The Stand-In - Likewise Book Reviews

"This book was sosososososoooooooo freaking adorable but at the same time it tackled big topics like depression, anxiety, sexual harassment, and being overworked overall it was an amazing amazing book✨✨✨"

"Honestly this had a great twist that i wasn’t expecting. I also enjoyed the main characters being Chinese. As a Chinese person who grew up in a predominately white family and environment, there was a lot I could relate to. The story was cute and there was a happy ending, but it was also great to feel seen. If you’re looking for something with different representations, this is lighthearted but still meaningful. "

"I adore this book and I did not want to put it down. The author hit the right balance of humor and romance without being cheesy. Gracie was adorable but also seemed like a friend you would know. I liked the limited cast of characters and how they were all complex human beings. The slow-building romance was well told and the banter was cute. I thought the ending was perfect and I can't think of a single thing I would change in this book. I also really want EPPY to be real. "

"i REALLY liked this book- it was one of my first YA and i LOVED it. def recommend "

"I went into this book expecting a bit more rom-com but was not disappointed by the themes of mental health and familial connection I found instead. Chu handled Fangli’s depression carefully, but honestly and showed how hard it can be for people to reach out for help. Also, the hard decisions Gracie’s mom had to make so young were portrayed very compassionately. <br/><br/>Because I was expecting more romance, I was a little disappointed with what the book delivered. Because we never got Sam’s pov it felt like Gracie was pining over him and he didn’t obviously reciprocate which isn’t my favorite. At times I was like, “girl, pull yourself up and calm down!” Which I never would have felt if I could tell Sam was falling just as hard."

"So far very engaged :) "

"Currently reading this and I’m obsessed 🙈 it’s adorable, I wish I could read it in Sam’s pov too"

"Super cute and fun rom(com?) that explored mental health, family, and identity."

"This book is probably my favorite book I’ve read! "

"Very cute. I really enjoyed it. I only wish there was more development on the relationship between Gracie and Wei Fangli. Not because I think they were underdeveloped, just because I enjoyed their dynamic and I wish we got more scenes with them getting to know each other and being in each other's lives, especiallyafter the end. I also kind of wish there was an epilogue to go more into the aftermath of the end of the story. I have some questions I would like addressed.<br/>Like what happened after Gracie enters the public eye? That's the most pressing question. Does everything come out? Only some things? It's doesn't ruin the story for me not to know, I'm just very curious.<br/>I have a lot of thoughts about this book actually. For example I found it very interesting how, even though paparazzi did pose some conflict within the story, the problem wasn't as present as it has been in other "famous person drags normal person know their drama" stories I've read. Yes, they were a problem, and even were part of the final act climax, but they weren't the overbearing villains I was expecting given the plot of this story. Maybe because this was set in Canada? Are Canadian paparazzi just way less invasive than they are in the US?<br/>I was kind of glad that it wasn't as focused on that aspect if I'm honest. Good for Gracie, staying out of the tabloids and keeping that secret. In a book like this, I don’t think the worst possible thing needs to happen for the story to be fun or interesting.<br/>Also I desperately need her organization app. Like this was the first time ever I was actually very invested in the development of an app in a story lol."

"It was so cute and a feel good with a twist"

"Loved it. Laughed out loud while listening to the audiobook "

"DNF…Phillipa Soo gets 5 stars for narration, but the story itself is really sort of dull. I’m already bored, so while the story may pick up, I’m not interested enough in the characters to see where it goes."

"This was such a great book! I’m usually not a fan of romance books but this was more of an enemies to lovers with a great twist at the end. I would definitely recommend. "

"Really entertaining and fun to read. Easy to get through and is great if you want a beginner romance novel"

"I love this book so much! It make me cry and laugh. If I could give this book 6 stars I would!"

"Pretty cute but I hate the miscommunication trope"

"Listened to this book three separate times. It was such a fun listen/story."

"Loved this book!"

"I adore this book. I was skeptical at first because it sort of started slow. However, I am so glad I stuck with it. It is equal parts light and equal parts real. Lily Chu did the dang thing with this one. "

"Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/twZDxArW2kE?t=399"

"Lily Chu weaves together a story of romance and complex social problems (mental heath, power dynamics, racism, etc) in this incredible breakout novel. The characters and story arch are well developed and incredibly dynamic. I couldn’t put this book down and finished it in under 24 hours. I cannot wait for the next Lily Chu original! "