How To Fake It In Hollywood rode the coattails of a trend in novels of a peek behind the curtain of Hollywood. However, books like BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO accomplished the goal with just a bit more finesse. It wasn’t bad, it just got lost in the shuffle of other books and needed something to make it stand out

Because Grey and Ethan are both at crossroads in their Hollywood careers, their publicist suggests they fake a relationship.

This is one of those books that sat on my shelf forever, and I just wish I’d read it a whole lot earlier. This was more serious than my usual romance book, but I definitely enjoyed it!

a classic, great romance pick! probably one of the more recent and better done books in the genre with character depth, sweet moments, and more. definitely looking forward to more from ava wilder.

Give me fake dating and Hollywood and I’ll eat it up. I really enjoyed this book and I was pleasantly surprised with how real and honest these characters were. I loved Ethan and Grey’s journey with each other and their own struggles. I laughed and cried and wanted to stay in this world.

What starts out as a PR stunt involving a younger actress and an older, famous actor faking a relationship soon becomes a real attraction. The cover drew me in but the book didn’t live up to what I was expecting. I was expecting the typical fake relationship funny rom-com kinda book but this one had soo much drama involved. I was hoping to be laughing out loud not reading some of the things that were in this.

he plot revolves around Grey, an actress striving to find her next breakthrough while dealing with personal setbacks, and Ethan, a talented yet troubled director in need of positive publicity. Grey's character is portrayed as more than just an up-and-coming actress. She is a resilient individual navigating the challenges of a recent TV series release, a broken relationship, and the pursuit of more mature roles. Ethan, on the other hand, is a complex character struggling with the aftermath of a divorce and the guilt surrounding his best friend's tragic death. He grapples with self-doubt but still finds himself drawn to Grey, recognizing her maturity and wisdom beyond her years.

I appreciated the author's realistic approach to depicting romantic relationships. Grey and Ethan's journey is far from warm and fuzzy, but it is compelling in its authenticity and rawness. Overall, I really liked the well-drawn characters and larger themes surrounding love and redemption.

A quick read, How to Fake It in Hollywood brings humor and heart while packing an unexpectedly emotional punch.

Sometimes it feels crazy reading what you know to be an author’s debut book because the writing has such an ease to it that you think “this can’t possibly be their first publication!” That is absolutely how I felt reading How to Fake It in Hollywood. Ava Wilder’s writing style is effortless and evocative — I flew through this book!

In my opinion, the story starts off stronger than it ends. There’s lots of laughs and great banter in the first part of the book, and the second part of the book is far more serious and emotional than I was expecting. Grey and Ethan are very flawed characters, especially Ethan. While I enjoyed the emotional depth that came from their brokenness and the eventual individual character growth, I felt there isn’t enough of the relationship on-page and was left wanting more of the romance in the end.

Overall, I did like How to Fake It in Hollywood. Ava’s writing was, by far, the biggest highlight for me and will propel me to read more from her.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.

Okay I know I am way behind on this one, but I couldn’t NOT come back to say I loved this book!!! Ava’s second book is also fire!! Ava Wilder is one of the best romance writers out there right now!!! We are so lucky

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this book.

I usually am a big fan of fake dating and with the synopsis making this sound like a really good time, I thought this book would for sure be a hit for me. And not to get it twisted, it's not that this book is bad necessarily. I think it's mostly just a me problem, and I went into this thinking rom com kind of, and this wasn't exactly what I got.

I don't typically read stories with actors as the main character (off the top of my head, I really can only think of that Merry Meet Cute book, and to be honest, that book was also kind of a flop) but I thought that surely this trope would be well suited for this industry. And it really might. But I think I wanted something more light-hearted and cute and this book deals with a lot of heavy topics in addition to the love story itself not feeling completely believable.

I read this while in a bit of a reading slump, and I will say that it was a super quick read and I enjoyed my time well enough. I've never read anything by this author before, and I think that the writing really worked for me even when the story didn't and I would definitely be interested in picking up other books by them in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I don't have much to say about this novel because I DNFed it close to the halfway mark after several attempts through multiple formats (E-ARC and audiobook) to try to finish it.

For me, if a romcom hasn't sold me with the couple with the first half of the novel, it's really hard for me to stay motivated to finish it. I didn't understand the connection or chemistry between the two characters and after a while I made the decision to DNF, which I try really hard not to do for ARCs.

I should put a disclaimer that I don't think I'm entirely interested in reading books about Hollywood stars and if you're interested in Hollywood romances, I do suggest you take my words with a grain of salt and take a chance on this novel as according to reviews, my rating is in the minority.

After I read the blurb I knew I needed to get my hands on this book! This was beautiful and may I say probably one of my FAVORITE fake-dating books. A PR stunt that becomes so much more and fake dating between two celebs?? Sign me up!!

I’m a very VERY big fan of the fake dating trope so I had very high hopes for this book. This was so so good and I loved this so much!!

The flow of the story and the plot was amazing. I found myself immersed in the story and I loved every second reading this book! Even though I knew that this book was a cheesy and sweet rom-com, this book also talked about a lot of deep topics like the reality of the glittery and fancy Hollywood you see on TV and I think that the author really wrote and handled it well. Kudos to the author!!

