Read this book if you love: Hollywood, Fake Dating, and Characters doing the work™️ on themselves.

I adored the tropes in this book! So many different (and heavy) topics such as addiction, mental health, therapy, grief, child star and more were addressed was great. The cover and the content of the book didn’t really match up as the book was heavier than expected but I loved it.

4⭐️ First, i would like to say big thank you to Net Galley and RandomHouse/Ballantine for this eARC! This story is about Grey who is a struggling actress while Ethan is a famous actor/ director who has not made a single movie in 5 years. Their PR agents believe it would be a great idea for both of them to fake date so that can build up their profile and how people view them. Although it is a fake dating romance there are very heavy topics that are talked about amongst both characters that i was not expecting. It is a very raw and messy take on romance and relationship but is also very believable. I definitely recommend everyone to check out this book on its pub day of June 14th!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for this titled. Review and opinions are honest and my own.


I loved this book!!
Fake dating tropes are my favorite, the cover art really makes the book seem like it would be a light rom com. I was wrong. The deeper tones of addiction and grief really tore my heart apart but in the best way! The story was fast paced, funny, and heart-wrenching at times and just overall good.

When I was younger, I read a similar YA book with this trope so I was curious to check it out as an adult with a more mature plot. Overall I LOVED this book. It was witty, charming, steamy, and overall a great read! Can’t wait for more from this author!

Ummmmm I love this book!

I thought the relationship and their trials were just so realistic and I am sure there are so many readers who will connect with this story. This story deals with substance abuse and you can really see how it impacts someone's relationships and how difficult it can be. I haven't read a romance yet with this portrayal and I thought it was great to see such a strong romance with such real struggles.

I find it's hard for me to connect with a romance when there aren't any real stakes. This couple had this which is what made it such a rounded-out story.

There really wasn't anything I didn't love. I loved the tropes, I loved the relationship, I loved it all!

I quite liked this! Grey is a great female character and I will never be opposed to a good DILF love interest. The pop culture references and Hollywood celebrity vibes in the writing of this keep it interesting, and it has depth dealing with real life issues that come with fame. If you're a fan of Deuxmoi, celeb conspiracy theories or general pop culture this is definitely a romance book for you.

Thanks so much NetGalley and RandomHouse/Ballantine for the ARC!

3.5 stars

This was more than just a lighthearted romance, and I loved it for that. It dealt with some really hard hitting themes in a way that was realistic and emotional.

My only disappointment was that I wish we could have gotten to see them a little more beyond the “resolution” of the main issue. I was stressed when I was 90% of the way through the book and we still had yet to see Ethan get it together. Most of the sexy and cute scenes were a little bit tainted for me, knowing that there was this big issue that hadn’t been addressed yet. I really wanted to see a bit more of Ethan and Grey interacting in a healthy place. It all wrapped up well though, even if it did feel a little bit quick. Overall I would definitely recommend this one!!

4.5 stars
I thought I knew what this book would be going into it - fake dating trope, and of course they fall in love. While those elements were there, the story carried far more depth than I was expecting. Although set in Hollywood, the characters dealt with very real issues. I always appreciate it when a book has a sense of realism and their conversations, arguments and troubles all felt very real.
Grey is a TV starlet who is having trouble booking her next gig. Ethan is a super famous actor and director who is steeped in grief and has not worked in five years. Their PR agent sets them up to fake date to help both of their profiles. The book is a slow burn with great chemistry and lots of ups and downs in their relationship.

Thank You Netgalley for an ARC of the book How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder,
Publication date : June 14th 2022
Tropes :
fake dating
age gap
dual narratives

Wow, this book was so good, I could not put this book down. This isn't your typical type of fake dating book, it tackles so many real topics that many of us encounter every day.
this shows how Hollywood is not always rainbows and the same goes with real life.
I loved their story.

TW: Addiction specifically alcohol/ drugs, grieving, invasion of privacy

I went into this book expecting a light, fluffy Hollywood fake dating romance. This book is anything but. The romance is raw and messy, tackling themes of addiction, alcoholism, breaches of privacy, loss of a loved one, broken families, and second chances. It's much better this way, I think; in our social media age the struggle with fame is out in the open, and I don't think the story would have been very believable without the social commentary.

Ethan is an unconventional male lead, his struggles with alcoholism making me want to hug him and smack him over the head throughout the entire book. By the end he'd solidified himself as one of my favorite male characters in a romance genre.

Grey was a character who I felt I could relate to despite us having absolutely nothing in common, which I think is a testament to Wilder's ability to write strong, realistic characters. Her struggle with her family isn't one I considered in the world of the Hollywood elite, and her willingness to be there for Ethan despite all the warnings she received made me love her even more.

This is definitely a book I'll have to buy a physical copy of come release day!

Publishing review on April 7th, 2022 on IG & Goodreads.

***4.5 STARS***

Don’t let the cartoon-ish cover fool you into thinking this is a fluffy rom com. This book is far from that. This book is intense, raw, and deep. It is so well written and developed. And there is fantastic banter and many laugh out loud moments, but the overall vibe of this book is emotional and moving. I truly loved Ethan and Grey’s story.

Ethan is an A-list actor who goes into seclusion after a terrible tragedy. Grey is a former child star who is looking to take her career to the next level. Their publicist and agents think forming a fake relationship will recharge their careers. Ethan and Grey both agree to the ruse, however everything changes as feelings grow and chemistry burns. Grey and Ethan also begin to trust and open up to each other, sharing many deep aspects of their lives.

Emotionally charged and at times very messy, this story will consume you. I love how the author portrayed celebrity life and the price paid for fame. Ethan and Grey may be famous but ironically they also feel sheer loneliness. As they try to heal broken parts they will learn sometimes it’s better to build something new.

“I think . . . I think the only thing you’re responsible for is yourself. This moment. Anything else . . . you just have to try to let go. Keep moving forward.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book, just be aware this isn’t a rom-com. If you’re looking for a celebrity fake dating romance that deals with heavy topics, has major character development, great banter and seriously steamy sexy times then this is the book for you. This is a strong debut and I very much look forward to what Wilder writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I just found out this is the author's first book? It's so good!

This book is filled with some of the best, most-loved tropes, such as actor/actress romance, fake dating, and more. I felt like the entire point of this novel was character growth, and it did a fantastic job at showing that.

There are some triggers, as this book isn't as light and fluffy as I thought it would be going into it (and personally, I'm okay with that). The book deals with sexual assault, grief, harassment, and addiction.

The characters were wonderful, and I enjoyed their backstories. The author handled the difficult subjects with care, and I'm excited to see more from this author.

This book has all the elements of a rom com story, but the expected resolution comes earlier than you think it should, which leaves an opening for some unexpected events in the plot. Overall I enjoyed the story and was able to read it pretty quickly!

What a sexy, propulsive, compelling romance! Ava Wilder constructed a very real but still escapist Hollywood romance that pits together two flawed, driven, imperfect but immensely lovable heroes, and I was turning pages madly hoping for them to get their acts together! Super satisfying and fun.

(Review originally posted on Instagram)

Don’t let the cute illustrated cover fool you, How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder is NOT a romcom. It had its lighthearted moments, but overall this book was much heavier than I was expecting and it touched on some very serious subjects, like addiction and grief. You’d think that reading about Hollywood stars would be a fun escape, but at times I almost felt uncomfortable by how real and raw the story felt, if that makes sense. And that’s not a bad thing! Just not what I was expecting.

With that being said, it did have some tropes that I love:

• Fake dating
• Age gap
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy male MC

Some other things I liked about this one were the strong female friendships, non-binary representation (the first non-binary character I’ve come across in a book!) and the Hollywood setting. Ethan’s struggles throughout the story also really make you appreciate his character development by the time the book is over.

This one gets 4⭐️!

Thank you Netgalley and Dell for an advance copy of How to Fake It in Hollywood.

I love following celebrity romance and when I read the description, I decided I had to request How to Fake It in Hollywood. Is the relationship a PR stunt move or is it the real thing?

This book is told in both characters points of view which are my favorite types of romance novel. I love reading the man’s view. Grey Brooks is a strong, independent character, while she tries to push away the feelings that she has for Ethan she knows that it is a losing battle. I liked Ethan in the beginning. But (TW alcoholism) Ethan’s drinking and self-sabotage became too much for me in the middle of the book and at the end even.

Grey and Ethan have wonderful chemistry and I could tell from their first meeting their romance was going to be steamy. The book was steamy and funny at times. But I like my romance novels to be a little lighter.

The beginning of the book when both characters are getting to know each other was very enjoyable. While Ethan’s drinking was an issue it was not out of control. The middle of the book with the actual romance was quick. The end of the book had me read quickly because I wanted to see how the characters came out in the end, but I was not loving the book at this point. I found that Grey accepted things a little too quickly and it bothered me. It felt as though Ethan and Grey were never really partners and even though the end brought them closer together, I felt myself wondering if their relationship would really work.

There were several supporting characters in the book. I enjoyed Grey’s agent because she seemed like a woman who did not take no for an answer.

Overall, How to Fake It in Hollywood was a well written romance book. I however enjoy my romance novels to be a little lighter. While the author handled the topics well, I wanted to laugh more and not feel as though Grey and Ethan were not really meant to be together.

Is it too soon to say that this book will be on my top 5 favorite books of the year?

I’ve read this book 3 times already because I can’t get enough. You know how when Beach Read came out we all expected this light and fluffy romance but then got hit with a rollercoaster of emotions? That’s exactly what happened with this book. I am so deeply impressed how the author seamlessly combined these heavy topics with the romance.

Ok but let me set the scene. Meet Ethan -an incredibly famous actor (like Brad Pitt famous.) Late 30s, a total dilf, and completely off the grid” by Hollywood standards. Meet Grey- an actress in her 20s that just finished a Gossip Girl-esque show and went through a pretty public and messy break up and is feeling like her career is at a standstill. Their team suggests they date as a publicity stunt..and well you can probably guess what happens next.

If you like fake dating, age gap romances, dual POV, books about famous actors set in Hollywood & books that you think are going to be light and fluffy but secretly pack an emotional punch a la Beach Read. You have to read this book.

I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. It starts as an actor and actress start to fake date to help with their images. But each have their own pain and insecurities that they have to work through as well as issues that come with dating in the public eye. I loved the main characters Grey and Ethan in this, but also their relationships with the supporting characters. It was a good read, and I would recommend it to others.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "How to Fake it in Hollywood " I enjoyed this book! I think it would be a good book to read by the pool!