Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I wanted to like this and was so excited to reach this story, but it just wasn’t what I hoped it would be. I LOVE enemies to lovers and slow burns, but with so much build up, history, and anticipation in this book, the execution fell flat for me.

I always love mental health representation in books, but Lilah’s anxiety felt skirted over an insignificant. As someone who suffers from GAD and panic disorder, I know how impactful this can be in daily life and wish it played a bigger part in this story.

I enjoyed some of the buildup, but overall the immaturity of the characters didn’t sit well with me and made this difficult to get through at times. Thank you very much for the opportunity to reach this ARC!

Love, love, loved it. I am officially an Ava Wilder fan. I read "How to Fake it in Hollywood" last year and also thoroughly enjoyed it. So so happy to report that her sophomore novel delivered the same punch! Who would've thought I'd enjoy Hollywood/celebrity romances the way that I do?! Ava Wilder really knows how to reel you in!

This story follows Shane & Lilah, two co-stars who can't stand each other, as they shoot the final season of the hit show they were casted in that launched their careers years prior. It's a second chance romance/enemies to lovers rollercoaster of emotions kind of ride -- there is witty banter, there is pining, there is angst, there is chemistry that jumps right off the page. The characters were messy & flawed, but so is life. There were deeper themes touched upon as well such as the pressures of fame, mental health and anxiety representation.

Writing about romance between two celebrities feels like it should have a “Stars! They’re just like us!” Vibe to it, but I didn't quite get that energy from this story. Shane and Lilah felt pretty one dimensional and inaccessible for almost the entire book. Was that intended so that it was clear they were buttoned up in their relationship with one another until they finally decide to be honest with one another? And that was the point (TM) of their relationship struggles and why it went belly up the first time around ??? Who can say. I struggled to feel like Shane and Lilah had any skin in the game though, so for me personally this one just didn’t hit.

Ava Wilder does Hollywood in the best way! I had so much fun with the forced proximity because come one, I just wanted our MCs to get together! These flashbacks throughout the book were great and really allowed us to get to know the characters in a better way. I can’t wait for whatever Ava Wilder releases next!

DNF Details:

How far did I get? I did a lot of skimming, so tough to say!

Why did I stop? I can't even tell you how excited I was when I received an ARC for this one. I really enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood, and I was intrigued by the blurb. The writing is also very compelling, but I found this relationship to be SO very toxic. The multiple timelines showcase the complexity of their interactions and I liked the nuanced feel, but I struggled with the ways they'd hurt each other over the years. The heroine was not very likable, and the level of miscommunication frustrated me. So I found myself doing some skimming, and I ended up skipping ahead over all the parts that drove me crazy.

Was I enjoying it initially? Briefly, yes. I was immediately drawn in by the writing and the tension that was apparent from the start. I loved that these two had such an interesting history, and the premise is one that I have not seen before. So it felt fresh and different, with TONS of sexual tension. Unfortunately, once we got into the backstory, I knew that there was going to be trouble ahead - not just for this couple, but for me and the book.

Would I finish this? It's better for my mental health if I don't, honestly. It's the kind of book that draws me right in, but the relationship is so toxic that it leaves me in a reading slump for days or weeks afterwards. I would definitely read another book by the author, because How to Fake It in Hollywood was great, and my concerns about this had nothing to do with the writing itself.

Who would I recommend this to? Anyone who loves angsty second chance romances, the messier the better. Readers who enjoy drama and multiple timelines. The insight into the industry was also interesting and very timely, so that was cool too. But you've got to be okay with years of miscommunication and a couple who have been lashing out at each other.

This book was the perfect steamy lovers turned enemies turned back to lovers! I really enjoyed all the banter and the amazing tension that was between the two main characters Shane and Lilah. I didn’t want to put this book down! This book follows the two main leads of a hit show, Shane and Lilah, as they are forced to play along side each other once again after years of ignoring each other. I loved that the author doesn’t immediately tell you the reason that they hate each other but that throughout the book you get to see their relationship development both in the past and present until you better understand their reasoning for their “hatred” towards each other. The female main character, Lilah, was so open about her anxiety and rather than being ashamed of it she was so open and unapologetic about it and for someone with GAD that was so refreshing to see. I also like that Shane doesn’t have it all figured out and that his uncertainty for the future isn’t something that’s looked down upon by those around him. All in all It was the perfect summer read and I really enjoyed this story!

