*Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

I quite enjoyed this book. I liked the tropes it used, the two leads, and I liked how the plot didn’t necessarily take the normal romance story plot direction. This book tackled some messy things like addiction, sobriety, losing yourself in someone, and trying to change someone when they’re not ready. The characters struggled, and as a result, made the ending more earned. The ending did wrap up a little too quickly, and she forgave him a little too easily for my liking, but overall, I quite enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I not only loved this book but the cover is also stunning! While reading this book I quickly got attached to both Ethan and Grey and their fake dating situation. This story is for sure going to be in my top reads of the year. I can't wait for this book to officially get published so I can go out and buy myself a physical copy that's how much I enjoyed this book. So this book starts off with the arrangement between Grey and Ethan fake dating in order to help get them back into the Hollywood scene. As time goes by and tension builds I think we can all guess what happens next within the book. There was a lot of good and bad tension that was built up nicely in this book and I was definitely blushing here and there at some scenes. I think this would be a great summer read for those looking for a good romance novel this season.

How to Fake it in Hollywood is the Hollywood romance I desperately needed to fill the celebrity hole in my heart. Grey and Ethan are brought together through a contracted relationship: Grey needing to jumpstart her career and Ethan to get back in the game after having a downward spiral after a close friend’s death. The two obviously grow closer as time goes on because well, this is a romance after all but it’s filled with ups and downs of being a couple in the spotlight and boy is it a great ride.

I loved the way both Ethan and Grey are written. Two very different characters with a lot in common as they navigate their relationship. Grey is filled with passion and grit while Ethan is filled with regret and bogged down by his past. Their relationship felt natural and the pacing was excellent and the SPICE. Very VERY good (though lowkey I would have loved to see more).

I’m definitely going to be recommending this excellent romcom to my friends to read and I will most definitely be buying a copy for myself when I can get my greedy little hands on it in the future

I'm in total book love with Ava Wilder's first novel How To Fake It in Hollywood. Don't be fooled by the cover because Ava Wilder has not written a light-hearted rom-com. It is a gritty honest story that needs to be told. I felt a connection with the characters and wanted them to succeed in their individual endeavors. Initially a fake dating trope, it quickly becomes a touching drama with a well written plot.

I highly recommend How To Fake It in Hollywood. I immediately added Ava Wilder to my must read authors list. I predict a successful future for this up-and-coming author. Romance readers don't want to miss this one. The book is a show stopper that should be made into a hit movie!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (Dell), for this outstanding
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read! I love every page of it!

How To Fake It in Hollywood is available on June 14th.

This was such a fun summer read. I wish I had read this while I was on a beach somewhere but suffice it to say, I definitely enjoyed it.

How to Fake it in Hollywood starts off as what appears to be a cute fake dating romance novel but ends up really being about the struggles of Alcoholism, loss of a loved one and building healthy relationships through life's struggles.

Grey, an average Hollywood actress looking to get her next big role is setup with Ethan, a washed up mega famous actor to pursue a fake relationship in hopes of helping each other get back into the limelight. Grey is notably a character I could easily relate to, she was jaded by Hollywood but not in the way one might expect. she felt down to earth even with her fame. Ethan was surprisingly relatable as well, his struggles with his best friends death and Alcoholism are sadly both things we can all relate to in some variation. Death of a loved one is hard, and addiction is truly a disease. I appreciated what we saw from Ethan's perspective and I felt that Grey ended up being such a strong character because she was struggling through it all with Ethan and I think a lot of people can sympathize with that.

I was impressed with the character development of both of them and I thought the writing was quite strong too. it was easy for me to read and follow even with the time jumps and switching POV's. This is a strong debut in my opinion and really my only issue is I think the marketing set this book up to be a much more light read than it ended up being. I wasn't prepared for the heartache and would have liked just a little more warning!

I recommend this book to those that appreciate reading stories with highly relatable characters, real life struggles, traumatic experiences, addiction and heavy character development along with romance to top it off!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. it made me laugh and cry and truly feel for the characters in ways that I don't normally.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Random House for our free copy of How Yo Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:4-4.5 ⭐️
Genre: Romance

Thoughts: The ending absolutely made this book for me. Without giving too much away, I thought the topics of grief and alcoholism were handled very well!

At times, I wasn’t totally in love with the story or characters throughout the middle part of the book, but I really loved the ending!

I really loved Grey and Ethan. I wanted the best for them and I thought Grey was so good for Ethan and really helped bring him back to life. I found myself just really wanting to see more of them together in a good space. You got hints of them, but I wanted to see more if their playful dynamic and chemistry. It was very centered around Ethan’s addiction, which was handled very well, just not what I was expecting. Love Avas writing and I thought Greys insecurities were real and earned and Ethan’s character was really fleshed out and honest.

