Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC!

Are you sure this was a debut?! It read like it was from a seasoned author. I will definitely be looking forward to other books from her in the future!

This is the first time in at least a year that I started and finished a book in one day. I adore reading about Grey and Ethan, and I think a lot of that was due to the fact that their life and problems felt so real even with them being celebrities.

I don’t want to add spoilers, but if you’re into fake dating, one bed, celebrity life, and real-life goods and bads, I highly recommend this one. I preordered my paperback copy 1/3 of the way in. I can’t wait to read it again.

Let me start by offering up this plea to publishers everywhere: please PLEASE make your book covers match the tone, the vibe, the mood, and the theme of your book. You might, upon first glance, see this cover and think, "ooh, fun and flirty rom com!" You would be wrong. There is nothing objectively wrong with this cover but this is not the cover meant for THIS book. And I know we all like to say, "lets not judge a book by its cover" but let's be honest, we ALL do EXACTLY that. ALL. THE. TIME. Just match the cover to the book, that's all I ask. (I swear, at this point, my irritation with misleading covers and everything being labeled rom com will be my villain origin story). And there ends the rant portion of my review.

This book made me reevaluate whether I actually do like a bit of angst in my romance. I've been saying I don't, that the real world is enough of a trash fire that I want my romances to be low key and drama free, maybe even all vibes and very little plot. This book though, gripped me from the word go with a stellar pair of MCs who were funny and flawed, a storyline deeply mired in a lot of heavy topics such as grief and addiction, with an interesting commentary on the price of fame and exactly how much of your life is your own when you become a person up for public consumption.

I adored Grey and Ethan - they will live rent free in my head and in my heart for a long time. These two come with a boatload of baggage and divorced, single dad, washed up movie star/screen writer/Oscar winner Ethan, especially, is battling a whole lot of metaphorical demons. Ethan gave me Ben Affleck vibes but with way more charm and charisma and sweetness and kindheartedness and compassion (in Batffleck's defense, I don't know him personally, obvs, and maybe he too has these qualities.)

There's also his ex wife, former model turned actress turned movie producer and the mother of his young kids, Nora Lind, giving off major Jen Garner vibes. I love that the ex in this book wasn't used as a prop and vilified for the express purpose of propping up the new love interest. She was fully formed, her own person, entirely sympathetic and ended up becoming good friends with and a really great source of support for Grey Brooks.

That leads me to Grey, the FMC. I adored her. I can't quite come up with an IRL Hollywood counterpart for her, but think up and coming star, once a pretty well known tv star, now struggling to revitalize her career. Grey had her own issues, partially stemming from the fact that she's been in the business since she was a child and at a very young age, became partially financially responsible for her family's well being. I loved that all these issues were addressed with a lot of nuance and the complex emotions one might have stemming from these life experiences were explored with a lot of sensitivity.

Ethan and his demons stem from a lot of childhood trauma (alcoholic and abusive dad, mother passed away) and coalesced to full blown addiction issues in his adult life when his best friend and writing partner passed away in a car accident. Ethan feels personally responsible for Sam's death and his way of dealing with the grief has been to try and hold on to the past with a tightfisted grip and completely ignore his present and future.

I don't read a lot of romances that take on addiction and I don't have much personal experience with it but to me, all of this was handled in a realistic manner. There were no quick fixes, no easy solutions served up, no magical vagina/love cures all. No, it was painful and brutal and the dark moment is about as dark as one might expect from a book where the MMC is presently dealing with alcohol addiction. It was real and it was gritty and it was uncomfortable to watch the hero of this romance novel be brought to his proverbial knees before he could be raised back up. And it needed to happen. He needed to crash (I speak metaphorically here, he didn't literally crash). And even when he is raised back up, it happens with the full acknowledgment that it's hard, that every day will be a choice he makes, that some days will be hard and some days will be easier. Which seems true to life.

All of this works because of the literary device the author chooses towards the end of the book and I don't want to spoil it but I'm glad it was written the way it was, because it made the struggle believable and therefore, made the work to earn the trust back more believable.