I loved the character development between our two characters, Grey and Ethan, and I loved how they slowly opened up and how even though these characters are celebrities, we still find a way to be able to relate to them. The chemistry buildup was just amazing and we love to see the one bed trope in here😉

This book was a RIDE but one that I really enjoyed. This book was so so GOOD and I highly recommend this!! This was such an amazing and very enjoyable read!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review😙

This was a good romance. I would say more on the 3.8 scale but not quiet a 4 for me. Some of the topics and plot felt repetitive at times when we all knew what needed to happen was rehab. With that being said alcoholism and grief are two topics covered throughout the book so please take care of yourself if those topics are triggering to you.

Grey and Ethan were cute. Their banter was funny. Their chemistry was just right and the sexual tension building up to steamy scenes was great. I was just left wanting more from the plot? Overall a very enjoyable read if Hollywood romance is your jam!

Tropes: fake dating, somewhat of an age gap

Prepare to be swept away by this awesome debut novel that delivers a perfect blend of Hollywood glamour, sizzling chemistry, and emotional depth. Fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners will find themselves utterly captivated by the enchanting story of Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins.

Grey, a talented starlet grappling with the uncertain future of her career, reluctantly agrees to participate in a fake romance with Ethan, a reclusive A-lister with a tarnished reputation. What starts as a PR stunt quickly evolves into something much more profound as the lines between reality and fiction blur.

The chemistry between Grey and Ethan is scorching, igniting the pages with their electric connection. The author skillfully crafts their relationship, teasing readers with tantalizing moments of passion and vulnerability that will leave you breathless. As their fake romance deepens, both characters are forced to confront their pasts, their fears, and the true desires of their hearts.

What sets this book apart is its ability to delve beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, exploring the complexities and sacrifices required to thrive in the industry. Grey and Ethan's journeys are beautifully intertwined, highlighting the price of fame and the struggle to maintain authenticity in a world of facades.

The author's writing is impeccable, seamlessly blending steamy romance with poignant emotional moments. The pacing is flawless, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover what lies ahead for Grey and Ethan. The supporting cast adds depth and dimension to the story, with each character leaving their mark and contributing to the overall richness of the narrative.

Beyond the swoon-worthy romance, this book delves into themes of identity, self-discovery, and the courage to break free from expectations. It reminds us that beneath the glamorous veneer, everyone is human, with their own vulnerabilities and desires.

This awesome novel is a must-read for lovers of contemporary romance. It will whisk you away into a world of glitz, passion, and self-discovery, leaving you with a satisfyingly warm heart and a renewed belief in the power of love. With its compelling characters, irresistible chemistry, and thought-provoking exploration of fame and authenticity, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

DNF at 60%

I don't know why but I just could not get myself to finish this book. I just did not feel connected to it at all. I know that I am in the minority of opinions but I just found the whole thing so boring and I didn't care about the fledgling relationship between Grey and Ethan. I also normally love fake dating but I was just sooooooo bored.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This book incorporated all the tropes I love - fake dating, shared bed, famous couple - and it truly hit the spot. It was such a quick read, based on its length but also on its easy ability to fly through the story. These characters were funny - so many moments I just laughed out loud. I also felt for these characters; I can't imagine the difficulty of living your life in the spotlight, despite it being a choice in so many ways, but once you're famous you can't ever go back.

The quick pace of the storyline really drew me in. Similar to the way a thriller makes me feel, I never wanted to put this book down because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next - how will they resolve the nude photo leak, will they end up together, WHAT WILL HAPPEN!?

No notes. As a person who gets easily bored with romance novels, this one really set the bar high.

“We’re supposed to be madly in love and you won’t even give me your phone number?”

Grey and Ethan are two Hollywood celebs fake dating to mutually benefit their careers…. this book was everything I wanted it to be & more!

When I see “for fans of BEACH READ & THE UNHONEYMOONERS” on a book I know I need to pick it up. I’m a huge fan of books about celebrities and these characters actually felt real. Grey and Ethan dealt with a lot of complex issues while also having some hilarious banter. I prefer my romances with more depth and was honestly expecting this book to be more cheesy but it wasn’t which was refreshing!

I just finished this (finally after just staring at it for literally almost a year lol) and honestly I flew through this. I loved the weightiness of the story, the twists and turns, the friendships between Grey and Kamilah and Grey and Nora. And I absolutely loved the sex scenes (that mutual masturbation to release tension from different rooms was extremely well written.) The tension was great.

With that being said, a few notes:
1) this felt too insta-lust in the beginning so I feel like I struggled till I got like 20% in.
2) I liked seeing Ethan and Grey’s relationship grow but am not 100% convinced they should have a HEA. It’s a HFN for me honestly because I truly don’t think we saw enough of Ethan’s (or Greys for that matter) work that he did to get back on track. The breakup and 16 months should’ve happened at like 75%.
3) I feel like Ethan was just ok??? Sometimes I loved him and other times I couldn’t get a clear picture of him besides being a washed up, kind of hot, alcoholic. The backstory he shared of his childhood felt like the most clear picture. But because of this it felt like grey fell in love with him because of her childhood crush and him taking care of her that one time.

It’s a solid 4 star for me I think.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book - themes of fake dating and Hollywood, which you could probably figure out from the title. It was everything I expected and a little more. In addition to the romance, there are themes of addiction, family, trust, etc. I enjoyed imagining who Ethan, Grey, and their famous friends were modeled after. This is more than a fluffy romance. I'd call it medium spice. Definitely recommend!

I regret that it took me so long to give feedback on this story because I ended up being a huge fan. Although not the typical cheesy rom com, this captured my attention throughout and made me tear up at multiple times. It wasn't a straight forward happy ever after, which made the end result even better!

I will definitely be reading the authors future works and am grateful to have had a chance to review this story.