DNF: 33%

I fell for a cute cover and an interesting synopsis.

Unfortunately, that's where my kind words stop. I tried to keep going with this one because I love stories set in the art world. The final straw was when Veri and Tate were in the car heading to an auction and the narrative says 'Here's a list of things they talked about' and followed with AN ACTUAL NUMBERED LIST. It wasn't quirky. It was long and lazy and unbelievable.

There were other issues that annoyed me prior to that point, too. Veri reads young -- which is good because she just graduated from college -- but sometimes she comes across as too young. She's also naive in a way that's convenient for the plot and not in a way that feels true to her character.

All the other characters felt like caricatures. And they were clearly only there as plot pieces, not as characters we were meant to care about.

The sense of place was off, too. I live in NYC so I might be more sensitive to it but it didn't feel like the author knew the city. If Veri is shopping her portfolio around to different galleries, she wouldn't be up around 78th St. There's like one or two up there -- most of the art galleries are in Chelsea. It needed more research, probably into the art world, too, though I didn't get far enough to notice.

The story might have some hidden potential but it needs work. I'm disappointed because I was truly excited by this one.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

First, I love the name Veridian and the nickname Veri. This was a quick, fun book. I don’t know much about the art world so I enjoyed that aspect. I also liked the twist which I have to admit I didn’t see coming.

A delightful story of a struggling art school graduate who accidentally gets involved in something criminal. The characters are interesting and you root for them to figure things out. Some interesting twists toward the end and a bit of an open ending to leave room for a continuation to the story.

I had so much fun reading Veridian Sterling Fakes It by Jennifer Gooch Hummer! Definitely a quick read that is very interesting with some twists that I honestly never would have seen coming.

Recently graduating from Rhode Island School of Design, Veridian has no clue how to break out into the art scene. That is, break out into the scene without absolutely selling her soul or knowing the "right people". Veridian begins working at a gallery as a personal assistant for the Miranda Priestly of the art world. While working, she hears about a pretty hefty finders fee for a lost Van Gogh and decides that may be the ticket to solving her financial troubles. Her "in" to find this Van Gogh is to use the talent she has for copying other artist's works, but she soon gets tangled in a bit more than she meant to.

I was laughing throughout the entire book even though some of it seemed a little far-fetched for me. At times this read a little slow and Veridian, our main character, is not the most likable. However, I feel like that makes her more real and lends credibility to all of the insane things she does on her journey to this missing Van Gogh.

An enjoyable and incredibly humorous read that I would recommend! I would love to read more from Hummer.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

Interesting book about the world of "fakes" art. I enjoyed the read and the reflection it brought me about this original subject.You want to keep reading to find out what will happen. I gave only 3 stars because it didn't totally impressed me, but it was a nice reading. Thank you Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book but it just wasn’t for me . I felt it was to slow
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

First, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me a copy of this book.
This book was definitely an entertaining read but I wasn't particularly fond of any of the choices the MC made. She'd be given an opportunity, reject and ridicule it and then accept it over and over. It was a little tiring. I wasn't too crazy about things CONSTANTLY going wrong for the MC especially in the first half of the book. The plot twists at the end were pretty shocking and I only managed to guess one of them. I also loved the general concept although I think it could've been better.

I had high hopes for this book but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The idea of a young painter getting mixed up in art heists sounded cool, but the story didn't live up to my expectation.

The plot was kind of predictable and the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. Veri seemed more like a caricature than a real person, so it was tough to connect with her. Plus, the pacing felt rushed and the writing didn't really grab me.

All in all, the book had potential but just wasn’t my cup of tea.

“Veridian Sterling Fakes It” by Jennifer Gooch Hummer is a vibrant and humorous tale that plunges readers into the world of art heists and forgery, where a young painter finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and deception.

