This book is humorous and hot, with delightful on and off-screen chemistry! I love a celebrity romance and this took it to a whole new level. So excited for whatever Laura Wood writes next!!!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and so excited to get an early arc for this one.
Under Your Spell was one of my fav reads last year, so when I saw Laura Wood was putting out another adult romance, with cameo's from Clemmie and Theo, I was so excited.
This novel focuses on Cynthie Taylor, who we got a brief glimpse of in Under Your Spell. It's a dual POV going back and forth between Jack and Cynthie, as well as a dual timeline going back and forth from their first movie they filmed together, and the second 13 years later. So many things I loved: the fake dating, enemies to lovers, the ice cream scene, the movie kiss scene. I could go on and on.
Laura- you've done it yet again. I'll read anything you write.... but please please please more swoony celebrity romances ❤️

Then to see my book club mentioned in the acknowledgements had me in tears. 😭

An easy 5 stars from me.
Thank you to Atria books and Netgalley for the early arc- can't wait to buy my own copy. It releases July 1st!

Let's start at the end. The last chapter of this book was an absolute dream! Truly one of the most well-executed grand gestures I've read.

The tension between Jack and Cynthie was delicious. The found family dynamic with the crew from the filming of A Lady of Quality was so lovely and genuine.

The only reason this wasn't a 5-start read for me was that it ran long, especially in the beginning the preamble felt like it dragged before we actually got to the story. I just would have preferred a bit quicker of a hook to start the book.

Laura Wood's books always take me a bit to sink into but then I love the characters and their story so much that I can't put them down. It's like she makes me earn their love story. lol. This is a lot of things that I just love in a romance.

Second Chance
Hate to Lovers
Celebrity
Fake Dating.

yes. All in the same couple. It was messy and honest and so swoony. I loved the present day story line. I loved their found family. I loved the period piece movie set. It was all of the things in such a good way.

⭐3.5⭐
I still love Laura's work and Under Your Spell & it's one of my top books to read. Her newest novel, Let's Make a Scene made me really confused. Jack and Cynthie are the rival to lovers pair we dream to see on camera. What made them rivals? I still don't know and don't fully understand. Was it Jack's pretentious background? Cynthie's stubbornness? The god awful pranks? I still am scratching my head on that one. Their flashbacks take the reader to ground zero of their meeting and small relationship. What didn't work for me was the duo narration. Over time the two voices sounded as one and I had a hard time deciphering when Jack was talking and when Cynhtie was talking.
I do love Laura's style of writing and the friendships formed in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

first book I've read by this author and I went back and ordered her list!
I loved this book so hard.
Tropes: enemies to friends to lovers
fake dating
he falls first
found family
dysfunctional family
psychological abuse

The story is told in two alternating time frames, from the perspectives of the two main characters, Jack and Cynthie, the female and male leads. Two actors who meet and are filming their first movie. Sparks ignite, but with it an animosity that is palpable.. The two never see or speak again. Time travel 13 years to the present day and something happens where both the actors are recruited to make a sequel to that first movie. Neither wasn't to do it but both need to.
I wont add spoilers, but this book was such a lovely slow burn love story. I totally inhaled it and I would highly recommend it!!!
5 stars.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an arc.

Flash backs tell the story of Cynthie and Jack. They meet at the reading for a British feature film. She is untrained and innocent. Jack is the child of stars who has been groomed for stardom.

Missteps lead to pranks, snark and ...hot sex.

13 years later they are thrown together for a follow up film. Older and wiser the story is told thru flashbacks. How they ignited and exploded. How they learned to look below the surface into love.

Thank you Neltgalley for the ARC.

🎥ARC review🎥

Let’s make a scene by @lauracwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was so cute and romantic. The banter and hate between this just made it so much better. There is a fine line between love and hate and these characters crossed it. Hand written love letters and movie screenings to show your love… swoon worthy ! Jane Austen would be proud 💥

Tropes:
— enemies to lovers
— found family
— dual timeline / dual POV
— fake dating
— second chance
— right person, wrong time
— open door

Cynthie Taylor lands her first leading role and is over the moon. But the first meeting before filming reveals that her arrogant co-star, Jack, hates her — and the feeling is mutual. Despite that, their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. To promote the movie, the studio sees the perfect opportunity in their fake relationship.

