I loved the premise of this book and had high hopes. However, this was one of the most boring books I've read in a while.

Unfortanley dnf’d.

I loved The Boys Club and it’s one of my favourite books of all time but this one didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This unfortunately was a DNF for me at 75%. I gave it a pretty good chance before ultimately deciding this book and author isn’t for me. I gave ‘The Boys’ Club’ three stars and this one was a DNF, so it’s time to say goodbye.

It’s not the writing that makes me turn away, it’s the very flat characters and a story that goes nowhere. I don’t have much to say about this one. The main character, Emma, made me cringe most of the time. She has this intense fear of fire, but the reason was not as horrifying as it should have been. She was so scared that she couldn’t paint fire in paintings if they had it. Not very believable.

Anyway, I don’t recommend it. If you absolutely want to read anything by this author, I’d choose ‘The Boys’ Club.’

Fake is a fast-paced story about an art forger who gets a little too caught up in the illegal side of things. The book is a page-turner with excellent characterization. Highly recommended!

While I didn't like this book quite as much as Katz's debut novel, it still had me staying up well past my bedtime to finish. It's full of complex characters and an in depth look into a shadowy world. I think it will definitely appeal to fans of The Boys Club.

This elevated Brain Candy (i.e. Brain Candy with substance) gives readers a look behind the curtain of the art world (which I'm not particularly interested in, but did find fascinating in this book) and has a suspenseful plot thread, but I wouldn't call it a thriller. Professional art forger (for museums and wealthy art patrons), Emma, gets an invitation from a wealthy oligarch that might be the solution she’s been looking for (money to care for her mother, a new life path), but this invitation has strings attached. Katz portrays the art world as one that takes itself seriously, but is often a mirage. She also explores the impact of social media and influencers on the art scene. Like she did in The Boys' Club, Katz captures what it's like to be thrust into a glamorous life, get caught up in it, and get burned and it reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada in this way. The mystery element worked well enough, but stay for the look behind the art world curtain.

The art world, copying, gallery setting was very compelling and enjoyable. I also appreciated the female friendships and the peek into IG influencer lifestyle. The thriller/suspense aspect fell a little flat for me but not enough to stop me from finishing. Thank you Netgalley!

I know next to nothing about art in general and even less about legitimate forgeries but I sure learned about it after this one. Emma specializes in recreating 19th century paintings and works on commissions for museums and collectors alike. While she enjoys her job well enough she’s always hoped to paint original work and be recognized for it. Leonard is a wealthy collector who takes an interest in Emma and offers her a job. Soon enough she’s living a glitzy life she only dreamed about and she’s making a name for herself as an art influencer and attending glamours events and making new powerful friends. Sounds amazing right? But you know right away that Emma is being interviewed by the FBI about her job so clearly things aren’t as picture perfect as they seem. I thought this one was pretty smart, if a bit predictable but I didn’t even care because it was entertaining and it introduced me to a whole new world. I did listen to the entire thing and highly recommend that, Andi Arndt is one of my favorite narrators, she’s fantastic! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy. This review will also be posted on my Goodreads page. Emma Caan is an art forger. She copies famous works of art for clients as her day job. There's a strict procedures for doing this to make sure that the copies aren't mistaken for the original. Emma is very good at her job. She attracts the attention of a wealth client of her company and before she knows it, favors are coming her way: a new job, better pay, but at what cost? Emma is soon embroiled in a controversy that could cost her.

I enjoyed this book- the descriptions of the artwork and even the descriptions of the physical aspects of painting a forgery including mastering matching brushstrokes was very interesting. I do wish there was a little bit more personality in Emma's character, and I do feel like she was very obtuse to not notice what was going on. Overall, I enjoyed this and will be recommending.

FAKE
Erica Katz Mystery/Thriller
Emma Kaan is an excellent art forger. Sometimes a little too good. She gets a little too involved in a scamming ring that she has no idea about. I thought this book was a little slow at first but when I got into it and the real action started happening I got to the point I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book for not just thriller readers but also any who loves the art world and some its dirty little secrets.

The main character of this book took us on a ride and a deep dive into the glamorous art world. I was very intrigue by this story line and wanted to know what would happen in the end, so it kept me hooked. I feel that some of the side characters were strong but some seemed to fade in and out of the story that you may forget about them or wonder what happened to them.

I really enjoyed Fake, by Erica Katz. It was exciting to be caught up in the high-life and low-life of art forgers and art galleries. This was a fascinating, well-written story about the rise and fall of one fictional art forger.

Thank you for an advance copy in exchange for review.

While I enjoyed reading about the art world, I'm not sure there's much reality depicted overall. I have to admit that the story stretched the limits of plausibility and the characters were mostly underdeveloped, with little revealed about their motivations in the story. The ending was just a bit rushed (with the resolution quickly/tidily wrapped up) as well. In other words, the author seemed to have partially developed a story but then left a lot unfinished.

