This book was not for me. I like a little romance, but this one got pretty intense pretty quickly. I liked the dual narrative, I found that interesting, and I wanted to know how everything played out, but at a certain point it was just too much for me to handle.

Actors Gray and Ethan are paired up in the hopes that their fake relationship revives both of their stalled careers.

Fake dating ✅️
Enemies to lovers ✅️
One bed ✅️
Snarky banter ✅️

Everything you could ever want in a rom-com right?

Well... just as I expected Gray and Ethan to ride off into the sunset, they hit a road bump that steers them way off course.

I did not expect this to get as deep in the emotions as it did, but I absolutely loved it. It was raw and real and messy, and just so perfect.

So if you're looking for a fluffy rom-com, this isn't it. It is SO much more. 🙌

Thank you for the advance copy

Ok guys this book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I went into this expecting a cutesy, light rom com and while it delivered on those parts, it carried quite the punch. This book dived into some pretty deep topics that will hit home for a lot of people.

All in all, we’re following Grey a 27 year old actress who is out of work and a little lost.
We also follow our hero Ethan who is a struggling screen writer. What better way to bring them both back into the spotlight? Fake dating. Yes you heard me right. Ava Wilder brought back the fake dating and it’s done well. I really enjoyed these characters and felt that even though they are pretty high profile in Hollywood, they are real people with real struggles.

Definitely check this one out if you’re in the mood for a deeper rom com, with really authentic main characters.

THANK YOU to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my ARC copy!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⬜
Title: How to Fake it in Hollywood
Author: Ava Wilder
Genre: Romance
Setting: Los Angeles, California / New York City, NY
Month Read: May 2022
Book Type: E-Arc!
Publication: June 2022
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 368
*Thank you to Dell Publishing and Netgalley for my Advanced Reader Copy. I was not paid or influenced to give this review, all thoughts are my own.


TRIGGER WARNING-
Alcoholism / Sexual Content / Grief / Drug Use / Depression


"Control is a hard thing to come by in this business. Whenever you think you've gained some, it usually turns out you've just given it up from somewhere else."




Review:
I'd love to start with how shocked I am that I got this from Netgalley, and how much I really enjoyed this book that I knew little to nothing about. I thought the characters were well written, the motivations seemed super realistic, and the romance wasn't as run of the mill as you'd expect. The supporting cast of characters really balanced the novel out quite nicely, as well.

I really liked Grey, who reminded me of someone like a Rachel Bilson, or Katie Holmes, and Ethan, who I kept screaming BEN AFFLECK at. I loved the setup of the relationship, neither of them wanting to be there, and the gradual bursts of affection from them both. I loved that Ethan was an alcoholic recluse and not really the leading man persona, and definitely NOT put together at all. He has his reasons, as you'll find out when you read the novel, but his arc was important, and I love that nothing gets figured out in 5 minutes.

A well rounded ensemble can really make or break a novel, and Grey's pushy publiscist, and mom-like manager really were bright spots for me. Both characters were so different, and both played their parts perfectly. I loved the scenes they were in, as well as some other great supporting characters like Ethan's ex wife, Nora. The dynamic between Nora-Grey-Ethan was really great to me- I love supportive ex-partners. I also loved that this book had some LGBTQ representation, and that it wasn't really a big deal at any point.

I'd definitely recommend giving this a shot, especially as it's release coincides with beach days and summer! Grab a copy and you're sure to finish it in a day or two- perfect for summer reading days.

I cannot believe this is a debut! This book has all the charm and wit of a seasoned author. This book gets into some deeper subjects (alcoholism, grief), but it is still so sweet, and genuinely funny at times. A lot of the reviews mention the heavier subject matter, but I did not find it overwhelming, and the subjects were handled with care. It was still overall a lighthearted read. I love a book with Hollywood insight and glamour, and this book fits the bill even though the characters still feel down to earth. Grey in particular is a fabulous MC, and you really root for her throughout.
I cannot wait to read everything by Ava in the future. Highly recommend this book for an engrossing poolside/beachside read. 4.5 stars

⭐️⭐️

I wanted to love this one, I really did. It has some of my favorite tropes - fake dating, one bed, age gap - but in the end there were too many problematic things for me to overlook. This book was deceptively heavy and was a bit longer than I think it needed to be. If it ended around the 65/70% mark I think my rating would have been a bit higher.

