3.75

I enjoyed this one. It’s enemies to lovers and second chance and fake dating. I liked seeing the progression of the relationship both times. It was fun to see the story jump back and forth.

I think there were things that just didn’t hit fully for me, but I feel it could be because I was distracted.

Overall still really enjoyed.

Thx Simon Audio for the early audiobook.

I absolutely adored Under Your Spell. So my expectations were very high. And this was great! But it didn’t capture my heart in quite the same way. That said - would recommend! Did enjoy! Lovely dual-POV, dual-timeline enemies to lovers, second chance romance. Mini spoiler - the sexual harassment storyline also felt gratuitous.

It was okay. The characters were ok and I liked the idea of the plot. I wasn't into this authors writing style . Romance readers should give this a try

I was disappointed when I saw this wasyet another sequel, not clearly delineated. I couldn’t figure out if this was a standalone series or need to read the 1st. Perhaps reading the first would have involved me more?

As far as this book, it’s labeled as enemies to lovers, but I’d say more of lovers to enemies to lovers again.I am fond od second chance romance--but that's only if there isn't a lot of misunderstand padding out the plot. Fake dating is another possible trope I can enjoy--but not with all that baggage hanging over their heads. Too many misunderstandings for me to really engage!

Overall 4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Atria, and Laura Wood for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book! There was good character development, easy to follow flash backs, and a fun plot (with no third act breakup). Cynthia and Jack had fantastic chemistry and a great amount of tension. The flash backs were placed well and showed insight into the old movie and their earlier relationship when needed. Also, the 13 year difference in how the characters matured and had the emotional intelligence to reflect on the past and move forward was refreshing.

Overall, I really loved this book and I would totally recommend it to my friends. I can't wait for its release in July!

Laura Wood's Under Your Spell was one of my FAVORITE books of 2024 - I started reading it the day after Election Day and it brought me laughs and joy when I was reeling. I've recommended it far and wide and am THRILLED every time someone texts about how much they love it!

So lemme tell you I was so excited to hear we were getting Cynthie's story, and SCREAMED when I got an ARC! NetGalley & Atria - y'all are some MVPs. And like with Under Your Spell, I busted this one out when I needed an escape - and boy did it deliver!

We met Cynthie, who was Theo's best friend. Her first acting job in a small British film was everything that she dreamt about - with the exception of a surly costar Jack, who while handsome AF, has made his hatred towards him known. But as all enemies to lovers fans (raises hand) know, that means their chemistry is pure FIRE - so obviously the powers that be decide a fake romance will really help the movie take off.

Let's forward 13 years. It is the eras of sequels of reboots, and when execs make Cynthie and Jack offers they can't refuse, they are forced together for the first time since they left the OG film set. They both desperately need this to work - even agreeing to rekindle their fake relationship.

I couldn't put it down. I was in from page 1. So many of my fave things wrapped up in one - oh Laura Wood, you did it again!

Let's Make a Scene is out on TUESDAY!!!! Preorder, add to TBR, request from the library and can't wait to hear what y'all think!

Let's Make a Scene is a sparkling, feel-good romance about chasing dreams and unexpected love in the world of theater. Laura Wood brings charm, wit, and a lovable cast to this lively and uplifting story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was disappointed when I saw this was book 2 of Theo & Cynthie series. I couldn’t figure out if this was a standalone series or need to read the 1st. So I read the 1st before proceeding. For anyone curious, you DON’T need to read book 1. There is very minimal character overlap. Cynthie is mentioned in the 1st and Theo is mentioned in the 2nd.

As far as this book, it’s labeled as enemies to lovers, but I’d say more of lovers to enemies to lovers again. I also second chance romance which would fit. Jack and Cynthie meet while filming,had some sparks but it didn’t work. 13 years later, they are reunited to film again but both are a bit hostile due to some unresolved feelings. Insert the ask of fake dating. And of course the sparks still there. So in true romance genre fashion, the sparks will fly as they reunite and hash out previous misunderstandings.

