4.5/5 -- The only thing I knew about Ava Wilder's highly anticipated debut was that it was about two Hollywood stars faking a romance in order to remain relevant in the public eye. What I expected was a lighthearted, spicy, rom-com. What I got was a more complex story that touched on some of the darker sides of fame. It highlighted some of the very real issues in the industry regarding addiction, invasion of privacy, social media driven popularity, childhood stars, grief and loss. I would classify this novel as more of a contemporary romance/women’s fiction piece instead of your typical romantic comedy.

Wilder’s writing style was perfect for me. Her ability to use such impactful language made me feel more connected to the story and characters, it wasn't overly simple and the pacing was great. I thought it flowed really well and was well-edited. The characters had depth, struggled with insecurities and felt relatable (even though I am by no means a famous actress!). The banter between Grey and Ethan was so deliciously good, I laughed out loud a few times. I felt like their chemistry was totally believable. Their independent journeys to self-growth were also impactful. The relationship felt more mature to me when comparing to other books. They weren't left wondering whether or not the other person liked them, but rather how to let their walls down & be vulnerable without hurting one another because of their past traumas. The supporting characters were a great addition and felt necessary to the overall plot - also huge shoutout to Ava for including a non-binary character!

This was a very enjoyable, fast paced, steamy book. I highly recommend it if you loved The Idea of You or Seven Days in June.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I am a huge fan of Hollywood type books and I loved the storyline between these two characters. I liked how Grey was participating in this ruse to help her acting career, but lands up finding love along the way. I think this would make a great movie or tv series. Highly highly recommend it!

A wonderful exploration of second romances, the cost of fame, and what it really means to love someone, How to Fake it in Hollywood was a surprisingly deep delight.

How to Fake It in Hollywood is a romance but it's also about topics that I feel like I haven't seen in books much. Mostly every book I've read in the romance category are all HEA and light and very rarely dramatic and hard to read but How to Fake It in Hollywood really did that for me. This story is about actors who each have their own struggles 1) not being as famous/well-seasoned and 2) being alcoholic. Contracts are signed and things are going well until they're not. Each character is struggling with their own issues and neither are really ready to be jumping into this situation. I didn't realize but there's a 3rd act breakup that had me stressing out and although I didn't really love this one, it definitely shed some light on relationships with people who are addicts. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it and I liked that it actually had a story line and enough "spice" to get me through, there was just something about reading in 3rd person that I particularly didn't enjoy. It's not my favorite reading style but if I take that away the story really was enjoyable.

A sweet, sexy debut. I really loved how this started off, and the more I read the more I was hooked. Wilder takes the fake dating scheme and heighten its with the Hollywood aspect. You're going to love this if you also love the grumpy-sunshine trope!

I love a good fake dating story and in this case, add some Hollywood drama into the mix and what a fun read. This was a great romance but it was so much more than a romance as Wilder deals with loss, alcohol abuse, the double standards that can be found in society and the power of forgiveness. Grey was the star of a popular teen drama for years and after a terrible breakup, her career is stalled. Ethan, a very famous actor, has face terrible loss and the end of his marriage, while he has become a bit of a recluse. When they decided to fake date, to help them both get in track, the chemistry between them explodes and the story really takes off. I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. I was expected a rom-com but it was far more than that because of the depth of the issues and struggles that Wilder had her characters face. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I gave 4 stars because I think the repair of the relationship was rushed, especially considering the content of the "black moment"/major conflict episode.

However, I was hooked from the first paragraph and finished the book in a very short amount of time, so it was a great story!

Somewhat spoiler-y review below.


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The main characters meet as a set up from their shared publicist. Both need an image boost, not because of anything either of them had done. One is emotionally tortured by their past, the other is facing being washed-up unless a new big role presents itself.

They make a contract, agree to be seen with each other in public, even though they are both slightly reclusive. Them getting to know each other and dancing around their proximity is always a favorite storyline. I love fake relationships!!

Through their time together (engagements arranged by their publicist to be captured by paparazzi) they end up at a resort, unsightly pictures get released online just as they were starting to build trust, and what seems like will be their black moment, one fleeing and the other avoiding, is actually just another part of their journey.