This pulled me in, quickly! I enjoyed the back story and how the characters evolved over the story. I’m not a huge enemies to lovers fan but this had a great balance and their friendship, relationship and flashbacks were so good.

I often think “these characters need therapy!” And it was so refreshing that it played a role in this story.

I love the format and it did not disappoint!

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was astounding. I felt like I was with both of them through this, like their closest confidante. Everything was balanced perfectly and the pacing was *chef's kiss*

Hats off to Wilder for some incredible character development! I wasn't expecting a romcom with as much depth as this story has. Lilah and Shane's chemistry is evident from the first moment they meet and it never wanes. It changes shape with them and their relationship but it's always there, always intense. Their emotional journeys -- individual and together -- are realistic and specific and I appreciated them all the more for it.

While I've never worked on a TV show like <i>Intangible</i>, I'm familiar with the entertainment world and what Wilder created feels so true to life. All the little details of production and the process breathe more life into Lilah and Shane. It felt less like I was reading a book and more like I was reading a journalism piece about two real-life actors and their relationship. I was wholly absorbed in it.

I'll be recommending this one for a long time!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, the author, and NetGalley for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Ava Wilder’s other book - How to Fake It in Hollywood, so I was super pumped to pick this one up! I love enemies to lovers romance especially when it comes to celebrity romances.

I loved the slow burn of this second-chance romance it was so fun and easy to fall right into the story! There was instant chemistry you could feel through the book right from the start. The whole book it was so easy to ship this couple and I was dying for them to get together.

I also love when books do a POV from different time periods because I like getting the full story from all different angles. It was also cool to see how the relationship grew over time.

If Ava Wilder keeps righting celebrity romances like this then I will always be picking up!

I felt like I’ve read this book before. No, not because it’s “competing” book, ‘Once More with Feeling’, read incredibly similar, but the trope really felt tired this time around.

Heroine who feels like she couldn’t be properly loved or that she’ll be f*cked over at any moment, but everything was so surface-level. Trust me, I get the “bitchy” personality; I am the bitchy personality!!! There were just never really any discussions between our MCs that made me feel like these two could really make it together, only enough moments that made me think “yeah, they’re a good f*ck”.

So yeah, the title was so perfect, it’s kind of annoying.

Everything ultimately just seemed to rush by the time we’re nearing the end of the book and the flashbacks throughout made the pacing of this even worse (almost like I could’ve done without them). Like, we get it, they WILL!


It’s a shame because ‘How to Fake It in Hollywood’ was such a good read last year, and maybe it set my expectations high, but I guess there’s only hoping Ava Wilder comes back next year with a real banger 🤞🏼 (pun intended)

I picked this book up because I love a good second chance romance. I can appreciate flawed characters like Lilah and Shane because theyre realistic! I enjoyed their banter and the tension between them. At times, the story did hit some lulls though. But, that twist at the end threw me for a loop!

Read if you...
💗think your partner should tattoo your name on them, so you know it's real! 🤪
💗like "unlikeable" characters
💗enjoy Hollywood/celebrity romances
💗enjoy tension/build up
💗like mental health rep
💗like enemies to lovers and second chances
💗coworkers to lovers to enemies to lovers

Thank you Netgalley, Random House -Ballantine, and Ava Wilder for the ARC.

“Will They or Won’t They” was so much fun to read. Dual POVs, enemies to lovers, and two different timelines makes this book grip you from the very first chapter.

It is clear Shane and Lilah have so much chemistry that you can’t help but root for them while also getting frustrated and wanting them to just kiss already.

As a fan of “How to Fake it in Hollywood,” I was so excited to be selected but NetGalley, Ava Wilder, and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine to enjoy this ARC.

