Give me a romance with celebrities and I’m all in before you even tell me more, I’m not sure my Hollywood obsession will ever go away.

From the synopsis: A talented Hollywood starlet and a reclusive A-lister enter into a fake relationship . . . and discover that their feelings might be more than a PR stunt in this sexy debut for fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners.

So celebrities AND fake dating?! GIMME. Don’t let the cute cover fool you, this had some depth and explored some darker subject matter too. Sure, it had plenty of LA glitz and movie star glam but really it was much more than that surface level stuff. Grey and Ethan do not have an easy road to their HEA, the author really makes these two work for it, but the ending was SO worth it for me. I also appreciated that Ethan was an ass for a large part of the book, oftentimes the male hero in a romance is too perfect for words, which is fun. BUT seeing one with some serious issues that aren’t solved overnight was refreshing and ultimately more satisfying for me. I’m super impressed this is a debut and can’t wait to see what the author does next

I don't want to hurt the score of this one so I am giving it a five, but want to let you know that there was a glitch with my advanced copy and it downloaded fine, but when I went to read it-it says license has been issued by an expired certificate. This is odd because it's not even in my expiring soon category and is still a month from being published. Thanks for sending it and I hope it's an isolated incident so you get some feedback!

This book is exactly what I wanted / needed it to be and then some! I cannot believe this is a debut novel. I love a book with real characters - real people that you can’t help rooting for and this book was the perfect example. We love grit, growth, and giggles. THE BANTER TOO!! Omg, that’s how I knew I was going to rate this 5 stars. I loved the development of the characters throughout and, while this book does touch on some darker, more sensitive subjects, Wilder handles them with Grace. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Ava Wilder’s How to Fake It in Hollywood has some pretty big problems for me from a romance-reading perspective but the chemistry & connection between leads & the author’s writing style kept me reading even as I was feeling unsettled by the state of their relationship itself.

The biggest issue for me is that lead Ethan Atkins is an alcoholic who doesn’t seek professional help until 90+% of the book. Of course his alcoholism has had a big effect on his relationship with fellow actor Grey Brooks, who has her own issues & behaviors to work through (& in my opinion, also could have benefited from therapy).

So much of their relationship is complicated/damaged/threatened by alcoholism & their own unique issues associated with it & I would have loved to have seen the characters do the necessary work earlier in the book, & on page. When the reconciliation comes I’m supposed to take on faith that things will be different & better without seeing them do the work.

I have doubts about the couple moving forward, particularly because Grey’s own heavy drinking isn’t addressed & how that might affect Ethan’s own sobriety.

But in terms of what I liked, the writing style is easy, the convos between leads (when Ethan feels up to it) are flirty & also sweet, & the portrayal of friendship feels sincere & real.

This could have been a great romance for me, I think—there’s potential there—but it doesn’t work for me to have such a crippling issue not handled until the closing pages & without having the benefit of “seeing” it for myself.
3.5 ⭐️. Release date: 06/14.




CWs: Grey was cheated on in the past. Drug use in present & references to it in the past. Heavy drinking. Paparazzi took photos of them having sex without their permission & published them. Grey kisses someone else when they’ve implicitly broken up. References to parental abuse. Parental manipulation.

​ID: a white hand holds up the ebook in a greenhouse.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. How to Fake It in Hollywood hits shelves on June 14!

I struggled with how I wanted to rate this book because I honestly thought it would be a higher rating. The writing is pretty easy to get into and you have the familiar romance tropes of: grumpy/sunshine, age gap, strangers to lovers. Even with the easy writing, Grey and Ethan's relationship felt very forced and lacking something. They didn't really have any witty banter or an awkward scenes to help bring that chemistry forward. Instead we are left with an almost cringeworthy relationship.

The biggest thing that had me dock stars is how the author glides over some pretty dark topics. I thought that I was getting a fluff rom-com but this book talks about alcohol abuse, depression, grief, etc. I wished the author chose one avenue and stuck with that.

Are we getting a rom com? Then tailor back some of the darker aspects and add in more humor.
Are we getting a deep story? Then add in the dark aspects but try not to add too much banter.

his was such a miss for me. Wow. I really really wanted to like it…

Fake dating? Check. Fame? Check. One bed? Check.

But when it came down to it this book had a lot of really dark elements, almost flippantly thrown in there. Grey’s complicated relationship with her mother (which never got resolved btw), alcoholism and substance abuse, some serious gaslighting and manipulative behavior, vanity, depression, grief through loss of a loved one, divorce and custody battles, co-dependency… you name it and honestly, this book had one or more characters struggling with it.

I thought this would be a light, fun, playful fake-dating romcom but instead it was really heavy.

