This is one of my new favorite romcoms. This story was so fun and between the dual POV and the flashbacks, it was so easy to stay caught up in the story. The characters were incredibly written and the chemistry was SIZZLING! The banter was to die for and the enemies to lovers second chance romance hit so well. The supporting characters were so fun and the author did a great job handling some more delicate themes. The main characters were witty, relatable, and vulnerable. A+

Thank you Atria Books for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored Under Your Spell last year and I’ve been so excited for Let’s Make a Scene. Although they’re interconnected you can definitely read this one alone (but I highly recommend Under Your Spell!)

Let’s Make a Scene is Cynthie and Jack Turner-Jones’ story. They met filming her first ever movie where they played the romantic leads and then were forced into a fake PR relationship. Let’s Make a Scene starts 13 years later when they’re reuniting film a sequel and entering another fake relationship. They mostly couldn’t stand each other in the past but as they’ve aged you can see their chemistry and relationship blossom.

So much of this was swoon worthy, especially the final scene. As a friend says, he leans. Also think Anthony Bridgerton scenes. While ai enjoyed the flashbacks, I really liked their relationship in the present. Also this touches on the sexism women face in the film industry so proceed with caution if that’s a sensitive topic for you.

Looking for a down-bad-smitten-kitten who does all the wrong things long before doing all the right things? May I introduce you to Let’s Make A Scene? 👀

Featuring:
💕 Second chance film star “PR” romance
⏳ Dual POV + Dual Timeline
🎬 Hollywood glamour with a touch of regency flair
🤷🏻‍♂️ He fell first and he fell HARD, but alas he is a dude…

“We look like we’re totally in love. We’re such good actors.”

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review - I had the best time. Let’s Make A Scene is out now! 💞

This enemies-to-lovers romance was a cinematic dream! I fell in love with both Cynthie and Jack, they both had so much depth. The story is told in past (13 years ago) and present, with the two having mirrored encounters involving a Regency film franchise. I adored how much consent was discussed and the discussion regarding abuse can taking on a lot of forms. It's a gentle indictment of the film industry with the romance still taking center stage. Cynthie had so much to get through and Jack was a self-actualized book boyfriend dream.

If you love fake relationships that blend into something more and an enemies-to-lovers combo, you will love this book.

Special thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC!

Lets Make A Scene by Laura Wood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am so glad to have stumbled across this book on netgalley and to get approved to read it! Because, though I had heard/seen of Under Your Spell, I never made it to reading the book! So that’s what I did. I read Under Your Spell & this one back to back 🙌 And it delights me to say if you enjoyed the first book, you might love this even more!!

So, celebrity romances are a kind of a hit and miss for me, and I can totally say this has been my favorite celebrity romance so far. It might start off as with typical premise of celebrities who were nemesis, faking a relationship - but somewhere down the road, it feels like I am also in a Jane Austen romance because they are apparently filming regency era movie. The chemistry, tension, yearning all is on point! 🥰 So, if you love JA and Persuasion, you might be interested in this one too!

Cynthie and Jake - uggh, what can I say - they were meant to be. The book beautifully takes us back and forth between present day and them 13 years earlier. What transpired between them, how they changed in those years apart. Personally I felt these timeline switches were smooth, enjoyed both equally, some may not agree though. Also, being an enemies to lovers, I love that this is a dual pov!!!

Special shoutout to my Jacki boy, he evolved from a boy to a man, his love for Cyn was so sweet, and he definitely adds up to my top book boyfriends list (I’ve a separate one for J named guys!!). The grand gesture at the end was cheesy but perfect and the book almost felt like a favorite movie I would want to watch again.

For fans of Clemmie & Theo, they ofcourse make an appearance and I am so glad I read the first book to appreciate them more, and ofcourse the context of Blood/Lust!! I would totally watch these books if they were ever adapted onscreen!! 🫠

🎬💔 From fake dating to real feelings… 13 years later

Cynthie and Jack faked a romance once—and it definitely ended in mutual loathing and emotional scarring. Now they’re back, older, slightly more unhinged, and being filmed 24/7 for a sequel neither of them can afford to screw up. The tension? ✨Still sizzling.✨ The banter? Sharp enough to draw blood. If you love second chances, behind-the-scenes chaos, and watching two hot messes slowly realize they’re still wildly in love—this one’s your popcorn-worthy fix. 🎥🔥👀

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Wood, and Atria Books for the review copy!

