How do you review a perfect book? Because anything I say will pale in comparison to how much I truly loved this book. Have you ever started a book, and knew by chapter FOUR, that it was going to be a new favorite book?! Because I don’t think I have until this book. That’s how amazing it is.

Hollywood actress Grey Brooks needs a career boost. Hotshot reclusive A-lister Ethan Atkins wants to come out of hiding. Their PR teams arrange for them to enter into a fake relationship to boost both of their images. Ethan has tragedy and turns to the bottle a little too much. Grey has had a celebrity crush on him since she was a preteen.

I am truly and utterly in awe that this is a debut novel. I cried y’all. Like real tears. And I have a heart made of stone. I just connected and felt for these characters so much. When I was reading, I was living the story right along Grey and Ethan. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about Grey and Ethan.

Have I convinced you to read this one yet?! I’m counting down the days until I can have a physical copy in my hands. Is June too soon to reread it?!

I enjoyed How to Fake it in Hollywood. Obviously, it's heavy on the fake relationship trope, but it felt more like a novel about self discovery and friendship than it did about the fake relationship for most of the story. Ethan was built up to be quite an ass, but he still had redeeming qualities, and for me that's important. Recommended for adult collections where romance is popular.

I got this as sort of a palate cleanser break from heavier books thinking it was going to be a cute rom com—check out that cover— but it was really kind of angsty and dramatic. I didn’t feel like the characters clicked with each other so it was hard to click with them myself. The subplots were child sex abuse and addiction which wasn’t what i was expecting. It wasn’t bad and certainly realistic but I didn’t get that vibe from the cover and the blurb and I think for best reception that might need to be tweaked.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! It was literally everything you could ask for in a romcom. Witty, sweet, steamy, and with a compelling storyline. 5 stars!

3.5/5 stars

First of all, I thought this would be a cute/fluffy contemporary and that's how it starts! But, then it takes an angsty/more serious tone that I did not hate, but wanted a bit more from.

This story is such a quick read! I fell into the story and could not stop reading it. I read the entire thing in like two days while on vacation and ended up staying up late one night to read more. If the ending had been different I would have been completely sold on the story.

I did not hate the ending, but I needed more than a few chapters to wrap everything up. Most romance novels follow a similar structure and this one is slightly different, I did not hate it, but it did not completely work for me. <spoiler> the third act break up came earlier in the story with them getting back together and THEN HAVING A TRADITIONAL THIRD ACT BREAK UP. Which was not my fave and threw me off since it was all resolved so quickly. <spoiler>

Also, I do want to note that this story deals with addiction and what it is like to be in a relationship with someone who is an addict which could be triggering for some folks!

Overall, this was an excellent debut (I think it's a debut?) and I can't wait to read more from Wilder, but the pacing of the relationship in the second half of the book threw me off!


TW: death of a friend (prior to novel), grief, addiction, alcoholism, revenge porn, slut shaming

I expected to like this a lot more than I did, and I'm sad because it has such pre-release hype! The story started off fast-paced and engaging, but it ended up being TOO fast for real chemistry to develop between Grey and Ethan, so I didn't end up being invested in their relationship. Plus, the book majorly lost steam around 60%, and it became a slow trudge to the finish. Unfortunately, not my favorite read this year.

A thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Now, I read a lot of contemporary romance - and this one just hit differently. First, I loved a good enemies-to-lovers, fake dating situation. However, what I so appreciated about this book was the happy for now situation - and that it didn't end in an easy romance without dealing with the hard issues. I feel like many contemporary romance novels fix everything too quickly and this felt real, and raw, and authentic.

Second, I loved the characters. Grey, while still figuring out herself and her life, was strong and feisty. Ethan was, at his heart, kind, but clearly a troubled character that needed accountability and help.

Overall, I adored this story and am excited to see where this author's career goes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A surprisingly thoughtful take on a well-trod trop, Ava Wilder’s debut novel gives depth and grit that make the story and characters leap off the page. “How to Fake It in Hollywood” goes beyond its simple premise and presents a nuanced, sympathetic, and raw depiction of the perils of stardom, addiction, and grief.
Grey and Ethan’s relationship is a true Hollywood love story… in that it is 100% fake. A creation of their publicists and agents to give both celebrity’s reputation a much-needed boost. For Grey, she’s trying to save her rapidly falling star to give her the clout she needs to get her own passion project off the ground. Ethan, well he’s a classic “Hollywood-Has-Been”. A legendary A-Lister that took his partying to the next level after the death of his childhood friend, Sam. Five years, a divorce, and many hangovers later- he’s stepping back into the spotlight besides his fake girlfriend.
Where “How to Fake It in Hollywood” could have faded into the white noise of a genre oversaturated with trope-y Rom-Coms, Wilder asked for more from her characters and it makes a difference. She is critical of the ease in which a seemingly meaningful relationship can be manufactured by publicists, agents, and lawyers. But after the flashbulbs of the paparazzi fade, all that remains are two strangers that are trying to survive in a cutthroat industry that thrives on drama.

This had so much promise, but for me it didn’t hit the rave review mark that I’ve seen all over GoodReads.

I enjoyed the story and really liked how real it felt in terms of emotions, relationships, etc. but the pacing was SO VERY OFF. It would cruise right along then lull you to sleep then snap you back in then lull again. There were stretches where I would just glaze over, then others were so good, so funny, quick and charming.

Overall, this was a good and entertaining read, but I hope the pacing is fixed in the final version.

