I'm a huge fan of the fake relationship trope and I thought I knew what I was in for but I was surprised. It's not your lighthearted fun read, and I don't mean to say this isn't wasn't a fun read but it had very heavy topics. The story is about a Hollywood actor and an actress that fake date to boost and revive their careers respectively. The characters are well developed and have much depth. I also loved that it was from the both the perspective of the main characters Ethan and Olivia.


Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ava Wilder for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

How to Fake It in Hollywood is pitched as a fake dating Hollywood steamy romance story, sure to be filled with tension, and about 70% of it is exactly that. However I was relatively surprised by how grim this book got at times as it delved into alcohol and substance abuse/addiction. Ethan struggles heavily with the grief of losing his friend and has turned to alcohol.

I really wanted to love How to Fake It in Hollywood, fake dating can be such an enjoyable trope when done right, but in the end this book just didn't land a solid punch for me. We were often TOLD the characters had chemistry together rather than shown they did, and therefore the spicy romantic tension lacked a deeper level. The biggest thing I found myself disliking was the sudden shift about 75% through to the second climax of the story. Grey's character development fell a little short, as pretty much the full focus shifted to Ethan and his struggle. I really enjoyed the aspect of Grey's life where she talked about being both a child star who was taken advantage of by both the entertainment business and her family, and also as a working woman in Hollywood who experienced stalking, harassment and sexism. I thought it was relatable and it was great to see it talked about. *SPOILER* But when Grey basically faced revenge porn, there was a notable lack of compassion of Ethan. When Ethan's actions and reactions had palpable impact on Grey's own life there was no apologizing or owning up to it. I felt like often Grey's feelings, and general struggle was pushed to the side in favor of Ethan's own struggle and redemption.

While I have criticism, I did enjoy reading this book and I don't regret picking it up by any means. The issue I had was mostly with one portion of the overall story arc. Wilder could keep this book 100% as is and only add in a little more development for Grey and an apology or two from Ethan and I would have enjoy the story much more. Ultimately I would recommend How to Fake It in Hollywood, to anyone who enjoys Hollywood, or romantic romances, sadly it just fell a little short for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a page turner where the characters have real emotions and problems outside of their romance. I loved the descriptions of the business of Hollywood

I finished this book in about 24 hours. It was great! I love this story line, and it reminded me of katherine centers new book "The Bodyguard" (which i also really liked).

I really liked the characters and their struggles. I did feel like there could have been more about Grey's family, at least a story there about why she was so distant, but what we did learn about her family SOLD it, i just wanted more.

I did kind of feel a storyline switch at around 70% through the book. It didnt grip me like I wanted it to. it was like the whole book was leading us to a point, we got to the point, passed it and went to a different one. I felt like the book could have used both of the storylines in tandem to get to the ultimate point. it was not BAD! i just lost interest.

Thank you for the ARC of this AWESOME book! i know it will do well!

I absolutely loved this book! I typically shy away from celebrity novels but for some reason this one sounded amazing and it sure didn’t disappoint! The romance in this book was hot and off the charts!! The hero was so swoony and my new fav book boyfriend. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!!!

This was an all-around great romance. The writing is sharp and engaging, the characters dynamic and well-developed. The plot has an effortless arc and a satisfying ending. A Hollywood romance that pays special attention to all the trendiest tropes (fake dating, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine, one bed), this book still managed to deliver a refreshingly modern take. A large thread of the story addresses alcoholism, but the author handled the subject with sensitivity and grace. All in all, the perfect escapist read. I was happy to lose my weekend in the pages of this one.

I loved this book! I thought it was very well written, and the character development was real, authentic, and raw. I truly appreciate how this book was book uplifting and heart wrenching-- it feels true to life in that sense.

Fake dating in the Hollywood world between an up and coming actress and a beloved actor who is hoping for a redeeming story... count me in! Looking back on stories such as this, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory I think I really enjoy stories that take place in Hollywood with celebrity characters. It adds a level of enjoyment to see how these characters integrate into the make believe portions of Hollywood and anything real that the author sprinkles in like actual celebrity names or movie titles. That's why the premise of How to Fake It In Hollywood instantly grabbed my attention! So special thanks to Dell Publishing and Netgalley for both a physical and digital copy of this upcoming romance novel!