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Woods is a standalone contemporary romance that perfectly captures all the elements I adore in romance novels. It boasts excellent chemistry, electrifying moments, and witty banter. The enemies-to-lovers trope was particularly enjoyable to witness as these two characters fell in love.

Here are some of my favorite moments:
The kisses
The tap dance
The Dirty Dancing remix
The love letters

I want to express my gratitude to Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley.

I wanted to love this. I tried, kept pushing and reading. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

I could not feel any connection to the characters! I thought it was confusing. It would go back in time but would not state when it was not the past. It felt EVERYTHING was one giant blur.

Let's Make a Scene looked and sounded so promising but, unfortunately I could not get into it. I even tried listening to the audio (that is why I am late with my review). I just couldn't connect with the characters and the plot seemed like it would be very predictable.

Thank you Net Galley, Laura Wood and Artia Press for the opportunity to preview this title. I will not share this review on my socials so that I do not negatively impact the book launch.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books & Laura Wood for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved prior/companion novel, Under Your Spell, and was so excited to receive this arc. I expected a dash of magical realism again but alas- there was none. THAT IS OKAY! This book slapped!

Millennials- if the MTV movie awards "best kiss" moment with Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling lives in your head rent free- this book is for you!

The dual timeline in this book was the bomb. The pacing is done so well and I have to note that I loved the temperament of our MCs in the present timeline. Sometimes we have a second chance romance with full animosity in both timelines and it becomes a little... stale. It delays character growth and progression. I felt with this method we get to appreciate the time that has passed and how life has formed them.

What a fun and amazing read! I had the best time reading this book! I loved everything from the plot, characters, setting, and more. This was a fast paced book and very entertaining. I was giggling and blushing the whole time. I really liked the two main characters and how there story unfolded. The fueled connection that they had from the very beginning and how that continued to grow throughout the book had me turning the pages for more. I simply could not get enough. I loved the two main characters growth throughout the book and thought it was very noticeable. Cynthie is such a strong fmc and Jack is now one of my fav mmc’s. Not only was the connection between the two main characters amazing, but so was the connection between the other characters. All of the characters had depth and I could tell them apart, so they were distinctive. There was definitely a found family vibe in this book with the cast and crew that turned into family and great friends. The story follows Cynthie and Jack who are both newer to the acting industry. Cynthie gets her first acting job and is so excited about it, whereas Jack is not so ecstatic. Behind the scenes they do not get a long well, but even still they have chemistry on and off camera. After wrapping their first film together and then staying away from each other for years, another film opportunity arises they can’t say no to. Only time will tell if their connection and chemistry is still there. I truly had the best time reading this book and cannot wait to get my physical copy! Thank you NetGalley, Laura Woods, and Atria Books for one of my new fav books!

I think I'm in a book hangover and I had a really hard time feeling connected to the characters and the story. Fake dating is my least favorite trope. The ending did help the overall feeling for the book. The writing was great. I also didn't realize this is the second book in the series and I kind of felt like I was missing the backstory of the characters. I'm probably in the wrong headspace for this book.

Another mega cute romance from Laura Wood! Great execution of the enemies/fake lovers to real lovers trope: Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones are both famous actors who met filming Cynthie's breakout Regency romance film thirteen years ago...at the time, they loved to hate each other even if they were madly in lust and had to fake a relationship for press purposes. Thirteen years later, the pair must reunite to film a sequel to their hit film...and once again fake a relationship for the cameras.

I adored this! Cynthie and Jack were so cute and witty together. The novel is chockful of fun Jane Austen and pop culture references. The plot's predictable, but it has a real sense of personality. The book alternates between present day and Cynthie and Jack's original encounters thirteen years in the past! I thought some of the flashbacks were too long, but they eliminated the need for the dreaded third act break-up! Massive props to Laura Wood for doing away with that plot point again. This is an ideal summer romance to read by the pool or at the beach!

Thank you Atria books for my ARC copy!

"I think I've been in love with you for thirteen years-from the moment you stormed into my life and I felt like I'd been struck by lightning"

4.5

This books was such a fun journey as we follow Cynthie and Jack, rivals at work that are debuting together in a British cinema. Cynthie is a debutant with raw talent and no film background and is extremely determined to find her place in the Hollywood, she comes in like a storm disrupting Jack in every possible way. He is a well known name in the Hollywood thanks to his immensely popular parents so he not only has lot of pressure to create name of his own but also so much scrutiny around him. The chemistry between the main characters is always explosive whatever emotional frequency they are in because of course they have to fake date!! TWICE. So, obviously there is a lot of angst and secret pining with a lot of "I hate that I need you like my next breath" intense energy but young love can be turbulent especially when they have lot of unresolved issues which is what brings a rift between the two MC's.

