Fake dating is one of my all time favorite tropes. Pair it with some good ole grumpy/sunshine and I am hooked!

How to Fake It in Hollywood follows the relationship of fellow actors Ethan and Grey. Grey is a former child star, trying to find her footing as an adult on the Hollywood scene. Much to her chagrin, her formal roles have put her in a box and she’s struggling to progress in the industry. Ethan is an older washed up star with a mean streak.

When a mutual connection puts Ethan and Grey together, they agree to fake date in order to improve media perception and improve their industry reputation. As always, fake dating leads to surprise feelings and messy emotions.


Something unique about this book is the emphasis on Ethan’s mental health journey. He’s very closed off and dealing with grief years after losing a dear friend. It has ruined his marriage, his ability to form meaningful relationships with others, and hindered his ability to stay sober. Ethan’s extended mourning and feelings for Grey lead to a roller coaster of emotion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I got an arc from NetGalley for this book.

DNFed at 79%

So this book is about Grey and Ethan faking a relationship to help their Hollywood careers. Grey is a late twenties actress trying to find work after the end of a long running teen TV Show, while Ethan, forty year-old, is an A-List celebrity who lost of his dearest friend and during his grief has turned to alcohol. Grey is looking to land a big role in a huge book to movie franchise, while Ethan is trying to get his image cleaned up so he can have more time with his kids.

Now, this book wasn’t at all bad. It was like dating having a parent with any substance abuse problem. When it was good, it was really good and when it was bad, it was really bad. I kept pushing through it hoping that they would address the substance abuse problems Ethan has, and as I kept reading it got worse. I know the blurb mentioned he had struggles with alcohol, but 79% in and it’s not addressed is a no no for me.

It is a topic that is very personal to me, and I tried my best to ignore it and focus on the parts that I did like about this book. Like I said, when Ethan was good, he was amazing and caring. It just did not out weight the bad parts.

You are going to want to read this book. I went into it expecting a typical fun rom-com, which I love and would’ve been happy with, but this book is that and so much more.

Grey Brooks was a child actor and star of a long-running hit teen program. Now she’s trying to find her next thing, find herself in the business. Ethan Atkins is a famous Hollywood heartthrob with some deep issues he’s trying to juggle. They don’t know each other, but they’re about to when a publicity stunt sets them into a fake relationship. Oh, and did I mention that Grey was a total fan girl of Ethan’s complete with posters and all when she was a child/teen?

As a self-confessed fan girl myself, I loved the whole idea of someone getting to date their celebrity crush. It gave me giddy feelings when reading this. But the great thing about this book is that the romance, laughs, steamy scenes are just the surface. This story goes so much deeper exploring issues of grief, self-worth, addiction, divorce. I loved it so much.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. I cannot wait to see what Ava Wilder writes next. You better believe I’ll be first in line to get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for the advanced e-copy.

The Fake Dating Trope is a classic in rom-coms and personally one of my favorites, and this book did not disappoint! The tension between Ethan and Grey was beautifully written and I loved the banter. It was refreshing to see more depth in these characters instead of the typical surface level that you usually get from romances. I thought the author did a great job exploring what addiction and trauma can do to people and those around them. I also really appreciated the representation of non-binary people without there being some giant explanation into their pronouns.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!

3 stars out of 5 stars

This is an honest review in exchange for a free copy of How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder. I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with this book to read.

This book included some of my favorite tropes: fake dating, PR stunt, love-hate relationship... but it definitely did not do it for me.

The blurb left me super excited about getting approved to read this. Once I began, I was interested and thoroughly rooting for Grey to kick this guy to the curb. I was expecting for there to be some recovery from Ethan's addiction, but it never ended up happening. The themes were surprisingly dark for that cheery cover that enticed me.

The book was not bad, the banter was there at times. It just was very middle of the pack. I would definitely read it again. I do think that some of the character flaws need to be addressed in some way.

Fake dating, age gaps, and grumpy-sunshine romance tropes - oh my! The ending was not at all as I would have guessed it to unfold, but I’m very happy that the author handled the issues of the main characters in the way that they did. This is a solidly spicy and addictive romance read.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.)

If you go into this expecting just a surface level fake dating trope romance that’s just fun and sweet, you will be sorely disappointed. This is so much more than that.