Just in case you're wondering, it's a lot of drama and angst, but there are moments of fun and levity and a LOT of steam (this is very much an "open door" romance, a pun you will only understand if you read the book). It's tropey with the fake relationship and forced proximity and even a case of only one bed but it's way more than a bunch of tropes cobbled together. It's a book that breaks you into pieces before putting you back together again, a bit stronger and more resilient than you started. And now I can just imagine Grey stating, "you're all so fucking dramatic," in response to that line.

TL;DR: it's good, I loved it.

ARC from publisher via Netgalley, opinions all mine.

CW: off page child abuse in the past, toxic parental relationships, off page death of friend, related emotional trauma from grief and loss, on page and off page alcohol and drug abuse, gross invasion of privacy;

As someone who devours all things hollywood, I find myself asking ‘how on earth are these two people dating?’ quite often. When I heard about this book, I knew it was right up my alley. Written from the perspective of Grey and Ethan, we dive into topics of grief, insecurity, and challenging family dynamics.

Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC!

Well that was spicy! Loved the characters (I pictured Ben affleck, don’t judge) and the female lead was cool and spunky. It was fun seeing the inner lives of the rich and famous. They’re people too! Recommend for a great summer beach read.

I really enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood. It is not a light and fluffy romance - it deals with some tough topics such as alcoholism and emotional trauma/death of a loved one. However, at it's very heart it is a romance, and I love a good fake dating trope.

The characters spend a long time denying their feelings for each other. Ethan doesn't think he would be good for anyone to be in a relationship with, and Grey is attracted to him but knows he is not attracted to her and so wants to be professional and keep her distance. When they finally do get together it is very satisfying, but they've decided it is only for the weekend. Then of course there is a problem that pulls them apart. However, the plot arc is slightly different from the typical romance, which I enjoyed.

I liked Grey's character, and was conflicted about Ethan's. I liked him at times, and then didn't at others. I did feel like he was a pretty well-written character. I liked the side characters too, although we don't learn very much about them. There is some good representation in the side characters, but we don't see them much.

Overall I thought it was a really good story. The ending was satisfying, even though things may have been forgiven a bit too quickly. If you want a celebrity fake-dating trope that goes a little deeper, I would definitely recommend this book!

How to Fake it in Hollywood is available June 14th. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. Although it is a romance book it is also a book that explores hard-hitting topics such as grief and alcoholism that were handled really well. This was not really a light-hearted book which is what I initially expected, however, I think I loved it a lot more because of how it was a romance book that wasn't specifically focused on the romance.

Initially, I wasn't that crazy about <i>How to Fake It in Hollywood</i> because the romance happens pretty quickly and there's not a ton of tension at the beginning of their story. However, I'm really glad I stuck with it because the book takes an unexpected turn and gets a little more serious than what I anticipated. I think at times that can make the book feel a bit uneven (starts out pretty fluffy, gets quite a bit dark towards the end). Grey, the protagonist, isn't a wishy-washy character and I think that's what makes the second half of the book more compelling.

That said, the book could do with a bit more editing if the ARC I read is close to the final copy. From grammar issues (refers to Grey as him a few times), to factual errors (Cape May, NJ doesn't have a boardwalk that you can go under) to plot details that seem to get left out (why is Ethan handcuffed at the funeral??).

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This rom-com was easy to read and decently enjoyable. I liked both characters and found their stories easy to relate to. I also love the name Grey! It includes some more difficult subjects, but the author did a good job. I'm also reading the Bodyguard at the same time, so the storyline of "faking" a relationship is not new! I did like this one,

4.5 ⭐️. This was a very well done fake-dating trope using actors Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins. Perfect for summer, this romance is fun, while also giving the reader characters with substance and struggles. Fans of romances that aren’t too “fluffy” will definitely like this one. In particular, I think the last few chapters were strong, and I liked the way Wilder decided to write the ending.

I could not put this book down! Fell asleep a few times while reading late at night, but I immediately picked it back up as soon as I woke up and finished in just a few days.

