I really enjoyed her first book but man this was a total miss for me. I found the characters, especially Lilah extremely insufferable. She was just mean? The flashbacks felt disjointed and the reason they hate each other was so stupid I had to read the chapter again because I thought I missed something. I also need that witty banter/dialogue in my romcoms and I feel I didn't get that with this one. I didn't feel immersed in this story or really even root for them. I felt like I was just reading words on a page if that makes sense. It wasnt for me but I'm not writing off Ava all together because I did really like her first book.

A fun read! Two actors on a hit drama fall in and out of love off-screen. Think of Booth and Bones, Nick and Jess, Jim and Pam…the classic “will they or won’t they”.

It wasn’t my favorite book ever, but I still enjoyed it.

Will They or Won’t They is a master class of lovers to enemies to lovers and second chance romance. The tension and angst between Lilah and Harrison was so palpable that it was almost overwhelming at times. Their banter when they “hated” each other was laugh out loud funny but it was obvious that their hate was really love and frustration. Harrison driving 40 minutes out of his way for Lilah’s favorite donuts (to make her happy OR to make her mad) was such a perfect touch to his character and also showed how deeply she was entwined in his heart.

I truly did not see the third act twist coming. I thought the story was following a predictable narrative and was honestly a little annoyed about it but Ava Wilder totally got me and I absolutely love what she did. There’s no sophomore slump here, this follow up novel is truly a must read for all fans of romance, romcoms, Hollywood behind the scenes, enemies to lovers and second chance romance.

It's official- Ava has become a must-read author for me. I absolutely love how she writes, she had me invested in the story and the characters from the very first page and she continues to keep you engaged throughout. I loved seeing Lilah and Shane confront their past issues (separately and together) and work through it all to get back both their professional and personal relationship. The flashbacks to the first few years of their relationship help you get a feel for why they are both less-than thrilled when they have to reunite for the final season of their show. They obviously fell for each other, and fell hard, when they were young and just starting out in Hollywood and they have to figure out how to deal with each other now that they're older and have been around the scene for close to 10 years. Especially after not having any type of contact with one-another for the past several years. I think the lovers-to enemies-to lovers second chance romance was done so well between the 2 of them, anything different would not have done their story justice. Also, the angst and sexual tension between Shane and Lilah was top tier. I always love reading about Hollywood stories and the depiction of what it's actually like to be a celebrity- the struggles and overwhelming nature of it all and how it's navigated by each individual. The sneaky homage to Ashton & Demi was epic. How to Fake it In Hollywood was legit my favorite read this year, but this one definitely knocked it off the top spot. I cannot wait to see what Ava writes next.

This was my "reward" book. I had to get a number of things done and then could read a chapter. Otherwise, I would have read until I finished it! It is THAT good!

Ms. Wilder tells a good story with characters to care about. The dialogue is smooth--you can actually hear the characters talking. I'll confess I don't know a lot about the TV Hollywood scene and the ins and outs of that were interesting to read about.

I also loved the internal dialogue Lilah and Shane had with themselves. Their rehearsal of their own "whys" made their public actions and words all the more understandable. There were times, however, when I wished what they were thinking was what they would say--and as with all of us, it takes a certain level of vulnerability and trust to go there.

I look forward to next Ava Wilder publication!

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder.

Thank you so much to netgalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Ava’s writing style. She kept you engaged with the characters and the storyline.

I kept envisioning a show similar to vampire diaries as similar to the one Shane and Lilah are featured on.

I loved that this story is centered around lilah and Shane falling in love while filming this tv show. Being new to the industry they experience growing pains which ultimately tears them apart for a short time, but fate has a way of working things out.

Lilah and Shane decide that love is enough and that if they have each other… what else do they really need.

I really appreciated how they depicted the difficulties of working in the entertainment industry and how overwhelming that can be. The unpredictability and sustainability can feel overwhelming.

How to Fake it in Hollywood was one of my absolute favorite romances of last year, and I already know Will They or Won't They will be a top romance of 2023! It had me from page one, and I couldn't put it down. I LOVED Lilah and Shane and their lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers-again sweeping second chance romance. Just like HTFIIH, the Hollywood industry setting was pitch perfect, and Lilah and Shane's sharp, antagonistic banter was laugh out loud hilarious! But what I loved most was the way their growth quietly snuck up on me in the loveliest way. It was completely authentic to these expertly drawn characters and so well earned! Ava Wilder fans will not be disappointed!

Loved this book! I was a huge fan of her first novel and, for me, the follow up did not disappoint! Once again, Wilder created characters I really cared about and was invested in. I had a great time reading this enemies to lovers (at least one-sided) romance that also felt like a fun window into the entertainment industry.

The author has an uncanny knack of revealing the true psyche of her main characters. A sweet rediscovery of love that grows and matures as the story progresses.

Actual rating is probably more of a 3.5/5 stars.

I must say that Ava Wilder does angst very well. I don't always enjoy second chance romances. They can be very hit or miss for me. But this one landed well, mainly because I love Lilah Hunter. I see you, Lilah, my GAD-having, neurotic, anxious mess of a woman who doesn't think she is capable of love or being loved. I could cry.

