Book Review: Double Standard

Double Standard by Mallory Thomas

Set in Hollywood, Double Standard by Mallory Thomas is a contemporary romance with fake-dating and an actor/stunt double romance. Ana was a child actor and she’s ready for her big break. Levi has left Ohio ready to prove to everyone, especially his dad, that he can make it in Hollywood as a stunt double.

When the book begins, Ana has been dragged by the tabloids with an untimely, untrue paparazzi photo and article. She finally has the lead in an Ancient Greece-inspired action film after years of not being taken seriously.

Francesca, the director, is married to Colt, the leading man (also he’s a jerk), when Ana is photographed with Colt, “canoodling.” While this isn’t true, the truth never got in the way of a good story, so Ana hatches a scheme to fake-date Levi, Colt’s stunt double, who looks reasonably like him. Ana hopes this will save her career and boost Levi’s career too.

But will fake-dating turn to real feelings when they are filming on-location in Nashville?

Will Ana be able to salvage her career and do the thing she loves most, acting?

This novella was just the right pace and a fast read, about three hours. You can read in one sitting at the beach or on your couch—wherever the summer takes you. If you are in a reading slump, a novella like this one is a good choice to get you out of it!

My Thoughts

I love a Hollywood romance, so Double Standard was in the sweet spot for me. Bonus points to Levi for being from a small, farming town in Ohio, like me. I commiserated with Ana’s character and how she was misjudged for her ambition and just pursuing the thing she loves.

I won’t give away the rest of the plot, but if you pick this up, I don’t think you will be disappointed. However, at times, the writing style irked me a little, because there was a lot of gesture/body language description, excessively, that slowed down the dialogue. Some people might like that, though.

I also felt there was some thoughtful social critique in the book, about the way women are treated in Hollywood and the media—hence the title, Double Standard. Ana was faced with bad press through no fault of her own at the beginning of the book, and Francesca, the film’s director, had to deal with the opinions of the studio and her husband’s actions, which could reflect negatively on her career and her opportunity to direct her first film. And yes, we already knew this about Hollywood, but I thought it was portrayed meaningfully through the characters’ perspectives in this novella.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.