I am not joking when i tell you that i was taken on a whirlwind of surprise and love with How To Fake It.

Ethan and Grey. ETHAN AND GREY.

I love books set in the world of famous people because i am NOT a famous person (shock!) so pretending to be in that world is so much fun.

I was surprised by the deep topics, the dark feelings, fears, and addictions in this one. It’s not your usual fun and flirty easy breezy beautiful cover girl book.

How To Fake It is a journey of love, healing and believing again. I loved the way Ethan and Grey overcome the obstacles that present themselves in their individual lives and their relationship. Nothing felt rushed or unreal. Everything happened in due time

i love, love, LOVED. and yes, i have now added Ava Wilder to my list of auto-buy authors.

TW: alcoholism, grief, drug abuse
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book! This book was really good. I found myself empathizing with both main characters. There is so much more than meets the eye to this book. I wish there were more parts of the book that illustrated the love between one another, their chemistry fell off toward the end of the book.

Overall, this book was unexpected in the best way.

Genre: romcom, fake dating trope
Pub date: 6/14/22
In one sentence: Grey Brooks' TV show has just been canceled, and her next move is a fake relationship with struggling A-lister Ethan Atkins.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and the celebrity romance angle intrigued me. Grey won me over from the beginning - she's been hurt in love before and is wondering how to move forward in her career - I love characters that are on the precipice of something new like this. Ethan was a bit of a puzzle, and I enjoyed the journey he took to open up to Grey and deal with his demons. Both characters felt real - and that's what makes a fake dating plot work. I also liked the balance of steam, banter, and emotional connection between these two.

If you enjoy fake dating or Hollywood stories, this book is a whole lot of fun! 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always love a good fake dating trope, which is why I requested a copy of this book. I was expecting a typical rom-com, but this one is surprisingly angsty and I lived for the drama!

4/5 stars

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

eBook provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"How to Fake it in Hollywood" by Ava Wilder on paper is the book I didn't know I wanted to read. Grumpy male lead. A woman taking control of her career. A "marriage" of convenience .... ok they just fake dating, but still checks the right boxes for the trope. Hollywood glamour. Basically the soap opera plotline of my dreams. But ultimately, I finished it feeling like something was missing.

Don't get me wrong — I still 100% recommend this to readers interested by the synopsis. You really won't be disappointed in the drama and the relationship. The conclusion is where this one falls just a bit short for me. Grey and Ethan's breakup was swift and felt like it came late in the book. I was really wondering how Wilder would wrap everything up with how many pages I had left. She does it, but I felt like we weren't giving enough insight into exactly HOW Ethan changed. I know it's a romance novel, but him just going off-page and becoming better for Grey just felt so unrealistic and a little too Hollywood. Maybe I'm wanting too much for "How to Fake it in Hollywood."

Either way, I can't wait to see "How to Fake it in Hollywood" in stores later this summer and to share it with all my friends and followers.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this before publishing!

This was an easy 4.5 stars, despite it not being exactly what I expected. This has a very fun, popular trope right from the get go: fake dating, but make it celebrities. Ava Wilder’s first book doesn’t read at all like a debut, she has the skill of a very seasoned writer. The characters in this book were so realistic, it felt like they could walk right off the page. The way she brought in various spins on real-life celebrities and media was so fun. I really adores Grey as a character, and I felt she was so relatable despite being literally famous.

It becomes pretty evident, pretty fast, that this isn’t going to be an entirely light hearted, steamy, fake dating rom com. Ethan, our MMC, is facing some very real problems. He is drowning in grief, and battling an evident substance use problem. The author doesn’t shy away from this subject, or make light of it in casting his recovery to look easier and cleaner than it is in real life. She also doesn’t let the story get so bogged down in the weight of these issues to keep it from being fun and light hearted. Another thing that I completely adored was the inclusion of a supportive, blended greater family that Grey and Ethan are able to find in Ethan’s ex-wife. I realize that divorce isn’t always so pretty, but the world doesn’t need any more stories about petty, vengeful, toxic ex-partners than it always has. Ethan’s ex wife wholly supports him, shows up as his friend, and welcomes Grey into their lives with open arms. I thought this was an AMAZING example to set, and I’d love to see more of it in fiction.