Ava Wilder is excellent at developing the characters of Grey and Ethan, two Hollywood stars that need a boost for their careers. Ethan hasn't done much in the past five years since his best friend died and he divorced his wife. Grey is trying to jumpstart her adult career after having been in the industry since she was eight years-old. Their mutual Hollywood publicist friend creates a plan for them to "fake date" to boost their celebrity status. Reluctantly, they both agree. Sparks fly, frustrations rise, and scandals ensue. Addictions are discovered, and they both have to come to terms with their inner demons.

How to Fake It in Hollywood brings to mind many relationships we follow in the media, but this one particular couple has you rooting for them to make it. There are multiple swoon worthy moments as well as comical moments. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a love story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NeGalley for this digital ARC. The opinions express are my own.

🕶 How To Fake It in Hollywood 🕶

“This shouldn’t be about repairing what was broken. It should be about creating something new. Something beautiful. Together.”

In this beautiful debut novel, Ava Wilder tells a moving personal growth story that deals with grief, alcoholism, and finding who you are. Grey and Ethan initially enter into a contractually defined relationship to help both of their images as Hollywood stars. But what follows is a love story giving both of them more than they bargained for, and challenging them more than anticipated.

This was a beautiful moving story. I would not classify it as a romance, so much as a personal growth story with a side of romance. The themes can feel heavy at times, so make sure you are prepared for that. Content warnings aside, I highly recommend this one.

Check it out if you are looking for:
🕶 Dual POVs
🕶 Hollywood glamour and the associated lifestyle of actors
🕶 Themes of overcoming grief and dealing with trauma
🕶 A beautiful love story about want and not need because, “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.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC! How to Fake It in Hollywood is on shelves June 14!

Content warnings for death, grief, addiction, and alcoholism.
How to Fake It in Hollywood is a wonderful debut novel from Ava Wilder perfect for readers in search of angst and spice. Ethan Atkins has kept out of the limelight since his best friend and longtime creative partner died in a car accident. Grey Brooks has been struggling to keep her career as an actress moving forward since the end of her teen soap opera, which has her agreeing to her publicist's plan of setting her up with the reclusive actor for some much needed mutually beneficial attention.
I loved the slow burn between Grey and Ethan, that once sparked, was explosive. The storyline kept me captivated and rooting for them to admit their feelings for each other. I enjoyed Grey as a character, and think Wilder did a great job of keeping her likable, when it could have been so easy to make her vapid and annoying. There was a point towards the end of the middle section that had me incredibly annoyed and aggravated with Ethan, but I think that's the point. Since his best friend's death, Ethan has struggled with grief and alcoholism. As he gets to know Grey better, we see him start to change, but when things get hard, he falls back to his old coping mechanisms. I really appreciated that when Ethan eventually goes to rehab at the end, he makes that choice himself, not because others made him go. The last couple of chapters really had me loving Ethan again after being frustrated with him.
I recommend this book if you are looking for a romance filled with angst with tropes of one bed, fake dating, just this once, and single parent.

This was an amazing debut novel by Ava Wilder. I really enjoy romance books that delve deeper into real issues and show the emotional growth of the characters and this book did just that.

Grey Brooks is struggling to make it in Hollywood after her long running teen soap has ended. She has aspirations to successfully get her screenplay co-written with her bff off the ground. She can't seem to catch a break with a new role, so when her publicist approaches her with a fake-dating relationship with the reclusive and uber famous Ethan Atkins, she decides she has to consider the opportunity.

Since the tragic death of his best friend and writing partner, Ethan has become a recluse and shut himself off from as many interactions as possible. He's divorced with two kids who he only gets to see occasionally after going through a messy split from his ex. His struggles with his grief are front and center when he consistently drowns his problems in a bottle.

When the two meet to decide on whether they should fake date, there is instant chemistry. There's a lot of push and pull between them, with Ethan's reluctance to let anyone, and Grey's fear to do that as well. You can see how each of them does see the other for who they really are, and slowly their bond grows as they get to really know one another.

The issues of addiction and grief are front and center in this book, so please know going in you are going to be exposed to more than just a love story. It's deep and a bit heartbreaking to see all the issues Ethan struggles with and these scenes are written on page. I thought it was very well done and handled with the sensitivity it needed.

