4/5 stars. If you are somehow that does not enjoy corny romances this is more for you. This book covered serious topics like addiction, depression, and death of a loved one. I felt these were addressed in a way that was honest and accurate considering the unbelievable premise (although maybe my mind is changed on this because looking at you Kim and Pete).

I felt the chemistry between characters was clear, and I loved Grey and Nora's friendship. I felt like I understood all of the choices characters made, which sometimes isn't true in romances because they can just be outlandish. I loved how much everyone grew by the end of the book (no therapist girlfriends here).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the eARC!

This really wasn’t for me. I started this book with a very positive mindset because the tropes sounded amazing: a PR stunt, an age gap… it had all of the elements for me to like it. However, I found the relationship very toxic at so many levels.

To begin with, I think Ethan’s alcoholism wasn’t good representation. I am not an expert about addictions, not even close, but I think it should have been addressed way earlier, and in a different way. Nora was the only sensible one in this aspect. I’m glad he ended up going to rehab, but the reason was very wrong. The book tried hard to send a “love isn’t a cure” message but it failed. It absolutely was the vibe. Ethan had been an alcoholic for years but he didn’t realize until he met Grey. What about his daughters? He complains a lot about how his father was awful and he wanted to be a good father for his kids, but then, they were not part of his decision to get into therapy and rehab. It was all about Grey. It wasn’t right. As for Grey, I liked her at first and all throughout the book, but whenever she was with Ethan, both of their characters were extremely toxic for each other. I think the both of them fed each other’s worst sides. The first thing Grey tells Ethan after sixteen months without seeing each other because he was working on himself was “do you want to get a drink?” Girl…? It was just wrong.

I expected this book to be heavy because the blurb hints the alcoholism, grief and depression, but it wasn’t well done. I strongly believe they were better when they weren’t together.

Rating: 2/5
Steam: 2/5

TW: Alcoholism, grief, depression, stalking, drug use, divorce, parent abandonment, death of a loved one

Thanks to Random House for my ARC. This is my honest opinion, and I hope other readers can enjoy it more than I did.

Easily one of the best romances of the year! So much depth and emotion while also being sexy, fun, and fresh. I adored Ava WIlder's writing, and this felt like bingeing a really juicy TV show that you don't want to end. Ethan and Grey's chemistry was amazing, as were the personal journeys each had to go on to get their HEA. I can't wait to see what's next from this author!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of ‘How to Fake It in Hollywood’ by Ava Wilder. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story involves an A-list actor and a less famous television actor fake-dating to boost their careers. There was a lot of angst in their backstories and the author definitely seems to know a thing or two or has done research on the behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. Granted I don’t know anything about the industry so maybe it reads different to someone with that actual background. I liked how the author took aspects of pop culture that readers would be familiar with but changed them to fit the story. So the reader could recognize a movie but the title and the actors would be called something different in the book (probably also for legal reasons).

The relationship wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t dislike Grey but nor was I really rooting for her. I really don’t enjoy alcoholic characters so Ethan was especially difficult to root for. Their relationship just felt off to me. I didn’t believe in their attraction or chemistry. They get together way too fast and break up just as fast. I was also bothered by Grey getting high and thinking that excused her coming onto Ethan when he kept saying no. I feel like this has been bothering me more and more with a lot of dual POV romances where the reader is getting information from both POVs but the main characters don’t also have access to that information. If someone is saying ‘no’ even if the characters are attracted to each other then that is still the end of the conversation. The scene where Grey is high, gets rejected by Ethan, and goes to loudly pleasure herself in the next room read really uncomfortable for me even though he eventually joins in from his respective room. I just wish the consent had been handled better there. If the characters had been in reverse roles, that scene would have come across even worse if Ethan had been the aggressor.

I feel like a lot of people will probably like this book but I had my issues with it. I thought the setting and the celebrity world building were the most interesting parts of the story. The relationship just didn’t work for me personally.

Maybe this is another personal reading taste issue but I think I’m learning that I don’t enjoy stories with people having substance abuse problems (in this case largely alcohol but some drug use). While I’m glad Grey didn’t try to be the one to “fix” Ethan, it did feel a bit like rehab was used as a magical bandaid without showing much struggle or effort on Ethan’s part before he is forgiven. I feel this is an issue in a lot of contemporary romances lately where there’s a lot to unpack and heal from the third act breakup, but books don’t give that enough time and rush to the happily ever after.

3/5 stars

2.5. I will probably be in the minority with this one, but I didn't enjoy it. I really wanted to love this. I liked the Hollywood elements of the book, but I didn't buy the relationship and found it very boring. I couldn't wait for this to be over. :/

So much better than I expected. Perfect for the summer. Romcom and all. I loved it from beginning to end. Highly recommend!

