Thank you Harper Collins Canada for a copy of The Fake!

“A con artist walks into a grief support group. Chaos ensues.”

The Fake is for anyone looking for…
• Unreliable narrators and unlikeable characters
• Scammers, con artists, master manipulators
• Drama and toxic relationships
• Toronto setting

SYNOPSIS
After the death of her wife, Shelby is suffering from prolonged grief. She’s increasingly isolated, irritated by her family’s stoicism and her friends’ reliance on the toxic positivity of self-help culture. Then, in a grief support group, she meets Cammie, who gives Shelby permission to express her most hopeless, hideous feelings. Cammie is charismatic and unlike anyone Shelby has ever met. She’s also recovering from cancer and going through several other calamities. Shelby puts all her energy into helping Cammie thrive—until her intuition tells her that something isn’t right.
Gibson is fresh from divorce, almost forty, and deeply depressed. Then he falls in love with Cammie. Not only is he having the best sex of his life with a woman so attractive he’s stunned she even glanced his way, he feels truly known for the first time in his life. But Gibson’s friends are wary of Cammie, and eventually he, too, has to admit that all the drama in Cammie’s life can feel a bit over the top.
When Gibson and Shelby meet, they realize Cammie’s stories don’t always add up. In fact, they’re far from the truth. But what kind of a person would lie about having cancer? And what does it say about Shelby and Gibson that they fell for it? From the author of The Best Kind of People and The Spectacular comes a sharp, emotional novel about lies, liars and the people who love them.

REVIEW
The Fake was a quick, tense read! At 200 pages, it kept me entertained trying to figure out what our dear scammer is going to get into next and if justice will finally catch her. *Spoiler alert: it is not a HEA book* It is quite plot-driven, so if you like strong character development, this is not really it.
The Fake felt like it is based on a real person, and I can imagine a mutual friend telling me the same story about a charismatic colleague who turned out to be a con artist who is faking cancer and making their lovers pay for their bills. PLUS, this being set in Toronto adds a layer of realness for my fellow Canadian readers.
Overall, this was fun and reignited my love for unreliable narrators <3.

Zoe Whittall's novel, "The Fake," delves into the complex web of human emotions and relationships, exploring the thin line between authenticity and deceit. Set against the backdrop of grief and personal struggles, the story weaves a gripping narrative that challenges perceptions and exposes the vulnerability of its characters.

The protagonist, Shelby, is a portrait of prolonged grief, her pain exacerbated by the superficial positivity of self-help culture. Whittall masterfully portrays Shelby's isolation and inner turmoil, allowing readers to empathize with her. The introduction of Cammie, a seemingly charismatic and enigmatic figure, serves as a catalyst for change in Shelby's life. Cammie, who claims to be recovering from cancer and other adversities, offers Shelby an outlet to express her darkest emotions.

Gibson, another pivotal character, finds solace in Cammie's allure after a painful divorce. The development of Gibson's character is skillfully portrayed, showcasing his vulnerability and the allure of newfound connection. As Cammie weaves her way into both Shelby and Gibson's lives, the novel masterfully explores the intricacies of their relationships, building a sense of anticipation and unease.

Whittall's storytelling proficiency shines through her narrative structure, which alternates perspectives among Shelby, Gibson, and Cammie. This multifaceted approach allows readers to delve into each character's psyche, unraveling their complexities and insecurities. The gradual unveiling of Cammie's true nature keeps the reader engrossed, prompting a constant questioning of her motives and actions.

"The Fake" is a thought-provoking exploration of human fragility, emotional manipulation, and the power of deception. Whittall deftly navigates the blurred boundaries between truth and falsehood, eliciting a rollercoaster of emotions from readers. While some plot elements may be predictable, the author's skillful execution ensures that the narrative remains engaging and compelling.

SPOILER ALERT??




THE FAKE by Zoe Whittall is a story told from three points of view. First we are introduced to Cammie who presents her case and asks the reader whose story they would believe. One of the other narrators is Shelby. Shelby becomes friends with Cammie when they meet in a support group for people who are grieving. Recently, Shelby has lost her wife, Kate. Shelby misses the support and stability Kate’s personality provided. Reaching out to the support group is Shelby’s first step in trying to cope with her emotional pain. At the support group, Shelby meets Cammie who is an outgoing and open individual. Attracted to her magnetic personality Shelby and Cammie quickly become friends.
Now separated and soon to be divorced from his wife Veda, Gibson is living on his own.
After a night of indulgence at a bar, Gibson realizes the next morning he came home with one of the women who worked at the bar, Cammie. Gibson can hardly believe the intensity of their physical encounter and why a woman as gorgeous as Cammie is interested in him.
As Shelby’s and Gibson’s relationship with Cammie starts to intensify things happen that lead both of them to become suspicious of Cammie and the stories she has shared with them.
I liked THE FAKE. The story and the characters were engaging. The suspense was very much present throughout the novel. I suppose the question the reader wants answered is: Was Cammie a fake? Not to spoil anything but I’m not sure myself. Personally I think this makes for great storytelling since it keeps you thinking about the story.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital edition of THE FAKE by Zoe Whittall.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a good read. Quite enjoyable writing style and interesting story to follow