There's drinking, smoking, and joints in the story, so it all just seems like it's part of the story. But one characters heavy drinking is an underlying current throughout the whole story.

They reconcile, something good happens for the career of the "almost washed-up" character that starts a downward spiral for the other. In which that character decides to start using hard drugs, which hasn't happened since forever ago, in an effort to avoid the emotional turmoil of their past meeting their present.

This is where the story turned dark, quickly, and I felt a little whiplash not understanding what was happening. There's an ultimatum, the user leaves, but actually checks into rehab, which was good but we don't find it about it because there's a sixteen month time gap!

In which time, the they both have started therapy, which I always applaud, and then in a random moment, the rehab character shows up at the something good finally happened characters work, they decide to meet for dinner, it's a 10 minute conversation, and all is forgiven.

Their relationship obviously takes work but they live happily ever after.

This book is a great rom-com! I loved the development of the characters and how the author didn’t just end it when they realized they loved one another.

I really enjoyed this book ! It was not at all like other “ rom coms “I have read in the past . It dealt with real life issues/ obstacles that couples face including addiction .
We start at the beginning meeting Grey, the failing actress , and Ethan , the older well known “heartthrob” actor . We watch as their relationship unfold. I really liked the authors writing style . It kept me wanting to read it as well as he twists and turns the plot took along the way.
I would highly recommend this book ! 4.5 stars!

Thank you Random House publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder is a lovely rom-com featuring a special celebrity couple. The story revolves around Grey, who has just left the teen TV show that made her famous and has struggled with finding work since. Her publicist suggests a way-out-there idea: date a recently-divorced Hollywood A-lister and former Sexiest Man Alive. Will their fake relationship help them reach their goals, or will it turn into something else?

Here is an entertaining excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to Grey:

"“Lucy LaVey?”
Well, that settled that. Grey pushed her sunglasses to her forehead and plastered on a toothy smile as she turned to face the voice: a bespectacled teenage girl clutching a blended iced mocha (extra whip). The girl’s mouth dropped open when their eyes met.
“Hey! How’s it going?” Grey made her tone as warm as possible. The girl covered her mouth with her free hand and squealed. A few heads turned at her outburst.
“Ohmigod, it is you! I’m sooo sorry to bother you, I know you’re just, like, trying to live your life or whatever. I just—I’m literally obsessed with Poison Paradise. I’m such a big fan.”
The first time Grey had been called by her character’s name, it thrilled her. The next few times, it had bruised her ego a little. Now, six seasons and 132 episodes of Poison Paradise later, she took it in stride. It was better than not being recognized at all."

Overall, How to Fake It in Hollywood is an absolutely adorable rom-com that will appeal to fans of Famous in Love and To All the Boys I Loved Before. One highlight of this book is the nontraditional couple. For one thing, Ethan, the male lead, is quite a bit older than Grey. I've never read a rom-com with a couple like this before, but I didn't mind it. Another highlight is the insights into celebrity culture and behind-the-scenes look at making movies. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of rom-coms, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

There were points in this story when I caught myself thinking, "Oh, I love this so much!" and others that were complete misses for me. I prefer romance stories that don't involve graphic sex (there was a LOT of it). So, I found a good deal of the story to be a real turn-off for me. Lust and love are not the same things.

While I liked Grey a lot, and I felt bad for how wounded Ethan was, everything about their relationship was misguided at first, and pretty much dysfunctional the deeper they got into it. It wasn't until the last few chapters that they really seemed to be in a healthier place, so I'm glad they finally got there, but wow! What a journey!

Thank you Ava Wilder, Random House, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy.

Do you ever slow down on reading a book because you don’t want it to end? This is how I felt about How to Fake it in Hollywood. I had no expectations going into the story, and I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. Grey and Ethan are well developed and complex characters. Wilder Does a fantastic job of intertwining complex subjects with comedic moments. Be worn that this book is not as late as the cover suggests, which I found to actually be a great thing. I think this might be one of my favorite books of the year!

