So Good it’s a Crime

14 Easy Reads to Take To The Beach And Beyond As Summer Winds Down.

–BRIT+CO

“What does it mean to be truly authentic? Veridian Sterling Fakes It is about all the ways we pretend and fool ourselves, be it with art, love or life, with a mother-daughter relationship so engaging, you’ll wish it were yours. Deliciously funny, movingly real, glitteringly smart, and so, so alive.”
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You and Days of Wonder 

“In an entertaining update of the classic art heist, Jennifer Gooch Hummer immerses the reader in the vibrant New York art scene where old-school stolen Klimts and counterfeit Van Goghs jostle for space with the digital frontier of Non-Fungible Tokens and cryptocurrency. With crisp, evocative prose and an insider’s eye, the author deftly navigates the glitz and greed of the contemporary art world in an engrossing tale of a young painter’s quest for success.”
—Carson Morton, author of Stealing Mona Lisa

“Too often novels involving art crime are heavy-handed, more dark heist than peppy caper. This one is a total joy to read. You’ll shoot through from the first page to the last. Cinematic, light-hearted, with an endearing protagonist and some good twists-everything a good caper
should be.”
—Noah Charney, best-selling author of
The Art Thief

“Jennifer Gooch Hummer paints a fun, fast-paced, twist on the art heist in Veridian Sterling Fakes It. Reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s role in How to Steal a Million in the best of ways, Veridian’s unintentional descent into a life of crime is a wild ride from beginning to end. Veridian Sterling may fake it, but Jennifer Gooch Hummer is the real deal as a rising voice in humorous fiction.”

—Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write and She’s Up to No Good

“I honestly couldn’t tell what captivated me more about Veridian Sterling Fakes It — the twists and turns in the world of art crime, or the sheer relatability of being a fresh graduate from art school forced to work for a mercurial, toxic boss. At various points I had no idea what was going to happen next, but I knew I was along for the ride! This expertly crafted story from Jennifer Gooch Hummer made me feel like an insider to an exclusive club.”

—Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

“Original, clever, and a fun read from cover to cover…populated with deftly crafted and memorable characters embedded in an inherently interesting and unpredictable plot line. Highly recommended.”

—Midwest Book Review

“A comedic adventure of epic proportions… Veridian Sterling Fakes It delivers an engaging dose of humor along with a memorable cast of characters.”

–Novels Alive

“The perfect escape into the art world, horrible first bosses, love interests, and family drama. I loved it.”

–@annegoodreads

“Wow! What a great book… This is such a fast paced book, I easily devoured it. It’s full of amazing characters that I hope to see more of. Veridian Sterling Fakes It is a perfect summer read! I highly recommend.”

–@webreakforbooks

“⁣This was a fun read – it was like the artist’s version of a combo of Devil Wears Prada and Finlay Donovan series, with a fantastic mother-daughter storyline. I flew through this one and loved not only all of the art references but also the colorful cast of characters and “what’s going to happen next” hijinks. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re a fan of quirky characters, chaotic fun, and a fast-paced read. The ending was great, but it also sets the book up perfectly for a sequel (which I really hope is coming)!”

–@whathitareads

“I loved Veridian’s mother-daughter relationship, all the great NYC vibes, and the immersion into the art world. But what sets this one apart from other art heist novels is the humor. It felt like a mix of a comedy caper, an art lover’s story, and chick lit rolled into a twisty, fun read. “

 –@subakka.bookstuff

“I loved the New York City setting for a book centered around art. I was also intrigued by the art world both the legit and the shady side of it… There are some unexpected surprises as Veridian works to solve not only her problems but track down the missing painting.”

–The Book Crew Review

“Dives into the captivating world of art forgery and high-stakes heists…If a fun, fast-paced twist on an art heist is your kinda story, this book is for you! Truly, it’s everything a good caper should be!.. A fabulous summer read.”

–Fresh Fiction

  “It’s fast-paced and extremely witty. I’d been seeing it everywhere and now I totally get the hype.”

–@lit.wit.fine.dine

“A super fast read! I had a lot of fun reading it. I loved Veridian’s character and found the storyline to be unique and it held my attention throughout the entire thing… With the way the book ended, I wonder if maybe there’s going to be another book because there’s definitely a lot of story left to tell! … If you’re looking for something fast, fun, and unique, you should really consider giving this one a read.”

–@bbecca_marie

“This is written in a lighthearted whimsical style…I loved the New York City setting for a book centered around art. I was also intrigued by the art world both the legit and the shady side of it…There are some unexpected surprises as Veridian works to solve not only her problems but track down the missing painting.”

–@reading.late.into.the.night

“This book was such a fun quick read. The MC is quirky, the art world is so fun to read about and there were sooo many twists and turns in here! If you want a quick, fun read with lots of intrigue and mystery, this book is the perfect choice!!”

–@megs.notes

“Action and some tension but still humorous… If you want a thriller but not something super dark, then this would be the perfect choice!”

