First time reading a book by this author and I loved it! An enemies to lovers story , fake dating, and characters with off the charts chemistry. Definitely a great read for the summer!

I really enjoyed Wood's first book, "Under Your Spell," and "Let's Make a Scene" held up to the standard Wood has set for herself-- this was a great book!

I particularly liked how the book considered both Cynthie and Jack's points of view, giving us their thoughts and reasons for acting as they do throughout the story. I also enjoyed the flashbacks throughout the story; it made it much more interesting to learn about Cynthie and Jack's past (yay for showing rather than telling!). Wood knows her craft and writes witty dialogue, realistic action, and strong characters. I can't wait for more books from her!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this delight of a book, and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s far more than a romance, but incorporates the film industry, familial pressures and legacies, a 13 year relationship built with flashbacks and drama, the importance of making our own circle of support, and so much humor! It’s so well done with two first person POV narration, both in past and present, and the fake relationships on set and “real life” are well done. Cinderella meets nepotism meets reality is so well done in this book! Highly recommend!

This was cute overall but I kind of got tired from the back and forth timelines. The pacing also felt slow, but again maybe that's due to the different timelines. The characters did have growth which I appreciated but I liked the author's first book better.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Such a cute story! Told in dual timelines when Cynthie and Jack first met they are playing on screen lovers. Behind the scenes they don’t get along. Unfortunately the studio wants to play at their chemistry and asks them to pretend to date. When the move ends they are happy to go their separate ways. Now 13 years later the studio wants to film a sequel and they want them to star their fake romance again. But can they get past their dislike for one another? The more time they spend together the more they’ll see that they aren’t who they once were. Could something fake become something real? A sweet hilarious story, with lots of fun witty banter between the two! This book had great character development and growth between the two timelines! If you like fake dating second change romances then I highly recommend Laura Wood’s Let’s Make a Scene!

I really loved Wood's adult debut last 'Under Your Spell', so I was excited to see what her sophomore novel would bring. Sadly, 'Let's Make a Scene' did not work for me on two fronts:

1) I did not like Jack as a Hero. From our first introduction of him in the '13 Years Ago' timeline, he comes off entitled and stuck-up and I, much like Cynthie, couldn't stand him. Still, I was willing to give him a chance and wait for her 'present day' POV, but I did not see any growth in that man that made him worth Cynthie's time or energy.

2) Had I know this was a story told in two timelines, I wouldn't have requested it as that's a narrative structure that doesn't work for me most of the time. I gave it a try all the same, but I really didn't care about the '13 Years Ago' chapters, and it takes up half of the story.

Other readers won't have the same issues I did here, and Wood's talent still shown through despite my complaints.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this e-arc for an honest review!

Gosh I could not put this book down. It was so cute! The story was filled with pop culture references which I loved, playful banter, sparks flying, trust issues, and hitting topics about what a family is. I really really liked how both main characters had areas that they had learn about to show growth. This showed me it's realness of their characters.

I did giggle at parts of how Cynthie and Jack interacted along with feeling my heartstrings being pulled a bit when they had to cope with some issues. I even giggled at some parts as well. It was such a good heartfelt story!

The book does flip back and forth from the past to the present about Cynthie and Jack. Enemies to friends to lovers is the key points in this story also. I feel like it also gave a little nod to Jane Austen.

Definitely adding this book to my collection!

This was…alright. I found the pacing a bit slow and it was a bit hard for me to get through. I did enjoy the romance though and Jack is a really good MMC. The side characters were also fleshed out well and the plot was good.

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. I loved the main characters but also appreciated how the author made so many of the supporting characters interesting and engaging. Great dialogue and banter that was genuinely funny and not annoying. The plot twists and problems made sense and didn't stem from anyone doing something ridiculous or totally out of character. Am going to hunt down other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! I think I might be a second-chance romance fan now. Cynthie and Jack were SO well developed, and I didn't feel like they had a lot of excess character traits to make them needlessly complicated like a lot of romance books seem to nowadays. Instead, I thought the development between where they were 13 years ago to the present fit both of them really well and seemed very realistic. Their story was very sweet, and I wish I could have seen the original movie (I love a rain and wet shirt regency moment). I also felt like this was an easy read because there were a lot of small lines that made me laugh! I will definitely be picking up books by this author in the future, and was a little sad to finish this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🎬

- Second chance, celebrity romance
- Cynthie Truner, 33 and Jack Turner Jones, 37 - both actors
- Cynthie and Jack met on the set of her first film 13 years ago, and it was an instant enemies to... something. In the current day, they reunite to film the sequel to their original film
- Dual timeline, dual POV
🌶️: yes

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood is a delightful enemies-to-lovers second-chance romance. Well-written, it’s my first book by this author, but I’ll read more. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between Cynthie and Jack. I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romance, but this book is a great way to fall in love.

This was such a fun read!
It was cute, and I really enjoyed the banter between the main characters. The plot kept me engaged, and the romance was sweet. While it’s not a new favorite, I definitely liked it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an arc copy of this book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really like Rivals to Lovers themed romances and throw in fake dating and enemies to lovers ( which in the Rom-Com world is more rivals to lovers) so I thought that thos book had the perfect Tribeca of tropes.

I had a hard time warming up to the fmc at first, she had just gotten out of a relationship as the other woman when she was asked to audition for a leading lady role oppisiote her rival, the MMC. They had a fake relationship offscreen/ real relationship onscreen years ago and the producers wanted to replicate that chemistry ( on and off screen ) again.

The problem is the MCs never got along and thought all that chemistry was phoney in the first place. This second chance at being thrust together and having to pretend to be a couple both on and off screen tests them to see if the spark they had can turn into a flame.

I don't know if I entirely warmed up to the fmcs personality but I did think that the story was well written and cute.