Although the book involves fake dating Hollywood style, the author has given us a deeper story. The story felt real enough that I could picture any number of celebrities in our characters places. Actor Ethan Atkinson is struggling. After his best friend and writing partner died, his marriage crumbled. He gets by now with lots of drinking. Grey Brooks was in a popular tv show for years but now hasn’t been able to transition onto the next thing. While their publicist gets them together to help both of their careers what happens between them is a real connection. With both of them carrying around trauma and distrust this is not a easy romance. Although their is some witty banter, the story is much deeper. Ultimately, I enjoyed the development of both Ethan and Grey and the way the author handled some tough situations.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine for the arc.

If you’re looking for a romance novel that is a little more raw then I suggest HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD by Ava Wilder. I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope and this book doesn’t disappoint. Both main characters are real and believable individuals that can easily be one of your friends….less them being celebrities part. This book is a solid four star read and I look forward to Ava Wilder’s future books too.

I loved this book! It has so much depth disguised under that cute cover and a trope for every romance reader—fake dating, celebrity romance, age gap. The author tackles subjects of mental health, addiction, and grief while still maintaining the lighthearted vibe and happy-ever-after one expects from the genre. I’d recommend this book to fans of Abby Jimenez or Emily Henry, and I look forward to reading Wilder’s next book!

Harlequin Junkie Recommended Read!

Don't let the cover fool you–How to Fake it in Hollywood might look like a rom-com, but it is actually an emotionally-charged romance with so much depth and angst, heartbreak and inspiration, that readers will be breathless by the end.

What an intense, crazy-good ride! I truly did think How to Fake it in Hollywood would be on the lighthearted side. Boy wasn't I in for a surprise. But not in a bad way. Author Ava Wilder's debut followed actors Grey and Ethan while they tried to sell a fake relationship to the world in an effort to boost their careers. In this kind of trope you'd expect some awkwardness between them while they got to know each other, some sparks to fly chemistry-wise, and for Ethan and Grey to eventually fall in love. In actuality, the spin Wilder put on it was so much deeper.

Grey and Ethan's relationship did start off a tad awkward, not only because they'd never met before but also because there was an age gap of about eleven years–and their careers were at very different places. Starry-eyed Grey met her Hollywood crush and realized that Ethan was very different from his persona. He was still grieving the loss of his longtime best friend Sam and sadly not in a healthy way, turning to alcohol and seclusion instead of therapy. And Grey herself, while she didn't take any guff off of Ethan, was still finding her way after the end of her first big successful acting gig. Even after her famous role on a teen soap opera, the industry wasn't taking her seriously as an adult actress.

It was when Ethan and Grey finally gave in to their attraction that the countdown to implosion began. Wilder didn't hold back on the gritty, raw emotions they both felt as their lives changed and they tried to make room for each other in their struggles. Through the sorrowful scenes where Ethan faced down his loss and his poor choices to Grey having to decide if she could continue with him sabotaging their relationship–and his own life in general–it was full of turmoil. But don't worry. If you hang on until the sweet ending, Wilder will have you believing in second chances. And that true love is always worth fighting for.

Grey is trying to keep her acting career on track and is getting desperate enough to agree to her publicist's proposal to be seen with another actor that need some good publicity. What Grey doesn't expect is that it is Ethan Atkins, an actor she had a poster of one her wall as a teenager. Ethan does not want to do this but he doesn't have much of a choice. What neither expects is for them to form a connection that ends up in the tabloids. How do they figure out what is real and what is fake?

I went into this book expecting a steamy rom-com and was left with SO much more. It navigates loss, addiction, and childhood trauma while also showing the true effects these things have on relationships and families. These characters connect on another level and it was amazing to experience. To know that this is a debut novel is just incredible! I will be looking for more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Based on the cover, I thought How to Fake it in Hollywood was going to be a light, swoony rom-com. What I found was a deep story, with complex characters dealing with past trauma. While the romance between Ethan and Grey was plenty swoony, they had great chemistry, their romance was secondary to their growth but I wasn’t mad about it. I really enjoyed the writing and all of the characters. I appreciated that Ethan’s addiction was his own responsibility and how Grey was portrayed as a women whose partner is an addict. Fans of the fake dating trope looking for a deeper plot will enjoy this.

I had to request to read and review this one after two good friends recommended it, and it did not disappoint. Fake dating takes on a fun spin in this debut novel when Grey and Ethan enter into an agreement to date to enhance their careers.

I loved the dual point of view that takes their relationship so much further than the contract they sign, giving us an incredible story of love, friendship and family. Wilder manages to cover a variety of tough topics mental health struggles, divorce, addiction, loss and grief with such care and honesty.

"What is your heart telling you?" Grey tried to laugh, but it came out more as a sigh. "I don't know. When I try to listen to is, all I can hear is the dial-up modem sound. Is that bad?" "Maybe you need to unplug it and plug it back in again," Kamilah giggled. "I think I just need to return it. It's obviously defective."