–Jessicamap Reviews

“I liked Veridian, as she was smart and also knew how to get herself out of trouble (most of the time). The book was full of surprises, which made it very entertaining and kept me reading it almost nonstop since I had to know what happened!”

–@secretreadinglife

“A perfect summer read with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance with some interesting characters…  My favorite person was Myra,, the gallery owner.  She had a real attitude and was a bit of snob and some of her comments made me laugh out loud… Go ahead and give it a try.”

–Girls Who Read

“Wow did this story take turns I could never expect! Plus, we got to see Veri grow in realizing her (great) worth to the art community. Is there a dash of romance, too? Absolutely! (I adore Tate!). If you’re interested in the art world, like dry humor, and are interested in watching Veri stumble through it all as best she can, then pick this up! While the ending was satisfying, this is a vibrant enough book that I could read another — I would love to see what Veri does next!”

–@temmathomas

“I fell for Veri right from the start…Veri is such an adorable character… I enjoyed this funny, tangled and amusing story. Such adorable characters with a bit of a dark side!

Need a good, twisty tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.”

–Reeca’s Pieces

“A fantastic book and it’s one that was perfect to read while floating in the pool… It was a great journey to follow.”

–@ajmcgarvey

“I love stories about art, art heists, and forgeries and this included a bit of all three… What made this book extra fun and unique was the charming character of Veridian… The secondary characters are delightful and provide an extra dose of amusement.”

–@booksloveandunderstanding

“It’s funny and entertaining and I couldn’t stop reading until I found out how this all played out. I loved the colorful cast of characters, especially Veridian and her boss. This is a fun one.”

–@suethebookie

“This was such a fun read! Perfect for art fans and fans of heists and humor… This was such a quick and fun read. It brought me back to those early days after getting out of college and trying to find your way… I loved the art focus and the fact that there was so much humor woven into the story!”

–@beachesandreads

“​​This book was a fun read with interesting characters. There are twists and turns that kept me reading at a steady pace. I enjoyed learning about the art world. There is some humor and possible romance.”

–@carol_doscher_reader

“Entertaining, escapist fiction from an author I’ve loved since Girl Unmoored! Aspiring artist Veri is, indeed, a very (pun intended) likable heroine we can’t help but root for, especially as her life becomes increasingly complicated. Being unfamiliar with the art world, I found the references were all still accessible and I learned a bit, too… A fun, quick and enjoyable read.”

–Write Meg

“I couldn’t put Veridian Sterling Fakes It down! I enjoyed the peek into the art world, the NYC setting, the mystery – not only of the missing painting but of Veri’s life, and the characters. I’m a sucker for mother/daughter relationships and really appreciated the bond between Veri and her mom… Be sure to grab it if you’re looking for a fast, fun read that will take you to the behind the scenes of the art world. Or if you’re looking for a book filled with secrets and mystery.”

–@reading2relax

“A sassy protagonist is always a draw for me, and adding in the art world/counterfeit angle had me intrigued. I’m pleased to report that the story not only lived up to but exceeded my expectations! I really loved the way this one played out. The combination of Millennial angst, coming-of-age story, mystery, and rom-com elements created a delightful story that was fun, funny, and surprising in equal measures. I loved the characterizations, which were richly developed and presented and really drew me into Veri’s world. The pacing and plotting were well managed and kept the intensity consistent throughout the novel… This was a very fun read and I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for more from the author!”

–All Things Jill-Elizabeth

“Veridian is a wonderful young protagonist, the reader instantly empathizes with her. I was drawn into her ‘Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada’ boss Myra and her shenanigans… This is a great read on a very unique theme. I particularly enjoyed how it came together at the end and the different character arcs… The characters are relatable and also this is an interesting way to get acquainted with famous art. One to watch out for this summer!”

–BookMark Blog

“I LOVE books about the art world!… This book just had everything I love in an art book too! A monster of a boss, art forgery, and the true love of art! There was some craziness for sure, and I loved every second of it! Besides the art aspect, I really enjoyed the family story between Veridian and her mom, and how their secrets came out through the book.”

–@katieneedsabiggerbookshelf

“A fun twist on the idea of art heists and learning to survive in NYC… This humorous fast-paced book about [Veri’s] stumble into a life of crime is finely crafted and a sure summer hit… What a great book to pack in a beach bag!”

–@audreyoaksreadseverything

“Grab this book if you are like me and you love art world stories. Also grab this one if you like quirky, side characters that are deeper than your average side character. Pick it up if you like fast paced stories.”

–@sweethoneyandbrei

“Jennifer Gooch Hummer takes us on a fun romp through the art world, where it’s often hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t.⁣⁣.. I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick read and yet I was fascinated by the supporting characters, many of whom are much more complex than you think. I definitely would like to see more of Myra, Major Cohen, Charles, Tate, and Veri’s mom—I know there are some fascinating stories there!”

–@getbookedwithlarry