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!

I saw that Jen Devon (author of Bend Toward the Sun, coming out August 9, 2022) gave this book 5 stars, so I immediately requested it on Netgalley. While I wouldn't give it the same perfect rating, I understand entirely why Devon did. The writing is good, and the characters feel incredibly realistic.

The plot:
"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."

While it's not unusual for me to read a book in one sitting, I will say that I was reading this on a 6 train that completely shut down for 35 minutes between stations, and I wasn't even mad about it. Fellow New Yorkers will know how remarkable that is. I don't usually love books/tv shows/or movies set in Hollywood, but this one felt approachable to me, and I was instantly drawn into the world. The book felt more profound and poignant than your typical rom-com, and it was a great interpretation of the fake dating trope as it actually made sense for them to put on the charade.

Some twists and turns in the story broke the typical structure of a rom-com novel that I initially didn't like, but upon further reflection, it made sense. Although I really enjoyed this book, I don't think I can rate it higher than a 3.5 as it's not joyful enough to be one I'll reread. I would, however, be very interested in any future books by Ava Wilder.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Dell for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

“I’ve never felt anything like it. It was just this… pull. I felt it the first time I saw you. And it just kept getting stronger the more I got to know you.”

Grey Brooks has been acting since she was a little kid, but got her breakout start from starring in a popular teen show but since the series finale, she hasn’t found any luck with other roles. Ethan Atkins is an Oscar award winning actor that has been keeping a low profile ever since his messy divorce and the death of his best friend, and his struggles with alcoholism. 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 for a PR stunt.

This story had me in a range of different emotions: it made me smile, laugh, and even had me tear up with the heavy situations. Ethan went through A LOT publicly and having your private/personal life be shared with the world was something that made me want to give him a hug. I’m still in awe that this Ava Wilder’s debut novel! Beautifully written!

🎥READ IF YOU LIKE🎥:
- dual POV
- fake dating/PR stunt
- single dad
- enemies to lovers
- witty banter
- age gap
- forced proximity
- starlet actress x heartthrob actor
- only one bed
- Hollywood romance
- inclusivity: non-binary character, LGBTQ+ representation

cw: alcoholism, drugs, divorce, death of loved one, grief, body shaming, misogyny, cheating, revenge porn, trust issues

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy! How to Fake it in Hollywood is available on June 14, 2022!

This book wasn’t really what I was expecting. I was mostly expecting a fluffy fake dating rom-com but make it celebrity’s book but it really wasn’t that. Yes it had those elements but it had so much more. It covered addiction and the trauma of being in Hollywood. Through Ethan you see pitfalls of fame and the journey of forgiving yourself and recovery. Ethen and Grey are an amazing couple that you will 100% want to read the journey of through their ups and downs. Was I surprised by the direction of this book? Yes. Did I like it despite this? YES!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC of this book

Grey Brooks is struggling to find work since the teen soap opera she starred in has ended. Ethan Atkins just wants to get drunk and have everyone to leave him alone since his creative partner/best friend died and his wife divorced him. However, if he wants to make the last movie he and his partner were working on, Ethan needs to get back into the spotlight. Their mutual publicist suggests they fake a relationship for a few months to get their names out there and help their careers. For their own reasons, each agrees.

I expected a romcom from the cover, and it delivered on the romance, but there were heavier topics covered too, such as addiction. I’m a sucker for a fake relationship trope, and this one did not disappoint! I was shocked to learn after finishing the book that this is the author’s debut novel. I will definitely be checking out her future books!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

4/5 ⭐️
thank you to random house publishing for this arc! this novel will be released on june 14th, 2022.

i went into this book expecting a lighthearted rom-com about fake dating. instead, i got a drama that absolutely ripped up my heart.
this was such an awesome debut for ava wilder!!
grey is an actress who is recently out of work and looking for her next big break. her agent sets up a fake dating publicity stunt with grey’s teenage celebrity crush, ethan, in an attempt to boost their popularity. ethan’s agent hope this will pull ethan out of his addiction riddled life to finally finish a project he was working on with his best friend sam, before sam tragically passed away. right off the bat, the couples connection is undeniable and sets their whirlwind story in motion.
i absolutely loved the fake dating and actor/actress romance. i would honestly argue that this book is, yes a romance, but more do a story of character growth. i absolutely loved grey and ethan’s character development and their banter. the author takes on difficult issues such as addiction, alcoholism, harassment, tragic death, l sexual assault, and the darker side of fame, but handles them with care. this book felt so real to me because the characters were genuine and flawed and the issues discussed are prominent in today’s world. my only reason for docking one star is that i wish there had been more romance between grey and ethan. i personally didn’t feel that there was enough chemistry between them.
overall, i really enjoyed this book. the tropes were awesome, the characters and their development was beautifully written, the word choice throughout was phenomenal, the issues discussed were honest, and i cannot wait for more titles from this author.