I mean yes, you’ll get that but Ethan and Grey’s story is so much more than that. It’s angsty and raw, and a realistic depiction of a couple battling their own issues before truly having a happy and successful relationship. Wilder also doesn’t shy away from writing about topics like grief, addiction, and mental health—it was all very well done.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and was surprised at the depth and angst of the story.

Ethan and Grey are both Hollywood Stars. One an A Lister in need of some PR help and the other an up and coming star in need of new roles. This book is more than your average fake dating storyline; however, there are definitely some hard and touchy subjects included in the book. I wasn't expecting them, but the author did a wonderful job navigating the hard subjects. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was so much more than your Hallmark Movie story line!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC in return of my honest review.

I was blown away by this book and couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one sitting! It is such a heartwarming and realistic book about navigating a relationship and love amongst addiction and grief and the need for personal growth. While not something I have had much experience with, the book presents such a compelling narrative through both the perspectives of the sufferer and the observer. In my experience as a reader, I think it is often rare to present mental health in fiction without glamorizing or distorting the real pain and suffering that occurs. This book doesn’t use Grey and Ethan’s relationship as a fix to the very real issues of addiction and grief, nor does it use Ethan’s declining mental health as something attractive to Grey or the reader.

However, it's not an overly cynical or negative book. In fact the banter between Ethan and Grey had me grinning and laughing like a madwoman. The vulnerability, struggle and growth through the book was what kept me reading. I wanted to see where Ethan and Grey went, and how they navigated their very real, very complicated love story. While it does follow a pretty standard fake dating trope, it does most of everything I want in a fake dating trope. It was a little predictable, with the sudden deep love and various conflicts but again it’s a trope (and I can't fault this book for following the same, very successful equation).

Oh, I can't end this review without mentioning Nora Lind. I think my favorite, secondary character in a book thus far. She is the someone I think everyone wants in their life. How the character is written and presented is superb. *chefs kiss* Bottomless applause to the author, Ava Wilder, I can’t wait to read your future work!

(Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

This will be posted on goodreads the week of April 3rd, 2022, linked below.

It was a good book!

I’m a huge fan of the fake dating trope and by throwing Hollywood into the mix I’m all in. One thing I will note is that I love the cover. All the topics discussed in this book were great. I really like how it didn’t blow over Ethan and his struggles, as well as Greys. This book was much more than what I anticipated as a rom-com but in such a great way! It flowed really well too. Another thing I liked is how we got to know each of the characters. While I’m not a fan of third-person pov, this book did not lack in giving enough details to help feel connected to the characters. I liked how we still got to know them without being directly “in their heads”. I enjoyed reading about both Grey and Ethan grow throughout the book! It made the ending so much better. Overall this book is good, but I deducted one star because to me the pace was slow. But I still 100% recommend this book!

A fun, heartwarming story about two celebrities who begin dating for publicity but very quickly wind up being in a real relationship. Especially appreciated how the main make character’s ex-wife was portrayed – it was really nice to see that relationship and see it grow between the love interest and the ex-wife.

“It was the first crack in the foundation. Small, but unmistakable.”
“She didn’t need him anymore. And tonight, there was no familiar edge of wild-eyed desperation to his plea. He didn’t need her anymore, either.”
“He ducked his head and smiled, color rising to his cheeks. She realized she’d never seen him blush before. It was so damn charming she thought her heart would explode.”

How to even begin describing how real this book felt. I went in expecting, well, nothing honestly. I barely remembered the summary and was only sure that it had fake dating (duh). I did not expect how honest Ethan would feel in his denial, how relatable Grey would feel in almost everything. They’re actors, sure, but nothing about them felt brushed up or even remotely fake.

Mental health rep in romcoms is so rare, and I get why; people might often turn to them for an escape from the stresses of real life. But for me, there is something so cathartic and fulfilling about seeing these characters who are as different from me as possible and yet, going through the same kind of internal struggles that me and people I know go through. It’s like looking at the surface of a muddy pond, the reflection is distorted and indiscernible, but you know it’s you looking back. I see myself in Ethan’s denial, and delaying the inevitable storm he’ll have to brave because he knows he’s not okay but just can’t get himself to do anything about it just yet. In Grey’s almost desperation to make things better despite knowing that there’s only so much you can do to make a person believe that they need help. In Nora, for knowing that sometimes all you can really do is make sure the people in your life know that you’re there for them, unconditionally.

