Review: How to Fake It In Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Dell, for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
How to Fake It In Hollywood was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. I’m always wary of books that feature actors because I think anyone can attest to the distrust you feel when your occupation is featured in a story. It’s very easy for an author to get it wrong. And while that can be true, I didn’t think it was true of Ava Wilder’s portrayal of Hollywood or the pressures young actors feel.
This story is very well balanced between the fun, glamourous, swoony sides of a Hollywood Romance with the gritty, emotional, tragic aspects of fame. I loved the characters so much, especially the growth we got to journey with them on. I could relate to so many aspects of Grey and Ethan, though I will never ever be that famous lol.
Synopsis:
“Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen 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 slowly has 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?” —StoryGraph
What I Liked:
The Tropes—Fake Dating wins the day again. It’s just SO GOOD. So good. And it’s a perfect Hollywood trope!
The Premise—I suppose this goes with the trope, but I just thought it was so fun. I don’t read a lot of age gap/single dad romances but this made me want to dip my toes in the waters.
The Mental Health Representation—Acting is a really difficult profession mentally. You’re dealing with your own traumas and issues while also uncovering those of characters. Oftentimes, people want to exploit your traumas and have you unload them for the sake of the project but that’s not healthy at all. I liked how Grey and Ethan exposed that side and we got to go on each of their journeys of healing.
Twist on the Third Act Break Up—I don’t know how to describe this without spoiling but I will say, there is double the pain 😳 but it’s worth it!
What Didn’t Work:
A Little Too Long Towards the End—There is a very important shift in the third act but for some reason, it made things feel overwritten. I flew through the first 75%.
Rehearsing for the Chemistry Read—I know it’s a romance novel, BUT just because it’s my profession I’m just gonna clarify something. In any rehearsal setting, no matter how casual, an actor ALWAYS asks for their scene partner’s consent to get physical. Always.
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 1.5/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5
Content Warnings:
Drug Use, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of Friend, Driving Under the Influence, Revenge Porn/Sexual Harassment, Child Abuse