After languishing in Hollywood Purgatory, awaiting her next role, Grey Brooks agrees to fake-date older retired actor, Ethan Atkins, whose own fall from Hollywood royalty has turned him into a bitter alcoholic. Both are forced together for various paparazzi-laden events, and it’s no surprise when feelings become complicated. What was a surprise was the depth and detail the author went into when creating the flawed character of Ethan. This may seem like your typical rom-com novel, but it’s so much more. It’s a story of redemption, growth, and the power of love and honesty in one’s journey toward healing.

Intense and flawlessly paced, this debut had everything I love in a contemporary romance. ​I read it in about six hours! ​​It was so cinematic, ​I could ​imagine every scene ​being played out on a ​theater ​screen in sensual, saturated colors​. Add ​a vivid supporting cast, sharp humor, and a ​fiery romance between two leads with incendiary (and messy at times) chemistry​,​ ​and this ​was an enthusiastic five-star read for me. ​This is going to be in my top books of 2022, and Ava Wilder is going on my auto-buy list forever.

HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD is out on June 14, 2022.

Gratitude and disclosure: Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the early read. | Ava and I are friends on social media. | Read the content considerations, friends. 💛

How To Fake It In Hollywood Was amazing! After the first chapter I was hooked. Grey a young actress who wants more for her career and Ethan a star who had long stepped out of the limelight with a not so perfect past has agreed that they would enter a fake dating contract to boost each other’s career but along the way they might get more than they bargained for when their feelings are on the line. Even though Grey was quite younger than Ethan I still loved how they interacted with each other and at times supported each other. It is definitely worth a read or two! I will be purchasing a copy for my library, thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc!

I absolutely loved this book! The relationship and dynamic between Grey and Ethan is amazing! This book was able to show significant character growth for each of them but especially for Ethan as he struggled with grief and addiction. The fake dating trope was VERY well done and my new favorite! I am so happy to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy! I recommend this book to EVERYONE!

I went into this book ~mostly~ blind. Grey Brooks and Ethan Atkins are two celebs who could use a little publicity boost. Grey is young and hasn’t gotten a huge break yet, and Ethan is nearing 40 and has been keeping a low profile in recent years. Their mutual publicist sets them up in a fake dating scheme in order to generate some buzz for each of them.

Pros: this was a quick Hollywood fake dating romance
Cons: it was way too surface level for me

I felt like we we’re getting TOLD what was happening instead of being SHOWN, and it was a lot of back and forth between Ethan and Grey’s POV/narrative.

Although I appreciated the fact that this book shed light on substance abuse in a relationship I just felt that it was too surface level and could’ve gone many layers deeper.

Like I said I did read this super quickly, but at the end I was reading just to get through it, and I found it very predictable.

Before I got approved for this, the synopsis of this novel made me think it would be lighter and more easy going than it ended up being. The fake dating in Hollywood aspect is what intrigued me in the first place since I am a sucker for both of these tropes.
In this novel we focus on Ethan Atkins, an older seasoned actor and Emily Gray Brooks a child star. Atkins has been out of the spotlight for the first time and Gray's agent thinks it would be a good idea to have Gray fake date him in order to gain more fame as well as more serious roles. The fake dating aspect was fun especially the forced proximity trope when Gray had to stay in Ethan's home and then again when they were in Palm Springs. However, my main issue comes with the second half of this novel where it becomes so much more angsty that I thought it was going to be. I'm used to conflict being used in rom-com books but the themes of a broken marriage, grief, and alcoholism was not what I was aspecting. I'm glad therapy was a factor because it made Ethan more worthy of Gray.

I really enjoyed this book though it is not a light hearted rom com as the book cover, title, and even some of the description implies. Definitely a fake dating to lovers trope based book but it also tackles some heavy subjects (grief, alcoholism, abuse, etc.) and there is more character growth than your run-of-the mill romance novel. Kind of felt like some of the side/supporting characters were added in a “hey I’m woke and into inclusivity” checklist sort of way to balance out the two main characters being white and hetero rather than giving them as much autonomy and attention as they deserved. I’d love to see more of Kamilah and Andromeda in the spotlight, potentially even in their own book.
Overall an enjoyable ready and I felt like Grey and Ethan had good chemistry and were multidimensional characters by the end of the book.