I will also say that I enjoyed Wilder's first novel, How To Fake It In Hollywood a bit more than this one, but this is a satisfying second novel. There is just soooo much angst it made me a bit sad. I was getting choked up at the ways that Lilah and Shane had and continued to hurt each other. But like Shane tells Lilah, they are "undeniable." Lilah and Shane were the two co-leads of a supernatural drama, and off-screen their chemistry was equally as powerful. But when their off-screen relationship implodes, the two go to hating each other, leading Lilah to eventually leave the show. But as the show enters its final season, Lilah comes back, and has to face all of the unresolved bitterness and heartache that stewed for nearly a decade between her and Shane. The smut is well-written, and I really enjoyed seeing an accurate depiction of someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. There were some parts here that were a bit slow in my opinion, but Lilah's such a great character that I didn't have any difficulty staying absorbed in the story.

A good read -- I thought the characters were well-developed and I really enjoyed their dynamic/chemistry. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes, but I thought the writer did a good job making this seem more believable/relatable than most.

I will read anything Ava Wilder writes! There, I said it! Her debut was a favorite of mine last year and I didn’t think her second could possibly live up to it - but IT DID. I read this book so quickly, absolutely living for the steamy scenes between these two paramores. Will they or won’t they?! Let’s just say, they will and I will too!

Will They Or Won't They is a slow-burn, Hollywood romance starring FMC, Lilah, and MMC, Shane. Shane and Lilah are costars on a paranormal TV show where they play passionately-involved lovers... But in real life, Lilah and Shane had a falling out after a brief romance a year into filming season one. Now, many years later, with both characters well into their 30s, the tension threatens to destroy the loving image they have projected to their fans. In the final season of the show, Lilah returns to play Shane's romantic counterpart with all the hostilities and bitterness of the years bygone brewing between them.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this read. Lilah is what saved the book in terms of the characters for me because I did not like Shane at all. He has that annoying trait where he seems to intentionally misunderstand things, doesn't listen to the people around him who are telling him the truth, and gets way overemotional (or emotionally shut down) when anything ruffles his feathers. Lilah is a hothead as well, but she is an even more successful, brilliant, and talented actor on the big stage, and I feel that her mistrust of Shane's feelings/intentions is entirely valid based on their history. (I loved her ferocity.) The story itself is a slow burn but flashes back and forth between "Then" and "Now" so that we come to understand what went wrong between Lilah and Shane. The story has a happy ending, interesting side characters, and a lovely second chances trope.

It gets a little slow in the middle, but I was never truly bored! It picks up with a satisfying wrap-up and is a story I feel lucky to have read before it hits major bookstores.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for my e-ARC!

Thanks to @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse and @avawilderwrites for the early look at her sophomore novel, Will They or Won’t They. Spoiler: they will and it will be a delightful and fun ride to get them there.

It releases on June 27, 2023.

When Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy meet auditioning for Intangible, their chemistry is so electric that not only do they book the job, but they start an affair that they try to hide from the other cast and crew. After the relationship implodes, their chemistry turns explosive—full of anger and resentment that causes a lot of stress on their show. When Lilah returns for the show’s final season, they have to decide how to work together again and whether the want another shot at love.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: celebrities, second-chance, enemies-to-lovers

This book was the total package for a celebrity romance and had me wondering how the main characters were going to end up together from the very first chapter. I loved being along for the ride of their love story and to have the insight into their relationship as celebrities. I was rooting for them from the beginning and couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. Such a great, quick read! I

I LOVE Ava Wilder, and I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. After devouring How To Fake It In Hollywood, I was super pumped to find she was writing a new book.

Will They or Won’t They is a great second novel, as it covers the second-chance romance and lovers-enemies-lovers trope and stays in the fun celebrity world that Wilder has built.

While I do love Enemies to Lovers stories, I struggled with the type of enemies in this book. While the ending is ultimately happy and I truly do love Lilah and Shane, their relationship was hard to read through. It wasn’t a typical story of romantic tension in the buildup, I genuinely felt that they hated each other and played very toxic roles in each others lives.

However, I’m a sucker for love, and my heart felt so full by the end of this book. I was so happy that they could overcome their issues and find happiness together after such a long time knowing each other. Happily Ever After forever!

4.5 Stars

I was a little skeptical going into this book because my least favorite trope is famous people, but I was so pleasantly surprised by Will They Or Won’t They.

It was funny and had sizzling chemistry. I also enjoyed the shifting between past and present as well. This was my first book by Ava Wilder but definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group— Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lilah and Hunter are madly in love, or at least their characters are. Ever since they met, they have been pining for each other. That is until Lilah leaves the show after season 5 to pursue stardom in film. And when that goes array, she’s back for the final season for the show Intangible when Lilah and Hunter’s characters will get together at last.

This book was filled with tension and a ton of drama that I was not expecting and it left me craving for more, when I finished it I did not know what to rate it because it left me thinking “what just happened?” Lilah and Hunter’s history and the reasons why they did things to each other, even if not on purpose, were things I was more than glad to explore.

I liked that the characters were flawed, the romance between them was fiery and full of angst. One thing I did not enjoy was how invalidating of Hunter’s feelings Lilah was, obviously because of past (in)experiences, and the conflict was kind of dragged and not straight to the point which was a bit frustrating but it still made a good story.

Of course they will. Or so I thought going in. But there was a better story than I anticipated and LOTS of chemistry and time expended to get there. It was sweet and funny and angsty and interesting, too, what with all the industry speak and situations. I had fun with it.

A solid romance written by a talented author. I’ve been having a hard time getting into romance lately, but this story hooked me from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout. There was lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers angst, open dialogue about mental illness (anxiety, specifically), and characters who you can’t help but to root for. I love a celebrity romance, and if you pair that with a slow burn, second chances romance and some stellar writing…well it’s an easy five stars from me.