Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I absolutely loved reading about Grey and Ethan's story. The pacing was excellent, and I never felt my attention flag when reading. The chemistry between Grey and Ethan is powerful, and I will be thinking for a while about some of the more intense issues Wilder explored in this book. (Please check the trigger warnings before reading.)

I really, really loved this one.

Grey and Ethan both find themselves in situations where they need a good publicity boost, so low and behold, they find themselves falling victim to the Hollywood fake dating cliche. Their relationship has many ups and downs, and the author takes us through every single one beautifully.

This story is one of love, strength, overcoming, and independence. While our characters certainly fall in love with one another, they also grow to love and respect themselves first and foremost. That might be the most beautiful thing about this book.

All in all, this was a great story that I would highly recommend.

TW: alcoholism, parental abuse, nudity scandal, death of a friend, drugs.

Wow, this book was exceptional. I signed up for a fake dating romance and I got way more. First of all, fake dating is one of my favorite tropes but is so tricky. How can you make it believable and not silly? But the premise of Hollywood actors dating for publicity nails it. That’s built in believability and situations to bring them together.

I’ll try not to be spoiler-y.

But this book was way more than a light hearted romance. It was an emotional journey of grief and personal demons. I love Grey’s character and I was so happy with the authors choices to have her not stay in the obviously toxic situation too long thinking she alone could fix someone. I was also glad that Ethan’s obvious deep rooted issues weren’t treated like something that could be solved simply.

Ethan was not a character who was easily likable and I appreciated that. Grey had a great character arc when dealing with him and realizing that his issues were more serious than she previous thought.

I also LOVED the dynamic between Grey and Nora when it so easily could have been an east route to make them rivals or Grey jealous. Their friendship made me so happy. Strong female friendships and sisterhood in books always makes me happy.

In the beginning I was getting nervous because i was scared Grey was going to be used to reform a man and women are not therapists for men but that ended up not happening so I was very relieved!

I love, love, loved How to Fake it in Hollywood. The deliciously illustrated cover drew me in - wait, how many romance novels have you read where the cover actually reflects your image of the characters? If you're like me, the cute illustrations leave a lot to the imagination (not necessarily a bad thing) but this one was spot on. Okay, enough about the cover! The pages within sealed the deal and thoroughly satisfied my love of celebrity, gossip, romance and LA. Kudos to Ava Wilder on nailing the hyper-specific LA details, including nailing the quirks of the Cafe Gratitude menu (I've spent more money than I'll admit here there and I love it) and that a trip around Silver Lake Reservoir is the ideal way to clear your mind.. We don't have enough LA romances out there, do we? For me, the setting set this book apart. Oh and the sex is steamy, folks. It felt like the real deal and less flowery than others romances I've read lately. I will spare you the customary long-winded summarization of the plot (in simplest terms, arranged Hollywood relationship between two actors turns dangerously real - tension, sex, warm fuzzies and drama ensues) and just say that this outstanding debut novel is a MUST read for romance fans or anyone else who has ever had a subscription to Us Weekly or read Dlisted on a daily basis.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review; henceforth my reviews of Ava WIlder may be biased because I loved this book so much I can't imagine not jumping at the chance to read and rave over her work in the future.

Based on the cover and the description, I went into this book expecting mostly lightheartedness and romance, which there is some of but for the most part, the book revolves around the pain that both of these characters are in and how they can help each other grow and move through it. While the book is fantastic and it really does tug on your hearts, readers should be aware of what you are getting into when starting the book.

I really admire that the novel doesn't offer easy answers or outs for these characters and their problems. Ethan is an alcoholic who has struggled with alcoholism for twenty years of his life - the book does not brush over that nor does it act as if the love of one person is enough to cure him of it. It makes it very clear that Grey is not responsible for his actions or his care; it is not her job to fix him. Just that alone makes this book far more realistic than some other fake dating hollywood romances (which definitely still have a fond place in my heart too!).

There could've been a little more emphasis on Grey and her own internal struggles. There are bits of her backstory that are tantalizing and could have done with a bit more expanding. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to Ava Wilder's next one.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The prose was well-written, and the characters were dynamic and jumped off the page. I thought the story was interesting and the plot kept me guessing.

This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love to read. Funny, sweet, deep, with good characters and a storyline that kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

Ethan Atkins is super famous, with an Oscar and a crazy amount of money, but he hasn’t been a public figure since his best friend and creative partner Sam died. Grey Brooks, a badass and intelligent woman, is less well known, but she is ready to start getting some bigger roles and getting her name on the Hollywood map. The two date as a publicity stunt to get Ethan back into the public eye and to get some buzz around Grey, but they have undeniable chemistry and a connection beyond looking good together on the red carpet.

The characters in this book were phenomenal. Well developed and painfully human, with distinct personalities and character arcs. They supported and contrasted each other so well, and the side characters such as Nora and Kamilah were just as vibrant and fun as the main characters. Hell, I’d want to see a movie adaptation of this book just to see Renata come to life! Ethan and Grey were both strong characters, but their personalities still worked well together in a way that made me root for their relationship to work out.

This book also dealt with some heavy issues. Ethan struggled for the majority of the book with addiction and his grief and guilt over Sam’s death. I thought that this storyline was handled with grace and compassion. It was not the whole story, but it was an essential part of the story in what I think was a tasteful way. It was raw and honest and I genuinely wanted the best for Ethan.

What else can I say about this book other than that I loved it? It’s one of those books that I just had to stay up late reading, because I just couldn’t bear to leave the characters. The ending feels right, the book isn’t too long or too short, and there is just enough left open-ended that it doesn’t feel “too” perfect.

