Run don’t walk to grab this book when it hits shelves next Tuesday! PLEASE! I honestly cannot believe this is Ava Wilder’s debut novel. It has everything you could possibly want in a romance- chemistry, steam, banter, tension, depth. And SO much more. The characters are flawed and believable and struggling and real. They came alive for me. And I know Emily Henry is the queen of banter, but Ava Wilder is coming for that crown. While it’s definitely a rom com, it has so much depth and it tackles some tough stuff.

Grey Brooks is looking for her next big break after her long-running teen show ends. Ethan Atkins, despite being an A-list celebrity, has basically been a recluse over the last five years. For the sake of their careers, they each need something the other can provide. They’re actors, they can sell anything, including a fake relationship.

I really, really enjoyed this one! Probably my new favorite ARC of the year. It switched between Grey's POV and Ethan's (within the same chapters) and I really liked that. I thought it tackled a lot of sensitive topics really well including alcoholism, insecurity, grief, and death of a loved one. It wasn't just a cute rom-com -- it was heavier, but well done.

Read if you like:
-- yummy breakfast food
-- behind the scenes "realness" of Hollywood
-- cute banter
-- characters that you are rooting for!
-- fake dating trope
-- lots of tension
-- self-growth
-- easy-to-read writing

4.5 stars! Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this eARC! This is out this Tuesday, the 14th!

I love celebrity gossip so it should come as no surprise that I adored 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 which takes you behind the scenes of a PR stunt turned real romance between a scandal-plagued A-lister and an up-and-coming TV star.

Don't be fooled by the title and cover - this isn't a light romcom and that's a good thing. Ava Wilder delivers wonderfully multidimensional characters in Ethan, half of a Ben Affleck/Matt Damon-like pair who's been struggling since the death of his best friend, and Grey, a former child star trying to find her way as a woman in what's still a very misogynistic industry. The book tackles addiction, grief, invasion of privacy, sexism and more and as much as I loved the relationship between Ethan and Grey, I was equally invested in each of their emotional journeys. The dialogue is fabulous as is the secondary cast of inclusive characters, and yes, this sexy couple brings the steam. What more can you ask for in a summer read?

Thanks to Random House and Ballantine Books for the copy to review.

BOOK REVIEW:ARC

How to Fake it In Hollywood
By Ava WIlder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing date: 6/14/2022

How to Fake it in Hollywood brings us a fake dating story between Gray and Ethan. If you enjoy slow burns, fake dating, celebrities and Hollywood, you will love!

Grey is a 27 year old actress who is dieing to be a part of a big hit. She is a former child star and wants to be recognized for more than her most recent series, Poison Paradise.
Ethan is 10 Years older than Grey,a divorced father and a well know actor in Hollywood. But he wants to be back in the spotlight and be relevant.

2 people who want recognition in the public eye? Boom...fake dating and a PR stunt!

The book starts as a  fun rom com like I  expected,  but gradually develops into a more complex story. We see real life issues being addressed and how they affect all  relationships in our life.

This is definitely a slow burn. The beginning of the book was a little drawn out for me. But about 50%,  it picked up  and I  wanted to keep reading because I was rooting for Ethan and Grey. ( I read the last 35% in 1 sitting) I really enjoyed their chemistry and how they handled issues below the surface, because I too, have had to deal with addiction  in my relationship.  I understand how tough it is on everyone involved, not just the addict.

I really enjoyed the book. I think its a perfect mix of romance and sincerity. It wasn't what I was expecting but glad I got the arc!

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse house for the arc!!

How to Fake it in Hollywood is the debut novel to Ava Wilder and she did an amazing job. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and had a difficult time putting the book down. I blew through it, and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Grey has been unemployed for a year, since the end of her long running teen drama, and she’s struggling to find work. While Ethan, a true A-list celebrity, has become a bit of a recluse since his best friend passed away and he’s taken more to drinking than anything else. Now their publicist believes they are the key to getting their careers back on track. For Ethan, being seen in a committed relationship will show the world he is in fact, reliable. While Ethan will push Grey into the spotlight just by being with him. It’s a simple arrangement, they just need to fake being in a relationship for a measly six-months. What’s the worst that can happen?

I loved the story and the way it was told was really great, and the heavy subject matter was handled very well, though Grey’s character did frustrate me at times. Overall, the writing style was great and easy to read, the pacing was perfect, and the character development was on point. I will definitely be following Ava Wilder and checking out her next book.

