I loved this. Like omg. I love a good second chance romance and the back and forth povs. The then and now scenes. I loved getting to see Jack and Cynthie come together as a couple and for Cynthie to see herself as worthy. I saw a lot of myself in Cynthie especially when she talks about not being able to talk about her emotions, that hit home. So I deeply loved Cynthie as a character and the development that went on with her and Jack.

Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC of this one! I really enjoyed Under Your Spell, which is the companion book to this one. I think both books could be read as standalone books, but the connections from Under Your Spell were definitely fun. This book follows Cynthie Taylor, a famous actress who has recently found herself victim to a vicious scandal that truly isn't her fault. As she is trying to pick up the pieces of her life, she is given the opportunity to make a sequel to the regency romance movie that got her career started. The only caveat is that she will have to work with Jack, her nemesis and former co-star AND they want them to pretend to date. The book follows the timeline of the filming of the original movie thirteen years prior and present day. Though, you can tell that Jack and Cynthie don't get along, throughout both timelines, there are snippets of a connection that they both want to admit. I truly enjoyed reading about their connection and watching them discover the misconceptions they have about each other. This one is a true enemies to lovers situation and it was done beautifully. Their eventual connection is raw and real and their relationship is beautiful. I couldn't put this one down and I loved every second. I can't wait to see what Laura Wood writes next!

This was fun and cute!

Co-stars fall in love with each other, but they have a past (they had fallen in love 13 years ago and then had a falling out) and now have to work together.

This is a second chance romance, which I don't tend to care for because I don't like feeling like I missed the first half of the story. I like to be there for all of the relationship building, that's the only way a romance makes sense to me, if I can actually see the romance and chemistry be created.

This book was probably half past and half present, so it made a lot more sense to me than second chance romances that just expect you to believe they had a relationship without showing it to the reader. We get large chunks of past to back-up what's going to happen in the present. That's the way to do a second chance romance.

I just do wish this had a bit ore oomph (as I tend to say a lot lately). I just felt like something was missing.

And as much as I liked getting more past background, I do prefer when things happen chronologically in a book (it's just easier for my brain to keep track of, but that's person-by-person thing).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I mean, SWOON. Normally I am neither a second chance OR dual timeline girl but this book had me in a chokehold, I think the past and present scenes were split up very well and listen I love watching a man grow and mature in real time. And also grovel a bit. Incredible. The way Laura writes each and every single character gets you so invested and they feel so fully developed that I can so easily understand the flow of the story. I loved this book and appreciated that the drama was realistic despite it being about literal movie stars. Laura Wood has cemented herself as an auto buy author for me

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I loved the first book in this series- ‘Under Your Spell’ if you haven’t read that yet, I would before reading this one, there are characters that appear.

For this book, I only liked half of the book till about 45%. I definitely preferred the ‘present’ storyline to the ‘past’.
I see why towards the end that was important but was much more invested in the ‘present’ storyline. Almost wish that the past came up a few times but not as often. Overall, enjoyed this book.

I loved Laura Woods’ debut novel, and was so excited to get an ARC for this one as well! It was SO good and the best enemies to lovers trope I’ve read in a while.

I went back and read the first book in this series Under Your Spell before I started this one. It was cute. But this one was great! I loved the dual pov’s and the dual timelines. It was romantic and sweet and Jack is just the best. Loved catching up with Theo and Clem’mie. I hope there is a Nico/Lee book in the future.

This book was not as good as Under Your Spell for me. I think I just didn't like Cynthie because she was odd and annoying to me. I feel like romance books about LA aren't my jam because I live here and they are never accurate to regular people who live here.

“What you all saw on-screen doesn’t hold a candle to what happened in real life. The story of me and Cynthie? That’s the real love story.”

After Under Your Spell was a favorite of 2024 I was dying to get my hands on this and it did not disappoint!

Jack is so gone for Cynthie and she’s completely oblivious. Their hate to love dynamic was done so well. The banter and tension were straight from my dreams.

Laura has such a fun wit to her writing. Even during an emotional scene she throws in one liners that have you laughing when you least expect it.

The dual timeline had me a little scared to start but it made the second chance play out so so well.

Gimme Lee and Nico now pleeeaaassseee ☺️

I really enjoyed Under Your Spell, and Let’s Make a Scene was a wonderful follow up. There are elements of Wood’s writing that will feel familiar, but this is an entirely new story that is incredibly different. Second chance with a split timeline is tough for me, but I absolutely loved Cynthie and Jack’s story.

Their relationship flows from instant attraction to enemies to fake dating to friends to lovers. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. The side characters and found family make the romance that much better. I found myself slowing down, because I didn’t want it to end! This book will definitely wind up on my 2025 favorites list, and Laura Wood releases will be an automatic purchase moving forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC 💕

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Cynthia and Jack are both acting in a British movie, except neither likes the other. The catch, though, is that their onscreen chemistry is very strong, which does not go unnoticed by the executives. A proposal is made - have the two actors fake a romance that will pull in more audience. The book moves forward over a decade later, and Cynthia and Jack still maintain a separation from the other, until there is a push for a sequel to their movie. The two are required to re-start their fake romance, but in this modern era, they now have a documentary crew following them around. The stakes are a bit higher this time around as both actors need success from this movie. But what happens when everything starts to feel real?

Considering the main characters were both actors did not detract from their relatability, or likability. They also had believable chemistry. I appreciated that the book moved forward well into the future - that allowed for character growth off the pages, but an ability to parse through the past when in the present; so as the reader, we really got a full scope of each character (especially with the dual timelines).

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Devoured this! I was a huge fan of Under Your Spell and was excited for this new companion title. Did not disapoint! I loved the chemistry and tension between Cynthia and Jack. Their flashbacks added depth and heart.

