Grey and Ethan, both Hollywood stars agree to enter a fake relationship in order to boost their images to the public eye. If they break the contract it will cost them a million bucks. Ethan doesn’t make it easy for Grey and just when it does seem to become smooth sailing they get caught up in a scandal started by the paparazzi. I wasn’t sure how the book would end, it was a slow burner which included lots of built up tension and some spicy scenes. While funny and light at times the author worked in some dark and complex struggles that both of the characters faced and overall it was a much better read than anticipated. I’ll be recommending this book this summer!

“Being around her felt like parts of him were being switched on that he’d never known existed. It petrified him.”

Let’s start with the top tier trope: Fake Dating. Two Hollywood stars who enter into a fake relationship at the behest of their publicist to boost their images. I am OBSESSED with it.

Ethan & Grey are both very layered and flawed characters, and their story had so much heart. I constantly felt myself rooting for them, together and alone.

Not a just a rom-com, this book also looks at the darker side of fame and coping mechanisms. I liked Ethan and Grey’s banter early on as they fought their interest in each other. As things got real, it got darker and full of angst. I liked the main characters and the story overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I really enjoyed this book! I never read a book with celebrities liked this and enjoyed it as much as this one: will definitely be reading more from this author!

I absolutely loved this book. Ethan and Grey's relationship had so many layers and their connection was so meaningful and fun to read about. I loved Ethan's development and I also liked how Grey wasn't quick to trust him again. It felt real and I liked how they didn't get a 100% perfect ending. Great read overall!

I went into this book expecting a cute rom com. I got that, but with so much more emotion and hard topics. This book does contain addiction and alcoholism. It shows the struggle of it a bit and how it can affect relationships. The author created an atmosphere in this book that was so realistic. It was just fantastic. It showed human growth and how sometimes you have to make the hard decisions. I just absolutely loved it. I loved the characters and their relationships. I loved the Hollywood aspect of it. I highly recommend this!

This was a fun slow burn rom-com read between Grey and Ethan, who are both trying to get careers back on track. Both are former Hollywood movie stars that have been in the tabloids lately, and not for good reasons. Their publicists concoct a crazy idea that they should "fake" date and perhaps churn up some positive news for once? Will they fall for one another, or will one of them take the other down?

I enjoyed reading this book and it made me wonder if any Hollywood relationship was real or if most were made for the camera! LOL.

This is not your light-hearted rom/com despite its use of tropes (fake dating, forced proximity). There’s more emotion and depth as well as some intense subject matter: addiction, invasion of privacy, death of loved ones.

This is a slow burn romance with lots of tension.

Grey is an actress coming off of a successful series but she’s hoping to get a movie she’s writing with her best friend made and struggling to get meetings with the right people. While she’s waiting to hear about a blockbuster film she’s up for, she’s restless and spends most nights alone. She is set up with Ethan who needs some positive publicity as he’s planning to make a comeback after been a teen star and successful actor, writing a script and starring in a film with his best friend, Sam who died tragically. Ethan’s marriage ended and he’s been hiding out, getting drunk ever since.

This is partly a story about redemption and partially about grief and loneliness and the dark side of fame. There’s romance but not comedy. I’d say this is women’s fiction with open door scenes. It’s tough not to root for Grey and Ethan. The conversations they have seem real, even the snarky ones. The side characters are diverse and lovely, adding to a rich set of relationships in Grey and Ethan’s lives. I particularly appreciate how Ethan’s ex is portrayed. I’d read a spin off book about her finding love after her divorce from Ethan! I loved her!!

I read this quickly, and found myself needing to know what happened. The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is that I wish I’d had a little more of the healthy relationship rather than just the epilogue and in that the pacing felt off. I wondered if there was more and chapters were cut.

I don’t think the cover does this justice, at all. I don’t dislike it but I find illustrated covers don’t always reflect the serious content.

4.5 stars

Grey Brooks is struggling to find work now that her hit teen drama show ended but has been unsuccessful. When the opportunity arises to audition for a life-changing role, Grey will do anything to help her chances of landing the gig-- even if that means agreeing to let her publicist set her up in a fake relationship. Ethan Atkins was once a Hollywood heartthrob. But after a nasty (and very public) divorce, substance abuse issues, and the tragic loss of his best friend and creative partner, Sam, Ethan has taken a step back from the limelight. Ethan has always wanted to make the last film he and Sam had been working on, but before he can, he needs to clean up his act and show the world he's stable. It doesn't take long for the gossip columns to latch on to Hollywood's newest It couple, but will Grey and Ethan be able to keep up the charade once real feelings start getting involved?

