Right from the beginning of starting How to Fake it in Hollywood, I was envisioning myself on the rooftop of Mama Shelter in downtown LA, with a cocktail in my hand overlooking the city and the Hollywood sign. The characters are un-relatable in the BEST way..at first. Actors, paparazzi, red carpets? It all seems unreachable but as the book goes on Grey and Ethan's connection and story unfold in a beautiful way. It's a perfect beach read for the summer!

This book unexpectedly works for me in so many ways. I knew it was a fake dating troupe. Grey Brooks is almost thirty and has been working as an actress since childhood. Her tv drama where she spent the last six years is over and she’s getting nervous about getting the next break. Ethan Atkins is almost 40, an academy award winning A-lister. But he’s flamed out after his divorce and the loss of his best friend and creative partner. The two share a publicist who puts them together into a fake relationship complete with NDAs and specified commitments.

While spending time together of course they get to know each other more and spark flare. What is surprising in the novel is the more serious tone and topics covered. Grey has come thru her childhood career relatively unscathed but has little connection to her family. Ethan is brooding and abusing alcohol. His ex-wife Nora (I really like her) warns Grey that it isn’t her job to fix him. It is subtle but there are signs from the beginning of the real Ethan. I love that Grey can be self confident even when big issues come her way. And I like that even though there is a time jump it allows for the realism of the time it takes to make changes so there can be a potential HEA.

For a debut novel this is rich in depth and detail. It’s realistic, angsty and a little heart breaking. I like the supporting relationships of Grey’s best friend Kamilah and Ethan’s ex Nora. Also kudos for lgbtqia representation. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this. I will look for what ever Ava Wilder writes next. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder was a book that completely took me by surprise in a great way. I went in pretty blindly expecting your typical romcom, but what I found was a love story so true to the messiness of real life that it took this sweet romance up another notch for me. Grey and Ethan are asked to fake a relationship for the sake of improving both of their Hollywood careers. What they don't expect is that their feelings will quickly turn very real. Although they are both actors, they are from completely different walks of life age-wise and success-wise. One has reached a personal growth peak, while the other still has a lot of growing to do. I loved the age difference between Grey and Ethan. Their chemistry was off the charts! I found their flaws and their growth throughout the book to be a breath of fresh air. I loved the reminder that sometimes love is all about timing and where we are on our own personal journeys. This debut by Ava Wilder was perfection and I am so excited to read her future work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC.

❝ She didn't need him anymore. And tonight, there was no familiar edge of wild-eyed desperation to his plea. He didn't need her anymore, either. But they still wanted each other. They would still choose each other over anyone else on earth. And in a way, that was even better.❞
―Ava Wilder, How to Fake it in Hollywood

Thank you so much @prhinternational for my copy! #partner

This fast-paced, dual POV novel got my attention right from the start. Grey and Ethan agreed to be in a fake relationship to save their career and dream. But as they know more about each other, lines start to blur, and they cannot help but fall for each other.

I love Grey's strong personality. Ethan has yet to open his can of worms, so I was frustrated with his fickle attitude during the first few chapters. But despite that, I love how he is very soft and caring on the inside. His character development is one of my favorite things about this novel, and I am glad that he got to fight his demons in the end.

Grey and Ethan's chemistry is just perfect. The heartwarming dialogues and steamy banters is chef's kiss. I love how their love story was narrated realistically and how you can actually feel their raw emotions while reading.

Apart from this, I love the side characters and how diversity is present. Instead of the usual jealous and crazy type of ex, Nora is very kind and genuine to both Grey and Ethan.

Overall, this was a delightful and emotional read. If you are into grumpy/ sunshine, fake dating, and only one-bed trope, then be sure to check this one out!

4.5 stars!! I love the fake dating trope and this one did not disappoint. This is not just a light hearted rom-com, there are some hard issues that are explored in this book which was refreshing. Despite their issues Ethan and Grey were both very likable. This is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Ava Wilder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review

Grey Brooks acting career has been on hold as she’s tried to revive her acting career after her run on a teen soap ended. A year later and now desperate, she agrees to a fake-dating scheme. But she’s shocked to find out she’s being set up with Ethan Atkins, the big-time actor who’s barely ever seen anymore—the one who she used to have posters of hanging in her bedroom when she was a teenager.

Ethan Atkins is heartbroken and just wants to be left alone to drown in his drinks. But if he ever wants to produce the movie he and his best friend wrote together before he died, he needs to revive his acting career after years of being a recluse.

As the two spend time together—including contracted nights at Ethan’s house—their feelings get muddled as their acting begins to feel real, and they both find their carefully constructed walls crumbling.

This! Book! From the very beginning, I was hooked. The writing was exceptional, the characters were interesting. I LOVED Ethan as a love interest. The chemistry between the two was soooo *insert fire emoji here*. It was perfectly steamy and romantic, and the end of chapter 16!!! Omgsh. 10/10 recommend!

Back in January I was scrolling through Twitter, as one does, and came across the cover for How to Fake It in Hollywood, a new debut by Ava Wilder. I knew immediately that I needed this book in my life and I was correct. It was heavier than the cover lead me to believe, but it was so fantastic. I didn’t mean to read this book as fast as I did, but it was too good to really put down.

How to Fake It in Hollywood is the story of Grey Brooks, an actress out there trying to get another role after her long running teen soap has ended. She is out there trying her hardest to land the next big thing and it isn’t going well. So when her agents recommends Grey fake date Ethan Atkins, a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob, she agrees. But Ethan is nothing like he expected. He is so sullen and withdrawn and dealing with so much loss it’s hard for Grey to even pretend to be close to him and Ethan finds it hard to even think about letting Grey in. But as time passes the chemistry between these two grows and grows and soon in a town where everything feels fake, there are very real feelings and hearts involved.

As I mentioned the cover for How to Fake It in Hollywood is very very deceiving. You would look at the lovely illustrated cover and think you are in for a romcom with fake dating fun. And while you would be somewhere right, it is more than a fake dating book. It is a book about grief and how easy you can let grief destroy who you are and what you dreamed for yourself. Ethan broke my heart a lot in this story and Grey was exactly what he needed but wasn’t always ready for. Ethan struggles with some real issues that does not allow for the book to give you that romcom vibe you are expecting to get. But once you get past that, I can’t say enough how much I loved their story. It was hard and loving and sad. You hated to see these characters struggle but you alos couldn’t wait to see if and how they would pull themselves together.

In the end How to Fake It in Hollywood was not at all what I was expecting when I picked it up, but it was much much more. The chemistry between Grey and Ethan was fantastic as was the deeper story hidden in the pages. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t love about this book. You are warned though, the cover is not fitting for the deeper story in the pages. Highly recommend this one!

CW: drug/alcohol abuse, grief (off page death), invasion of privacy

4 stars! I didn’t expect to like this book so much, but it totally sucked me in, and I devoured it in 24 hours. I was expecting a rom-com, but there was far more depth to it. CW: alcohol and drug abuse. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ethan and Grey are two Hollywood actors looking to jump start their careers. Grey’s long running TV show has ended, and she’s been unable to land her next big role. After the death of his best friend and fellow actor, Hollywood heartthrob Ethan has been out of the public eye for five years. Neither love the idea, but they both agree when their publicist suggests they fake date to help their careers.

I really enjoyed this book! It is a romance with a lot of substance. Grey and Ethan think they can fake date without developing any feelings for each other. Well, the chemistry from their first meeting is off the charts and the tension while they fight their feelings is palpable, So you can guess how no feelings worked out for them!

With ease, this angsty romance blends lightness with seriousness. Ethan and Grey's journey is anything but easy and always happy since they are dealing with grief, substance abuse, and family issues. Their love story is passionate, messy, heartbreaking, real, raw, and uniquely theirs.

And that ending! I loved it. I was totally invested in these characters and wanted a happy ending for them.

How to Fake It in Hollywood is an impressive debut romance with a captivating story and wonderful, complex characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this voluntary review are my own.

Thank you so much to PRHInternational for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC!

RATING: 4⭐/5
There are NO spoilers in this review.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: alcoholism & death

⭐ FULL REVIEW: First of all, I just want to say that anything involving a peek behind the curtain of fame is always something I’m interested in. That’s why I was such a huge fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, because it showed what happened beyond the glitz and the glamour and in a way, it opened my eyes more to how the world actually worked, instead of just what I had thought it was like in my head.

This book has all the tropes that I’m a huge fan of — banter, fake dating, there’s only one bed & showing what things are like for celebrities. I want to talk more about the characters first, though, because even if you take the romance aspect of it out, I’d still love this book because of how real and fleshed out every character is. They’re not just a trope and they’re not one-dimensional characters placed there just to move the plot along. They’re all very real, very complex, with their own flaws and ambitions and personalities that just work together.

Now, for the romance aspect of it. When I tell you that this book was a rollercoaster for my emotions, I definitely wasn’t kidding. When the two characters actually get together, you’d think it was the end of the book, and their happy ever after will be slapped with a big, red bow on it and that would be the end of it but NOPE. There’s so much more to the relationship that meets the eye (ha, this is especially witty once you remember they’re fake dating in the first place) and it really shows what happens when people have to work to make a relationship actually work. It can be frustrating but the two man characters really do work for it so you can’t help root for them, and this entire book just plays out like an effortless romcom in my head the further I got into the story.

I think the way this was set up was really good, because there’s glorious tension and pining at the start, you get some softness, banter and satisfaction in the middle, and things get more and more complicated for a while, before things finally are set where they’re supposed to be, and everyone gets the happy ending they deserve. I think the pacing and the setting of this book was very smart, and the writing was absolutely glorious too. Another thing that I really, really love from this book is the emotion you get to witness from all of the characters. You get to see how all them feel about both huge and small things that have happened to them, how they deal with the many curveballs, and you can’t help but feel empathetic towards them, even when they might have messed up.

For a debut, this was INCREDIBLY impressive. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the author’s future works and this book has definitely cemented me as a fan!

📖 WOULD RECOMMEND TO: People who like romance (the fake dating trope specifically) & fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid!

Huge thanks to PRH International, and Ava Wilder for my E-ARC in exchange for the honest review.

How to Fake it in Hollywood follows the story of a Hollywood star who is arranged in a fake romantic connection with a celebrity. Grey Brooks is a struggling actress striving to resurrect her career. She agrees to an agreement offered by her publicist to pretend to be in a relationship with another celebrity, Ethan Atkins. Hollywood and life have both eaten him up and spit him out. He has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, including his drinking issues, high-profile divorce, and grieving the loss of his closest friend and companion, Sam. A suspected romance with a gorgeous starlet may give his career a boost.

The connection between the characters was incredible! I adored their relationship; it began with physical desire and progressed to something more passionate and meaningful. I loved these two imperfects but realistic individuals. It is full of depth and drama, grief and optimism, and in the end, you'll believe in second chances. There's enough drama in this novel to keep it intriguing while also going into the connection between these two very different individuals. Sorrow, heartbreak, addiction, paparazzi, and friendship are all thrown into the mix. It's not light since it touches on some challenging subjects, but everything else was fantastic.

Grey and Ethan's funny banter, the beautiful relationship, and the steam! It's a passionate, swoony, heartfelt story deserving of endless stars and one I won't forget. Highly recommend!

Wow. I was not prepared for this book. How to Fake it in Hollywood is a romantic dramedy about two Hollywood celebrities who are faking their relationship to help their reputation. It's been a year since Grey wrapped up her teen soap Paradise Point and she's ready for meatier roles that have yet to be offered to her. Ethan is a blockbuster star who has been out of the limelight and drinking his days away after his best friend's death. I loved this story so much. It deals with alcohol use in a way that feels very real (I mean, other than the character being a movie star). The chemistry between Ethan and Grey is red hot and I thoroughly enjoyed this book that is deeper than I thought going into it (but in a good way!)
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley for a free copy of this ebook I'm exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted on Goodreads on June 13th, 2022.

THIS BOOK YALL.

When I first came across this book I was expecting a fluffy fake dating in Hollywood. But author Ava Wilder came with some tricks up her sleeves. She wrote Grey and Ethan with such depth and realness, with serious issues and illnesses. Not only was I invested in these characters and rooting for them. I was heartbreakingly devastated.