Tropes:
*enemies to lovers
*second chance romance
*fake dating

Cynthie is a new actress excited about her first big role, except her costar Jack gets under her skin with his strong opinions and arrogance. The studio asks them to pretend to date for publicity but behind the scenes is animosity mixed with undeniable chemistry. After their press tour, they part ways and leave it all behind. Fast forward 13 years, and the studio would like to make the sequel, with the same fake dating scheme for the press. Cynthie is hesitant because of how it went the first time, but her career could use a boost, and Jack doesn't seem to be the person he used to be. Time and life lessons have changed them both and this time their relationship is better, but it is hard to tell what is for the cameras and what is coming from the heart when it was all supposed to be for the cameras from the start.

Although this was supposed to be the companion novel for Under Your Spell, I didn't feel lost reading this first at all. But now I am going back to read that one as well since Theo shows up briefly in this book and I would love to know his story! I am new to Laura Wood and I gotta say I really enjoyed her writing. This story takes place over two time periods: Cynthie and Jack's first movie and then their second. I loved Cynthie and Jack. I think it was really honest to show how insecurities and emotions can come out differently when someone is younger and later on when they mature, they can look at them differently and gain perspective. Even when they were arguing, Cynthie and Jack's chemistry and tension were undeniable to everyone around, but their transition from enemies to friends and eventually a relationship was beautiful. Slowly building trust and getting to know each other beyond the surface. I loved that for both of them! And their group of friends was the best. I thoroughly enjoyed each of them (and would love a mini story about Arjun and Patty!!). This story was fun, playful, vulnerable, sad, and full of hope. It was a great read and I can't wait to dive into her next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for a chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own!

I love Under Your Spell so looking forward to reading about Theo's bf Cyntie- a famous actress. Cynthie has to fake a relationship again with her costar Jack even though they hate each other evver since 13 yrs ago.

Love the chemistry and the banter. Really enjoy the fun and the joy. Love the romance too.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

WOW!! This book was so incredibly fun and addicting to read. The ~TENSION~ between Cynthie and Jack was *palpable*. I felt so many butterflies while reading this book. I highlighted and bookmarked so many pages. The chemistry between Cynthie and Jack was so good, it was insane.

I cannot wait to add it to my bookshelf because this book deserves the book trophy! Some of my favorite tropes are in this book and I thought it was done SO WELL. I mean fake dating, forced proximity, hate-to-love, and second chance?!? Ugh, can’t wait to listen to the audiobook! I’m definitely going to read Under Your Spell now.

Also, this book needs to take off!! It deserves to be read because I love Cynthie and Jack and all the side characters so much. No lie, I even teared up (happy tears)! I don’t often tear up reading romance novels!!

Definitely recommend!!

Tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, hate-to-love, second chance, workplace romance

Book: 4.8
Spice: 3

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC! I always appreciate it!!

Enemies to lovers and it was done so well. Cynthie and Jack both work in the movie industry and we see how they first meet, battle each other and lots of miscommunication while also you can see them falling in love. Thirteen years later they come back together as more mature and different people and watch them fall in love. I loved all the references to other great movies including the whole Dirty Dancing scene, my favorite movie. And if you don’t swoon a little when she references the ‘lean’ from While You Were Sleeping, go watch that movie again! Fantastic book by the author!

INT. COZY LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
A reader (that’s YOU) flops down on the couch, clutching a book, eyes wide with the rush of finishing a perfect fake-dating romance.
YOU
(half in disbelief)
Okay, okay… I didn’t read the first book—I know—but after this? I’m sprinting back to page one of that one. No question.
You stare at the ceiling, overwhelmed—in the best way.
YOU
This was cinematic. Dual POVs. Fake dating. A swoony, satisfying HEA.
(pause)
Honestly, the movie setting? The flashbacks? Chef’s kiss. And the prank war hysterical and inspiration to use against siblings (glitter balloons anyone)?!
(beat)
That might’ve been my favorite part. Or maybe the banter. Or... ugh, it’s impossible to pick.
You grab your phone, start typing furiously into the Notes app, clearly on a mission.
YOU (V.O.)
Even the side characters—assistants, friends, rivals—were so well fleshed out. I just wanted more of them. Spin-off novelles? Yes, please.
You pause, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
YOU
And don’t get me started on the dynamic duos. The friendships? Top tier. The found family vibes? Strong. The slow burn tension? Electric.
YOU (V.O.)
And if you don’t catch the fanfic energy inspired by Colin Firth and Keira Knightley’s Pride and Prejudice...
(smirks)
You’re reading it wrong.
You hug the book to your chest, grinning.
YOU
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a first book to inhale. And maybe a fan cast to build.
FADE OUT.

I read and fell in love with Laura Wood's Under Your Spell last year. Let's Make a Scene is a very similar vibe, but presented differently. Instead of a unique blended family, there's a lovable found one, the characters are in the movie business (not music), but the bones are the same: the FMC has deep-seated reasons for being the way she is and the MMC is understanding, thoughtful, and has his own (mostly corralled) demons.

The similarities are by no means negatives though. I ate this book up in two days, only because sleep is a necessity, sometimes. I had so much fun being in this world ping ponging between LA and Cornwall, England (I think). Surprisingly, I even liked the dual timelines because it gave context to the current-day characters that I don't think would have been as effective if done by exposition or flashbacks. I liked the behind the scenes view into how movies are made.

My favorite part, and what makes Laura Wood an auto-buy author for me, is the humor. This book is legitimately funny, even when dealing with heavy topics such as workplace misogyny, emotional abuse, trauma, and anxiety. Laura brings a dry levity that balances the complexity of these topics perfectly.

I know this one hasn't even come out yet, but I'm already looking forward to Laura's next one.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.