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Pretend to Be Fancy: A Field Guide to Style and Sophistication
208 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books, and the author for providing me with a digital ARC to read and review.
I requested "Pretend to Be Fancy" because it sounded fun—and because it’s from Chronicle Books, whose titles I usually enjoy. Right off the bat, I struggled with the design: the side notes—meant to feel playful and cheeky—quickly became distracting. The circled words with arrows and commentary felt more irritating than helpful in an e-format. This is definitely a book better suited to print.
Tone-wise, this book clearly targets a younger audience. As a Gen X reader who grew up with a more traditional understanding of etiquette (and a lifelong interest in etiquette books), the heavy use of profanity and casual voice didn’t quite land for me. That said, I can absolutely see it resonating with Millennials and Gen Z readers—it speaks their language and meets them where they are.
And here’s the important part: beneath the tone and design choices, there’s genuinely useful content. The book covers a range of practical skills that many people didn’t grow up learning—how to entertain, how to be a thoughtful guest, how to navigate social situations with confidence. The “Level Up Your Conversation” checklist was particularly helpful; like many people, my casual social skills have gotten a bit rusty since the pandemic, and this offered a solid refresher. The gift-giving section is thoughtful as well, though it leans toward a higher budget than many readers (including my younger self) might have.
I also appreciated the underlying intent. The author is clearly trying to make etiquette approachable and relevant, reframing it not as something stuffy or outdated, but as a set of practical tools for modern life. Even small touches—like explaining how to pronounce Worcestershire sauce—add to the book’s usefulness and charm.
While the tone and visual style weren’t for me, I found myself warming up to the book as I went along. If you can look past the profanity and stylized formatting, there’s a lot of substance here. It fills a real gap and packages important life skills in an accessible way.
Overall, this would make a great college graduation gift, especially for readers under 45 who want a modern, approachable guide to navigating social norms with a bit more polish.
I requested "Pretend to Be Fancy" because it sounded fun—and because it’s from Chronicle Books, whose titles I usually enjoy. Right off the bat, I struggled with the design: the side notes—meant to feel playful and cheeky—quickly became distracting. The circled words with arrows and commentary felt more irritating than helpful in an e-format. This is definitely a book better suited to print.
Tone-wise, this book clearly targets a younger audience. As a Gen X reader who grew up with a more traditional understanding of etiquette (and a lifelong interest in etiquette books), the heavy use of profanity and casual voice didn’t quite land for me. That said, I can absolutely see it resonating with Millennials and Gen Z readers—it speaks their language and meets them where they are.
And here’s the important part: beneath the tone and design choices, there’s genuinely useful content. The book covers a range of practical skills that many people didn’t grow up learning—how to entertain, how to be a thoughtful guest, how to navigate social situations with confidence. The “Level Up Your Conversation” checklist was particularly helpful; like many people, my casual social skills have gotten a bit rusty since the pandemic, and this offered a solid refresher. The gift-giving section is thoughtful as well, though it leans toward a higher budget than many readers (including my younger self) might have.
I also appreciated the underlying intent. The author is clearly trying to make etiquette approachable and relevant, reframing it not as something stuffy or outdated, but as a set of practical tools for modern life. Even small touches—like explaining how to pronounce Worcestershire sauce—add to the book’s usefulness and charm.
While the tone and visual style weren’t for me, I found myself warming up to the book as I went along. If you can look past the profanity and stylized formatting, there’s a lot of substance here. It fills a real gap and packages important life skills in an accessible way.
Overall, this would make a great college graduation gift, especially for readers under 45 who want a modern, approachable guide to navigating social norms with a bit more polish.
November 24, 2025
I am not sure why, but I absolutely hated this book. Like, a little bit irrationally. I personally would give it one star but I generally save that for plagiarized and AI written books and this certainly seems to have honestly been written by this person.
It’s entirely in dark brown, beige and orange, and there are no photos or pleasant illustrations (there are a couple of doodles very occasionally of things like types of wine glasses). It’s mostly large text that just goes on and on but it’s meant to be “cheeky” so there are tons of editing scribbles and notes and circles all over every page where she changes a word to bitch or scribbles a supposedly funny side note in the margins.
There are chapters of very, very basic etiquette about things like table manners, how to be a friend, and digital manners like don’t call people before 9 a.m. and things like gifts everyone would like (I mentally argued with every one of them, but I’m troublesome like that). I don’t think anyone doesn’t know any of them. They are absolutely basic and not fancy in any way. And there is entertaining stuff like what to put on your cheese board and so on.
I skimmed the first 2/3 but was so annoyed that I gave up at that point. I was thinking fancy meant fun things like when you make lunch for your kids, serve it on china and put the yogurt in a margarita glass and wear a tiara to make cleaning more fun and scatter crystals in your potted plants and use broken faux pearl necklaces as curtain tie backs…. But I think this author meant how to fake being rich and pretentious, which is just not my vibe.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.
It’s entirely in dark brown, beige and orange, and there are no photos or pleasant illustrations (there are a couple of doodles very occasionally of things like types of wine glasses). It’s mostly large text that just goes on and on but it’s meant to be “cheeky” so there are tons of editing scribbles and notes and circles all over every page where she changes a word to bitch or scribbles a supposedly funny side note in the margins.
