There is a lot to like about this, but it also fell into a sort of pattern I've had very mixed feelings about lately -- a book with a bunch of fairly serious content, that may or may not feel like it has been dealt with .. enough? Entirely successfully? But in a fun! cartoon cover.

What worked? The writing itself was engaging, the characters were pretty well drawn, even if a lot of the character and setting work seemed to be building off some "filed off serial numbers" rather than development -- Cafe Gratitude and others all make brief appearances under different names but with pretty defining characteristics. Is that meh or realism? I'm not sure!

Let's start off by saying, I love this book.

We follow Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins through a PR relationship that turns into a real relationship (but not without some drama).

I loved Grey's character. She was strong and independent and wasn't afraid to call Ethan out on his BS. She was a very relatable character in the sense that even in her late 20's, she wasn't sure what would come next and she was really figuring out what was important to her and how to get where she wanted to be.

Ethan had his demons but also knew that no one could fix him but himself.

I loved that the characters felt real and raw. With the topics the book lead us through, it would have been easy to make Grey a character with a savior complex and paint Ethan as someone who wouldn't own up to his issues.

Overall I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good Romance novel that has some depth. I cannot wait to see what else Ava Wilder comes out with.

This was a really cute and enjoyable book. Hollywood romances can be pretty fun and I'm glad this wasn't too dark and depressing. While it was a bit darker than I expected, it was still fun and enjoyable. The fake dating aspect of the book was good and I liked how the author touched upon the topic of privacy during a part of the book. While I wasn't that sold on how fast they fell in love, I still enjoyed Grey and Ethan's relationship and banter. I was a bit disappointed with the last three chapters of the book but it didn't ruin the book for me. Overall. it was a fast and easy read, I had a good time with this book!

Read this if you:
•love a fake dating trope
•love a little steam
•love complex family dynamics
•if you loved watching “A Star is Born”

This book truly had something for everyone. I read it quickly and enjoyed it! Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 14

Romance readers, GET READY! But really, there's no preparing for the brilliance that is Ava Wilder's HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD. Wilder proves to be a master of craft and character, drawing you beneath the glamorous Hollywood lights and immersing you in the vulnerable, raw, wildly romantic hearts of our leads: Ethan and Grey. Every page had me racing to read the next as each heart-gripping plot point unfolded. This is a steamy, swoony, heart-touching read worthy of infinite stars, and one I won't soon forget. Count me first in line for all of Wilder's works.

The cover is what got me. It makes you think it's gonna be an easy, light read. But I should have remembered that it deals with Hollywood and nothing in Hollywood is ever that simple. I really liked the fake dating scenario and the way it played out in the story. It felt like we were behind the scenes of how most fake couples work. I enjoyed reading about each of the character's lives and how things seem to work in Hollywood. I appreciated that both characters were relatable with developed arcs. Once Ethan's faults are revealed I knew the story would become more heavy but it made it feel more realistic. The love between the two MC's is sweet and made the story enjoyable. I wish some of the side characters played more of a role. Her BF only seemed to pop up when there were problems. I liked the unlikely friendship she has with another female character in the story instead of the two women being at odds with one another. Overall, I would say this book is a solid read.

CW: death, alcohol abuse

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I really did enjoy this story—I'm a sucker for a fake dating story!—but this is definitely a case of the cover not matching the story. I thought I would be reading a fun rom-com, but How to Fake It In Hollywood is much angstier than that. Alcoholism, drug use, addiction, [off-page] death...I wasn't expecting that. There is definitely some humor, which I appreciate, and I think the author did a fantastic job of balancing heavier topics and issues with some lightness. Once I got over the initial shock of the angst, my only issue is that I felt like so much happens off-page. A new chapter would open with something along the lines of, "a month went by, and we did this, this, this, and this." I would have loved to see those things as well! Still, this is a great book (and I still love the cover).

I was given a free ARC of this from NetGallery and Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to start off by saying, I expected this to be a more lighthearted, more like other books about this topic but with older characters. Let me tell you, it definitely has its dark moments, please make sure to read trigger warnings before picking this up.

The writing style in this book isn’t my favorite, I felt like the characters names were repeated too much in the beginning and something felt a little bit off about it, not as natural. It’s not something that turned me away from the book, I still enjoyed the story Ava wrote.