Grey Brooks, a former soap star, needs to keep her name in the press; she needs to keep her career afloat. She has a major opportunity coming up with a movie and her reputation just needs a little positive push. Her publicist comes up with an idea.

Ethan Atkins, former A-lister, needs to clean up his act (or at least make it seem that way). After the death of his best friend, his divorce, and his drinking problem soured the public's opinion of him, he needs a bit of positivity to ensure his next endeavor is successful. Guess with whom he shares a publicist (with an ingenious idea)?

Enter: the Fake Dating trope. Grey and Ethan agree to a 6-month fake dating contract to boost their respective reputations. Mutually beneficial, it seems simple and straight-forward. Their public relationship goes well to start, even though it's a bit uncomfortable behind the scenes. Soon, however, their chemistry starts to go beyond their public dating/acting... and Grey and Ethan must learn where their contract stops and the feelings begin.

--

⚠️ TW: substance abuse, alcoholism, death, grief

Thank you NetGalley, Ava Wilder, and Random House - Dell for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What I thought was going to be a cute, happy little rom-com ended up being so much more. I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope and this book is a new favorite!

Ava Wilder's writing set up her characters so very well. Grey, young and beautiful, has her heart set on doing more than her small acting roles. She wants to push herself, be successful, and love what she does. Ethan, tired and heartbroken, just wants to deal with his life privately. He has hurt people in the past, including himself, and doesn't want to do it again. The way Grey and Ethan interact, the way they compliment and push one another, is so genuine and real. They made my heart swell, they made me laugh, and they made me cry.

Life is hard. Love is hard. People are complicated. People have unique needs/wants, pasts, trauma, hardships, and things they need to work on. Having a book with representation for folks (even celebrities) who aren't always sunshine-happy and perfect... I'm a big fan.

Read if you like: second chances, there's-only-one-bed, red carpets, actions > words, breakfast, and Palm Springs.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5
I've been really loving the fake dating trope lately and this was so good. The characters are so amazing you can't help but fall in love with them and their story. I could not put it down. The cover is gorgeous and the book more than lives up to the expectations of the beautiful cover.

I loved this book so much! It is not the lighthearted rom com you might expect when you hear about two Hollywood actors fake dating. It's definitely darker and deals with some heavy topics - grief, addiction. And while it wasn't a fun, frothy read it was absolutely an "I can't put this down" read!!

It touches on some really deep topics and shows what a struggle they are each going through with not only their careers but also their personal lives. The way they connect with each other even though neither is very good at letting people in.

In my head, Ethan is a likable Ben Affleck if Matt Damon had died (they have that kind of relationship). Even though Grey is a good 10+ years younger than Ethan, she isn't a pushover and she tells it like it is. She's feisty and fun, but she's also a nose to the grindstone hard worker.

Things I found charming about How to Fake It in Hollywood: EVERYTHING! This quick read tore me out of a reading slump that I had been dealing with for weeks -- I finished it in two days! As someone born and raised in Los Angeles, I've had numerous friends and family try their hand at "the Biz" and some even find relative success. This book was such a great look at a lot of the nonsense that goes on in Hollywood and just how it can affect people if they are not too careful. The chemistry between Ethan and Grey was really well written and the spicy scenes were great. I was expecting a typical third-act breakup, which I typically find pretty boring in romance books, but I really liked this one. It didn't follow the ubiquitous "miscommunication" trope, which drives me absolutely bonkers half the time. Instead, the second half of the book focuses on the weaknesses of BOTH main characters and how that may affect a romantic relationship. I thought this was a fun, sweet, energetic book and I had a great time reading it. Thank you so much to Random House/Ballantine for the ARC!

this book was pretty good. I feel like at some points the characters could get a bit insufferable but it kinda works out since they are in fact celebrities. Grey and Ethan were super cute but some times I also wanted to punch them both in the face for being a tad annoying. I love this kind of trope on books of a newer actor and a big time one and want to see more books like this one made. Overall I would give this book a 7/10

This was such an enjoyable read about a fake dating scheme between two actors that becomes something much more serious. While at times predictable, I really enjoyed the depth the author added to the characters and how she addressed mental health and substance abuse's impact on relationships. The chemistry between the two protagonists, Grey and Ethan, was definitely palpable. I sped through it in less than 24 hours and will definitely read anything by Ava Wilder in the future.

I really enjoyed this book. So much that I read it all in one day. I loved the writing and the relationship of the main characters. A charming yet messy love story. I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a different take on the fake dating trope.

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
How to Fake It in Hollywood is a fake dating age gap trope involving Ethan Atkins and Grey Brooks. He’s an addict who’s suffered a tragedy and wants a comeback. She’s a former teen star who needs a little boost to her now stagnant career. This book has some pretty deep character development and gets all up in the feelings. There’s also some quick banter and steamy times. Quality debut and solid read.

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one. It was definitely a fun rollercoaster, for the most part. The premise captured me immediately because I love Hollywood romance settings and I did like both Ethan and Grey! I thought they were very cute together. I was thrown when the narrative didn’t follow the usually-scripted rom-com pacing, and normally I would welcome the change. But the last 30% turned heavy and shifted focus away from the romance, so I couldn’t really end up fully enjoying the ending. Overall, it was a pretty fun read but it wasn’t what I was expecting.

This was a highly readable story with generally likeable characters. There were a few moments where I cringed, and I have to admit that the reality of dealing with someone who is an alcoholic could be a trigger for some. But overall, the book was a very fast read and enjoyable. I have to admit that I went into it thinking that it would be similar to other books I had reading, including another book I got via NetGalley and read prior. But it did surprise me. The relationship that Ethan has with his ex was particularly interesting as it seems to be similar to what a lot of separated couples in Hollywood try to do with co-parenting. I couldn't help but compare Ethan to Ben Affleck and Nora to Jennifer Garner.

The writing is solid. There is a good development of the relationship at the start. And it's a fun glimpse behind the celebrity curtain whether or not it is fictional or founded on fact.

How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood. So often the fake relationship trope can get old, but this book pushed further. I was expecting a light, easy rom com, But I got a rom com with depth and great character development. Would highly recommend this book!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC copy in return for my honest opinion.

Normally I read romance novels to relax and unwind after a day at work, but this book got my heart pumping from anticipation (in a good way!) of the first kiss to the unfolding of layers the characters went through throughout this book. 

This book covers many real life issues such as alcoholism, addiction, tragic death and the grief that comes with it, and harassment. 
This book has what you need when looking for a layered romance, especially if you love the fake dating trope (which is my favorite!). The two stars have an ~undeniable connection~ that drive this book, even when the the two involved seem oblivious at times. I also really enjoyed the 'supporting' characters in the book that uplifted the two main characters. 
I recently started reading romance and often think to myself, these books are unrealistic. Although this book is tied up perfectly in the end and revolve around famous actors, I did not walk away from it thinking it idealized a 'perfect match' or gave the reader unrealistic expectations of love. This book showcases that there are times in a relationship one might have doubts, second guesses, or need validation, but there is a limit to these and certain appropriate reactions. I would recommend this to a reader provided they are aware of the content warnings before. Keep on eye out for its release on 14 June 2022! 

Thank you Net Galley and Random House/ Ballantine for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This book completely wow’ed from the very beginning!! Ava Wilder’s debut novel How to Fake It in Hollywood will officially be one of my top recommended books for summer 2022!!! I love romance novels that have the fake relationship trope and Ava Wilder took that to the absolute next level with this gem! I honestly thought that How to Fake It in Hollywood would be light-hearted, which it was in parts, but it truly had a ton of depth which was a nice surprise. I found the characters relatable and realistic- I could read an entire series based on these two! I devoured this novel because it was completely addictive, but I know for sure that I will be re-reading this 5 star read because it’s just so good!! How to Fake It in Hollywood is a true must, must read!! I am thrilled to have a new author to add to my automatic must read list!!