The Fraud Squad

By: Kyla Zhao

Narrated by: Siho Ellsmore

A working-class woman who infiltrates Singapore’s high society to fulfill her dreams risks losing everything in the process—including herself—in this propulsive novel by debut author Kyla Zhao.

For as long as she can remember, Samantha Song has dreamed of writing for a high-society magazine—and she’d do anything to get there. But the constant struggle to help her mom make ends meet and her low social status cause her dream to feel like a distant fantasy.

Now Samantha finds herself working at a drab PR firm. Living vicariously through her wealthy coworker and friend, Anya Chen, is the closest she’ll get to her ideal life. Until she meets Timothy Kingston: the disillusioned son of one of Singapore’s elite families—and Samantha’s one chance at infiltrating the high-society world to which she desperately wants to belong.

To Samantha’s surprise, Timothy and Anya both agree to help her make a name for herself on Singapore’s socialite scene. But the borrowed designer clothes and plus-ones to every glamorous event can only get her so far. The rest is on Samantha, and she’s determined to impress the editor in chief of Singapore’s poshest magazine. But the deeper Samantha wades into this fraud, the more she fears being exposed—especially with a mysterious gossip columnist on the prowl for dirt—forcing her to reconcile her pretense with who she really is before she loses it all.

Great Read

I really loved the plot! It kind of jumped into it unexpectedly, but once you're in the story, it's really good!

Couldn’t put it down

The story was not predictable. I really loved it. I hope she writes a follow up book.

More Fraud please!

It was an okay enough story to listen to but not something I’d return to or remember after a while. 39 chapters felt like a waste for a story that could’ve wrapped up in 20. For a debut it’s not bad but I have hope that the author can only go up from here.

Lighthearted

Predicable in a comfortable way. I enjoyed listening and ended up wanting more of the story. Felt like Crazy Rich Asians meets Devil Wears Prada.

My new favorite Autobuy author!!!

This book has been on my most anticipated 2023 releases and it did not disappoint! My fair lady set in Singapore high society. Bit of mystery, romance, and allll the glamour.
A very strong debut from Zhao and I can’t wait to see what she does next!