This book hit so many amazing tropes incredibly!!!Enemies to lovers (my all time fav), fake dating, second chance romance (not always my cup of tea but liked it here).

The story surrounds Cynthie and Jack as they both start out in the film industry making their debut film together. While Jack was born into the film industry, Cynthie got a big break from an open audition when the original female lead fell through.

Jack & Cynthie have immediate chemistry, but that quickly turns to a rivalry as wires are crossed & Jack leaves Cynthie with the impression that she is not made out to be here like he is. Their chemistry remains through their banter & pranks on set until filming resolves and they stay out of each other’s orbits for 13 years.

When the original film is up for a sequel, it seems like the perfect opportunity for both of them where they are at in their careers. Old feelings return, or they realize they never truly left & they begin to build a flirtatious friendship this time around. I loved their love for each other & hearing both povs throughout to see how each of their own issues & insecurities affected their interactions the first time around and how they worked together to move past them the second time.

All in all this is a cute story full on banter and longing. Thanks Atria Books for letting me read this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review :)

The stakes are high as Cynthie and Jack reprise their breakout roles and their PR relationship that went along with them. As they reconnect for the sake of the project and the documentary following the making of it, their old rivalry and disdain for each other is apparent.

The dual timelines story telling allows for readers to better understand both characters and their feelings for each other. This was a fun read!

This was my first read from Laura Wood and I really wanted to like this book. The premise is cute, two childhood stars get back together, but I feel like I read this plotline in another novel recently. I found the pacing with the dual timelines to be a bit challenging as well. Overall, this was a decent rom com, easy to read on vacation or a plane. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Two famous stars reunite to act in a sequel of their big hit romance movie after pressure from fans. This has enemies to lovers, fake dating and a dramatic second chance romance!

Cynthie is in the middle of a PR crisis after she is caught having an affair with the director of her last movie and he left her to go back to his wife. Her agent tells her the sequel is a great opportunity to repair her image. It’s been thirteen years since the original movie came out and she hasn’t seen Jack since. When they were making the first movie, Jack had complained that Cynthie was too inexperienced to handle her part. But when she and Jack were asked to fake date for publicity, the movie became a huge success (they had great chemistry). In present time, Jack agrees to do the sequel but only if Cynthie agrees to do it too. The directors ask them to fake date again to promote the movie and it's a good time!

The banter between Jack and Cynthie is fun and the side characters in the story were colorful and full of humor, including Theo and Clemmie (from Under Your Spell). The story is told in dual timelines and I think I preferred the present timeline more than the past. Cynthie and Jack’s chemistry really sizzled in the present while they were making the sequel but Cynthie has trust issues from her past - luckily Jack is patient and kind. TW: There are conversations about what women in the entertainment industry have gone through (#MeToo).

I was a fan of Under Your Spell and while this one doesn’t have the magic we saw in the first book it's a charming and entertaining second chance romance. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My full review will be at All About Romance closer to the review date.

oh this was so fun!!! if you're in the mood for a fun romance, with undeniable, laugh out loud banter, 'let's make a scene' is what you need!!! the pacing was done well & the love shared is one of my favorites. if you're in a slump, pick this up!! i promise you'll be out of it. thank you netgalley for the arc!

I’m not sure I have enough words for how much I enjoyed this book. I had about 800 things to do today and yet I just kept coming back to this story. I loved the past and present scenes, and I loved the delicious tension between Jack and Cynthie. If the movie they worked on was a film I could go see, I would be first in line.

Laura Wood hit the pining, angst, and pent up attraction right on the head! The wet t-shirt scene (you will ALL remember it once you read it) had me kicking and screaming. It was more than just a second chance romance; Let’s Make a Scene is a story about patience, trust, and when make-believe becomes all too real.

I loved this book so much that I’m going to immediately go back and read Theo’s story in Under Your Spell. The characters are so vivid in this story and I can only wish to be on the set with them. The only notes I have for this book are how I need more just like it!!!


Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Let’s make a scene was an absolutely incredible and beautiful read. What a juicy, romantic and lust filled book. The writing was impeccable, the characters and their friendships were taken to higher levels. I thoroughly enjoyed this and don’t know if I’ll ever stop thinking about Cynthie and Jacks love. This was true yearning. This was enemies to lovers to fake dating to real dating to yearning. Lovely read overall, filled with in-depth characters that grew with you on the pages. The story was multilayered and left much to be desired. Loved loved loved.

Okay, let me just say that I loved Under Your Spell so freaking much that I knew going into this my expectations were going to be high. (Maybe a little too high.) So I feel like it was so hard for me not to compare them which I know isn't fair because they're different. This one definitely had a different vibe. It didn't quite give me the warm butterflies (as much, they did eventually come closer to the end).

I really struggle with enemies to lovers these days, especially, when the enemies part goes on for a good long while. I feel all kinds of torn on this one. Because on one hand I loved certain things about it but on the other I struggled connecting with specific things. The past timeline was a big part of what I'm unsure about how I feel. I liked seeing how their relationship began and where things went wrong but it felt like SO much miscommunication. It was very frustrating at times to see them both overreact to certain situations. However, it did allowed me to appreciate and adore the present timeline more to see where they came from. But I did feel like there was a slight disconnect feeling between the two timelines.

I will say, I didn't feel quite as emotionally connected to them as I did with Theo and Clemmie. But as the book went along I really did root for them. I especially adored all the side characters. I can't decide if alot of it was my mood and just how long it took me to read it. It's definitely one I wanna reread later to see if I feel similar. I'm curious to hear other people's thoughts too.

But all that to say, I still really enjoyed this one but it just didn't quite have me head over heels in love like Under Your Spell. That one was just truly magical. I wish we could have got a few more cute coupley together moments. It was definitely a slowburn with lots of hate/sexual tension going on.