— ‘there are worse things than telling a lie.’

to be honest, this is a pretty forgettable book. it wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t awful, it was just… fine.

I’ve been having this problem lately where I can’t seem to connect with any characters I’m reading about, and I’m not sure if that’s a book problem or a me problem. the deceit in this book is insane. and maybe that’s a turnoff for me because it really just gave me the ick the entire time. the characters were weak. like I mean, weak in the mind. is that mean? whatever, I said what I said 😅

thank you to Harper Collins for gifting me this review copy of THE FAKE.

When I saw that Zoe Whittal had a new novel coming out, I was immediately excited. I read her debut Bottle Rocket Hearts a long time ago in university and was looking forward to picking up something else by her. I'm always interested in picking up works from local writers, and I can't understand why I have not read her other novels yet.

The Fake grabbed my attention right from the beginning with it's in medias res opening. Whittall has a real talent for fleshing out characters. All of them feel solid and authentic. Even in a rather short book (200 pgs), she exceeds in this.

The story is told through the viewpoints of Gibson and Shelby, who fall in with Cammie. In multiple point of view stories you invariably come to prefer a perspective over others, and sometimes you come to tire of one. This is not the case here. I was invested in both of their stories and was always looking forward to their respective chapters.

The claustrophobia of Shelby's mind took a toll on me and made me empathize with her greatly. The pain when Carol Jo choses Cammie's well-being over Shelby's, the betrayal Shelby feels towards the grief group as they let her down for a fake griever was so frustrating. I felt that betrayal like a slap in the face!

I would highly suggest this book to someone who is looking for strong characterization and those who are interested in following how relationships develop between people (both romantic and platonic). I only wish that the conversations between the characters were more elaborate. They left me wanting more.

Thank you Zoe Whittall, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was a tough read for me because I really felt for Shelby and Gibson, both of whom are genuinely kind-hearted and end up getting taken advantage of by the manipulative Cammie. Shelby is already struggling with mental health issues when her wife suddenly dies, leaving her to cope with the pressure from friends and family to get back to her old life. She meets Cammie in a bereavement group, and while Cammie helps her out of her rut, she ends up taking advantage of her kindness. Similarly, Gibson, who is recently divorced and struggling to adjust, falls for Cammie's charms and ends up in a similar situation. While it was frustrating to see them being taken advantage of, I appreciated the realistic portrayal of how even nice people can fall for scams. However, the ending left me unsatisfied as I felt that they could have stood up for themselves more against Cammie's emotional abuse. Overall, this book is a poignant reminder of the importance of standing up for oneself, even when it's difficult.

⚠️TW: toxic relationship, gaslighting, toxic friendship, cancer, death, suicidal thoughts, addiction, physical abuse, self harm

Cammie is a con-artist. She's really good at manipulating people into feeling sorry for her. She joins a support group and feeds them stories of how hard things are for her. Shelby, who has just lost her wife, is taken in by her lies.
Cammie meets Gibson. He has just freshly divorced and is trying to get back into the dating game. Cammie is beautiful and Gibson falls hard for her.
I'm sure we have all met a Cammie, sometime in our lifetime, that takes advantage of vulnerable people.
Both Gibson and Shelby are really nice people. They didn't deserve Cammie.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It was an interesting read.
I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Title: The Fake
Author: Zoe Whittall
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: March 21, 2023

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Unexpected • Tense • Messy

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In the aftermath of her wife's death, Shelby is barely functioning in her grief. Her friends and family are continuously feeding her toxic positivity, which has lead to her isolating herself. At her grief support group, she meets Cammie, who allows Shelby to express her deepest, darkest feelings. With Cammie's help, Shelby starts feeling pieces of her life return. Until one day her gut tells her that something is amiss.