My biggest takeaway from this was that I kind of love the celebrity romance trope. I haven't read much of them, but what I have I've enjoyed. I liked the characters and thought they had great chemistry. I liked getting a little peek behind the scenes of Hollywood, and how the characters handled what was thrown at them. At times, this felt less about the romance and more about someone knowing they've reached rock bottom and deciding to get help. I liked watching Ethan realize it was finally time to face his grief and addictions, and Grey supporting him was sweet. That said, I think there was a smidge too much drama in here that led to way too many conflicts. One would happen, and you'd think that was it, but then you'd get hit with another, and then another. It made the story feel a lot longer than it is. Aside from that, I enjoyed it.

How To Fake It In Hollywood has several very popular tropes like fake dating, age gap, celebrity romance and dual POVs. I was drawn in primarily by the promise of fake dating and the amazing cover.

Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes - I love when the couple is forced into awkward or hilarious situations while trying to keep up the ruse. We didn't get much of that in this book though.

I liked this book. It was just very different from what I expected. I went in thinking it would be a fun and glamorous celebrity romance book. Yet the book is actually pretty heavy. The male MC struggles with grief, depression and alcoholism throughout the majority of the book. Typically in a romance book I'm eagerly awaiting the Happily Ever After. But here it felt like I was anxiously awaiting for a bomb to go off.

If you like a romance book that deals with serious topics or celebrity life then you will like this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the ARC. How To Fake It In Hollywood will be out on June 14!

Rating: 3.75

How to Fake it in Hollywood was a great contemporary romance debut. I did enjoy this book overall as there were some heartfelt, amusing and enjoyable moments.

However, it was definitely not as lighthearted as I had originally expected, as there were some heavy topics and elements throughout the story. So I would recommend just checking the content and trigger warnings before reading.

It is dual POVs of the main characters and has the fake dating and age gap trope, which I enjoyed.

The overall premise was quite entertaining with the celebrity and Hollywood aspect. The discussions around PR stunts, a celebrities privacy and the downside of fame were well explored and written. Again, the story and the main characters dealt with a lot of heavy and heartbreaking issues so it definitely wasn’t a romantic comedy but more of a contemporary romance.

The main characters storylines and self-growth were definitely well written. They each had some emotional journeys and I really just liked how they both sought out professional help and took their time to heal.

The romantic development between them while a bit slow and underwhelming at times was still quite enjoyable. They did have some heartwarming, amusing, angsty and spicy moments. I just would have like more communication between them.

I will also say that the last few chapters did feel somewhat rushed, as I would have liked just a bit more of the hero’s recovery. The time jump just felt like an easy fix to be honest, but the epilogue was quite heartwarming.

Overall, just a great and enjoyable debut from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An underrated starlet and a reclusive A-list star enter into a fake dating arrangement with the goal of benefiting their careers: boosting Gray’s stagnant career and staging Ethan’s comeback after five years out of the spotlight. They soon realize the extent of their chemistry and connection, and we see them navigate the complications of their unexpected, very real romance.

The book begins with all the hallmarks of a classic fake dating story. However, it becomes clear about halfway through that the trope won’t be the defining element of the book and you’re in for a more character-driven story.

We’re introduced to the MC’s issues early on: Gray trying to overcome being typecast while dealing with the sexist and superficial nature of Hollywood. Ethan continues to struggle with grief after his friend’s death five years ago and the addiction-riddled, self-destructive path it led him down.

As the MC’s relationship develops, the true depth of Ethan’s issues comes to light. Wilder effectively depicts the selfishness of addiction, while keeping you invested in his character so you don’t end up hating him. She also artfully illustrates the experience of those around him: the pain of loving an addict, the struggle to establish boundaries, and the helplessness of caring for someone consumed by grief.

I was impressed (and relieved) how Wilder addressed complex issues without leaving me emotionally drained (I’ve been burned too many times by that!) Her writing style draws you in and keeps you fully immersed in the story. There’s real angst, but it’s balanced well with substantial character development, dry humor, banter, and palpable chemistry and steam.

I really enjoyed this book despite feeling a bit misled by the romcom-esque cover. I’m pleased to say Wilder still delivered a great read, regardless of my initial expectations. I wish the last 15% of the book had unfolded a little differently, but that being said, the final scene and epilogue do give a well-deserved sense of closure.

I highly recommend this book! Be sure you add it to your summer TBR and grab it on June 14 when it hits shelves!

How to Fake It in Hollywood includes all of my favorite things in a book; fake dating, celebrities and the rumor mill. I really enjoyed the story of Grey & Ethan and their unique needs for a publicity stunt relationship. I loved that the author was able to explore the different nuances between men and women’s relationship with celebrity itself and fans' relationship with celebrities. This is not just a light, easy romance read. Some of the characters are working through some dark and deep experiences, so make sure to check the content warning before reading. The relationship between Grey & Ethan did feel rushed at some points, but I was fully invested in the characters and the story that it didn’t take anything away from the story for me. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my friends and followers!