I was OBSESSED with it and these characters for the first 60% of the book… then, after their little PR stunt of a vacation and the ensuing conflict/resolution I felt like the book should’ve ended there. Instead, we proceed to the problematic 40% at the end. With another big implosion and subsequent resolution that seemed way too quick and way too tidy for the caliber of conflict.

As a whole I did not enjoy Ethan or Grey as they both had issues and very little on page chemistry… I cant tell you the number of times I read “companionable silence” UGH *snooze!* Ethan was super complex and had so much to unpack (all of which were super problematic) and Grey was so shallow and extremely vain… most of chapter 2 was her admiring herself and trying discern what other people think of her.

Overall, I do not recommend. But as always, do your research and read the more glowing reviews as well.

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

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

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was Ava Wilder’s debut book and WOW did it blow me away! This book not only has an incredible romance between two well-developed MC’s, but also realistic character growth and touches on some hard subjects.

I loved the slow burn of the romance between Grey & Ethan and LOVED the chemistry and sexual tension between them. Their connection was undeniable and I felt so invested in their story.

Read this book if you like:
- faking dating 👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻
- actor/actress romance 🎥 ❤️
- spice 🌶
- age-gap romance
- fun banter

This was such a fantastic debut & I CANNOT wait to read the next book by Ava Wilder!!!

Thank you Dell and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of How to Fake it in Hollywood. I absolutely loved this book so much! I loved Grey and Ethan so much. I will be definitely buying a copy when it comes out.

At first glance, this book seems like a fun, light romcom but this book packed so much more. This is book was an emotional journey that left my heart aching at time for all of the characters.

Grey Brooks is just finishing her lengthy stint on a hit teen soap opera and struggling to be taken seriously and get some good new projects. Ethan Atkins is a former Hollywood star and Oscar winner who after several personal tragedies just wants to hole up in his house and be left alone. Ethan and Gray have the same publicist who decides they both need a PR boost and what better way than to pair them together for a fake dating scheme to put them both on the map. While they are both awkward and hesitant at first, they soon realize that they chemistry they are supposed to be faking is more real than they both care to admit. But will past traumas, new scandals, and the pressure of the industry be more than they can handle?

All I can say about this book is WOW. It was an emotional journey from beginning to end. Ethan's character especially is dealing with some demons that the author really beautifully describes so that at times your heart just aches for him. This book has:

*fake dating;
*Hollywood celebs and all that comes with that media attention;
*the "let's just get it our of our system" moment (which never works ha ha);
*sweet moments between Ethan and his 2 girls;
*example of a good relationship between co-parents/ex-spouses
*scandal, intrigue, and heartache.

I went into this book totally expecting a fluffy fake dating rom com and left with a huge appreciation for Wilder's ability to write such heavy topics as the ones addressed in this book with grace, care, and dignity. I thought Books and Ethan were fun to read and had so much chemistry.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author! This is a great debut you don't want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

CW: child abuse (off page); addiction (on page); loss of a friend, past; car accident, past.

✨ARC Review✨

Grey and Ethan are two actors with careers that have somewhat fizzled. They are convinced to “fake date” as a PR stunt for a career boost, but it turns into more.

This was a debut novel for this author, and although I did enjoy it, I didn’t absolutely love it. The pacing felt slow, and I had a hard time staying engaged. It didn’t feel like one of those books that hooks you immediately and turns into a binge-worthy read that you don’t want to put down. With all of that being said, it had redeeming qualities as well including nice banter, sexual tension, and good character growth.

Read If You Love:
-fake dating
-grumpy x sunshine
-slow burn
-sexual tension

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (3.5/5)
Steam Factor 🔥🔥/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this eARC! How To Fake It In Hollywood is out June 14th!

A fun, well-written romance that makes full use of a few of my favorite tropes - fake dating (and for once done in a way where it actually makes sense!), celebrity romance, and that delightful classic, only one bed. I found the plot and pacing were strong, the characters well-developed, and both the jokes and the angst landed - but I ended the story thinking these two shouldn't be together, for all their sizzling chemistry, and that isn't really the attitude I want to end a romance novel with. I just felt their issues (let's be clear, mostly his) couldn't be resolved quite so easily, and a 16-months-later conclusion doesn't make up for the fact that they'd probably both be better off working on themselves alone rather than as a couple. Still, a fast and enjoyable read, and I'll certainly keep an eye on Ava Wilder's work in the future!

CWs: Alcoholism and other substance abuse, grief, privacy violations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another strong debut that will have me following Ava Wilder for future books, How to Fake it in Hollywood is a solid venture into the celebrity lives of two Hollywood actors. Child actor Emily “Grey” Brooks and former A-lister Ethan Atkins contractually agree to a dating publicity stunt, hoping to improve their desirability and visibility in the cut throat Hollywood scene.
Instant attraction has these two navigating the awkwardness of attempting to be seen in public very much in love, but also figuring out how to tamp down that attraction in private as they learn each other. How to Fake it in Hollywood isn’t just your average fake-dating hijinxs trope; it is infused with real world problems, namely alcoholism, loss of a long-time friend, divorce, and family trauma. Grey and Ethan are forced to handle these issues under the confines of a paparazzi scrutinizing lens and attempt to see if what they have is more than just contractual.
I would hesitate to say this is a rom-com although there are definitely some laugh out loud moments, but more so a modern-day romance with characters attempting to discover who they are and how to love in their scrutinizing society. I immediately liked Grey from the start and found her frankness and openness refreshing. Ethan is a categorically attractive older wisened actor that has a slight Peter Pan complex, made more so by the fact that he has hidden himself away from the public eye for several years after the death of his friend Sam. I found myself wishing and hoping these characters would make good decisions, but then found myself rooting for them even when they didn’t. This book was excellent at building expectations and asking the reader to trust in the promise of a happy ever after (while putting you through it emotionally in the meantime!) Although kind of an insta-love match, the chemistry between Grey and Ethan seems very believable as he was her teen idol and she is the breath of fresh air he doesn’t expect. The slight electric current running throughout their exchanges only gets sharper as Grey and Ethan get to know one another better. I also found myself loving Nora, who redeems all ex-wives everywhere from being the vengeful petty type. She seriously seems to have loved Ethan and wants him to be better and she doesn’t hold it against Grey as his Nora 2.0.
Wilder has something special here, taking on a fake-dating, one-bed trope and infusing it with a dose of reality. Not always shiny or squeaky clean, I felt that How to Fake it in Hollywood was a fresh take on the romance genre, asking the reader to accept character flaws and trust in Wilder’s process. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reminded me too much of ‘The View is Exhausting’. If you’ve read one book on fake dating in Hollywood for publicity, you’ve read them all, right? Admittedly there was more substance in this book. A lot of talk about substance abuse, emotional damage and getting over trauma is included in the book. While I liked the character development of the male MC, the female MC was pretty stagnant throughout. A mediocre read for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good read on a rainy day. I read it in one sitting.

Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen TV show has her (unsuccessfully) pounding the pavement again. With a life-changing role on the line, she’s finally desperate enough to agree to her publicist’s scheme: fake a love affair with a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob who needs the publicity, but for very different reasons. Ethan Atkins just wants to be left alone. Between his high-profile divorce, struggles with drinking, and grief over the death of his longtime creative partner and best friend.

I enjoyed the progression of them starting to spend time together, to forming a friendship to wondering if there could be something more. I liked the characters and really enjoyed the chemistry. I would love additional books about other characters in this book!!

How to Fake it in Hollywood completely took me by surprise - an easy, funny read turned into the most intense sexual tension ever to be written. Author Ava Wilder captures the heart and souls of actors-with-emotional-baggage Grey and Ethan, with great character development and story arcs as they navigate through finding new love and heavier themes of addiction and survivor’s guilt. An enjoyable take on fake dating/enemies-to-lovers tropes, with a peek behind the glamour - How to Fake it in Hollywood is sure to please.

Wow. This was somehow everything and nothing I expected this book to be- in the best way! This story was so deep and real, dealing with issues that real people face. The relationships in HWTIIH were so beautiful in their own way, whether they were friendships, romantic involvements, exes, etc. There was just so much to love here!

What a good debut by Ava Wilder! I had only heard positive things about this one, so I was dying to get my hands on it and see for myself. I do have to say, it was heavier than I expected, so I had to adjust my mindset a little way into it. The tension between Grey and Ethan was palpable! The progression of their relationship felt very natural. I wish we would have seen more of Ethan's life during those 18 months at the end of the book-- even snippets of it. I knew when I got 90% in and there were still things to work out that I was going to be left wanting more. I just feel like we deserved to see him happy and healthy after going through his trauma with him for the whole book! And that we didn't really get to experience him with his kids or with Sam's parents after all the build up felt like a bit of a let down. But really, that's my only complaint-- I just wanted more! More closure. More happiness!

I look forward to Wilder's next book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

My favorite romance of 2022! I love these characters and the fake dating tropic. It's smart and sexy and fun - but also handles real life issues like alcoholism.

Such a cute book! Gotta love a fake dating story. I enjoyed the main characters and would recommend this book for my friends! Thank you!

Grey and Ethan.

When you start out fake dating in the spotlight what can go wrong?! Then add in real life? This couple deals with it all. Definitely fallen for these two and the growth of their characters was well done. Loved this book!