Fresh out of the Rhode Island School of Design, Veridian Sterling dreams of showcasing her art in prestigious New York galleries. However, reality hits hard when she lands a job as a personal assistant instead of an artist. With financial pressures mounting and her mother’s dreams hanging in the balance, Veri overhears a conversation about a lucrative finder’s fee for a lost Van Gogh painting. Determined to help her struggling family, she decides to use her talent for copying art to uncover the painting.

As Veri delves deeper into the world of art theft and forgery, she catches the attention of a renowned art dealer and finds herself drawn to his charismatic driver. But as she navigates this dangerous new world, Veri realizes she may be in over her head and involved with the wrong people. With her reputation, her mother’s aspirations, and her own future on the line, Veri must use all her cunning and artistic skills to untangle herself from the mess she’s unwittingly created.

Jennifer Gooch Hummer delivers a compelling narrative filled with twists and turns, blending art history with contemporary intrigue. Veri’s journey from struggling artist to reluctant accomplice is captivating, and her determination to set things right drives the story forward. “Veridian Sterling Fakes It” is not just a story of art and deception but also a poignant exploration of family, ambition, and the lengths one will go to for love and redemption. Hummer’s witty prose and engaging storytelling make this novel a delightful read for anyone drawn to tales of art, mystery, and personal growth.

This is written in a lighthearted whimsical style and reminded me just a little of Stephanie Plum and the likes. And the quote to start the book sums it up perfectly. "Exaggerate the essential, leave the obvious vague." - Vincent Van Gogh I am not sure this is in the vain of a highly researched art world heist book, but it is a fun fictional slice of it.

I loved the New York City setting for a book centered around art. I was also intrigued by the art world both the legit and the shady side of it. I went back and forth on what I thought of Veridian. At times her choices drove me a little nuts, but her quirky and free spirited ways fit the humor in the story.

There are some unexpected surprises as Veridian works to solve not only her problems but track down the missing painting.

Emily Lawrence did a great job of picking up the tone and vibe of the book. The humor, the suspense, the more serious parts. She made it an even more fun escape.

It's a little bit of a mystery, a little bit of a romance, a little bit of finding yourself and quite entertaining.

Veridian Sterling Fakes It by Jennifer Gooch Hummer was a slow moving story.
I enjoyed the opportunity to read it.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A book about the art world set in New York? Count me in! Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of a disappointment than a delight.

Veridian, the lead character, wasn't exactly the most likable; she came off as another try at portraying that relatable, awkward girl, but it just didn't hit the mark and ended up feeling dull. It's safe to say her only real talent seemed to be weaving lies. None of the characters were interesting or memorable.

While the character issues could have been addressed, it was the numerous plot problems that really pulled me out of the story. I was intrigued by the concept of a light-hearted, lower-stakes mystery, but it felt like that wasn't the author's intention. Instead of feeling the intended tension for Veridian, it seemed like the author was uncertain about the direction of the book. The "fake art" subplot, which is hinted at in the title, was barely touched upon in the first half, leaving little to engage with. Essential elements that make a mystery compelling were missing, and the story might have been more fitting in a different genre. Alison and her boyfriend's storyline? Phoebe and Derek? They both felt like unfinished puzzles that added nothing to the plot. Honestly, we could’ve done without it.
As for the ending, it left me conflicted—was it supposed to be a cliffhanger? Perhaps there's another book in the works?

I won't go into more detail about all the plot holes to avoid spoilers, but the story felt quite random and disjointed. Overall, it was a decent read and somewhat enjoyable, but it's likely something I'll forget about in a few days.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Devil Wears Prada meets the uncovering of an art heist and the works of art criminals in Jennifer Gooch Hummer’s ‘Veridian Sterling Fakes It’

Veridian Sterling, a recent art graduate, constantly fails to get any galleries agree to show her work, until an old friend of her mother’s agrees to hire her as an assistant to her gallery. Although this job gives Veri lots of heartache because of her hard-to-please boss, it leads her into getting caught up in finding a lost Van Gogh, creating fake artworks, and becoming further engrossed into the secrets of the art world.

I enjoyed this book, mostly because of its interesting themes of art heists and the facts behind them, but also because this book was a fun, short and easy read! This book did what it needed to do for me, and I’m grateful.

