The Decoy Girlfriend
by Lillie Vale
Novelist Freya Lal escapes her writer's block by impersonating her famous lookalike, actress Mandi Roy, and enjoying the perks. When one impersonation goes viral and sparks breakup rumors about Mandi and her costar Taft Bamber, Mandi demands Freya fix it. For one month, Freya must become Mandi in public and live with Taft, whose relationship with the real Mandi is purely for PR. Faking a famous romance turns out to be easy; keeping her own feelings out of it is not. A playful Hollywood rom-com.
About This Book
The Decoy Girlfriend is a contemporary romance novel by Lillie Vale, first published in 2022 by G.P. Putnam's Sons. It runs 320 pages. Readers can expect fake dating, secret identity.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Fake Dating
- Length
- 320 pages
- Format
- Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- When a struggling writer is forced to impersonate her famous lookalike and fake a relationship with the actress's costar, she finds it increasingly difficult to keep her own feelings at bay.
- Fans of celebrity romance tropes
- Readers who enjoy lighthearted contemporary fiction
- Escapist
- Features Fake Dating
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Rom-Com
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Implied tension between the power dynamics of a famous actor and an undercover impersonator.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate angst, moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Freya Lal, a writer suffering from block, finds an outlet in impersonating her celebrity doppelgänger, Mandi Roy. When a viral video threatens Mandi's professional life, Freya is coerced into stepping into the spotlight as Mandi for a month. This assignment requires her to move in with actor Taft Bamber to maintain the facade of their celebrity romance. As the lines between fiction and reality blur, Freya struggles to maintain her composure and protect her own heart.
Central Conflict
Freya must maintain a professional and public ruse by pretending to be Mandi Roy in a fake relationship with Taft Bamber, while hiding her own growing genuine feelings for him.
Setting
Hollywood, California
Strengths
- Engaging high-concept premise
- Clear genre alignment
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Lillie Vale
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Format
- Paperback
- Length
- 320 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780593422021
The Decoy Girlfriend: quick answers
- Who wrote The Decoy Girlfriend?
- The Decoy Girlfriend was written by Lillie Vale.
- When was The Decoy Girlfriend published?
- The Decoy Girlfriend was first published in 2022 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
- What genre is The Decoy Girlfriend?
- The Decoy Girlfriend is a contemporary romance novel, with fake dating, secret identity.
- How many pages is The Decoy Girlfriend?
- The Decoy Girlfriend is 320 pages long (Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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