The Fake

Cammie is a con artist who has honed her craft well. She knows essentially who is an easy mark for her to con and she puts herself in the right places to meet them. She has a somewhat complicated past of her own which has sharpened her survival skills and made her able to justify her actions. Some people just truly believe they should have whatever they desire and other people are simply a means to obtain those things.

I truly liked reading something a little different. Everyone here is flawed to different degrees. Gibson is recently divorced and lonely. Shelby recently lost her wife and is also lonely. They are both unfortunately vulnerable to a con like Cammie. This is an interesting character driven story and wraps up like it probably would in real life. The beginning of the story leads the reader to believe the story is going a slightly different direction than it does. The genre here is fiction and NOT a thriller, so I’d say it’s definitely labeled appropriately.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousepublishinggroupballantine for an early copy of The Fake.

I read this book in one night. Did not want to put it down, did not want to stop reading.

The Fake tells the story of Cammie, a compulsive liar and con artist, and the two (kind, lovely, sad) people she messes with and cons.

It was so fun reading a story set in Toronto where I used to live, especially in my old neighbourhood. This novel was hard to read at times because the scammed, particularly Shelby, are good people in extremely vulnerable positions who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.


Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the arc.

I could definitely see how this would be an interesting read, but all the elements just didn't click for me. I would have loved a little more fleshing out from everything, and a more satisfying ending, but it wasn't a bad book! It just wasn't for me.

I read an early review of this book and immediately looked for a way to review it myself. I went into it with pretty high expectations, but thankfully it did not disappoint! The Fake follows Cammie, a scammer, who plays on the emotions of Shelby and Gibson. There were parts of that were hard to read, of course, but it was fascinating to see how Cammie went about things. The writing was great and really drew me; I found myself almost inhaling sections of this book trying to find out what was going to happen. Whittall did a fantastic job with this premise. I'll be looking forward to more books by this author!

This book was so entertaining! We all know someone like this and most have been taken advantage of. This was a beautiful way to look at these type of people.

The Fake by Zoe Whittall is a fun book about a gifted con artist and two people who fall (and keep falling) for her pathological lies. I kind of wanted to throw my kindle across the room several times, but in a good way. The Fake is the perfect book to take on vacation and devour while sitting poolside and day drinking. Definitely enjoyed!!

This is kind of a hard book to read because Shelby and Gibson are nice people, and it’s their niceness that has them being taken in by the con artist Cammie.

Shelby had already been struggling with mental issues like hypochondria and occasional bouts of agoraphobia when her wife abruptly dies. Now her friends and family (who continue to call Kate Shelby’s “friend”—as in, “why can’t she get over the death of her friend?”) are ready for Shelby to go back to work and return to normal. The only reason Shelby is keeping it together even a little is to take care of their dog. Finally, she takes the advice of friends and goes to a bereavement group where she meets the effervescent Cammie, who finally pulls her out of her rut. Shelby doesn’t mind helping Cammie out with money and the occasional place to stay.

Gibson is recently divorced and living in an apartment decorated only with the boxes he can’t seem to unpack when he meets Cammie in a bar. Having unbelievable sex after such a long dry spell brings him back to the land of the living. He doesn’t mind helping Cammie out with money and the occasional place to stay.

They finally figure out that very little of what Cammie says has any bearing on the truth. For me, the ending was not satisfying. Niceness is great, but there comes a point when standing up against yourself against emotional abuse is more admirable. They start to stand up for themselves, but they really outdo themselves trying to continue to help her.

NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this novel.

Another scammer grifter novel with some fun new twists. An easy and quick read that opens and closes with Cammie's POV (the reader can ultimately decide if she's worth believing), this is a solid if somewhat predictable novel that is sure to find an engaged audience

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m kind of half in half about this book. The writing is really good, the characters fully developed. It took me awhile to get into the story and then it was over. An inside look into how a scammer operates and the destruction they wreak on their victims. I guess I expected more from the story.

Fascinating! Cammie is an expert con artist and manipulator. She easily spots her “marks” and preys on their vulnerabilities. Gibson is still hurting after his divorce and Shelby is still reeling after the death of her wife. Gibson meets Cammie in a bar and she makes him feel like he never felt before. Shelby meets Cammie in a brief support group and is drawn to her. But both Gibson and Shelby realize that parts of Cammie’s story do not add up. But when they confront her, she always has a good explanation. I found it amazing that even though they knew Cammie was lying, they still wanted to try and help her overcome all the lying.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The ultimate book on gaslighting.
The Fake is about a scammer, Cammie, who inserts herself into two unassuming people’s lives, Gibson and Shelby. They individually and together start to figure out they are being conned and work towards getting Cammie out of their lives.
What can I say, I finished the book. It was interesting enough to me that I wanted to find out all the messed up stuff Cammie would do but at the same time there wasn’t a lot that happened. The story line was a pattern of Cammie doing something messed up and weaseling her way out of it. But I guess that’s what scammers do, right?

I wanted to like this book-the premise is interesting, but being a con person just for the sake of conning people doesn’t translate well to the writer word here.

The one thing that is incredible in this story is the writing and the descriptions. The author had a command of language that’s really incredible in describing scene, but it’s more that the plot falls short here.

Thanks to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC to review.

