The Decoy Girlfriend | ARC Review

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.

This book was a dual pov with an awesome friend gang and a sweet angel man that is worth all the attention.

I loved all the characters in this book. Each one was unique and vibrant. They each had their quirks and eccentricities that made them oh so likable. Freya’s friends were supportive and crazy, as any good friend group is. And her Aunt Stori was also like a friend to that encouraged Freya’s romantic endeavors and made suggestive comments. And then there was Taft…

Taft is a literal angel. I could not have been more in love with this man if I tried. He was a golden retriever and I loved him so much for that. Every time someone was mean to him or ignored him, I wanted to instantly throat punch the person. He deserves every good thing in the world and I will protect him at all costs.

Freya and Taft’s romance was sweet. They liked each other from the beginning and they didn’t really hide it, but there was still some tension to spice things up. I particularly loved the photoshoot scene. And since the book was dual pov, I really got a good look into what Freya and Taft thought of each other and the logic behind their decisions.

I feel like Taft and Freya never talked about the deep stuff. I kept thinking they were going to talk about Taft’s daddy issues and Freya’s grief over her mother, but it never happened. We never even had a meet the parent/family between them. I would have liked it more if these things would have been discussed on the page.

Overall, I loved this book. I wished things could have gone a little deeper, but that didn’t stop me from falling in love with the characters and the story. Keep them coming, Ms. Vale!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating

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