Laura Wood does it again with Let’s Make a Scene, the sparkling companion to her adult debut Under Your Spell! This one follows Cynthie Taylor—Theo’s quick-witted, emotionally guarded best friend—as she’s thrown back into the limelight (and fake romance) with the one man she vowed to avoid forever: her frustratingly handsome former co-star Jack Turner-Jones.

Thirteen years ago, Cynthie and Jack shared a career-launching film and a fabricated PR relationship that was equal parts electric and chaotic. Now, a sequel is on the table—with a documentary crew to boot—and the fake dating playbook is dusted off once again. What unfolds is a delicious slow-burn enemies-to-lovers reunion brimming with tension, vulnerability, and just the right dash of scandal.

Wood has a gift for dialogue that crackles with wit and emotion. Cynthie’s sharp internal monologue paired with Jack’s surprising tenderness had me flipping pages late into the night. Fans of the “second chance with a twist” trope will eat this up. There’s something so satisfying about watching two people with history find their way back to something real, especially under the microscope of fame.

This is more than a rom-com. It’s a story about trust, image vs. identity, and how time doesn’t always heal all wounds—sometimes, you have to face them head-on… preferably with cameras rolling.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Cousens, or anyone who loves a love story with bite and backbone. If Under Your Spell made you swoon, Let’s Make a Scene will make your heart race.

I loved this book! I love a good romcom, and I LOVE movies! I thought this was a super cute costar, enemies to lovers romance that didn't veer too far into cliche territory. As someone who spends their free time watching replays of the MTV Best Kiss awards and is fully invested in Tomdaya and thinks the love story of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. is so sweet, this book appealed to ALL of that! It had almost all of my favorite tropes (included some EXCELLENT kissing in the rain scenes, which until I read this, I didn't know they could be as magical on the page as on the screen). The dialogue was great, and I laughed A LOT. All of the supporting cast was phenomenal. I even learned a lot, especially about intimacy coordination and how publicists work. It made me wonder how many of my favorite actor moments have been contrived. Also, no 3rd act breakup! Normally, I find grand gestures to be gross and embarrassing, but the end of this one was sweet.

My main drawback was that the MeToo storyline felt tired, and the FMC's anxiety seemed forced, This was a super lighthearted book except for those things, and I almost wish they hadn't been there. I'd be super lighthearted and happy, and then BAM! the FMC would have a panic attack. I guess that's how things in the real world work, but I was hoping for a little more escapism. If it's about relatability, I already don't relate to being an Oscar nominated actress falling in love with her super hot costar, It's okay. I read Deuxmoi because it's so out of touch. I don't need to relate.

Overall, this was very funny, sweet, a little bit spicy, and a very satisfying read, I would absolutely purchase this for someone as a gift.

I liked the author's previous book Under Your Spell and so I was very excited to check this one out!

The writing is phenomenal and my most favorite scenes are with Cynthie and her trainer ;) They are downright hilarious!! The period setting in the flashback was done very well and I enjoyed all the descriptions.

While I liked both characters Cynthie and Jack individually, I am sorry but I fail to see what made them rivals in the first place! I kept waiting for the aha moment, a compelling reason for why they despised each other but that never came. Some of the reunion scenes (the ice cream one:)) was done well, but mostly I didn't feel the connection between them.. Also, since it has been 13 years since their break up it was hard to picture that they'd pine for each other that long. That being said, this helped set the stage for a second chance romance.. I just wish the reason for their arch rivalry was not inconsequential, as this made it challenging to picture their reunion in the current setting.

I do like the author's writing style and hope to connect with her future books!

#Let'sMakeaScene, #NetGalley


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

let’s make a scene arc review!!
@lauracwood - i am so overwhelmed w/ the amount of LOVE i have for this book & these characters. i am a BIG fan of this story- i honestly couldn’t put it down. you’ve EXCEEDED my expectations & i am like HOPING Nico gets a story so we can keep living in this world???
i’m also a sucker for the enemies to lovers, movie star, fake dating, prank war VIBES- like every trope i love, this book had it.
i cannot wait for you guys to get your hands on this one 🤍🎥🎞️

i will say- i was hesitant about the dual timelines in the beginning. I am a BIG fan of when authors do dual POVs but I swear i was tortured by the suspense at some points- or it just felt like an abrupt change from one timeline to the other. on the other hand, i loved that it added a depth to their relationship and that’s overall why i gave this 5 stars, because either way, i was enamored the entire time by this story.

