Let's Make a Scene is set on the backdrop of Hollywood film sets that combines the fake dating and second chance romance tropes to create a very fun story. It follows actors Cynthie and Jack, whose paths cross two times in 13 years, both on the set of a movie. The book alternates between both of their POVs, and between the past and the present, which allows the reader to really gain a full picture of the story and dynamic between these characters.

In both situations, Cynthie and Jack find themselves in a fake relationship for PR purposes. This sparks a good conversation on what is real vs staged in the lives of celebrities without letting that take over the romance, because, as in any good fake dating story, the feelings that Cynthie and Jack pretend to have for each other become real. This is amplified by them starring opposite each other in a regency period drama. The book also has descriptions of the filming of these movies, as well as both Cynthie and Jack's relationships with other people working with them, which was a nice touch. It felt a bit like a tabloid celebrity story, but with only the juicy parts and a lot less manufactured drama (and that's saying something given the premise here).

This was funny, tender, touching, and emotional. I loved Cynthie and Jack and was sad when this one came to an end. Going into it, I was worried that the dual POV and dual timeline was going to be tricky to keep straight, but it was handled so well, and I found the flashbacks to filming 13 years ago to be helpful in creating a well rounded view of the characters and their relationship to each other and with themselves. The side characters were also fun, and it truly felt like you were behind the scenes of filming a movie. Definitely recommend!

Cynthie is a total unknown when she lands her breakout role opposite Jack, a rising star from a Hollywood dynasty. Their on-screen chemistry made the film a hit but off-screen, things are not as they seem. Thirteen years later, both of them are now well-known successful celebrities who haven't seen eachother in 13 years until they are brought back for a sequel of their hit movie, with a behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling their reunion. As the book continues, you learn a bit more about what happened 13 years ago

This story explores fame, vulnerability, and the tension that lingers between people with unfinished history. It took a little time to pull me in, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down. Great book for those who love the enemies to lovers trope and Cynthie and Jack are layered, flawed, and yet deeply compelling and lovely.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

4.25⭐️. A swoon-worthy, enemies to lovers romcom!

I loved this one! I listened to Under Your Spell earlier this year and was completely enchanted with Wood’s writing. Her characters are so charming and likable. I think I like Let’s Make A Scene even more and really hope she continues on with this series (please give Nico and Lee their own story … Hannah too!).

This one is a dual timeline, dual POV with hilarious banter, crazy chemistry between the FMC and MMC and the most lovable found family. I breezed through this book and was sad when it ended.

FYI: You don’t have to read Under Your Spell before this one but it’s great too so you should. :)

Thank you to Atria Books for inviting me to read this and to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the ARC.

Good grief did I love this book. I read Under Your Spell first since this is the second book in the series (I HOPE it's a series and Lee and Nico are next!). UYS was good, but this one knocked my socks off.

This has some of my favorite tropes: dual POV, slow burn, dual timelines/flashbacks, fake dating... Jack and Cynthie made a cult favorite film together 13 years in the past, and had a lust/hate relationship with each other. Now doing a follow up movie at a moment where both need it for their careers, along with a documentary about how they're dating in real life... except they hate each other. Or do they? You know how this goes...

And it was a delight to go on the journey with Jack and Cynthie, and their family and friends. I loved the family and friends in a way that is pretty rare for me. The jokes actually made me laugh out loud. The tension, my god. There was some spice (and I could have frankly gone for more), but WHATEVER, JUST GIVE ME MORE OF THE LONGING AND TENDERNESS AND CONNECTION.

This book was exactly what I wanted in this moment, it REALLY delivered, and I can't wait to read more by Laura Wood. (But, really, plz give us Lee and Nico).

This one was a treat, filled with witty banter, fake dating fun, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension. If you're a fan of second chances and that electric enemies-to-lovers energy, this one will have you smiling the whole way through.

Cynthie is bold, chaotic, and impossible not to root for. Jack is her grumpy, annoyingly handsome ex-costar who she never planned on seeing again, until a sequel to the movie that started it all brings them back together… along with a fake romance and a camera crew capturing every moment.

Their chemistry is off the charts, both on and off screen, and watching them navigate the blurred lines between fake and real feelings is such a ride. Laura Wood brings so much heart and humor to this story, you’ll swoon, laugh, and maybe even tear up a little.

fun and well-written second-chance actress and actor romance where these two actors get together long after their movie together came out. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones are back together to star in the sequel to their classic acting debut film A Lady of Quality. Both apprehensive to agree because of their rocky history, yet a boost for one’s career and a Hollywood scandal have them signing the dotted line. They also have to pretend to be dating, which isn’t a first for them. Will Cynthie and Jack be able to work together and revive the chemistry they had the first time filming? Or will this prove they really can’t stand each other and ruin the production of their much anticipated sequel?

