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A review by bookish_bailee
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fun, sweet, slow-burn rom-com, with great audiobook narration! I highly recommend listening versus reading for this one.
The concept of filling in for a movie star is creative and unique, and Gracie’s characterization at its core is compelling — she struggles with her racial and personal identity, familial stresses, past workplace sexual harassment, and her mental health, all of which makes her feel authentic, relatable and easy to root for.
It was very long, with much of that length filled with Gracie’s (often repetitive) internal dialoguing, and this, for me, made the story feel drawn out and the plot/relationship/character development sort of meandering + at times unbelievable.
A little suspension of disbelief, though, and the audiobook on 1.3x speed, made for an overall enjoyable read.
The concept of filling in for a movie star is creative and unique, and Gracie’s characterization at its core is compelling — she struggles with her racial and personal identity, familial stresses, past workplace sexual harassment, and her mental health, all of which makes her feel authentic, relatable and easy to root for.
It was very long, with much of that length filled with Gracie’s (often repetitive) internal dialoguing, and this, for me, made the story feel drawn out and the plot/relationship/character development sort of meandering + at times unbelievable.
A little suspension of disbelief, though, and the audiobook on 1.3x speed, made for an overall enjoyable read.