⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️ Spice

Just when Cynthie Taylor thinks she’s hit rock bottom, life proves her wrong—because guess what? It can get worse.

Fresh off a breakup with a man who claimed to be separated (spoiler: he wasn’t), Cynthie gets another blow—her longtime publicist, Gayle, informs her she’s been dropped from her upcoming role due to the scandal. Never mind that she had no idea he was lying.

But they say when you hit bottom, the only way to go is up, right? That upward turn begins when Gayle presents a game-changing opportunity: a surprise sequel to A Lady of Quality, the movie that launched Cynthie’s career 13 years ago. Thanks to its recent resurgence on Netflix, the public wants more—and Hollywood is listening.

Great news, right? Well… it’s complicated.

Enter Jack Turner-Jones—Cynthie’s former co-star, longtime nemesis, and mortal enemy. He’s also the man she once swore to never see again.
It’ll have to be fine, after all, it’s just while on set… except this time, the studio also wants an all-access behind-the-scenes documentary. Great.

Told from both Cynthie and Jack’s perspectives, this book checks a few trope boxes:

✅ Fake relationship
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Forced proximity

Throw in laugh-out-loud moments, sexual tension, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, and you’ve got an entertaining, must-read romance!

Thanks Atria and NetGalley for the ARC

IG post to be completed close to pub day 😍

HOLY TOLEDO I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so darn cute. I’m not usually huge on second chance romances or flashbacks, but this one hit just right!!

Jack and Cynthia are the absolutely cutest, and their angst is top notch! I absolutely adored the growth of their relationship and the side characters we meet along the way!

I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a cute, lighthearted, spicy romcom!

I really enjoyed this book! Although I am not a huge fan of dual timelines as it can be jarring to go from one timeline to the other. Honestly, I felt the past timeline could have been its own story without adding 13 years. I did truly enjoy the characters and the side characters though and was invested in Jack and Cynthies love story.

After falling in love with Laura's writing in Under Your Spell, I was so excited to receive a copy of this book early. And I can say for certain, I was not disappointed in this book. I do think it dragged a little when going back in time and going over Jack and Cynthie's history. I was wishing for more in the now and think some of it could be cut out or made shorter. I also absolutely loved that Theo and Clemmie made an appearance too but didn't take away from this book at all.

Jack and Cynthie made a movie 13 years ago together and then haven't talked since. They are being brought back together to film a sequel to their first movie and Cynthie isn't sure that she can be around Jack. This book goes back 13 years to tell their story while at the same time, we are in the present and we are watching them try to be around one another again. The tension, the chemistry and the love story will draw you in and you might finish it in one sitting like I did.

Can't wait to see what is next for Laura Wood.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || LET’S MAKE A SCENE [thank you to Atria and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Let’s Make a Scene
Author: Laura Wood
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★★

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Thirteen years after their breakout film—and the fake romance that made them stars—Cynthie Taylor and Jack are forced to reunite for a sequel. With a documentary crew tracking their every move, they must sell their former chemistry to the world. But between old grudges, unexpected sparks, and the mounting pressure to deliver a hit, Cynthie and Jack start blurring the lines between acting and reality. When the cameras stop rolling, will they still be playing pretend?

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Just go read this book. Honestly. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I loved seeing both timelines of Cynthie and Jack as they both struggled to find their place in Hollywood AND struggled against their feelings for each other. They started out on a wrong foot, so they both assumed that they were mortal enemies — but slowly realized that maybe that assumption wasn’t right at all…but it was too late to change.

Fast forward to the second timeline and they’re both older, more mature, and more sure of themselves. They’re stepping back into roles they’re familiar with - but with a whole differnet perspective on love and life. And they’re finally (spoiler alert) in a place to explore their true feelings.

I LOVE dual POV romance novels because I think it helps to eliminate the miscommunication trope from the lvoe story. Because you, as the reader, can see both sides, it’s almost as if the MCs work through their feelings and thoughts faster too and they’re able to overcome any misunderstandings or setbacks.

Plus, you get to see swoon-worthy men fall in love, and that’s always a good time.

The banter was on point. The steam was on point. The friendships were on point. The setting and overall movie plot was on point. LOVED IT. Can’t wait for everyone else to read it.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Hollywood Romance
Dual POV
Dual Timelines
Open Door Spice
Amazing Banter
Found Family

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.20
# of Pages: 352
Pub Date: July 1, 2025

This book is a whole cinematic experience. We’ve got enemies to lovers, fake dating, second chance romance, and a time jump that actually works—with a behind-the-scenes documentary crew filming their every move. The stress! The longing! The pining!

