I’m such a fan of Ava Wilder’s writing in HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD. I was immediately invested in the relationship between Grey Brooks (a child star-turned-adult actress) and Ethan Atkins (an A-list actor who disappeared from the scene after a tragic life event). Grey and Ethan are brought together by their publicist for a fake relationship plan to help revive both of their careers. There’s immediate tension, and I love how Grey doesn’t hold back from being fully herself. This is an open-door romance with heavier topics (death of a friend, alcoholism, invasion of privacy, parental estrangement) that are handled with care and empathy. If you like novels that give you a peek into the lives of the rich and famous, with juicy tidbits and a big heart combined into one, this book’s for you.

TW: alcoholism, death, cheating, car accident

This is darker than I thought it would be, but not in a negative way. It deals with addiction, the difficult side of fame, and the insidiousness of Hollywood, but there's also a fake dating trope and an age gap romance that's not creepy. I appreciated how Grey and Ethan both have their own flaws and issues to figure out but also have room to explore a relationship (even if it starts out as a fake one) with each other. The story moves along at a fast clip, and there's some steam if that's your thing.

Overall, this romance is worth your time, especially if you're looking for something that's still entertaining but less fluffy.

Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover or cute title - this book is not a light read. It covers a lot of heavy topics which in my opinion overshadowed the romance. I was originally hoping for more of a classic rom com story but overall I ended up enjoying how the characters and story line were more complicated and real.

This is quite possible my favorite new release of the year. I am already looking forward to reading it again. How to Fake It in Hollywood, is a charming debut by Ava Wilder and I cannot wait to see what comes next. Two actors needing an image boost for different reason agree to fake a realationship to try and make moves in their careers. Fake dating is one of my favorite romace tropes, and this is a standout among the genre. This book had the right amount of angst and some genuine heartbreak.

I hightly recommend this book to anyone that loves the romance genre. You will not be disappointed.

First off, thank you Ballentine Books and Penguin Random House for the digital e-arc!

I pretty much read this in one sitting, very quick and easy read. I started it before dinner and I stayed up and finished it at about 2am. From the beginning, I was looking forward to this one because of the fake dating, which is probably my most favorite trope of them all and so I went into it with higher expectations. I enjoyed it, it was fast-paced, fun and sweet and it most of the sweet spots that I look for in my romance novels. I'm not usually a fan of rom-coms with large age-gaps (in this case it's only about 11 years) largely because they place too much focus on the age gap but Grey (the female main character) as the ex-child actress working her way up in Hollywood while Ethan (the male main character) as the reclusive A-list actor/ex-heartthrob wanting to make his big comeback, they surprisingly worked well together. Grey was very mature for her age and felt incredibly relatable for someone who works as an actress in Hollywood. With that said, although that Ethan got a lot of development throughout the book, personally, I felt that Grey had a lot less development as a character (for example, the whole storyline involving her mother didn’t turn into anything or add anything?). Her character remained essentially static from beginning to end.

I also wish we had more development in their relationship- instead the main lead is almost instantly attracted to her, it was almost insta-love. The last bit of the book also kinda veered off into another direction that I caught me off guard. I felt that it wasn't necessary and maybe too heavy of a subject. I would have rather had more of a lighter moments with the main characters, more fake dating and getting to know each other besides the “falling in love” questions. I think due to the cover I was expecting a lighter read and this book didn’t necessarily deliver on that front, maybe this book should’ve been marketed a bit differently. That being said, I did enjoy it so my rating is 3.5/5.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book. I initially thought it would be more of a rom-com, which it definitely isn't. A lot of it involves two broken people avoiding solving their problems, coping with fame in different ways. Often the fake dating conceit can feel overly contrived, but it worked in this case. I also appreciate that both characters had to come to terms with their flaws... eventually.

**Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel, which releases on June 14th, 2022

Ava Wilder’s How to Fake It in Hollywood is her romance-packed debut that is sure to make readers go crazy with delight.

