Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Dylan and Flo are on the rocks. Of course they are in love. Obviously they want it to work. But sometimes it feels like the world is against them. Their flat is falling apart, their friends never stop meddling and the obstacles keeping them from their dreams are insurmountable. Maybe they just . . . aren’t meant to be?
The break-up completely shatters them both. While Flo cries in her Mum’s kitchen, penning ballads about heartache, Dylan is forced to sleep on his best friend’s sofa and channel his pain into acting.
And, unexpectedly, their stars begin to rise.
Soon Dylan and Flo are on the cusp of everything they’ve ever wanted. There’s only one problem: they can’t be without one another, but their hard-won futures depend on their estrangement. Can they keep their relationship a secret from the world? Or has fate conspired to keep them apart for good?
Over the years I’ve seen a number of things about Justin Myers’ books but had yet to pick one up. The Fake-Up changed that for me and it was a lovely introduction to his writing. It tells the story of Flo and Dylan who has just broken up. In the wake of the break-up Flo’s music about the break-up goes viral and Dylan lands a role in a soap. They soon realise they can’t be without one another but aren’t sure how to handle that now they’ve gone viral. So, they have a fake-up instead.
The premise of this book is certainly a unique one. I’ve never read a book centring around two famous people who are having to hide their relationship. It is such an interesting concept and one that I’m sure happens in reality more than we realise. I helped give me a little insight into the uncomfortable side of fame that is hidden from the public eye. It is certainly a unique and refreshing look at the rise in fame.
I enjoyed that this book is told in dual POVs. We get to see how Dylan and Flo deal with the break-up, fame and celebrity drama differently. Both Dylan and Flo are wonderful main characters. They are messy and at times not likeable but as a reader you sympathise with them. You root for them too. I loved the secondary characters in this book and the storylines they bring. Max and Jesse are wonderful. Also, it was lovely to see a character called Lois (my name!) because that does not happen often.
It took me some time to read this book and I feel that was down to the pacing. It was quite slow at times which meant I struggled to get into the book and excited about what was going to happen next. When the pacing picked up though I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I enjoyed the different storylines and how they connected in different ways too. It has definitely given me an idea on Justin Myers’ writing and I will be giving more of his books a read.
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining and a nice piece of escapist fiction. Its story is intriguing and its characters are complex. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you are a fan of unique, romance books. I will certainly be looking out for more Justin Myers’ books in the future.
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