I really enjoyed Grey as a character and wanted nothing but the best for her! She was on the cusp of landing her dream movie role for a beloved book series and I couldn't help but imagine that's how real life actresses feel about their potential movie and tv roles. I think what held me back from boosting this up to a four star rating was I just didn't feel the chemistry between Grey and Ethan as much as I have felt with previous romance novels. 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. Blame it on all the romance novels I've read previously! But this was still a 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! Rating: 3.5

This book started off so good. Definitely gave a great first impression with the dialogue, writing style, and flow of events.

I didn’t quite know what I got myself into at first - I could tell this was going to be one of those books that was gonna get real, real quick, and it did. More than a romance - this was a book about two adults figuring themselves out despite the love they find.

This book should’ve come with a warning for people who find alcoholism a trigger - just saying.

Now to what I didn’t like - the sexual tension - the way it was constantly described at first, felt really forced and out of place.

I didn’t like what drove them apart the first time. I didn’t understand the need for it nor the characters reactions, especially thag concert scene. Like wtf GREY.

I didn’t like the rushed ending. I loved the timeframe of things and the explanation of it all, but I felt rushed when it came to the love story.

I couldn’t help but picture Ben affleck the whole time. So that was also a little weird.

Overall - the writing in this book is beautiful. The characters are all so real and their problems even more realistic. I highly recommend.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 14, 2022

Two actors who could use a profile boost enter into a staged relationship for the positive press—but is it all positive? I thought this fake dating trope romance would be a breezy and light read but it had a surprising amount of depth and tackled some heavy subjects. I got invested in these characters despite their flaws and their messes (he is her teenage crush and this has some “A Star is Born” vibres) but their chemistry was undeniable and you can’t help but root for them!

how to fake it in hollywood follows grey books and ethan atkins, two hollywood stars whose fame and reputation has been on the decline, who start a contractual relationship for publicity but eventually end up falling for each other. i do like fake dating as a trope but i would have loved for there to actually be more buildup to the relationships. both of the characters also just didn't feel too interesting for me and without spoiling anything the last 20% was formulaic and cliche, and ultimately, the flashforward and epilogue were dry and out of character, with everything being resolved too suddenly for my liking. that being said, this book wasn't hard to read and the realtionship was pretty well written. i just wish there had been more interesting characters and some of my favorite relationships between the main characters and side characters weren't examined in the way they could have.

Pure delight from start to finish! The characters felt real, the drama not too sensationalized, the story-telling was gripping and immersive. I want more from Ava Wilder! Also, Ethan is swoony :)

One of my favorite tropes to read is fake dating. It is so cliche and 99% of the time you already know how it’s going to end. No matter what I just keep coming back to them.

Ethan and Grey are perfect for each other. Between them getting to know each other one minute and dishing out massive heartbreak the next my emotions were all over the place. The entire time I was reading I was rooting for them to be end game, there were times in the book I thought they were done for good but love always swooped in and won.

I would have loved one more chapter after Ethan finally confesses his hurt and love for Grey. I will just have to leave all of that up to my own imagination!

This book was not what I was expecting when I read it was a fake dating situation but I was pleasantly surprised. Grey and Ethan have a rocky start fake dating but their chemistry is undeniable. Ethan and Grey both had a lot to work through and I enjoyed reading this book a lot.

I really enjoyed this book! 4.5/5. I signed up for it because of the cover and title, and it was not what I expected (not necessarily in a good or a bad way). I was expecting a sweet, cute fake-dating story but this book actually dealt with a very dark theme in a very honest, great way. As someone who has a history of alcoholism in my family, I appreciate that it was not sugar-coated. Originally I didn't like it because Ethan did not feel like a very likable character, and he was not a terrible dad (until the end) but alcoholism does that. But he fixes it. I also love how he didn't come straight back from rehab and go for her, he wanted to make sure he was really sober. And the epilogue didn't have them getting married six months later, it was still kind of up in the air after a long while of them being together. My only complaint is I wish we got more of Ethan and Grey as a happy couple at the end.