Wilder impressed me with her debut novel, with swoon-worthy romance and a fast pace that kept me turning the pages that were full of an openness that was so relatable. The way she wrote banter and angst into these characters gave a great blend of the Hollywood A-list drama I was hoping for and the behind-the-scenes that showed their true selves, full of emotion.

Pick it up if you love a rom-com with a lot of heart that gives you the happily ever after feels and characters that grow together through their struggles.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine + NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title in exchange for my honest review, I gave this one 4.5 stars and looking forward to reading more from Wilder!

fake dating, behind the scenes of hollywood - count me in. i loved grey and ethan. i felt like we got enough story to make them both full human characters, as well as a few side character moments, without anything dragging on for too long. i honestly loved this, and once i got a few chapters in, i couldn't put it down!

tw: alcohol abuse

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was not the cute little RomCom that I thought it would be. It hit on some hard topics. I also didn't agree with some things that Grey did and said. Her telling Ethan he has a drinking problem, and her still drinking bothered me. She should have been more supportive. I also didn't feel the chemistry between them.

This was quite a debut novel! Going into it, I had the impression it would be a lighthearted rom com with fake dating. Although there was the fake dating aspect, this story was so much more than a romance. Many realistic and tough issues were addressed - grief after a loved one passes and addiction to alcohol, all of which are handled very well. Ms Wilder takes you backstage, behind the Hollywood glamor and gives you a good look at the raw and gritty reality. Grey is actress who had some success, but is still trying to make a name for herself. Ethan is an Oscar-winning actor whose life has recently been nothing but downhill. From divorce to losing his partner and best friend, his life has just been on big struggle. A highly publicized relationship with a beautiful actress is just what he needs to get his life and career back on track. What starts out fake doesn't take long to turn into real attraction and feelings. Ethan and Grey pulled me into their world from the start and I became invested in seeing how things end. Ms. Wilder did a nice job of creating a story that really draws you in. An emotional, gripping story that had me glued till the end. I will definitely be looking for more of her books in the future.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Grey is a 27-year-old just out of work, actress, still trying for her big break. Currently jobless, she accepts a deal made by her publicist to fake a relationship with another star, Ethan Atkins. He is dealing with a ton of issues with a lot of alcohol. The only thing that these two have in common is that their careers are in need of a boost and the only way to do that is if they’re in a fake relationship.

I loved the fake-dating aspect and the push and pull of each characters. It definitely wasn’t a light and fluffy romance. Both Ethan and Grey's characters were well developed and had real issues that made it easy to connect with them and root for them as they tried to cope with their struggles.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance

How to Fake it in Hollywood is the story of a Hollywood starlet who has been set up with an A-lister superstar to be in a fake romantic relationship. While Grey Brooks tries to keep her career active after the end of the soap opera she was working in, Ethan Atkins has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons be it his drinking problems, his high-profile divorce, and his grief over losing his best friend and partner Sam. As per his agent, he needed a strong comeback.

The gorgeous cover of the book has caught my attention. I love reading stories about fictional Hollywood celebrities. Although not all authors can capture the Hollywood atmosphere and limelight, I can pleasantly say that Ava Wilder was successfully able to achieve that.

The chemistry between the two main characters worked for me. Yes, it started with physical attraction first but then it gradually got deeper than that. Looking at the cover you might think this is purely a rom-com story. However, it is more than this as it tackles some serious subjects like alcohol addiction, grieving the death of a friend, and divorce.

I believe this is Ava Wilder’s debut novel. I liked her writing style and the way she kept the pace consistent. This was a very entertaining story. It met my expectations.

Many thanks to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

This book was enjoyable. The celebrity storyline was believable and had me wondering about the celebrity romances we read about in real life….how many of them are PR stunts? Also, celebrity sex tapes are a violation of privacy.
The main characters, Grey and Ethan are well developed, and realistically flawed. Ethan broke my heart. The themes of grief, and addiction that the book centered around were palpable and sad. The relationship between Grey and her mother, and her feeling like she never had a childhood is sad. This is the reason I wouldn’t consider it a romantic comedy. These themes are heavy and important. They do not provide any comic relief. This story doesn’t leave you feeling lighthearted.
Several romance tropes ( fake dating, age gap, one bed, second chance, tragic hero) are cleverly used in the telling of this story. They are weaved into the plot in plausible ways. The sexual tension between Grey and Ethan built and combusted at just the right time. I found myself rooting for them, wanting them to be together. Great sexy banter and sexy times!

Kudos to Ava Wilder for writing an emotional and poignant debut! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for a copy of this e-ARC

Pub Date 6/14/2022
TW: Addiction, Trauma, Grief
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