MVP: Nora fucking Lind, I mean what a Queen.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review✨
How To Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Oh guys! This was just the read I didn’t know I needed. 🥰

First off, thank you to @netgalley + @randomhouse + of course @avawilderwrites for my ARC copy for an honest review.

Can we just take a minute to admire the cover. It immediately caught my eye with its lovely orange color and Cali vibes. ( I know kindle isn’t in color but still…) it was just super cute that I felt pulled and I had to read it. 😍

With the fake relationship trope, you think your in for a regular schmegular love story. But what you end up with getting is way more, in a good way. I just couldn’t get enough of these two!

Both characters struggle in their own respective ways. But I feel bring out the best in one another as the grow as individuals throughout.

Hard topics in this read are discussed in such a graceful way. And because of her writing style… for me, made Ava Wilder an author to look out for in the future!

And the banter ! Oh the banter 😍 between Grey and Ethan had me belly laughing and pulling at my heartstrings all in the same page turn. I just didn’t want to put it down! 🥰

And because of that, I was able to make this my 7th book read for the month of March — the most I have read in one month!

Look out for this book, coming out in June of 2022 or if you’re able… Go request yourselves a NetGalley copy, and I hope when you do, you love it just as much as I do.

@avawilderwrites can’t wait to read what you write next. I am a fan 🤍

As soon as I learned there was fake dating with a side of age gap, I knew I had to get my hands on HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD by Ava Wilder!

And wow - I was genuinely blown away by this one! As much as this one gives off contemporary romance vibes, it’s so much more than that. It gives us an insight into the struggles of fame and how it can feed into every other aspect of the character’s lives.

This story explored the complexities of love, romance, relationships with others, and ourselves through the most honest, and vulnerable lens. The writing is incredible and so angsty. I couldn’t stop wanting more from Grey and Ethan - I wanted their all.

Grey and Ethan as our MCs were absolutely amazing! They were deeply flawed characters that we couldn’t help but root for. This is one of those romances where the characters have to work through their own things before they can go towards the love coming into their lives.

Take care of yourself while reading this one and please make sure to look up CWs/TWs such as substance abuse and alcoholism.

When I first saw this book, I assumed it would be a fun romcom. Turns out I was wrong, and I could not be happier. This book is more than a romance, it truly delves into the struggles that become heightened with fame. It is truly a beautiful story about two unlikely people overcoming personal struggles. Not every happily ever after comes easy, and that makes it even sweeter. I cannot wait for more books by this author!

My review of How to Fake It in Hollywood will be publicly available on my blog (giareadsbooks.com) on June 7th, 2022.

Genre: Romance
Rating: 2 Stars
Spice Rating: 3 Stars*
[*Some explicit content/scenes, swearing, substance abuse, etc.]

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ava Wilder, and NetGalley for sending me a copy of How to Fake It in Hollywood in exchange for an honest review.

Review:

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. Grey Brooks is a former teen TV show actress looking for work during a dry spell in her career. Ethan Atkins is a washed-up actor and filmmaker who is still very much grieving the unexpected loss of his co-writer and best friend five years ago. In order to boost both of their careers, Grey and Ethan agree to pretend to date each other for six months.

On the surface, How to Fake It in Hollywood appears to be a cut and dry romance novel, though when you look a little deeper, it is abundantly clear that Wilder wanted to do something unique with the “fake dating” trope. By applying a substance abuse sub-plot to two incredibly selfish characters, Wilder thought she’d be adding an interesting aspect to the story. How very dry, indeed.

The beginning of this book earned a solid 4 stars. The fake dating trope is one of my favorite romance tropes, so I really thought I was going to enjoy this novel. I liked meeting Grey and Ethan, though my interest in their characters waned after a few chapters. The beginning of their friendship was interesting enough, but once Grey and Ethan began to have feelings for one another, everything felt too “insta-love with a pinch of angst” for me.

I’m not sure how I feel about books that give both love interests a perspective, but I did not like the way it was formatted in this novel. I feel like the novel probably would’ve been a little better if we’d stuck with Grey or Ethan’s perspective. I’m struggling to think of anything I actually enjoyed about this book. I managed to finish it, but I didn’t care what happened to the characters by the end of it. Even the “spicy” scenes were a bit boring and rushed.

