⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Let's Make A Scene is my first Laura Wood novel and an ARC for me. I offer this review honestly.

When I say I immediately bought it on ebook and paperback upon finishing this ARC, I'm not exaggerating. I want to revisit this and share this book with as many people as possible... I'm thinking my next gift to my book club or anyone in my life with a birthday...

But let's get to the review:

First let's start with the dedication. In reading it before starting the book and again after finishing it, it is perfection. In fact prior to reading, I had been feeling extensively overwhelmed, raw and sad due to personal challenges with my mental health. True to the dedication, this book brought me joy, heart pounding heat and the sweet kicks and squeals of a perfect love story.

Next, upon the opening pages it's literally impossible to not fall in love with Cynthie before you hit the 10% mark. Even though the beginning of the book presents her as a woman surviving on isolation, ass kicking work outs and "giant chocolate fudge cake" that when she eats it, is being eaten "out of the box with [her] hands like a bear" to help her overcome a truly devastating breakup riddled with abuse and betrayal. You can't help but feel for her as more of the information about what happened are revealed. You can't help but applaud her zingers and banter. You can't help but root for her because of how real she feels.

Soon after we meet Jack, who is the absolute best enemy turned pining, head over heels, he falls first, lover! His description of Cynthia upon reflecting on their first meeting is so epic, romantic and funny: "Cynthie had come in, crackling with an energy that left me feeling like I’d been struck by lightning. Or hit by a truck. Or trampled by a herd of wildebeest. Basically, that scene in The Lion King that traumatized an entire generation? That was what meeting Cynthie Taylor felt like. " I mean c'mon you can practically taste the humor, sarcasm and tortured heart in that small glimpse. Plus I'm one who loves pop culture references especially when they are well timed and realistic. Laura Wood is a genius with her impeccable choice of location and topic when it comes to including pop culture references. Throughout the book there are a few well placed and timed references or allusions that never kicked me out the story but deepend my love for the characters and world. From a brief, yet harsh as hell "I won't be satisfied until he's face down in the dirt, weeping for his mother" reminding me immediately of Leslie Knope from Parks and Recs to awesome references to You've Got Mail, Star Wars, and one of my absolute favorite romantic comedies, While You Were Sleeping and the famous "lean" that is truly one of the sexiest things, it is hard not to feel like this story could legitimately be happening off the pages. 😍

Shortly after this, it's impossible not to fall in love with Jack and immediately cast him for a future film adaptation... I'm looking at you Antony Bridgerton, I mean Fiyero, I mean Jonathan Bailey... God he'd would be exceptional, inexplicably perfect and I will envision no one else as Jack from this day henceforth.

Apologies for the tangent. As I was saying, what leads you to love Jack immediately is how at odds his internal and external personas are at a near constant basis. This conflict isn't a secret to him as he has excellent self-awarness, "I make myself feel better by giving her a look that my sister, Lee, once described as my “Mr. Darcy sneer.” (It’s handy for an actor to have several Mr. Darcy expressions in his arsenal, and I’ve perfected this one. I’m also great at looking standoffish at parties.)" however his issues lie in what to do actually do about the division and necessary reconciliation of his two selves. And I mean c'mon Swoon Alert! Who doesn't love a man who references Mr. Darcy...intentionally?

I also absolutely cackled at both Cynthie and Jack's internal description of each other's scents, which is so common now in romance novels and subgenres of romance is the focus on scent descriptions. Cynthie 's made me laugh with camaraderie and Jack's took me to an epic scene in Bridgerton Season 2 and a deep desire to find that perfume.

Her about Him: "I am instantly enveloped in the scent of him, clean linen, and the sort of aftershave they make mad TV adverts about—men who smell like the desert and also pine trees and the moon, then suddenly they’re walking through the stars and for some reason there’s a panther… I’m getting distracted." - I mean hilarious because I frequently think about what the moon and walking in the stars smells like...

Him about Her: "Her perfume surrounds me, and it’s different now. No longer the sweet citrus scent she used to wear, but something more grown up, more sultry, like dark, ripe berries. She smells like incredibly sexy jam and I fight the urge to bury my face in her neck and inhale."

Then we are given a truly relatable and empathetic description of the absolute soul crushing realities of struggling with anxiety and having the constant conflict between asking for help and hiding it from others. Both Cynthie and Jack struggle with varying degrees of anxiety and the associated insecurities and self doubt. Although the cause of anxiety can be traced to different origins within the novel and real life, both Cynthie and Jack are struggling with anxiety rooted in family dysfunction, emotional/ verbal abuse and trauma. Wood does an amazing job of showing how all the causes of their anxieties are the same but it's the deeper specifics and their individual reactions to those causes that is a real world example of how differently anxiety manifests in individual people. Jack refrences.a powerful coping technique that helps to establish control and healing for both characters. There is also a strong positive support for therapy and counseling service for any and all size of difficulties which again made the story for more real and possible.