Thirteen years later, they’re offered a chance to star in the sequel to the film that launched their careers — and once again, they find themselves in a fake relationship.

I’m in love. It was funny and heartfelt. The chemistry between the characters — and their hatred laced with longing — was amazing. I’m usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this year (most of the books I’ve read had the second-chance trope), and this book in particular, proved me wrong.

Cynthie’s struggles and inner turmoil were incredibly relatable. Jack’s letter was beautiful and deeply moving.

The side characters? Absolutely huggable.

There’s a scene that feels like the lovechild of Anthony Bridgerton’s lake moment and Mr. Darcy in the rain — I’m obsessed!
I’d love to see that on screen…

And let’s not forget the iconic scene that, in my opinion, gave off more Crazy, Stupid, Love vibes than the original source material.

Highly recommend for fans of Jane Austen and Bridgerton. For some reason, this book gave me the exact same vibe as behind-the-scenes footage from the Bridgerton set.

P.S. Now I want to rewatch Persuasion. Pretty sure I know how I’m spending my evening.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones were once co-stars in a small British film that unexpectedly became a cult classic. Behind the scenes, their relationship was anything but amicable, leading to a mutual vow to never work together again. Thirteen years later, they're offered a chance to reprise their roles in a sequel, with the added twist of faking a romantic relationship for the cameras. As they navigate the blurred lines between performance and reality, old tensions resurface, and unresolved feelings come to light. Told through dual timelines, the novel explores their past animosity and present-day reconnection, offering a heartfelt look at second chances and the complexities of love in the spotlight.

This novel offers a compelling blend of humor, tension, and emotional depth. The chemistry between Cynthie and Jack is palpable, making their journey from enemies to lovers both believable and engaging. The dual timelines enrich the narrative, providing insight into their growth and the evolution of their relationship. Laura Wood's writing captures the nuances of fame, personal growth, and the challenges of rekindling a past connection. It's a delightful read for fans of romantic comedies with a touch of drama.

This book was written for you if:
- You enjoy enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance tropes.
- You're intrigued by stories set in the entertainment industry.
- You appreciate narratives that balance humor with emotional resonance.

This book had everything I like and it should have really worked, but for some reason, it just didn’t click for me. Individually, I enjoyed all the characters but when they interacted, they all just kind of fell flat. I also found the original story from thirteen years early a bit boring and the narrative just felt a bit slow. Overall, a fun read but just not my favorite read.

Let's Make a Scene is a super cute RomCom & a companion novel to Laura Wood's other novel, Under Your Spell. Cynthie was casted to star in her first ever movie cause of her amazing chemistry with the male lead Jack. Jack was born into a toxic family with two famous actors as parents. Neither Jack nor Cynthie have good examples of love in their lives, but from day 1, you're rooting for their relationship. A bit of drama, great friends with laugh out loud one-liners, & a sprinkling of passion makes this an enjoyable to read romance.
Thank you, #NetGalley & #AtriaBooks, for allowing me to read Let's Make a Scene. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but if you're a romantic at heart, then you'll enjoy this sweet story.

This is my first book with this author. When they say unputdownable they were not kidding. The flow of the story went well. I do appreciate the author does a chunk from the both pov's either back in time and a chunk now. You can really feel the flow, the setting, and how it all came together.

I love Jack, he recognizes he needed to grow and he did something about it, and grew. He learned from his mistakes even from 13 yrs ago. And after Cynthie being burnt, and how can you be a celebrity and not have a therapist?! Finally recognize, with the help of her found family, to get help, find her honest self, and allow for honest love.

I really appreciate the banter, there were many laugh out loud moments. I literally was reading and giggled and my husband thought I was crazy. But the found family is awesome, Jack's family did a lot of damage and he recognizes it and work to pull himself out of it. Also understand how to pull Cynthie out of it. And show her how she is loved.

Thank you to NetGalley & SS Atria Marketing for the ARC, really had fun reading this one.