This is not a bad book. I would probably rate it 3.5. It was a fun, easy read with a nice cast of characters and an interesting plot. I just think when it all boils down, it wasn't a perfect book for ME. I did feel like the pacing was a little off in the beginning, but by the middle of the book it got a bit better. I enjoyed Grey as a main character - she was pretty great, and I'm really proud of her for some of the choices she made. I just didn't find Ethan very appealing and some of the characters weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. There were also some side plots I wish would have been addressed by the end of the book, i.e. Grey's relationship with her mom. But overall, a solid debut and I'm excited to see what else Wilder releases.

PS. I LOVE the cover so much omg.

I love grey 😍 and her struggle to deal with life and fame. Handling fans who only know her characters name. Great characters 😉, dialogue, and descriptions. Love the cover
Very cute without a childish tone. A page Turner

I got this fun little contemporary romance and it was such an easy read! I loved Grey- she was so down to earth and very normal- if only all celebs could be like her😂 She made the whole book feel much more realistic. There were some sad moments but overall it was a good read!

If you love celeb gossip and the idea of PR relationships (looking at y’all, Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra) this book is for you!

Huge thank you to @netgalley & Dell for an advanced copy! This one comes out June 22nd so make sure to keep an eye out for it!

This was so good. 5/5. It makes my list of all time favorite romances. *Gordon Ramsay voice* Stunning. Delicious.

The two main characters are Grey Brooks, a 27-year-old actress who has been struggling to get work ever since her teen drama show ended, and Ethan Atkins, an A-lister in his late 30s (hello age gap!) who, after a tragedy involving his best friend, a high profile divorce, and a decades-long struggle with alcoholism is looking to rehabilitate his image so that the project he had been working on with his best friend can finally get finished. We follow both characters' point-of-view. Their publicist decides that what both Grey and Ethan need is to embark on a PR campaign by pretending to be a couple.

This book is so well-written. Both mains are well-rounded and well-developed. There is a lot of angst too given both Grey and Ethan's pasts. The chemistry is simply SIZZLING (like seriously there were points where I thought I was going to combust), and I appreciate that this doesn't fall into the formulaic rivals to lovers or friends to lovers or enemies to lovers deal that most romances now seem to fall into. Yes, there's relatively instant attraction, but there's also some griping, bitterness, and at points mutual dislike/disdain between the two characters, neither of whom really wanted to find themselves embarking on this fake relationship but both realizing they needed each other. I loved their relationship, and the drama that of course unfolds felt real rather than manufactured. Both characters struggle with their careers, their fame, and Ethan's guilt over the death of his friend and use of alcohol as a crutch. And the smut was amazing.

This story holds true to the title. Out of fairness I won't rate the book - edit netgallet requires a rating- because for me there were so many concerns and red flags early that it didn't meet my expectation for a light, enjoyable read. Instead it was about the twisted, warped, unhealthy lifestyles and heartbreak of actors in Hollywood. It's probably written well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy of How to Fake it in Hollywood. I genuinely think this could be one of the hottest books of the summer. However, I worry that it will be marketed as a light romance when it is both so much more and significantly heavier than your average romance novel.

I want to start by saying I loved it. I devoured the first half of the book in one sitting. I think it’s a great use of the fake dating trope and celebrity romance. I thought the world felt very thought out and I enjoyed a lot of the side characters as well. But this book quickly delves into some heavy topics such as alcoholism, death of a friend (from a DUI), grief, and lack of privacy. I generally think it the author did a good job of handling such heavy and delicate topics, but it can be a lot. I think readers should be aware of this going into it.

This is a really fun (at times) and heartwarming/heartbreaking (at times) story about fame, love, loss, and recovery. The author does a good job of handling delicate topics while giving the reader enough space to breathe. It avoids some common romance mistakes but also has some pacing issues in the third act. Overall, a great read.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I really love romances set in Hollywood, like Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, so I 100% was excited to read this. This book is quirky fun and the perfect quick weekend read. I really enjoyed both the main characters. Grey was so fun and I found myself caring for her and rooting for her! I do think the chemistry between them could've been better, it needed a little something more. It just didn't feel plausible from where they were romantically in the story and throwing the ever sacred "I love you" out at a time where I still felt like their relationship was delicate felt too soon. But overall I really enjoyed this fun and entertaining debut by Ava and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! I will definitely recommend this to my friends who also enjoy romance novels!