amazing interview with the author, and it can be found here: https://youtu.be/pMQJ7lcEIUc

I did not particularly enjoy this book so don’t want to make a public review. I found the characters irritating and didn’t like the dialogue. But it was okay! An easy read

This was an interesting take on the life swap, switcher-oony. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the differences in the characters and their desires to experience the other sides life. It very much gave me the vibes of Model Behavior which was one of my favorite movies as a kid.

Primeiro de tudo, essa foi uma leitura que eu não esperava finalizar por agora, porque, na verdade, eu a havia abandonado no início. Essa primeira impressão por si só havia deixado o livro meio nebuloso para mim, e pensei realmente em não retomar, mas surgiu a oportunidade e um quê ainda de curiosidade de ver o que afinal de contas me esperava nesse enredo, após os primeiro vinte por cento da trama, então achei que valia a chance. O saldo disso, honestamente? Me surpreendeu, só pena que já foi tão tarde na experiência como um todo.

Isso não quer dizer, porém, que o livro é ruim. Os primeiros capítulos são um pouco corridos com toda a situação e proposta da Zay para a Red e o que se segue a partir daí, de forma que às vezes eu ficava meio perdida na trama ou ainda me sentindo distante do enredo, mesmo gostando do tom da protagonista. Red merece ser colocada num potinho e protegida depois de certas coisas nessa história, e eu sinceramente agradeço à autora pelo desfecho que ela teve após se importar e cuidar de todos ao redor dela, menos dela mesma.

Aliás, a mensagem sobre valorizar, cuidar e amar a si próprio assim como o fazemos pelo próximo ficou bem trabalhada no livro, e foi bacana de ver a importância desse equilíbrio. Koi é legal, mas gostei de como o livro focou mais no desenvolvimento da Red por si própria mesmo e o resto foi tomado só como consequência natural de suas atitudes, decisões e mudanças. Zay me irritou e ainda não me convenço muito com ela, senti uma passada de pano para algo muito chato, mas felizmente o foco aqui é a Red. E de qualquer forma a Zay também se redimiu um pouco com ela no final, apesar de, novamente, eu ter achado que tudo correu um pouco ali, ainda mais dadas certas circunstâncias contratuais, que pareceram serem resolvidas muito mais simplesmente do que o esperado naquela hora, mas 0k.

Enfim, foi uma leitura bacana. Nada revolucionário, mas definitivamente me surpreendeu por, quando menos esperei, ter se aprofundado na mensagem citada, porque realmente a Red tenta cuidar de todos, mas pensa pouco em si, e a forma como ela começa a se enxergar mais depois, tanto no exterior quanto interior, e toda a decisão final, foi bem coerente com esse desenvolvimento também. Tem uns capítulos mais parados ou monótonos aqui e ali, o que deixavam a leitura meio instável, mas num todo, ainda é um bom livro - 3,5 estrelas é até um pouco mais que bom, acho eu.

Cute fast read about how fame isn't all its cracked up to be and the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

The main character in the book Red works on the family farm and has always been told how much she looks like global popstar Zay-Zay Waters and one day as a joke she ends up filming a video of herself pretending to be Zay-Zay - and then the video goes viral.

This leads to a once in a lifetime chance for Red as she gets to stand in for Zay-Zay for a short time but is her life all it's cracked up to be? I really enjoyed this little peek into the world of celebrity. It was predictable at times but still a really fun read.

A cool twist on an established premise, I liked the story and the different dynamics that came out of the bridging of worlds. Honestly feels like a 2000's Disney movie that is just fun and good vibes.

As someone who grew up in the Midwest, many of my classmates dreamed of making it big in stardom and this book was very reminiscent of that time in my life. I loved the characters and watching them grow throughout the course of this book.

Originally, I picked up this book because I liked the idea of a celebrity and a farm girl switching places. But after I started to read it, it just felt too normal, like it had been done before. Plus, the name ‘Red’ for a main character seems more horror movie like (you have the movie ‘Us’ to thank for that’) and I couldn’t move past that. I feel there are better switch stories out there than this.

Fake Famous is a fun and easy read. It took a bit to get hooked, but once I did, it was a delightful escape into the glamorous world of fame and its ups and downs. If you want a fast and enjoyable book that's all about family, give this one a try!

This is a captivating addition to the young adult genre, leaving us questioning whether we'd choose fame or the quiet beauty of our roots. I know what my answer is… what’s yours? This is the perfect fish-out-of-water tale that celebrates young love.