Finally, the actual structure of the novel was unique but also natural to read and follow. Structuring the novel between the past, when the couple first were thrown to together, and the 13 year present was engaging and it had me dying to get back to each respective time frame as quickly as possible just so I can know what happens next. The structure also provides an excellent way to compare the couple at their young, immature and fresh 20s era to their 30s after life has shown up with a Mary Poppins (for Petra iykyk 😂) bag of experiences, challenges and serious life lessons. I enjoyed the real time comparisons because it made their actual love story seem so real. Real love has a time and it's not always in the beginning of a relationship. The chemistry between them both fake and real was beautiful and butterfly giving. Also the level of spice was perfect and balanced. By the end every expression of feeling between Cynthia and Jack is beautiful and flawed and human. The family they have built around them step up but in a way that feels completely organized and honest given the bonds formed in the industry and time spent together. The final romantic gesture is so frickin adorable that I hope I'm right in imagining it taking place on the lawn beyond Mr. Darcy's home from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice only with a bit of New Girl cira Season 3 Episode 13...iykyk.

Dang, if that isn't my dream marriage: Regency and New Girl!

Essentially this book could and would make an excellent film and I have casting suggestions!!!

I was thoroughly in love with this book before the 10% mark and cannot wait to beg all of my friends to read it! I can't wait to go back and read Theo and Clementine's book and will cross all my fingers and toes that maybe Scott or Hannah or Lee or Nico get their own stories someday!

TLDR;
Characters:
+FMC: age 20 and 33; anxiety, victim of abandonment, verbal and emotional abuse

+MMC: age 24 and 37; anxiety, panic attacks, victim of parental verbal abuse and family dysfunction

Plot Basics:
Two actors get their big break after filming an Regency era romance but hate each other the entire time. They disconnect over 13 years but they both lead fairly successful careers. Drama befalls them in their personal lives and the original movie production team want to make a sequel to the first Regency romance film after 13 years...and they will have to work with each other and address the elephant in the room...they don't and have never hated each other...it's always been love.

Tropes/Vibes:
+Enemies to Lovers
+Fake dating (yasssss 😍)
+ He falls first or hardest
+ Grumpy vs Sunshine (and the roles swamp in the present compared to the past)
+ Found family
+ Mental Health healing
Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Fake Dating × 2, and Rivals-to-Friends-to-Lovers with a long, twisted history? Sign me up!

Cynthie Taylor was living the dream-- an open casting call leading to her starring in her first film, a Regency romance, opposite a famous (and famously hot and famously talented) legacy actor, Jack Turner-Jones. The problem? He can't stand her. And the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately (or fortunately), their intense dislike translates to firey chemistry on camera, and the studio creates a fake off-screen romance for the two of them to heighten their media presence.

Now, thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack are back on set for the long-awaited sequel. Cynthie's disgust hasn't softened in that time, and she's sure Jack's hasn't either. But with both of them needing good press, they are shoehorned into another fake relationship. But this time, maybe the intense hatred doesn't burn as brightly as other feelings.

This dual POV flips between present day and 13 years ago, which I find important to really understand where each character is coming from. You get a chance to really see their growth, and get into their heads. I really found Cynthie's stubbornness annoying at first, but I the more I got to know her the more I understood where she was coming from.

Cynthie Taylor was an unknown actress who had her big acting break in a small British production where she was cast opposite Jack Turner-Jones, a young man akin to acting royalty. After a great chemistry read lead to casting her, they dislike each other from day one, but when filming ended, the studio decided to capitalize on the hype of the movie romance and have them fake date while promoting the movie.
Thirteen years later, Cynthie is a Hollywood darling in the middle of an infidelity scandal with the director of her last movie which is threatening to destroy her career, while Jack, a major character in a popular TV series is facing having his contract terminated. They both need a good project and the offer comes with the stipulation of a new fake relationship.
This second chance is another good read from the author. Jack and Cynthie are the epitome of opposites attract, enemies to lovers with off the chart chemistry and a great backstory. I’m finding myself drawn to Ms. Wood writing style and really enjoyed the way she used to bring the reader a thorough look at the characters’ pasts without making it boring.
Not as light and funny as Under your Spell, the story has a lot of feeling; a slow burn romance with a found family and good character evolution. I enjoyed it very much, love the main and secondary characters and the way they glue together a really nice book.

🎬Let’s Make A Scene
.
This was a cute romcom about two actors that find themselves working together on another film, something they said they’d never do.
.
🎬enemies to lovers
🎬past and present timeline
🎬dual POVs
🎬fake dating
🎬lots of pining
.
I thought Jack was pretty dreamy and thought the supporting characters added to the story.
I enjoyed this book and will definitely got back and read Theo and Clementine’s story.
3.5 stars!

Atria Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and rate this book!!

Two characters involved in a fake dating scenario thirteen years apart who have undeniable, unresolved chemistry sounds like a winning recipe. It should have worked and would have worked EXCEPT these characters appear to have received complete personality transplants between the two timelines.

I liked Jack and Cynthie in the present. I did not like the earlier, younger versions of Jack and Cynthie. In the first iteration of Jack and Cynthie we have a relationship (or lack thereof) rooted in mutual dislike. Cynthie is a newcomer to acting and Jack is thespian royalty. Their chemistry on screen is undeniable, but offscreen they work hard to make each other miserable. The immaturity is off the charts.

Fast forward thirteen years and the power balance is switched. When Cynthie runs into a PR nightmare and Jack’s continued run on a popular tv show is in doubt, someone floats the bright idea of making a sequel to their popular movie and resurrecting the fake dating trope. The chemistry is still there and so is the mistrust.

This would have worked better for me if the majority of the focus was on present day Jack and Cynthie with brief flashbacks to their first interaction. It was challenging to spend so much time with unlikable characters and believe they could transform so dramatically.

Overall, it was a tale of two books and it was the present day version that kept me reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read! While the pacing started a bit slow, I ended up loving the dynamic between Cynthie and Jack. The dual POV and past/present timeline really brought the story to life. Jack was oddly endearing, and I enjoyed watching it all unfold.

A few tropes I loved:
🎬 Enemies to Lovers
🎬 He Falls First
🎬 Second Chance
🎬 Fake Dating

I had a mixed reaction to this book. I truly liked the characters, and I rooted for Cynthie and Jack to find happiness. Also, the author included an exploration of how women are treated in Hollywood, which was well-developed and important. My issue is that, for me, this book felt long. We spend too much time in flashbacks to filming the first film. I felt like the backstory was too developed, and the romance in the current timeline was a little underdeveloped. However, even with that issue, I did enjoy the book and would read more from this author.

For every girl who swoons over a hand flex, this book is for you. A companion piece to the adorable, Under Your Spell, this novel focuses on Cynthie, Theo's best friend, whom we met in the first book. This is a dual timeline, second chance, fake dating romance. Cynthie and Jack meet on the set of an independent English romantic movie. They get off on the wrong foot and sparks fly. 13 years later, Cynthie needs help from Jack to save her reputation while they film the sequel, after being in an abusive affair with a famous director.

Loved:
Jack
Jack's growth between the two timelines
Cynthie's found family
The exploration of power dynamics and abuse was done very well
All the Pride and Prejudice feels; both wet white shirt and handflex
Both characters acted like adults and talked things through in the current timeline.
That the behind the scenes of shooting a period piece was inspired by Emma Thompson's book on making Sense and Sensibility (my fav)
Seeing Clemmie and Theo again

Didn't love:
Prank wars- never like them, at least they were quick, make sense on film sets (cough George Clooney cough), and when the characters were 22

I really had a hard time putting this one down. Thanks Atria and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars

After seeing that the author was inspired Rachel McAdams’ and Ryan Gosling’s Best Kiss win at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards I was SOLD, but that may have also set my expectations a little too high. BUT I still enjoyed this one a lot! It took me a bit to really get into it. I think the older timeline was too long as they needed to go from acquaintances to enemies to lovers, and yet still have a full storyline in the present.

There were some parts I really loved. Being that this was a book about actors filming a movie, I thought all the pop culture movie nods peppered throughout were very fun. I chuckled at all the one liners and swooned at the romance once it finally got going. I thought this had an interesting spin on fake dating.

This. Book. Is. EVERYTHING.

After absolutely loving Under Your Spell, this was one of my most anticipated reads—and it did not disappoint!

The YEARNING. The banter. The slow burn. I was completely obsessed. It’s the perfect blend of humor, heart, and romantic tension that had me giggling, kicking my feet, and desperate to see how everything turned out for these two lovebirds.

If you love second-chance romance, enemies to lovers, or dual timelines done right—this one’s for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC!

I was IMMEDIATELY invested in this second chance, celebrity romance, dual POV, dual timeline, forced proximity, workplace, fake dating (for the second time) romance that has two British actors reunited on the set of the sequel of their initial film together thirteen years after they first met and fell in love. The tension between Cynthie and Jack was electric, the flashbacks had me on the edge of my seat, the on set pranks were HILARIOUS and there was also excellent mental health/disability rep with Cynthie's anxiety and panic attacks. HIGHLY recommended especially for fans of books like The spirit of love or Twice in a blue moon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

📚 Read if you like: contemporary romance, dual POV, fake dating, enemies to lovers, mutual pining
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5

I did not expect how much I was going to be obsessed with this one! The writing in this is so beautiful - I literally messaged the author and said there’s magic in these pages. It’s witty, charming, hysterical, and deeply emotional plus such a swoony romance. Cynthie and Jack are such a dynamic pair and seeing their POVs from the current time plus seeing them 13 years prior, all that added background and shared experiences really helped to pull me in. Also I just love a dual POV enemies to lovers so much, especially when you see their opinions change little by little but they’re so stubborn and refuse to acknowledge their feelings. The end made me weeeeep because I’m a big softie and I love an emotional grand gesture so much. And now I need to go read the first book in the series immediately (Under Your Spell). Read this one, y’all!
Thank you to Atria Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Oh my God!!! How did I not know this is the second book in the series?!! I really need to do a touch of research before I jump into these literary adventures! Loved the tension and story in this book!! Not your typical enemies to lovers (in all of the best ways)!! We love growth/development and the characters wanting their partner to be the best version of themselves. Great amount of jumping back and forth between the past and the present. Really enjoyed these characters and the emotional rollercoaster you ride with them.

3 stars 🌟🌟🌟
Let me just start by saying enemies to lovers and forbidden romance? Laura Wood you had me from the get-go. I really enjoyed this book and the dynamic between the main characters. I’ve never read a romance with the actor and fake dating trope but I found it really interesting, especially because I know this happens in real-life and I felt like I was getting an inside scoop hahaha! It is not necessary that you read the first book to read this one (I didn’t) but I would still recommend it because this seems like a very fun universe! My favorite part of Let’s Make a Scene was the second chance aspect and seeing Cynthie and Jack’s romance grow beyond the cameras and acting as they spend more time together. I usually don’t gravitate to the second chance trope but this one was intriguing and enjoyable. While all this is true about the book, I am choosing to rate it 3 stars because it was a cute romance book - but there wasn’t much more to it. I would definitely recommend, it just felt too cliche for me. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

“What’s a little pretend romance between coworkers?”

This book had no business being as good as it was. What I thought I was getting was a cute little romance that I could read over a few days. What I got was a romance that I genuinely could not put down and finished in one sitting because I absolutely could not stop reading it.

I hadn’t read the first book in the series so I was a little afraid I would be lost but I absolutely wasn’t. The story was fun and compelling and easy to follow without having read the first one. Fake dating, especially between coworkers, is one of my favorite tropes and it’s done so so well here. Especially as its also a second chance love story AND ALSO an enemies to lovers one, which I also love! I was so invested in the story from the very beginning.

This book also has dual POV (which is always a plus for me) and goes back and forth between the present day, and thirteen years prior as we learn the history behind Cynthie and Jack’s relationship.

Pick this one up- you won’t regret it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately, this book is a no for me -- for now...

I say no for now, because I feel like I may not be in the mood for this book at the moment, but this might be one I may want to come back to in the future. Right now, I am having trouble connecting with either Jack or Cynthie, and I struggle when I can't connect with either main character. I also think the dual timelines is a little bit confusing, and almost seems like two books instead of just one.

I still think I would come back to this book in the future at some point, but for now I am putting it to the side as I just don't care about either character. Additionally, I think I still would check out more by Laura Wood in the future as well.

This book had me kicking my feet and squealing like a schoolgirl. Jack is an absolute swoonworthy leading man. I loved how self-aware he was, how he didn't pressure Cynthie, and how he just screamed "leading man" both on screen and off. Adult Cynthie was also delightful in all of her imperfections and fears, and the grand gesture at the end had me in tears. I did get annoyed with young Cynthie on occasion and found the flashbacks to run long at times, but when they finally talked about it, their behavior made a lot more sense. I will be recommending this book to everyone - and picking up the first one in the series!

I was IMMEDIATELY invested in this second chance, celebrity romance, dual POV, dual timeline, forced proximity, workplace, fake dating (for the second time) romance that has two British actors reunited on the set of the sequel of their initial film together thirteen years after they first met and fell in love. The tension between Cynthie and Jack was electric, the flashbacks had me on the edge of my seat, the on set pranks were HILARIOUS and there was also excellent mental health/disability rep with Cynthie's anxiety and panic attacks. HIGHLY recommended especially for fans of books like The spirit of love or Twice in a blue moon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved the constant feuding enemies to lovers vibes with this book, especially from the start and the fact that you haven’t read the first book you don’t need to. It can be right as a standalone. But overall, I love the guy dynamic and the theme of this romance between two Hollywood superstars, and how we get the backstory of each one going back-and-forth in time for the second chance romance explanation. The characters and her interactions were funny, spicy, and absolutely perfect. This is probably one of those books that I would read again just because I loved how the author thought outside of the box when it came to a not so typical couple that you read about. And of course, the Bridgertonesque movie they film is the chefs kiss for me especially because they’re forced to act in love while they’re really fighting/falling in love all over again.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, and the author, Laura Wood for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!