The Fraud Squad

The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao, published by Penguin Publishing Group on January 17, 2023, is a 368-page novel that explores the aspirations of a working-class woman in Singapore. Samantha Song dreams of writing for a high-society magazine, but her current job at a PR firm and her financial struggles make that dream seem unattainable. When she meets Timothy Kingston, the son of an elite family, she sees an opportunity to infiltrate the glamorous world of high society, with the help of her wealthy friend Anya Chen.
In this debut novel, readers will follow Samantha as she navigates the complexities of social status and personal ambition. As she dons borrowed designer clothes and attends lavish events, the pressure to maintain her facade mounts, especially with a gossip columnist lurking in the shadows. The story delves into themes of identity and the lengths one will go to achieve their dreams, all while balancing the realities of friendship and self-discovery. This edition is presented in English and offers a unique perspective on the intersection of class and ambition within the context of Asian American experiences.
Official synopsis Publisher
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.
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