The Fraud Squad

Description

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.”Immersive, cinematic, and exquisitely fun! The Fraud Squad is the perfect debut, full of high society high jinx, high-stakes, and the joy of finding oneself. A delightful, transportive ride, and the New Adult book I was waiting for!”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of Love on the Brain

“The Fraud Squad is a cinematic and engrossing peek into the world of Singapore’s elite, as seen through the eyes of its ambitious heroine Samantha Song. As glamorous and page-turning as a glossy magazine, infused with sharp class critique, a vibrant cast of characters, and a poignant emotional core.”—Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood

“This glittering gem of a novel is an incisive reflection on the perils of status and the callousness of wealth. Rich with clever charm and scandalous sparkle, The Fraud Squad introduces a delightful and daring new voice in Kyla Zhao.”—Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of The Roughest Draft

“Zhao (not my cousin) showcases both glamor and grit in this thrill ride through Singapore’s high society, balancing dazzling luxury with critiques of classism and inherited privilege!”—Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

“Lush, swoony, and delightfully exquisite, The Fraud Squad is an unputdownable debut that will transport you into the lavish world of Singaporean high society. With an irresistibly relatable heroine and vibrant cast of characters, this book is perfect for fans of Crazy Rich Asians and The Devil Wears Prada.”—Amy Lea, author of Exes and Ohs

“Zhao’s debut is a sparkly page-turner, with hints of Crazy Rich Asians and The Devil Wears Prada… A delightful blend of emotion and aspiration.”—Booklist

“My Fair Lady meets Working Girl in Singapore… There is sweetness to this story of glitz and glam.”—Kirkus ReviewsKyla Zhao had her first women’s magazine byline at the age of sixteen, writing about weddings for Harper’s Bazaar Singapore before she even had her first kiss. Since then, she has also written for the Singapore editions of Vogue and Tatler. A native Singaporean, Kyla now works in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford University in 2021. She’s still trying to understand why Californians adore hiking and Patagonia fleeces so much.Reader’s Guide
The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao
Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think each member of the Fraud Squad trio embodies the concept of “fraud” in their own way?

2. A central theme of the book is the double standards placed on men and women when it comes to career and relationships. How do you think this gender gap is similar or different at the various socio-economic levels explored in the story? And how might those double standards play out similarly or differently in your culture?

3. Almost every character in the book exhibits some form of morally grey behavior. Do you think those behaviors by Samantha, Anya, Timothy, Lucia, and Samantha’s mother are a result of their personalities or a response to their environments?

4. What do you make of Samantha’s decision to not get back together with Timothy at the end of the book?

5. Taking that one step further, how do you think Samantha and Timothy’s relationship might develop after the book’s ending?

6. Do you think it is possible for two people from vastly different socio-economic backgrounds to be equals in a relationship—be it a romantic relationship or friendship?

7. The Fraud Squad is set in Singapore (Southeast Asia). How do you think Samantha’s pursuit of upward mobility might have unfolded similarly or differently if the story took place in your country? Would it have been easier or more difficult for her to infiltrate high-society?

8. Do you think Tim’s frustration with his parents’ expectations of him are justified, or does he have a certain obligation to go along with the less appealing aspects of his status since he gets to reap the privileges?

9. Did you agree with Raina’s take that Samantha has changed for the worse? If so, at what point do you think Samantha’s shift in perspective and priorities crystallized?

10. Samantha, Anya, Timothy and even Lucia all have complicated relationships with their parents. Did any parent-child relationship stand out to you, or which you related to more strongly?

11. There is a sparsity of Asian representation in Western media. For Asian readers, were there certain themes, characters, and/or scenes that you particularly related to? For non-Asian readers, what did you learn about Southeast Asian society and culture?

12. If you were Samantha, which society event in the story would you be most excited to experience? A few options are: the dinner with Tim’s friends, the Christian Dada launch event, the Kingstons’ dinner party, the Elle photo shoot, Daisy’s engagement party, Anya’s birthday party, the S Gala.US