Reviews

Fake: A Startling True Story of Love in a World of Liars, Cheats, Narcissists, Fantasists and Phonies by Stephanie Wood

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

3.0

I read/listened to this and was pretty riveted. After falling in love with a man who elaborately lied about everything, journalist Stephanie Wood deep dives into the world of narcissists and liars. She joins her personal story with research from experts and the stories of many others and after hearing so many heartbreaking tales I am suddenly suspicious of everyone.

lids_84's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

3.0

What an interesting story, and sadly one that seems to happen a lot. It’s so sad the lengths people go to, to deceive others, making this story really heartbreaking. 

I did find it a bit slow in parts and I feel it could have been much shorter than it actually was, as at times it seemed to drag and go off on a bit of a tangent. I did love that Claudia Karvan reads the audio version will be interested to watch the tv interpretation 

noonanjohnc's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

natalie_mar's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

3.5

ldomo's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.75

Interesting story. Well written and researched. A little long

sophiemadgwick's review against another edition

3.0

This was different to what I expected and a bit slow at times. I don’t like the message the book ended on and I’m not sure the story needed to be a book.

charf47's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

emmakayokay's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

peita_hansen's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

melissa_bookworm's review against another edition

Not sure what to rate this seeing as it's someones terribly sad story of being betrayed by someone they trusted. It was very well told and researched, to be expected by a skilled journalist like Wood. If you liked the Showtime series "Love Fraud" or the show "Dirty John" you will probably like this (if liking is the right word here). It is almost unbelievable the lengths of deceit these people go to for little or no gain in the long term.