The Decoy Girlfriend

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Pub Date 06 Sep 2022 | Archive Date Not set
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

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Description

A laugh-out-loud funny and whip-smart romantic comedy from the author of The Shaadi Set-Up, about a young woman who takes the place of her celebrity doppelgänger, and must fake-date the actress’s sexy costar boyfriend.
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.

A laugh-out-loud funny and whip-smart romantic comedy from the author of The Shaadi Set-Up, about a young woman who takes the place of her celebrity doppelgänger, and must fake-date the actress’s...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780593422021
PRICE $17.00 (USD)
PAGES 320

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Featured Reviews

Oh my god. I loved this book so much that I finished it in one sitting. It made me feel so many butterflies that I could barely contain myself. I absolutely adore Taft and Freya. Their banter made me laugh out loud multiple times. I truly can’t wait to read more of this author’s books. This is one of the best surprises I’ve had in reading an author I didn’t know. So well done. I actually want so much more. I kinda wish the book had an epilogue, just to see what happened with them a year down the line. Regardless, absolutely amazing book.

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A fake relationship featuring a doppelganger and a more than meets the eye celebrity hunk all set in a rom-com! I LOVED The Decoy Girlfriend and am now on a book hangover for the foreseeable future.

Freya Lal feels like she's the newest resident of rock bottom after moving from NYC to LA and helping out at her aunt's indie bookshop while trudging through writers block. Freya has a secret, though. To escape her reality (and help get herself and her friends into clubs), she sometimes masquerades as famous actress Mandi Roy, her doppelganger, until Mandi catches on. Mandi wants peace from fame and what better way to get that than to negotiate a switch with Freya. Mandi's life is now Freya's for a month and with everything comes a fake relationship with her longtime celebrity crush, Taft. Will they breeze through this month playing pretend or will their relationship develop into something more?

One word - Taft. He is so well written and his layers are so delicately unraveled throughout this story. I just wanted to jump into the story and protect this man. Freya is strong and passionate and I loved reading through her triumphs and unapologetically being herself at all times.

This was a slow burn, but when it hits - it HITS. This book was overall really incredible. I feel like a celebrity crush/fake dating scenario can get cheesy quickly, but this book is not that in the slightest.

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The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale is a gorgeous, charming love story!

The characters are all extremely well developed, their romance is adorable, this was a really fun time. I demolished it in one sitting.
The Decoy Girlfriend is such a fantastic contemporary romance! It’s heartwarming and funny and sexy, and the messages and writing are fantastic.
I thought the chemistry between the two main characters was fantastic and I loved seeing the buildup of their romance. Fantastically done!
Vale is a phenomenal romance Author and I look forward to reading more by this talented author!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

G.P. Putnam's Sons,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

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Freya is a writer going through a slump and impersonates celebrity Mandi Roy as a distraction, which bites her in the butt when Mandi asks her to be her for real. But hey, who wouldn't fake it to be closer to Taft Bamber, Mandi's on and off screen beau.

Lillie has done it again by creating such a lovable love interest. I love Taft's characteristics (giving his all but not receiving much in return, having fake/no friends, having a huge, caring heart), they're typically shown in a female, and those traits were adorable on him. (& heartbreaking, poor guy.) He has a great heart and knows how to spoil a girl <3 *swoon* That writing space!

I liked that there wasn't a ton of drama in this book- we got to read about Freya and Taft as they navigated each other's worlds, as fake Mandi and as Freya, to see what their life together might be like. There was a lot at stake throughout and the ending wrapped up everyone's arcs well.

This is an enjoyable rom com that I could definitely see as a movie!

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Taft and Freya's chemistry cannot be denied from the first moment they met, which would be great except for the fact that Freya is a lookalike to taft's hollywood "girlfriend" Mandi Roy. Freya is often confused for Mandi, which she sometimes uses to her advantages. When Mandi finds out though, she develops a plan where she would like Freya to take her place, which means be Taft's fake girlfriend. It all seems simple, until fake feelings turn real.

I loved these characters, the multiple points of views, and the excellent full circle moments. Fun, charming, and spicy read!!

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Quick Summary: The Decoy Girlfriend deserves robust hand claps.

My Review: This book!!! It was fan-freaking-tastic! Although it started a little bit slow, it quickly picked up its pace and knocked it off the Richter Scale. It was unbelievably believable in a fangirl kind of way. There were so many things to like about this book. I loved F and T. They had incredible chemistry. They each had textured pasts that shaped them. They had insecurities that made them easy to relate to on an emo level. They each had personal goals. They each demonstrated personal growth. They both wanted the more that came with their unconventional relationship. The lesser characters - M, S, F's dad, and SH - were endearing. This reader was charmed by them all.

My Final Say: The ending of this story was very satisfying. With that said, I would totally be willing to pick up a book 2 to go with this one. Not only would it grant a peek into F and T's relationship, but it would also provide a chance to see what the what was with M. The mystery trip - what was that about??? Hmm...

Rating: 4.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA-A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

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