This book is filled with the reality of love, that it's not always perfect. It includes all the fluffy and good feelings but also the heart-wrenching moments. We see all the good and the bad, which is why this book is so good.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review*

I must say that I love the illustrated cover trend that swept romances. While a hot, scantily clad man and/or woman definitely gives you sensuality, there's a special uniqueness to an illustrated cover, where you can see the characters as they are imagined by the authors, while not immediately pigeonholing the cover models into your imaginings of the words in your head.

That said, they often give off a lighter tone that is not always reflected in the pages. How to Fake it in Hollywood is an excellent story with a gorgeous cover -- but be prepared to have some serious emotional feels on this one!

This book is full of tropes I adore: fake dating, grumpy hero, getting off on the wrong foot, just one bed, we can bang our feelings into submission, etc. And the chemistry between these two is excellent, in both a physical and emotional way. Grey and Ethan get under each other's skin in all the ways you want in a romance novel.

There are also some heavy topics that are discussed in this book as well. Ethan has been a recluse for the past five years since his best friend Sam died -- and he has been using booze to self-medicate for a very long time. The story does a good job with portraying how an addiction can take hold of someone, and actually takes the time to have the character work out his issues. But fair warning: this is not really a rom com, cover notwithstanding.

Overall, I really loved this book. I don't want the serious topics to cast a shadow over this book; it is fantastic and should be read! Just brace yourself for some emotions and some hot chemistry!

TW: alcoholism, drug use, harassment, invasion of privacy, grief, death (off page, before story)

HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD started out as a fairly typical, and really great, fake relationship story. I guess I was a bit unprepared for the second half, which evolved into much heavier and dark subject matter. This is definitely NOT like "The Unhoneymooners" as the blurb states.

I absolutely loved the female characters in this book (and the non-binary side character). They were all smart, realistic, supportive, and likable.

But the male lead (Ethan) was just hard for me to root for. I like a flawed and complex character, but the guy is in the throes of addiction for the entire book (including the love story) and it was hard to imagine Grey (FMC) falling in love with a man who is drunk during every single interaction they have.

HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD was a really good book and had ALL THE FEELS. If you like some struggle and fighting personal demons in your romance, you should read this book!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: drug and alcohol addiction, past death of close friend
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 4/5 - Tackled some seriously tough topics.

Don’t let the cover fool you; this fake dating Hollywood romance is heavier than it appears! Though I felt it made the characters feel more authentic. Wilder did a great job of exploring grief, addiction and fame. I also loved the dual POV, the banter and chemistry with the MCs and the emotional, fast-paced storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is simply fantastic. I loaded my kindle with a few books to read on vacation, and needless to say I flew through this novel before I landed at my destination. It is that GOOD!

This romance checks these boxes:

Fake Relationship
A-list Actor, B-List Actress
Older man, younger woman
Forced Proximity
Single Parent

How to Fake it in Hollywood has depth and heart. It’s truly a novel you can’t put down as you have to know if this story will en with a Happily Ever After. Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance reader copy.

Oh wowza! Where to start?! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are complex and so well developed. Both characters go through some needed growth - it's hard but necessary. This wasn't a sunshine and butterflies rom-com and I really appreciated that it felt real. They struggled and made bad choices then had to live with the consequences. Real life is messy and I liked that this story kept with that. I loved Grey and Ethan together! The banter was great and the chemistry between them was hot!!

I really love the fake dating trope and this almost has a smidge of enemies to lovers thrown in. The side characters were all interesting and well fleshed out. I didn't feel like any of the characters were flat or 2 dimensional. Honestly, this story was so well written. I couldn't put it down! I totally pictured Josh Duhamel when thinking of Ethan! I'm excited to see what else Ava writes! This was such a fabulous read that I highly recommend!!

Hollywood Starlet + Hunky Hollywood A lister = Sexy Drama

Grey Brooks is pounding the pavement and hoping to stay employed and reverent after her long running teen soap has ended. She's so desperate that she is willing to take part in her publicist’s scheme of dating a Hollywood recluse who could also use some publicity.