This was a great enemies to lovers romance. Watching Cynthie and Jack evolve as individuals really made their romance even sweeter. There was a lot of depth to each of the main characters that made me love them even more. The author did a really good job of building on their past, but not letting it overshadow their present. I really liked the supporting characters and they made me love the book even more. The pacing of the book was a bit of a slow at times, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to see the ending. Thank you NetGalley for my advanced eARC.

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed Laura Wood's work. Can't wait for whatever book she writes next!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5. (open door/explicit)

Pros
- Love this author plus the plot and cover drew me in
- The flashback chapters had me laughing out loud
- Really liked their characterization
- Great chemistry!
- Liked how some scenes would transition from one character to another between chapters
- Loved the ending, so sweet

Cons
- Slow at beginning

A fun rom com for smutty readers. This book follows two celebrities who both need a boost in their careers. what's better for a boost than a fake relationship with someone you used to have a fake relationship with. but can lightning strike twice, especially if they are your best frenemie. I liked the tension between the characters and the cast of side characters.

This was a cute story! 3.5 stars

Overall, I wish the flashbacks of 13 years ago lined up more with what was happening at present, or 13 years later to keep the flow going and connect what was happening during both times. It took me a while at the beginning to realize we were still in the past. I'd flip make to make sure I didn't accidentally skip a page that said we were back to the present. Since both times are about making a movie, about the same thing, it was weird at first to figure out where we were at. Because the flashbacks and present didn't connect/ flow together, it felt choppy at times. Towards the beginning it felt like we spent almost too much time in the past, because I was left wondering where we were at at present.

This was a cute story and Jasmine was probably my favorite character. I would love to see a story about Lee and Nico in the future.

I received an eARC from Atria via emial/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As I was reading this book, I literally saw Kiera Knightley watching her love walk across the foggy meadow and imagined that as the first kiss in the rain scene. The kiss between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling was the clear inspiration for the scene where they kiss at the movie awards. Those details made this a fun read with lots of pop culture hints. I tried to imagine which hot star was being hinted at as the story processed. My money is on James Franco for Shawn. It is quite a slow burn at the start, which lost my interest initially, but I really liked the way they came together. By the time they connected in person in present day, I was hooked. It sort of gives Notting Hill vibes at time, which I adored.

Sublime. I liked the book, but I have a thing about big, public love declarations. I don't like them, and they can feel very love bomby. The book was good though. The characters had good chemistry. They felt real and dimensional.

Should you read this book? YES! And not just because she most definitely snuck in a Phineas and Ferb quote. If you enjoy Abby Jimenez and Lynn Painter, this will be right up your alley. This book was fun and profound and romantic!

Let’s Make a Scene is dual POV and includes time jumps between 13 years ago and the present. The chapters are nice and short, while the book as a whole felt long, following several character developments. There was a good balance between silliness and challenging themes. My favorite was Arjun who absolutely needs to be played by Karan Soni if there is ever a movie.

I rated this book a 4 because it was thoughtfully written and very cute. I would have however liked to have seen more of an equal rhythm between the past and present. I will warn you that if you don’t like Abby Jimenez books because the male characters are all too self-aware, then this may not be the book for you. The MMC was clearly written by a woman by the end of the book. It’s not a bad thing most of the time, but in this case, I think he lost a bit of his personality. Can’t a person be emotionally stable and compelling? And lastly, I rate the spice level at 2/5 🌶️

This was my first book by Laura Wood who was a new to me author so I was super excited to read this when I got offered this ARC! This was such a cute and fun romance. It’s exactly what I look for when I’m wanting an easy breezy type of romance book. It also had one of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers! It’s rare you can go wrong with that trope! It had banter that I love and the character chemistry was perfect!

Thank you to @atriabooks for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

While I’m not a big fan of fake dating, it’s almost like @lauracwood knew I love enemies to lovers and included that too to make this such a great read✨

Cynthie and Jack are “volun-told” into a PR relationship for their new movie and then again when there’s a sequel in the works. They’ve got the chemistry and banter on and off the screen. It even gets a little steamy.