I was originally drawn to this book by the gorgeous cover and perfectly descriptive blurb. I’m pretty much the biggest fan you’ll ever find of the fake dating trope, and when I read that it was going to about a Hollywood-based couple, I was sold.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. The friendship that blossomed between main characters Ethan and Grey was so wonderful to experience, and their relationship was so interesting developmentally. I love that the book didn’t just showcase the romantic scenes, but it focused on the raw, difficult moments as well. However, that is not to discredit the romance. The scenes between these two were sizzling hot.

I thought it was neat of Wilder to approach the subject of alcoholism by making it Ethan’s primary vice. His struggle throughout the whole novel and aversion to help and recovery was so hard to read about, but so important to take in as there are many people who struggle with this problem.

Ultimately, I loved the progression of Grey and Ethan’s relationship throughout the book. I was so proud of Grey as she became more confident in herself and realized the power she held as an individual woman, but also the happiness she could have if she made the decision to choose love. I was captivated by Ethan’s character as his past was fleshed out and we saw how it affected his present state of being. The love between the two main characters is unbreakable and beautiful.

I would very highly recommend this book to fans of the YA and Romance genres, it is a perfect read that is certainly comparable to Emily Henry’s Beach Read or Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners. For me, this is 100% a five-star-rated read.

How To Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 stars
Pub date: June 14th

Ethan Atkins is a reclusive, A-list celebrity who hasn’t acted in years and needs a way to make himself relevant again. Grey Brooks, a young Hollywood starlet, is struggling to find work and is trying to push her career to the next level. When their PR team suggests that they fake date one another to give their careers a much needed boost, (even though Ethan is eleven years older) they decide that it can’t hurt. They’re determined to keep their relationship professional, but fake dating turns into real feelings while they try to navigate a life together in the public eye.

I loved this debut novel from Ava Wilder! There is more to this book than meets the eye, and contrary to what the adorable cover would suggest, this is not a fluffy rom com. Ethan turned to alcohol as a way to cope with his best friend’s death years earlier and Wilder doesn’t hold back from showing us the dark and gritty side of his addiction. While the first half of the book reads like a typical fake dating rom-com, the second half is where things get more serious and the stakes start to feel higher.

This celebrity romance is full of depth and angst, heartbreak and hope and will have you believing in second chances by the end. There’s plenty of drama to keep this book interesting while also exploring the relationship between these two very different characters. I loved Grey’s no nonsense attitude and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Grey and Ethan. I have always loved celebrity gossip and the fact that this book is about high profile celebrities who are incredibly relatable as they deal with their real life problems put this book right in my wheelhouse.

I loved the hilarious banter between Grey and Ethan, the heartwarming romance and the steam! The slow burn is torturous but the payoff is worth it. Even though some of Ethan’s mental health struggles were hard to read (I was definitely cringing over his behavior at times), I think Wilder handled this topic with care and sensitivity. I still can’t believe this is a debut novel!

I would recommend this to anyone who loves pop culture, celebrities, and a rom com with a lot of depth. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House and Ava Wilder for the advanced copy to read and review. This book comes out on June 14th so make sure you get yours!

Romance with a side of angst!

Grey Brooks will do anything to get the role that she wants even faking dating reclusive Ethan Atkins who needs the publicity to try and finish the final project he was working with his best friend before he left the spotlight. He had been through the wringer of Hollywood after his nasty divorce, the death of his best friend Sam and he was trying to straighten out his life with little success. Grey wants to land a role on the new Golden City franchise, but fake dating Ethan Atkins will get some positive buzz her in the tabloids.

How to Fake It in Hollywood doesn’t gloss over Hollywood with a light bubbly romance but shows the reader all the angsty drama when they fall in love for real with the warts and all.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Make sure you RUN and pre-order this book. It comes out June 14th and you don't want to miss this outstanding debut by Ava Wilder.

I will talk about this book in themes because my brain is weird and this is the only way I'll be able to talk about everything and not get distracted.

The Writing.
Holy sh!t, this is a debut novel??? DEBUT??? This read like such a rich, seasoned story, so vivid, beautiful, real, and raw. And to think this masterpiece is just the first of many for Ava is absolutely amazing. I have loved the vivid descriptions, and the rich language which I can only describe as honey, and felt like it was submerging me into the story. It made me laugh out loud (like a hyena, if you get the reference), it broke my heart into thousands of pieces.

