Cute fake-dating romance story between an up-and-coming actress and an A-list Hollywood star who is trying to get back in the spotlight after years of seclusion. Trying to establish the next phase of her career after finishing her role in a teen drama, Grey Brooks agrees to begin a fake relationship with her tween celebrity crush Ethan Atkins,
I enjoyed the premise of this book and while the author tried to handle a lot of heavy topics the end product was unfortunately a little underwhelming. Both characters had a lot of internal struggles that they were attempting to overcome but in the end a lot of the actual work happened behind the scenes. The romance itself felt superficial and because they did have a case of insta-love the author didn't't give a lot of reasons as to why these two really connected and I had a hard time seeing a reason for the relationship other than because they were attached to each other.
That being said I did like the sweet moments shared between Ethan and Grey. They were both able to overcome a lot of their internal struggles (Ethan more than Grey) and I liked that the author gave them space to work on themselves before eventually finalizing their relationship.
3.5/5
*Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I think this is a great romance novel, especially if you like pop culture / celebrities / Hollywood at all. If you are a fan of the fake romance troupe, definitely read this one. Grey and Ethan are a strong couple and seem to respect and want the best for one another - in impossible circumstances. Was it my favorite novel? No - but if you're a fan of Emily Henry or other contemporary romances, I recomenend reading this one!

I was already a sucker for a good fake dating trope, but Ava Wilder managed to make me love it even more. Grey and Ethan start off strictly PR (despite the school girl crush Grey had on him when she was younger) but as they continue their PR relationship, real feelings start to get mixed into it. I was rooting for them from start to finish, and I was so satisfied with how the whole book played out! I was crying, laughing, confused, angry, sad and so many more emotions while reading this book, I am OBSESSED to say the least. I am so undeniably excited to read more amazing books by Ava Wilder, a new favorite author for me! This book was a 5 star book for me, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you read it.

Judging by the description and cover, I thought this was going to be a bit lighter than it played out to be. I felt like it was a bit uneven, swinging wildly from coy and flirty to dealing with depression and substance abuse. That unevenness does set the tone for what it must be like for the characters as the navigate their relationship and lives independent of each other. I found the ending, especially for Grey, a little too neat, but it was a good read and I would recommend it.

what an absolute joy this book is! fake dating with a literal twist - these actors are set up by their publicist to have a fake relationship in order to give their careers a jolt! but really, it is ava's writing which make this book unputdownable. I was amazed at how much we knew about the supporting characters in the story - everyone felt fleshed out and real. I appreciated that Ethan's journey was not easily patched up; that we as the audience realized it was going to take him years to really be fully okay.

great banter, steam, and complicated characters at the center, this is shaping up to be one of my favorite books of 2022... in january.

thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy!

“In that moment, it’s clear that no matter how many secrets are dug up about them and plastered on the front page, there’s something perfect and private between them that no one will ever be able to touch.”

I cannot even explain how much I enjoyed this book. Ava Wilder’s writing style was near perfection in my eyes.

I loved the:
- Hollywood aspects: managers, million dollar NDAs, luxurious vacations, premieres/parties
- Genuine chemistry: Grey and Ethan were so natural together in the beginning but not in an “Insta love” way.
- Real life themes: insecurities, passions, loss/grief, addiction, recovery, therapy
- 16 months later section: that time was so needed for them (read to find out why)
- the epilogue!!!

This was definitely one of my favorite books, blending together all of my most sought after qualities of a romance book.

After reading the blurb and being enchanted by this fantastic cover, I was so hopeful to read something tempting, entertaining with Hollywood criticism of fake relationship trope!

Instead of romance or sweet romcom, I got angsty drama that tore my heart apart!

One thing I have to emphasize: this book is not bad or average reading but after seeing the cover and reading that intriguing blurb, I was expecting something a little lighter! And romance part of the book heartbreakingly disappointed. There was not enough chemistry between characters.

Addiction, child star molestation, dark side of fame were triggering subjects which were honestly approached but even the execution of fake relationship parts were a little messy!

I didn’t hate this book! I deeply felt sad and hardly breathed after the author threw the entire angsty drama bomb on my lap! I still want to read more works of the author but this time I was needing a feel good romance and the book didn’t fit with my expectations. So I decided to give three solid stars! ( neither loved it or hated it)

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my pure honesty.