Gibson is still reeling from his recent divorce, and finds himself deeply depressed. When he meets Cammie at the bar one night, a whirlwind romance ensues, and Gibson feels truly known for the first time in his life. When her introduces her to his friends, they are wary and he, too, starts to question all the drama in Cammie's life.

When Gibson and Shelby meet, they realize Cammie’s stories don’t always add up. In fact, they’re far from the truth. But what kind of a person would lie about having cancer? And what does it say about Shelby and Gibson that they fell for it?

💭 T H O U G H T S

Zoe Whittall was born in my small town, and despite not knowing her personally, I still feel a sense of connection to her roots and want to support her literary endeavors. For that reason I was interested in her 2023 release, The Fake, which also had one of the most intriguing premises I have come across for new releases.

At times this novel reads somewhat like a thriller, fraught with tension and suspicious behaviour, that I thought (on numerous occasions) there would be some big revelation. Unfortunately, that is not the case. In all honesty, not a heck of a lot actually happens and there is no real denouement. Instead, what this literary novel does is dig deep below the surface into the intricacies of human relationships and connection. Of course, that is where the real value is - in reflecting on why we connect with the people we connect with? Additionally, there is a great deal of focus on mental illness and mental health, which I commend the author for handling with care in most cases. (There is definitely some insensitive language use that could have been avoided).

When it comes to the characters, none of them are overly likeable. And that may just be because there was so much room for more character development, and certainly more space for getting into each character's story. I did feel empathy for Shelby as I, too, know the depths of partner death. Some of the sections talking about grief were extremely well penned. By the time I got to the end, I was left wanting to know so much more about Cammie - her background, her motivations, her reason for being the way she is, that I was left slightly unsatisfied.

Unfortunately, the synopsis gives away too much of the central plot. In my opinion, it would have better not knowing Cammie is a con artist from the get go, as this would have allowed more of an unveiling. It is certainly a quick and interesting read, which offered me quite a bit to reflect on, but at the end of the day it just didn't blow me away.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone looking for a book with mental health rep
• readers who enjoy books filled with lies

⚠️ CW: mental illness, depression, anxiety, PTSD, agoraphobia, panic attacks/disorders, toxic relationship, toxic friendship, death, sibling death, death of partner, grief, suicide, suicidal thoughts, self harm, sexual content, cursing, gaslighting, cancer, miscarriage, addiction, drug use, divorce, adoption, homophobia, infidelity, vomit, kidnapping, physical abuse

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"It's the unknown that is truly frightening."

"There is freedom in a new friend while you're grieving. There's no expectation that you'll return to who you once where; they never knew that person anyway."

"Everyone pretends that their reality is the only one."

I really enjoyed this read. It was so very Canadian and I adore books like that. This was such a fascinating portrayal of such a flawed individual. I wish there was just a smidge more to flesh out what Cammie was doing before Gibson and Shelby figured her out. I also really wish she was caught but I understand why she wasn’t. It feels realistic and devastating. I loved the writing. I will immediately read the two books I already own of hers.

I keep attempting to read Whittall without success. She is a talented writer but somehow I just can’t warm up to her plots and characters. They are well-developed but not for me.

A really enjoyable read. I loved the setting being Toronto which is a city I am very familiar with. So many of the locations I could recognize and picture. The characters felt so realistic and I wanted to consume the book as fast as possible to see if they would confront Cammie. I found this a really thoughtful book as well with a lot of empathy toward trauma, mental health and just overall sadness. How these things can cause different reactions in people and different coping mechanisms. Definitely one I recommend picking up.

I deeply enjoyed Whittal's 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 (released and read in 2016), so you can imagine my anxious anticipation to pick up her newest release. Sadly, this read like it was written by a completely different author.

Being mistaken as a thriller in more early reviews than I can count, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒌𝒆 is actually consistent with the authors' usual narrative: a multi-perspective account of characters dealing with contemporary and realistic issues like grief, loss, mental health and interpersonal relationships. The addition of a scam artist, and inevitably, themes resembling a thriller storyline, just made this one feel more forced rather than genuine for me. I would have liked to see it (the scam) be a catalyst early on, instead of the driving force of the entire book–it didn't add intrigue, just annoyance.

I felt like both the characters and I were strong-armed into suspending our beliefs about Cammie (the con-artist's) intentions and then told to react and deal with it realistically and calmly, but none of it felt purposeful? The amount of exposition in here took away from an opportunity to help us truly understand the characters, especially Cammie, which may have been the point, but ended up painting her as an entitled gnat rather than a possibly misunderstood butterfly–it made ALL of the characters feel as relatable as cardboard cutouts.