Humor
No but this was genuinely one of the funniest romance novels I've read? Without it being cheesy or weird. Grey and Ethan both use humor as a coping mechanism, especially in awkward situations and I can relate to it a lot.

There's an unexpected friendship that comes about between two women which I absolutely adored. Just women supporting women, women cheering women on, and women giving other women advice to last a lifetime. HOT.

Romance
This is what we came here for, right? And to be honest, I did not expect the turns this story took. But I loved them. This wasn't your traditional love story between two characters. This was a love story between two human beings, both flawed, scarred by their past, and prone to making mistakes. This was about second chances, being willing to do anything for the person you care about even if it hurts you. It's about forgiveness, compromise, and seeing the best in each other. What started as a PR stunt, quickly turned into a messy, complicated yet raw relationship.

Also, the spice is good. It doesn't overthrow the story yet allows you to connect with the characters in a beautiful manner.

Diversity
The cast of secondary characters is diverse and beautiful and I have loved it so much.

CW: alcoholism, death of a loved one, grief

475/5, cannot wait for future Ava Wilder releases and to consume them with the speed of light!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have posted this review on the following platforms:
Goodreads (date posted: June 12th): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4587860309
Instagram (date posted: June 12th): https://www.instagram.com/p/CeswszDu1-k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Twitter (date posted: June 12th): https://twitter.com/teamdeckerstar/status/1535903991099441152?s=20&t=ZQuNkdRUK1-3CWbdK-QKBg
Storygraph (date posted: June 12th): https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0e17ee7c-bf7f-417a-a9e0-1681591c6100

“When she was around, her presence was loud enough to drown out his doubts, his fears, his most self-sabotaging impulses.”

How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
Spice: 🌶🌶 (2/5)

Teen soap star wanting to take more control of her career. Former teenage heartthrob turned burnout. Both need an image boost. Fake Dating. Ethan is struggling to recover in a healthy way from his best friends death. Grey is looking to rebrand but that’s been easier said than done. This book is a steamy summer read. Love the seamless queer and non-binary representation as well. So many unexpected twists and turns.

The attention detail that Ava Wilder puts into this story is *chefs kiss*. I can feel every time Ethan hurts and struggles. I sympathize with Grey yearning for more. The steam is hot in this fantastic book. I can’t wait to read more from Ava. This is sure to be a hit. Will need a physical copy ASAP so I can share it with all my friends.

Okay, wow!!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was talking about tropes with fellow romance lovers in my book club and those who loved this book also agree, there's just something so fun about a famous person romance that keeps me so drawn in, just like this one did.
What I loved about How to Fake It in Hollywood? The burn, the desire, that Grey and Ethan both felt. Going in, this book made sure it told you that these two were strictly fake dating, but soon enough, something just clicks within them that makes them realize that they really do have feelings for each other. Add like, a whole lot of baggage, and this book is a five star read. I felt this special connection between Grey and Ethan the whole time, rooting for them through it all, it was great. I definitely enjoyed this book and all it gave.

this one was amazing!!! i do think that this is definitely not a rom-com, although there are some lighter moments. it just needs to be said that there are lots of very intense moments throughout this book, lots of angst.

grey was a great character. ethan was a little more frustrating. i didn't realize the subject matter that this novel would cover (alcoholism) and i have a very personal relationship with addiction that makes novels like this tough to read. if i had known, i might have gone in with a different mindset.

this one was definitely steamy and had a lot of sweet moments that i can't get over. the scene where ethan gives grey her birthday present actually made me sob.

i also really loved all of the side characters, especially nora. it was nice to see an ex of one of the main characters still involved in the story in a way that was not negative, but rather the exact opposite. lots of people break up and maintain a great relationship with their exes and i wish i could see it more in romances.

This debut was 🤩🤩
Grey and Ethan; two Hollywood stars in need of some attention to their names get roped in to a scenario where they enter a fake relationship. They do so good keeping it casual; and then a free vacation happens and whew 😅
Ethan has his issues; a lot of grief and regret over the loss of his best friend, a drinking problem, a less than subpar life, and the inability to connect with anyone.
Grey is on a mission to keep her career after a stint on a guilty pleasure (lame but addicting) tv show, some serious angst towards her mom, and a cheating ex bf who was also her costar.
Dual POV 👩‍❤️‍👨
Banter 🥰
Steam 🥵
Messy AF 🙃
TW: alcoholism, grief, divorce, hollywood drama, death of a loved one
(Obsessed. @avawilderwrites did SO good - the messy and hard subjects were written SO well)

“How to Fake it in Hollywood” by Ava Wilder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 6/14
Genre: Romcom

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I loved every minute of it! The perfect Romcom! Fake relationship trope with lots of drama.

