Wow....I definitely need to decompress after reading this book. What I thought would be another sappy rom-com about fake dating with a celebrity twist, turned out to be a very deep and emotionally filled journey to a HEA.

After composing myself, I went to see what other Ava Wilder books I could add to my TBR....there are none. This slice of perfection was her debut novel. It had no right to be that good for a debut!!!!!

What I liked about the book:
1. The writing is flawless. I thought it flowed really well and was edited well.

Overall, I love how once they got together, it wasn’t the typical Hollywood HEA. We got to see the troubles with Ethan’s drinking and drug problem, and self-loathing and how that impacted their relationship.

Instead of the book having a "I don't know if he/she likes me or not" feel, this one was definitely "Oh no, he/she definitely wants me, but I don't want to hurt him/her". That was a bit refreshing of a viewpoint within the fake dating trope.

2. The characters are deep and complex. Both of the MCs have deep rooted issues with trust and it definitely manifests in each of them in different ways.

Ethan has become a reclusive, alcoholic who will seek out the comfort of cigarettes and drugs if around them. He spirals to the point of blackout episodes and delusions of how he'll ultimately harm those around him.

Grey is such a pushover at times, that she even begins to drink excessively and she enables Ethan a lot. She also has such a flight response when it comes to hardship, probably from the years of being stuck as the breadwinner for her family and not really having too many people she could trust and depend on.

I also really enjoyed Nora as a character. You can tell she honestly wants the best for Ethan (her ex-husband), but she's also realistic having lived through his problems before and knows that she can't fix him, he has to want to fix himself. The way she "checks up" on him, is happy for him in his new relationship, and becomes like a big sister to Grey, makes her hands down one of the best supporting characters I think I've ever read.

3. The steam is good, the love is better.

4. First book I’ve read that mentioned a sex-induced UTI. That’s fantastic to see talked about.

5. The author does a good job using they/their pronouns when it comes to Andromeda.

4.5 Hollywood Stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to be published June 14, 2022, so do yourself a favor and just go pre-order it now.

A sexy, tender, and ultimately redemptive book about forgiveness, empowerment, and facing your own mess head on. This book was funny and light at moments, but deeply moving in others and I loved the blend of romance and vivid contemporary story-telling, all set in a glamorous LA backdrop amidst all the drama of Hollywood.

Grey Brooks, fresh off a staring role in a hit teenage soap opera, is struggling to make it to the next level. Ethan Atkins is reclusive A-lister looking to find his way back into civilized society. When there mutual publicist suggests a fake romance to set Hollywood abuzz, they reluctantly agree. Sparks flying, gossipers gossiping, and soon both Grey and Ethan are unsure where their fake relationship ends and a potential real one begins.

What I expected to be a rom-com, is actually not a com at all. Ava Wilder’s highly anticipated debut novel is a full fledged romance/women’s fiction novel about relationships, love, self doubt, dealing with past traumas and so much more. While the overall premise is fun and light (who doesn’t love the fake dating trope especially one set in Hollywood), some of the issues addressed are anything but.

Wilder’s characters are rich in depth, with struggles and insecurities anyone can fall victim to. The dialogue, and specifically the banter between the two main characters, was a treat. I also adored all of the other supporting relationships in the book including those between Grey and her best friend Kamilah, Ethan and his ex-wife Nora, etc. And a big shoutout for a very inclusive cast of characters including a non-binary character.

This was a very enjoyable, fast paced, steamy and romantic book. I found myself reading at a pace quicker than usual, and I became very emotionally invested, which is always a good sign for me that the book is going to be at least a 4 star read. Also, what a gorgeous cover!! I’ll definitely be pre-ordering a physical copy for myself. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell Books for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ava Wilder's How to Fake It in Hollywood is a realist look at celebrity culture. While the situations in which the protagonists, Grey and Ethan, find themselves, can teeter on the edge of cliché, Wilder manages to subvert readers' expectations and present an earnest portrait of addiction and love. The pacing of the novel is fairly consistent, with a slight imbalance in the third act and a bit of a lull when characters walk back and forth on the same issue. The writing is also solid, if a little overly straightforward in certain areas; I particularly enjoyed Wilder's tongue-in-cheek dig at a certain small-town, absolutely bonkers teen drama featuring the epic highs and lows of high school football. (Or, theoretically, if such a bonkers teen drama could exist and be nonsensically renewed for years on end. Theoretically.)