Enemies to Lovers, Co-Workers, Fake Relationship, & a bit of a Second Chance romance make up this fun and sweet novel. It would be so difficult to pick a favorite character in this novel! This story had a found family vibe. The concept of cast and crew back together for the sequel gave us a sweet insight to how they were doing after being a part for 13 years. The author did a great job weaving the past and present chapters. It helped build the momentum of Cynthie and Jack’s feelings towards each other. I was rooting for them the whole time and I hope you read this novel to find out if they end up together! Pick up Let’s Make a Scene on July 1, 2025.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Review: Just Not the One for Me

This one has all the ingredients I usually love—celebrity drama, fake dating, a touch of enemies to lovers—but for whatever reason, it just didn’t quite land for me. I liked the setup and the idea of revisiting a cult classic with a PR romance twist, but I struggled to stay invested in the characters or feel that spark between them.

That said, I think Let’s Make a Scene will absolutely work for readers who enjoy slower burn tension and a bit of nostalgia in their romance. It’s well-written and the concept is really fun—I just didn’t connect with it the way I hoped I would.

Still, I’d definitely be open to reading more from Laura Wood. Sometimes it’s just a matter of taste and timing.

Thank you to Atria for the advanced E-ARC of this title.

Calling all 90's romcom fans, this book is for you!! If you swooned over 'While You Were Sleeping', dreamed of a Notebook-esque rain kiss, or watched 'Notting Hill' on repeat, this book is a must read.

With the dual timelines, dual POV, this book had the best of everything. The characters had depth, they had growth, they had sexual tension for days.

The moment Jack and Cynthie step foot onto the set of their first film together, the guns are blazing, insults are hurled, and the claws are out. The line between hate, lust, and love gets blurred and these two become like a volcano of vitriol and passion. Fast forward to 13 years later and they find themselves in the exact same position working on the sequel to the film that started it all. Years have passed, but feelings remain and they both find they need each other in unexpected ways. Fake dating, found family, and scandal awaits.

This book swept me off my feet, made me clutch my heart, and has two off the most romantic, epic moments that will make you slap your partner for never being romantic enough.

Let’s make a scene follows Cynthie and Jack as they find themselves back in each others lives after many years. They originally met and made a movie together. Now after not talking for years, they must make a movie and pretend to have a relationship for the reality tv cameras. While it was entertaining I felt like this book could have been a bit better

4.75 ⭐️
ARC // Releases July 1, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advance copy.

———— All thoughts are my own.

This book gave me nostalgic feelings; It took me back to when I was obsessing over TV characters and their actor counterparts.

Let’s Make A Scene takes two fresh actors who have insane on-screen chemistry, but not so much when the cameras stop rolling. Then we fast forward 13 years so these two can make a sequel of their hit movie and documents a somewhat believable behind the scenes story and I loved it. It’s dual time lines and dual POV, which I thought worked well for this second chance romance. Jack and Cynthie’s animosity towards each other created some great tension and when the bubble burst it was explosive. I loved them and loved the friend group. Though it took 13 years, I really enjoyed how our characters grew and changed and ultimately shared their feelings.

I’ve had Under Your Spell for an embarrassing amount of time, but I’m going to try and pick it up soon, because I loved the small snippet of Theo and Clementine and I want to read their book. I’m also hoping for Nico and Lee, I’m ready for brother’s best friend!

I absolutely loved Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood! It was the perfect summer rom-com—funny, emotional, and full of heart. From the very first page, I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down.

The story follows Cynthie and Jack, two actors who once starred in a beloved romantic film. On screen, their chemistry was electric—but behind the scenes, they couldn’t stand each other. Now, thirteen years later, they’re unexpectedly brought back together with the chance to film a sequel. As they reconnect, they’re forced to confront their shared past, unresolved tension, and the possibility that maybe—just maybe—they misread each other all those years ago.

I absolutely adored the dynamic between Cynthie and Jack. Their banter, vulnerability, and emotional growth made their relationship feel authentic and earned. Laura Wood did a fantastic job balancing humor and heartache, giving us a story that feels like the perfect blend of second-chance romance and enemies-to-lovers.

Beyond the love story, I also loved the strong friendships in the book. Wood beautifully captures the idea that friends can be the family we choose, and those relationships added so much warmth and depth to the story.

This book had everything I want in a summer read—wit, chemistry, character development, and a swoon-worthy ending. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a bit of bite.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this delightful, heartfelt story!

I LOVED the dedication from Laura Wood. I appreciate the acknowledgment that life is a bit hard for everyone nowadays, and that books are an escape for many of us. I think most of us have been in Cynthie's shoes, where we live off ice cream and junk food while curled up under blankets in our "cozy little depression-themed, trash-panda nest".

The premise of this book was interesting, and actually seemed like something that could be possible in read life (compared to many of the other romance book storylines). Not knowing a lot about film making, the added explanations about show biz terminology and practices was really helpful.

I like how the flashbacks were interspersed where we needed additional background information on their "current" situation. Having the "real" version of what happened and not just the memories of what the characters remembered happening was really fun. As we all know, the real version of events and what we remember as having occurred are rarely ever the same.

This was a fun read, and kept me entertained throughout. I think Petra was my favorite character, except for maybe Reckless Ed. If you like feel good rom coms, this one is definitely for you!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this e-arc!