There were a lot of small, cute moments that did make me smile while reading, but after thinking about it, ultimately, it felt like the book glorified a co-dependent relationship that truly wasn’t healthy for either MC. Ethan is very clearly an alcoholic, yet it is never discussed until the last about 10% of the book. Rather the people in his life choose to ignore the issue and pass it off as him dealing with the grief over the loss of his best friend.

The ignorance of Ethan’s addiction really didn’t sit well with me. Overall, I think if the author dealt with the sensitive subject matter included in a healthier way it would have been a much stronger novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was super cute. I loved the main characters, especially Ethan. The idea of media stars and how it influences life was really good to me. I like how the book covered the topic of divorce.

This is definitely one of the better romances of the year! When faced with Hollywood celebrities, you don't instantly think this would be an emotional, poignant romance, but it is. The characters had depth, and there was mental health rep, as well as an honesty about grief and alcoholism. You cannot help but root for both Ethan and Grey, knowing they deserve their happy ending together! Happy to recommend this to the adult staff here in school!

this one had me in the first half but ultimately fell flat. fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I really enjoy a Hollywood setting. I love a tortured hero and I thought that between Ethan having to work through his grief and Grey taking on double standards, this would be a new favorite. the beginning of this book drew me in quickly; between a great premise and characters that are great to read from, it was the perfect escape. but by the 50-60% mark, it felt too reliant on Ethan and Grey's physical attraction to each other instead of actual chemistry. the pacing felt way off with us skipping whole chunks of time. I think using those periods in between major plot points to better develop their emotional relationship would've done this book wonders.

while I can excuse meh relationship development, what really turned me off was the way Ethan's alcoholism was handled. I appreciate heavier topics and storylines in a romcom but didn't love the way it played out. I think by the end, the book seemed to shift away from romance and, combined with the fact that for the majority of the book it wasn't explicit whether Ethan had a problem, it made it feel uneven. I would've preferred that they address the alcoholism earlier/made that the main point of conflict instead of a second one.

I won't be picking up a copy for my shelves but it's clear that Ava Wilder is talented and I'll definitely be reading from her in the future.

This was everything I wanted it to be! This book fell right into that same sweet spot as Beach Read where there is so much depth, but there is still humor and sweet moments. However, this is definitely a book where I am glad I read the content warnings and went in with my eyes wide open, so I'd suggest the same for anyone else that comes across this title.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book for review.

Goodreads review posted 5/31/2022: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4538297561

I read this entire book on a camping weekend and was hooked. It really helped keep my mind off of my uncomfortable sleeping surface and kept me up late into the night (thank you long-lasting Kindle battery and backlight!). I really grew to love Grey and Ethan together, even though I wasn’t sure I would at first. It’s hard to say much without giving things away, but I really like how certain topics were managed in this book, including toxic relationships, forgiveness, and how we can recognize and combat the messy parts within us. I definitely recommend to fans of fake dating romance!

The thing that made this book lose a star for me were a couple of sexual descriptions and what I feel to be a rather high use of the f-word. I’m just not a fan, but I know it doesn’t bother most.

This was really cute and I really enjoyed it. I wish the beginning had a bit more push and pull (it was slightly more insta-love than I would prefer) but overall, I loved the two main characters and the journeys they were on. I would definitely read more by this author.

A great debut book from the author. This book's premise is about fake dating in Hollywood to boost both Grey and Ethan's career. This book is romance with heavy topics such a dealing with grief and alcoholism.

