Am a hoe for Ava Wilder. Honestly, I'm not even surprised with how much I loved this book. It gave me Elena and Damon vibes without the vampire aspect and I freaking loved it.

What a ride…
I wasn’t at all expecting how this went. The characters are flawed and their journey difficult. Throughout the course of their lives finding each other again and again. Wilder’s writing captures perfectly these emotions and reactions, making this book incredibly involving and hooking.

Rating: 4.5
Laughing: 3
Crying: 0

I screamed and danced when this approval came in. As a big fan of HTFIH, I was so excited to read Ava’s sophomore novel.

This book did not disappoint. There is something extraordinary about the way Ava writes. Her characters have such depth, they’re complex, flawed, and beautiful. When I read her books, I feel like I am falling into this other world and watching this story unfold right in front of me.

I was team Shane all throughout this book. Although I appreciate Lilah’s strength, I wish she wasn’t so closed off. It made for good- GREAT tension, but I’m a sucker for the guy who is just so open to love. I felt like Shane is just one of those guys that if you have him in your life, it’s something special. The way that he’s described as caring, charming, easy - sigh.

These two had a lot of moments that I wished were *their moment*, and I think the fact that each time I felt the build-up is a testament to Ava’s writing.

Celebrity romances are always fun and exciting because I know nothing about that world. I will say, reading this; I just kept thinking of Vampire Diaries and wondering if this was how it was for Nina and Ian. Did anyone else think of them?

This story is slow but TENSE (oh, the tension!), burn. So if that’s your jam, add this to your TBR now. Will They or Won’t They comes out on 6/27/2023 - Thank you, Random House, for the e-Arc!

This is a really enjoyable sophomore effort from Ava Wilder, whose How to Fake It in Hollywood was one of my favorite releases (and debuts!) of 2022. Like Grey and Ethan, Shane and Lilah are veterans of the Hollywood scene. Unlike G&E, they are industry peers, both the stars of the same popular TV series. As an inveterate lover of celebrity gossip, the care, detail, and accuracy with which Wilder writes about the Hollywood ecosystem makes her books incredibly satisfying to read. As a romance AND industry nerd, Will They or Won't They does a wonderful job of capturing the questions and insecurities about moving on from an identity-defining role, and the gendered differences of those concerns. It juggles a very complicated timeline admirably, and in a genre not known for its third-act twists, deploys one deftly and humorously! Deeply pleasurable to read from start to finish.

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

Ava Wilder had a winner with her debut novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood. This sophomore release shows she is an author to watch. If you like a second-chance romance with a big dash of Hollywood life included, this is the book for you. I will be recommending to readers who like a solid romance. Ava Wilder will be on my go-to list!

“Maybe she didn’t need to worry about faking the chemistry, after all.”

“They weren’t going to have sex ever again, unless it was for keeps.”

“Maybe he was reading too much into it, but it didn’t just sound like an apology. It sounded like a lament. For the lost versions of themselves they could’ve been, for the different future they could’ve had, for every choice they’d made along the way that had carried them further away from each other.”

In the past 12 or so months, I’ve read quite a few books that I was anticipating for MONTHS, and there’s a certain exhilaration that comes with being so rightfully excited about something and it living up to your expectations. Ava Wilder’s sophomore, Will They or Won’t They was one of those books. No one's fighting me on it, but I still have the strongest urge to scream in everyone’s faces “I WAS FUCKING RIGHT THIS BOOK WAS A DAMN MASTERPIECE JUST LIKE I SAID IT WOULD BE”

Lilah is my Scorpio icon. There were so many things about her that I felt in my soul, like this quote:
“She’d accepted long ago that she wasn’t for everyone.”
One of the recurring nightmares she talks about is one that she used to have as a kid where she would be in the backseat of a speeding car that had no driver. LITERALLY SAME. It’s insane how much I relate to this woman, she even has that signature Scorpio hypocrisy where she’s hurt by the fact that the person she’s dumping isn’t even putting up a fight. Love her.

Shane. A soft, fiercely sweet man who’s so quick to love, and lose, and then ready to do it all over again. I often struggle to verbalize my love for some male main characters because my feelings take shape in the form of keyboard smashes and screaming into the void. Shane has me feeling that type of way. I just adore him.

So many aspects of this book had me by the neck since the time I heard about: just the fact that Ava Wilder wrote it, since she became one of my favorite authors with ONE book because she’s one of my “perfect for me” authors, of which there are less than five, the fact that I get another Scorpio female main character since there is quite a shortage of us, the fact that this synopsis reminds me of The Vampire Diaries/Nina and Ian, AND that it was a second chance romance.