I really enjoy Laura Wood’s writing and her execution of the romcom/romance novel. The characters are well-formed and realistically complex, the set up is fun and interesting, the side characters are fabulous, and her use of tropes is perfectly executed. Her newest has all these things and particularly the last one. My least favorite trope (the one that will make me DNF a book immediately) is lack of communication, but here the characters have honest miscommunications or things they are holding back that make sense. I didn’t even realize that this trope was happening until I was almost done and was so delighted to not care one bit! It just worked here. Overall this one was a big win for me and has solidified Wood as an auto-buy author. Can’t wait to read whatever she has up her sleeve next!

I really enjoyed this rom-com. For fans of the author, this book is steamier than the author’s previous books, but I loved it!

3.5, rounded up to 4

Loosely related to Woods’ first adult novel (“Under Your Spell"), "Let’s Make a Scene " focuses on Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones, two actors who were co-stars early in their careers in a successful movie—“Lady of Quality”—a Regency-era romance similar to a Jane Austen novel. It was the first major role for both of them, and helped to launch their careers.

To help generate publicity for the film, Cyn and Jack pretended to be in a relationship during the promotional tour. Although there is an attraction between them, Cyn and Jack did not get along well during the production. Cyn suffered bouts of impostor syndrome due to her lack of classical training, and the fact that she got the role through an open casting call. Also, following a terrible initial table read of the script, she overheard Jack complaining about her to one of the co-directors.

For his part, Jack was hiding the fact that he suffered from panic attacks. His anxiety was exacerbated by the constant “notes” and suggestions from his self-absorbed parents, a famous acting couple, who had him taking acting, dance and voice lessons since he was a small child.

Neither Jack nor Cyn felt secure enough to be honest with the other about their situation so misunderstandings and miscommunication abounded during the filming. Despite (or maybe because of) the tension between the two leads, the physical attraction between Cyn and Jack eventually is too strong for them to ignore and they end up have sex once before movie production wraps up. They part ways once filming is completed without ever discussing it.

Thirteen years later, plans have finally solidified for a sequel, and once again, Cyn and Jack are asked to pretend to be in a relationship. Only now the stakes are higher because a film crew will be on set to film a “making of” documentary so Cyn and Jack will have to fake a relationship for a much longer time and under closer scrutiny.

Despite this additional pressure, Cyn agrees to do the film. After getting attacked on social media when it is revealed that she had an affair with the director of her last film (a married man who told her his marriage had long been over), her career is on the skids and her self-confidence is in shreds. She needs a win, and after reading the script, she thinks that “Lady of Quality 2” could provide the boost she needs.

Jack has his own reasons for agreeing to the sequel, so he and Cyn find themselves working (and playing) together again. However, as they are both more than a decade older and wiser, they manage to communicate better than during their first go-round, eventually getting to a place where they can have some honest conversations about their relationship.

This story has a dual timeline and there is a lot of back-and-forth between the present filming of Lady 2 and 13 years ago during the original film. This made the story feel choppy to me, interrupting the smooth flow of the narrative.

Still, this was a very enjoyable follow-up to “Under Your Spell.” It features great characters who believably grow and mature, an interesting storyline that weaves in some serious #MeToo-related issues, and a strong finish that revolves around a “grand gesture” that involves most of the cast and crew of Lady 2. For readers of “Under Your Spell,” there is also the pleasure of a brief appearance by Theo and Clemmie from the first book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the ARC.

I loved this book! The characters, the plot, the tension, the found family and trauma healing! everything about this book was spot on!

this book features our FMC Cynthie and MMC Jack. They are both actors and did their first films together. the book flip flops from their time doing their first movie together, to the present (13 years later) filming the sequel.

to watch where they came from and where they ended up was so beautiful! the ending had me in tears! happy beautiful years! I need a man like Jack (don't tell my husband).

thank you so much NetGalley for this amazing and awe striking ARC read. I will be thinking about this love story forever ❤️

Title: Let's Make a Scene    
Author: Laura Wood    
Genre: Romance   
Rating: 4 out of 5

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem…Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome costar Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity—have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship…and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they’re playing start to feel all too real?

This was a really cute read! I liked Cynthie and Jack both a lot and enjoyed how much they’d gown as people between the past timeline and the now. The secondary characters were great, too, and really fleshed out the story. I liked seeing Cynthie start out just so innocent to how everything worked on set and became a comfortable, strong leader on set, too. This is perfect for a binge read!

Laura Wood is an award-winning author. Let’s Make a Scene is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 7/8).

4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc!!

I’ll be honest, I was worried this was going to be a hot mess… we’ve got enemies to lovers, second chance romance, fake dating all in one book… but it actually somehow worked and it wasn’t as “tropey” as I thought it was surely going to be. Jack and Cynthie’s story wasn’t cookie cutter or super predictable and that was very refreshing. I loved the mental health elements too!

I will say that I preferred the “current day” story line over the past. I actually wish there had been more reconciliation between the two timelines…. Like there wasn’t enough connection between why Cynthie was hurt by Jack in the past vs where they stand today. I think more conversations about that would’ve helped. But the passion between them was so well done and stood on its own as a reason for loving this book.

Overall, great series and I will be reading more from this author!