Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the digital review copy.
A wonderful book with an engaging plot, vivid characters, and enjoyable writing.
4.5/5
I loved seeing Red and her big character arc. Going from a sacrificial daughter to a girl who lives for herself. The side characters aka her family and then Aish and Randy were so well written. I loved the diversity of characters as well. And let’s not forget Koi, he is the person you can’t help but love. Zay Zay is quite a complex character herself. It's complicated. Cause one second you like her, the next you can't help but hate her and then you empathize and it's just messy but wonderful.
Even though the book’s plot in itself is something sort of a cliche, it always seems to hit the spot and this book did that beautifully.
This is a book about finding oneself and sticking to the ones that matter. It’s a message to all that you should live fiercely and not give up on things just because of your circumstances or situation.
(also idk why but the one thing i found an issue with was the subtle digs toward the asian pop industry? idk why but the way they were depicted did not sit right with me. maybe it’s something i misinterpreted but that’s how it sounded to me)
What a lighthearted YA read! I absolutely loved this book!! The writing was extremely descriptive, the characters instantly drew you in and maintained your attention. This will definitely be a popular read this fall.
Me ha parecido una lectura ligera y accesible. Al principio me costó un poco zambullirme en la historia pero una vez pasé las primeras 80 páginas me fui interesando más. Creo que es una buena lectura para el verano o épocas que necesitas un libro cute y divertido, La evolución de la protagonista me ha entusiasmado y me ha parecido un buen ejemplo para todas esas personas jóvenes que tienen miedo de defraudar las expectativas que han puesto sus padres sobre lo que debería ser su vida. Muy interesante también cómo aborda el tema de la fama y sus consecuencias negativas.
Me ha gustado la lectura!
This book sadly wasn’t it for me. It didn’t grab my attention at all. It might be the genre that was hard for me to get through
This book was so much fun to read. I managed to read it all in one sitting. I’ve been on a reading slump and this fun, interesting book really managed to get me out of it. The characters really made this story their own, and even if I wasn’t convinced by them at first I fell in love with them slowly. I would 10000% recommend this book to everyone and anyone!
"Fake Famous" truly had me captivated; it was practically glued to my hands! The story unfurls around Red, a modest farm-girl whose life takes an electrifying turn when a viral TikTok video tosses her into the limelight. People mistake her for none other than the famous singer Zay Zay herself! I was on the edge of my seat as I dove into this rollercoaster of unexpected events.
Red's resemblance to Zay Zay sets the stage for an exhilarating twist – a proposal from Zay Zay to be her stand-in for the week.
The book beautifully delves into the complexities of fame, identity, and the glittering world of glamour. The writing style is a true gem, drawing me in from the very first line. Watching Red evolve from an everyday girl into a near-celebrity was a journey that left me eagerly flipping pages. The novel's exploration of fame's highs and lows left me pondering long after I put the book down.
But what truly added a special flavor was the potential romance between Red and Koi, Zay Zay's faux fiancé. Their dynamic lent humor and an unexpected depth to the narrative, making me root for them as they navigated their unconventional connection.
Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend "Fake Famous" to anyone in search of a page-turner that packs a punch. It's a story that pulls you in and refuses to let go. The themes explored, the character dynamics, and the engaging writing style make this book a must-read. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
When going viral can change everything. Red Morgan is a down home girl. She lives in Iowa on her family’s farm. A chance viral video has Red face to face with one of her favorite singers, Zay Zay Waters.
ZayZay Waters has been performing since childhood. She sees a viral of a girl who can be her doppelgänger. This is the chance Zay needs to get away. Say comes up with a plan to get Red to take her place for a week. What could possibly go wrong?
Dana L Davis’ book about what happens when you get everything that you dream of in an instant. This story is entertaining and keeps coming back for more. The character’s show what happens when you step out of the shadow and dare to dream. I am hoping this becomes a series.
If you are looking to cozy up to a fun and lighthearted read, then Fake Famous by Dana L. Davis might be a book to pick up. While I don’t typically read within this genre, I could appreciate this book for what it was, a fun tale of switching places that gave off a very hallmark movie vibe in the best way possible.
The book follows the main character, Red, and her journey as she switches places with pop star sensation Zay-Zay Waters, going from a farm girl to music sensation, quite literally overnight. All the characters were enjoyable to read. Red was quirky, fun, and extremely loyal to her family. Aside from her, all the other characters shined in their own way as well. While the dialogue felt a bit corny at times, the romance between Red and her love interest was very cute and wholesome, which I found very refreshing. I also like that the romance took a back seat and the book focused primarily on Red’s own growth as a character, which I really appreciate. I will almost definitely be getting a hard copy of this book when it comes out. Thank You to NetGalley and Skyscape for an ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
This just didn’t do it for me, even though I’m in my 20s i often still like many YA novels but this one just felt more middle age than YA for me
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review
Fake Famous by Dana L. Davis was a light and refreshing read.
Honestly really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the characters, the writing and the story really kept my attention!