The stars of the novel, fittingly, are Grey and Ethan. Grey is especially three-dimensional and realistic, and her choices and internal monologue emphasize—cleverly subtle on Wilder's part—not only her youth but also her position as a woman in the entertainment business. Ethan's struggles are also crucial to the story, but I found that they became secondary (fittingly, in my opinion) to Grey's stronger character arc.

While How to Fake It in Hollywood is, perhaps, at its core, a romance story, it is also a deeply realistic and truth-adjacent novel. There is an eerie familiarity to it because the reader will have likely read this story dozens of times before—in tabloid headlines jeering at celebrities gone wild, in TV recaps of celebrity divorce scandals, and in thousands of Instagram posts obsessively analyzing celebrities' bodies. Wilder uses her readers' muscle memories of celebrity intrusions and offers a glimpse into the private actions behind the public speculations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted on my blog, le livre en rose (lelivreenrose.weebly.com) sometime in the upcoming week.

I. Loved. This. Book!! I'm a pop-culture junkie so I'm always excited to read books that give me a *realistic* peek into celebrity life and this did it better than most. Wilder built a romance that delivered the swoon but also left me questioning if the two were really meant for each other. As all my favorite books do, it forced me to think about what I would do if I was the MC and a week after reading it I'm still not sure. A book that made me laugh, tear up, and think! It doesn't get much better!

Really enjoyable romance! The idea of two celebrities being set up isn’t a brand new premise, but I think this was really well done. The characters were both developed and likable, but still flawed. I would definitely recommend this and would read another story by the author!!

If you're looking for quick, chemistry-filled romance, How to Fake It in Hollywood might be a perfect fit. It's an interesting look inside the celebrity PR machine and the challenges of facing blatant sexism as an actress. Of course, the main driver of the plot is the relationship between Grey and Ethan, who are both multi-dimensional characters.

However, the pacing of the plot kind of threw me off. It felt like the story almost wrapped up 70% of the way through, only to have the author throw in additional challenges for Grey and Ethan. I think the different plot lines could have tied together in a neater way that didn't feel dragged out or monotonous.

3.5 STARS!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was a cute fake dating story following two actors, Ethan and Grey.

I didn’t love or hate it. I liked it. It held my attention throughout the book for the most part but it wasn’t anything crazy or emotional for me that made me want to give it more stars. The characters were okay but I feel it was kinda repetitive throughout, same problems over and over which made it predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC copy.

How to Fake it in Hollywood is all of my favorite things in a romance novel: surly male love interest, witty, sharp, beautiful female main character, celebrity, great writing, fake dating, a truly deep love story, and even a tongue-in-cheek nod to another popular trope (I won’t say more than that because spoilers). There was even a little section that gave off strong blind items/Deux moi vibes. Needless to say, I LOVED this book.

Grey is talented and driven, but she’s just not getting the traction she needs in Hollywood to get her career to where she wants it to be. Luckily for her, her publicist (who I’d love to read a sequel about 👀) thinks that a PR relationship with uber- famous Ethan will make Grey’s stock skyrocket. The catch? Ethan isn’t thrilled with the idea since he’s been out of the Hollywood scene for a few years and has no desire to re-enter it.

Grey was an absolute delight to read. She’s not a damsel in distress, she’s smart, she’s funny, she overthinks just as much as I do—she’s a very relatable main character. Ethan is written just like I’d imagine a fallen-from-grace megastar would be. Turns on the charm when the cameras are on, but gruff and distant behind closed doors. His vulnerability comes out organically and, of course, it’s all thanks to Grey. Their interactions are realistic for their situation, nothing was ever over-the-top or unbelievable.

Some housekeeping notes on things that I REALLY appreciated: they practiced safe sex, there was actual consent for sex, the author included a non-binary character and a queer relationship, the conversation between a main character and the ex of another was incredibly well done, the characters are layered and nuanced, like real people, all of that and then some more that I can’t write without spoiling it. I can’t believe this is a debut for Ava Wilder because it is wonderful. I can’t wait to read more from this author. 5/5!