Heartwarming, hilarious, and full of swoony moments — Let’s Make a Scene gave me everything I love in a romance. Enemies to lovers? Check. Rivals? Check. Fake dating AND second chances? DOUBLE check.

I saw pieces of myself in Cynthie — especially in her journey of learning to trust again after a terrible relationship. Her vulnerability and growth hit close to home, and watching her slowly open up again felt like a gentle reminder that healing is possible. And Jack? JACK. So patient, so steady, so swoony. Where’s my Jack?!

This book gave me hope — that love like this does exist. The kind that waits, that understands, that helps you believe in yourself again. If you're looking for a romance that balances laughter with depth and gives you all the feels, this one’s for you.

Enemies to lovers? Glitz and glamour?

this had it all and it was such a fun ride! I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two characters.

This is a sizzling enemies to lovers read! Jack and Cynthie met on set thirteen years ago. While their chemistry was off the chart, so was their animosity. Through heated moments, longing stares, and a cast wide prank war, these two have an absolutely dynamite dynamic!

But as things happen, misunderstandings, personal challenges, and stubbornness get in their way. Flash forward thirteen years and these two enemies both need to find a way to work together to further their careers.

In their dramatic filming of the sequel to their original movie together, these two get more than they bargained for. Turns out, the animosity of their past may have been mutual pining. But can they get over their own fears and find happiness?

This book is a delightful take on an enemies to lovers full of tension and longing! It also gives a thoughtful commentary about the power dynamic of directors on set and how people are often victimized by those in power. A romantic, tension-filled story with beautiful social commentary, this is absolutely worth a read!

Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood (out June 1, 2025) is a charming romance that surprised me, even though I usually don't gravitate toward books set in Hollywood or centered around actors. Cynthie Taylor, a young actress, lands her first real acting job in a small British film, but things quickly get complicated when she has to work alongside her arrogant and annoyingly attractive co-star, Jack. Their backstage rivalry is palpable, but their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. Years later, they find themselves back together for a sequel to the film that launched their careers. The catch? They must fake a romance for the cameras, an idea that neither of them is thrilled about. As the documentary crew follows their every move, Cynthie and Jack try to keep things professional, but it’s not long before their fake relationship starts to feel all too real.
Overall, it’s an easy read with good moments, though not a game changer for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.
"Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood (coming June 1, 2025) honestly surprised me in the best way. I don’t usually go for books set in Hollywood, i mean with actors, movie sets, and fake celebrity romances, but this one had a lot more heart than I expected. Cynthie and Jack’s trope is one of my favourite: enemies-to-lovers. Their dynamic was fun to watch unfold, and the second-chance element gave it an emotional layer that really worked. Even with the behind-the-scenes movie drama and the public personas they had to keep up, the story stayed grounded, and I ended up genuinely rooting for them. It’s a charming romance about fame, forgiveness, and falling for someone when you least expect it. A pleasant surprise! 🎬💫

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood is an engaging second-chance romance filled with Hollywood drama, fake dating, and enemies-to-lovers tension.

Thirteen years ago, Jack and Cynthie starred in a film together and reluctantly took part in a fake dating publicity stunt. The problem? They couldn’t stand each other. Now, as they reunite for a sequel, the studio wants them to revive their fake relationship—but this time, a documentary crew is following their every move, adding even more pressure to their already uneasy dynamic.

The behind-the-scenes look at the film industry adds charm, especially as Cynthie navigates setbacks. The tension between her and Jack makes for an entertaining setup.

There are fun nods to Pride and Prejudice, memorable side characters, and plenty of cute moments. This is an enjoyable read with great pacing. While some character motivations weren't fully explained, this second-chance story has plenty to enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Finished at 1130 am, WOW! That was a gorgeous love story.


Jack and Cynthie were definitely once enemies, but that was just the beginning! Their banter, tension, and unmatched energies kept me reading! I adored almost every other character too! Except Hardy, but let’s forget about that one.

This definitely has themes I didn’t expect the author to explore like as clearly like sexual harassment, misogyny in the entertainment industry, and how others construct their own opinions of those they may believe they know but truly don’t.

This was so worth the time to read, and I had a smile on my face til the end! Thank you so much Atria for this ARC in exchange for my review!