Review: The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale

The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale

Blurb from Goodreads:

A laugh-out-loud funny and whip-smart romantic comedy from the author of The Shaadi Set-Up, about a young woman who takes the place of her celebrity doppelgänger, and must fake-date the actress’s sexy costar boyfriend.

Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Her second novel is due in a month, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. Desperate to shake off her writer’s block, Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in some mistaken identity for simple perks, like scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub.

Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. But what nobody knows is that their relationship is a PR stunt, and after years of playing make-believe, he’s yearning for something real.

When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love. But as Freya and Taft play house, it becomes impossible to ignore that their instant chemistry isn’t just for the cameras. While faking it, they might have just found the real thing.

My Review:

 

This did not work from me, from the very first chapters.  I almost gave up a handful of times but I love this trope so much that I kept trying.  The plot is almost identical to The Stand-In, but not as good, which didn't help.  I wish I could point out what was so disappointing to me and I think it is Taft.  First, the name is ridiculous but, second, he was so all encompassing from the jump.  I felt like he was too obsessed with Freya from just seeing her in a bookstore.  I don't know, it didn't feel real to me. Hope you have better luck!

The Decoy Girlfriend comes out next week on September 6, 2022, and you can purchase HERE.  

"Next, I'd like to kiss you. Or you can kiss me. I'm not picky," says Taft. "And then I'll get up and make you a coffee because I'll always make a girl a coffee. I'll bring her fresh cups whenever she wants, and I promise not to push a tea agenda."