3.5 stars

There was a lot to love in this book but I also feel like I needed more. There were portions skipped over fairly quickly that I think exploring more would have given the romance more depth. Especially the portion between the 3rd act conflict and the resolution, I would have enjoyed a chapter or so about that 6 month period. It would have made the resolution more meaningful. So while I enjoyed the book overall, I felt there was a lot left out unfortunately.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Unfortunately this book did not hold my interest. I may give it another shot at a later date, Oh well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Afterglow Books, Harlequin, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love and Other Hollywood Endings is a second chance, forced proximity, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers read with a focus on filmmaking!

Xavier is a movie director dealing with the disappearance of a producer for his new film while having to face his romantic regrets from ten years prior. Sutton was an aspiring screenwriter and is now working as a production executive investigating the financials of Xavier's latest film. I liked how there was both romance and a bit of mystery (what really happened between Xavier and Sutton 10 years ago and why there is money missing).

Overall, a super cute, fast-paced romance perfect for contemporary romance readers who enjoy a second chance romance with a focus on Hollywood! The chemistry between Sutton and Xavier was one of the biggest highlights, as well as the focus on the behind the scenes aspects of filmmaking and movie production. A feel good book with a wonderful happily ever after!

This second-chance romance follows Xavier, an indie director struggling with a financial scandal, and Sutton, a production executive sent to shut down his over-budget film. Instead of a past breakup, their history is a missed connection from ten years ago, making their reunion less about overcoming heartbreak and more about rekindling old sparks.

As Sutton steps in as producer, she and Xavier fall back into their playful, flirty dynamic, with their growing chemistry obvious to everyone but them. While their romance is engaging, the story moves quickly, skipping over key relationship moments and wrapping up too fast. Despite this, it’s a fun and charming read with great banter and compelling characters.

LOVE AND OTHER HOLLYWOOD ENDINGS – Susannah Erwin
Harlequin Afterglow
ISBN: 978-1-335-57493-0
February 25, 2025
Romantic Comedy

Yuma, Arizona – Present Day

Sutton Spencer, once an aspiring screenwriter, is now a movie exec vying for a VP position. She is assigned the task of going to a movie production site in Yuma, where she knows she will run in Xavier Duval, who is the movie’s writer. The movie is over budget and it’s up to Sutton to figure out why and how to cut costs. She arrives amidst a crisis. A producer has run off with funds allocated to the movie. They don’t want the main company to know because they would likely shut down production. With Sutton’s help and Xavier’s input, everyone hopes to finish the film. But will our couple survive being around each other as old desires flicker once more between them?

In Sutton’s eyes, Xavier ghosted her years ago after he criticized her screenplay, and she hasn’t forgiven him. Yet, when she arrives in Yuma, she wonders if he remembers her. Well, he hasn’t forgotten her, but he doesn’t make a big show about it. She soon learns that he did leave her a letter but the person he gave it to never passed it on to her. Thus, LOVE AND OTHER HOLLYWOOD ENDINGS is about redemption and learning to trust one another again. There is no doubt that they still care for each other. Will they act upon those feelings?

While there are numerous characters in this tale, such as the actress playing the main character, we will keep our focus on Sutton and Xavier. Once they get reacquainted, it is only a matter of time before they are alone—and sparks fly hot enough to metamorphically start a fire. Add in that they are trying to save a movie whose success will help further their careers, and then readers understand their motivation for working together. Sutton and Xavier spend the first part of this book circling each other. She learns why he disappeared, which makes her feel ashamed that she ever doubted him. But the years apart have changed them. Then comes the second part and time spent alone. Will it lead to sex? Once the movie production is done in Arizona, can they chart a future together, or will they go their separate ways?

A bit of a different romantic tale that takes place in the world of movie production and sets, don’t miss LOVE AND OTHER HOLLYWOOD ENDINGS.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Unfortunately this one just did not hit for me. The cover is incredible tho! The second chance was not my favorite in this instance and the whole “scorned lover” theme was not my cup of tea. Still had an interesting plot, but it wasn’t for me.

Trigger or content warnings? Nope. Past sibling death off page.

Details? Sutton is the FMC and she is 31 years old. Xavier is the MMC and he is 37 years old.
They had a “thing” 10 years ago while Sutton was in university and Xavier was helping out at the same university. I believe he was a student teacher? Him and Sutton hit it off.
Mimi is Xavier’s ex, that made him wary to bring people around his nephew. Erik is his 12 year old nephew he has sole custody of.
They have both been with others since meeting. Definitely during the 10 year separation.
No condoms are used. Sutton is on birth control.