I loved this book and am so glad I got a chance to read an advanced copy of Ava Wilder’s debut novel! I can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read it too and to someday (hopefully soon!) read more of her work. How to Fake it in Hollywood follows the fake dating relationship Grey Brooks embarks on with fellow actor Ethan Atkins in a publicity stunt aimed at landing Grey her next breakout project and cleaning up Ethan’s reputation to get him back in the limelight. I especially enjoyed Grey’s character and how she was portrayed as such a strong woman despite the book being a romance novel. The storyline also did a good job of delving deeper and focusing on some more serious topics as well. It is an all around great read and I had trouble putting it down.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hooked from the beginning.

Grey Brooks meets Ethan Atkins in their mutually shared publicists office. As a way to spark her acting career and revive his, they agree to “date” for the media coverage. His grumpy demeanor and her witty sense of humor create the perfect pairing.

Just when you think that this love story has a predictable ending, the twists and turns of this book leave you hooked. Ethan struggles with demons from his past and can’t seem to shake them. After a short period of time, you can see that his ways start to rub off on Grey.

At certain points, the story takes some dark turns. But it showcases the reality of grief and the pain of mental illness struggles along with battling addiction.

I love the aspect of a strong, assertive female not afraid to speak her mind. Their characters are so endearing that you rally for them the entire time, both individually and together.

If you love romances, rom coms, deeper stories, and raw true emotions, this is a great book for you. Truly enjoyed this!

#netgalley #arc #netgalleyreads

Thank you to NetGalley, and Dell for the ARC!

I was incredibly excited for Wilder's debut, How to Fake It in Hollywood, as it follows one of my favorite tropes — fake dating, in Hollywood. I really appreciated Wilder's commentary on Hollywood, on celebrity culture, and the way we treat celebrities. Unfortunately, insta-love/instalust isn't for me, and for that, I just struggled to connect with this book as much as I wanted to. I wish we'd slowed down a bit, and gotten to see more of Ethan and Grey's relationship (and friendship) develop, rather than jump straight into the sex scenes. Still, I'm excited to read whatever Wilder writes next, as I really did enjoy her writing style!

Now this is what a fake dating trope should look like. Two Hollywood actors - at different stages of their careers - put together to date one another as a way of attracting attention and creating hype for both. Don’t get me wrong, I got a little Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes vibe in the beginning…but there was no couch jumping. Whew!

As they grew on me and the flaws and demons became the central piece of the story, these characters came to life as did their relationship.

Excellent, fast paced read!!

This book was so good! From the beginning pages, it captured and held my attention. The characters were raw and flawed in so many ways that brought conflict to the plot. At times I wanted to shake either one or both of them to say get a grip on your life, but that’s just not how life works. It was sadly realistic to have characters with good support systems that still struggled and didn’t make the right decisions, because when it really comes down to it, changing for the better is the choice of the individual.

Individually and as a couple, Grey and Ethan had so much stacked against them. It was amazing to see how Grey would never give up and always pushed back at the boxes others and society tried to put her in. Grey and Ethan felt like they were destined to be together, but at so many points the author would pull their relationship in a direction that kept me reading.

TW included alcoholism, drug abuse, death, and divorce. Entirely possible I missed a couple, so would recommend looking it up.

I can’t lie. I went into this with high expectations.
Cute cover? ✔️
Fake dating trope? ✔️
I was confident I’d like this.
I did not expect to LOVE this the way I did. I devoured this book. It was 2/3 contemporary romance with a little heaviness mixed in- the perfect balance of romance to drama. It was both highly entertaining but also a little emotional. The characters had me in their corner, rooting for them from the first page.
A debut novel for the author and she’s going straight to my instant must-buy list!

Trigger warning: substance abuse, addiction, mental health

Thank you to netgalley, the author, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the early release copy in exchange for my honest review. This one releases in June and is SO worth the wait!

Well, what a surprise!

Before we get into it - thank you to the author, publishing house, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I went into this book in need of a light-hearted romance, a typical frenemies to lovers troupe, where I thought I knew what was going to happen but wanted to be entertained along the way.