There are chapters of very, very basic etiquette about things like table manners, how to be a friend, and digital manners like don’t call people before 9 a.m. and things like gifts everyone would like (I mentally argued with every one of them, but I’m troublesome like that). I don’t think anyone doesn’t know any of them. They are absolutely basic and not fancy in any way. And there is entertaining stuff like what to put on your cheese board and so on.
I skimmed the first 2/3 but was so annoyed that I gave up at that point. I was thinking fancy meant fun things like when you make lunch for your kids, serve it on china and put the yogurt in a margarita glass and wear a tiara to make cleaning more fun and scatter crystals in your potted plants and use broken faux pearl necklaces as curtain tie backs…. But I think this author meant how to fake being rich and pretentious, which is just not my vibe.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.
December 2, 2025
When I read the introduction to Pretend to Be Fancy, the premise seemed promising, albeit common themes in self-help: the trend away from individualism toward choosing how to be in the world, because how we show up can determine the world we live in and the idea that enacting small shifts to become the person you want to be, in turn, shifts your reality. But, the book didn't really make good on that offer.
Pretend to Be Fancy is a catch all for basic life skills. DJ and interior designer Whitney Marston Pierce claims following her advice will make you fancy. The title defines fancy as style and sophistication; based on the descriptions of how to behave, dress, decorate your home, eat, and drink, fancy seems more like a Ralph Lauren ad from the eighties—a dry martini, loafers, and a crisp white shirt. There are important gems now and then: be kind, be clean, stay curious about others and the world around you, and I chuckled a few times but by the end, I was tired of the profanity, the name-dropping, and handwritten callouts. For a book that offers a lot of style advice, I was surprised by the lack of photos.
While Pierce's writing is earnest, and no doubt she believes she has a worthy message to share, none of it feels all that fancy. She veers toward snobby at times with mentions of her city and country houses, dinners with celebrities, and worldwide travels. If Pierce weren’t so earnest in her writing, I would wonder is the whole book is a pretense, and the joke’s on the reader who is guided to Pretend to Be Fancy although following the instructions here won’t be enough.
Pretend to Be Fancy is a catch all for basic life skills. DJ and interior designer Whitney Marston Pierce claims following her advice will make you fancy. The title defines fancy as style and sophistication; based on the descriptions of how to behave, dress, decorate your home, eat, and drink, fancy seems more like a Ralph Lauren ad from the eighties—a dry martini, loafers, and a crisp white shirt. There are important gems now and then: be kind, be clean, stay curious about others and the world around you, and I chuckled a few times but by the end, I was tired of the profanity, the name-dropping, and handwritten callouts. For a book that offers a lot of style advice, I was surprised by the lack of photos.
While Pierce's writing is earnest, and no doubt she believes she has a worthy message to share, none of it feels all that fancy. She veers toward snobby at times with mentions of her city and country houses, dinners with celebrities, and worldwide travels. If Pierce weren’t so earnest in her writing, I would wonder is the whole book is a pretense, and the joke’s on the reader who is guided to Pretend to Be Fancy although following the instructions here won’t be enough.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.
—
Pretend to be Fancy is a cutesy, relatively short guide on basic etiquette. The design is very Pinterest-esque with a neutral, limited palette, quirky-girl notes in the margins, and a writing style that’s very “teen magazine”.
I enjoyed it, but I will say… the author lost a lot of my trust when she wrote, “I personally have the inability to be mean: I don't like it, I'm not good at it, and it doesn't feel right to be that way. If everyone around me felt the same, the world would be a much better place. Yet people are douche canoes.”
To quote tumblr user quasi-normalcy, “I don’t trust anyone who hasn't acknowledged their capacity for evil. ‘I'm just a smol bean uwu’ No sir, what you are is someone who is so habituated to thinking of yourself as innocent that you will continue to do so even when you're guilty.” Do with that what you will, I guess.
Trust aside, the chapters were a bit redundant at times, but I found something to appreciate in each one. The tables were particularly useful to me, especially the Gifting Cheat Sheet. I like the suggestions!
Did all of the advice and stories resonate with me? Not really, but I don’t think they needed to. This was an enjoyable enough read and taught me a thing or two. At the very least, I now understand where some of the weird expectations come from that people around me hold.
—
Pretend to be Fancy is a cutesy, relatively short guide on basic etiquette. The design is very Pinterest-esque with a neutral, limited palette, quirky-girl notes in the margins, and a writing style that’s very “teen magazine”.
I enjoyed it, but I will say… the author lost a lot of my trust when she wrote, “I personally have the inability to be mean: I don't like it, I'm not good at it, and it doesn't feel right to be that way. If everyone around me felt the same, the world would be a much better place. Yet people are douche canoes.”
To quote tumblr user quasi-normalcy, “I don’t trust anyone who hasn't acknowledged their capacity for evil. ‘I'm just a smol bean uwu’ No sir, what you are is someone who is so habituated to thinking of yourself as innocent that you will continue to do so even when you're guilty.” Do with that what you will, I guess.
