Review by Booklist Review
Red knows what her future post--high school has in store: a life spent helping her family run their farm. When her sister uploads a video of Red pretending to be singing superstar Zay-Zay Waters (right before face-planting in the mud), she worries it might be a little embarrassing. She never expects Zay-Zay to show up in their barn with an offer--if Red pretends to be her for a week so she can go on a paparazzi-free adventure, Zay-Zay will give her a paycheck big enough to really help the farm. But living in Zay-Zay's world makes Red reconsider what she wants her life to look like when she goes home. Fake Famous offers an interesting look at celebrity culture, while putting a unique spin on the familiar story of a teen struggling to find herself under the burden of family obligations. It will delight fans of the fake-dating trope and anyone who's ever watched a celebrity's TikTok and wondered, if I lived that life, would I still be me?
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Eighteen-year-old Red Morgan, who is Black and lives in Orange City, Iowa, starts each day hoping that the universe will "show me something good." Despite her pleas, however, the recent high school graduate knows that her future consists of doing chores on her family farm and--as the oldest of five--babysitting. But Red, so named for her naturally red hair, loves to sing. One day, after a video her younger sister posts of her imitating Black pop star Zay-Zay Waters and falling in pig manure goes viral, Zay-Zay arrives with an implausible request: claiming she needs some private time, she hires Red to impersonate her for a week. Knowing her family needs the funds, Red agrees, and suddenly she's whisked onto her first airplane and is cultivating relationships with a personal chauffeur, a publicity manager, and super-hot Native Hawaiian musician Koi Kalawai'a, Zay-Zay's fake boyfriend. As Red navigates this brand-new world, she must reckon with her desire to prioritize her dreams over her family's needs. Davis (Somebody That I Used to Know), who is also an actor, believably depicts the sometimes outlandish realities of the lifestyles of the rich and famous in this Prince and the Pauper take. Ages 14--up. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Davis's latest novel is just pure fun. Iowa farm girl Red can really sing, even when she falls in porcine excrement channeling pop star Zay-Zay. Red's sister catches the comical moment and, despite denials, posts the video that brings Zay-Zay to the family's combine shed with a lucrative proposal: be Zay-Zay for a week to give her a spiritual break. This could work: Red resembles Zay-Zay down to the same purple bruise in the exact same spot on their foreheads. Most importantly, Red could help save the family farm. After way too many legal signatures, Red's off to sunny California to make the world believe--including herself. No more spoilers because listening will prove addictive: Davis, who's also an actor, is unconditionally wondrous voicing every character with distinct accents, mannerisms, quirks. Live, laugh, love sums up her perfect performance. VERDICT Nothing fake here, just pure magic.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An 18-year-old Black farm girl is thrust into the spotlight after she's mistaken for an A-list celebrity. As the eldest daughter of two Iowa farmers, high school graduate Red Morgan is the backbone of her family--a role she accepts without question. When Red's younger sister uploads a TikTok video of Red singing, the clip goes viral. Social media users believe the video depicts Zay-Zay Waters, a Brooklyn-born pop star who bears a striking resemblance to Red. Red assumes the online attention will quickly die down--until Zay-Zay visits the farm with a tempting business proposition: serve as Zay-Zay's paid stand-in for a week, attending all her contractual obligations. Red happily accepts the offer; the money will help pay her family's debts, and she'll experience the glamour of Hollywood, including dates with Zay-Zay's handsome musician boyfriend, Koi Kalawai'a, who is Native Hawaiian. But as the days pass and the plan falls apart, Red must find the strength to push ahead for the sake of her family and her sense of self. Moving at a measured pace, Davis' latest features an endearing, kindhearted heroine who learns to trust her inner voice. Red and Koi have palpable chemistry, and the pair genuinely connect on an emotional level that reflects their shared values. An amiable fish-out-of-water story that engagingly explores the pitfalls of fame and celebrates young love. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