The intriguing part had to be the back and forth narration with a 13 year gap where Jack and Cynthie once were rivals, we get two totally different emotionally mature people in the current time line. I personally enjoyed watching the character arcs through the alternate timelines, I think it is done pretty well as we witness both the MC's become into a better version of themselves and how they have an active communication channel open when they are forced to work together once again 13 years after their whirlwind debut.

The Hollywood backdrop adds an extra layer of charm to the story but just make sure to check the triggers because the book has a very healthy mental health rep which I greatly appreciated. The other aspect I absolutely adore is the strong found family and female friendships. Overall it was such a fun, quick and wholesome read that will be great for summertime!

Laura Wood has delivered a gem of a love story that feels like the perfect blend of cinematic magic and emotional depth. Let’s Make a Scene is the kind of second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance that sneaks up on you—not just with its palpable chemistry, but with its surprisingly tender exploration of trust, growth, and healing.

I didn’t expect Let’s Make a Scene to wreck me the way it did—in the best, most beautiful way possible. I went in for the fake dating, enemies-to-lovers vibes and ended up fully invested in Cynthie and Jack’s journey: two people who never stopped orbiting each other, even with thirteen years and a whole lot of pain between them.

The story kicks off with all the tension you’d hope for—two actors forced into a PR relationship they never wanted, shooting a regency romance with chemistry that burns through the screen, even if they can barely stand each other off camera. But beneath the banter and bickering is so much longing and heartbreak, especially once we fast-forward to the present. Their reunion for the sequel is awkward, raw, and so emotionally charged—I felt everything.

Jack absolutely made me swoon. He’s the definition of “he falls first,” but he also grows. A lot. He’s gone to therapy, learned how to communicate, and approaches Cynthie with such care and gentleness, especially knowing what she’s been through. There’s one moment where he notices she’s getting overwhelmed and casually shifts the spotlight off her, without making a big deal of it and that tiny, quiet gesture made me absolutely SWOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!

Cynthie, on the other hand, broke my heart in the best way. Her hesitance, her fear of being hurt again after such a public, toxic breakup.. it all felt so real. Her vulnerability is handled with so much tenderness. I saw so much of myself in her—the way she wants to be brave and open, but is still figuring out how to feel safe doing it.

And then there are the flashbacks. The dual timeline structure worked so well here. Watching their history unfold in parallel with their present made each small step toward reconnection feel so much more powerful. You feel the weight of everything they didn’t say, all the almosts and what-ifs they’ve been carrying for years. When they finally let themselves just be with each other—it’s magic. There’s a kiss in the rain that had me clutching the book like it was a life raft.

I also adored the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking, the found family of cast and crew, and how the story subtly mirrored the movie they were filming. It gave everything a dreamy, meta-layered feel that made me wish I could watch their film too.

Let’s Make a Scene is swoony, cinematic, and achingly intimate. It’s not just about rekindling a romance—it’s about healing, choosing each other with your whole heart, and rewriting the story on your own terms. I closed the final page with happy tears and a very full heart.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes you’ll love:
🎬 Fake dating for PR
💔 Second chance romance
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🎭 Dual POV + dual timeline
👨‍👩‍👧 Found family
🌧️ Kiss in the rain (yes, really)
🧠 He falls first
🚫 No third act breakup

I adored Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood.
This book was so much fun with plenty of emotional depth.
The romance is sweet, the banter is fun, and the setting is perfect.
So charming and delightful, with likeable characters, sweet romance, and a rich setting.

i was so excited to receive this arc since i LOVED the first book in this series!

i loved the dual pov + the dual timelines. it was a really interesting perspective for the book and worked so well!

the rivals to lovers was done incredibly well. i especially loved the lovers WHILE rivals, 10/10…. no notes! the chemistry between cynthie and jack was incredible. their relationship progresses at a slow speed, but it feels so genuine and engaging.

i highly recommend this book (especially if you love fake dating, rivals to lovers, some good banter and second chance romance)!

laura wood always does an incredible job at creating a story and characters that you’ll fall in love with and be completely enraptured by. the humour, tension, and tenderness she creates within her stories are truly spectacular. i can’t wait to see more from her!