🎞 tropes: actor/actress romance, fake dating, age gap, dilf (tw: alcoholism and grief)
🎞 the quality of the writing was good, but i think there was some missed potential w the characters. they didn't have much chemistry or tension imo
🎞 i think this would've been better if it was enemies to lovers, or friends to lovers, or if they had more awkward/funny/embarrassing interactions of idk, just SOMETHING to spice them up. from their first meeting their dialogue was very dry and that never really improved
🎞 overall tho it was a good debut, cute story, and i think most ppl looking for a fluffy movie star fake dating romance would enjoy this one
🎞 arc review, opinions are my own

how to fake it in hollywood follows grey and ethan, two actors who decide to enter a fake relationship in order to get some good press. as the story develops, the lines between what’s real and what’s not get blurry, with angst and steam following.

i went into this book with high expectations (two actors fake dating, it’s going to be immaculate, right?), and only some of them were met. while the premise of this book seemed interesting, i feel like the MCs moved past the “fake” part of fake dating too quickly. part of what makes a fake relationship so interesting is the “will they won’t they,” and while emotionally this did happen, it didn’t happen physically. an essential part of reading romance is the lead up to the first kiss; i found that this part of the book ultimately fell flat for me. the pacing seemed all over the place, which did make it difficult to finish.

despite this, there were things that the book did well. though this was advertised as a rom-com, the book really dug deep and dealt with numerous heavy themes. it was important that this book/the characters did NOT fall into the “they can cure me” or “they’re my savior” themes. it also dealt with the grief of losing a loved one in a realistic way. the balance between light and heavy topics worked well. as individuals, i was able to connect to both grey and ethan for different reasons. it was also interesting to get an inside view at hollywood and fake relationships; i hadn’t really thought about the toll it can take on individuals before, despite having seen so many paparazzi pictures and leaked stories online.

make sure to check TWs before reading! i wanted to enjoy this book more, but i found that i did not enjoy the romance aspect as much as i wanted to. 3.5/5 stars.

thank you to netgalley and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"A relationship couldn't hurt her career if it was for her career, right?"

How to Fake it In Hollywood follows the characters Gray Brooks and Ethan Atkins.

Grey is in the middle of figuring out her next move after the completion of her successful teen T.V. show Poison Paradise and is struggling to find work which causes her to worry if she'll just end up like every other washed-up actress in Hollywood. Ethan Atkins, a well-known heartthrob, is trying to regain a positive image. He has spent the last five years grieving over the loss of his creative partner and best friend, Sam in very unhealthy ways that end up costing him his career and his marriage.

Enter Audrey Aoki, who is the publicist for both Grey and Atkins. Audrey decides that a fake-relationship between Grey and Atkins could do wonders for both of their careers and hopefully repair Atkin's tarnished public image. The two agree for different reasons figuring that a little harmless lie could do wonders for their careers. What they don't expect is their feelings to get in the way of their perfect plan. But with the meddling media following them around, Atkins drinking problems, and Grey's desire for a more fulfilling career things are only bound to get complicated.

"Somehow she knew that no matter what they promised each other, things were only going to get more complicated."

While this starts of as a typical rom-com with funny banter between the two characters there was so much underneath the surface that impacted the second half of the book in ways I didn't anticipate. Wilder's writing style is both fun - yet serious. She seems to effortlessly transition between lighthearted topics to difficult ones that have you questioning the validity of Atkins and Grey's relationship. There was so much to love about this book from the characters to the desire for there to be a happy ending (although getting there was definitely not all 'rainbows and butterflies'.)

Wilder's message is important and reminds us that being in the limelight can feel incredible but it also can also feel cruel and harsh. Having a private life and finding relationships that are real and genuine gets even more complicated when everything in your life is calculated for a specific purpose.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It had me laughing one minute and crying the next. For anyone that loves the fake-dating/relationship of convenience trope then this one is perfect for you.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ava Wilder and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun read! I absolutely loved Ava Wilder’s writing-style; it felt like I was watching a movie the entire time I was reading this book. I’m also a sucker for celebrity publicity stunts (so interesting and FAR outside my reality) so I was instantly hooked! For the sake of not giving too much away: there was great character development, I thought the progression of the relationship was realistic, and I could absolutely see this playing out in real life.