Trust aside, the chapters were a bit redundant at times, but I found something to appreciate in each one. The tables were particularly useful to me, especially the Gifting Cheat Sheet. I like the suggestions!
Did all of the advice and stories resonate with me? Not really, but I don’t think they needed to. This was an enjoyable enough read and taught me a thing or two. At the very least, I now understand where some of the weird expectations come from that people around me hold.
May 8, 2026
Whitney Marston Pierce is the worldly, best friend that you need and you most likely do not have. Learning "Fancy" is a given, but what you don't know is what will open your eyes!. The book is packed with not only "Fancy" facts, but she writes about how to elevate your appearance, your home, your table, relationships & beyond.
I can guarantee that most of us can't recite (nor possibly ever learned/retained) the basics she writes about.
Maybe you can skip over a certain chapter/section because you have that covered? Perhaps a family member or a mentor taught you, but I would place a bet that there is at least one section on living a fine life that you will remember.
The book delivers in a light and upbeat way. I agree it would be a suitable graduation gift, but the appeal goes beyond there. It would be something to pull off the bookshelf when I feel like my approach needs a touch of polish. Any age can learn here.
Don't just gift a copy, but keep a copy around for yourself/your home. Display this book and let it be a conversation starter! At 210 pages, it is the sort of book that will entertain. Share your Fancy!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I can guarantee that most of us can't recite (nor possibly ever learned/retained) the basics she writes about.
Maybe you can skip over a certain chapter/section because you have that covered? Perhaps a family member or a mentor taught you, but I would place a bet that there is at least one section on living a fine life that you will remember.
The book delivers in a light and upbeat way. I agree it would be a suitable graduation gift, but the appeal goes beyond there. It would be something to pull off the bookshelf when I feel like my approach needs a touch of polish. Any age can learn here.
Don't just gift a copy, but keep a copy around for yourself/your home. Display this book and let it be a conversation starter! At 210 pages, it is the sort of book that will entertain. Share your Fancy!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 8, 2026
Pretend to Be Fancy is the modern etiquette guide I didn't know I was missing. Smart, funny, and refreshingly free of the stuffy energy that usually defines the genre. It reads less like a rulebook and more like a frank, sharp friend walking you through adult life.
The scope is impressive. Entertaining, food, glassware, interiors, fashion, conversation, gifting. There is a chapter on how to prepare and pronounce crudités. Another on shucking oysters. One on building a capsule wardrobe. Specific, useful, never preachy. Publishers Weekly called it a self-aware update on Emily Post and that is exactly right.
What sets it apart is the underlying argument. You do not need a trust fund or a country house to be fancy. You need taste, curiosity, and the basic decency to not be a douche at dinner. Pierce makes that case with wit and zero condescension.
The book itself is a beautiful object. The colour palette, the illustrations, the gold spine. It mirrors the classic etiquette guides while feeling unmistakably current. Looks gorgeous on a coffee table and even better in a stack of gifts. Already top of my list for graduations, birthdays, and housewarmings this year.
Hoping there is a next one in the series.
The scope is impressive. Entertaining, food, glassware, interiors, fashion, conversation, gifting. There is a chapter on how to prepare and pronounce crudités. Another on shucking oysters. One on building a capsule wardrobe. Specific, useful, never preachy. Publishers Weekly called it a self-aware update on Emily Post and that is exactly right.
What sets it apart is the underlying argument. You do not need a trust fund or a country house to be fancy. You need taste, curiosity, and the basic decency to not be a douche at dinner. Pierce makes that case with wit and zero condescension.
The book itself is a beautiful object. The colour palette, the illustrations, the gold spine. It mirrors the classic etiquette guides while feeling unmistakably current. Looks gorgeous on a coffee table and even better in a stack of gifts. Already top of my list for graduations, birthdays, and housewarmings this year.
Hoping there is a next one in the series.
December 4, 2025
Have you ever wished to read a book that speaks like a real person. BOOM. Here you go readers.
Get ready to know Whitney off rip. Get to know how pure energy can flow through you by the way you think and perceive the world.
An amazing read and highly recommend to readers of all types. Who doesn't want to feel fancy ..... Don't lie. IT'S THE GOAL FOLKS .
Get ready to know Whitney off rip. Get to know how pure energy can flow through you by the way you think and perceive the world.
An amazing read and highly recommend to readers of all types. Who doesn't want to feel fancy ..... Don't lie. IT'S THE GOAL FOLKS .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Some really good advice all told in a very frank, funny and amusing way! Every young adult should read this book. And some older ones who have forgotten basic manners and the golden rule! But the sections on entertaining and decorating were my favorite!
I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it!
I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it!
Read
December 5, 2025Pretend to Be Fancy is one of those books you open thinking you’ll skim a few pages, and suddenly you’re an hour deep wondering how Whitney just upgraded your entire life. It’s smart, funny, zero-pretentious, and somehow makes ‘fancy’ feel totally achievable. A genuinely great hang of a book.
December 3, 2025
Fancy is accessible! Finally! A gem of a book. As necessary as Elements of Style for your bookcase.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews