How to Fake it in Hollywood | ARC Review

Grey Brooks is on a mission to keep her career afloat now that the end of her long-running teen soap 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… faking 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, his struggles with drinking, and his grief over the death of his longtime creative partner and best friend, he’s 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?

TW: alcoholism, death of loved one

This book was not quite what I was expecting. It was honest, real, and serious in many ways. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

Typically, when I think about and read fake dating tropes (especially Hollywood ones), there is quite a bit of fun to be had. The two people in the fake relationship are at each other’s throats or making up wild stories about how they met, etc. This book was a little different. While there was a bit of fun towards the beginning of the book, it was always overshadowed by a more serious issue. I think I would have liked more lighthearted/fun scenes, but I understand why the hard-hitting content was necessary.

Ethan, our love interest, has lots of issues. He’s not perfect by any means and I really loved that. The whole book is an exploration of his and Grey’s relationship, yes, but also of his growth and recovery. He had so much to work through in this book so it was really interesting to see how things played out.

I really loved Grey as a character. She was strong, funny, and not afraid to go for what she wanted. She was exactly what Ethan needed to kickstart his life once more.

I really don’t have much more to say about this book. It was a good read. Again, a bit more on the serious side, but really good nevertheless. I recommend.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating

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