grey’s stomach fluttered. “so what sealed the deal? was it when i told you to fuck off and die?” he laughed, a real laugh from deep in his chest. “what can I say? you know how to make a first impression.”

I love to hear what famous people’s lives are REALLY like, and this one did not disappoint! I find it so fascinating to see what famous people do (or are required to do) to stay in or out of the limelight. The novel includes some fun tropes: fake dating, one bed, etc etc…. But none of the cheesiness (yay!) And a guy who was troubled but not in an annoying way… in a very, very real way. The resolution is also authentic - including people actually going to therapy to get help and it takes years… not just a few “I love you” conversations.

I was enthralled- I never wanted to stop reading. I laughed, almost cried, and cheered and smiled for the characters. I REALLY enjoyed this fun, steamy, captivating novel! It comes out in June- make sure you grab it 🥰

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the galley!

I always really love the fake dating trope, which is why I requested a copy of this. I was expecting a typical, cutesy rom-com, but this one is surprisingly angsty, and I live for it. I thought this did a good job of touching on more serious subjects without becoming super depressing, too. Also, I would totally watch Poison Paradise.

How do you review a perfect book? Because anything I say will pale in comparison to how much I truly loved this book. Have you ever started a book, and knew by chapter FOUR, that it was going to be a new favorite book?! Because I don’t think I have until this book. That’s how amazing it is.

Hollywood actress Grey Brooks needs a career boost. Hotshot reclusive A-lister Ethan Atkins wants to come out of hiding. Their PR teams arrange for them to enter into a fake relationship to boost both of their images. Ethan has tragedy and turns to the bottle a little too much. Grey has had a celebrity crush on him since she was a preteen.

I am truly and utterly in awe that this is a debut novel. I cried y’all. Like real tears. And I have a heart made of stone. I just connected and felt for these characters so much. When I was reading, I was living the story right along Grey and Ethan. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about Grey and Ethan.

Have I convinced you to read this one yet?! I’m counting down the days until I can have a physical copy in my hands. Is June too soon to reread it?!

I enjoyed How to Fake it in Hollywood. Obviously, it's heavy on the fake relationship trope, but it felt more like a novel about self discovery and friendship than it did about the fake relationship for most of the story. Ethan was built up to be quite an ass, but he still had redeeming qualities, and for me that's important. Recommended for adult collections where romance is popular.

I got this as sort of a palate cleanser break from heavier books thinking it was going to be a cute rom com—check out that cover— but it was really kind of angsty and dramatic. I didn’t feel like the characters clicked with each other so it was hard to click with them myself. The subplots were child sex abuse and addiction which wasn’t what i was expecting. It wasn’t bad and certainly realistic but I didn’t get that vibe from the cover and the blurb and I think for best reception that might need to be tweaked.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! It was literally everything you could ask for in a romcom. Witty, sweet, steamy, and with a compelling storyline. 5 stars!

3.5/5 stars

First of all, I thought this would be a cute/fluffy contemporary and that's how it starts! But, then it takes an angsty/more serious tone that I did not hate, but wanted a bit more from.

This story is such a quick read! I fell into the story and could not stop reading it. I read the entire thing in like two days while on vacation and ended up staying up late one night to read more. If the ending had been different I would have been completely sold on the story.

I did not hate the ending, but I needed more than a few chapters to wrap everything up. Most romance novels follow a similar structure and this one is slightly different, I did not hate it, but it did not completely work for me. <spoiler> the third act break up came earlier in the story with them getting back together and THEN HAVING A TRADITIONAL THIRD ACT BREAK UP. Which was not my fave and threw me off since it was all resolved so quickly. <spoiler>

Also, I do want to note that this story deals with addiction and what it is like to be in a relationship with someone who is an addict which could be triggering for some folks!

Overall, this was an excellent debut (I think it's a debut?) and I can't wait to read more from Wilder, but the pacing of the relationship in the second half of the book threw me off!


TW: death of a friend (prior to novel), grief, addiction, alcoholism, revenge porn, slut shaming

I expected to like this a lot more than I did, and I'm sad because it has such pre-release hype! The story started off fast-paced and engaging, but it ended up being TOO fast for real chemistry to develop between Grey and Ethan, so I didn't end up being invested in their relationship. Plus, the book majorly lost steam around 60%, and it became a slow trudge to the finish. Unfortunately, not my favorite read this year.

A thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Now, I read a lot of contemporary romance - and this one just hit differently. First, I loved a good enemies-to-lovers, fake dating situation. However, what I so appreciated about this book was the happy for now situation - and that it didn't end in an easy romance without dealing with the hard issues. I feel like many contemporary romance novels fix everything too quickly and this felt real, and raw, and authentic.

Second, I loved the characters. Grey, while still figuring out herself and her life, was strong and feisty. Ethan was, at his heart, kind, but clearly a troubled character that needed accountability and help.

Overall, I adored this story and am excited to see where this author's career goes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A surprisingly thoughtful take on a well-trod trop, Ava Wilder’s debut novel gives depth and grit that make the story and characters leap off the page. “How to Fake It in Hollywood” goes beyond its simple premise and presents a nuanced, sympathetic, and raw depiction of the perils of stardom, addiction, and grief.
Grey and Ethan’s relationship is a true Hollywood love story… in that it is 100% fake. A creation of their publicists and agents to give both celebrity’s reputation a much-needed boost. For Grey, she’s trying to save her rapidly falling star to give her the clout she needs to get her own passion project off the ground. Ethan, well he’s a classic “Hollywood-Has-Been”. A legendary A-Lister that took his partying to the next level after the death of his childhood friend, Sam. Five years, a divorce, and many hangovers later- he’s stepping back into the spotlight besides his fake girlfriend.
Where “How to Fake It in Hollywood” could have faded into the white noise of a genre oversaturated with trope-y Rom-Coms, Wilder asked for more from her characters and it makes a difference. She is critical of the ease in which a seemingly meaningful relationship can be manufactured by publicists, agents, and lawyers. But after the flashbulbs of the paparazzi fade, all that remains are two strangers that are trying to survive in a cutthroat industry that thrives on drama.

This had so much promise, but for me it didn’t hit the rave review mark that I’ve seen all over GoodReads.

I enjoyed the story and really liked how real it felt in terms of emotions, relationships, etc. but the pacing was SO VERY OFF. It would cruise right along then lull you to sleep then snap you back in then lull again. There were stretches where I would just glaze over, then others were so good, so funny, quick and charming.

Overall, this was a good and entertaining read, but I hope the pacing is fixed in the final version.

Romance novels that begin with a fake dating trope are my personal favorite. But wow!!! This novel really stands out. Grey and Ethan were so fully developed and real. Their struggles were handled as adults. There was so much emotional depth to this book. It was refreshing. I loved Grey’s manner of handling Hollywood. I adored the ending. I can see myself picking this up as a re-read in the future:

This book is about a fake romance between Grey and Ethan. Grey is trying to take the next step in her career and Ethan is trying to make a comeback. I really enjoyed this book, thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. While I enjoyed the book, I'm not sure I ever really liked Ethan-although I do buy into their relationship. Grey on the other hand was a very strong heroine and I really liked her. I just felt Ethan was weak. We didn't get to "see" the work he put into himself at the end, so even though we know enough time had passed for his therapy, I wish we had been privy to some of it. Other than that I really enjoyed this book. 4 stars.

I loved everything about this book! A young TV starlet and a reclusive A-list movie star fake date at the behest of their mutual publicist... but realize their relationship might not be as fake as it was supposed to be. There's a 10-year age gap between the couple, which is always fun, and Grey, our heroine, is going out for a part in an adaptation of a popular fantasy series, which added even more fun to the plot. Ethan, the hero, also struggles with alcoholism, and I found that to be handled very well. This is one of my favorite books of the year, and I hope Ava Wilder writes more Hollywood romances!