But once I read it, it reminded me of other books that I loved, in the BEST way possible. The ANGST from The Roughest Draft by Wibbroka, the actor-coworkers trying to resist temptation from Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade, my other Scorpio icon Indira from The Plus One by Mazey Eddings, and an almost toxic push and pull dynamic from a new adult romance that didn’t handle those complexities well, but Ava definitely did. I feel like I talk about this all the time but characters in a romance don’t HAVE to be likable/lovable; not everyone is, but readers have to be able to root for them and their happily ever after. Not to say that either Shane or Lilah are unlikable, in fact, I love them with my entire being and would perish for them. That doesn’t mean they don’t have flaws, or do shitty things for “no reason”, or are super quick to rectify their mistakes.

Ava Wilder was the first author I ever got the courage to message on Instagram, just a long text about how much I loved her book and all that good stuff. I’ve also continued to bother her over the last 10 months, more gushing about her and her books and, more recently, us trying to manifest an ARC for me together. She had no actual power over me getting this, but I appreciate her humoring me every time I whined about not having it yet.

MVP: Ava, I love you <3

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

While I didn’t find this author’s debut to be for me personally, I still really enjoyed her writing and was intrigued by the premise to pick up her sophomore novel. And thank goodness that I did because I fell so hard for this book! With great chemistry and a hell of a slow burn, Will They or Won’t They follows two co-stars who reunite for the final season of their popular show—except they hate each other behind the scenes.

Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are known for playing the lead characters of Intangible, especially for their chemistry. However, ever since their disastrous falling out after season one, they can’t stand each other off-screen. It doesn’t help that Lilah left the show after season five to pursue a film career…and failing, so she ultimately returns to the show for the final season. Both she and Shane fall back into their old habits, but as they are forced to spend more time with each other, they gradually start remembering what they liked about the other person — and realizing that maybe it’s their time after all.

This book is so addictive; I was hooked by the second chapter! I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep. Lilah and Shane’s chemistry shines off the page, both in their respective narratives and in their conversations. And the tension…truly chef’s kiss! I think this book was the perfect amount of slow burn; the pacing was great too, with just enough flashbacks at the right time to set the context.

Both Lilah and Shane have interesting character arcs too. Lilah left Intangible to star in what should’ve been a critically acclaimed movie; instead, it flopped hard, and her career has yet to recover. She agrees to the last season as a way to jump start her career again, but it’s very difficult for her to come back, not just because she has to see Shane again but also it’s a hit to her pride.

Meanwhile, Shane doesn’t really want to let go of the show. He was an undiscovered talent and had never acted before being cast in this show, so he can’t imagine a career outside of it. He also provides for his parents and siblings, so he wants to line up his next project yet doesn’t like any of the things his agent pitches to him.

It’s interesting to see their characters juxtaposed and how their differences only fed each other’s loathing of the other. Lilah is too used to being the cold-hearted woman outwardly, despite the fact that she has general anxiety disorder and can’t stop thinking about how people perceive her in public situations. She dislikes how Shane is so easygoing and well-liked, how he always manages to say the exact right thing. On the other hand, it’s hard for Shane to see how good an actor Lilah is and how she knows what she wants, amidst his own insecurities.

Really, these differences allow them to project their biggest fears and feed their anxieties on the other person, which in turn exacerbates their hatred. Their bad relationship, to say the least, isn’t one-sided in the least. Both Lilah and Shane do their part, over the years, to increase the gap between them until it’s too far to bridge. That makes the book all the more fascinating and all the more satisfying as they both gradually start to recognize their wrongs and grow closer.

So yeah, all this to say that I adored the romance! A love-hate relationship (but mostly hate) slowly becoming something more…I couldn’t get enough of it. Actually, I’m already looking forward to rereading this book because I know I’m going to devour it again; it’s just that good.

Full of chemistry and tension, Will They or Won’t They is a romance that I know I’ll return to over and over again. I loved the main characters and their dynamic, and how their characterizations fed into their bad relationship. If you’re looking for a slow-burn, hate-to-love romance, I can’t recommend Will They or Won’t They enough!

