ughhhhh yes. immediately yes. yes please. oui. si. in every language, in every world. yes.

rating this a 4.5 for the simple fact that i didn't love how big of a deal their falling out was in the past. like i do think it was an okay enough reason for them to have issues but at the same time any enemies to lovers in contemporary romance is gonna bother me tbh.

but the rest of it ... YES!!! jack and cynthie had the bestttt chemistry and tension and i ate every single second of it up. this is fake dating done so right authors pls take notes. the way this was written also just added to the experience with the past and present and movie and the way it was all set up. it was so unique and so fun and makes following along with the characters so much fun and helps get you so much more invested in them and their relationship. loved the writing. loved literally everything about this sigh everyone pls read this when it comes out.

Laura Wood nailed the enemies to lover trope in Let's Make a Scene! We get fake dating and second chance romance- what more could you ask for! Loved this book!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second chance romance
Fake dating
Rivals to lovers
Actor/Actress

Cynthia and Jack, co-stars with great on screen chemistry who actually hate each other. It’s no secret. Thirteen years later, they are brought together for the sequel but must pretend to be dating. They both have reasons for needing some positive publicity and this might just be the key. Past tension and feelings come to the surface and it isn’t long before the lines between what’s real and acting are blurred. They had good chemistry but this wasn’t my favorite.

It's been a moment since I have felt completely pulled into a story, to the point that I forgot about everything else and spent the whole afternoon reading.
Laura Wood is an excellent storyteller. I was glued to the pages of Cynthie and Jack's story, thoroughly invested in them. They are both complex characters that had a tough time of it when they were younger (and still had them in the now), and the story of how they had grown from the first time they worked together 13 years back, to the now, had all of my attention.
I loved Cynthie and Jack. They started as co-stars in their first big movie, with a strong animosity between them, but also undeniable chemistry. A chemistry that is still very much present years later when they are reunited on the sets of the sequel of their first movie. Real emotions are involved, and lines are blurred between pretend and reality.
Let's Make a Scene played like a movie in my head, with some terrific swoonworthy scenes, characters that you'll root for, and a fantastic group of friends/cast/crew that add some great moments to the story.
This one is definitely a favorite of 2025!

Thank you Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved this story! I loved the back and forth in the time period reflected in the story. Characters are believable and I loved the dialogue they had.

A cute and cozy read. I feel like it could have benefited from spending more time in the “past” timeline. It’s a cute story and some 🔥here and there.

This was fine. I actually really enjoyed the first half. The banter was fun, and the characters were well developed, especially for a rom-com, but the ending fell a little flat for me. Maybe it was missing a climactic moment, it just kind of felt like the past characters were more fleshed out and through through that the present characters. Overall I had fun with it, I'm thankful for the advance copy in exchange for a review.

I really liked this novel. It incorporates the present and past stories that are filled with engaging scenes and dialog. Combating forces Jack and Cynthis are true to themselves as they battle each other to cover up the feelings they really have.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let’s Make a Scene is a swoon-worthy, open-door romance that absolutely delivers on charm, chemistry, and character growth. If you love the sparkling banter of Jane Austen and the emotional depth of Emily Henry (yes, she gets a shoutout in the book!), this one’s for you.

The story follows actress Cynthie Taylor, who, at the start of her career, lands her first big role opposite the infuriatingly handsome (and arrogant) Jack. Though the two can’t stand each other off-camera, their on-screen chemistry is undeniable—so much so that they’re asked to fake a romance to boost the film’s success. Fast-forward thirteen years, and the two are brought back together for a sequel…and forced to rekindle their fake relationship under the watchful eye of a documentary crew.

From there, it’s pure romantic tension gold. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed beautifully, with sizzling moments and plenty of wit. The banter between Cynthie and Jack is sharp and entertaining, making their chemistry leap off the page. The back-and-forth timeline—moving between their original film shoot and the present day—adds depth to their relationship, showing how much both characters have grown.

Reading this felt like watching a deliciously scandalous Regency romance, just with a modern twist and cameras rolling. The pacing, the buildup, the tension—it’s all perfectly balanced with moments of genuine emotion and laugh-out-loud comedy.

Laura Wood has crafted a romantic comedy that feels fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Let’s Make a Scene is a love letter to complicated history, second chances, and the irresistible pull of someone who truly sees you—even if they used to drive you crazy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinions on this gem.

This book does a great job balancing humor, tension and some character development. You’ve got slow burn, enemies to lovers and fake dating all in one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I read the author's companion book Under Your Spell a little over a year ago and I loved it (and had a huge crush on MC Theo). So requesting this ARC was a no brainer! Alternating chapters and timelines give the reader insight into Jack and Cynthie and their history. I always like being inside both MCs' heads.
The story took a while to get going but by about 35% in I was hooked. The beginning when Jack and Cynthie "hate" each other was a bit over the top. A little communication could have smoothed the way. But then we wouldn't have a second chance/enemies to lovers rom com.
Both MCs go through a lot and their growth in the time apart allows them to recognize what went wrong when they were younger. Once again Wood creates a male MC who is swoon worthy.
Jack and Cynthie's friends and supporting characters were all so entertaining. Brilliant Hannah was exactly the BFF Cynthie needs. And Patty and Arjun are the "stable" couple. I loved their banter and friendship based on hard truths. Another great read by Laura Wood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

This was my first book by Laura Wood and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t fond of the flashbacks because of how much of a douche Jack was. But I was so happy to see how much he grew over the years. He was such a different person 13 years later and the way he was with Cyn made me swoon. I loved how much they both grew and the progression of them realizing just how real their feelings were for each other. This was a fun, swoony, steamy read. I hope Hannah, Lee, and Nico are getting stories next.

