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jackieyvette's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was fine, but so blah. One of those books I'll forget about quicker than it took to read it.
All the plot lines were seen from a mile away.
Crying score: nope
All the plot lines were seen from a mile away.
Crying score: nope
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5 stars — alternately tense, funny, and poignant
This might be a good book for the older crowd that reads young adult anyway—this has the tone and some shared tropes with YA contemporary romances, but deals with the more adult issues of career/finances and aging parents. I really liked how the story took its time following the threads of all three major characters and their family dynamics.
other high points of the book for me:
- discussions about differing treatment/acceptance of visible mental illness between cultures (the main character and one major supporting character have depression and experience panic attacks)
- this conversation about the double standard of expecting non-politicians from certain foreign countries especially to publicly address political issues: "Do Canadian actors speak out against your own country's abuses?" "Not often." "Do you ever think about why we're responsible for answering for our government when they're not responsible for yours?"
Finally, on a personal note, I have beef with this author because the planner/organization app called Eppy that the MC develops in-book looks and sounds incredible but it (of course) is a work of fiction and I can't actually use it! (This is a joke. But I do want that app.)
a very incomplete list of content notes: anti-Chinese racism by unsympathetic characterss, racist bias (alternately toward or against, depending on the source) regarding mixed-race people; described unwanted sexual advances and past sexual assault
This might be a good book for the older crowd that reads young adult anyway—this has the tone and some shared tropes with YA contemporary romances, but deals with the more adult issues of career/finances and aging parents. I really liked how the story took its time following the threads of all three major characters and their family dynamics.
other high points of the book for me:
- discussions about differing treatment/acceptance of visible mental illness between cultures (the main character and one major supporting character have depression and experience panic attacks)
- this conversation about the double standard of expecting non-politicians from certain foreign countries especially to publicly address political issues: "Do Canadian actors speak out against your own country's abuses?" "Not often." "Do you ever think about why we're responsible for answering for our government when they're not responsible for yours?"
Finally, on a personal note, I have beef with this author because the planner/organization app called Eppy that the MC develops in-book looks and sounds incredible but it (of course) is a work of fiction and I can't actually use it! (This is a joke. But I do want that app.)
a very incomplete list of content notes: anti-Chinese racism by unsympathetic characterss, racist bias (alternately toward or against, depending on the source) regarding mixed-race people; described unwanted sexual advances and past sexual assault
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
amberlfaris's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault
historianvik's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I really enjoyed this book! The characters, the pacing, the voice, and the plot were all amazing. It was refreshing to have characters talk about mental health in very real ways. It was an easy book but incredibly enjoyable and satisfying! I would have enjoyed it better if it had a real sex scene and not a fade to black one. Although it did fit the tone of the book really well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Racism and Sexual assault
dez_blair's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage
alyanah's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Stand-In is dressed up as your typical switcheroo story - it has all the elements of a tried and true Hollywood romcom: the rich and famous look-alike, the sexiest man in the world, and the ordinary girl caught in the mix. However, underneath the guise of an outrageous plot, we get these incredibly real interactions between the characters. In fact, the most wild part of the book is the decision to switch places - everything that follows is made up of quiet, sincere moments between the three main characters.
My favorite parts of the book were the discussions and the development between the three main characters that felt really genuine. Although written as a rom-com, I loved that the book gave equal weight to Gracie’s relationship with Fangli as much as her relationship with Sam. This book takes on mental health, Alzheimer’s, and workplace harassment, and instead of using them simply as plot devices or mere footnotes, they’re grounded and discussed with sincerity and honesty. In no way did Gracie’s struggle with her identity as half-Chinese half-Canadian in the light of pretending to be Fangli, a Chinese superstar, ever feel forced. Especially when these doubts and insecurities played a part in her growing relationship with Sam, Fangli’s best friend and sexiest man alive.
My only issue with the book came in the beginning and the end. With any switcheroo plot, there’s always going to be an underlying doubt/skepticism of how realistic it really is. Although we did have Gracie questioning the whole thing, the buildup to the meeting was lil too far-fetched. As for the ending, I think it could have been more developed - I wish we had more information on what happens with Gracie, Fangli, Sam, and Gracie’s mom in the aftermath.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
My favorite parts of the book were the discussions and the development between the three main characters that felt really genuine. Although written as a rom-com, I loved that the book gave equal weight to Gracie’s relationship with Fangli as much as her relationship with Sam. This book takes on mental health, Alzheimer’s, and workplace harassment, and instead of using them simply as plot devices or mere footnotes, they’re grounded and discussed with sincerity and honesty. In no way did Gracie’s struggle with her identity as half-Chinese half-Canadian in the light of pretending to be Fangli, a Chinese superstar, ever feel forced. Especially when these doubts and insecurities played a part in her growing relationship with Sam, Fangli’s best friend and sexiest man alive.
My only issue with the book came in the beginning and the end. With any switcheroo plot, there’s always going to be an underlying doubt/skepticism of how realistic it really is. Although we did have Gracie questioning the whole thing, the buildup to the meeting was lil too far-fetched. As for the ending, I think it could have been more developed - I wish we had more information on what happens with Gracie, Fangli, Sam, and Gracie’s mom in the aftermath.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
giulsfloris's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
After losing her job, Gracie Reed accepts to work for a celebrity (Wei Fangli) as her dopplegänger since they look extremely alike. As she dives into the world of fashionable events and famous people, Gracie finds herself falling for Sam Yao, Fangli’s friend and co-star.
This story was a cute rom-com with a nice message. It was a fun read, but I had a bunch of issues with how some things were handled.
The slow-burn relationship wasn’t as slow as I would have hoped, but it wasn’t bad either. The story was mostly focused on more serious issues such as depression, anxiety and sexual harassment and I wasn’t necessarily expecting it. I would have loved to have less clichés and a pinch of originality, but the story was cute nonetheless.
Overall I do believe that this novel was exactly what I needed in order to get out of my awful reader’s block, but I also think that it could have been a bit better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
katielaine_w's review
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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Dementia
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
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