I can see rom-com lovers being disappointed in the chemistry between these two. It’s there, don’t get me wrong. But it’s not the toe-curling, butterflies in your stomach, on fire feeling I think a lot of rom com readers crave. It is, however, a very artfully written story with a beautiful ending. The steam is there, but not scorching or too frequently revisited. I enjoyed this a bunch, and will keep an eye out for releases from this author in the future!

By far one of my favorite reads of this year! The fake dating trope was perfect and I loved the character development with Ethan and Grey. The slow burn was everything! I loved the banter and the steamy scenes were perfectly steamy. The sIt was a perfect story and such a fun read!

If I did not have kids I would have read this book in one sitting. This book hit me just like The Deal by Elle Kennedy did. I was expecting a fun book about celebs fake dating. I got that AND well developed characters, excellent banter, solid emotional beats, and realistic character growth. Grey is a confident self possessed woman who has a habit of using her quick wit as a defense mechanism. Ethan is a bit of a mess who is still dealing (or not dealing) with the grief surrounding the death of his best friend. Their relationship whether fake or real is not easy, but the instant attraction they both feel is all the spark they need. Definitely check this book out in June, especially fans of The Deal!

This one completely took me by surprise! I 100% expected a light-hearted, fun rom com, especially based on this super-cute cover. However, heavy topics, such as alcoholism and loss of a close friend, took front stage and was addressed throughout the whole book. I loved the way that this author addressed these issues and I was blown away that this was her debut novel. I look forward to whatever she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. No review is going to match my feelings for this book. This was a phenomenal debut novel. I loved every bit of it and I’ve already read it twice!!

What stood out most to me was Wilder’s writing. She wrote with such ease, making me feel ALL the feels. The story flowed well, even with detailed backstories for our two MCs and the events surrounding our side characters. The character development was perfect. The Act 3 break up was totally understandable and warranted. The ending was superb, with enough time given for healing.
Grey and Ethan’s chemistry was off the charts and their banter I was hysterical. I can very much picture this one being made into a movie.
Love love love!!!!

4.25⭐️

Grey Brooks career has been in a standstill ever since the end of her seven year run on a popular teen drama series. She’s desperate to land the role in a new big budget series that could finally launch her into stardom. Ethan Atkins is a Hollywood heavyweight turned recluse after a tragic accident that led to the death of his best friend and writing partner. After five years out of the acting scene he is finally ready to step back into the spotlight. What begins as a mutually beneficial situation quickly turns into something more when the chemistry between them is still electric even when there aren’t any cameras around.

This was a brilliant debut novel by Ava Walker. I was captivated from the very beginning and couldn’t put the book down.

What starts off as a story of two people with sizzling tension bound together in a PR relationship turns into something much grittier as it delves into the darker aspects of fame and addiction. Don’t be fooled by the cute cover, this book isn’t just a Hollywood romance it tackles some pretty serious themes like alcoholism and grief. I do feel like the marketing of this book is a bit out of sync with it’s actual content, and it is a bit of a disservice to this nuanced and poignant story.

It’s a very character driven story with lots of steamy tension. These are characters you root for. And it was satisfying to see their growth and development over the course of the book.

This was an easy 5-star book for me for the first half of Brooks and Ethan’s story, until things took a turn and went a bit <i>A Star Is Born</i>. It became less about them and their journey as the addiction storyline took center stage. The big reckoning of Ethan’s struggles came a bit too late in the book and then was resolved too quickly.

This book is many things. It has some well loved tropes (fake dating/only one bed/childhood crush/etc), but they’re elevated by how they’re paired with an emotional character driven story. It’s a must-read.

Really love this one! I went in blind other than knowing what I knew from the blurb, fake dating, two actors, hollywood etc etc. BUT this was not your typical rom-com. I suggest checking trigger warnings because this was not just a light and fluffy read, as the cover lead me to believe. Showed the "dark" side of hollywood, childhood manipulation and more. Nonetheless the character development was beautiful and I really enjoyed Grey and Ethan, and the ANGST!!!! 😜 whew!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I LOVE this fake dating trope. I'm pretty sure this is the first book I read with this trope, and now I'm obsessed.