Two people hurting from loss + 1 con artist ready to take advantage of them = a super interesting and fun novella called The Fake by Zoe Whittall.

The Fake involves Shelby, whose wife has just died, and Gibson, who just went through a divorce. Enter… Cammie. Shelby and Gibson don’t know each other but Cammie makes sure they each know OF each other and kind of pits them against the other to garner more sympathy and attention from Shelby and Gibson. She’s a master emotional manipulator and it’s really interesting to see how this plays out throughout the novel.

At just over 200 pages, it’s the perfect length for this story! I loved this one and couldn’t get enough!


Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollinsca for my ARC of this one!

The Fake by Zoe Whittall is a sad, while engrossing novel about a pathological liar/con artist who takes advantage of good people going through hard times.

An interesting story from a psychological perspective

This is a rapid review as I had read a fellow librarian's ARC and was waiting to see it pop up on NetGalley and be approved for it.

Synopsis: (it will help for this title as it is very twisty)
**************************************************************************
A con artist can make you feel like the luckiest person on earth just to be in their presence. But when the jig is up, they ghost, and you’re left wondering if you ever mattered

After the death of her wife, Shelby feels more alone than ever—until she meets Cammie, a charismatic woman unafraid of what anyone else thinks and whose own history of trauma draws Shelby close. When Cammie is fired from her job and admits she is in treatment for kidney cancer, Shelby devotes all her time to helping Cammie thrive. But Shelby’s intuition tells her there are things about Cammie’s past that don’t add up. Could the most real thing about Cammie be that she’s actually a scammer?

Gibson is almost forty, fresh from a divorce and deeply depressed. Then he meets and falls in love with Cammie. Suddenly, he’s having the best sex of his life with a woman so attractive he’s stunned she even glanced his way, and for the first time ever he feels truly known. This is the kind of desire and passion that musicians have been writing love songs about for centuries. But Gibson’s friends are wary of Cammie, and eventually, he too has to admit that Cammie’s dramatic life can feel a bit over the top.

When Shelby and Gibson find out Cammie is a pathological liar, they struggle to understand what they really want from her—sometimes they want to help her heal from whatever causes her to invent reality, and sometimes they want revenge. But the biggest question of all is: how honest can Shelby and Gibson be about their own characters?

This is quite the book: we all know pathological liars (whether we admit to it or not) but Cammie just goes too far, romantically with both a woman and a man! The book is twisty and turny and the ending satisfying: I will recommend it to my readers who would be interested in it as it is a wonderful book...I just have to watch my audience as I have a lot of clients who would not appreciate the LGBTQIA aspect of at ALL...hey, to each their own.

#shortbutsweetreviews

This book is well written, as per usual, but I didn't connect with the story as much as I did with the author's previous two novels.
Con artist Connie goes through life taking advantage of people and lying her way to get what she wants. That is until Shelby and Gilford, her latest victims get together and try, for the last time, to come to her rescue. They thought by appealing to her from a good, honest place, they could help her. But their intervention fails, and they have to accept that Connie is who she is and move on with their lives.
Whittall's writing style is raw and poetic. She has a way of making you feel emotions while reading as if you’re living inside the story she’s telling.
I hope I’m explaining it well, because not many authors can achieve this way of reaching their audience. It’s a gift, and she’s got it.
I recommend any of her books, although my favorite is the Best Kind of People.

Delighted to include this title in the March edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction, for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

This was such an wild read.
It's a heartbreaking read that has you really feeling for Graham and Shelby and how easily Cammie was able to take advantage of them in their vulnerable states.
Cammie's character was so well written, her lies and deception were so quick witted and easy that it kept the story interesting. I found myself struggling to put it down and dying to know when the lies would blow up.
Graham and Shelby navigating their recent life changes and grief is so real and relatable - it really paints a picture and perspective of life and all the curveballs that come our way.
Edit Review

I just devoured this book.

THE FAKE by @zoe_whittall takes place in Toronto and is about Gibson, who is recently divorced and Shelby, whose wife just died. They both come into contact with Cammie, a young, charming, beautiful, and troubled woman and drama ensues.

Whittall's writing is so full of tension and sharpness and she is such an expert storyteller. Her portrayals of mental illness are so powerful, empathetic, and rich. With heavy and meaningful themes of grief, connection, and what it means to tell the truth, THE FAKE still manages to be a really fun romp that has you holding your breath for what's next.

It comes out this March and if you're looking for a well-crafted, quick read about people it feels good to root for, this is a great pick. Thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsca for the ARC!