Grey Brooks has been an actress since she was a child, but never had been Hollywood famous. She wants to bring her career to another level. Ethan Brooks is an A-list superstar that turned hermit after his best friend died a few years back. He has holed up in his home drinking and feeling sorry for himself.
When their publicist throws out an idea for them to fake date for good publicity they both decide why not. Their fake dating starts off with scheduled appearances and lots of awkward silence. After a weekend in Palm Springs the heat turns up and so does the gossip. They both have lots of work to do. Grey needs to let her guard down and let other people in. Ethan needs to clean up his act and deal with his grief. Can these two become what they want? Will they end up together?

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the advanced reading copy via Netgalley. My review contains my own thoughts and opinions.

How to Fake it in Hollywood looks like a sparkly light romance, and while it was a delightful summer read and had me laughing, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of development in the main characters and their vulnerability. Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins could benefit from some good PR for their acting careers, for different reasons, and their publicist is convinced a fake relationship is what they need. I loved their slow burn relationship and rooted for them from page one.

CW: Alcoholism/addiction, grief, parental death/emotional abandonment

So, a quick summary: Grey is an actress since she was a small girl. But then, her most famous show is finished and she has no new projects. Ethan was once a superstar, but he has fallen from grace. However, he wants to be back.
Solution to their dilemma? Fake-dating. Grey needs the attention, and Ethan needs the good reputation.

Soo, what’s so wonderful about this book, you might ask:
1. The cover. Can be stop for one second and admire/watch/sigh/drool/swoon over this cover? So pretty and cute and attractive. I mean, I saw it and wanted to pick the book, immediately.
2. The title. Again, like the cover, it just calls for you. You cannot ignore it.
3. They are both in the entertaining media. I don’t know about you, but I really like to read about famous people.
4. Fake-dating in its perfection. What better and more believable opportunity to fake-date than being in Hollywood?
5. The angst. People, I swooned a lot and was neurotic half the time in this book because I needed Grey and Ethan to be together.
6. Their conversations. They are cute. Just, seriously cute.
7. Ethan is such a cute father too.
8. Healthy relationships. I really liked that Ethan and his ex-wife Nora were amicable. I really loved that Grey and Nora turned friends. Just, thank you for not putting ex dramas.

This book ended up being not what I was expecting and definitely not in a bad way. I ended up really enjoying the book and devoured it in basically one sitting. Yeah, it sucks you in. I was expecting something more on the lines of You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria or Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade. It's a much heavier novel than that, but don't let it stop you from reading it! Just check out the content warnings and enjoy because it was so good!!

Loves:

Communication- the communication that both characters had was phenomenal. Sure there were some moments when they didn't talk things through as much as they should have, but I understood the why behind those moments. However for the most part they acted like adults and talked things through!

Grey, Ethan, and Nora- I loved these characters. Each one felt like they were fully developed and utterly flawed in the best way. To be honest, Nora ended up stealing the show for me with her relationship with Ethan and Grey even though she was the ex-wife. Grey was such an interesting character too! She'd been in shows and worked her whole life which created a very interesting dynamic. Ethan was such a sad man. You seriously cannot hope but for the best for him the entire book

Plot- This plot does not go the way you think it will. I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting myself into with this book. Spoiler alert, I did not. I'm not going to ruin any part of this novel, but just be aware it's not going to go how you think it is. And honestly, that's for the better. The ending is absolute perfection because of it

Meh:

Side Characters- Look I just wanted more from them. I was really hoping we'd get a better interaction with Ethan and his children. Also some more from Grey's family. It's there but just isn't fleshed out the way the rest of the story was. I get why it was probably done, but if I could change one thing it'd be that.

