I absolutely ate this book up! Although it felt a bit too long a times, it was a perfect enemies to lovers / second chance romance.

The energy between Jack and Cyn was really strong, which I loved. The constant banter and witty responses were delightful. Even the secondary characters, which I think added a lot of great depth. All their personalities were different and very well written.

When I read the description I didn't expect the 'THEN' chapters and they were a good surprise. They allow the reader to really have a sense of development for everyone involved and it made the end and the grand gesture so much more meaningful.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria and Laura Wood for the ARC of this great read!

4.5/5 stars.

The best second-chance romance I’ve read in a while! It’s an easy and enjoyable read with well developed characters and good writing. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

In some ways it’s what you would think of second-chance romcom… Cyn and Jack met on a movie set, got off on the wrong foot, but given their great chemistry, ended up in a fake relationship for publicity. Once their fake relationship came to an end, they didn’t talk for 13years only to be thrown back into each other’s lives in a redo - a movie sequel and fake dating situation. Readers experience the story through two time frames to show both current and the past love story and get awkward interactions Cyn and Jack are brought back together and overall character growth.

What I think set this book apart was how the story unfolds. We spend way more time in the past relationship than most books, and while it felt odd at times, this stylistic decision helps build depth (e.g., understanding Cyn’s fears, Jack’s actions, and their collective misunderstandings that sabotaged their first pseudo-relationship).

Thank you to Laura Wood, Atria, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This author knows how to write a good love story. From the moment I opened the book, I was hooked. Having the story be told in both past and present really enhanced my attachment to both Jack and Cynthie and made their chemistry shine while making my heart ache. You could easily feel the sizzling tension between each heated exchange when they were younger and really feel the desire 13 years later.

For me this book was a five star, until it wasn’t. It became a bit of a soapbox and a bit preachy which isn’t ideal for me when I’m reading a fictional romance book. I did enjoy reading the growth of Cynthie and Jack, but Cynthie’s journey overshadowed Jack’s personal growth even though this book is a dual POV.

While the romance shined for me, outside of that storyline everything felt monotoned and clinical. I found myself not getting lost in it like I did with the romance between Jack and Cynthie. Though this wasn’t the five star read I was hoping for, I did enjoy it and will for sure try other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARc in exchange for an honest review

If you love enemies to lovers, second chances, and Hollywood drama, then Let’s Make a Scene is the perfect read. Cynthie and Jack’s chemistry is off the charts, both on and off screen, and their forced proximity through a fake PR relationship adds just the right amount of tension, angst, and slow burn goodness.

Cynthie is a fantastic FMC! She is sharp, determined, and carrying just enough past resentment to make her dynamic with Jack absolutely sizzle. Their history is messy, emotional, and filled with unspoken feelings that resurface the moment they’re thrown back together. And Jack? He’s got that perfect mix of broody arrogance and undeniable charm, making it impossible not to fall for him.

One of the highlights of the book is the behind the scenes aspect. The idea of a documentary crew following their every move while they navigate this fake but not so fake relationship just adds to the tension. Watching them play their roles for the cameras while their real feelings threaten to take over was so much fun.

My only minor complaint? I wish we got even more of their past timeline because their original rivalry turned PR stunt relationship had so much potential for drama! But honestly, that’s just me being greedy because I loved their dynamic so much.

Overall, Let’s Make a Scene is a perfect mix of witty banter, emotional depth, and palpable tension. If you’re a fan of fake dating, forced proximity, and sizzling Hollywood romance, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Wood, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.

The way this book cemented to me how amazing second chance romance can be, and this is coming from someone who did like it before. I was laughing out loud at work- the pranks had me giggling. Once they started on the whole begging tirade I felt like I was there looking at everyone like umm-- should we be here, Liam and Hannah during that scene would have been me. Expect alot of eye fucking especially during a karaoke scene. That is the level of energy this book will bring. The flashbacks are pretty prominent in the story and I loved every second of it! The yearning... I mean 13 years worth of love. The way this man put in the work to be a better person, not for her, but for him and that helped so much later on. Be ready to fall in love and have some standards for love again with Cynthie and Jack!! Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc.

Another fantastic romance by Laura Wood! I adored her first book, and this one was just as good. Cynthie and Jack met 13 years ago, and it's a love/hate relationship from the start. It's now 13 years later, and they are thrust into a fake dating situation and a chance to revisit the relationship they both thought they left behind. And it was so nice to see Theo and Clementine again!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of let’s make a scene.

I loved this book! It was the perfect nostalgic second chance romance. I loved that it flipped back and forth between the first and second movies.