My only problem was how questionable the actions were of the main character, Veridian. Veri was very (get it?) stubborn and anxious, as a result of other characters, making her do some questionable things in the book that I didn’t think contributed to the plot or any character development.

Other than that, I wish we got to hear more of how talented Veri was and maybe a bigger backstory on her mother’s life. I found all the other characters’ personalities and purposes in the story very diverse, from the British love interest to her rude boss to the mysterious art dealer.

I’m curious to see what Veri’s new life would be like after the end of this book, as the author did leave this book off with the chance of a new plot for a second book.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book!

A bit of mystery, a bit of comedy, a light, short fun novel. Veridian Sterling, (watch for cute wordplay on the Very, very). is a young painter, a graduate of RISD, trying to get her foot in the door of the art world. She is very talented in copying Old Masters paintings and has her own style of oils, the Walking Out series where people are seen exiting the canvas.

There is also an abusive gallery owner to dislike, a sacrificing mother and a hot Brit-speaking love interest and a cool best friend. None of the characters are particularly real, but the tale is engrossing enough to keep you reading. Many non-Gen X readers may be somewhat confused by references to non-fungible assets, blockchains, and bitcoin-type cryptocurrency.

Thank you, Net Galley, and Lake Union Press for the ARC copy of this novel.

Overall a fun read. Veri is a good character and the story is engaging. There were a few issues that made things really implausible that I found irritating (just WHY go through all that rather than just ask??). But decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I was expecting this to be much better than it was. The first half was entirely forgettable and some of that completely unnecessary. (particularly the entire bit about the passport) I was hoping for more from Veri but she turned out to be, basically, a really good liar. She lied about everything, to everyone. What was up with Allison and her boyfriend? Why even create a boyfriend? That went nowhere. And for the most part, I wouldn't even call this a mystery. Most of what happens, you'll figure out for yourself, yet the "mystery" and reveals don't start happening until 80% in. Was this trying to be White Collar? Harriet the Spy becomes an artist? Whatever, it failed. I'm guessing this is a set-up for a series but I'm not sure I would continue. It wasn't bad by any stretch, which is why I give it 3 stars, but I don't think I would read another.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I just felt bored throughout and I couldn’t connect with the main character.

I hope others love this one!

I love stories about art, art heists, and forgeries and this included a bit of all three. It also included a reference/scene to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, the largest art theft in history, that I find fascinating and have read a book about. What made this book extra fun and unique was the charming character of Veridian. Side note: The way art enthusiasts immediate knew her name as a color was brilliant. Veri is trying to make a name for herself in the art world, but a snowball effect of challenges thrust her into a shady area and the twists just keep coming. The secondary characters are delightful and provide an extra dose of amusement. The narrator, Emily Lawrence, is fabulous and I love the energy she brought to the audiobook.

Overall a good story, but must admit I skimmed a bit now and then. Still though I liked the book and would recommend it.

Veridian Sterling is a young artist fresh out of the Rhode Island School of Design. She thought she’d come right out of RISD and start showing her work, but every gallery she visits turns her down. In the meantime, she takes a position as a personal assistant to a diva gallery owner. After she overhears her new boss talking about a hefty finder’s fee for a lost Van Gogh painting, a cash-strapped Veri finds herself embroiled in the world of counterfeit art.

Take an art heist caper, mix it with lightheartedness and a dash of The Devil Wears Prada, and you’ve got the recipe for Veridian Sterling Fakes It. Although the overall topic is a serious one (and Hummer has clearly done her research!), the overall tone is breezy and engaging and makes for a quick read. I enjoyed learning about fake artwork and was amused when the narrative poked fun at terrible “art” (hello, F word paintings) and the sometimes pretentious nature of the art world. In terms of characters, Veri is likeable but extremely naïve, and the supporting cast of characters is quirky and interesting. This could make a great series!

Many thanks to NetGalley, BookSparks, and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.