This book is pure joy! Besides being set in Hollywood with both main characters as actors (which I love so much), Jack and Cynthie oozed chemistry. I loved the pop culture references, the hilarious and clever banter, and the quirky side characters. Despite there being some heavy topics, like misogyny, sexism, and emotional abuse, reading this book was simply fun! I need go back and read Under Your Spell now (and everything else Laura Wood writes in the future.)

I really enjoy Laura Wood’s writing! I was also lucky to get an ARC of her book, Under Your Spell, and this is the interconnected book to it. This book is a super cute romcom, it had me giggling, had more emotional moments, and of course had a relationship at the center that I was rooting so hard for! The then and now timeline really served a good purpose to show how much the characters had grown and matured from the time they met to the time their romance fully kicked up. While we didn’t get to see the growth itself from the years in between, it was clear that the years bro tight forth positive change. I think I’ll read anything Laura Wood writes!

4.25/5 ⭐️

4/5⭐️ Let’s Make A Scene was a cutesy, fun enemies to lovers romance that tells the tale of Cynthie and Jack. They are both actors reuniting years later to film a sequel to their breakout romance film. In order to create some buzz and excitement about the upcoming movie, Cynthie and Jack participate in a fake relationship to grab the medias attention; the only problem is that they hate each other.

At first, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about this one considering that they’re both actors and it just wasn’t relatable for me. However, towards the middle and end I actually really enjoyed it. It was fun and I do really love the fake dating trope. Parts of the story just felt a little choppy with the constant switching of the then and now timeframes. The ending was what made it for me. love love love 🥲

Such a great beach read for the summer!! 🏖️☀️ Highly recommend checking this one out! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🩷

I really enjoyed Laura Wood’s first novel so I was excited for this book which included a few cameos of characters from the first. This was an easy, comforting rom com- we knew where it was going (really, this is the definition of rom com). I enjoyed the dueling storylines and dueling perspectives and I was rooting for the MCs!

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

This could have been so good, I’m a bit disappointed.

I really liked the main characters, their dynamic was fun and tension-filled, but the story was bogged down by all the unnecessary details, abundance of side characters, and above all, the flashback chapters.

Books that follow more than one timeline aren’t my favourite to begin with, but if done well, I don’t mind all that much. However, it wasn’t down well here.

The flashback chapters didn’t really add anything to the present-day chapters. They took me out of the actual story because there were so many of them going into such detail describing random stuff like the filming process, which after the first time, I found boring and repetitive. Overall they just dragged down the story while not contributing anything really. I just didn’t care about them that much when they were 19 or something and had just met to read like 20 flashback chapters about it; I cared about them now, 13 years later, working together again while fake dating. And that part of the story, the most important one imo, kind of got lost among everything else, which was unfortunate.

I think this would have been a much stronger story had it just been focused on them now instead.

Still recommend you check it out if you’re into celebrity romances that revolve around actors, though, because especially in the second half, they were so sweet together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the behind the scenes of making a period film, and there were some really great romantic moments that felt refreshing! I really enjoyed this one and had a fun time reading it! Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Laura Wood for this ARC!

'Let's Make a Scene' by Laura Wood is an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, second chance celebrity romance. The POV switches between the main characters Cynthie and Jack, and we see them in the present day in the making of a sequel that launched their careers 13 years ago.

This book had a lot of humorous moments and strong tension between the couple. I also enjoyed the found family aspect. I found myself wanting to see more of Cynthie and Jack in the present day rather than in the flashbacks scenes. I know they were important but I feel like they could've been more balanced. I would say there was good character growth for the two main characters, and I wish we could've seen how that growth occurred. Lastly, I appreciate that there wasn't a third act breakup, but the ending felt somewhat anti-climactic for me.

I think anyone who likes the world of film/celebrity romances would enjoy this book. There was a sense of nostalgia that comes with putting yourself in this world of characters.

Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Wood for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This was so much fun to read! Watching Jack and Cynthie’s chemistry and love story develop between the two time settings was perfect, and I could feel myself falling for each of them right alongside them. I went into this thinking there was surely no chance of it being just as much fun as Under Your Spell, but it absolutely was. I’m a sucker for a second-chance romance when it’s done well, and this absolutely was. I’ll be following Wood’s career closely to see what she has in store next!

Let’s Make a Scene was absolutely fun to read. This rom con is told in a dual timeline full of Hollywood drama. I really enjoyed our two main characters. Cynthie and Jack who are two celebrities who fake date in order to help boost their careers. There are multiple cute scenes that had me giggling and leaving me with a huge smile. I love reading anything with these specific tropes such as enemies to lovers, second chance,and fake dating. Once again thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Wood, and Atria Books for providing me with this digital arc in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy.

3.75⭐️ rounded up
I liked the main characters and their dynamic. The enemies to lovers trope comes through well and there is good character development and nuance. However, I didn’t love the lay out of the book. I see the value of the flashbacks, but it didn’t read smoothly for me and I ended up questioning if I was in the past or present in different chapters while reading.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance electronic copy. All opinions are my own!

Thirteen years ago, Cynthie and Jack costarred in a Regency romance that went on to become a cult classic. Now, they've been invited to make a sequel, and the offer couldn't have come at a better time. Cynthie's been painted as a villain in the press and Jack's in danger of not having his contract renewed on a long running TV drama. Along with the movie comes the chance to reunite two former lovers. Only that storyline is fake. Cynthie and Jack just let people think they dated thirteen years ago. What's the harm in pretending again?