4.5 stars rounded up. I really love the characters Laura Wood has created. This second chance, fake dating, “enemies”(but really it’s always been you and I was just too emotionally warped at the time to properly cope and express that)-to-lovers all combine on the set of a regency romance in the past timeline and the set of its sequel in the present-over-a-decade later timeline.

Cynthie is such a layered character in every timeline. In the past, she’s a joyful young woman presented with the chance of a lifetime to live out her dream of becoming an actress. She’s raw and hopeful and has a zest for life that combines with her natural talent to indicate this is just the beginning for her. In the present, she’s a woman who has lived that dream and experienced the darker side of it. She’s marred by a recent scandal when the opportunity arrives to reprise the role that started everything for her. But oh yeah, part of the deal is also rekindling her fake relationship with her co-star, Jack, with whom she actually shared a very contentious hot-and-cold experience with the first time around.

Jack is complex in his own right. He’s the child of acting legends and has a world’s worth of expectations weighing him down. In the past timeline, it could be said that he is not in the right emotional headspace to handle all of that plus the explosive aura Cynthie Taylor bursts into his life with. Cue fireworks, and not usually the good kind, between the two of them. In the present, Jack has done impressive work on himself and truly grown up in the time the two of them have been apart. His transformation is a big part of really making the second chance part of this book work.

The second half of the book read a lot faster to me once the back-and-forth between the past and present tapered off. I did appreciate that the timeline alternations were usually a few chapters in each timeline rather than a one-then, one-now pattern. It helped each part establish its own flow to follow and feel more immersed in.

One last thing, to whom it may concern: I NEED a Lee and Nico book, please and thank you.

Thank you to Atria via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect blend of old Hollywood and modern romance. Cynthie and Jack’s reunion had the slow-burn tension, fake dating chaos and second-chance stakes that were fun and frustrating in the best ways.

The timeline structure works really well. I liked how we got to see their beginnings alongside the deeper, emotional present. Their chemistry is AMAZING, both on screen and off. Cynthie was confident, complicated, easy to root for, and Jack's charm was *chef's kiss*.

Their past fallout felt a little overblown sometimes, so if you’re not into enemies-to-lovers tropes with drawn-out miscommunication, you might not like some parts, but the writing makes up for it because it is clever, cinematic, and emotionally grounded.

I really enjoyed this story about two adults navigating the lingering emotions and misunderstandings from their youth. Cynthie and Jack’s chemistry felt authentic, and it was satisfying to watch their love story unfold in the present. It was nice to see the difference in maturity and the romantic gestures made by Jack.

I usually get a bit impatient with stories that jump between past and present, but this one handled it well—it truly redeemed itself by the end. The characters were well developed, and the writing was strong throughout.

Overall, this was a well-crafted, enjoyable read. Thank you to Laura Wood, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked the premise of this book. Cynthie and Jack cannot stand each other. They met on the set of their movie, but a few miscommunications resulted in a rivalry. Fast forward 13 years, their movie is getting a sequel, which forces them back together. They have always had an intense sexual chemistry, and literally everyone could see they were down bad for each other.

The duel timelines were done very well, their placements gave context for the current timeline in a good way. You could also see how their characters change. Jack was very different in the present day, and it felt so realistic that he had to grow up a bit. And you can see why Cynthie changed so much, and how Jack helped her get through the tough time.

tropes
grumpy X sunshine
fake dating
second chance
dual timelines

WOW! This book was so much fun! Laura wrote a fun and fresh fake dating full of pining, passionate loathing, and complex character development all while making me giddily kick my feet over all the nods to millennial nostalgia. This is my new favorite rom-com. Perfect.

A dual time line second chance fake dating romance between Cynthie and Theo, actors who met and sizzled on screen years ago but really didn't like one another. Now, Cynthie is at the center of a scandal and her only offer of a job is a sequel to the movie she made with Theo. Ick. Well, they find themselves once again pretending to be a couple but this time they have the feels, in part because they did, well, couple once all those years ago. This would have been fine with a single time line but dual ones seem to be a thing these days. There's some good humor and it's fun, especially if you enjoy the genre. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Makes for a good beach book.