In a very welcome way, this book turned out to be so much more than that. It was light-hearted and romantic, but the depth of their characters was so much more than I was expecting. The author did an amazing job of introducing you to characters who are likeable but flawed, and who dealt with real-life issues in a way that was uncomfortable but real. She (the author) did not take the easy route in delivering Grey and Ethan’s story, and the pay-off is a 4/5* read.

Highly recommend!

Were you a fan of Emily Henry's "Beach Read" & Christina Lauren's "Unhoneymooners?" If so, you have arrived at your next hot read! Coming out in June 2022 to a bookstore near you is debut author Ava Wilder's novel "How to Fake it in Hollywood."

This is the timeless tale, that hasn't yet been overdone in literature, of a young starlet and repulsive A-list actor entering into a fake relationship - think Ali Hazelwood's "The Love Hypothesis." Grey Brooks is on a mission to stay afloat and relevant in Hollywood when she is set up with teenage heartthrob Ethan Adkins, after his high profile divorce. Adkins struggles with substance abuse, depression, and grief - so trigger warning there. This novel takes you through the the toll Hollywood takes on Ethan and Grey's emotional, physical, and mental health, as they struggle to open up to each other in their "fake dating" relationship.

Personal Review: 3/5

I enjoyed the writing style of this author, it fits in well with the Rom-Com trends of the early 2020's. The bit about Ethan's struggle with alcohol abuse and their struggle to open up to each other, felt so real. The characters were incredibly likable and well developed. I do feel like there was some chemistry missing between Grey & Ethan. The plot was prominent reminder that individuals that we put on pedestals in Hollywood, are real life people with real life struggles. For a debut author, I really enjoyed this work. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I liked the perfectly imperfect characters and the growth that they all had to do throughout the book. Predictable in that sweet and comfortable way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I loved this book! I am an absolute sucker for famous characters. Acting, art, music, athletes, idc sign me up. I was immediately attached to Grey and Ethan. I love a damaged hero. The scenes of them talking and opening up to each other had me all in my feels. I really enjoyed the side characters as well, Kamila, Andromeda, and Nora. The romance is definitely open door.
I would absolutely recommend reading the authors TW list before you start the book. There are some pretty heavy topics and moments in the book.
I definitely liked the book and would recommend it to romance readers, especially those who like a good fame trope like me. The book comes out this summer on June 14th! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book!
This will be posted on Instagram as well.

Grey Brooks is an up-and-coming 27 year old actress, famous for starring in the teen drama series, Poison Paradise, but not much else since the series finale a year ago. She needs a Hollywood-style boost in her plateauing career, and agrees to fake date the reclusive 38 year old Oscar award-winning actor Ethan Atkins, who also happens to be her teenage celeb crush.

Ethan is dealing with a TON of issues with a lot of alcohol. Five years ago, he lost his best friend in a car accident, which inflamed his already crumbling marriage, leading to a messy divorce and publicly fighting paparazzi. In short, dude needs help but isn’t looking for it in healthy places. He’s massively depressed, constantly drinking and basically not doing anything to get back to any semblance of a productive life. Fake dating a C-list actress starts out as a dumb idea he entertains to keep his publicist happy and off his back. Despite his best efforts to stay numb, everything changes when he meet Grey the first time and when she proceeds to rip him a new one for being 45 min late.

Don’t let the beautifully illustrated cover of this book fool you. If you love a celebrity fake dating romance with deep emotional character development, real angst, quick fire banter and good steamy times—as I do—this has it in spades. Bravo to Ava Wilder on her impressive debut!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

CW: alcohol and substance abuse, depression

This book is so much more than just a fluffy romance read.

The chemistry between Grey and Ethan from their first meeting is on point. The author creates characters that have emotional depth that you can't help but root for each of them as individuals and together as a couple.

Sometimes when I see a book with an illustrated cover, I find myself assuming it will be an easy beach read, but this book has something more with well developed characters and a great mix of spice and emotional connection.

This book was a one day read for me and I highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a romance!

This is a great book for what it is: a story about two actors in Hollywood trying to repair and boost their reputations by pretending to date each other.