I felt this was a slow-burn but evenly paced. The writing was great and held my attention throughout the entire book.
This was a quick read that was charming and fun.
I loved how the characters had depth and the story arc was well done.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Thank You NetGalley and Skyscape for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
Fake Famous
By Dana L. Davis
November 7, 2013
Fake Famous is about Red Morgan who just graduated from high school. She could pass as Zay-Zay’s twin. But Zay-Zay is a famous pop singer and Red Morgan is a farm girl destined to stay on her family’s farm. Stardom is not all that glamours though. When Red is filmed singing and sounding exactly like Zay-Zay they devise a plan in which Red will pose as Zay-Zay.
I enjoyed this a lot.I loved Red, she was a great character. The relationship was great.
Thank you to Skyscrape and NetGalley for this review copy.
I’m DNFing this because it’s taking too long for anything to happen in it, and I’m bored of waiting for the romance.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little predictable but I did enjoy the fact that Red ever let the fame of taking over for Zay-Zay get to her head. She knew that what she was doing was helping her family even though she was putting herself in gossips way. I wish there was a bit more between the last chapter and the epilogue just to get more of that story but it was still a very cute book.
This was such a fun read. Getting to see things through Red’s eyes was a fun journey and I loved the ups and downs of the plot. I thought it was a really sweet ending and would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA and normal people in Hollywood plot lines!
This book was super fun to read! I loved the characters and the storyline a ton. There is a heavy amount of pop culture references, especially in the first half, which was a bit of a turn off. But at the halfway mark I didn’t notice them nearly as much and I got sucked in so deep that I finished the rest in one sitting! I really enjoyed my time with Red and the gang and loved that the epilogue was included. That felt very needed.
Fake Famous is your classic small town girl meets big city life, tale.
From the outset we are thrust into Red's sweet, hectic, farming family. It is wholesome and relateable.
Easy to read, fast paced and YA readers will thoroughly enjoy.
This book is a fabulous celebrity romp! “Fake Famous” has all the best parts of YA fiction: an endearing main character, an adorable romance, and a light, resolvable conflict. Red Morgan, our main character, is a beautiful execution of country girl in the big city. Watching her find her own identity outside of helping others over the course of the novel was sincerely heartwarming. I loved the insertions of celebrity and L.A. culture and how even the “villains” showed growth in the end. Though the fake dating romance without a doubt takes the cake for my favorite part of “Fake Famous”. If you like Cinderella stories or novels based in Hollywood BTS, I think you’ll really enjoy “Fake Famous”, which is out November 7th!
Before I begin this review, I want to thank Net Galley and Skyscape for allowing me to access Fake Famous before publication!
Fake famous is cheesy and fun. Nothing can compare to the chaos that is sure to ensue when a small-town girl steps into the place of a famous pop diva. This book was simply a cute read, so it was nothing complex and was easy to follow. It was fast-paced, though, and it felt like it only got faster toward the end of the book.
Red is a strong lead with a heart of gold. She cares deeply and has a habit of putting others above herself. By the time we reach the end of the book, Red has learned how to go after her dreams and do some of the things she wants to do rather than what she believes people want her to do.
While I liked Red, one primary trait I could not get past was that she couldn't hold a grudge. Red was treated poorly in specific parts and made several attempts to be on people's good side rather than stick up for herself. This is, of course, somewhat understandable, considering these are people with power, but I do wish we could have seen her more directly stand up for herself. The ending did make up for this, but even then, I have mixed feelings for all the other characters (except Koi! Koi was excellent and my favorite character out of the bunch!).
Regarding the plot, there was one situation with the dog in the book. It was unnecessary and added nothing to the story. The plot was also a bit rushed, especially towards the end, as I mentioned, but I loved the idea of a small-town farm girl replacing a pop star. It made for an exciting story and dynamic between the characters and setting.
The setting was also quite nice. I thought Davis did a great job showing the difference between life on the farm and inside the golden gates of Hollywood. I liked seeing how Red navigated both of these environments.
The overall writing style was not for me. Red's inner dialogue felt a bit off and the writing was too abrupt at times, but nothing major. With that said, the author did a great job of providing a writing style that was easy to read and take in.
Overall, this book was fun to read and I would definitely recommend anyone who loves YA! While this book had it flaws, I still found it quite enjoyable.
wow wow wow. oh my goodness. there are so many good things to say about this story! it was the perfect light refreshing summer read and i just loved the characters, the setting, and the twisty plot!
taylor thompson lee was a favorite of mine, and koi will be winning many best book boyfriend awards in the future. a ring pop proposal?? aaaaah.
my favorite thing about this book by far is Red. she doesn’t have the whininess that most ya protagonists unfortunately possess, and she has an insanely relatable case of eldest daughter syndrome. i love her.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is the first book I have read by this author. I have to say it did take me a little bit to get into the book. I did love Red those and she is just someone who knows what she wants and willing to take chances. To switch places with a famous person who happen to look like you and you sing like. It is crazy and kind of gives me Model Behavior vibes.