Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Stand-In

It has been a long time since I last stayed up all night reading, but this was worth it. I was in desperate need of something light and fluffy and this did the trick. The writing is simple but smooth, and the plot was realistic. The author did a good job of creating believable motivations for the characters. The ending was meh, the

long lost sister

plot line was a little weak and silly for me. I loved the way she wrote about Toronto though, enough specifics that had me and I'm sure other locals smiling, but non-local readers won't be drowning in details. Overall, I found it to be little on the long side but a solid PG romance.

Content Warnings

lara_r's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

hayjay's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

fromthefoxhole's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Gracie is stuck - personally, professionally, and financially. Then a paparazzo mistakes her for Chinese actress Wei Fangli and she gets fired from her job. When Fangli pulls up next to her offering a lot of money to act as her public double, Grace knows this is her break, to guarantee her mother a spot in a better care center and to give her some space while she finds a new job.
Unfortunately, she's doing this with Sam Yao, Sexiest Man of the Year, who seems to take issue with her very presence. As she is posed, primped, and polished, Grace finds herself wrestling with both this role of a lifetime as well as her unwelcome feelings for Sam.

I had a blast reading The Stand-In! Gracie is painfully similar to me, like down to the lists and insecurities, so it was particularly refreshing and heartwarming to see her overcome the same things I'm working on. Her chemistry with Sam was delicious, and her relationships with Fangli, Anjali, and her mother were just as expertly written. I only really knocked a star because the whole miscommunication trope is not my vibe, but outside of that it's hard to fault!

Content Warnings

kyleethecatlady's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

thereadinghammock's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Picked this audiobook on a whim, because who doesn't love a free audiobook? I loved Phillipa Soo's performance narrating Gracie's over-the-top adventure as A-list Chinese actress Wei Fangli's body double while the actress performs in a Toronto stage play. Suffering from "exhaustion" Fangli feels she needs a break, and who better to make the required appearances in the city than this average Jane who just happens to look almost identical to her? What could go wrong?

Gracie is delightfully relatable. Just trying to get by, not feeling much direction in her life, and struggling to pull her life together, one failed task manager/to do list/organizer app at a time. Her skepticism is very warranted, but her need t prove Sam Yao wrong--that she CAN pull this off, is also something I can relate to as well. I appreciated the caregiver representation of Gracie's role in trying to care for her aging, and declining mother, suffering from dementia. That even during the height of her Fangli performance, she still makes time to go check in on her mother when she's having a bad day. I also thought the representation of mental health struggles, for both Fangli and Gracie was poignant and well handled. Everyone's journey is their own, but someone's bravery in sharing their story or path to progress can help inspire someone else to take the first steps.

I did NOT see the sisters plot twist coming AT ALL!! When I tell you I screeched in the car as Gracie started piecing the puzzle together. If I had been anywhere in public, people would have thought I was having a fit. I was also a little disappointed that the story was a closed door romance, as I am quite accustomed and look forward to the spice in my novels, however, I quite enjoyed the rest of the story, despite the glossing over of the sexy time between Gracie and Sam.

Content Warnings

readwithde's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

peachani's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

More...