My thoughts?
I really enjoyed this being set on a movie set, I found there was level of secrecy of Sutton and Xaviers relations that added to the spice of it. They definitely have communication issues that I can see them working out later in life. The epilogue was lack lustre for what I usually enjoy but I also fit the story perfectly. Sutton and Xavier needed to figure themselves out before they could come together, and so the ending was a happy for now.

This was an absolutely charming, fast-moving romance! From the very first chapter, the story jumps right in, and the spark between Sutton and Xavier is undeniable. Erwin keeps the pacing tight and the scenes engaging, making it a smooth and delightful read.

I also really enjoyed the Hollywood backdrop—the insights into filmmaking and behind-the-scenes moments added a fresh, contemporary touch. Overall, this is a heartwarming story that left me grinning. And of course, I loved that both the movie and Sutton and Xavier got the happily-ever-after they deserved!

If you're a big cinephile and want to read about love on the set between a suit and the director, this may be a good pick for you. Xavier's sci-fi flick based on a popular comic is (unbeknownst to him) drastically over budget. As part of the news, in comes Sutton, the suit. She actually knows Xavier from college days, where they had a falling out and now they're enemies. Kinda. They're both annoyed with each other but seem to work through it awfully quickly.

Honestly, this book was okay for me. I feel like I enjoyed some of the side characters more than the main characters and the tension didn't build in a satisfying way for me. I didn't actively dislike the book, I just don't think it will really stick with me. Also, I'm not sure why my brain was dead set on thinking that Sutton was her last name and it kept reading oddly that he's calling her by her last name during the couple of sexy times they had during the book... I couldn't get it to quit. Overall, this was so-so for me.

I received this advanced reader copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion - thanks to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin.

I liked the premise of this one but sadly, I felt the execution wasn't all that strong. I struggled to feel the chemistry between the two main characters which led to the romance not being overly exciting. I would be happy to try this author again though as I do feel the storyline was interesting.

What I liked about this book was that it wasn’t a second chance because of a bad breakup from years ago, but second chance because of a missed connection!
As for the rest of the book I honestly couldn’t get into it. This book was advertised as “spicy” I wouldn’t go that far…there were spicy “moments” leading up to the “deed” but the deed was absolutely closed door. That’s fine, but it should be noted nonetheless. The story had potential but the ending felt rushed

This is a second chance romance I can get behind. They didn't date and break up 10 years ago. They basically had a missed connection. While the feelings were there, they didn't date and therefore didn't break up. It means there's less the overcome in the romance of the story. I don't want people to get back together when they've truly been wrong, nor do I want to see people get back together when they shouldn't've broken up in the first place.

Xavier is perceptive and caring. Great attributes for an indie director, but making the transition into major motion pictures has left him with too much on his plate. He's happy to let his producer take over the finances completely. Unfortunately, that bites him in the ass when it turns out he's skimming off the top and goes on the run.

Sutton is an executive at the production company. She's sent to set to shut down production for going over budget. When she discovers that most of the expenses have been fraud rather than excessive spending, she convinces the company to keep the film going, but with her as the producer.

Sutton and Xavier struggle with their attraction to each other, but attraction is not where it stops. They banter. They joke. They fall into the flirty patterns they established 10 years ago. The crew even notices and starts taking bets on if/when they get together. The last people to know the inevitability of their relationship is these two.

The one thing about this story that kept me from loving it is that it felt fast. I wish it had another 20 pages or so to flesh out the getting together. We see their first kiss, and a little fooling around, but we skip ahead weeks when they return from their adventure. I don't doubt that these two COULD fall deeply in love with each other, but I don't feel like I got to watch them do it. This fast pace continued with the resolution at the end of the story. Do I mind not living in the drama, no. But we also missed out on them making the decisions that did that created their last scene together. Give me more, please.

One thing about me? I love romance books in a Hollywood setting! I don't know what it is, but something about it just does it for me every time. This book was no different.

I'm normally not crazy about second chance tropes but this one had me from the start. I love seeing the production side of things. I also loved the TENSION! It was really eating. I loved Xavier and also enjoyed how the power dynamics for this book were reverse! The FMC rarely holds power over the MMC in books like this, and it was even better since it used to be the other way around between them.