I liked some of the more realistic aspects that was thrown in, though there some are parts that weren’t actually likely to happen. Ethan and Grey aren’t perfect, they have an amazing chemistry, but they still struggle. They both have so much to work out with their pasts and it was just nice to see their growth.

I really enjoyed the side characters too, especially Grey’s best friend, Kamilah and Nora. I would love to see more into their lives but I’m not sure what could be written about them, maybe their struggles in their relationships or just a light fluff romance.

All and all, I liked the book, but I think the way it was written took away from the story for me. There was definitely a lot of potential here and I am up for reading more of Ava’s books if I get the chance.

I really loved this book and the story to it. It starts as a fake relationship that leads to a good and healthy relationship but of course it has to go through its struggles. I loved how the characters interact with each other and the sarcasm that Grey has with Ethan. Towards the end I specially loved the way that Ethan makes sure he seeks help to pull himself together and goes after what he loves the most, Grey. Overall I love how this book went from light to dark to overcoming everything! #netgalley #howtofakeitinhollywood

I'm ashamed to say that I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I just read an ARC yesterday by Elisa Sussman called "Funny You Should Ask", and the poignancy of this book hit me at the same level. Grey and Ethan are such dynamic and complex characters, and I love their chemistry together. I also adored Nora and she was a nice breath of fresh air, especially in Grey and Ethan's relationship. I was worried at first that Ethan was just going to suddenly get better because he was with Grey, but I'm so so glad that's not the way the story panned out. This book dealt with loss and grief and strained relationships in a really beautiful way, and I cannot give this book higher praise. Such an amazing read and Ava Wilder should have a long and successful career if this was only her debut novel, and it was already THIS good.

I was definitely expecting a lighthearted romcom with this one. And it ended up being much heavier than anticipated. I loved the fake dating and it was overall a good read. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

I’ve been feeling like reading a romance lately so I figured why not dive into this one! The cover is awesome and I really liked what the blurb had to offer. Fake dating? A trope I have previously enjoyed and also tend to request/read books with it, haha. Although this book didn’t check all of my boxes, I still found enjoyment in it and finished it rather quickly.

The book is told from two point-of-views, Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins. I am very much a fan of dual perspectives in romance books because I want to know what both parties are thinking in terms of their love interest and even what motivates them. I thought that the author did it nicely and had both characters dealing with turmoil outside of their “fake” relationship. The turmoil does tend to have more page time and development than the relationship. It’s one reason I didn’t fully connect with their relationship, but I at least liked seeing where their arc went with the turmoil.

Since this is about celebrities, there is a lot of drama that comes with it! I am not usually one for the drama but it does work well with these characters, their job, and the setting. I actually liked a lot of it which surprised me.

Overall, this was a fun read. I wish that it had been longer to get more development between the two and to have the side characters feel more present, but I did like what it had to offer nonetheless. If you want a quick read with fake dating and the one bed trope, I’d say give it a chance!

Rating: 3.5 stars

Grey and Ethan are actors trying to find their next move. When their PR rep suggests they start a fake relationship to get them back in the spotlight, Grey and Ethan might get more than they originally signed up for.

To be honest, I had low expectations of this book. I have read many books about fake Hollywood couples recently and I expected this to be another one of the same. Even with a similar premise, this story felt fresh. As their backstories unfold, Grey and Ethan develop into complex characters. I appreciate how relatable Grey felt even though her life is nothing like mine. Unlike other books with the glitz and glam of Hollywood being the driving motivation for the characters, these ones just love films, acting, and creating. I highly recommend this as a fun, spicy read.

What a pleasant surprise! The tone of this book does not match the title or the cover art. It has much more depth than I was prepared for and tackled substance abuse and the dark side of being famous while still being able to call itself a romantic comedy.

I think this book highlights the importance of choice in a relationship; meaning that you shouldn’t *need* the other person but you should actively choose them to be a part of your life. Grey and Ethan had to figure out who they were as independent individuals before they could be in a healthy relationship.

This book is for anyone who is looking for a romantic comedy with more substance and less fluff.

Grey is a child actor turned starlet looking for her next move. Ethan is an Oscar winner turned recluse after the death of his best friend and writing/directing/acting partner (the Ben to his Matt). Their publicist decides that a fake relationship would be just the thing to kickstart both of them out of the rut they're currently in. But what happens when sparks start flying and nothing seems so fake anymore...

