Will They or Won't They follows Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy as they navigate a tumultuous final season of their beloved supernatural television show. After Lilah left the show to jumpstart a not-so-successful film career, Lilah is back for the final season of the show, where her character can finally have her happy ending, even though Lilah and Shane couldn't make it work. What viewers of Intangible don't know is that after their fling imploded at the end of the first season, Lilah and Shane can barely work together. What's worse than having the pretend to be in love with your enemy? You might begin to realize that the reason you hated them was never substantial at all.


4.5 stars/5. 2/5 spice.

I loved this book - I thought it was a different plot and was really sweet. I cried at the fmc who struggled to put herself out and tell others that she loved them. I thought the book was super good.

I enjoyed this lovers to enemies to lovers book and I always like the acting background in romances.

The characters. The depth. The plot. SO good!

Ava Wilder caught my eye with How to Fake It In Hollywood, but I actually think I liked this one more. I loved getting to watch Lilah and Shane fall in love twice and their banter made the book so fun and easy to read. I appreciated the way anxiety was approached. Will They or Won't They solidified Ava Wilder as a must read author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I unfortunately did not enjoy reading about the mmc and fmc.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ava Wilder is becoming a must-read author for me. “Will They or Won’t They” like its predecessor, involves romance in the world of Hollywood, which is a fun and unique background for me. It’s a fun, cute story, with imperfect characters. Also, this wasn’t a traditional, linear story which I appreciate in romance novels, which are a dime a dozen. 3.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up to 4. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

Summary
Lilah and Shane starred together in a tv show for years. Despite secretly dating for the first season, when it all blew up, they hated each other for the rest of their run. Lilah left the show for a few years to try to jumpstart her movie career and now she is coming back to reprise her role for the final season. Their characters are in love, but Lilah and Shane... they are not, not even close. But faking it brings up some past feelings for them both.

Review
If you want a book full of angst, this one is for you. Both characters have such strong emotions regarding their fling and the other, but also have lots of fear and anxiety about the show ending and how it will affect them. Lack of honest communication is a big part of the conflict, which isn't my favorite trope. There is definitely tension and slow burn and I did enjoy the enemies to lovers vibe. Lilah is not very likeable to start, but she grows on you as she opens up and becomes more vulnerable. Shane is a golden retriever of a male love interest, to everyone expect Lilah for a good portion of the book. There is good banter and tension and it made for a fun read.

It’s the kind of storyline that, in real life, I don’t care anything about. Feuding lead actors on a tv show, front page news of gossip sites, I keep on moving. But in Bookland, well in Bookland I looove it.

I also love Ava Wilder’s writing. The weight and angst, but never melodramatic, just appropriately dramatic at times, ha. It feels too real even while the page written actors play their parts. Fully formed characters and situations. It’s also sexy but slow-burn with the lovers to enemies to lovers dynamic.

Great banter and humor, explored backstories and idiosyncrasies, loves and fears, this story is balanced with all of it. The back and forth between past and present had a good flow. Getting their full love story was delicious.

I had a couple quibbles over the final conflict but overall, it’s dynamic and a must-read. I’m already forgetting my little critiques and just want to reread it.

Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook, and thank you Random House & Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I read How To Fake It In Hollywood last summer and knew I wanted to read Ava Wilder’s sophomore release. Will They or Won’t They is a standalone, second chance, enemies to lovers celebrity romance between TV show costars Lilah and Shane. They had a casual fling during their first season of filming, but after their arrangement fizzled, they did whatever they could to maintain civility on set until her contract ended. Now, three years later, Lilah is brought back on to the show for its final season and they’re forced to confront their complicated pasts.

Overall, this book felt similar in the quality of writing and story as How to Fake It in Hollywood. The angsty animosity between Lilah and Shane was palpable, so much so that I had a hard time feeling like their relationship issues were resolved. I enjoyed the reunion aspect of the show and both Lilah and Shane following their passions and diving into their issues individually and as coworkers. This wasn’t my first audio by Kristen DiMercurio but my first time listening to Jay Aaseng’s narration - together they voiced an audiobook that was easy to follow and kept me wanting to listen.

Whenever I read a book by Ava Wilder, I know I'll receive one of the best written character studies out today. This book was full of what I love to read and wish more existed: well-thought out characters, a slow burn that keeps me hooked from page one to the final sentence, and a carefully crafted story. I always want more! Can't wait to read her next!

After loving How to Fake It in Hollywood, I was really excited about Will They or Won't They. However, it didn't deliver fully for me. Nothing in this story really drew me in and made me want to keep reading. I think where it fell short for me is that the backstory of these two characters wasn't developed fully enough for me and then it was relied on so heavily for their current relationship that I didn't feel invested. I would definitely give Ava Wilder another try in the future, but this one just wasn't for me, despite really wanting to love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review was posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5120255572

This book is what I imagine happens in true life behind the scenes off set. The push and pull of a relationship around the reality of being famous and the speculation from the public. I think the years between Shane and Lilah’s relationship was needed to mature and have the strength to quiet the outside noise. This was very well written and a pleasure to read.

Cute novel about stars of a teen tv show who are in love/hate with each other. Definitely four stars for what is is.

A second chance, enemies to lovers all set in the backdrop of Hollywood. This book was delicious from beginning to end.

She’s back to film a last season of their hit tv show, tensions are high, can they overcome their past for a future?

I was rooting for Lilah and Shane all the way. They both had valid reasons for their feelings and you just kept willing them together. Their chemistry and heat was palpable and you just wanted to shout “just do it!” Several times.

I throughly enjoined this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this celebrity, second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance! The dual timelines and perspectives made for an interesting read. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable.

Thanks Ballantine and Netgalley for my copy.

I devoured How to Fake It In Hollywood and was so excited to get my hands on Wilder's second book, which did not disappoint. The friends/love/hate/friends/love cycle, pining, and frustration in Will They or Won't They... just... it is everything I want, nay NEED, in a book. The yearning and second chance vibes were wrapped up and topped off with a spectacular shiny bow made of sexual tension, banter, humor, and spice.

Hot take alert…. I didn’t love it. This is a work place romance (one of my favorite tropes!) and a second chance romance. Lilah and Shane are stars of a paranormal show called Intangible. It’s a mega hit when Lilah shocks everyone by leaving the show to go make a movie. The show continues on for many more seasons and Lilah is full of regret after the movie flops. We get to see the catalyst behind her leaving and it was a big build up to that part.

The present day takes place before the last season begins and Lilah returns to the show. The story flips between present day and the past. I enjoyed the parts where we see Lilah and Shane get together, but over all the story was just okay for me. Some second chance romances work, but I think Shane and Lilah were better apart. I did enjoy that parts where they had to pretend to like each other for the show. The show reminded me of a CW show that has its main actors date in real life to gain publicity.

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for the gifted ebook. I haven’t read Ava’s first book, How to Fake it in Hollywood so I still have high hopes.

I thought this book was very enjoyable. I don’t love when the main problem is communication which I think was present in this book, but I thought it was very well written and a unique concept. It was funny at times and also very serious and heartbreaking. A quick and entertaining read.

3.5 Stars. I really loved How To Fake It In Hollywood by Ava, but this one missed the mark a bit for me. For some reason the relationship just felt a bit stunted and forced, so I found it a bit harder to root for Lilah and Shane. The chemistry just felt like it was lacking. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

A very fun romance! I don't always love a second chance romance, especially when it seems like they came to hate each other in between, but this one was still very fun! The tension was HIGH for sure, and I loved the celebrity set up.