I think the relationship between Jack and Cynthie was adorable. They both showed such growth over the book. The side characters were also so fun and fully fleshed out.

Definitely recommend!

Under Your Spell was one of my 2024 favorite reads and while you don’t have to read it before reading this one, I highly recommend it so all the humor hits as intended!!

Cynthie’s world is exploding from a scandal attached to her recent film project. In an effort to calm the scandal her team suggests she take a role in a sequel to her very first film created in the industry. But that would mean teaming up with her enemy and rival Jack as her on-set love interest… including a little publicity fake-dating.

The story is told in a “then” and “now” style with a dual POV. It took me a minute to get into the story, but once it started rolling I was HOOKED!!

You’ll find a whole range of emotions in this story - humor, anger, saddness, trauma, and love! Jack has learned and grown so much over the 13 years they’ve been a part and his reflection and acceptance in the role he played in their earlier interactions endeared me to him even more!

When Cynthie and Jack stopped fighting their feelings their chemistry was sooo good!

I kicked my feet a little when Theo and Clemmie entered the scene!

Group text:
CLEMMIE: LMK if you want to perform some sort of hex on him. My sisters are on standby

The film crew is the best found family and their ER pow wow with Cynthie and grand gesture intervention with Jack were hilarious and so heartfelt!!

Romance Content: Open-door
Closed-door modification: Ch. 20, 35, 39, 40

Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood was a lighthearted dual POV, multi-timeline book that I really enjoyed.

Cynthie and Jack originally meet on her first movie set and immediately do not like each other. but are attracted to each other nonetheless. Fast forward thirteen years and Cynthie is badly in need of a reputation reset and Jack is convinced to fake their relationship for good PR for her and the movie they are making a sequel too. We laugh and fall for both Cynthie and Jack as they work through their issues with each other and their lives in general as they find their way to their happily ever after.

In complete honesty, I found the secondary characters to be as beloved, if not more than the main characters and hope that the author will write their stories too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I found this to be a fun and fast read! It was quite enjoyable!
I always love second chance romances especially when they have multiple POV, this was an all around great time.
There is a dual timeline which may not be for everyone while reading but for me personally I really enjoyed it!
I love knowing past areas and then present timelines and seeing how a relationship changes whether that’s growth or how it breaks leading up to the resolution/ finale.
There are tons of moments where you’ll be laughing and then getting swooned by these characters.
I will be recommending this book and hope to grab a copy for my shelf!

What a well written book! This book takes you on a journey that spans 13 years with alternating points of view that do a fantastic job at furthering the plot line and keeping the reader interested in what happens as well as what caused the hurdles for the couple to overcome. The banter between characters, including supporting characters was spot on and believable. I could completely imagine this book turning into a movie because the heroes’ journey was relatable, fulfilling, and brought all the feels. Even though I would say this book is lighthearted, it definitely touched on some core psychological impacts from how the characters grew up, to how the industry grows professionals within the field. I do not give five star reviews very often, but I truly believe that this book was a great read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

This was such a fun book! I haven't read the first one in the series yet, but I was able to enjoy Let's Make a Scene. I loved the second chance romance, dual time lines and POVs. Cynthie and Jack are fun characters and I enjoyed their story.

Thanks to NET GALLEY and publisher for the ARC.

I struggled with Let’s Make a Scene due to its alternating timelines and shifting points of view. I typically prefer a more linear narrative, and the constant back-and-forth made it difficult to stay engaged with the storyline. While some readers may enjoy the layered approach, I found it distracting and hard to follow. If you like books that seamlessly weave multiple perspectives and timelines, this might work for you—but it wasn’t the right fit for me.

I was lucky enough to get a digital ARC of Let’s Make a Scene from Atria Books and Netgalley. I DEVOURED this book. I didn’t discover Laura Wood’s previous book Under Your Spell until January so it was still fresh in my mind when I dove into this one.

If you are a fan of the fake dating trope, allow me to introduce you to the DOUBLE fake dating trope. Cynthie and Jack are actors and star together on her first film. They sizzle at first sight, but the flame doesn’t catch, even though they have to pretend to be a real life couple for the production. Thirteen years later, and they have to pretend again, with the stakes even higher.

Wood put so much care into the writing of every single character. I thought for sure that one of Clemmie’s sisters from Under Your Spell, would be featured in this book, but we get Cynthie’s story AND Jack (from everyone’s favorite show Blood/Lust) is the MMC. Plus, there is an entirely amazing cast of new supporting characters introduced and I want to know all of their stories. Hannah, obviously. Lee! Jasmine. Brooke! I mean, seriously I don’t remember when I have loved so many characters in a romance novel. Laura Wood is officially on my “must buy” list now.