Thank you to Atria Books for the early digital copy of Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood.

This was my first novel by Laura Wood, and I ended up really enjoying it. The format is somewhat unique as it is dual timeline and dual POV. Once I got used to the rhythm of the book, I really enjoyed reading through both perspectives in each timeframe.

Let’s Make A Scene takes place over 13 years following English actors, Jack Turner- Jones and Cynthie Taylor. Cynthie is plucked from obscurity from an open casting to star in a regency romance movie alongside Jack who is following in his famous parents’ footsteps. The differences in their experience and upbringing, along with pressure to perform, cause lots of hostility between the stars.

I thought it was helpful to see both perspectives in the past and present. It was so easy to see as a reader how they misunderstood each other while working on the original film. Their own feelings of inadequacies pushed on their respective tender spots, which caused a lot of animosity. Jack had so much pressure from his parents and didn’t have the tools to deal with it. Cynthie was living a true Cinderella story and was insecure about her inexperience.

Despite their loathing one another, it is also easy to see how drawn they are to each other, like magnets. They know each other well from the intimacy of working together on set.

I thought Wood did a great job building the tension in this book. The fake dating for good PR part allows them to be affectionate with no emotional investment (or so they think). Jack was very swoon worthy. I appreciated his emotional intelligence, which the reader learns he worked hard for with lots of therapy. He regrets making mistakes with Cynthie once and won’t let himself make the same mistakes again.

I felt for Cynthie and all she had been through having just come out of a toxic relationship with an ex-director/ lover. She is skittish and shy to try again after being hurt so publicly by her ex. Jack shows his maturity and understanding by offering her friendship while he patiently waits for her to be ready for a relationship with him.

Overall, I thought this was a great read! I liked learning about the behind-the-scenes of movie production. Even better that they were making a regency romance! It was a nice touch that parts of the book echoed what was happening within the movie they were making. This book includes the found family trope, and I loved the scenes with the supporting characters. I also thought the spice was well done. I am looking forward to reading what Laura Wood writes next! I think it could be about Jack’s sister Lee and his best friend, Nico.

I would recommend if you enjoy:
•Celebrity romances
•Second chance love stories
•Fake dating for PR (kissing for the good of the film)
•He falls first

Wow! Let’s Make A Scene is a phenomenal second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. This book cover caught my eye, but I’ve never read anything by the author, and I’m also not very interested in actors/movies. I completely underestimated how beautiful Cynthie and Jack’s story would be. As soon as I finished the novel (in tears), I immediately ordered her first adult romance novel, Under Your Spell.

Thirteen years ago, Cynthie and Jack met while filming a Historical Romance movie together. They are like oil and water, but both of them feel like lightning has struck when they are in each other’s presence. They are cast as lovers, but in reality fight throughout the filming of their movie. Shockingly, they end up sleeping together on the kitchen floor of the estate where the actors are housed during the shoot. Their feelings for each other are undeniable, but for many reasons, they part after the movie on bad terms.

Fast forward to the present, and they meet again as renewed interest in their movie has led to making a sequel. They agree to pretend to be dating (again) and get to know each other, slowly and organically. Jack has changed dramatically since their first film together, and is self-assured, calm and friendly. Cynthie has recently been through an abusive relationship and a traumatic breakup in the spotlight, so she is hesitant to trust anyone.

Without giving any more away, the sequel to the film and their love story works out beautifully in the end. The author masterfully writes the novel in dual POV, with flashbacks interwoven into present day events. The reader is completely drawn in to both characters’ worlds, and the author gives the reader so much insight into their thoughts and feelings. Their relationship evolves slowly and the reader has the opportunity to see how their past and present weave together into an epic love story. I truly can’t say enough about how beautiful and tender their relationship is.

This is one of my five star reads in 2025, and I can’t wait to read more by Laura Wood. Let’s Make A Scene was a pleasant surprise and a novel that I truly could not put down. From beginning to end, the reader is cheering for both Cynthie and Jack professionally and on a personal level.

Thank you to Laura Wood, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun read but I never felt overly connected to the characters. I loved the dual POV’s and dual timelines throughout. Jack and Cynthie had great chemistry. I was interested to see how their relationship would progress. Overall, I would definitely still recommend!