I did not expect this to be as heavy as it was, for as long as it was. Despite that, I really wanted to love this one but I honestly struggled to get through it. I don't think I was in the right mood for this story.

I thought that Grey and Ethan had great individual growth, I do wish they had leaned on each other more during their internal struggles. I also wished that we would have gotten more development of Grey and Ethan's relationship. As it was, I didn't really buy that they were in love with each other. I get that the attraction was there, but I found it hard to keep up with the timing of events and the gaps that happened.

However, my biggest issue with this book was the way that everyone around Ethan handled and discussed his alcoholism. There were a few instances with the way characters spoke to him that made me angry. I'm not trying to excuse his behavior, I just think that his addiction could have been handled so much better than it was. I just wish it would have been handled with more sensitivity, especially for how big of a role it played in this book

CW: child physical abuse (mentioned), parental abandonment (recounted), alcohol abuse (on-page), drug abuse (recounted), grief & loss depiction, death of a friend in a car accident, death of a parent mentioned, stalking

This was such a well written book. It got on some heavy topics and it did that so well. The banter and chemistry between Grey and Ethan was fantastic and really kept this story going. I loved how real and imperfect the characters were and that this showed a side of fame that didn't glamorize it. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what Ava gives us next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the free ARC! This one is publishing tomorrow and it’s SO perfect for summer!

This fake dating trope featuring a reclusive mega famous star and a scarlet on the rise was such a solid read.

What I loved:
▪️It dealt with real life issues and wasn’t just a light and fluffy read (not that I don’t love those too)
▪️Ethan was flawed but still so lovable. You’ll definitely find yourself rooting for him to get it together.
▪️Great banter between the characters.
▪️Really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters. They really made for a well-rounded story.

What I didn’t love:
▪️It felt a little long.
▪️Although Ethan and Grey had great banter, I wish there would have been more chemistry between them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think it would be perfect to add to the top of your summer reading list 📖

Loved this one. Had all my favourite tropes and the cover looks gorgeous. Plus it publishes on my birthday. Pick this one up, you will not regret it, I sure didn’t. I enjoyed my time with this book a lot. Content warnings for death of a loved one and alcoholism.

Ava Wilder's debut novel about a celebrity couple that fake dates for publicity seems like it might be a light read, but this book packs a serious punch. Dealing with heavy topics such as addiction and loss, Wilder handles with care and compassion and you can tell she has truly done her research. I was heavily invested in Gray and Ethan and the supporting characters as well and I look forward to more from Wilder in the future.

Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Publicity relationships have been a thing in Hollywood for the longest time, but now that celebrities are easier to follow using social media, these couples are easier to crack. How to Fake It in Hollywood, by Ava Wilder, explores this world closer in her debut novel, and my goodness, is this one hard to put down!

This novel was a nice change of pace from other Fake Dating stories. Instead of being the same laughs all the time, Wilder takes a darker approach by focusing more on the negative aspects of stardom and the cost of fame. It is highly recommended to read the blurb before diving in, as it does heavily mention substance abuse, grief, and other triggering content.

As soon as I picked up this novel, I was hooked! The characters, while flawed, were easy to root for, even when they make mistakes, and the plot was realistic while still unpredictable. In addition, Grey and Ethan are a bit older than your average romance leads, though this is starting to become a pattern in newer releases (which I, of course, enjoy).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's wild that this is a debut novel. Ava has such a strong writing presence, she handles talk of addiction and the darker side to fame with finesse, and has you rooting for Grey and Ethan the entire book!

Add to your tbr if you like:
- fake dating
- dual pov
- frenemies to lovers

This was one of those romances where I struggled to put it down once I started. I loved getting to know Ethan and Grey, their individual struggles, and what brought their shared PR agent to propose the fake dating scheme. Grey has been in the industry since she was a child and is trying to break out after her long time show has ended, Ethan is trying to make a comeback after stepping back from the spotlight dealing with a lot of loss in his life and coping with drinking.

The beginning half of this book is wildly tension filled, Ethan and Grey have an immediate attraction to one another but both are trying to ignore those feelings and keep things professional. They both use humor to deal with awkward situations and had me laughing out loud throughout the book. The female friendships within the book are strong and full of women supporting women, choosing to cheer each other on in what is a very cut throat industry.

This also took a grittier turn for a romance. Grey and Ethan both have flaws and scars that cause them to have ugly reactions and actions, towards each other and others they care about. The spice is sprinkled within and when they finally decide to "bang it out, just once, to get it out of our systems" there is a level of emotional intimacy brought in for both of them that changes everything.