Thirteen years ago, Cynthie and Jack were prickly young stars filming their first lead roles in a small British indie, and they couldn’t stand each other. Present-day? They still can’t. But when they’re brought back together for a sequel, they’re forced to fake a relationship all over again—and this time, the chemistry is undeniable (and being captured on camera).

I loved the dual timeline and how it showed just how much both characters had grown (and not). There’s so much delicious tension, slow-burn angst, and those small emotional moments that hit. Cynthie and Jack gave “we never stopped caring” energy, and I ate it up. I will say the past timeline had a little too much miscommunication for me at times, but the present day scenes absolutely delivered. Also, Jack with his glasses and handkerchief? Say less.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I feel like I need to make a scene about how good this book was!! I ADORED Under Your Spell, Laura Wood's adult debut and I guess she can go ahead and teach the masterclass on how to write your sophomore novel, because this one HIT! I think I liked it even better than Under Your Spell.

Laura Wood has easily cemented herself as a top romance author for me and autobuy for sure. Because this book is written in dual timeline, she was able to twist some classic tropes into an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating (x2!), second chance romance that was totally fresh. The tattoo?! The Grand Gesture?! Even some Bridgerton vibes? YES.

The character arcs for both Cynthie and Jack were mature and relatable, the anxiety and panic disorder rep was well done. While the central relationship was delicious, I loved the entire cast of characters (pun intended).

This book made me laugh, giggle and kick my feet, swoon and ultimately cry. 5 stars, no notes.

-A love hate relationship spanning more than a decade between two actors

This is a standalone but also shares characters with the author’s debut, Under Your Spell (which you should definitely read.) I liked the synopsis and thought the characters were sweet. It was a bit boring, but I still enjoyed it and think this book duo is worth reading for romance lovers. Thank you NetGalley for this arc- due out in July!

I have previously read Under Your Spell and really enjoyed it, but this story by Laura Wood is even better. The enemies to lovers trope is funny, sweet, swoony, and while the ending is predictable, it was still delightful. I don’t know why, but I kept picturing the scene in Notting Hill when Julia Roberts’ character was filling the regency film.

This was a 4.5⭐️ romance.

Thank you publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Loved this book. Wish there was less flashbacks. I get why they are there but felt like there was too much info and not needed much. There was good pining and sweet Freindships.

Thank you so much to Laura Wood and Atria Books for the eARC of this title. This was a mid paced read for me took a minute to get into it. It is a second chance enemies to lovers book. Im not the biggest fan of second chance romance so it was harder for me to get through.

"Let’s Make a Scene" was such a fun, emotional ride; I seriously couldn’t put it down once things started picking up. If you're into rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, second chances (YES PLEASE!) and actors being forced to pretend they’re in love (while secretly maybe actually falling in love)? Read this!

Cynthie and Jack’s chemistry is off the charts, whether they’re bickering or having those unexpectedly tender moments that kind of sneak up on you. I loved the dual timelines; it added so much depth to their story and helped their second-chance romance feel earned. You really get why things went wrong the first time around, and watching them reconnect years later was super satisfying.

Jack is one of those characters who you think you’re going to hate but end up totally falling for. He's hot-headed but sweet, driven but vulnerable. And Cynthie is sharp, passionate and resilient == really rooted for her, though I do wish she had owned up to a few of her past missteps the way Jack did.

The fake dating + publicity stunt setup was a great way to force them into proximity (and tension), and the behind-the-scenes look at the film industry added a fun layer to everything. The banter? Chef’s kiss. The emotional payoff? Totally worth the slow burn.

It’s not a perfect book—there were a few slower moments early on—but overall it was such a unique, well-balanced story. Definitely one of the better enemies-to-lovers reads I’ve picked up lately. Thank you to Laura Wood, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

🎬 BOOK REVIEW 🎬
Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood
🌟 Releasing July 1, 2025 🌟

What’s better than enemies-to-lovers? Try enemies-to-lovers again thirteen years later—with fake dating, old wounds, and a documentary crew capturing the chaos. 🎥🔥
Cynthie Taylor is finally making a comeback… but so is Jack Turner-Jones, the one man she swore she’d never work with again. Their chemistry is electric on-screen and explosive off—it’s no wonder the studio wants a PR romance reboot. But this time? It’s messier, spicier, and way more personal.

This book had me:
💥 Cackling at their banter
🎭 Screaming “just kiss already!”
💔 Feeling the tension of past regrets
💞 Swooning at the slow-burn tenderness underneath the snark

If you loved The Hating Game or Set It Up, Let’s Make a Scene delivers all the juicy Hollywood glam, fake dating chaos, and second-chance romance you crave. Bonus points for an utterly charming, strong FMC and a brooding-but-sweet MMC you will fall for.