The blurb on this sounds like a quick, fun rom-com read however, the topics that are delved into are much deeper. Trigger Warnings: alcoholism, abandonment issues, PTSD, depression.

Not what I expected when I requested this book but I really liked. Quick recap of story: two Hollywood actors, one a bonafide, A-lister and one a former child star, off a long running series with no career options in sight, are arranged into a "relationship" that will be mutually beneficial to their careers. Neither of them is in this for love but as they are thrown together more often, their undeniable chemistry is harder to ignore.

I enjoyed the relationship between Grey and Ethan. Although there was immediate attraction based on looks alone, their relationship had a (somewhat) natural progression throughout the story. While Ethan's personal demons were obvious and his journey was well-developed, I felt like that was somewhat lacking for Grey. You were told she had a tumultuous relationship with her mom, but there was no real development to her backstory. She felt sort of one-dimensional to me. My feelings toward her were more of the sympathetic line due to what she was going through with Ethan.

The inspiration for Ethan was obviously drawn from real-life people. As I read the story, I immediately drew parallels to actual Hollywood actors and their well-documented personal lives which was a little distracting.

This was a good, fun read and I appreciate the opportunity from the author and publisher for the ARC.

Book #193

3⭐️


Honestly im a little disappointed this book had alot of potential at first and dont get me wrong it was good but after reading it the guy in the book was UNBEARABLE at so many times and it reminded me of bradley coopers role in a star is born. Also Grey who was the main girl in the book had so many good moments but then she just started becoming so unbearable too.. I wanted to like this one more because i loved the hollywood concept it followed 2 people going into a fake relationship and then ending up catching feelings for eachother and it was all over the place. It did have alot of good moments so i can definitely see romance lovers loving this book. Also the cover is GREAT! I understand why the guy was the way he was as i got too know him more but it just was hard to read and like him... Overall it wasnt a bad book at all it did have good moments and i loved the hollywood concept and scandals and such.

I have a thing for books set with alcoholic actors a la Ben Affleck. Couldn't care for the actor in real life but loved them in book form. This book did not disappoint. This book has fake relationships, paparazzi, and other scandals. This was a fun ride.

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What I thought I was getting in requesting this How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder was a cutesy, fluffy, rom-com. What I needed up getting was a journey that took me all across the map of emotions. I fell in love with Grey, Ethan and their story. I rooted for them getting caught up in their romance, I felt anguish for them as things fell apart and ultimately held my breath waiting to see how all the things would align to bring these two characters back together. How to Fake It in Hollywood was magnificently written to showcase not just a relationship between two famous people trying to rejuvenate their careers but to highlight the insecurities, strengths and challenges that they overcome to love themselves and others.

Grey and Ethan are brought together by their mutual publisict under the guise of fake dating to rejuvenate their careers. At their first meeting, sparks fly and they sign up for a 6 month commitment. What ensues is the story of their foray into taking their relationship public, the struggle of past ghosts that haunt them and the journey of making their way back to each other.

Publication Date: June 14, 2022, Pre-order Now!
Rated R: sexual content, language, minor character identifying as non-binary.

Grey is a tv actress who has been stuck in the same role as Lucy on a tv series that is six seasons deep. She can feel her career slipping away as she starts to age, and the effects of her lasted relationship weigh heavy on her career. This is when Audrey, her publicist, comes up with the perfect plan.

An arranged relationship to mutually benefit grey and former Hollywood it boy, Ethan Atkins.

Ethan is a divorced dad, and previous A lister, who now drowns himself in alcohol and hasn't taken a role in five years, since the death of his friend and costar, Sam.

This book has fake dating, real dating and mixes in the question how can you love someone when they love their addiction more than you?

Wilder dives into the rom com category, but don't think this is just some shallow romance about celebrities it has an undercurrent story line of addiction and what people are willing to do for those they love.