I was a little worried about a certain character following their moves and that going sideways but I’m glad it didn’t 😅 I ✨definitely✨ recommend that you check this out when it releases on 7/3/25!
& a special thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for an early look 💖

*Let’s Make a Scene* is a second-chance romance that truly earns its payoff, pairing sharp writing with a plot that’s both heartfelt and hilariously self-aware. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this—Laura Wood really nails the trifecta of witty banter, entertaining internal monologue, and genuinely funny plot moments. Plus, the setup is catnip for fans of classic rom-coms: two former co-stars, Cynthie and Jack, who loathed each other during their breakout film 13 years ago, are thrown into a fake relationship to help manufacture excitement for the upcoming sequel (and to smooth over Cynthie’s recent off-screen PR disaster). What could go wrong? Apparently, absolutely nothing because everything about how this story played out felt so right to me.

The characterization was beautifully executed, with Cynthie and Jack feeling like well-rounded MCs who actually drove the plot forward in a natural way that made sense for their characters. This isn’t romance tropes strung together like twinkle lights in a college dorm room; there’s real scaffolding here holding the plot together and it was refreshing to read. As a result, the pacing felt right on point—a real feat given the dual-timeline structure, which I felt Wood used to excellent effect. The time slip is significant, but in this story it fit, since it served to show just how much both characters have grown. In fact, the whole structure supports one of the trickiest parts of any second-chance romance: convincing the reader that *this* time, things really can work. To me, Jack and Cynthie matured in believable, satisfying ways and that made their eventual reconnection feel earned not given.

The supporting cast deserves its own round of applause, too. The ragtag group of friends was genuinely charming in that chaotic way that only old school rom coms can do (think: *While You Were Sleeping*). Even Jack’s parents, who are admittedly the worst are sharply drawn. (I hope his poor sister gets her own book next, as she certainly deserves a happily ever after. Also, I really want to read that story!)

Ultimately, this book was a delight and I would enthusiastically press it into the hands of anyone who loves Pride & Prejudice retellings, classic rom-coms, or the sparkling humor of a Christina Lauren or Sally Thorne novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Let's Make a Scene is the perfect follow up for fans of Laura Wood's first adult fiction book Under Your Spell. While Let's Make a Scene is a connected story to Under Your Spell it can also be read as a standalone. Cynthie and Jack's story is so sweet and as a special bonus reader's get an update into the life of Theo and Clemmie from Under Your Spell. This celebrity romance will make the perfect beach read for this summer.

I really enjoyed reading "Under Your Spell", so I was very excited for the next in the series. And man, Laura Wood did NOT disappoint with "Let's Make a Scene"! It had some of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, second chance, fake relationship) and I enjoyed the dual POV and dual timelines. It was a clever book and maybe me smile throughout. Don't miss out!

(Actual: 4.25⭐) Laura Wood has come out with another winner! I loved her debut novel, UNDER YOUR SPELL, and was super excited to receive an advanced copy of her newest companion novel to UYS, LET'S MAKE A SCENE. This book had everything I look for in an Enemies-to-Lovers AND Second Chance romance (which also happens to be my top favorite trope)— Cynthia and Jack had amazing, natural chemistry together; the secondary/ensemble cast were all fun & fleshed-out individuals; the movie plot was actually entertaining; and overall the pacing felt just right. Wood is definitely slowly becoming one of my favorite romcom authors, so I'm excited for everyone to read this come July and can't wait to see what she puts out next!

Once again, Laura has delivered pure gold! I'm a devoted fan for life. This book was everything I hoped for: compelling dual POVs, intriguing dual timelines, and that delicious enemies-to-lovers (and lovers-while-enemies!) dynamic. Plus, that little Theo and Clemmie cameo was a delightful surprise! The ending had me in tears because of my love for Cynthie and Jack. And then, the acknowledgements! Seeing our book club mentioned sent me into full-blown ugly crying. I can't wait for everyone to experience this incredible story.

The book started off strong, but I found it lost my attention. I'm not a fan of book that switch between past and present. After going back and forth between current relationship and past history, I got bored ... DNF.

*************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.***********************

I really enjoyed reading Under Your Spell by this author, so I was exited to read this next book. While it wasn’t quite as great as Under Your Spell, it was still enjoyable to read. It had the tropes of enemies to lovers, fake relationship, and second chance romance. I appreciated how much growth the characters showed during the book, including sub characters too.