I LOVED this book. I know it'll end up being one of my favorites of the year. I love a hollywood romance and this one was done SO well. I loved the tension and the slow burn, it was done so incredible. I fell in love with the MCs and their journey. I loved hearing about their past and where they got to where they are. I loved how they had to do counseling, it was a cool element to force them to share things, I loved the ending. Big fan and highly recommend this one <3

Not sure if I was just not in the mood for this type of book, but Will They or Won’t They was a little too slow paced for me. I loved the growth the characters went through, and the discussion of mental health through out the book, but it fell flat for some reason and I was left wanting more. Ava Wilder’s writing has definitely improved and there was great chemistry and banter between the main characters. If you are in the mood for a romance novel set in the Hollywood world, then this book is definitely for you.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the ARC!

I nominate Ava Wilder as the Queen of Celebrity Romance. While writing about characters in the spotlight, she makes them messy and relatable in a way that always absorbs me right into the story. She can also write some TENSION. Whew. The past and present timelines were done well to tell the whole story of Shane and Lilah's relationship and have me rooting for them from their first audition. The side characters were fun and added to the story in a way that kept the focus on Shane & Lilah but allowed for some 'outside perspective' on on their relationship and some breaks from all the relationship drama. I would honestly read a spin-off about any one of the side characters. Absolutely love Ava's writing and this story about two stubborn but obviously-in-love actors.

Read if you:
- love celebrity romance
- like some FIRE tension
- love a redhead MC (duh)
- are a fan of second chance romance

I can't stop thinking about this book and Lilah and Shane. This book was so good.
I just reviewed Will They or Won't They by Ava Wilder. #WillTheyorWontThey #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I absolutely loved Ava Wilder’s book, “How to Fake it in Hollywood,” so I was excited to read this Advanced Released Copy of her newest book from @netgalley that releases 6/27.

This book follows two stars who have an amazing chemistry at their first audition. It’s written in dual timelines showcasing their present relationship and snippets from the past 9 years. For those who love a friends to lovers and hating him/dating him trope, this was a cute one. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in less than a day, but did find the female lead…kind of unlikable for the first 1/2 of the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

⭐ Rating: 5

🌶️ Level: off the charts levels of Unresolved Sexual Tension and lots of resolving it too, don’t worry… 😏

HOLY. MOLY. I’ve always thought a great plot for a book would be the behind the scenes of a tv show where both the characters and the actors have loads of UST and @avawilderwrites WROTE THAT BOOK! I absolutely adored the main characters (loved the Anxious Jewish Gal™ representation 😉) and was very much rooting for them to get back together. The Hollywood/tv show setting was so great and seemed super credibly portrayed, from the set life and press appearances to exploring the costs of fame. The banter and tension were super well done and, for lack of a more eloquent way of putting it, the book had a particular horny energy to it that I found hysterical. While I wouldn’t want to risk The Moonlighting Curse, I would 1000000% read a sequel to this book.

Out 6/27 and you better run to pre-order it! Huge thank you to @netgalley for my very first (!!) advanced copy.

Will They or Won't They will keep you guessing until the very end. The ultimate turn of events.. Honestly this book had a fairly slow start but from around 45% on I was on high alert and could not put it down because I had no idea what was going to happen next.

Lilah and Shane have been costars playing out the perfect love story on screen for the last decade. Off screen they have had their fair share of drama and have spent most of that time hating each other. Lilah previously left the show but is returning to the final season. Her return forces this duo to face their past.

As I said above I felt like the book had a slow start and I was struggling to really get a good feel of Lilah and Shane and the hatred between them till later in the book. However, by about halfway through you learn all the pieces of their past relationship on and off the screen and Ava did a wonderful job with character development. Lilah is a strong female lead in this story. She is very strong willed and determined. She also struggles with anxiety and is very stubborn. All of these qualities made her very relatable.
Nothing about this plot was predictable or routine. It was truly a unique story and kept me guessing at what was going to happen next.

Look, I know second-chance love is not everyone’s cup of tea but it ABSOLUTELY IS MINE. Enemies to friends to lovers mixed in? *bangs fists on table* gimme all of it right now. Lilah and Shane’s banter and earnestness and the fact that even when they think they loathe each other, they’re still more in tune with each other than they are with themselves is so great. Love this for them, love this for me.

Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy have spent the last decade of their lives showing the world what true love looks like on their hit TV show. They’ve also hated each other for almost that long.

When Lilah left the show after season five, she hoped she could go the rest of her life never having to spend another day in Shane’s company. But with the series coming to an end, and her own career outside of it moving at a limp, she returns to see off the character and world that threw her into the limelight all those years ago.

But being back in close quarters with Shane - especially with the reunion of their characters whipping the fans and the internet into a frenzy - is not what Lilah expected at all.