Two main plausibility issues for me:
* The main character was much TOO naive, young, and inexperienced to have realistically be hired either by Lenny (the art collector) or by Frances (the gallery owner), let alone be thrust into their inner circles and given such authority. Even if so, that character could never become so immediately successful/popular, with no real struggles to fit in, perform their job well, etc.

* Social media angle was distracting and largely overblown. Said successful job performance is mostly due to social media use, all of which depends upon this character taking unauthorized photos of her workplace, copyrighted works of art, and of wealthy people and their property without consent. What high-profile gallery owner who loathes social media and controls all aspects of her gallery allowing this compulsive Instagram use? Why would an employer take that liability, especially when there's "JustJules," the social media influencer, lurking around anyway to post same images without your own employees' names attached to them?

This book was a fun exploration of the art world It was a page turner.and it kept me going. I really loved being immersed in the artworld and learning about forgeries.

This was a light and decently entertaining mystery, The art aspects were the best parts of the story by far. The main character is naive and not very likable. But overall a solid mystery.

The beautiful world of art, the glitzy wealthy movers and shakers and possibly flying too near the sun. But Emma’s life was magical and she was a delight to follow. But where there’s light, there’s dark; sometimes the shadows are places to be wary of too.

Emma Caan - Instagram handle gaining followers by the thousands - CaanArtist, has been wasting her Yale Art degree by copying painting for a New York firm who works with museums, private collectors, and the wealthy elite who hide the real art away in a free port to work around tax laws. Barely making ends meet in Manhattan, Emma is given a crazy, can't pass it up opportunity to work with Lenny, a billionaire collector who is majorly connected in the art world.
After getting a job at New York's top gallery, a rent-free loft, and private flights to Art Basel in Hong Kong, Emma is close to living the dream, but there is always a catch. Always.

Erica Katz tells the best New York stories - her descriptions of the art scene, social media, and identity are spot-on. There are so many ways to be fake, but how do we tell what's real? This is one of those stories that can be read at multiple levels - for pure enjoyment or to go into those deep dives into the existential waters surrounding our own little islands of the mind. SO good.

I thought this title was be similar to The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe, but was pleasantly surprised it wasn't! While I enjoyed Tedrowe's book, it was refreshing to be able to root for the protagonist and read about someone who is a pretty decent person.

I also enjoyed learning more about the world of art and art copying. For a documentary about art forgery that talks more about the art world as well, check out Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art on Netflix.

Emma Caan is passionate about art. While she dreams of having her original work, she is getting by copying famous artworks, spending days perfecting a Monet sunrise and Chagall’s stained glass colours. Soon enough, she meets Leonard Sobetsky, a client she copies high-end art for and the corridors of opportunities open up for her. Emma ends up with a high-profile job at one of the best art galleries in New York, rubs shoulders with the who’s who of the art fraternity and never looks back. Until one day, it starts to unravel and comes crashing down. Who is Leonard Sobetsky and what are his stakes?

I loved @ericakat’s debut novel and had been looking forward to reading Fake. As a writer, she conjures the world of her characters so well, immersing her readers like never before. From the galleries of Manhattan to art fairs in Hong Kong, Fake takes us on a journey into the world of high art, impressionist paintings, the rich and the famous and their affinity with opulence.

Her characters are complex, flawed and vulnerable, carrying a lot of baggage of the past and making peace with them as they move through their lives and dreams. Fake is about what happens when the veneer of sophistication and luxury fade away and real life comes knocking. Emma soon discovers that all that glitters here is not gold.

“Can you spot the difference?”

Emma Caan is an artist whose job is to copy famous paintings, stroke by stroke. The job is legitimate, but she would love to be painting her own work. One day, art collector Leonard Sobetsky asks to meet with Emma. He’s been buying her copied art for years, and wants to see the face behind the easel.

One thing leads to another, and Emma finds herself in a new job as the Assistant Director at Florence Wake Gallery, a prestigious gallery in New York. It’s a dream job that she never imagined. Working for Florence is hard work, and yet Emma also agrees to work for Leonard on the side.

The money is great. The parties are fabulous. Emma’s becoming an art influencer, and her Instagram following is high on the rise. It sounds like the perfect life…until Emma realizes that nothing comes for free. Before she knows it, she’s in way over her head.

This is an entertaining story that simmers with suspense, as we already know the FBI is interviewing Emma about her new job while she tells the story of her rise in the art world. Emma is fully fleshed out, with a backstory and her current story. Author Erica Katz has clearly done her homework in regards to the art world and specific art pieces and artists. I thought it might get a little dry, but the whole thing was interesting.

The ending felt a bit rushed, but otherwise wrapped up nicely. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read, but don’t go into it expecting twists and turns throughout. It’s pretty straightforward, but very well done and engrossing.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com