Laura Wood surprises me again. Her writing is so clever and funny! I haven’t laughed out loud at a book (except for Under Your Spell) in a long time.

The premise of the story was so original and something I really enjoyed. English countryside? Pride and Prejudice vibes? Brooding main character? Goofy side characters? All check and done well.

A fun dual time line rom-com following former co-stars. Reconnecting it feels like a frenemies situation turned into on page spice.

I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read for me,

Thank you so much Atria Books, and Netgalley for this eARC!

Cynthie and Jack are classic workplace rivals in Let’s Make a Scene. The two made a movie over a decade ago that has now turned into a cult classic. Cynthie has just been through a scandal, so when she’s asked to make a sequel to the movie that gave her her start, it could be the opportunity she needs to get her life and career back on track. Unfortunately, the movie comes along with a deal to fake a relationship with her nemesis, her former costar Jack. Little does she know that the animosity between the two was mostly one sided and begins to melt away as Cynthie sees that Jack is no longer the same person he was 13 years ago.

Let’s Make a Scene is perfect for fans of rivals to lovers, workplace romance, celebrity romance, dual timelines, and fake relationships. While that seems like a lot to fit into one book, I never felt like things were just thrown in for the sake of it - it all worked. Definitely a fun read. I wish there had been a few things that were explored a bit deeper - Cynthie’s abusive ex and her coming to terms with that, Jack’s feelings 13 years ago and how/why they stuck with him, etc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Let’s Make A Scene by Laura Wood delivers everything I love in a rom-com—fake dating, second chances, and a whole lot of tension. Cynthie and Jack’s chemistry is off the charts, both on and off-screen, but their history is messy. Their first movie together ended in disaster (along with their fake PR relationship), and for 13 years, they kept their distance. Now, with a sequel in the works, they’re forced to play nice again—and fake date for the cameras. Only this time, it feels way too real.
The dual timelines add so much depth, showing how much they’ve grown while also making it clear their feelings never really faded. Jack starts off as a bit of a jerk, but watching him evolve was really satisfying Cynthie is easy to root for, and the banter between them is so good. There’s also a great found family dynamic, fun side characters, and some well-placed classic rom-com references.
This book had me laughing, swooning, and occasionally yelling at my Kindle. It’s a must-read for fans of fake dating, forced proximity, and Hollywood romances with just the right amount of angst. I was hooked from start to finish!


᪥ Second Chance
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Fake Dating
᪥ The One That Got Away
᪥ Dual Timeline
᪥ Dual POV

A second-chance romance between two film stars who have a tumultuous experience filming together, then thirteen years later are back on set for the sequel. The story is dual timeline and dual POV. During the early years Cynthie and Jack are both immature and snarky. You can see clear growth in both characters during the later timeline, but I did feel that the pacing could have been improved. We see the before and after, but what it lacked was seeing their relationship grow after being reunited. Still, the banter was great and there's a strong cast of secondary characters in their found family. If you're looking for a lightweight celebrity romance, this is a good bet.

Cynthie Taylor's very first acting job was the one that catapulted her to stardom. Thirteen years later, she is mired in scandal and is hiding out from the paparazzi. When her studio drops her from her upcoming project, a new opportunity opens up: the sequel to the film that started her career. But that means she has to act alongside Jack Turner-Jones, her co-star. and enemy from the original film. They had vowed to stay away from one another after the first film, and for 13 years, they both kept that promise.

With Cynthie's reputation in tatters, a scheme is hatched for Cynthie and Jack to enter into a public "fake" relationship while they are filming. Have 13 years of life and maturity changed things between them? Or is this just another act?

I loved this book! I found it hard to put it down when real life came calling. Cynthie and Jack were such fun characters and I loved their journey from young actors to legitimate superstars. Both characters had great depth and I was absolutely wrapped up in their stories. If you like a good enemies-to-lovers trope, this one is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book!

This book was very sweet. I really enjoyed reading about Cynthie and Jack finding their way back to each other. Laura Wood is such a great romance writer, no matter if it’s YA or adult the characters are always so well-developed.

The banter was great and Jack was so swoonworthy and showed a lot of growth, but I do think that this book relies a little too heavily on the miscommunication trope. I get that it sort of has to for the premise and there’s something about finding each other again after leaving so many things unsaid for like 10 years, but it’s also frustrating.

Overall, a solid romcom, but I liked Under Your Spell more. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like it was only a couple months ago that I read and loved the ARC of Under Your Spell, so I was thrilled to see another novel by Laura Wood focusing on Cynthie Taylor, a character readers may remember. While this book would be nearly just as enjoyable as a standalone it was fun seeing the callbacks to a few characters. Overall just a really fun to read enemies to lovers story with characters you root for. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.