The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao

By Lean and Love �� - March 14, 2023

Tittle      : The Fraud Squad
Author        : Kyla Zhao
Pub Date : January 17, 2023
Pages         : 368
My Rating : ★★★

The Summary

Even Samantha Song has wanted to write for a high-society magazine for as long as she can recall, and she'd do anything to make it happen. Her low social standing and ongoing struggle to support her mother make her goal seem like a far-off fantasy.

Samantha is currently employed by a dull Marketing company. The nearest she will come to her ideal life is through her wealthy friend and coworker Anya Chen. Until Samantha meets Timothy Kingston, the disillusioned son of a wealthy family in Singapore and her only opportunity to break into the high society to which she so desperately wants to belong.

To Samantha's surprise, Anya and Timothy both consent to assist her in establishing herself as a prominent figure in Singapore's socialite scene. However, she can only go so far in her borrowed expensive clothing and plus-ones to all the glitzy events. Samantha has the remainder to do, and she's determined to wow the magazine's editor in chief in Singapore. Samantha is forced to come to terms with her pretense with who she really is before she loses everything because the more she delves into this fraud, the more she fears being exposed especially with an enigmatic gossip columnist on the hunt for dirt.

My Review

Even though there were a few points that I kind of disagreed with, I was actually really enjoying it. It was also interesting enough. You should be aware that books that reveal the inner workings of high societies and the upper classes rarely feature characters that are incredibly likeable. You'll have the chance to feel less let down and be able to keep reading and taking pleasure in the book as a result.

Regarding the book itself, I admire the concept of a woman breaking into high society and demolishing its prejudice and elitism. The author did a fantastic job analyzing elitism, classism, and the competitive world of high society through the eyes of a sassy heroine. It was fun to read about the opulent lifestyle and the mentions of expensive brands and design firms.

Samantha is a nice character, though I didn't exactly fall head over heels in love with them. I admired how things were going and how she and Timothy were able to improve her job chances by getting her into the society pages. I also liked watching Raina, her close friend, struggle with her envy while attempting to be the mature one.

My primary complaint was the way time was handled. The plot of the novel occasionally felt choppy and disjointed. It merely had a very ominous vibe. The writing was excellent, but it still came off as far too manufactured and contrived. The talk felt forced and extremely awkward. There was definitely no giving in to the two characters' relationship. Even though certain scenes from specific points of view of the story undoubtedly had a cinematic feel, the setting of the book led me to doubt this.

Although I am familiar with Singapore, I am unable to remark on whether the country was accurately portrayed in the book. While I almost missed the fact that it was set in Singapore until the word "kopitiam" was mentioned in the book, I can state with certainty that it was written with a Western reader in mind. Although the surnames are Asian, they are not the usual Singaporean surnames. However, I can only speak from my own experience, so this isn't exactly a guarantee.

Despite the shortcomings I encountered, generally it was enjoyable and entertaining. If you liked Crazy Rich Asians and The Devil Wears Prada, you should attempt reading this!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done!

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot.