This was such a fun book! It’s a bit of a slow burn and just perfect for all hopelessly romantic fans. It has some spicy scenes that will leave you fanning yourself.
If you love enemies to lovers books, definitely add this one to your list.

After loving Under Your Spell, I couldn't wait to read this one. Sadly, it didn't quite hit the spot. My main issue was the pacing and overall lack of communication. The past and present timelines usually work for me, but I think a little too much page time was spent in the past. I understand it was to establish the complicated history between Cynthie and Jack, but all it really showed was them acting immaturely and miscommunicating/not communicating. After finishing the book and seeing them (thankfully) learning from those mistakes, I can see how this showed more character growth (especially for Cynthie) and created a more satisfying journey for both of them. Unfortunately, it takes quite a while to overcome all of the lack of communication/miscommunication, that I'm afraid it will come too late for many readers. The found family was probably my favorite part of the book. That group of friends would do absolutely anything for each other and they also provided some wonderful comic relief. I loved how they all came together in the end to pull off that beautiful grand gesture, which brought the book full circle.

I both read and listened to the audiobook of Let's Make a Scene and I really enjoyed the narration by Heather Long and Sam Stafford. They switched seamlessly between accents and their voices paired well with each other. Without the audio, I'm not sure I would have been able to push through the beginning and enjoy the rest of the story.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3 stars

CW: parental abandonment and death (past), strained & abusive relationship with parents, panic attacks (on page), toxic work environment, emotional abuse, gaslighting, scandal/media fall out from an affair

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"Let's Make a Scene" by Laura Wood is a companion novel to her first book, "Under Your Spell." I didn't read that one and it wasn't a problem. Our story follows Cynthie and Jack, both actors in their mid-thirties, as they reunite thirteen years after the filming and release of the cult-classic historical romance film that launched their careers. This story is told in dual POVs and dual timelines for the first half of the book, both of which give the reader a lot of insight into the main characters. The final third of this book had me hooked; there were excellent emotional and romantic payoffs, no third-act breakup, and a sweet little epilogue.

Such a cute story! Love a good the duel timeline and duel POV love story. They also just have such natural chemistry that you could really feel it off the pages. I think one of my absolute favorite tropes that was represented was found family! I love that the film crew became like an actual family to Cynthie especially since this film crew was with her since her first film!! Like how cute and wholesome is that?!? I love the moments with both of them on their fake dates but also very real moments and conversations!!

Did someone say fake dating, enemies to lovers, celebrity romance? And enemies to lovers done right? Yes, please!

Actors Cynthie and Jack didn't get along while making Cynthie's debut movie years ago, but their obvious chemistry had the studio asking them to fake date while doing publicity for the movie. Now, a sequel is being made for the original movie, and the costars are asked to brew up another false romance to drum up additional interest in the movie, and their fiery chemistry is just as strong as it ever was.

Wood's romance Under Your Spell was a favorite of mine last year, and I was so excited to dive in to this companion novel (characters from Under Your Spell appear, but this definitely works as a standalone as well!). Her characters are incredibly authentic, with realistic flaws and dialogue that flows easily as they banter away.

I loved the then and now dual timeline, showing us exactly how things went during the first round of fake dating and just how explosive things can be when Cynthie and Jack give in to the undeniable chemistry between them. And the grand gesture?? 🥹 Stole my heart for sure!

The audio was narrated to perfection by Heather Long and Sam Stafford, who add plenty of emotion to the story. Both narrators were new to me, and I would absolutely listen to them again.

Read if you like:
💞 Enemies to lovers
💞 Movie set setting
💞 Celebrity romance
💞 Fake dating
💞 Found family
💞 Mental health representation (anxiety, panic attacks)
💞 He falls first

LOVED This book. Second chance romance, fake dating, found family, enemies to lovers, a Regency movie set? This combo just melted me. I loved every minute we spent with Cynthie and Jack. The supporting characters were all amazing, and I love the flash forward/flash back format of the book.

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood ❣️
Theo & Cynthie, Book 2
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
ARC Review
352 Pages
🗓️ July 1st

❣️hate to love
💕second chance
❣️workplace romance
💕fake dating
❣️found family

❣️ “Thank you for not giving up on me,” she whispers.
“Never.”

❣️ “Everything about you is important to me,” Jack says simply.

I loved this book. I genuinely adored this book. It comes down to that: me looking at it and thinking — feeling — I just LOVED this book.

I didn’t read (YET!) the first in this series of interconnected standanoles. And while I really want to read it now that I met my-wife-clementine, there was no need. Cynthie lost no time making me fall head over heels for her. Meanwhile, it took me a page to be swooning into imaginary arms thanks to Jack.

We were given a dual timeline because we’ve been incredible human beings who deserve nice things. And I don’t know when I fell in love with these two. Maybe it all happened at the same time, then and now. All I know is that the story kept me captivated, the journey from hurt to love kept me uplifted and every little thing they did to carve down the walls brick by brick had me sighing hard.

Laura Wood, I’m your fan.
Thank you for Cynthie and not-Oberon.

I hope everyone who picks up this book feels at least half of the joy I felt while reading Let’s Make a Scene. It would be enough to have the absolute best time this summer.

Under Your Spell was an amazing romance that was in my top 10 in 2024, so I was very excited to read Let's Make A Scene, especially since it features actors as the main characters, and it even throws in a fake dating situation, one of my favorite tropes. There was plenty to love in this book, starting with the strong chemistry between Jack and Cynthie. Every time they were together, the sparks were so hot I'm really surprised the book didn't spontaneously combust in my hands. Although it was obvious that it was a case of "right person, wrong time" when they first met, 13 yrs prior, that didn't stop the heat between them and you just knew that someday, the timing would finally be right.

When they finally do work together again, on a sequel to the movie that launched both of their careers, they've both matured, dealt with some knocks, and become such different people that I could fully believe and root for a romance between them. Second chance romance and enemies to lovers are both tropes that aren't my favorites because there's often a certain level of antagonism between the MCs, at least at the start, but in this case, I was completely sold and was rooting for Cynthie and Jack all the way.

I also loved the in depth look at filmmaking, and once again, there was a beautiful side relationship between Cynthie and her best friend, Hannah, that made me smile whenever they were together. One thing I didn't love was the alternating timeline between the present day and 13 years prior. I'm not a fan of flashbacks, especially if there are a lot of them.

Because of the flashbacks and the second chance theme, I preferred the first book, but this was still a great romance with bonus points for the celebrity aspect, the found family theme, and the fake dating. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

One of my all time favorite tropes is enemies to lovers, however, I'm not the biggest fan of reading books where the characters are famous, so I was going into this a bit hesitant. I'm so glad I picked this up though because I enjoyed it tremendously! Enemies to lovers is (in my personal opinion) one of the hardest tropes to do realistically, and "Let's Make a Scene" did not disappoint in this category!

JACKKKK. He's such a great MMC, even though it took a while to get there haha. But seriously SWOONNN. One of the most enjoyable parts was seeing how he and Cythnie grew, apart and together, even if it was like pulling a wisdom tooth out (haha). I WISH I could've gotten more of Cythie's backstory and relationship with her parents because it's a large part of why she thinks and acts the way she does. Other than that I think this is such a great romance, it has lots of tension and a beautiful found family.

Also I never really focus on titles of but I think it's a super clever one ahaha. Anyways I just love this book and it made me want to go make an enemy on a film set🤪

I really enjoyed this! I want to say it’s a second chance romance but like, they didn’t even date the first time around but they do (and did) fake date so, maybe it counts? I love that he fell first. Also, I just really enjoyed how they grew from being enemies who hated each other into something so much more. The back and forth between the present and the past was also amazing because it let the relationship between the two grow slowly as they go from their first time together to the present where they are navigating the waters of their situation.

Thank you so much Atria Books Publishing & Marking for the absolute beautiful opportunity by inviting me to read an ARC of Author Laura Wood, new upcoming Second-Chance Romance Novel💋✨🎞️❤️🥹
“Let’s Make A Scene”
The Second Installment In The-
“Theo & Cynthie Book Series”
4.7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨Read!!!! I had such a beautiful journey with this book! I finished it so quickly because it was so enjoyable!! From the beginning I knew I'd treasure this second chance romance love story for days🥹every scene had me kicking my feet back and forth with delight over the MMC & MFC bittersweet moments✨everything about this book was truly unique and captivating with every character & chapter!!! The Author’s creativity was shine through with passion and love!! that I completely fell for this book, adoring & loving each and every moment of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, alongside with a touching found family and some sweet-plot twists and turns!! that caught my attention and held me down to my seat needing to know what was going to happen next!!✨I’m so excited to read what Laura Wood, has next up sleeves for any new upcoming novels, so I can fell in love with them just as I did with this beauty🥹especially when her main characters will always have my heart🥹❤️✨

“Let’s Make A Scene,” takes you on a journey through two amazing main characters-
(✨🎞️Cynthie Taylor & Jack Jones💋✨)
Laura Wood, being their journey with moments of- Enemies-to-lovers with hot tension that sparks the flame, forced proximity on a film set✨a fake dating that was always meant to be real, a heartwarming found family that is so sweet, and alongside a rain-kissed romance that will capture your heart and have you wishing this tale didn’t end so quickly🥹❤️✨
and here’s a preview of those two beauties-

My girlie Cynthie🩷✨& Jack💋✨both share and have both amazing & lovely personality by side with a sharp wit that truly brings out both their beauty!! Both of their beautiful humor shines brightest whenever they’re near one another especially when Cynthie wants to get on Jack’s wonderful nerves😂✨Jack’s her sweet lover boy in every universe! who constantly inspires her to reach new heights and everything more🥹and she’s his to infinity and beyond❤️✨The way they both love each other is so adorable and memorable! Always showering affection & protection in most heartfelt ways✨That I will most definitely be re-reading their tale for many more🥹✨

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that is about to be released on July 1st called, Let's Make a Scene. This was so, so good! This story is about Cynthie, who is a new actress thrilled to be starring in her first movie. And Jack, who grew up in the acting business and doesn't think Cynthie is cut out to be the leading actress in this movie. They immediately are at odds with each other, arguing at every turn. But under all the anger between them is attraction, and their heat and chemistry on-screen is absolutely incredible. So much so, that they're asked to fake a relationship to help draw more attention and hype for the movie before the premiere. They couldn't wait until that was over and they never had to see each other again. But now it's thirteen years later and they've been offered the opportunity to make a sequel. Both of them are in a spot in their careers where they could really use this good publicity by doing the movie. But the only stipulation to doing the sequel is that they need to pretend to be in a fake relationship again. Cynthie is hesitant because of how things ended between them last time and also because she just got out of her own toxic situation. But Jack is a different man now, and he's eager to prove that to Cynthie and earn her trust. This was such an enjoyable story to lose yourself in, everything was described so well: the characters, their thoughts and emotions, the scenes and settings, the movie storyline as well as the real life storyline, the dual timelines throughout the book, and dual points of view throughout between Cynthie and Jack. I felt like I was a part of this story, not just reading it! I absolutely loved every moment of it from start to finish! This is everything I want and need in a romcom book, it was absolutely perfect! I NEED more work by this author and more stories in this universe! ❤️📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Let's Make a Scene, in exchange for an honest review.

Once upon a time, thirteen years ago, complete unknown Cynthie Taylor did a screen test with up-and-comer Jack Turner-Jones for a Regency era film.

And their chemistry was off the charts.

Unfortunately, when filming starts, the two immediately seem to hate one another, exchanging cruel barbs, engaging in mean spirited pranks, and creating a general feeling of hostility.

But that chemistry.

So upon completion, the two are urged to participate in a short lived fake dating relationship to promote the film. Grudgingly, they agree.

Thirteen years later, the two have swapped places - Cynthie is an award winning actress and Jack has settled into a role on a popular series.

They are approached to revisit the roles that made them famous, and, grudgingly, they agree.

They’re older now, lessons learned and all that. Except this time, Cynthie has become a bit of a pariah after a failed relationship, and Jack’s career is waning - so they cook up the fake dating scheme themselves.

But what if all that anger and snark was hiding something more? What if they admit that there’s something deeper beneath it?
__
This one was uneven. It felt like reading two different books: the current POV, which was a beautiful rumination on two lonely people with complicated pasts growing and learning and loving, juxtaposed with 13 years ago POV, which was a confusing, disappointing mess featuring two unlikable MCs with inadequate backstory which, fleshed out sooner might have created empathy instead of disdain.

I was tempted a few times to DNF, but every time it switched to current day, I was smitten by Jack’s tenderness and Cynthie’s vulnerability, so I persevered.

And it was rewarding. When the reader finally gets a glimpse of the heavy baggage both carried as teenagers, you understand, if not forgive. But we don’t learn this until far later than I wished.

