FAKE FAMOUS

An 18-year-old Black farm girl is thrust into the spotlight after she’s mistaken for an A-list celebrity.

As the eldest daughter of two Iowa farmers, high school graduate Red Morgan is the backbone of her family—a role she accepts without question. When Red’s younger sister uploads a TikTok video of Red singing, the clip goes viral. Social media users believe the video depicts Zay-Zay Waters, a Brooklyn-born pop star who bears a striking resemblance to Red. Red assumes the online attention will quickly die down—until Zay-Zay visits the farm with a tempting business proposition: serve as Zay-Zay’s paid stand-in for a week, attending all her contractual obligations. Red happily accepts the offer; the money will help pay her family’s debts, and she’ll experience the glamour of Hollywood, including dates with Zay-Zay’s handsome musician boyfriend, Koi Kalawai‘a, who is Native Hawaiian. But as the days pass and the plan falls apart, Red must find the strength to push ahead for the sake of her family and her sense of self. Moving at a measured pace, Davis’ latest features an endearing, kindhearted heroine who learns to trust her inner voice. Red and Koi have palpable chemistry, and the pair genuinely connect on an emotional level that reflects their shared values.

An amiable fish-out-of-water story that engagingly explores the pitfalls of fame and celebrates young love.