This is Wilder’s debut novel, so I believe some leeway should be granted. I think I will likely give this author another chance should she choose to publish in the romance genre again. There were redeemable aspects of How to Fake It in Hollywood, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

I love love loved this book. To me it was a mix of Seven Days in June and The Idea of You, 2 of my favorites in the genre. It had the fun Hollywood elements, balanced with some serious issues and I thought they were handled really well. I loved the character development. The writing was great, it made me laugh, and the dialogue was very real and not cringey. My only complaint is that the epilogue is borderline cheesy and ties everything up too nicely— I think it could have ended at the last chapter and it would have been satisfying. I definitely recommend this for a beach bag this summer. Thanks NetGalley!

When it comes to How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder, you get a little of everything in this book. You get fake dating as a PR stunt, we can’t take this further than fake dating, to deal with the struggle of death and substance abuse. Wilder takes this chance to really explore an angsty side of romance with real-life problems even people in Hollywood deal with, instead of the sweet rom-com you thought you were going to get with this cover. Wilder has a way of making feel for these characters when in reality you just want to shake them and ask them “why did you what you did” in certain areas of this book, but I understand that sometimes people do dumb things to the wrong people.
One thing I was really happy within this book was that there was no miscommunication after Grey realized that Ethan was keeping his distance for a reason.
“He wasn’t being difficult because he disliked her. He was being difficult because he liked her too much.”
And later on, once Grey realizes that Ethan shows how he cares in the little ways including some Belgian waffles.
“Any of that grab at you?” Ethan asked finally.
“Honestly, the only thing that’s really speaking to me right now is Belgian waffles and bacon, but they only serve breakfast until eleven.” …
“That was fast” she commented, lifting up the lid of the tray to reveal-
She gasped. Two golden-brown Belgian waffles, surrounded by tiny dishes containing fresh berries, maple syrup, and butter. She peeked under the lid of the smaller dish to discover four slices of perfectly crisp bacon.
Of course, once Grey brings this up Ethan goes all “that is normal to do this type of thing” on her
“I like… I like that you go out of your way for people when they need you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Two words: Belgian waffles. Your turn.”
The ultimate heart clutch within this book has to be when in the end she gave Ethan an ultimatum in the cab ride in New York, it was either he got himself together and she would help him do that or she was done with their relationship. And he made that decision that if he was going to get himself together he couldn’t do that with her with him, he knew he needed to do it for himself and not her, he needed to be the one to say I need help not I need help to keep her.
Overall, this book was a great book that explores some darker parts of people's lives and how we can overcome them. I rated this book a 3 star for the fact that it yes is a good book but there were sometimes when I questioned where this book was going and how she was going to bring something like death to the table. But all in all, I thought Wilder did really well with bringing these difficult topics to the table and making them not too overwhelming to the point where you are a mess in the corner crying but they are there so you know that they are real struggles that people go through and it happens in life.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader and give it a review based on my own opinions.

The plot
I was super intrigued by this plot, I’m a sucker for fake dating tropes, and we’ve got the added twist of it all taking place in Hollywood! I loved how realistic the whole storyline felt. There are definitely some books out there that take big liberties with the fiction of being in Hollywood, but in this book, I could totally buy what was happening! There were heavier topics covered in this story too, and despite that (and some of the writing style that slowed me down a little), I still managed to finish this book in less than a day! The whole story just grabbed me and took me on an emotional ride.
The characters
I loved Grey so much! She had this perfect balance of being gentle and understanding while also having a backbone and speaking up for herself when the situation really called for it. And the chemistry between her and Ethan was fantastic. They had wonderful banter and the sexual tension was built up really well between them. I’d say for character growth, Ethan definitely had more of a journey, but I was proud of where both characters ended up by the end of the book. There was real maturity in their actions that also greatly impressed me. It was such a satisfying end for the both of them
The writing
There were some really deep and poetic moments in this book! For the most part I loved the writing style, because I felt like I really understood the characters, and it gave me a better connection to them. The only problem was that some of the longer internal monologues occurred in between conversations, so a character would say something and a page and a half later the other character would respond. I get that these monologues gave me more insight into the character, but it made some of my reading disjointed when I would have to swipe back a few pages to remember what was going on.
Overall
I loved reading this book! Chapter one completely pulled me in, and I could barely put this book down to do real work.
*review will be published on my Goodreads and blog on June 7th
https://www.thehaleyeverafter.com

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be shallow and overly predictable. That was not the case. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. You’ve got fake dating, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers all in one nicely tied bow. The characters have so much depth and chemistry. Not to mention, I always love a good dual point-of-view. I am so excited to see what Ava Wilder writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.