Review: Fake - Kylie Scott

Review: Fake - Book #1 West Hollywood Romance Series - Kylie Scott - May 2021

As someone who's been following Kylie Scott's career since her Stage Dive series , I picked up Fake with high expectations. Kylie Scott has always been one of my favorite Australian authors—her ability to craft swoony heroes and relatable heroines consistently delivers the kind of comfort reads I crave after long days. While Fake doesn't break new ground in the fake dating trope, it offers exactly what you'd expect from a Kylie Scott novel: entertainment without complexity.

The premise is deliciously familiar. Patrick Walsh, a scandal-plagued A-lister, needs a reputation makeover fast. Enter Norah Peers, a refreshingly ordinary waitress who's sworn off men entirely. Their arrangement? A no-strings fake romance that pays her bills while salvaging his career. Of course, real feelings complicate everything.

What I appreciated most about Fake was Norah's authenticity. Kylie Scott excels at creating heroines who feel genuinely average—not the "plain girl who's secretly stunning" variety, but truly relatable women dealing with real insecurities. Norah's panic attacks when faced with paparazzi attention felt visceral and honest. Her decision to swear off relationships resonated deeply, especially in our current dating landscape where emotional self-preservation often feels necessary.

The fake-to-real progression unfolds predictably—we all know where these stories lead, after all. That said, sometimes "average" romance hits exactly right. Fake delivers escapist entertainment without demanding deep emotional investment. It's the literary equivalent of comfort food: familiar, satisfying, and exactly what you need when life gets overwhelming.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/47U87Ie