This book was just okay for me. The story was somewhat interesting but overall it was lacking. The chemistry between the main characters was not there for me. The romance was meh. I never truly believed the characters were in love, and I wasn’t in love with them towards the end. What I did enjoy was the author’s point of view in regards to addiction and grief. Those descriptions were very interesting, I was really invested in finding out about the sobriety and well being of one of the main characters. Something was missing overall to make me love this story. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many of my friends LOVED this book and raved about so I went in with high expectations. It was very well written and a good storyline but I think it ended up around 3.5 for me (I rounded up to a 4 here). It was a bit predictable and it took me a while to warm up to Ethan. I think my favorite part may have been the very end between the dark night and the reconciliation. Ethan was way more interesting of a character and I loved his personal storyline, peeling back and facing the layers of what made him who he was. Grey felt a bit one dimensional. I loved the Hollywood glamour and I'm always a fan of fake dating but this feel a little short for me.

BOOK REVIEW

How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder

Wow this debut novel has it all - romance, celebrity drama, fake dating, age gap, DILF, AND steam. Let me caution you though, this is not a light read like you may expect. While there is a ton of humor and fun, there’s also a lot of tough topics that I thought were handled very well.

I loved this cast of characters and was so invested in Grey and Ethan. Even the side characters were so interesting and played a really great role in the story. The writing was great and kept the story flowing in an interesting and page-turning way. I would highly recommend this one to others who are looking for some more depth to their romance novels.

Pub Day 6/14/22

Summary:
A reallly great debut, I expect this to be a big hit when it releases! It’s super fun with likable characters and has some pretty tough topics that were tackled in a realistic way. Highly recommend!

Thanks NetGalley for a book that was nothing like I was expecting. I thought it would be a fun fluff read. The book is great and well written, I fell in love with the characters quickly. A story about Hollywood actors who are fake dating and fall in love. But, the book is backed by a another plot: alcoholism.
You will be happy, laugh, and cry as you read through the pages of the book. You never know how alcoholism really is unless you've experienced it yourself and Ava Wilder does a fantastic job intertwining it in her book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Dell, for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

How to Fake It In Hollywood was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. I’m always wary of books that feature actors because I think anyone can attest to the distrust you feel when your occupation is featured in a story. It’s very easy for an author to get it wrong. And while that can be true, I didn’t think it was true of Ava Wilder’s portrayal of Hollywood or the pressures young actors feel.

This story is very well balanced between the fun, glamourous, swoony sides of a Hollywood Romance with the gritty, emotional, tragic aspects of fame. I loved the characters so much, especially the growth we got to journey with them on. I could relate to so many aspects of Grey and Ethan, though I will never ever be that famous lol.

Synopsis:

“Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen 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, Ethan slowly has let himself fade into the background. But if he ever wants to produce the last movie he and his partner wrote together, Ethan needs to clean up his reputation and step back into the spotlight. A gossip-inducing affair with a gorgeous actress might be just the ticket, even if it’s the last thing he wants to do.

Though their juicy public relationship is less than perfect behind the scenes, it doesn’t take long before Grey and Ethan’s sizzling chemistry starts to feel like more than just an act. But after decades in a ruthless industry that requires bulletproof emotional armor to survive, are they too used to faking it to open themselves up to the real thing?” —StoryGraph

What I Liked:

The Tropes—Fake Dating wins the day again. It’s just SO GOOD. So good. And it’s a perfect Hollywood trope!

The Premise—I suppose this goes with the trope, but I just thought it was so fun. I don’t read a lot of age gap/single dad romances but this made me want to dip my toes in the waters.

The Mental Health Representation—Acting is a really difficult profession mentally. You’re dealing with your own traumas and issues while also uncovering those of characters. Oftentimes, people want to exploit your traumas and have you unload them for the sake of the project but that’s not healthy at all. I liked how Grey and Ethan exposed that side and we got to go on each of their journeys of healing.

Twist on the Third Act Break Up—I don’t know how to describe this without spoiling but I will say, there is double the pain 😳 but it’s worth it!

What Didn’t Work:

A Little Too Long Towards the End—There is a very important shift in the third act but for some reason, it made things feel overwritten. I flew through the first 75%.

Rehearsing for the Chemistry Read—I know it’s a romance novel, BUT just because it’s my profession I’m just gonna clarify something. In any rehearsal setting, no matter how casual, an actor ALWAYS asks for their scene partner’s consent to get physical. Always.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 1.5/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5

Content Warnings:

Drug Use, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of Friend, Driving Under the Influence, Revenge Porn/Sexual Harassment, Child Abuse

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was really interesting and the chemistry between Grey and Ethan was very believable AND fake dating?! Hello sign me up!! This started out as a cute rom-com but developed into some deeper topics and issues that made this book more than just a run of the mill romance novel. My biggest issue is more of a personal preference and that it is written in third person which is not my favorite writing style, but overall very enjoyable!! I will be looking out for Ava Wilder’s future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing my kindle copy to read!

