How To Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder was a great read full of witty banter and rollercoaster of emotions. I usually am not much of a fan of fake relationships, but Grey and Ethan's chemistry had me from the get go. I highly enjoyed this story, it had it's fun but there that a lot of deeper issues and emotions this novel dived into. I would highly recommend this novel, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I tried to give myself as little expectations as possible going into this book, simply because the PR fake dating trope can be such a hit or miss. But I was only a few chapters in and I knew this one was going to be a hit. From the start, seeing how strong Grey is as a leading character was fantastic. She may have been someone lower in the totem pole when it comes to Hollywood stars, but she knew she wasn’t going to let herself be walked all over - something we got to see first hand during her first meeting with Ethan.
And I really enjoyed that Ethan wasn’t the stereotypical Hollywood Actor in the sense that he knew he had his own issues and knew he had to work on himself, instead of just having a huge ego and blaming the world around him.
Their relationship was such a rollercoaster that had me laughing with their witty banter one minute, and crying with all their emotions the next. But it was such a breath of fresh air seeing the healthy way their relationship grew and flourished at the end, because it wasn’t the way I as a reader hoped for, but one that I really loved and think needs to be seen more. I am just obsessed with this book, the writing was amazing and it was so descriptive it felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head, and I cant wait for everyone to get to read this gem and love Grey and Ethan as much as I do.

Normally the fake relationship trope doesn’t do it for me, but this one hit right! The characters were well written. Even though they were celebrities, it didn’t feel like I was reading about “rich people problems.” However, I do wish Ethan’s alcohol problems would have been addressed more fully, and the impact his use had on Grey (she began drinking more, etc). Overall, though, a really great piece of storytelling.

Thank you to Random House for providing this ARC via NetGalley.

Triggers: drug and alcohol use/abuse (current and former), parental neglect, past death of a friend, divorce

Wow! With HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD, Ava Wilder has crafted a heartfelt, steamy debut that is simply unputdownable. While Grey and Ethan's relationship starts as just a publicity stunt, we easily fall in love with their intoxicating chemistry and charisma as their romance turns from contractual obligation to something genuine and real. They see their flaws reflected back in each other (fear of commitment, fear of failure) but they also see the promise and potential to become the best versions of themselves. Wilder's prose is sharp and sparkling as she takes the readers on a ride of every emotion on the gamut. While the chapters fly in Ethan and Grey's flirtatious phase, it's when they scratch the surface and allow themselves to face the harsh repercussions of trauma that Wilder's writing really shines. While I devoured this over the course of two sittings, I know this story will live in my bones for many years to come.

Fake Dating: ✔️
Spice: ✔️
Age Gap: ✔️
Insta Connection: ✔️
Queer Rep: ✔️
Lyrical Descriptions: ✔️

If I’m going by my checklist this book just about has it all (and it has a few more even better surprises in store). This book was really beautifully written and I loved the way this author painted the story out. I’ll admit; I was expecting one thing out of this book and I got something completely different and I love this book for defying my assumption and delivering something unique in the romance community. At least for me personally I’ve never read a book quite like this one.

Grey is a very witty and immediately likable heroine. Ethan is a little rougher around the edges and in my opinion took a little more time for me to warm up to him. But these two characters were instantly intrigued by the other. He saw a fierceness and drive in her, she saw a man who had once been her youth crush in need of companionship. Together they overcame their differences and were able to find common ground and grow to have feelings for the other person.

This book isn’t like the typical romances that I am usually drawn to. This book doesn’t end when the couple decides to get together and fall in love. It shows how peoples insecurities and flaws are still there even when love is apart of the relationship. It was actually like a breath of fresh air when I realized this book was taking a different approach. This isn’t your typical “happily ever after” romance that ends with a swooping declaration of love after Character A miscommunicates with Character B. This touches on alcoholism and feels like a more genuine love story. Everything doesn’t get waved away by a magic wand when the characters fall desperately in love. And that right there is what makes this story so realistic and why I enjoyed my read so much.

I am not usually a "famous people problems book" reader, but I devoured this one. It was so wonderfully written. I had to force myself to put it down a few times so it didn't end too quickly. The characters were well-developed and I rooted for them both separately—and together, as a couple. Absolutely gorgeous writing. Each line, each word, was written with purpose. Loved the banter, the dialogue felt real and natural.