This story moved me and I was so hooked from the start. I wanted even more of Grey and Ethan once I finished but I will say the Epilogue in this book is *chef's kiss* perfection and was one of the most creative epilogues I've read. It really made me smile!

CW: addiction, alcoholism, grief, non-consensual release of naked photos, parent physical abuse briefly mentioned, parent abandonment

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

How to Fake It in Hollywood was suggested to me buy some of my friends on Bookstagram and HOLY CRAP am I excited to have received this arc early! (thank you NetGalley and RandomHouse for the advanced copy!)

Alright this is such a fun read. I ADORE pop culture and I am one of those humans that watches the Kardashians and any other docuseries about stars so this was right up my alley. Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins are both Hollywood stars, one a bit more famous than the other, but both not without their own problems they have to work on. When their publicist (who is a gem imo) suggests they start a "fake relationship" to help both of their careers, they agree.

Now this book is a rom-com delight, with a delightful amount of spice, but without spoilers it also really touches on alcoholism/drug abuse/verbal abuse and a few other triggers so be warned heading into it. As an alcoholic myself (almost 6 years sober this year!) I felt a lot of those arguments and internal battles all too well. Thank you SO much Ava, this was a really really good read.

After reading the synopsis for this book, I was instantly sold. Fake dating, one bed troupe, bickering and sexy time. What more could you possibly want?

We follow Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins who are both Hollywood stars. After Grey’s teen soap comes to an end, she’s struggling to keep her career afloat. Ethan on the other hand is just trying to stay under the radar and find his way back to himself. When their publicists suggest a fake dating PR stunt, they both surprisingly agree.

I knew going into this that it was obviously a romance but I wasn’t expecting it to deal with a lot of serious topics as well. Alcoholism is a huge part of this story as well as loss of a loved one. I think it was portrayed very well throughout the book and beautifully written. I loved the character development as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this book. Its very fast paced and has the perfect amount of spice. Perfect book to read by the pool with a nice margarita. I highly recommend picking this one up on June 14th!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc!

This is a fantastically fun read while also being very real and compelling. I'm a huge pop culture fan so this fictional glimpse into a fake Hollywood couple that turns real hooked me. The chemistry between Grey and Ethan is as real as their many issues. This book does not shy away from the darker side of life including death, addiction, and grief.

I would highly recommend my other friends, especially those who love pop culture, to read this one. It gives me vibes of Taylor Jenkins Reid mixed with Robinne Lee's "The Idea of You."

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for an ARC of this #HowtoFakeItinHollywood.

This book needs some trigger warnings! I was not ready for the heaviness of it.. I enjoyed Grey and Ethan's story but the rom-com just wasn't there for me. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the book! I did, there was some fun banter, an interesting story line and Hollywood is always fun to read about! Overall, a good read! Just not a rom-com for me!

As a pop-culture-a-holic, I really love any book that references Hollywood life, so I was immediately drawn to this book. Grey and Ethan were such dynamic characters, and it was addictive to follow their "relationship." Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I picked this book up once before and I actually don’t know why I didn’t start it, but I’m honestly sad I didn’t. I loved this book and the messages the author wove through.

I really loved Grey’s character and I loved watching Ethan grow. I think there was such an important lesson in this book: you can want someone to change/better themselves but it doesn’t matter how much if they aren’t willing/ready to change. I also think this serves as a reminder, that celebrities are people too though we don’t always treat them that way.

If you like fake-dating, forced proximity and celebrities, this is for you. I know I will be preordering it.

Here’s my thing: I didn’t love this book. I had SUCH high hopes after reading the summary combined with the cover. I was expecting light, rom-com vibes. That isn’t the case, it’s much more. It touches on some pretty heavy topics (grief and addiction to name a few. Definitely check TW before attempting to read).

This book follows Grey and Ethan, both actors, both are given the opportunity to change the narrative of their careers by getting into a fake relationship.

I just couldn’t get past the execution of the tropes. It has a HEA, so I guess it wrapped up nicely in the end.

HOWEVER! I do recognize that I tend to read books with more of a critical eye (I can’t help itttt). Give this book a try!!! It might be your bread and butter!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.