The tension between the two of them in the beginning kept me on the edge of my seat, and I kept waiting for them to finally give in. I was rooting for their relationship the entire time, and really enjoyed the growth of each of the characters at the end.

This book was a lot deeper than your normal rom-com, you felt the characters emotions and hurt along with them.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very quick read, and the tension between the two main characters made this a page-turner, I didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

First and foremost, don't let the fun rom com cover fool you, this is a deep emotional book that will make you feel/think.

The main trope of this book is fake relationship. Ethan and Grey sign a contract to be in a relationship to help their careers. Grey is still trying to break out in Hollywood after starting out as a child star and Ethan is an old A Lister who is pretty much a recluse these days after a tragic accident took his best friend.

They both have different reasons, but once they meet the attraction and chemistry insane.

They both fight their feelings and their is a ton of mutual pining. I think once they get together that almost too much happens.

They hit a ton of road blocks all coming down to Ethan's insecurities and drinking. You feel for Ethan who doesn't know how to be in a relationship and Grey who is worried and just wants to be there for him.

The Hollywood aspect of the book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed learning more about movies and how actors worked. It seemed all very accurate.

4/5

This book was beyond my expectations, I really loved it!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"He was stone sober, but he felt drunk on Grey."

Storyline/Plot: I really did enjoy the storyline of this book, and I loved that it didn't just fall apart halfway through. It was well built as a romance, but it also had great follow-thru with the actual plot. I love that they meet through their publicist, who has the fake dating idea in mind to get Ethan back on the board, and to get Grey onto the board. There really isn't another way to say it, but the way the story is woven in with the romance gives the characters so much depth to the lives and struggles they lead beyond just being one another's partner. It's beautiful. I had such strong emotions and feelings reading this from secondhand embarrassment, laughter, tears, just everything. There was so much representation in this book too, from addiction to LGBTQ+.

Romance: The tropes that were featured in this book were just amazing. Fake dating, one bed, forced proximity, age gap, single dad, you name it. I typically don't read an age gap book because there's a fine line between me being comfortable and uncomfortable, but this one walked it fairly well. There's definitely a lot of mention of him being her childhood crush that is a little cringe to me, but I got over it. I just love the development of their romance. I definitely felt some awkward moments that felt a little rushed and out of character, but they didn't draw away from the story or development too bad. I just love the way he cares for her, and the way that he doesn't change for her or anything, but still changes for her, you know? And their spice was seriously steamy.

Characters: I really got emotionally invested in these characters and wanted more and more from them. I love the badass that is Grey and that she doesn't filter herself for anyone. Not her mom, not fans, not Ethan, no one. The fact that she lands herself in a relationship with an A-list star and she doesn't fall to her knees for him, I love her. I also loved Ethan! I definitely felt bad for him frequently, and I also felt angry at him, which aided in him being such a multi-faceted character that I ended up adoring. In the end, he called himself out, and it's a lot to go through everything he did and still make it. I wasn't too keen on Nora in the beginning, but I quickly loved her. I also really loved Reneta and wished we got more of her. After the whole leaked photos thing with Audrey, I was really hoping for more in terms of redemption from her, though.

World-Building: I mean, it's based on a real place, but it was still done really well!

Overall, this book comes out June 14th and I'd absolutely recommend you grab it and read it! It gives the perfect mixture of romance and plot that keeps you wanting to read more.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review,

I flew through this book! I'm talking binge-it-in-one-sitting and do-I-really-need-snack-breaks and sleep-is-for-the-weak flying. I absolutely loved this book and I am so grateful to have read it early. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

This book begins with two actors (Grey and Ethan) who begin a fake relationship to further their careers. The chemistry between the two was undeniable. Their first meeting was amazing and it only got better from there. It helps that I always love a good fake-dating story. This is an AMAZING fake dating.