I was shocked to find out that this is Ava Wilder’s debut novel. Her voice is strong and compelling, and I already can’t wait to read what comes next from her!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and to Random House for sending me an advance copy of this book for review!

There is absolutely nothing more enticing to me than a fake dating trope and this book handled it beautifully. It was deep and enchanting and such a fun read that also handled some tough subjects with just the right amount of care.

Told in dual first point of views, this romance novel weaves compelling accounts with a fake dating story at its finest. It's a cute, fun romance with some spicy content. The epilogue feels cute, HEA-worthy that makes me smile, and more importantly, earned after all these two flawed characters went through to get it.

This was an incredible read. Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and two people people in denial of their love? Sign me up. It has a different energy to it than other books. It’s strong and makes you think. The love between the two characters progresses nicely, and it’s refreshing to see characters not “need” each other but “want” each other.

I liked it very much. It was a quick read and very refreshing! Loved how it was going and the buildup with storyline!

HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD is a humorous and angsty contemporary romance between recently unemployed Grey Brooks (former actress on a CW-like show) and Ethan Atkins (an older reclusive A-list actor who'd fallen on hard times). Despite Grey and Ethan faking their relationship to improve their career prospects, it is realistic in its portrayal of actors, the pressures of Hollywood, the invasion of privacy, and Ethan's alcoholism. Wilder builds the delicious tension between Grey and Ethan and will keep you rooting for them, even when they both fall back on behaviors that strain their relationship.

I couldn't put it down and I highly recommend it! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this book so so much! It was everything I hoped it would be with a solid fake dating trope. I loved that the relationship took place over a long period of time and when they wrapped it up everyone was better mentally/emotionally then they were at the beginning of the book aka character growth! I also love that it's from dual POVs of both protagonist and how they see each other verses how they see themselves is very interesting. I also felt that the drama the couple went through was necessary. Not just for the plot but because it's based in reality. It was refreshing to have a real realistic romantic book for a change despite it being based in Hollywood.

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

First of all, I have to say that I absolutely LOVE the fake dating trope. It is one of my personal favorite romance storylines. So I went into this book very excited for what was to come. And it did not disappoint. Telling the story of two actors at pivotal points in their career while also being at pivotal points in their personal, emotional lives really played out very well. Without giving any spoilers, I really loved the timeline of this story, how it wasn’t a quick happily ever after and providing us with character growth over several years, not the typical months. Furthermore, I loved the LGBTQ representation in this book from some of the side characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about fake dating, the movie industry, and coping with personal trauma.


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I really enjoyed this one. I love fake dating romances, especially ones that involve celebrities, and How to Fake It in Hollywood didn’t disappoint. The whole setup of the fake dating with their publicist was amazing, and I loved the progression of Ethan and Grey’s relationship. They were both such compelling characters who felt completely real to me.

There are some difficult topics explored, such as alcoholism, addiction, and grief, so take care when reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The romance of Gray and Ethan was sweet, spicy, and romantic. I loved that this was not just your by the books or like almost every romance out there. The author kept us guessing and wondering where there relationship was going to turn next. I really enjoyed that, but I also felt this story was drawn out. I do recommend this book for anyone looking for more then just a romance, but a realistic relationship trying story.

Review:
I just loved this book so much. It definitely wasn’t a light and fluffy romance. It dealt with very real issues. Addiction and grief being the prominent ones. Ethan and Grey (main characters) had so much heart. I really felt the chemistry between them and felt their connection. I found myself cheering them on multiple times throughout the book. The last few chapters were so good. They brought a lot of closure, and I felt like it tied together perfectly. If Ava Wilder writes any more books in the future, I will definitely be reading them!

When I requested this book from NetGalley, I expected a fun, light-hearted RomCom with a simple plot - complete with the fake dating trope. I was a little caught off guard by the more complex themes and raw emotions Wilder delivered. I don't think the cover art accurately portrays the tone of the writing and wish it better reflected the honesty we see in Grey and Ethan's relationship.

So often when I settle in to read a Romance, I expect a series of bubblegum, happy-go-lucky Hallmark moments, and when I began How To Fake It In Hollywood I recognized the telltale fluff I craved. But as the story progressed, it quickly became a much deeper book. Grey and Ethan are each fully-fleshed characters with skeletons in the closet they need to confront before they drive off into the sunset, and Wilder forces them to open those closets. I found a deeper appreciation for them and their relationship than I would have if their issues felt hollow and easily solvable (like they so often are in romances).

Though the perspective shifts from Grey to Ethan and vice versa many times without warning, they each have such distinct voices that it is natural rather than confusing. We get to see their inner turmoil and their grief becomes real. I had some inner conflict as I couldn't decide whether to root for the relationship or for Grey and Ethan to heal separately. Ultimately, I am rooting for Ava Wilder - what a fantastic debut novel and I can't wait for more!

This was very not much the fun, frothy escapism I was expecting. It was so much more. I spent the last half hour of this book reading in trepidation, hoping for an outcome, but knowing I would also understand if things went a different way. That is a rare thing. I would usually be willing to cage fight an author if they deny me then ending I want. This book just manages to take the complexities of love, regret, grief, and addiction and create journey for two characters who care for each other deeply but cannot fix each other with love. A great, emotional read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just love a fake dating trope! I was pleasantly surprised at how realistic and deep this story line and character development went. The author tackled some tough subjects, and it was wonderfully done. (Alcoholism, depression, and loss of a loved one to name a few.) I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who like a face paced and multi-faceted rom-com!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House/ Ballantine for an eARC in return for my honest review! ♡︎♡︎♡︎