And the book is funny. Really funny. The dialogue is clever, and Jack. JACK. I just can’t even. Laura Wood had me sending my husband a photo of a page with a quote circled, and the word PLEASE written on it in all caps. There is also a great appearance from Leo and Clemmie.

Look, do I give out five star reviews just because the vibes are immaculate? YES, I do, and I won’t apologize for it. But don’t let the five stars trick you-this is a really, really good romance. So sweet, so entertaining. The only problem I have with the book is that it hasn’t even come out yet and I can’t wait to find out whose story is next!!

I'm rounding up from 4.5, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cynthie and Jack met while working on her first film. They immediately get off to the wrong foot with each other, but somehow fall in love with each other art the same time. Being young and stubborn, they fight the love part. They are coerced into a PR relationship which doesn't go well. Fast forward 13 years later, Cynthie is reeling from a failed "relationship" and is dropped by her next project. An opportunity arises to make a sequel to her first film with the caveat that they are also making a documentary and the PR relationship resurfaces. Jack needs this for his own reasons, but also realizes his true feelings for Cynthie. Along the way, they slowly figure it out. The dual timeline is a nice touch, I honestly wouldn't have minded if it had gone chronologically as well. Jack is charming, relatable and has character growth. Cynthie is likeable, relatable and with the help of her found family, heals from the things holding her back from her true happiness. This slow burn, second chance romance is pretty special. The loveable cast of side characters is an added bonus. I didn't want this to end and truly wanted more of their HEA.

Hear me loud and clear: how a female character reacts to criticism determines if I stay reading a book, because it’s completely in the hands of an author. It’s an author’s choice of how they want the character to act/react. In ‘Let’s Make a Scene’ I felt my annoyance grow…but I stuck through this book for Logan but I later gave up and just read the final chapter. If I can read a final chapter and understand the entirety of the book...that's a huge problem. I know many of you will likely hang on for him and kudos to you.

There’s a definite struggle with the timelines in this book. The author really needed to commit to one. For me the dual timelines felt like two entirely different books, but they were smushed together. It feels scattered and unfinished. The timelines meandered for way too long. I think having little snapshots at the beginning of each chapter of the past would've worked extremely better. I had such high hopes for this book, but so many things need work: character choices/arcs, story set up, execution of vision. I was so excited to read Let’s Make a Scene, but honey, I’m flabbergasted and I feel bamboozled. My thanks to Atria Books for the digital arc!

Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to the book for me and that’s okay! While the plot of this story immediately sucked me in, and the writing was easy to follow along. I found the dual timeline to be a bit confusing. It was hard to follow along both the presents and the past with the way the chapters were structured and I found myself having a hard time connecting to who they were in the present.

Cynthie and Jack, once enemies and reluctant costars in a regency romance film, have been reunited thirteen years later to help Cynthie repair her damaged reputation by faking a “second-chance romance” relationship and to act in the movie’s sequel. Despite their history of antagonism and hate, much has changed between the pair. This book jumps back and forth between the past and present to weave a story of growth and redemption.

Dang, I loved this. Ugh. Everything that is wonderful about the romance genre is in this book:

- Witty humor and great writing
- Emotional angst that turns into emotional growth
- Charming, relatable main characters
- Hilarious, found family side characters
- Meaningful big-picture obstacles (sexual misconduct toward female actors, overbearing parents, anxiety/panic attacks) handled with care
- MULTIPLE mic-drop, heart stopping moments
- A sparkly grand gesture at the finale

This is the best book I have read in a minute. It really did hit me just right. Five stars. I loved it.

"What you all saw on-screen doesn't hold a candle to what happened in real life. The story of me and Cynthie? That's the real love story."

A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early copy to review.

It's the oddest thing, despite the book trading off perspectives throughout the different chapters, I never felt as if I really knew Jack. I certainly knew Cynthie! And understood her and her motivations, moves, wonders, and worries. On its own, that's a great thing, but compared to the lack of Jack-knowing, underscored my general feeling that I just couldn't quite get into this one.

I think the story itself is solid, the set-ups are smart, and the insights in Hollywood and moviemaking are spot-on. But... for a story so rooted in the fact that these people are unable to get away from each other and their passion, no matter everything else stacked against them, I couldn't quite buy it. Still, a sweet book with some good spice. I look forward to more of Wood's work!

This was very cute! I love a celeb couple and a second-chance romance so this was a great combo. Loved seeing the flashbacks from when they first met and present day. Their journey was so cute and the found family element was super sweet!