This story hooked me from the beginning. I could not put this down! Grey and Ethan are so adorable, and the author had this reader rooting for them from the beginning.

Two Hollywood stars are in desperate need of a PR makeover... for different reasons.

Grey - is a childhood actress who seems to be having a hard time finding any serious work worthy to help her pay the bills, and put her name on - after a six season run on a prime time teen show. Her raw talent just doesn't seem to be enough despite her success on the show.

Ethan - is a Hollywood A-lister who tragically lost his best friend 5 years prior to this story. Since then, toxic behaviors have ruined his marriage, his ability to be out in public, and work on anything else career wise. With his future ability to parent his children on the line - he needs to reshape his image to the public eye.

The pair share a publicist, who schemes up the idea that the pair should undergo a 6-month fake dating arrangement. The idea is wild, and would lead to mutually beneficial results if done properly. If not, the fallout could be unimaginable. But... with great risk, comes great reward, right?

As the pair agree to this arrangement.. they find themselves catching real feelings. But, what happens when reality meets fantasy? Scandals, lies, paparazzi, family, and reputations thrown into the mix challenge this couple throughout their journey. But can their relationship survive it all.. when it was all based on a lie?

I love Ava's ability to develop strong characters in her writing. The ideation that although someone experiences extreme lows in life, and are capable of outstanding redemption is something I think more people need to be open to in this world. Bravo Ava, I am looking forward to reading more of your work in the future!

One of my favorite reads in a few weeks! It was easy to follow along and I read it in one sitting, in about 2 hours. When I originally read the book's summary I knew that I would enjoy reading it because it contained my favorite fake dating trope. However, I never read a fake dating trope that was a PR stunt, which intrigued me greatly. I was excited and surprised when Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine shared this copy with me.

The story is about a 27 year old (almost 28) actress, Grey, who is looking for her next big role. In order to help her grow her career she gets set up in a fake dating PR stunt with another famous actor, Ethan, who is grief stricken over the death of his close friend and is battling alcoholism. As Grey and Ethan get to know each other, their friendship and romance grows. But this isn't just any fake dating trope, there is also a fair share of drama that will leave the reader very invested.

When this book comes out this year in June, it will be a great hit! Especially if it becomes a fan favorite on booktok!

Once again, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

this book i was hooked and had it all. i will read more of this and author. I liked it all. Must read.

This book has one of the best tropes out there, fake dating. Ava Wilder was able to create the book with a deeper story than just the two characters having a fake dating type of relationship. Wilder showed the realistic character growth and chemistry between Grey and Ethan. The author had written about hard topics such as addiction, mental health, therapy, and grief very clearly and well. This book surprised me in the best way a book can. Thank you Netgalley, Random House publishing, and Ava Wilder for an Earc in exchange for an honest review.

How to Fake it in Hollywood is the kind of book that pulls you in on page one and doesn’t let go until you’ve finished it, and in a haze, you realize an entire day has passed…. So, the very best kind. The relationship between Grey and Ethan set against the backdrop of Hollywood made for such an entertaining read, which was only enriched by the realistic and human internal journeys they embark on. Wilder perfectly toes the line between funny, sweet, steamy, and serious— hitting all the right notes in this expertly paced story. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come, and I cannot wait to see what Wilder does next.

How to Fake It in Hollywood has one of the best tropes. Fake dating, So I thought it would be your normal rom-com. Instead of sweet romance I got angsty drama and heartbreak. This book includes some hard and touchy subjects and the author handled them wonderfully. With subjects like addiction, sexual assault, harassment, tragic death, grief, there's no insta-love. It was very much slow-burn. More than a celebrity fake dating romance, How to Fake It in Hollywood it a book with deep emotional character development, real angst, quick fire banter and good steamy times. Loved it.

4/5 stars. If you are somehow that does not enjoy corny romances this is more for you. This book covered serious topics like addiction, depression, and death of a loved one. I felt these were addressed in a way that was honest and accurate considering the unbelievable premise (although maybe my mind is changed on this because looking at you Kim and Pete).

I felt the chemistry between characters was clear, and I loved Grey and Nora's friendship. I felt like I understood all of the choices characters made, which sometimes isn't true in romances because they can just be outlandish. I loved how much everyone grew by the end of the book (no therapist girlfriends here).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the eARC!

This really wasn’t for me. I started this book with a very positive mindset because the tropes sounded amazing: a PR stunt, an age gap… it had all of the elements for me to like it. However, I found the relationship very toxic at so many levels.