Long Story Short

Do I recommend this book? YES! It was amazing and I really enjoyed the writing. Everything flowed so well. Totally a book I would give as a gift to a friend. There's just so much to unpack and also the steamy scenes were totally worth it. I really, really hope this is just the beginning of Ava Wilder's writing career because I so want more books from her!

If You Liked This One...

I would highly recommend checking out You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria, which also has two actor leads. Not a fake dating situation but super steamy and similar themes! Additionally,Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade also features fake dating and one character is an actor that is pretty much a combo of Grey and Ethan. Spoiler Alert is also fairly heavy in places so it's similar in that sense as well. For another heavier romance I'd recommend How to Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams as the title is close ;) and the plot lines follow a similar trend!

Thank you to Ava Wilder, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of a digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!

Cute. Fake relationship. Feel-good.

"She gave herself exactly three seconds to be upset: <i> Three. Two. One.</i>
PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS PRIOR TO READING.

SYNOPSIS:
A talented Hollywood starlet and a reclusive A-lister enter into a fake relationship . . . and discover that their feelings might be more than a PR stunt in this sexy debut for fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners.

Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen soap has her (unsuccessfully) pounding the pavement again. With a life-changing role on the line, she's finally desperate enough to agree to her publicist's scheme... faking a love affair with a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob who needs the publicity, but for very different reasons.

Ethan Atkins just wants to be left alone. Between his high-profile divorce, his struggles with drinking, and his grief over the death of his longtime creative partner and best friend, he's slowly let himself fade into the background. But if he ever wants to produce the last movie he and his partner wrote together, Ethan needs to clean up his reputation and step back into the spotlight. A gossip-inducing affair with a gorgeous actress might be just the ticket, even if it's the last thing he wants to do.

Though their juicy public relationship is less than perfect behind the scenes, it doesn't take long before Grey and Ethan's sizzling chemistry starts to feel like more than just an act. But after decades in a ruthless industry that requires bulletproof emotional armor to survive, are they too used to faking it to open themselves up to the real thing?

REVIEW - WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD (you've been warned):
i thought this book was going to be strictly fake dating that turned into a happy ending. Boy, was I wrong. This book was full of drama that did not prepare me for the ending. The angst I had for Ethan to simply act on his inner monologue left me speeding through to see what happened next.

Wilder's writing style is easy to get through and left me feeling quite steamy. My criticism would be that I felt like the ending was very rushed. The entire book has great character development on the protagonists and supporting characters, all for Grey and Ethan's reunion to be scrambled together and given to the reader. On multiple occasions, Grey said she was not going to give Ethan another chance after leaving her in the cab. And without any development of Ethan's character trying to win Grey back, they ended up back together for their "happily ever after" in the final three chapters. I would have liked to see more of Ethan "chasing" Grey to win her back and prove that he has changed for her, especially after 16 months of no contact.

Just to clarify, my rating for this book is not because the story or writing was mediocre, the storyline just didn't play out the way I expected. I also felt that the title didn't fully fit the overall book. Of course, Grey and Ethan were fake dating in the novel and the title definitely fits the first half of the book, but the second half of the book was Grey and Ethan being completely truthful with themselves and each other to lead to their "happily ever after."

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75/5 stars!!!

What I loved:
- fake dating
- tension and chemistry
- realistic and flawed characters
- fun Hollywood / celebrity vibes
- super fun ensemble cast of characters that I would read books about
- positive portrayal of co-parenting
- stubborn and witty MCs
- the romance of it all!!

What I wanted:
- more details on side characters
- less time jumps
- even more fake dating antics

First let me say that this is an absolutely fabulous debut novel and I will happily read anything else Ava Wilder writes!!!

Overall I loved this book, and I was drawn into the tumultuous relationship between Grey and Ethan!!! I loved their hot & cold fake dating, their development together, and the very real struggles they faced. While this book sounds like a sizzling summer read, and it absolutely is, it also delivers on conversations about grief and families that are broken (or rebuilding), and includes the realities of addiction and therapy and how that can impact a relationship.

I wish this book had 100 more pages that could have filled in the gaps. Throughout there are some pretty big time jumps or off page events that I wish I could have read about and think would have given even more context and wonder to this story.