I received this book as an ARC from Skyscape through NetGalley and this review is based on my own opinion.

Red Morgan is young girl with her signature red curls and is devoted to her parents farm but she loves to sing.

Zay-Zay has it all, talent, fame and a famous, hot boyfriend but it's everything she doesn't want.

So when a video of Red singing in the mud goes viral, Zay-Zay has a plan and Red is the key.
With a lot of money on the line Red agrees to step into Zays shoes for a week but can she really pull it off?

When I first read the description I expected to like the book but I didn't think I would love it as much as I did.
To me it felt like some sort of modern Cinderella story and I liked the perspective.
I am just speechless after this, it was such a pleasure reading it even tho for a moment the author had me thinking that Red wouldn't have a happy ending.
But gosh the ending almost made me cry it was just everything Red deserved, they way all the characters stood up for her and 'chose' her side was heartwarming and I really would have liked to read about Diamond and Randy in the epilogue.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a really cute YA contemporary romance that is a quick and easy read. It's the quintessential regular person/famous person doppelganger switch story. Red just graduated high school in Iowa. She lives on a farm with her large family and intends to attend college and come back and run the family farm. Zay Zay is a young global pop star that is uber famous and seemingly has a charmed life. When Red is taped singing and pretending to be Zay Zay, the video goes viral, and Zay Zay's plan to sneak away from her life for a week is hatched. Red only needs to fly to LA, attend a few red carpets, and a date with Zay's hot famous fake boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong?

This sweet book has a wonderful message about being true to yourself that will resonate with younger readers. In the beginning Red is very self-sacrificing and hasn't considered what else she may to do with her life, including being a performer. It's sweet to see her come more into herself and future. The book is a bit angsty, but I'll forgive that because it is YA after all. You also need to suspend belief for the story to work, but you have to do that all the time for books. It takes about 20-25% of the book before all the gimmicks even out, but then it settles into a sweet coming of age story. Despite dealing with some of the more cynical sides of fame, the book is very wholesome. I was able to read the book in one sitting and was a wonderful way to spend a few hours.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Skyscape. All opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC.

Fake Famous is a charming and engaging novel that explores the enticing world of fame, identity, and the choices that come with it. Set against the backdrop of rural Iowa and the glamorous music industry, it's a story of unexpected opportunities and personal growth.

The story introduces us to Red Morgan, an Iowa farm girl with signature red curls and a remarkable singing talent. Her dreams are simple, rooted in family and her family farm. In contrast, we have Zay-Zay Waters, a famous singer from Brooklyn with all the glamour and trappings of stardom. The two couldn't be more different, yet their paths converge in a way that challenges Red's outlook on life.

When a video of Red's singing goes viral, showcasing her resemblance to Zay-Zay, the pop star hatches a plan. Red becomes the key to Zay-Zay's scheme to escape the pressures of her own life. The story then unfolds with Red stepping into the shoes of Zay-Zay for one week, venturing into the world of fame, money, and the unexpected challenges that come with it.

Dana L Davis creates relatable and endearing characters in Red and Zay-Zay, each on a unique journey of self-discovery. Red's small-town charm and sense of duty to her family are juxtaposed against Zay-Zay's life in the spotlight, providing a thought-provoking contrast. As planned appearances go awry, the story keeps readers on their toes, wondering if Red can truly pull off the impersonation.

The novel skillfully navigates themes of identity, celebrity culture, and the age-old question of whether fame is worth the price. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful moments in life happen when we least expect them.

Fake Famous is a delightful read that will have you reflecting on what truly matters in life while enjoying the journey of two very different characters. Dana L Davis has created a tale that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a worthy addition to your reading list.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book for my honest review in exchange

Rating: 3.5 stars!

Such a light hearted and fast paced read that reminded me of a lot of disney movies such as starstuck quite a bit, I knew I would have a really fun time with this. Definitely recommend!

This book was a fun read and expected twist towards the end but I really enjoyed how the character's storylines played out and everyone achieved the happily after in the end. Bit slow at the beginning but stick it out and you will be drawn into the world of being fake famous.

This was a charming novel for teens and young adults. There was no inappropriate content that I recall. While it does not fit in my classroom, it is one I will readily suggest for independent reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Skyscape for an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Red grew up on her family's farm in Iowa. She is the responsible eldest sibling- she did well in school, she works on the farm and in their store, she takes care of the youngest sibling- all the things everyone needs her to do. After a video of her falling into a pile of manure on the farm and then singing about it goes viral, she is approached by a pop sensation (to whom she bears a remarkable resemblance) with a deal that can help save the struggling farm. Can Red, a small-town farm girl, pull off a stand-in for the world's biggest star?

that's so fun and sweet romance book that i would recomend to any person who wants to read a light romance book
4/5

As soon as I saw that this book was by Dana L. Davis I knew I had to read it. I loved her last book and I also loved this one as well. The beginning was a little hard to get through but as the story moves along I quickly became sucked in and invested in the characters. Definitely a cute read I would suggest others check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

The book was overall fun to read. It was pretty fast pace which made it easier to get through. There were moments, however, where I would be pulled out of the book. The concept of the book was great and lent a hand to the fun reading of it, but I think it struggled in execution of the concept sometimes.

Thanks, Skyscape and Netgalley, for the arc!

This book is 100% me. Something I need when my pain is high; I don't want to concentrate, and I want to be entertained. It reminds me of when DComs were good back in the day. I could totally see FAKE FAMOUS being a DCom.

This book won't be for everyone. If you grew up watching DComs repeatedly, it's for you. If you love the cheesy books and movies where two different people switch lives, it's for you. It's not the next Great American Novel, but I think the author knew this because it's written with heart and a lot of fun, and that is what you have to go in expecting. Hence, I said this is the perfect book for me to read when I'm not feeling well to make me feel better.

Thank you to NetGalley and SkyScape for the eARC of this book! There are some spoilers in this review.

When I saw this book, I was super excited because I’ve loved the last two Dana L. Davis books I’ve read, but this one was just a bit disappointing. The good parts of the plot were overshadowed by details that absolutely did not need to be in the book, and the last section of the book felt rushed. The sections with Red and Koi were cute, but that was only a small part of the book.

I’ll start with what I liked about the book, since I did like it enough to give it 3.5 stars.

The relationship between Red and Koi was cute, and it felt like it developed organically, despite the speed of it. Though there was a patch at the end that felt like it came out of nowhere, especially since Koi should have known how NDA's and Zay-zay worked, there were more positives than negatives to it.

I also liked how committed Red was to her family, it felt like the stakes for her were pretty high, so her agreeing to Zay-zay's plan made sense. Even though the idea of a celebrity hiring a random stranger to pretend to be them does seem a bit ridiculous out of context, in the story it felt like it made sense and fit in. The plot was fun and the book was a pretty good form of escapism that was easy to get into and read quickly.

Now, for the less fun stuff. The subplot of Zay-zay seemingly neglecting her dog felt unnecessary and was bund of uncomfortable to read over and over again on top of that, there's a lot of mentions of Israel, including talking about it like a pretty holiday destination despite everything they've been up to recently, was something I was not a fan of. I thought most of the action happened in the last half, which I did enjoy significantly more than when everything was being set up for the first half.

Finally, the thing that pulled my rating down the most was the ending. Even though I got into the plot of the book, Red suddenly going back on her word, voiding a contract, and putting her  family at risk of being sued after one phone call from Koi felt out of character, and the way a bunch of characters acted at the end really ruined a lot of enjoyment for me.

All in all, this book was alright. There's quite a few pop culture references that'll probably age it in the future, and the few issues l already mentioned, but otherwise this book was fairly enjoyable. I've liked other books by the author much more, so l hope I'll enjoy her future work more.

Oh man, the beginning was rough. The first 15% was a real slog of farm talk and farm like that I just didn’t care about. Hopefully the rest is better! I love the premise (I’m always a sucker for the swapping identities trope), but I couldn’t get through the beginning. Ugh, I’m sorry!!

A cute “grass isn’t always greener on the other side”.

Red lives, eats and breathes farm life. Shes the oldest and natural wants to help everyone and takes on many roles in the family. Shes hoping the universe brings some excitement to her life and a way to help out her family.

Zay Zay Waters is young rich and famous but is looking for an escape from the all the eyes constantly watching her. She wants to find herself again.


Fast forward to Red taking Zay Zays place while she escapes to the literal jungle, or so we thought…

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I love the doppelgänger switch trope this book has! From the Lizzie McGuire movie to even It Takes Two with the Olsen Twins, I love books and movies where the MC’s switch places! This book was so very easy to follow. Light quirky, and fun! I am definitely recommending this cute read to my friends so they can pre order and prep their TBR lists for November accordingly, while I locate some other books by Dana L. Davis to start reading asap.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own,

Thanks to Netgallery and the publisher for this book. I might be too old for this young adult book because I didn’t get some of the references but it was overall an easy read. Red (small town girl) and Zay Zay (famous pop star) are doppelgängers who can both sing. Red thinks her future is just on her family farm. That is until Zay Say comes knocking on her door asking to swap lives.

This is a sweet story about finding yourself after a lifetime of taking care of other people.

The characters were very “over the top” at the beginning, and Red seemed to change her personality completely about 25% through when she calmed down a bit. There were also details that weren’t mentioned after they were introduced, and I saw a lot of inconstancies between Red acting as Zay that other characters should have noticed.

That aside, the store was very cute. The plot was pretty linear with little tension, and you could mostly anticipate what was going to happen, but that’s what’s part of what makes this book a relaxing read. If you’re looking for a short, sweet read, this is the book for you!

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

"Fake Famous" by Dana L. Davis offers a delightful premise that explores the collision of two worlds: a small-town Iowa farm and the glitzy realm of pop stardom. The novel introduces us to Red Morgan, a talented and down-to-earth farm girl who dreams of continuing her family's farming tradition. Her character exudes authenticity and relatability, making her instantly endearing to readers.

Zay-Zay Waters, the glamorous pop star, provides an interesting contrast to Red. As the story unfolds, we see the complexities of fame and how it might not be as fulfilling as it appears from the outside. The idea of Zay-Zay's plan to swap lives with Red adds an intriguing layer to the plot, setting the stage for a series of entertaining and potentially chaotic events.

The viral video of Red's singing in the mud and its resemblance to Zay-Zay is an attention-grabbing hook, and it promises to lead to a series of misadventures and hilarious situations as Red steps into the world of stardom.

The book's description hints at themes of identity, authenticity, and the pursuit of dreams. It appears to be a story of self-discovery and the clash between genuine passion and the superficiality of fame.

Overall, "Fake Famous" seems like a fun and engaging read with relatable characters and an exciting plot. It's likely to resonate with readers who enjoy stories about pursuing dreams, navigating fame, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

An interesting look at the retelling of "The Prince and the Pauper" in a modern era that focuses on the development of the self first and foremost that does not get stuck in social media tropes or "modernity".
While the conflict is somewhat manufactured and somewhat rushed, the messages and the clarity of the values expressed by the main character were useful for adolescents reading the book to uptake as their own.

Fake Famous was a really fun read. The storyline is maybe a bit far-fetched, but it's entertaining and the characters are engaging enough to make up for that. I'd definitely recommend it for any fan of teen drama books.