Because the reason for their mutual dislike is the way their short-lived (and very secret) relationship burned bright and exploded years prior. But it turns out that neither of them have been completely honest about their feelings. And both of them are in for quite the surprise.

Like I said before, second chance romances are not it for me. But I'm starting to think, maybe they are! Lilah and Shane are a perfect enemies-to-lovers couple. I love Shane's character because everything he feels is so real. He's not so sure that acting is even something he's meant to do. Will They or Won't They follows Lilah and Shane and their tumultuous relationship surrounding their show, Intangible. With instant attraction, it was only a matter of time before they became a couple. But when their relationship came crashing down, what would happen to the show? Well, Lilah ended up leaving.

But when Lilah returns for the show's ninth and final season, Lilah and Shane are confronted with the truths of their past. Lilah is a strong character. She knows exactly what she wants almost all the time and always gives 110%. I love her for being so strong-willed, but I hate her for being so stubborn. Her insecurities make her human, and I appreciate that her character shows more than a naïve girl or someone that doesn't have any flaws. Not only does she have flaws, but she admits to having them too.

On the flip side, Shane is not as confident as Lilah. He's not even sure how he landed the role on Intangible, and he doesn't know what he would do without it. He comes from a harsh past and his family life isn't great. However, I love his honesty and ability to feel everything as it comes to him. He has so much raw emotion that makes me love him even more. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

I absolutely loved this book! I think we need to protect Shane at all costs. I’m obsessed!

what to expect:
- celebrity main characters
- enemies to lovers vibes
- second chance romance
- multiple timelines
- dual pov
- open door

It really had me asking “will they or won’t they?” up until the very end!

Fun read. Ava Wilder is 2 for 2 in my eyes! This is a fun romcom set in Hollywood—so I’m guessing that will be her theme—which is fine by me!

I was so excited when I saw the email that I was approved for an ARC of Ava Wilder's book 'Will They or Won't They'. I loved her first book 'How to Fake it in Hollywood', so I was really anticipating this book. This book was everything that I could have hoped for and more!

Lilah and Shane worked together on a supernatural tv show, but she left the show after 5 years. They haven’t spoken since then. They dated briefly but broke up. Now, Liliah is back for the ninth and final season of their show. Her career hasn't turned out how she thought that it would, and she's back to finish out the series that made her a star. Both Lilah and Shane hate each other but are hate and love closer emotions than they think?

Things that I loved:
Shane and Lilah's chemistry
They took time with the romance
Both characters earned the HEA- it wasn’t rushed.
Hand holding- who knew hand holding could be so sexy?
They both worked on themselves and on each other. (I loved the representation of Lilah's GAD.)
They even did couples therapy when they weren’t a couple!
Surprises, twists and turns- I anticipated so much when I read the book. I didn’t know what was coming next!
It was such a fresh take in Hollywood romance.

One thing that stood out to me was the take on obsession and fan speculation about tv show couples dating in real life. 'Will They or Won’t They' explores all sides of that. We see the fan perspective at conventions, the network and producers look to profit from it by bringing Lilah back on the show. And we see it from Lilah and Shane- how having a job in the public eye can affect your private life. Fans want to know, but the actors want their privacy. It’s a push and pull.

Read this book if you love:
Friends to lovers
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Hollywood romance
Second chance romance
Slow burn
Tension!!!!
Twists and Turns
Earned HEA

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this amazing book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I’ve willingly read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

I was absolutely obsessed by Ava Wilder’s first novel, HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD, and have since been stalking a Netgalley for the chance to read her sophomore book, WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY. Not only has Wilder once again highlighted the relationship between two famous people (this time popular actors from a hit TV series) which just happens to be a trope I love and can’t find enough of, but WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY also deals with big, everyday issues such as mental health struggles and feelings of inadequacy that so many of us experience every day, famous or, even more likely, not.

This book felt so incredibly different from anything I’ve ever read, like it had taken the standard romance novel formula and threw it in a blender. When we first meet Lilah and Shane, Wilder isn’t introducing them as two people who are inevitably going to fall in love and live happily ever after. Instead, the reader finds out that while their story started that way when they first began as the leads of their show, they’ve since become enemies who can barely tolerate each other, but need to work together despite that to wrap up the show where their characters have been circling each other for nine years, their relationship inevitable and desperately wished for by the loyal fans.

As seems to be common with all Ava Wilder writes, my only issue is that I wish I could spend more time with these multidimensional characters I fell in love with, but hopefully some rereading will hold me over until next time. ;)