Really sweet and enjoyable second chance romance/enemies to lovers with 2 famous actors. We get flashbacks to 13 years prior when they first starred together, when Cynthie was in her first ever role, and Jack was already famous and privileged, the son of 2 famous actors - though that brought pressure of a different type. Misunderstandings and immaturity led to a tumultuous first film together, but when they reunite for the sequel 13 years later, the dynamics have changed and the magnetic pull they had always felt for each other was even stronger than before. It was wonderful watching them find their way to their HEA. The book really picked up in the second half and was hard to put down!

I read Under Your Spell right before this, so it's hard not to compare them, and I just loved that one so much that it was hard to live up to. This was still a good book. I enjoyed the dual POV a lot, and although sometimes the dual timelines got a little confusing because of similarities, it was great to get the full picture of their past AND present.

The first half was a little slow through parts of it. I was invested but got bored. The second half I didn’t want to put down!

The way the story is written had me picturing the scenes as if I was watching a movie (of a movie being filmed 😆) which I loved. I could see them in their trailers, on set, at the bar, etc. Even the side characters are written so well I could see them all there too.

It's kind of a unique twist on both enemies to lovers and second chance romance tropes, and I liked it. Cynthie and Jack are likeable and I really believed they are perfect for each other. I loved the way their story came together at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.🤍

Let’s Make a Scene is a charming and emotionally layered book that reunites Cynthie and Jack as they step back into the spotlight—both professionally and personally. Set against the glitzy chaos of a film set, this story offers more than just Hollywood sparkle; it delivers heart, humor, and a tender second-chance romance.

What stood out most for me was the dual POV and the use of multiple timelines—a structure that beautifully captured both the thrill of their first love and the quiet ache of reconnection. Watching Cynthie and Jack navigate the pressures of fame while slowly unlearning past misunderstandings made for a compelling and heartfelt journey.

The supporting cast—Cynthie’s on-set “tribe”—were vibrant and endearing, injecting just the right amount of levity and support as the main couple found their way back to each other. And while it took a little time to truly connect with Cynthie and Jack individually, once their layers were peeled back, their chemistry took center stage and the story flowed effortlessly from there.

With tropes like enemies to lovers, fake dating, second chances, and he falls first, this novel ticks all the boxes for a satisfying romantic escape. It’s a story that doesn’t just revisit old feelings—it redefines them.

Thank you NetGalley & Laura Wood’s team for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this entertaining second-chance romance! I loved how many tropes there were! The characters were lovely and complex.
The story centers on actors Cynthie and Jack, who portrayed lovers in their first film, an Austen-style romance. They both are rivals and enemies after a string of miscommunication. The movie becomes a hit and cult classic. Thirteen years later, the studio wants to create a sequel film. Cynthie and Jack also decide to pretend to be in a relationship to help their careers and the new film. As they spend more time together and see they have both grown and matured as individuals and their feelings continue to grow as well.
The book alternates between the present time and the past when they met and created the first film. The dynamic is fun and adds depth.
The book goes into emotional intelligence, family expectations, emotional abuse, misogyny, found family, and being vulnerable and open to trusting others to love you.
I really enjoyed this book! It was romantic and heartwarming. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read more by this author!

Thank you to Atria for sending me this book!

I truly wanted to love this book, but from the jump the pacing was awkward. And I know, I know it’s a time jump book. But I didn’t expect to spend so much time in the past. I just felt that could have been better structured.

But Jack kept me reading. He was so well written and sweet. While I get the immaturity and lack of communication at 20 and 24, it was annoying to read when they were in their thirties. But the grand gestures really made up for how annoying that was. Cynthie didn’t feel as well fleshed out to me. Sure she had her moments but she fell a bit flat for this starlet that everyone absolutely adored.

The supporting characters really made this book better. They were funny and their banter was top tier.

This book was cute, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. It was overly long and painfully cheesy/cringy at times. I also just didn’t quite buy the chemistry between the main couple. But, it was a sweet and light read with some delicious tension. I did enjoy the colorful crew of side characters and the long timeline/perspective (with some scenes thirteen years before the others.)