Romance is not my most-frequently read genre, so I tend to be a little pickier, and I really enjoyed this one! I recommend for anyone who likes romance novels, of course, but also to anyone who doesn’t typically reach for them! The perfect addition to a lineup of thrillers!

While a majority of this book is light and fun, it does also touch upon a couple heavier topics (very well, I might add) - please check TWs!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Ava Wilder’s How to Fake It in Hollywood follows two actors Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins as they enter a PR relationship to revitalize their dying careers. Though their fake relationship is nowhere near perfect, the two have to fight their attraction towards one another and the bond growing between them. While this book has all the makings of a light hearted romcom (fake dating, one bed, age gap), it is so much more than that.

I really enjoyed this read, but my feelings are extremely mixed. I went in expecting it to be a lot more lighthearted than it was (honestly, not sure why) but I was pleasantly surprised by how much heart it had. Ava is an extremely talented writer and her writing style had me feeling like I was in this world with the characters. Ethan’s character development was incredible. Ava did such a fantastic job portraying alcoholism and grief in HTFIIH, I truly felt like I was on this journey with him. I felt Grey didn’t have as much development as Ethan did, but still I loved her character.

The only reason I gave this a 4.5 star rating was because of some things I didn't enjoy just because of personal preference. I highly recommend this book and will be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out!

This book was unexpected. It was unexpectedly deep and unexpectedly beautiful. When I received the eARC, I thought I was getting a cutesy, fluffy, Hollywood rom-com. What I really got was a deep, realistic romance about a very flawed protagonist. If you are looking for a fun, breezy romance, this is not the book for you. But, if you want a romance that touches on themes of grief and addiction, while still being intensely romantic, this is a good pick.

A very engrossing novel detailing the tumultuous relationship of two actors who have been brought together by their mutual PR agent. Very high highs battle with very low lows creating a novel you won’t put down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a slow read for me. I started out actually frustrated for the characters...like, "How can you actually need to fake a relationship this much for attention? And suck so bad at it??"

The storyline is in the title. Two actors need some attention. TMZ, People, etc need some Paparazzi attention and these two arent' getting enough. Grey hasn't had work in a couple years since her last big series and she is only 27. Ethan has been drinking his life away for the past 5 yrs when his best friend died. His wife divorced him, left with his kids and if he doesn't shape up, so will his dying career. So...their agents decided this fake relationship is the only way to save them both. Six months of fake dating should do the trick?

After a couple months of purely plutonic, barely touching dates, they get sent to a weekend away. That does it. Four nights in a posh hotel, the spell breaks. But, can they keep this mystery relationship alive? Is it real or just for the cameras?

The cover and description don't do this book enough justice! This book is not just another fake dating romance. It doesn't follow the cookie cutter story arc of most romance novels. The characters are developed and dimensional. Without giving spoilers, I was genuinely delighted to read a book about a strong female lead and the guy who needs more than a relationship to "save him".

I really, really loved this book! I absolutely adored Ava Wilder’s writing style, and this is an incredible debut. I was completely sucked in from page one, and loved learning about Grey and Ethan. I was a little skeptical about if I would like this book or not, because How to Fake it In Hollywood dealt with a lot of serious issues, like the male love interest’s grief and alcohol use disorder, but I was so pleasantly surprised!! It was not a “he falls in love, and is now magically cured!” which I was so grateful for. This book worked a lot with the complexities of being human, and the individual self work that has to happen to be able to show up for those you love. My favorite thing about this book was that there wasn’t a typical antagonist, but instead every character had both positive and negative qualities. The character growth felt really genuine, and appropriate; not like some magic wand was waved and suddenly everything was perfect. Highly recommend!

I loved this. You never know what to expect with a debut author, but this book nailed it. If you’re into a) celebrity gossip and b) fake dating this is absolutely delightful. A caveat is that Ethan’s alcoholism was difficult to read, and that will probably turn some readers off of this. I really was not wanting this to be a book where love cures addiction, and it wasn’t. It was painful to read Grey’s suffering because of Ethan’s drunken behavior, but Wilder did a sensitive job of making sure that the Ethan’s problems weren’t solved overnight and that ultimately Ethan helped himself before they were able to reconcile. Will definitely be rereading and will definitely be paying attention to what Wilder comes out with next.