Their relationship is not perfect, they are both still struggling with their own issues when they first get together. There is a HEA, but they both have to put in the work for it. They are beautifully flawed and Ava puts together such a wonderful, real life romance. Can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House - Ballantine for the eARC.

4.5/5

Wow. This seemed like it would be very superficial but it was in fact ... deep. The reviews of this being a "raw" and character-driven story hold true. Basically, don't let the cutesy cover fool you!

Grey and Ethan each have their own internal battles as well as very public displays of ... drama .... that unfold over the course of their unique experiences with stardom. The result is glitzy and steamy yet emotional and touching.

I personally tend to cast celebrities in my head as main characters when I read most books. Grey is a sort of Blake Lively/Kristen Bell combo to me whereas Ethan shifted for me from Ben Affleck (thanks to his friendship with Matt Damon, IYKYK) to Shane West/Devon Sawa/JTT/(Insert any male from the cover of Tiger Beat circa 1999 here) to more of a Dax Shephard to Grey's Kristen Bell. Did you get all that? :)

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and timely yet moody and deep. There are some trigger warnings regarding substance abuse so be sure to read up on those warnings more if you are sensitive to similar topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy of this ebook for review!

4.5 Rounded up to 5

Grey Brooks’ acting career feels like it’s going nowhere fast nearly a year after her hit show Poison Paradise has ended. So when her publicist suggests a fake relationship with her reclusive A-lister client while she has the role of a lifetime on the line, what’s the worst that could happen?

I was not expecting this book to turn out this way. While I knew it was fake dating, I found it to be so much more! I was so impressed with the way it tore at my emotions and dug into deep issues while also being steamy and holding some elements of a rom-com. I think the author did a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to see more from them!

TROPES: Fake Dating, Celebrity Romance, Forced Proximity, Frenemies to Lovers, only one bed, Bang it out, dual POV

CW: alcoholism/addiction, reference to body image, brief reference of past physical abuse, non-con public circulation of sexually explicit photos, and open door graphic sexual content

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
How to Fake it in Hollywood is the debut from Ava Wilder, a dual POV romance about two celebrities set up by their shared publicist to fake date in order to make them both more "relevant." I plowed through this one and really enjoyed this read, which had more depth than I originally expected from the cover and the start of the book. I feel like I really know the characters and their strong emotions - very enjoyable and engaging!
I kept envisioning certain celebrities in the roles (perhaps they were the inspiration for some?) which made this a multi-sensory read. I think you'll like this if you like to follow celebrity gossip/drama - just don't expect romcom hilarity like I mistakenly did. I enjoyed the serious tone and the ending a lot! Looking forward to reading more from the author!

How to Fake it in Hollywood is Ava Wilder’s debut romance novel that tells the story developing between Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins. I remember how excited I was to read this after having seen it on the NetGalley catalog, immediately requesting it because it promised to deliver the fake-dating trope, which I’m obsessed with. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as everyone seemed to do, it was an okay read for me that only got me to the end because the quality of the writing was good.

My first issue with the book is that I got the feeling from reading the story that the author didn’t really portray what she promised in the synopsis. Sure, you can write a romance novel with more serious topics, but if you want to do that you have to connect everything really well in order for the story to make sense to the reader. For me, it felt like every little thing was justified by the grief of Ethan’s character and it got to a point that it was clear that he had more issues than that.

Another aspect that failed to attract me were the characters, they had potential, but as a couple they had no chemistry for me that justified the strong feelings they claimed to be having for each other. Their interactions in dialogue were quite dry and I feel like it didn’t get any better as the book progressed. Also, for someone as a main character that has children, they sure seemed to not matter to him most of the time and that didn’t sit well with me.

Overall it was a good debut novel and I think most people looking for a movie star fake-dating romance would enjoy this one if they can overlook what I already mentioned.

Trigger warnings for future readers: grief, mention of death of a loved one (not described in the book) and alcohol addiction.

*ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

How To Fake It in Hollywood
⭐️
369 Pages
Pub Date: June 14th, 2022
TW: Grief, addiction

Grey Brooks is trying to keep her career going now that the six year run on a popular teen show has come to an end. Ethan Atkins is a well known star turned recluse trying to break back in to the world he's been hiding from. The best way to launch two careers at once? Fake dating, of course!

This was a whirlwind of a read to say the least. What starts out as a light fake dating story, quickly turns into a heavy tale of dealing with past trauma and addiction. While that may seem unnerving, I found it to be a perfect way to make a romantic comedy more realistic.

I know the age-gap trope is a questionable territory for some, but for me it wasn't very bothersome. I forgot there was an age-gap most of the time.

Ava Wilder tells a beautiful story of real-life while also keeping it fanciful, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a one day read.


Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing / Ballantine, and Ava Wilder for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.