In Fake Famous by Dana L. Davis, readers are introduced to the story of an 18-year-old Black farm girl thrust into the spotlight after being mistaken for a global pop star. Set on an Iowa farm, this breezy novel explores the pitfalls of fame and the choices we make when opportunity knocks.

Meet Red Morgan. She has signature red curls, a remarkable singing voice, and is the backbone of her family. The eldest daughter of Iowa farmers, she accepts her role without question. Then a TikTok video of her singing goes viral, and social media users believe she's none other than a Brooklyn-born pop sensation.

Meet Zay-Zay. She has a tempting business proposition. Red can serve as her paid stand-in for a week, attending all contractual obligations, experience the glamour of Hollywood, and the money will help pay off her family's debts. Dates with Zay-Zay’s famous Hawaiian boyfriend are just a bonus.

What seemed like a straightforward arrangement soon becomes a tangled web of secrets, unexpected emotions, and self-discovery. Davis skillfully portrays inner struggle as Red grapples with fame, family loyalty, and her own identity.

This story is a delightful blend of heartwarming moments, witty dialogue, and genuine characters. Whether you're a fan of contemporary romance or simply enjoy stories about unexpected fame, this novel delivers. Davis crafted a relatable narrative that resonated with this reader.

This story reminded me that sometimes the most extraordinary adventures begin when we step out of our comfort zones. Like what I did when I moved in with my dad, in the middle of an unknown world, and then met my husband. With an engaging prose and relatable characters, Davis invites readers to explore fame, love, and the choices that shape our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is surprising to find a book with a young adult protagonist with a pretty out-there plot which ends up feeling very level-headed and deeper than the cover lets on. This is how I would describe this particular book.
Our leading lady is a teenager who has just wrapped up her high school life and is looking forward to studying locally and being the responsible eldest child that she spends her entire time being. She does not feel any misgivings in tying up her future with that of the farm and shop that her family runs.
A chance viral video has her approached by her lookalike, a famous singer. The deal is almost too good to be true. Red can now save her family's livelihood and have some downtime with an extravagant lifestyle. The first drawback is the relationship that is part of the star dream. Red ends up finding out more about her own dreams than she bargained for.
I really liked the ending. There are obviously some unbelievable chance events (but since the entire premise hinges on something equally impossible, the rest is not hard to accept), but for the most part, logic does play a significant role in how things turn out.
The people are all not what they start out being. Everyone has a little more to their persona than we are led to believe, even the almost-villain of the piece.
I would highly recommend this book for younger audiences (especially since there are no scenes that I personally would deem inappropriate for tweens) and for those older folks who don't mind reading about a younger set of people.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

In this breezy novel from the author of Somebody That I Used to Know , one Iowa farm girl—a dead ringer for a global pop star—gets an unlikely shot at stardom. Will she choose fame…or the family farm? Red Morgan is fresh out of high school. With signature red curls and a remarkable singing voice, the bubbly teenager is a devoted daughter and big sister. The world should be her oyster. But Red already knows exactly where her future the family farm in Orange City, Iowa. Zay-Zay Waters is at the top of her game. The Brooklyn-born singer has it all—talent, fame, even a smokin’ hot boyfriend. But life in the limelight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when a video of Red singing in the mud—looking and sounding exactly like Zay-Zay herself—goes viral, the pop star begins to hatch a plan. Red is the key to Zay-Zay’s scheme. With much-needed money on the line, Red agrees to step into Zay-Zay’s famous shoes for one week. But when planned appearances start to go off script, Red may be in over her head. Can she really pull it off?

Loved loved loved this story.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Red Morgan has the chance of a lifetime when a mishap on the family farm lands her in the crosshairs of pop star Zay-Zay Waters. Red is a dead-ringer of Zay-Zay, and Zay wants her to pretend to be her while she spends a week at a retreat. With what Zay is offering Red, she can help save the farm, but will she lose herself in the process?

I enjoyed this story for the most part. I wanted to head slap Zay-Zay at times but then again, she is a pop star, and she can pay for what she wants. It is a good story, and I was rooting for Red to win in the end. I hope you give it a try and enjoy it too.

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

This book was so sweet and refreshing. I thought Red was a great character and could definitely relate to her oldest daughter syndrome. The plot was fun overall, though some parts of the ending felt over the top, even for a book like this. The romance was written very well and was surprisingly believable and cute. Overall, this was a fun read.