Romance novels that begin with a fake dating trope are my personal favorite. But wow!!! This novel really stands out. Grey and Ethan were so fully developed and real. Their struggles were handled as adults. There was so much emotional depth to this book. It was refreshing. I loved Grey’s manner of handling Hollywood. I adored the ending. I can see myself picking this up as a re-read in the future:

This book is about a fake romance between Grey and Ethan. Grey is trying to take the next step in her career and Ethan is trying to make a comeback. I really enjoyed this book, thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. While I enjoyed the book, I'm not sure I ever really liked Ethan-although I do buy into their relationship. Grey on the other hand was a very strong heroine and I really liked her. I just felt Ethan was weak. We didn't get to "see" the work he put into himself at the end, so even though we know enough time had passed for his therapy, I wish we had been privy to some of it. Other than that I really enjoyed this book. 4 stars.

I loved everything about this book! A young TV starlet and a reclusive A-list movie star fake date at the behest of their mutual publicist... but realize their relationship might not be as fake as it was supposed to be. There's a 10-year age gap between the couple, which is always fun, and Grey, our heroine, is going out for a part in an adaptation of a popular fantasy series, which added even more fun to the plot. Ethan, the hero, also struggles with alcoholism, and I found that to be handled very well. This is one of my favorite books of the year, and I hope Ava Wilder writes more Hollywood romances!

What would have happened to Ben Affleck had Matt Damon died in a tragic accident - an accident Ben thought was his fault - shortly after Good Will Hunting came out?

My opinion - he would have turned into Ethan Atkins, a once A-list actor turned divorced recluse. That's where we meet fictional Ethan, nearing 40 but still as handsome as ever, of course. He's been living very much under the radar ever since his high school friend and writing partner, Sam, died in a car crash years ago.

Ethan's very small inner circle does still include his publicist, Audrey, and Audrey has an idea. Ethan needs to come out of hiding if he wants buzz around a movie he's trying to make - the movie he and Sam were working on when Sam passed away. And what better way to come out than on the arm of a pretty blonde actress?

There's more to Grey Brooks than meets the eye - but, a year removed from the cancellation of her soap opera, Grey is getting anxious that her next big break will never come. If producers see her on the arm of Ethan Atkins, she could catapult right to the top of their list when casting the next big blockbuster.

I originally thought we would get to see some of the inner workings of how a fake Hollywood relationship is formed, but except for a couple of scenes with publicists and lawyers, we are left alone with Ethan and Grey.

From there, it becomes a more standard romance from will they or won't they to are they going to weather the storm, etc. I was not very invested in Ethan and only slightly more in Grey. There are a lot of time jumps toward the end of the book - a rush job to make up for parts of the middle being a little too slow and drawn out.

Overall, a fun premise that could have been explored a bit more to differentiate this book from the typical romance drama.

Thank you Netgalley for this preview!

Read this book if you love: Hollywood, Fake Dating, and Characters doing the work™️ on themselves.

I adored the tropes in this book! So many different (and heavy) topics such as addiction, mental health, therapy, grief, child star and more were addressed was great. The cover and the content of the book didn’t really match up as the book was heavier than expected but I loved it.

4⭐️ First, i would like to say big thank you to Net Galley and RandomHouse/Ballantine for this eARC! This story is about Grey who is a struggling actress while Ethan is a famous actor/ director who has not made a single movie in 5 years. Their PR agents believe it would be a great idea for both of them to fake date so that can build up their profile and how people view them. Although it is a fake dating romance there are very heavy topics that are talked about amongst both characters that i was not expecting. It is a very raw and messy take on romance and relationship but is also very believable. I definitely recommend everyone to check out this book on its pub day of June 14th!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for this titled. Review and opinions are honest and my own.


I loved this book!!
Fake dating tropes are my favorite, the cover art really makes the book seem like it would be a light rom com. I was wrong. The deeper tones of addiction and grief really tore my heart apart but in the best way! The story was fast paced, funny, and heart-wrenching at times and just overall good.

When I was younger, I read a similar YA book with this trope so I was curious to check it out as an adult with a more mature plot. Overall I LOVED this book. It was witty, charming, steamy, and overall a great read! Can’t wait for more from this author!

Ummmmm I love this book!

I thought the relationship and their trials were just so realistic and I am sure there are so many readers who will connect with this story. This story deals with substance abuse and you can really see how it impacts someone's relationships and how difficult it can be. I haven't read a romance yet with this portrayal and I thought it was great to see such a strong romance with such real struggles.

I find it's hard for me to connect with a romance when there aren't any real stakes. This couple had this which is what made it such a rounded-out story.

There really wasn't anything I didn't love. I loved the tropes, I loved the relationship, I loved it all!

I quite liked this! Grey is a great female character and I will never be opposed to a good DILF love interest. The pop culture references and Hollywood celebrity vibes in the writing of this keep it interesting, and it has depth dealing with real life issues that come with fame. If you're a fan of Deuxmoi, celeb conspiracy theories or general pop culture this is definitely a romance book for you.

Thanks so much NetGalley and RandomHouse/Ballantine for the ARC!

3.5 stars

This was more than just a lighthearted romance, and I loved it for that. It dealt with some really hard hitting themes in a way that was realistic and emotional.

My only disappointment was that I wish we could have gotten to see them a little more beyond the “resolution” of the main issue. I was stressed when I was 90% of the way through the book and we still had yet to see Ethan get it together. Most of the sexy and cute scenes were a little bit tainted for me, knowing that there was this big issue that hadn’t been addressed yet. I really wanted to see a bit more of Ethan and Grey interacting in a healthy place. It all wrapped up well though, even if it did feel a little bit quick. Overall I would definitely recommend this one!!