I enjoyed seeing both of their individual journey and growth in the story and love their chemistry.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I devoured this book in one day!! The story line being set in Hollywood was an instant hook for me. The characters were written so well that the story felt incredibly real. I felt like I was reading a behind-the-scenes retelling of true celebrities. With the behind-the-scenes theme though, serious tops of grief, alcoholism, privacy violations, and women’s issues in the industry were unfolded throughout the book. However, I did not mind that at all. It gave the story so much depth than just a summer romcom.
I do wish the cover design was different. I did not think that the artwork of the characters on the front did the book justice, but that is just my personal taste. I have no doubt that this book will be a summer favorite for readers this year!

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Grey Brooks was on a long-running teen soap, but now is struggling to find work. Her publicist thinks the best way to get her attention that could lead to a role would be through a fake relationship. The fake boyfriend is none other than Ethan Atkins, Hollywood heartthrob who has been in seclusion since a tragedy in his life. Seems simple enough, go out to some coffee shops, events, be photographed coming and going from his home. They're both actors after all. But what neither of them expect is the chemistry they each feel. Ethan believes he is no good for anyone and doesn't want to hurt yet someone else. Grey sees how distant he is and doesn't want to get tangled in his mess. But can they avoid it while spending so much time together?

This book took me through all the emotions. I love a good fake dating trope, and this one was done very well. How to Fake It deals with tragic loss, estranged family, alcoholism and addiction, and does so with respect. I am always a bit weary of a book featuring problematic drinking, but this one was on point, painting a very realistic picture of alcoholism. That being said, the whole book wasn't heavy, it was somehow light, and the first half was full of palpable attraction you could feel through the pages. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of fake dating, celebrity romance, addiction representation, and steamy open-door romance.

This book was a perfectly complex fake romance trope book. Complex as in Grey and Ethan are complex characters trying to figure out how to best move forward in their film careers after some career stagnation.

CW: substance abuse

Grey and Ethan was a perfect example of a couple that didn’t make it at first but worked on themselves before having another go at their relationship. Both of their self growths, learning what they wanted (in life and their relationship) and having healthy boundaries made me really want them to succeed.

Ethan as a character was a bit annoying because Grey and others kept trying to connect with him, but because of his alcohol dependence he didn’t care or notice efforts being made. I’m happy that Ethan did make an active effort at recovery before pursuing Grey again.

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The opposite of cliche romance!!! This book had me hooked, and romance is so not my thing, yet the dark and twisty Hollywood romance really rang true! I just wanted more development and intrigue between the two main characters and more spice and more goofy moments so that that peak love could’ve left me feeling moreee. This book made me feel a lot of things, I just needed a bit more.

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

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book was really interesting. It kind of reminded me of the newer A Star Is Born movie, but with a happier ending. I thought both characters were well developed. I think this might be because of the close third-person point of view but with dual perspectives. I thought Grey was super relatable even though she was a semi-famous actress. While I found the characters and their relationship super interesting, I did find myself skimming through some of the prose. I'm not sure if I wasn't super interested or if I just didn't love the writing style. I didn't love the format of the epilogue because I felt like it wasn't totally reliable (going to leave it at that because I don't want to spoil anything).

Read This If:
•Enjoy the fake dating trope
•Had a celeb crush when you were younger

Thoughts:
This book… you guys are going to love! I am a sucker for the fake dating trope, but this was so much more than that. This was not your typical fake dating romance book in my opinion. It got very deep and sometimes a little dark. Ethan & Grey had great banter and chemistry, which I loved. But they also were very complex people on their own. I loved the evolution of their characters. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, I had a stupid grin on my face while reading, my jaw hanging open at some parts, and just completely heartbroken at times.
 
I really enjoyed this reading this one and recommend! I will def be purchasing a physical copy of this one!
 
Thank you @Netgalley & @randomhouse for this advanced copy!

Check out the trigger warnings before reading this one

Definitely a good book, I enjoyed it, I loved the journeys of the MCs, and there’s a lot to enjoy here.