How To Fake It In Hollywood was a very well-executed fake dating book. I usually find most 'fake dating' books have the couples getting together too fast for my liking, but not this book. While Grey and Ethan definitely have an insta attraction, there was plenty of delicious build-up and the chemistry between the two were great. Despite the fun cover and 'celebrity romance' trope, I was also surprised to see that this book covers a whole plethora of deeper problems (mainly addiction, grief, and privacy concerns). These were done in a way which was smart, portraying both characters as flawed and real, making them easier to relate to even though they are both famous and therefore often in situations that I would never find myself in! Overall, I thought this was a brilliant debut!

Honestly one of my favorite things about this book was the amount of times breakfast food was discussed. I LOVE breakfast and brinner is a pretty frequent occurrence in our household. Bacon aside - I also loved the ending of this book. I felt like it was unique, raw, and real. The characters were also so raw which I wasn’t expecting going into this based on the synopsis so I was pleasantly surprised!

Okay this was not the lighthearted read the cover makes it out to be... but that doesn't take anything away from how amazing it was. What a special debut!!

You think you're just going to get a happy-go-lucky romcom about two actors faking a relationship to boost their careers, but instead we get a raw, emotional story on top of the fake dating that shows the less glamorous side of Hollywood and deals with addiction, self-worth, and grief.

This is a great quick, fun, summer read. This is a fake dating/forced proximity story with both characters interested in a fake relationship to advance their Hollywood careers. Grey was a teenage star looking to break into movie roles but cannot land any gigs. Ethan is a former Hollywood heartthrob and has taken a backseat in Hollywood after his writing/acting partner passed away. The two had great tension and chemistry and I loved their banter and all of their interactions! I also loved seeing Grey's relationship with Ethan's ex and their friendship and support for Ethan and his struggles. Recommend for those that enjoy celebrity stories! I only wish it were a little longer to see a few story lines resolved a little more completely.

I saw so much hype over How to Fake It in Hollywood, to the point that I worried that it couldn't possibly live up to it and I'd come away disappointed. But boy oh boy, this book lived up to every bit of it and then some. It was so achingly perfect... two authentic, complicated, flawed characters just trying to do their best, feeling all the feelings, so in love with each other but can't help but hurt each other even when they try to protect each other and themselves. If you like Emily Henry's emotional writing, Funny You Should Ask, Nora Goes Off Script, or Birds of California, you are absolutely going to love this book!

Grey Brooks is a young, talented actress who's career is in the holding pattern after her popular long-running teen drama comes to an end. She doesn't yet have the Hollywood status needed to get her personal film project off the ground. Ethan Atkins is the slightly older and mildly disgraced, reclusive Hollywood heartthrob considering making a comeback. Their agents and publicist propose a fake-dating scheme for their mutual benefit - Grey gets the cache and publicity needed to help get her foot in the door, and Ethan gets the credibility he needs to clean up his reputation. On paper, it sounds easy, but is anything but.... Grey finds herself drawn to Ethan despite his unstable moods, and Ethan continues to struggle with the grief over his best friend and creative partner's death years prior, his messy and public divorce, and his alcoholism. Publicly, the couple are attracting the gossip and publicity they were hoping for. Privately, they fight their ever-growing attraction and chemistry. But giving in means risking it all and opening up in a way that neither are ready for.

This is new my favorite book of the summer, and very high on the list of my all-time favorites. The characters are just so perfectly real - complicated, scared, insecure. They each battle their own demons, but Ethan just jumps off the page with how authentic he is in all his flaws. Their emotions are so believable due to the superb and impeccable writing. The story doesn't follow the typical trope timeline - there are so many ups and downs, in and outs between the two. The reconciliation and resolution didn't feel too easy, but was complicated and difficult - again so realistic and relatable instead of idealistic. The tension between them was so palpable that I just could not stop turning the pages, and then was so disappointed to reach the end - and could not stop thinking about it after it was over.

This was PHENOMENAL! I loved it so, so much. The writing was impeccable, the characters felt real and believable, and the story was addictive. Can't believe this is a debut!!!! Definitely looking forward to anything this author writes in the future.

I will start by saying this book started off slow for me.. and I’m not sure if that’s because I just expected a “punch you in the face” type of start, or I was sooo ready to escape in a book on the plane and at the beach. But once it got going I really enjoyed the story and the evolution of Ethan and Grey. It was very character driven and had so much depth.

Tropes:
Celebrity Romance
Fake Dating
Grumpy/Sunshine (ish)

How to Fake It in Hollywood comes out 6/14! Definitely check this out for a great contemporary romance this summer! Thank You @randomhouse Dell for the free book!

TW: alcoholism, grief

5 stars romance!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this arc. I’ve been falling out of romance lately with the same cut-and-paste plot points, but this one breaks the mold. It’s a perfect blend of real-life problems and cute banter between our 2 leads. The male lead is one of the most vulnerable love interests I have read from in a long time, his inner monologue is raw and honest; and one of the more realistic reasons for a love interest to hold back.

