I read Ava’s debut, How To Fake It In Hollywood, last year and fell in love with her writing. I’ve always been a big Hollywood/celeb gossip girl, so it was a such a fun read. Once I read the summary of this new one, I knew I had to read it.

This book did not disappoint. Our main pair, Lilah and Shane, are co-stars on a famous supernatural show. Lilah left the show a few seasons back and has returned for a final season. Let’s just say, these two have some history. The sparks flew between them and I couldn’t stop reading.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the ARC.

Shane and Lilah are reunited for one last season of their hit show that brought them together. Will the sparks that are flying between the two of them cause them to hate each other (even more) or draw them close together?

I really enjoyed both Shane and Lilah's characters. You could feel the tension in their relationship - the push and pull of possibly still loving the other person but being hurt by actions in the past. My favorite part of this book was the ending!

Thanks, netgalley for the ARC of the book.

Wilder's previous book, How to Fake it in Hollywood, was one of my favorite books of 2022. Will They or Won't They was an excellent follow=up! I flew threw this book in less than 24 hours. I can't wait to see what Ava Wilder writes next!

Ava Wilder does it again! I was so obsessed with How to Fake it in Hollywood, and Will They or Won't They did NOT disappoint! Perfect balance of realism and legitimate mental health discussion with fun dramatic celebrity romance! I love how Wilder approaches her stories so much. The pacing is brilliant, every character is so dynamic, well thought out and all so different from each other. I cannot wait to read what Wilder puts out next!

(arc review! thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher!!!)

Boy do I have opinions about this one. I read Ava's debut How to Fake it in Hollywood when it first came out and was blown out of the water how raw and real it felt. It really encompassed that messy human nature of Hollywood and actors and addiction. That one made my stomach churn and feel second hand embarrassment. I saw that she was writing another novel and got really excited to see how she wrote another story involving messy people. I'm just going to say this, she wasn't going to top my feelings on her debut. Going in I should have lowered my expectations a little. Not to say that I found this one bad. I was just a little dissapointed, that and that ending felt cheap somehow. Despite my high expectations, this one really hit me in the gut too. If you like Emily Henry I really recommend Wilders books. She has that really down to the bones human connection with all her characters. They feel so real, like you could legit look them up on the internet and you would find real famous people. Not sure if it is research or she really is just that good. I love her writing and her characters will be in my heart for a while, unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this one as much as her first. But still a great emotional journey all the same.

I sat on reading this one longer than I should have because I was obsessed with How to Fake it in Hollywood and could not believe that was Ava’s debut novel and immediately wanted to read her entire back catalog… but there wasn’t one. So I was scared to dive into this one when I received it because we all know the sophomore novel can’t always live up to the hype the debut left us wanting from an author. I blame myself for not having faith that Ava could catch lightening twice. This. Book. Y’all. Damn. I connected with the writing as effortlessly as sliding on my favorite slippers. The pacing and flashbacks were well done and gave me the perfect insight to our MCs history. I know Lilah is going to get some scathing reviews for being too rigid or “bitchy” but frankly some of us are that way and it’s nice to read about characters who aren’t always soft and angelic. Shane was the perfect golden retriever MMC. I’m obsessed. He is too pure for this world. I was so sad when the book was over I was bargaining like “I just need a few more chapters! Don’t make it be over yet! I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters!” However, The ending is truly magical and I’ve learned my lesson….Ava Wilder will be an instant read for me the second her books hit my kindle.

Thank you to Ava Wilder, Random House, and NetGalley for this ARC!

this was one of my most anticipated releases this year and this did not disappoint !!! how to fake it in Hollywood was one of my top reads in 2022 so I was ecstatic to learn that Ava Wilder would be releasing another (!) celebrity romance this year.

i cannot give this enough praise! the enemies to lovers, second chance, pining, and angst of shane and lilah's relationship was everything. from their chemistry at the start I was intrigued to see how it "fell apart" and I enjoyed going back and forth between past and present!

lilah's struggle is anxiety is so very relatable and I just loved how it was handled throughout this story and I adored how shane knew how to be there for her!

the ending was perfect to me and I cannot wait to hold my very own copy in june 🫶🏽

Famous people... it's a trope that i have a tendency to love for some reason. Not sure why but I think its the same reason we get captivated by real famous people. Anyway, loved this book for those reasons. I hadn't ready anything by this author before but I think I will now!

An enjoyable second chance romance for anyone who has ever wondered about how the actors who comprise their favorite onscreen duo feel about each other when the cameras aren't rolling. The story is smartly told from both perspectives, main characters Lilah and Shane are multifaceted with relatable insecurities, and Wilder wisely doles out flashbacks to major events during their time together in the past. The showbiz setting is rich and so much fun; I found the set of the paranormal drama Intangible to be wildly entertaining, with every new nugget of information dropped making me wish that I could watch it. Having Lilah and Shane attend therapy sessions together due to their ongoing friction is a perfect way to explore the issues that they grapple with individually as well as with each other, and the tale displays a remarkable amount of restraint by merely flirting with a romantic reunion several times before the ideal moment crystallizes at the right time for both emotionally. It was effortless to become invested in this relationship, especially after the two share a lovely holiday call that reveals so much about their personal lives and history. Wilder throws in a truly devious and clever twist near the end that had me gasping aloud with the consequences that it would have on the characters, but fear not, there is indeed a happy ending in store for these costars.