A lot of you are going to love this, and I refuse to yuck your yum, so have at it.

The current iterations satisfied me. I liked it.

Enemies to lovers but make them movie stars. This was cute and medium fast paced but I think I am just not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers trope.

3.5 stars but rounding down.

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for the advanced reader copy.

Cynthie is needing to mend her public image and her only option is to accept a role in a sequel film and rekindle a fake romance with her old costar, Jack... whom she hates and hasn't been around in 13 years. They are thrust back into the spotlight and the chemistry is definitely still there. The media and fans love them. Soon, lines between reality and fiction are blurred in their second chance romance.

Seriously, SWOON. I'm obsessed with Cynthie and Jack. I loved the flashbacks and seeing their love grow in the present, despite their rocky history. His love letters were chef's kiss. I'm not usually a huge second chance romance lover, but give me some Hollywood-type drama and I am SAT. I must immediately go read Theo and Clemmie's story!!

Thank you to Laura Wood, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange of my honest review.

Thank you for the arc!

2.5 but rounding up to 3.


It was good but not my favorite.

✨Second chance
✨Enemies to lovers (kinda) but secretly love each other the whole time
✨Dual POV which became a bit much, I feel one chapter (max 2) of this could have been fine.

The book didn’t hold my interest for long. I did a lot of putting down and coming back.

For romance readers, this has a little something for everyone:
Hollywood romance
Hate-to-love
Second chance romance
And even a little Historical Romance

Cynthie Taylor was new to the acting scene when she first met Jack Turner-Jones. And it didn't go very well. But one on screen kiss almost changed everything. Almost. Instead, the two actors spent most of the time filming A Lady of Quality, hating each other.

Fast forward years later when the two are offered the opportunity to do a sequel. Can they get along this time around?
Given that we get both characters' POVs, and had insight into how they really felt, I think they stood a chance. The obstacle ended up being an unexpected one.

While Jack is painted as the bad guy, mostly due to some poorly timed comments, it was clear he felt something deep for Cynthie. Question is, is he willing to put himself out there, and is she willing to take the risk as well. I personally got a little frustrated by Cynthie at times. It seemed everyone understood her better than herself, and thankfully for her, they were patient enough to help her along. With everything Jack did for her, how can she not fall in love with him?

While I enjoyed the storyline, the switching from past to present and alternating POVs made this book a bit longer than I think was warranted. I think it would have been better edited down. But overall, this was a sweet romance that showed one man's infinite patience ultimately paid off.

A solid 4.5⭐️!

The first book in this series, Under Your Spell, came out of nowhere and surprised me with how much I loved it - so I was very excited to receive an ARC for this one!

I enjoyed the then and now non-linear storytelling. Both Cynthie and Jack were so young and stupid and immature 13 years ago, so it was great to see their independent growth.

This book has some faults, obviously, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride this one took me on. At times the characters felt like completely different people from who they were 13 years ago - especially Jack - but I guess I can suspend disbelief and see how it makes sense because of how insecure he was with his acting abilities at the time.

Please tell me the next book we get from Laura will be Jack’s sister, Lee and his best friend! There’s definitely a story there to be told…

Thanks again to Netgalley and Atria for sending me an ARC of this one!

Let’s Make a Scene is filled with a few themes/tropes that usually don’t make a strong impression on me like romances where one or both characters are a celebrity or second chance romances or fake dating. But it’s testament to Laura Wood’s writing that I found myself giggling anyway. The slow-burn rivals-to-lovers evolution is done so well and flipping between the past and the present does a good job of illustrating why it’s a grown up romance this second time around (which is something that not a lot of second chance romances handle well). The ending was predictable but I still enjoyed the journey and it even made me want to go back and read Under Your Spell. If you get easily frustrated by female main characters who are the main obstacles to their own happy ending, this probably won’t be for you. But if you’re in the mood for a cute, light UK-based romance with a strong found family, you’ll have a great time.

I loved every piece of this book; the timeline, characters, jokes, and more. Specifically, I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed Cynthie and Jack's dynamics throughout the 2 timelines. The chemistry off-screen and on-screen was INCREDIBLE to read!
Simply put, this book is fun and heartfelt, and stunning!

Tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-fake dating
-second chance
-actor/actress

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.