CW/TW details: This book tackled some pretty heavy topics (addiction/alcoholism, loss/death, grief) so I was concerned going in due to the state of, well... everything. But it was done in a respectful, realistic way rather than resolving everything with love-turned-magic-wand.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but I'm definitely pre-ordering this one so I have a physical copy when it releases in June 2022.

I absolutely loved How To Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder! I love celebrity/Hollywood stories and I loved that this book was different than all the other stories in this category because it provided a very honest and raw look into the personal struggles of celebrities. I usually have such a hard time getting into third person POV novels, but Grey and Ethan's fake dating publicity stunt to love story had me hooked. I really enjoyed that this wasn't your average rom-com and that it explored the darker side of Hollywood while still having a compelling romantic arc. I liked the very honest portrayal of Ethan's grief and addiction and how the glitz and glamour of Hollwood isn't always what it's cracked up to be. At first Ethan was a very unlikeable grump, but when matched with Grey's sunshine personality, their banter was very entertaining to read. My only issue was that I thought that the characters acted on their attraction to each other quite quickly in the novel.. Overall, I thought this was a wonderfully written debut and would recommend this book to all romance lovers. I'm very excited to read all of Ava Wilder's future books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC of How To Fake It In Hollywood in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted on Goodreads/Amazon upon publication of the book.

I really enjoyed this book! Interestingly enough, this was less of a romcom than I thought - it deals with some very real issues tied to the life of Hollywood stars (addiction, harassment, etc). What was both the best and the worst part of this book, for me, was the characters. I liked Grey, the protagonist: she's down-to-earth, hard-working, and pragmatic, if a bit emotionally reserved. However, it was Ethan, her love interest, that I couldn't ever get fully on board with. During most of their interactions, he's surly and rude, as well as a bit condescending, which Grey chalks up to his A-lister ego. He is also an evident alcoholic, an issue that isn't completely addressed until the final third or so of the book. For me, his motivations were never clear and his feelings for Grey came out of nowhere...in fact, they seemed fairly surface-level for most of the book. Other than being famous and handsome, he isn't bringing much to the table. He's unreliable, closed off, and capricious. I thought he and Grey were incredibly well-written as separate, complex people, but didn't really find myself rooting for their love as much as I was rooting for them as individuals. Still, I was invested in seeing them grow as people and wasn't necessarily upset by their relationship.. Overall, this book was honest and gripping, but far more of a drama than the fluffy romcom it presents as.

This was a light and fun read that reminded me of All the romcoms I like to watch. The characters developed nicely throughout the book and I just thought it was east to read.

This was a really fun, meaty romance novel that tackled complex topics in a deeper way than I was expecting. And so many fun tropes that I love to see when I read romance! The ending was absolutely perfect as well - of course we read romance novels in part for the predictable endings, but what Wilder does here is really special and actually had me in tears. 4.5 stars.

I received an early release copy thanks to NetGalley.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4491851364?book_show_action=false

How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Format: 𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
Length: 𝟑𝟖𝟒 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬
Trigger warnings: 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦
Tropes: 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩
Release date: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘈𝘷𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 - 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

How to Fake It In Hollywood is everything I want in a book, especially a contemporary romance. This is Ava Wilder’s debut book!! We follow Grey Brooks, who is struggling as an actress. Her agent convinces her that perhaps a PR relationship could help. What her agent failed to mention is that it would be a PR relationship with non other than ETHAN FREAKING ATKINS. Grey used to have posters of Ethan on her wall and now she’s his fake girlfriend. Ethan is an A list celebrity or at least he used to be before the death of his best friend followed by his very public divorce.

This book is sooooo good. Yes, there are so many good tropes which make you want to read this book but there is a lot of development that happens here too. Grey and Ethan are dealing with their own struggles, not just with their careers. There are a lot of heavy subject materials in this book and it wasn’t always happy. But it was nice to have characters struggle with very real things and not just have everything work out so easily. I love that they had to really grow as individuals before they could grow together.

I cannot wait to see what Ava Wilder writes next.