Will They or Won't They follows the years that costars Lilah and Shane have spent together, which would be lovely except for the fact that they have a history and now hate each other... The dual timeline of the story flashes between past and present as Lilah and Shane try to film the last season of their show, Intangible. The two characters have to work through their differences and work together but with all the animosity, it's a little difficult.

This twist on a enemies to lovers trope is so unique and interesting, I've never read a book with this same twist! I also loved that there was a history between Lilah and Shane and that their story was more complex. Another unique aspect of this book is the fact that it does not have dual POV because it is all in third person BUT there is a bit of a switch between the overviews/focus on the characters, like one chapter will focus on Lilah, what she's doing, how she's feeling, etc. while the next chapter might focus on Shane, or on both characters! Most contemporary romance books are in dual POV so it was kind of refreshing to have a different angle!

To be honest, I did struggle to get into this book at first because there was so much bad blood and hatred after the character's past (which we don't learn about for a while) BUT after we learn their history and the characters start to warm up to each other, it makes for a very enjoyable read!

I loved and hated the ending! It was like a plot twist jump scare! I just couldn't believe it and I was so angry and frustrated and then it was like a plot twist on the plot twist! It was crazy!

I will be posting this review on or around June 27th on my instagram @mandj_bookalicious

Ava Wilder dazzled me with her debut novel, How to Fake It in Hollywood, but she’s proven with Will They Or Won’t They, her sophomore novel, that she’s here to stay as one of the top romance authors worth reading.

This romance was the perfect blend of enemies to lovers and second chance romance that gives you ALL the feels.

I was hooked from the start, wondering what drove these two co-stars apart and spurred their years-long feud of despising one another and how they’d possibly survive filming an entire season of a TV show where they were supposed to be madly in love with each other.

What totally grabbed me about this book was the portrayal of these characters.

The romance book genre gets a bad wrap for portraying “idealistic” or “unrealistic” storylines and perfect characters that really just don’t exist in real life. Maybe that’s true in some cases but I love authors who write the messy, vulnerable and real characters the best and that’s what Wilder did in Will They Or Won’t They.

There were times I just wanted to knock some sense into Shane and Lilah and say stop being your own worst enemies or stop being so pigheaded and yet I LOVED that they weren’t two perfect people.

They were stubborn, they made assumptions, they didn’t communicate and they acted petty but I understood every word said or not said and every action or inaction because Wilder showed me who these characters were and I was so for it.

Another writer could have written a similar romance about two actors forced to work together on a TV show and made it more lighthearted but I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much as reading this one. It would have been just another romance for the pile, but this book and these characters I will remember.

I’m such a sucker for enemies to lovers romance books because the tension creates the best between love and hate creates the best chemistry.

While I really don’t understand why they let their relationship implode to the point it did and for the length of time they held onto their hurt and anger, I went with it.

I could understand how each of their pasts had a part in their neuroses about love and Lilah really had me (and Shane) thinking…can you really love someone if they don’t really show you who they are?

But it was in the moments when we finally did see Lilah and Shane let down their walls and show who they truly were that I could see how there was hope they’d find their way back to one another.
If you love romance books with amazing writing and fantastic character development with characters who are flawed in the very best ways, then you’ll love this book.

It definitely deserves a spot on my list of best romance novels of 2023.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!! JUST WOW!! I absolutely loved this book so much!!! "Will They or Won't They" is my first read by Ava Wilder and it will not be my last! When I say that I was completely immersed in this story I mean full on obsession and I could not stop reading. My daughter even caught me reading on my kindle during my son's graduation ceremony 😬🤣! Yes, it is that good!! It has your enemies to lovers, second chance celebrity romance filled with angst, tension, jealously and sizzling chemistry. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are co-stars on a paranormal TV series "Intangible" and on screen they are the sweetest romantic couple. However, behind scenes they can't stand each other. The banter between Lilah and Shane was entertaining and I found myself smiling and laughing while reading. Both of them had insecurities, personal struggles and real life issues that they had to tackle. I loved reading about how they grew individually and dealt with their struggles. The ending was just perfect!

Overall, it was an adorable read that I highly recommend and it deserves ALL the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!!

I tried really hard but this book was really just dull and boring to me. There is more talk about filming and daily tasks that there's nothing about their relationship. Barely any dialogue between the two unless they're fighting. And the whole plotline of the book is that they couldn't communicate their feelings while hooking up. I dnfed at 130 pages.

4.5 stars!

I read Wilder's first release, How to Fake It in Hollywood, earlier this year, and while I still overall enjoyed the book, it was not my favorite. However, this one was a massive improvement to me!