This had so much sexual tension that I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I found myself screaming, "Have the make-up sex already!"

With that being said, I thought this was a really cute story. I loved Lilah with how quirky and witty she was, along with keeping her panic attacks at bay. I loved the mental health rep. I also loved Hunter and how sweet and vulnerable he was. It was a really sweet love story. Especially when they knew they had to put in the work to be ready for each other.

I did find this a little slow moving at the beginning. But once I got halfway through, I couldn't put it down.

The chemistry in this one!!! It's undeniable. Right from the prologue, their first meeting. I could feel it just like they could. Shane. My angel boy. I listened to the audiobook and the slight southern accent they did for him was 👌🏼. It wasn't one of the steamiest books I've read, but the longing made it sizzle. And that scene in the dressing room??? Probably the best thing about this book is that they went to therapy together. When couples have a difficult history, it's hard for me to see why they’ll work together in the present when they didn’t before. Not only are they grown now, but they've worked through things in a healthy way. And they're being honest!!! They're learning about each other and confessing sweet things. Reading about their sessions made me tear up and giggle. AND dual timeline in dual pov!!! Also, maybe most importantly, this book is Dress by Taylor Swift coded. I feel like I don't need to say much more than that.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Hollywood
Time: Current day, 9 year flash backs
Format: 📖
Release Date: 6/27/2023
Length: 373

Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder is the story of co-stars Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible – madly in love with each other .. on screen … off screen they hated each. The story follows Lilah and Shane as the reunite for their nineth and final season as these two characters finally get together. But will that they become a couple again off screen?

I feel I am being generous giving this second chance novel a 2 1/2 star rating – lovers to enemies to lover just wasn’t for me. Both characters are not only unlikable the story itself was annoying and be truthful I could have cared less if they did, or they did not.

And a note to all authors .. when using an abbreviation please spell out the full term at its first mention, indicate its abbreviation in parenthesis and use the abbreviation from then on. Thank you.

Thank you, Ava Wild, Dell and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on June 27, 2023.

Follow me on : https://linktr.ee/rosiesreadingnook

DNF at 24% because i already know i’m not gonna love this, it’s already really similar to her last book and i did not like that one

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is a classic old lovers, new enemies story about two actors on a long running TV show. Now Lilah and Shane are teaming up for the final season after a few years of avoiding each other when Lilah unexpectedly quit to pursue movies. Each worried about how the reunion will go, they bring their past baggage along for the ride. You can probably guess how this ends, but still a nice summer read.

This book surprised me so much! I was expecting cute, fun and fluffy and it was that, but it was also an amazing emotional rollercoaster that I enjoyed every minute of!

Things I really loved:
- This was a really fun second chance romance. I loved how it bounced between present and past so that you could get a look into how/why they are where they are now.
- I loved both the MCs and their baggage. It is what makes them so real. They were both struggling so much internally that it’s clear why it didn’t work out in the past.
- I loved the ending. I freaked out a bit for a minute, but then I calmed down when everything was explained!

Things I didn’t love:
- There was much I didn’t love. As always with second chance romances, I wish it didn’t take so long for them to get back together (almost 10 years) but I think sometimes it’s what the characters need to make it end-game!

Overall, I really liked this book. It has a lot of sweet moments, some good spice and a lot of emotions!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁠
Spice Level: 🔥🔥
Genre: Contemporary Romance⁠
Tropes: Lovers to enemies to lovers, Second chance romance, Celebrity
Publication Date: June 27, 2023⁠
Goodreads Rating: ⁠3.9 ⭐️
Amazon Rating: 4.2 ⭐️
Available Format: 📖📱⁠
KU Option: NO

* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so much fun! Loved the tension. For celebrities, the two main characters seemed extremely real and their whole drama felt realer than most romance novels.

Such an enjoyable read!! Would totally recommend to fans of enemies to lovers trope! The banters were hilarious and I love Lilah and Shane's chemistry! I just think that the conflict was resolved too easily?? But overall this is such a great read! ❤