Definitely recommend, 4 stars!

This was a quick and heartfelt read! I really enjoy lovers to enemies to lovers and I felt this book portrayed that well.

I really enjoyed seeing how Sutton made really big career decisions and finally found her right fit. Likewise, it was nice to see Xavier realize that he needed to open up and let people into his life.

I also liked the side characters, Erik especially with his matchmaking skills.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book, this is my objective review. Xavier is a movie director, contending with the sudden disappearance of the producer on his newest film while simultaneously facing one of his biggest romantic regrets. Sutton was once an aspiring screenwriter and is now a production executive investigating financial irregularities on Xavier's latest film production. Ten years ago their relationship imploded with no warning, will they be able to put aside hurt feelings and resurrect Xavier's film? Overall, I liked it. The two main plots (i.e., what really happened between Xavier and Sutton 10 years ago, and the missing money and threat to shut down the film) keep the story moving. There's not a lot here that's new and it's a bit predictable, but it was written well enough to be engaging and I stayed with it to the end. Written in dual 3rd-person POVs, which I always enjoy, and with a likeable cast of supporting characters. I did have a couple of issues that distracted me from full enjoyment. First, the author confused me with her choice to make some of the sexual intimacy open-door (the "lead-up" sexual acts) and some of it closed-door (the "main show" consummation, if you will). I'm not sure why she'd be so openly detailed with some and not all of it, but the author wrote it that way so I respect her decision. The other issue was the lack of full copy-editing (missing words, missing or mis-placed punctuation, extra words where the shouldn't be, etc.) But, since this is an advanced reader copy it will hopefully be corrected before publication. Readers who enjoy forced-proximity, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers stories with a heavy emphasis on miscommunication/misunderstanding and ultimately an HEA will like this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes February 25, 2025.

This was an adorably fast-paced rom-com! I really enjoyed the secluded film set as the setting, and the Hollywood production politics. I would have liked more flashback scenes so we could see a little more growth between the characters now and them ten years prior. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This Hollywood setting contemporary romance is perfect for fans of Fall Guy, the Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt film!

This quick read is plot driven and full of second chance longing with the “save the film” trope

I struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper level but enjoyed them nonetheless!

I really enjoyed both the story and the way it was told in this read. The setting was fun and novel, and the isolated set made for a unique romance. The place where I thought the book struggled was in the rushed third act and reunion. I love to believe in an HEA, but I felt like the last 10% did a disservice to the first 90%. That said, I’d certainly go back for more with this author!

3 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh, the messy magic of second-chance romance—especially when it’s set against the glitzy (and occasionally soul-crushing) backdrop of Hollywood! This book is like curling up with a rom-com that knows exactly when to be sweet, when to be snarky, and when to bring the heat.

Sutton Spencer is the kind of heroine you root for from page one. She’s smart, ambitious, and just awkward enough to feel like someone you’d be friends with IRL. And Xavier? Classic grumpy-but-hot genius. You know the type—brooding, emotionally constipated, probably owns a lot of black t-shirts. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their arguments? Gold. Susannah Erwin writes banter like she’s penning dialogue for your favorite streaming rom-com (the one you’ve already rewatched too many times).

What I loved most about this book was its balance. It’s got the swoony moments you expect, but also tackles real emotions and the baggage these two carry from their messy past. Sutton’s journey to prove herself in a male-dominated industry is satisfying and relatable. And Xavier? He’s got layers. Like, “I’ve-got-reasons-for-being-this-broody” layers that make you yell, “JUST TALK TO HER!” at your Kindle.

The Hollywood setting is the cherry on top. From on-set disasters to big egos, Erwin nails the industry chaos without making it overshadow the romance. Also, the tension of an on-set fling? Yeah, that’s spicy.

If I had one complaint, it’s that the resolution felt a tad rushed. Like, we’ve spent all this time building up the tension and angst, and suddenly—bam—happy ending. I’m not mad about it, but I wouldn’t have minded a little more lingering in the feels.

Big thanks to Susannah Erwin, NetGalley, and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the ARC! This was a delightful read that reminded me why I love messy, imperfect love stories with just the right amount of movie magic. And let’s be real: the best romances do happen off-screen.

This book was a miss for me, and I’m not exactly sure why. It had some of my favourite tropes, second chance romance and forced proximity, but the romance didn’t hook me, and I found myself bored throughout.

Thank you to Afterglow Books and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.