To begin with, I think Ethan’s alcoholism wasn’t good representation. I am not an expert about addictions, not even close, but I think it should have been addressed way earlier, and in a different way. Nora was the only sensible one in this aspect. I’m glad he ended up going to rehab, but the reason was very wrong. The book tried hard to send a “love isn’t a cure” message but it failed. It absolutely was the vibe. Ethan had been an alcoholic for years but he didn’t realize until he met Grey. What about his daughters? He complains a lot about how his father was awful and he wanted to be a good father for his kids, but then, they were not part of his decision to get into therapy and rehab. It was all about Grey. It wasn’t right. As for Grey, I liked her at first and all throughout the book, but whenever she was with Ethan, both of their characters were extremely toxic for each other. I think the both of them fed each other’s worst sides. The first thing Grey tells Ethan after sixteen months without seeing each other because he was working on himself was “do you want to get a drink?” Girl…? It was just wrong.

I expected this book to be heavy because the blurb hints the alcoholism, grief and depression, but it wasn’t well done. I strongly believe they were better when they weren’t together.

Rating: 2/5
Steam: 2/5

TW: Alcoholism, grief, depression, stalking, drug use, divorce, parent abandonment, death of a loved one

Thanks to Random House for my ARC. This is my honest opinion, and I hope other readers can enjoy it more than I did.

Easily one of the best romances of the year! So much depth and emotion while also being sexy, fun, and fresh. I adored Ava WIlder's writing, and this felt like bingeing a really juicy TV show that you don't want to end. Ethan and Grey's chemistry was amazing, as were the personal journeys each had to go on to get their HEA. I can't wait to see what's next from this author!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of ‘How to Fake It in Hollywood’ by Ava Wilder. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story involves an A-list actor and a less famous television actor fake-dating to boost their careers. There was a lot of angst in their backstories and the author definitely seems to know a thing or two or has done research on the behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. Granted I don’t know anything about the industry so maybe it reads different to someone with that actual background. I liked how the author took aspects of pop culture that readers would be familiar with but changed them to fit the story. So the reader could recognize a movie but the title and the actors would be called something different in the book (probably also for legal reasons).

The relationship wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t dislike Grey but nor was I really rooting for her. I really don’t enjoy alcoholic characters so Ethan was especially difficult to root for. Their relationship just felt off to me. I didn’t believe in their attraction or chemistry. They get together way too fast and break up just as fast. I was also bothered by Grey getting high and thinking that excused her coming onto Ethan when he kept saying no. I feel like this has been bothering me more and more with a lot of dual POV romances where the reader is getting information from both POVs but the main characters don’t also have access to that information. If someone is saying ‘no’ even if the characters are attracted to each other then that is still the end of the conversation. The scene where Grey is high, gets rejected by Ethan, and goes to loudly pleasure herself in the next room read really uncomfortable for me even though he eventually joins in from his respective room. I just wish the consent had been handled better there. If the characters had been in reverse roles, that scene would have come across even worse if Ethan had been the aggressor.

I feel like a lot of people will probably like this book but I had my issues with it. I thought the setting and the celebrity world building were the most interesting parts of the story. The relationship just didn’t work for me personally.

Maybe this is another personal reading taste issue but I think I’m learning that I don’t enjoy stories with people having substance abuse problems (in this case largely alcohol but some drug use). While I’m glad Grey didn’t try to be the one to “fix” Ethan, it did feel a bit like rehab was used as a magical bandaid without showing much struggle or effort on Ethan’s part before he is forgiven. I feel this is an issue in a lot of contemporary romances lately where there’s a lot to unpack and heal from the third act breakup, but books don’t give that enough time and rush to the happily ever after.

3/5 stars

2.5. I will probably be in the minority with this one, but I didn't enjoy it. I really wanted to love this. I liked the Hollywood elements of the book, but I didn't buy the relationship and found it very boring. I couldn't wait for this to be over. :/

So much better than I expected. Perfect for the summer. Romcom and all. I loved it from beginning to end. Highly recommend!

Although the book involves fake dating Hollywood style, the author has given us a deeper story. The story felt real enough that I could picture any number of celebrities in our characters places. Actor Ethan Atkinson is struggling. After his best friend and writing partner died, his marriage crumbled. He gets by now with lots of drinking. Grey Brooks was in a popular tv show for years but now hasn’t been able to transition onto the next thing. While their publicist gets them together to help both of their careers what happens between them is a real connection. With both of them carrying around trauma and distrust this is not a easy romance. Although their is some witty banter, the story is much deeper. Ultimately, I enjoyed the development of both Ethan and Grey and the way the author handled some tough situations.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine for the arc.

If you’re looking for a romance novel that is a little more raw then I suggest HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD by Ava Wilder. I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope and this book doesn’t disappoint. Both main characters are real and believable individuals that can easily be one of your friends….less them being celebrities part. This book is a solid four star read and I look forward to Ava Wilder’s future books too.