This was your typical romance. Celebrity fake love and slow burn. I enjoyed it but didn't feel like there was anything new. It was just like the other couple of books I've read containing the same trope. Overall, nothing new. I expected a more unique story I guess.

this was my first ever ARC & I’m so happy it was! I absolutely enjoyed the universe Ava created here with Grey and Ethan. It felt like a hollywood tale similar to themes of A Star is Born with crossed with characters who’s careers were plucked out of the 90s heartthrob era (think river phoenix, keanu era) and the 2000s teen dramas (one tree hill, dawsons creek), respectfully. This was a really fun read & made me laugh way more than I’d like to admit. My only real complaint was that I felt like there were some parts of the story specifically developments with their relationship that you think would be more important were sped through really quickly. I think that was more to blame of my style as a reader and how I’ve chosen to read romantic comedies in the past. If it wasn’t important to the author to dive into deeper than I guess I shouldn’t really hinge myself to it more. It didn’t turn me off from the story or the characters at all though. I finished it still enjoying the story and the romance that was pathed out.

I’m very much looking forward to this coming out and getting my own physical copy to go back and annotate through. I’ve marked it down in my calendar!

One of my all-time favorite romance tropes is the “pretend dating” to falling in love tale. Grey is an actor whose teen soap ended a year ago, and auditions are drying up for her as she figures out what she wants next. Ethan is an older star who hasn’t worked in a few years, busy mourning the death of his best friend at the bottom of a bottle. When their shared publicist suggests they pretend to date to raise both of their profiles, they begrudgingly agree.

What I loved about this book (besides the falling in love bits) was how the author explores the trappings of fame in the present day. How much of your personal life do you have to sell and expose to do the job you love?

A star is born meets the proposal. This book got me thinking about all Hollywood relationships. And what really happens behind the curtains.

In my opinion, this is the ideal setting for a fake dating trope. Two actors; one washed-up and one on the come up, put in a contract together for a fake relationship to benefit both of their careers. What drew me in about this book is that this actually happens in Hollywood, and although these are fictional characters, quite a few celebrity couples came to mind when reading about Grey and Ethan, which made the story even more enjoyable. I would think, “Is this what really goes on between them?”

This book was pretty predictable, in the best way. There was a bit of a lull in the plot 2/3 through, but the rest of the book thoroughly makes up for it. There are likable characters, not-so-likable characters, and characters that grow on you. The character development was also a key point in what made me really love this book.

Alcoholism is an issue that is frequently talked about in this book, and the raw reality of it. Another issue that’s touched on is grief and how someone can process grief. The only thing holding me back from giving this book 5 stars is that it felt a little bit slow paced at times as well as the previously mentioned lull. Other than that, I would recommend this as a quintessential book to read for any romance lover.

Thank you NetGalley and Ava Wilder for this ARC. :)

I enjoyed this story and how the main characters worked to come together in a healthy relationship. I would read another book by this author and think it would be a good addition to a public library collection.

This Hollywood romcom was sweet as can be while avoiding the cheesy nature of many similar books. I highly recommend!

Third person narrative can be tricky sometimes because there tends to be a disconnect with the characters since you are missing their internal dialogue, but this author made sure that Grey and Ethan emotions were felt through her words. It’s a fun take when I see a book that humanizes not only the idea of celebrities but reminds us that these people that we idolized are regular people.

There’s a quiet intrigue and magnetic caramesia to the author's writing style which instantly pulls you into this world of fiction and makes it feels like reality. The forced proximity lined with tension filled moments, blurring the lines so much that there’s no distinct line between acting and reality, and so many swoon worthy moments that just made my heart ache. The dialogue was both flirty and fun while also tender, raw conversations about grief, trauma , self doubt, and so much more.

This author tackled many topics that are not common in a romance book. She wrote characters that faced struggles and insecurities that go beyond the twinkling lights of Hollywood. Both Ethan and Grey tackled issues that many people face and it was written in a way that felt organic to the plot of the book, rather than using sensitive topics to dramatize their story. This author took a well known trope and gave a unique voice to a story that has an inclusive cast and a story that has you emotionally invested from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC.

I really liked this. It was serious, but so charming. They discussed some important issues in the book, but without making it feel overwhelmingly sad or preachy. I loved the romance of it, and I loved the supporting characters!