This book reads differently then other books that i've read and then I saw it was written based on the author's real life events, which was really interesting to me! I mostly enjoyed this one and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it. It was a quick read and I think most people will enjoy it as well once they dig in. I enjoyed the characters and enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next. Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This is a fun romp that examines relationships in detail; some are real and others are "fake." Shelby is a gay woman whose partner died and she has extreme anxiety when she meets Cammie in a support group. Cammie is immediately drawn to Shelby and they become fast friends, sharing stories and meals. Gibson, a recently divorced young man also meets Cammie and is drawn to her as she is young, flirtatious, and willing to tease and please him. But things get complicated as truth and lies become so intertwined, even we as the readers aren't sure which is which! This novel kept my head spinning but I loved it, and piecing together the truth is a great puzzle!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Positives: A super quick read. And that's about it.
It's definitely not some deep psychological thriller or suspenseful mystery. It's very surface level for the topic at hand, with a lackluster conclusion. Based on the synopsis and the first few chapters, you'd think Cammie is some sophisticated, charming pathological liar and this is a gripping tale about two people falling under her spell. She's even described numerous times in the story as able to charm anyone to do anything she wants. However, I only found her to be whiny, and honestly, the worst liar. She's able to con all these people, but how? Rather then feel bad for Shelby or Gibson (the people she cons in this story), I felt annoyed. I think the author was going for "they are emotionally vulnerable and that's how they got scammed" but instead it just read as "these people are incredibly unlikable and deeply stupid."
It was very difficult to stay interested in what was happening. It had a lot of potential, but fell very flat.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am finding it hard to write a review of this book because I feel so indifferent about it. I cannot say I particularly like or dislike it. It is just okay.

This book tells the stories of Shelby and Gibson, two individuals who have recently experienced life-changing losses. Shelby has lost her wife who has died, and Gibson is going through a divorce from his wife. Each of them needs something or someone to help them out of their ruts. Enter Cammie, a young, attractive woman who fills a hole in both of their lives. However, she is not what she seems.

The reader is aware from the start that Cammie is a liar. It is made quite obvious that she is manipulating the two main characters. There is no mystery or intrigue in the story. The synopsis basically tells us the entire story up front. For me, it is a bit boring. Nothing shocks or surprises me in the plot.

It is hard to feel sympathy for Shelby and Gibson. They each are using Cammie for their own needs, so it is not surprising that it is so easy for her to manipulate them. As a reader, I found myself frustrated with their inability to see her for who she really is. Neither of them is particularly likeable or relatable for me.

The book is well-written, and there are no issues with the plot or characters. It just hasn't left much of an impression on me. Unfortunately, I would not recommend it.

A Compelling Con

3.5 stars

The Fake is an oddly compelling novel about a con artist who preys on the weak. When their marks connect to compare notes, an unlikely friendship emerges.

Meet Gibson--39 years old, childless, and on the verge of divorce. He is feeling lost and depressed.

Meet Shelby--mourning the loss of her wife and battling an anxiety disorder, she is barely functioning.

When Cammie swoops into both of their lives, she simultaneously destroys and saves them. She is the woman of Gibson’s dreams and the friend that Shelby had unknowingly longed for. However, Cammie is not who she claims to be. When Gibson and Shelby come together, they compare notes to learn that Cammie is not who they think she is. In doing so, they both go on journeys and face their truths head-on.

Narrated by Gibson and Shelby, both are hot messes in different ways. Both characters are easily relatable, especially in terms of what they are going through. Whitehall captures their emotions and explores the different layers of grief through both. She also captures the elation and joy that Cammie brings into their lives.

It is easy to judge Gibson and Shelby as a reader as it is blatantly obvious what Cammie is doing to them. At the same time, when one is battling depression and grief, it is easy to be taken in by someone offering what one needs.

The reader is privy to a few chapters from Cammie’s POV. They bring a lot of insight into her mind. I would have liked more from her.

This isn’t an easy book to describe. It is different from the norm in that Whittall explores heavy topics such as mental illness and depression shrouded in a character who is either mentally ill or a sociopath or both. At the same time, there is lightness in the tone and humor in some of the events. There is also a lovable dog named Coach Taylor.

I enjoyed Whittall’s writing. The characters are quirky and likable. Even Cammie is likable until one sees the impact of her presence on Gibson and Shelby. The chapters are short, and I had to keep reading to see how the drama would play out.

The ending didn’t feel complete, nor did Shelby and Gibson’s journeys. However, I give this book props for bringing something different to the table.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group.

Wow, I loved this insider look at how a scammer/grifter/con artist works.

I thought I had it all figured out but Whittail still managed more than a few gratifying surprises.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

It's obvious from the get-go that Cammie is a liar, someone who homes in on the weak and the gullible with tales of woe (cancer, abuse, dead relatives). Any suspense comes from waiting for her current marks to discover the truth and what will happen then. So while you might expect this to be a plot-driven story, it's actually character-driven—and Cammie's two current victims are memorable, impeccably rendered characters. You might not like Shelby and Gibson (though then again, you might), but you'll definitely understand and empathize with them. The book excels at rendering grief, anxiety, and loneliness—several times I found myself nodding in agreement and internally shouting "Yes! That's it!" Fortunately, though, it's sparky enough to keep from being a downer. It's a fast read too: I finished it in a day. I'm now going to check out Zoe Whittall's other books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.