This story follows two actors on the same TV show as they dance around each other for a decade. At certain points throughout the book, they are friends, lovers, or enemies. Lilah Hunter, our female protagonist, is returning to the show "Intangible" after being gone for three seasons. She will play the same character she abandoned after season five because she could not stand her co-star, Shane McCarthy. In the show, the two play two characters that the audience is rooting for to FINALLY get together. They are so obviously meant to be together! However, behind the scenes, they cannot STAND each other. But why? As the reader, we get to explore what went wrong in the past between these two and how it affects their present.

I absolutely loved seeing the development of Lilah and Shane. The progression of their relationship felt very natural and genuine. In the present, we see them go from two coworkers who can't stand each other, to reluctant friends, to lovers again. Through couples therapy, they learn to communicate see their past actions through the other person's perspective. The tension between these two is always so palpable - it definitely felt like I was watching a tv show when I was screaming at my tv "KISS! KISS! KISS!" This story is not just about their romance either, it's also about what the two of them want to do separately in their careers after the show ends, and I really appreciated that aspect.

Overall, this is story filled with jealousy, angst, misunderstandings, but also crackling tension and swoon worthy love. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher (Random house publishing group, Ballantine) for the ARC! This title releases June 27, 2023.

A great enemies to lovers Hollywood romance for fans of Funny You Should Ask!

Will They or Won't They, Wilder's sophomore novel, is a delight of a read-- the perfect book to pack in your beach bag this summer. This book is full of intense emotional drama, excellent banter, and a twist at the end that will leave readers surprised. Fans of Wilder's first novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood, will not be disappointed! I also loved getting the behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood/ production lifestyle.

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!! This book was a manifestation of everything I’d hoped for after reading the blurb! An amazing second-chance, enemies to lovers romance! The way that the tension was built up was so good, and also the characterization was super well done as I loved both Lilah and Shane, but was still able to see their flaws and what makes them human as they worked to be together. This was written in third person dual perspective (my favorite type to read!) and the writing still managed to give the audience a look into the characters thoughts and feelings. Lilah and Shane’s romance was drawn out and built up and this was literally so good and so cute!! I could genuinely believe that these characters were in love because I could feel their tenderness, and it didn’t feel like we were just being given empty words like some other books do. I absolutely LOVED the photoshoot scene and also the characters they’re playing feeling the exact same way that the other person feels <33 LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING THAT’S GENIUS!!! Also, this book totally had me guessing will they or won’t they throughout the entire book, so it definitely lived up to the title.

I love this story! The enemies to lovers but lovers on screen was so good. I loved the banter in this one.

Will They or Won't They is a pretty fantastic rom-com, set in the world of Hollywood (but written mostly authentically, which is a real feat!) with the enemies-to-lovers and second chance romance tropes. There was a lot well done here, and at the risk of boring anyone, I'm going to detail it.

First - we open 8 years earlier, when Lilah and Shane first meet at a chemistry read for the upcoming supernatural procedural TV series The Intangibles - where he'll play a ghost and she a psychic. Then we're sent to present day, at the upfronts for the upcoming ninth season - 8 years after they met, 7 years after their secret relationship exploded, and 3 years after Lilah left to do a movie that was pitched as Oscar bait but ended up sweeping the Razzies.

Books that play with timelines often get the device wrong - either the information is redundant, or comes at the wrong time, or otherwise takes the reader out of the story. Ava Wilder does none of that here. Each flashback is perfectly placed, tied exactly to the present storyline and - most crucially - further develops both the story and the chemistry between the two leads.

I mentioned the Hollywood of it all because I work in TV production and the vast majority of books about "Hollywood" are grievously incorrect. Here, that just isn't the case. From the upfronts, to the convention, to the episodic director who goes rogue, everything felt so authentic to the way it actually works in the industry. This is seriously a feat, and it's worth noting.

And the chemistry between Lilah and Shane is intense and simmering and ebbs and flows depending on the situation. But it's always there, and their relationship feels so deeply honest, even at its messiest. I was rooting for them from page one. And when I say enemies-to-lovers I mean it: these two were horrible to each other at moments, but as the story unfolded and we learned more about their past, it only clarified exactly how deep the connection between them was. And the ending!! Chef's kiss. No notes.

All of this to say: five stars. The perfect summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

i liked this one even better than how to fake it in hollywood, and that was my favorite romance of last year!

wilder is fantastic at taking moments that might feel trite -- lovers to enemies to lovers -- layer delicate, deliberate and tangible emotions until you have real people who are in a real predicament that you can't help but root for.

i'll never not be excited for her next endeavor.

thanks to netgalley for the arc.

I loved How to Fake It In Hollywood and couldn't wait to dive into Ava Wilder's latest!!

Will they or won't they, that is the question! This story has so much angst, and banter, and we get to watch Lilah and Shane see if they're ready to fight FOR each other. Amidst all of the enemies to lovers, there are some tender moments between them. And y'all!! 🫠🥰🫠🥰 I about melted. I feel like it's rare to find a couple that is truly watching their hearts to make sure they're ready for what's real and this story showed that and more. It was just SO GOOD.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review!