✨ Tropes to love:
🎬 Enemies to Lovers
🗓 Second Chance
🎥 Fake Relationship
💥 Close Proximity
🖤 Hidden Softness Under Sass

Preorder it, binge it, and prepare for a rom-com that absolutely deserves the spotlight. I’d watch this movie (and read it) on repeat. 🎞️💘

#LetsMakeAScene #LauraWood #HollywoodRomance #FakeDatingTrope #SecondChanceRomance #RomComReads #EnemiesToLovers #Bookstagram #ComingSoon #BookRecs2025 #ARCReview #Netgalley #AtriaBooks

I had such a great time reading this book! From the very beginning, I was completely hooked by Cynthie and Jack’s fiery dynamic. I loved how their mutual dislike made for hilarious and awkward moments both on and off-screen. I could feel the tension every time they interacted, and it made their on-screen chemistry even more fun to imagine. I found myself rooting for them, even as they constantly pushed each other’s buttons. Jack was such an intriguing character too—I enjoyed seeing his layers unfold as their fake romance brought them closer together in unexpected ways.

I loved how this book combined humor, romance, and a bit of nostalgia. The chemistry between Cynthie and Jack kept me hooked, and I found myself completely invested in whether they could turn their fake relationship into something real. It was such a heartwarming and entertaining read, and I know I’ll be recommending it to all my friends who love a good rom-com with a twist!

Let's Make a Scene is my first Laura Wood book, but it will not be my last! I enjoyed this Hollywood enemies to lovers, second chance romance! I really enjoyed Cynthie's character. She was strong and hid her vulnerability. This book goes between the past and present timelines. You can definitely tell in the present timelines that she is struggling, but she keeps going with the help of her found family. Jack comes from acting royalty, but his life has its own challenges. He is a complex character himself. Jack's pride and Cynthie's fear of rejection lead to misunderstandings and their dislike for one another. This was not a common miscommunication trope. I appreciated how the contrast between their younger selves and present selves was shown and you could really see the growth of both characters. I really enjoyed this book, but wish that there was more from the past pushing the present timeline. Will definitely be adding Under Your Spell (the first book in the duology) to my TBR and I hope we get to see more of Jack's sister Lee and his best friend Nico!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this ARC!

A little cutie read! The ending was a bit too much for me, even though I understand why, it just came off too sappy. I normally don’t care for second chance romance either but I love how this book did it! That aspect felt natural and I liked their banter throughout. To have them film a movie set in the regency period (where men are objectively at their hottest) was so great and brought a fun aspect to the book.
3/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

A cute, meta second-chance romance of two costars with a very messy backstory falling in love again while on set.

I loved Laura Wood's previous YA novels; her historical settings were wonderfully cozy and escapist, yet realistic, and her romantic plotlines were also dreamy but very real. This adult romance novel fits all the same criteria. Yes, it's set in the present, but our two heroes are making a Regency-set film, so plenty of historical details and scenes for period drama lovers. The romance between Jack and Cynthie is also wonderful: dreamy, spicy, but full of realistic communication and emotional awareness. The film gives very sensitive insight into being a working actor while still feeling like an escape. As per your epigram, Laura, you did give sensitive dreamers a place to escape when "the world is too much with us". Thank you.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, fake dating
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

“When the cameras roll, will their scripted love scene ignite a real-life romance?”

Cynthie Taylor’s acting career takes off with a role in a small British film, but there’s a catch—her co-star, Jack Turner-Jones, is as infuriating as he is handsome. Their off-screen animosity contrasts sharply with their on-screen chemistry, leading the studio to orchestrate a fake romance to boost publicity. Fast forward thirteen years, and the duo is offered a sequel to their cult classic, requiring them to rekindle their pretend relationship under the watchful eyes of a documentary crew. As they navigate this complex dynamic, Cynthie and Jack must confront their past and the undeniable spark that still lingers between them.

The book jumps between now and thirteen years ago. As the story proceeds we get glimpses of Cynthia and Jack and the push and pull between them. The evolution of Cynthie and Jack’s relationship—from adversaries to reluctant partners to something more—is sweet and heartfelt. The behind-the-scenes glimpse into the film industry adds depth, while the friend group characters provides humor and warmth.

This books packs in the tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating (twice), and second chance romance. That sounds like a lot of tropes in one book, but it was seamless.

Overall, this is a delightful and entertaining read. Fans of enemies-to-lovers and second-chance narratives will find much to enjoy in this charming tale of love both on and off the screen.

I normally don’t like second chance romance, this one did it very well specially with flashbacks. The idea of them filming a period piece was fun and it helped to see them interacting with a wide range of characters.

I think the best chapters were the flashbacks, because the tension was great. The present felt a little flat.
Thank Netgalley for the arc
4⭐️