Grey Brooks has just ended her long-running teen tv show (think CW level nonsense) and needs her next career move. Ethan Atkins has been struggling ever since his best friend and long-time business partner died tragically (think Ben and Matt buddy level). Ethan and Grey share the same publicist who suggests the pair enter a fake relationship to help both their careers out.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for my e-Arc!

I am LOVING celebrity books and the fake dating trope lately, so this book was a winner for me! Grey was an excellent leading lady, and put up with a lot from mr. grumpy Ethan! This one hooked me from the beginning, and I devoured it!

How to Fake it in Hollywood is much deeper than you’d expect from a romance, and the author did a beautiful job writing about some tougher topics. The second half did slow down a tad with a more serious side, but I truly appreciate that the author didn’t breeze over it.

I felt all the emotions in this one. I was giddy about their relationship and the sexual tension, I was heartbroken because the paparazzi are jerks, and I was angry with decisions Ethan made. I love when a book takes you on an emotional ride!

Preorder this one if you haven’t already!

I literally cannot believe that this is a debut from Ava Wilder. This book has so much depth but also all of the super cute romance that we are looking for. When I say that this book has everything, I mean it! It has fake dating, dual POV, age gap, hot dads, celerity drama, spice, and everything in between. The tension throughout this book was undeniable and it had you hanging onto every chapter. I literally could not put this book down! Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this one!

I expected a cute romcom based on the cover and synopsis but this was a much deeper read. Yes, it did have the traditional cuteness one would expect but it also delved further into the characters. Highly recommend!!

What a delectable surprise and wonderful debut! I'd definitely watch out for Ava Wilder's future releases.

Don't get fooled by the cutesy cover, though. This book gave me a glimpse of and let me escape into Hollywood while offering a lot more emotional depth and nuance than what the seemingly romcom-y cover implies. So manage your expectations before diving in.

Ethan and Grey is teeming with sexual tension and chemistry. As he's an A-lister and has become a household name while she's a young starlet relegated to mediocre projects despite her talents, there is this uneven power dynamics between them but it's fascinating to watch Grey hold her own against and with Ethan. This book also provided an ugly picture of the price of fame with depictions of invasion of privacy, alcoholism, and bottled grief.

I really enjoyed being immersed in this book and it gave me Evvie Drake Starts Over, Funny You Should Ask and The View Was Exhausting vibes. If you're a fan of any of these books, be sure to pick this one up, or simply let this book surprise you just like I was.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and Ava Wilder for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure how to rate this book. It's well written in terms of sentence structure. Interesting premise. Interesting characters. But it is boring at times and sort of...drags. It's missing that certain something that makes the storyline pop. Maybe more tension between the main characters? And the chemistry didn't really build. I would give this author a try again though.

***Advanced copy obtained from Random House Publishing via Netgalley***

TW: alcoholism; death of a loved one

Let me start this by saying, I LOVE celebrity romances. Give me a celebrity romance with fake dating and I am in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Watching Grey and Ethan start their relationship in such a rocky fashion, overcome it and realize their true feelings for each other, and then have to come together again because his love for her made him want to be a better man? I loved it.

I loved seeing how all of the different relationships developed throughout the entire story, my favorite relationship was by far Nora and Grey. It was really nice to finally read a book where the ex-wife isn't a raging b*tch and willing to help her however she could because she knew how hard it was to be with him? This is the kind of women supporting women stuff I'd love to see more of in books.

While not in a romantic relationship, I have been in a situation similar to the one that Grey went through with Ethan. Dealing with an alcoholic who doesn't see the issues in their ways is not easy, but I think Wilder did an excellent job of depicting what a person goes through watching someone they love fight this addiction.

Overall, I cannot wait to see what Wilder does next. Based on this book, I'll be happy to pick it up.

When I saw How to Fake It in Hollywood was fake dating, i couldn't wait to read it. II enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood and I read it pretty quickly. Grey and Ethan are thrown into a fake relationship to help both of their careers. Despite having a crush on him when she was a kid and his celebrity status, Grey still is herself around him and isn't afraid to tell him how it is. She was pretty tough! They begin seeing each other frequently to support their ruse. Despite the fact that their relationship starts out fake, it quickly becomes more. There were a lot of moments when I wanted to shake Ethan. It was clear why he had so many demons but he was so self sabotaging and I was so glad when he finally got help. I was a little sad that it took what it did for him to seek help, but I know that's a very complicated issue and I appreciated that it wasn't glossed over in the story line. I really admired Grey's ability to walk away and to continue focus on her career when she could've easily continued the toxic cycle with him. I would've liked a little more when they're reunited but I loved the magazine interview at the end. I will definitely check out future books by this author.