I devoured this book! A PR stunt that becomes so much more? Sign me up! It was so much more than a romance. This book tackled alcoholism, grief, insecurity and learning how to deal with those lingering thoughts in your head.

We meet Grey who is really trying to bring her acting career to the next level and Ethan, a Ben Affleck if Matt Damon died tragically. They have an instant spark after being set up by their publicist in hopes that their relationship will propel them both into the spotlight. Their connection is undeniable and the journey only starts there before we are thrown into a whirlwind.

LOVED THIS BOOK!

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book!
This story was perfectly written and executed, with perfect character development. The author made you fall in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other. But I think the reason I loved this book the most, is how the characters worked through their issues. Not only did they work on them together as a couple, but they realized at what point they needed to figure things out on their own. It’s not always realistic that every couple can work through their problems together, which was why this story was so beautiful. Ethan and Grey didn’t need each other to be the best version of themselves, they chose each other to help them. And to get to that point, they needed time alone to resolve some deep rooted issues. Easily one of my top reads of 2022, I can’t wait to get my hands on this physical copy in June! If this is Ava Wilder’s debut novel, she has immediately made her way to being an auto-buy author for me.

How to Fake It In Hollywood grabbed from the very beginning and never let me go. I obviously knew the set-up- a fake romance for publicity- but I didn’t know how much depth this book would have. Without giving too much away, Grey and Ethan both have past trauma and issues from their families, and we see a lot of talk about substance abuse and learning to trust yourself and your partner. This book was the perfect combination of a fun romance and a book about becoming the best version of yourself for yourself.

I had this at 5 stars originally, but the more I ruminated on it upon finishing, the less stars I thought it deserved. There was nothing explicitly bad about How to Fake It in Hollywood; I found Grey and Ethan to be charming and entertaining, but their chemistry felt...rushed? Forced? Meh? I know as an enemies-to-lovers you're gonna get from A to B, but I felt the author just hurtled both characters from really disliking each other to being absolutely obsessed with each other; the slow burn lacked finesse. Additionally, I'm not a person who requires trigger warnings, but I was surprised to find how much this book circled around alcoholism. It didn't bother me, I just felt for what was touted to the reader as a fun little forced dating rom-com, it was a bit serious. Overall I really enjoyed this first novel from Ava Wilder and will definitely be reading her future writings!

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine publishers for this ARC!! My review is 100% my own honest thoughts and opinions.

How to Fake It In Hollywood truly gives us the best of the best when it comes to fake dating. We all have that celebrity couple we’re convinced is purely for PR and now Ava Wilder has taken that idea and ran with it. It was a quick fun read with great characters and a great message.

Grey Brooks was a strong main character with much to love. I did find I wish we had a little more information on her background. Her character felt extremely untrusting and alone and although there was family trauma I never felt like we got to the root of that. Ethan Atkins was obviously flawed and messy and we spent a lot of time focused on his addiction issues. Grey and Ethan really grew in to themselves as a couple and I loved that Wilder showed that Ethan needed to grow on his own first before he and Grey would ever succeed. (And don’t get me started on Palm Springs okay)

The side characters in this book were incredible. I especially loved Nora for taking Grey under her wing. Kamilah was special and I even loved Mia and Lucas even though we didn’t get to see much of them other than a few paragraphs.

Read if you love a fake dating trope, celebrity theories or blind item Tik Toks. Or if you just want to read a really cute book.

This was a very fun, but also surprisingly deep, romance novel set in Hollywood. Grey, an actress who has been out of work for a year, and Ethan, who became a recluse years ago but still maintains legendary status, decide to fake-date for publicity in order to get their careers back on track. It starts out as a fun journey, and continues to be entertaining throughout the novel, but there are some deeper elements, including discussion of alcoholism and the exploitation that takes place in Hollywood. I really appreciated these elements because they made our characters and their interactions so much more reflective of a modern day celebrity, rather than having everything be happy-go-lucky. Again, because of these real-life elements, the relationship progressed realistically and didn't seem insta-lovey or incomplete, but well-rounded and well-developed. I would highly recommend this one!

Going to this, I assumed it would be your typical fake dating trope story. While it definitely was that, Grey and Ethan’s story was so much more. Ethan and Grey’s relationship was complicated but amazing. I loved seeing Grey’s relationship with herself and her friends develop. Ethan’s character arc had me holding my breath because I was sure he would never get it together. The romance was great, the spice was on point, for me, and the story was endearing. I would definitely recommend this book to others and am so glad I read it!