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HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD

Ava Wilder

A talented Hollywood starlet and a reclusive A-lister enter into a fake relationship... and discover that their feelings might be more than a PR stunt in this sexy debut for fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners.
Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen TV show has her (unsuccessfully) pounding the pavement again. With a life-changing role on the line, she's finally desperate enough to agree to her publicist's scheme: fake a love affair with a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob who needs the publicity, but for very different reasons. Ethan Atkins just wants to be left alone. Between his high-profile divorce, struggles with drinking, and grief over the death of his longtime creative partner and best friend, Ethan has slowly let himself fade into the background. But if he ever wants to produce the last movie he and his partner wrote together, Ethan needs to clean up his reputation and step back into the spotlight. A gossip-inducing affair with a gorgeous actress might be just the ticket, even if it's the last thing he wants to do. Though their juicy public relationship is less than perfect behind the scenes, it doesn't take long before Grey and Ethan's sizzling chemistry starts to feel like more than just an act. But after decades in a ruthless industry that requires bulletproof emotional armor to survive, are they too used to faking it to open themselves up to the real thing? Ava Wilder is a professional video editor with a degree in media studies and cultural criticism. She currently lives in Oklahoma City with her fiancé and their toothless cat.
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Published 2022-06-22 by Ballantine

Comments

Whew, this upcoming debut from Ava Wilder packs an emotional punch. A different take on the fake dating trope between famous people, How to Fake It in Hollywood is a steamy romp that elegantly reveals some of the darker sides of the entertainment business - even if you're seemingly "okay" to the outside world.

"Besides the deliciously well executed fake-dating, HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD delivers a raw, character-driven and heart-touching read that won't leave you indifferent. Ethan and Grey's story perfectly balances a journey of self-growth rooted in real struggles, and a romance that starts off as a PR-stunt and becomes so. much. more. I absolutely loved it."

UK: Headline / Eternal ; Brazil: HarperCollins Brasil ; Hungary: Next21 ; Poland: Spoleczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak

First and foremost- holy hotness! ... I was so impressed by the way the author subverted tropes... this author knows her craft!

HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD is a fresh, witty, high-emotion story with compelling characters and stylish backdrops. Grey and Ethan's relationship feels genuine in its messiness and complications, and Ava Wilder's breath-taking depiction of their highs and lows had me totally invested in their fate.

A talented Hollywood starlet and a reclusive A-lister enter into a fake relationship ... and discover that their feelings might be more than a PR stunt in this sexy debut for fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners. Read more...

i have a love for romances set between celebrities with background being hollywood; the drama, the glamour, the events, all of it is so whimsical i adore it. how to fake it in hollywood had EVERYTHING i could want! my first five star read of 2022. split between a dual pov, this slow burn romance is filled with glamour and drama, but also characters with a lot of growth. just when you thought you were reaching the big grand gesture, the story keeps moving and building which made me love it even more!

I didn't mean to start reading HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD, but after the first few sentences I could not put it down. Ava Wilder's debut novel is a thrill from start to finish, and Grey and Ethan are such compelling and nuanced main characters. While this novel has everything I hope for in a romance, it also ruthlessly critiques the toxic culture of Hollywood and celebrity obsession. Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang & Christina Lauren, and anyone okay with a little grit and glamour in their love stories.

Romance readers, GET READY! But really, there's no preparing for the brilliance that is Ava Wilder's HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD. Wilder proves to be a master of craft and character, drawing you beneath the glamorous Hollywood lights and immersing you in the vulnerable, raw, wildly romantic hearts of our leads: Ethan and Grey. Every page had me racing to read the next as each heart-gripping plot point unfolded. This is a steamy, swoony, heart-touching read worthy of infinite stars, and one I won't soon forget. Count me first in line for all of Wilder's works.

Grey is a stifled up and coming young actress, while Ethan is an older, settled actor who is suffering from a divorce, the loss of a friend, and alcoholism born from the grief. When these two are shoved together, something utterly magnificent happens. They want to be better for each other, they just don't know how. I loved the way Ava didn't cut corners or play it safe with this incredibly important tale of caution. You may love someone more than you could ever express, but if they want to ruin themselves, you can't stop them, but you can ruin yourself alongside them. It's steamy, sweet, and heart wrenching all at once, the perfect summer read!

I loved it. I saw it all in my head, picturing Grey as Candace King from Vampire Diaries and Brad Pitt as Ethan. (I'm sorry, but back when he was just getting with Angelina and they just had the 2 kids, he was the definition of a DILF. Yeah I said it, this book gives us quality DILF.) It wasn't overly smutty, it wasn't so saccharine that it belongs on the Hallmark Channel. It felt like really good writing and nothing like other stories I've read. It's a quality light and fluffy, movie stars fake dating that is going to be an amazing beach read.

"In this redemptive read, Ava Wilder showcases the fake-dating trope with a refreshingly unromanticized look at soaring Hollywood highs, rock-bottom lows, and the love that can be found in between. The banter and sexual tension between Grey and Ethan is fire-emoji immaculate, balanced with heart-to-heart conversations that handle weighty issues in their pasts with compassion. Wilder doesn't shy away from exploring the dark side of fame in such a cutthroat industry, and her unforgettable characters' growth shines all the brighter for it."

This Hollywood romcom was sweet as can be while avoiding the cheesy nature of many similar books. I highly recommend!

With this witty, seductive romance, debut author Wilder transports readers to the flashy world of Hollywood.Wilder's cinematic prose brings Grey and Ethan to life, and she sets their raw, sensitive love story against an alluring portrait of Hollywood glamour. Readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. Read more...

...I loved everything about this book... one of the best heroines I've ever read

Full of drama, fun, and scorching love scenes, this love story is worthy of the silver screen.