I really enjoyed this book and felt the chemistry between Ethan and Grey. However, I really disliked the trope of "I'm a grown adult but I'm just going to run away because I'm scared of falling in love". Come on. I mean, I get it. We need some tension or this would be a 100-page love story. But running away from a potential relationship like this is something I would expect to see in a young adult book, not a story about two grown ass adults. But overall I really enjoyed this book. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I absolutely loved reading about Grey and Ethan's story. The pacing was excellent, and I never felt my attention flag when reading. The chemistry between Grey and Ethan is powerful, and I will be thinking for a while about some of the more intense issues Wilder explored in this book. (Please check the trigger warnings before reading.)

I really, really loved this one.

Grey and Ethan both find themselves in situations where they need a good publicity boost, so low and behold, they find themselves falling victim to the Hollywood fake dating cliche. Their relationship has many ups and downs, and the author takes us through every single one beautifully.

This story is one of love, strength, overcoming, and independence. While our characters certainly fall in love with one another, they also grow to love and respect themselves first and foremost. That might be the most beautiful thing about this book.

All in all, this was a great story that I would highly recommend.

TW: alcoholism, parental abuse, nudity scandal, death of a friend, drugs.

Wow, this book was exceptional. I signed up for a fake dating romance and I got way more. First of all, fake dating is one of my favorite tropes but is so tricky. How can you make it believable and not silly? But the premise of Hollywood actors dating for publicity nails it. That’s built in believability and situations to bring them together.

I’ll try not to be spoiler-y.

But this book was way more than a light hearted romance. It was an emotional journey of grief and personal demons. I love Grey’s character and I was so happy with the authors choices to have her not stay in the obviously toxic situation too long thinking she alone could fix someone. I was also glad that Ethan’s obvious deep rooted issues weren’t treated like something that could be solved simply.

Ethan was not a character who was easily likable and I appreciated that. Grey had a great character arc when dealing with him and realizing that his issues were more serious than she previous thought.

I also LOVED the dynamic between Grey and Nora when it so easily could have been an east route to make them rivals or Grey jealous. Their friendship made me so happy. Strong female friendships and sisterhood in books always makes me happy.

In the beginning I was getting nervous because i was scared Grey was going to be used to reform a man and women are not therapists for men but that ended up not happening so I was very relieved!

I love, love, loved How to Fake it in Hollywood. The deliciously illustrated cover drew me in - wait, how many romance novels have you read where the cover actually reflects your image of the characters? If you're like me, the cute illustrations leave a lot to the imagination (not necessarily a bad thing) but this one was spot on. Okay, enough about the cover! The pages within sealed the deal and thoroughly satisfied my love of celebrity, gossip, romance and LA. Kudos to Ava Wilder on nailing the hyper-specific LA details, including nailing the quirks of the Cafe Gratitude menu (I've spent more money than I'll admit here there and I love it) and that a trip around Silver Lake Reservoir is the ideal way to clear your mind.. We don't have enough LA romances out there, do we? For me, the setting set this book apart. Oh and the sex is steamy, folks. It felt like the real deal and less flowery than others romances I've read lately. I will spare you the customary long-winded summarization of the plot (in simplest terms, arranged Hollywood relationship between two actors turns dangerously real - tension, sex, warm fuzzies and drama ensues) and just say that this outstanding debut novel is a MUST read for romance fans or anyone else who has ever had a subscription to Us Weekly or read Dlisted on a daily basis.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review; henceforth my reviews of Ava WIlder may be biased because I loved this book so much I can't imagine not jumping at the chance to read and rave over her work in the future.

Based on the cover and the description, I went into this book expecting mostly lightheartedness and romance, which there is some of but for the most part, the book revolves around the pain that both of these characters are in and how they can help each other grow and move through it. While the book is fantastic and it really does tug on your hearts, readers should be aware of what you are getting into when starting the book.

I really admire that the novel doesn't offer easy answers or outs for these characters and their problems. Ethan is an alcoholic who has struggled with alcoholism for twenty years of his life - the book does not brush over that nor does it act as if the love of one person is enough to cure him of it. It makes it very clear that Grey is not responsible for his actions or his care; it is not her job to fix him. Just that alone makes this book far more realistic than some other fake dating hollywood romances (which definitely still have a fond place in my heart too!).

There could've been a little more emphasis on Grey and her own internal struggles. There are bits of her backstory that are tantalizing and could have done with a bit more expanding. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to Ava Wilder's next one.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.