Read if you like:
-Fake Dating
-Then/Now
-Bad First Impression
-Just Once to Get it Out of Our Systems
-Miscommunication
-Found Family

I know the miscommunication trope gets a bad rap, but here me out! Sometimes the miscommunication is there because two damaged idiots can't let their guard down/get out of their own way and admit they have feelings. I loved the then and now format of Let's Make a Scene. Not only did it show how Cynthie and Jack grew as individuals, but it also showed just how smitten they've been all along. Cynthie's found family was the best and it was so satisfying to watch them try to help Jack get it right (finally!).

I really, really enjoyed this fun, funny, and heartwarming enemies to lovers story. This is my first book by Laura Wood, but it won't be my last. This is the second in her adult steamy romance series, while you don't have to read the first one to enjoy this one - I am going to go back and read that one too. Despite being about famous, millionaire movie stars, the characters were well rounded and fairly down to Earth. I really enjoyed both story lines and that isn't always true for books like these. Jack and Cynthie's ending felt earned. I also laughed out loud several times and found myself tearing up several times. The sexy-time scenes were hot and not cringy. This was four stars only because I found it a bit derivative of other rom-coms I've read/watched (the grand gesture was almost a play-by-play from The Office TV show). But that didn't make it less enjoyable, just a bit less original. I'll be keeping an eye on other adult books by Laura Wood in the future.

At first I had a hard time getting into the story, but once the banter started between Cynthie and Jack I was hooked.

This book alternates between the original movie and the present day movie. The reader learns more about the tension between the main characters and if their relationship in the past was fake or not.

Like the first book in the series, the side characters help bring this story to life. With the present day storyline, it is fun to see how everyone changed (or not) from the first movie.

If you are a fan of second chance love stories, great romcom movie references, and witty banter, then add this book to your TBR.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced reader copy.

This story was a delightful surprise and refreshingly different from most love stories. From the first chapter, I was completely hooked by the premise; two actors, two timelines and one unforgettable fake relationship.

What really stood out to me was how skillfully the story alternates between the present and the past. Watching Cynthie and Jack navigate their dynamic 13 years apart added so much emotional depth and tension. Jack's broodiness was perfection, but it's the way he softens, especially toward Cynthie later on, that completely melted me. His quiet protectiveness, his vulnerability, and those lingering glances? Swoon.

This book also made audibly laugh so many times. The banter, awkward moments, the inside jokes that came from years of history; it all worked so well.

The fake dating trope is one of my favorites and this book nailed it. It felt organic and layered with genuine tension, especially with the unresolved feelings simmering just under the surface. This book was an absolute joy to read.

Perfection. No notes. the romance was a delightful slow burn, I was laughing constantly, and the dialogue was killing me in the best way.

Let's Make a Scene goes further than most novels with similar tropes because Wood does an excellent job describing the ins and outs of the movie industry. This added a lot of depth to the story. The characters were likable even when they didn't like each other. Or wrongly convinced themselves they didn't like each other. The rest of the cast is quirky and lovable too. There was a lot of growth, plenty of turmoil and a nice conclusion.

Theo is acting royalty. Cynthie is an acting nobody. With parents who are quite accomplished in acting and highly awarded, Theo's had little choice but to take up their craft. Luckily, he wants to. He's had lessons his whole life to hone his craft. Cynthie has tons of raw talent with little experience or training, When they're cast against each other, their animosity starts. Like usual, much of it based on misunderstandings. She's overheard him saying less than complimentary things about her. Her disastrous table read has him convinced her brilliant audition was a fluke. He's privileged. She's humble. Attraction simmers underneath it all. The movie execs decide they should fake a relationship to increase the movie hype. Cynthie recovers and gives a great performance in the movie and it goes on to garner a lot of fans and attention. Both their careers take off and they have no reason to really interact for thirteen years. When a great script comes in for a sequel that both find too good to resist they, of course, assume the old feelings again. As before the situation evolves that encourages them to fake a relationship. More mature and yet still mutually attracted the forces nearness and the spicy scenes on set have them toeing a tough line to fight anything further developing.

In perfect romance fashion, the two begin to fall hard for each other but their pride won't let them just go with it. First, they must be tortured, deliciously, through several situations before they can find their HEA. All keeping the reader invested and wondering. How will they ever get over themselves and accept that they are fated?

The story was highly entertaining and, as mentioned, full of touching moments, great characters, conflict, good and bad interactions. Just what was called for. I recommend this book.

A super cute rom-com set in the glitzy world of Hollywood 🎬 — complete with dual timelines, dual POVs, and the perfect enemies-to-lovers slow burn. Expect witty banter, behind-the-scenes drama, and all the swoony moments!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one. “Under Your Spell” was one of my favorite books of the year. This one fell a little flat. This is both an enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. I feel like a lot of the romance fell flat. I enjoyed the main storyline. It follows the main couple in current time as well as how their story started 13 years ago. This wasn’t my favorite, but it was still an okay read.

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem…Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome costar Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity—have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship…and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.

This book is brilliant. The tension between Cynthie and Jack, the antagonism at the beginning and the evolution of their relationship, is chef's kiss. Fun story, great characters, and great writing! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Laura Wood is officially at the top of my auto buy list. Her debut, 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭, is absolutely amazing, and then she comes along with this one and here I am, completely obsessed. I loved the dual timeline, and the character transformations. 13 years ago, Cynthie and Jack gave off the truest enemies to lovers vibes, I am not sure there’s a sharp enough knife to cut through the tension Laura created between these two. Now they’re back together for the first time since 🫠 making a sequel to their first movie, plus filming a documentary, and they’re faking a relationship both on-screen, and off. It was the best!

The side characters added so much humor, entertainment, and sweet found family. Petra, Cynthie’s trainer, had me cracking up!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!