Ethan Atkins has been off the grid the last couple of years. He has been drowning his sorrows after his high-profile divorce and his best friend's death. If he wants to work in Hollywood ever again, he needs to do something to get back on the radar. Dating a Hollywood Starlet just may be the trick!

They enter into a juicy public relationship while having a angst filled private relationship.

I've said it before, and I will say it again - It's all about the journey! What a journey it is! It's not always an easy one as the characters have their own issues (one more than the other) to work on.

Both characters were likeable, and I rooted for both. They both were flawed and fabulous at the same time. Real issues are brought up in this book such as insecurity, grief, and addiction. As the characters dazzle the public it was fun to see if they would dazzle each other.

This was a fun fast read for me.

#HowtoFakeItinHollywood #NetGalley

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

You know, celebrity romances and I don’t mesh all that well. When several people recommended How To Fake It In Hollywood, including Sil when I tweeted that my brand in romance is the “sad, horny, and messy” ones, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. This book definitely hit all 3 requirements and I think Ava Wilder has written, what is in my opinion, one of the best debuts of the year.

While fake-dating is the premise of How To Fake It In Hollywood, you should know that this book is probably not the fluffy book you are used to with books with this trope. It’s a book that primarily deals with a man’s grief. Ah, Ethan. How my heart ached for him. My initial impression of him was that he was going to be a difficult character and this man was DIFFICULT. But, he’s dealing with the loss of his best friend who has been with him every step of the way of his acting career. I would go as far as to say that Ethan lost his soulmate, so his grief resonates in every page of this story.

Though it’s been a few years, he hasn’t coped with any of that pain, and we see how that infiltrates every aspect of his life, including his blooming relationship with Grey. He also has taken up the unhealthy habit of drinking excessively instead of facing his feelings which leads him to multiple downward spirals throughout the book. Ethan is messy, y’all, and Ava Wilder does not shy away from taking risks with his character. You see all his ugly sides, but then there are moments when you see glimpses of the passionate and loving man he used to be.

We see that side emerge in his conversations with Grey. In a way, Grey is the person he needed in his life to not only ground him, but also help him face his demons. When she enters the fake-dating contract with Ethan, she’s looking for publicity to help boost her own acting career. While I did feel like Ethan’s story somewhat overshadowed Grey, I nevertheless found her to be a nuanced character. She has her own insecurities that she’s dealing with, but she shows a strong front. I warmed up to Grey because she’s not afraid to be brutally honest with Ethan when he needed it. She was also not afraid to walk away for her own sake and his own well-being and I respected that.

I know I’m making this book sound SAD, but it’s not all sad, I promise. Though the romance has its heavy moments, there are also moments that are a romance reader’s goldmine. Ethan and Grey have incredible banter together, and their sexual tension simmers until it boils over in a very passionate kiss (and more). The romance had everything that makes the fake-dating trope fun. My favorite is that transition from “fake” to “all too real” when the two realize how much they mean to each other. I also love fictional couples who spend time having good conversations and Ethan and Grey do really bond emotionally through opening up to each other. I also liked that Ava Wilder had these characters actively fight for their love. The masochist in me loves seeing the characters tortured before they find their HEA, so I loved that she put them through the wringer. Ultimately, I felt like the very romantic aspects of How To Fake It In Hollywood helped balance out the sadness blanketing these characters.

Also, I just want to talk about how much I loved that final conflict and its resolution. I won’t give you any specifics because I’d rather not spoil it for you. What you should know is that it was a bold move on the author’s part and as unpleasant as it sounds, it had my romantic heart squeezing in the best possible way. If I’m being nitpicky the only thing that would have taken this book to the next level for me would have been a few scenes towards the end that occur off-page. But perhaps that’s just me wanting to see the characters in even more pain. 🙂 I would also have loved to gotten to know Sam a little bit better than we did as well as more of Ethan’s relationship with his daughters, but that might have made the book dense.

How To Fake It In Hollywood is a good debut novel and Ava Wilder has shown the promising skills she has as a writer. If you like struggling characters with circuitous romances, I think you’re going to like this one.