The side characters were amazing as well. Grey's best friend Kamilah is amazing and I love her partner Andromeda. Ethan's ex-wife Nora deserves her own book because I am obsessed with her! Every character, from our main characters to the side characters, was so well developed. Our main characters had amazing arcs and I loved watching their relationships develop.

Ethan's backstory and arc, in particular, was so well written. The last few chapters were easily my favorite of the book because I felt like it was the perfect ending. I can't say much more without spoiling, but this is a must read!

Read this book if you enjoy:
-DILFs
-Fake dating
-Celebrities
-Age gap
-Spice (2/5 spiciness rating)

Be sure to catch "How to Fake It in Hollywood" when it releases June 14.

This book does have some triggering content. Please look up content warnings before hand.

“That was definitely part of it. There was something else, though. Something like . . . recognition, maybe? Like I knew you already. But at the same time, like I’d never run out of things to learn.”

Ava Wilder, what a debut! I laughed and cried on the emotional rollercoaster of hoping that this fake dating relationship between two actors would turn into something more. I loved that Grey and Ethan were authentic and relatable and went through a series of obstacles that challenged the strength of their relationship. With themes of single parenting, not feeling like you’re good enough, death of a friend, embarrassment, and alcohol abuse, the book felt real and raw and really evoked a lot of emotion despite the characters being famous actors. This is definitely categorized in my favorite genre of melancholy romance and I already know I’ll be rereading this again soon. What a great read.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine / Dell for the copy of this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m always a sucker for a good fake dating story, especially when said fake dating occurs between two celebrities. There’s nothing better than living the life of the rich and famous vicariously through book characters. Yet, despite two of my favorite tropes in action, this book still fell flat for me, the main reason being the pacing.

The first half of the novel was amazing as Grey and Ethan got to know each other better. The flirting and the sexual tension was on point, but the moment when they finally give into the desires they’ve both been fighting for so long? Anticlimactic. Because suddenly they’re in love with each other and then breaking up.

Which leads me to the second half of the novel. The second half read like an entirely different book with two completely different characters, so it seemed to drag on. The author tried to hint at Ethan’s alcoholism in the first portion (and it’s even included in the synopsis), but it still felt very abrupt and overdramatized.

Honestly, I’m disappointed that I can only give this 3 stars, but then again, that’s been the whole romance genre lately.

First of all I love when a debut is something that knocks it out of the park! I loved the fake dating trope of this romance between Grey and Ethan but the book got so much deeper than surface level. Ethan's addiction was a constant battle for him in so many areas of his life and while his romance with Grey was streamy and something I constantly wanted more of the author didn't simple write off these problems but took a good hard look at mental health and the need for rehab and therapy. I was so glad these important issues were addressed as well as so many important representations sprinkled into the pages of this book. A must read in my opinion!

Rating: 4.25/5
Content Warnings: Alcoholism, Death of a Friend
Read if You Like: Bend Towards the Sun, One Night on the Island
Steam: 3/5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine, Only One Bed, Single Parent

Thank you to Random House- Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. How to Fake It in Hollywood will be released on June 14th, 2022.

Things I Loved: The characters felt so realistic and relatable. This books was so consumable, I was enthralled with the whole story and read it in two sittings. This book was a lot more serious and poignant than you would expect based on the cover and I adored it. Talked about the difficulties of being in Hollywood and the toll it can take on individuals. The banter was fantastic, it had me laughing at times. I loved Grey’s character, she was so relatable to me with her struggles. Grey and Nora’s relationship. The tension/dynamic between Ethan and Grey, it was palpable. Ethan’s character had the biggest arc, he was messy and real. You could feel his pain and just wanted to hug him. Therapy and the focus on fixing/taking care of yourself before being there for someone else. That poster, omg I could cry.

Things I Didn’t Like: I think the cover and blurb does this book a disservice, this wasn’t a romcom and I feel people could be disappointed. The pacing felt off at times but I was so invested in this story!

I can’t wait to see what’s next for Ava Wilder! This debut was such a delightful surprise and I can’t wait to have a physical copy!