Co-Star

Hollywood Lives #1

by Ava Olsen

Reed: Tate Aduma is a Hollywood actor that everyone wants and no one really knows. Our first meeting as young dreamers sparks a decade of incredible highs and lows. I’ve loved him, I’ve hated him, and I can’t live without him. But I know that love in the spotlight is not made to survive. Will we?

Tate: Reed Larkin is the only constant in my chaotic life of movie sets, parties, and nameless lovers. But while being on stage is second nature, being myself in real life is a role I struggle to play. Then I’m offered the biggest part of my career, working alongside Reed as my co-star, and my love interest. This time, however, neither one of us is acting…

Co-Star is a best friends to enemies to lovers, MM romance filled with combustible chemistry, indelible love, and a HEA a decade in the making.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Addiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2024

About the author

Ava Olsen writes steamy & dreamy contemporary romance.

Reviews

[Natalia Forciniti · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️: 9/10 🌶️: 3/5 😭: 3/5 🤣: 1/5

Tropes:
🎬Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers
💜Slow burn
🎬Second chances
💜Coming out
🎬Mental health/addiction
💜Hurt/comfort

“Listen to me and listen good: I don’t want anyone but you. I don’t love anyone but you.” “But now⁠—” “Then, now, next week, next year, it doesn’t fucking matter. Baby, it’s always been you.”

(ESP) Un libro bellísimo que habla sobre segundas oportunidades pero no referido a relaciones románticas si no historias de superación en cuanto a situaciones dolorosas, traumáticas, adicciones y pérdidas de seres queridos.
Obviamente, también tenemos un romance que tardará en llegar pero llega. La historia de Reed y Tate transcurre a lo largo de 10 años y les puedo asegurar que estos dos personajes me han roto el corazón de una forma que no esperaba. El desarrollo de su relación, con todas sus idas y venidas, es muy bello de leer, aún con lágrimas en los ojos, y nos hace disfrutar el doble cuando alcanzan su tan merecido felices por siempre.
Una lectura distinta a las que Ava me tiene acostumbrada pero preciosa y se las recomiendo muchísimo!

(ENG) A beautiful book that talks about second chances, not in romantic relationships, but in overcoming painful and traumatic situations, addictions and the loss of loved ones.
Of course, we also have romance, which takes a long time to arrive, but it does arrive. Reed and Tate's story takes place over the course of 10 years, and I can assure you that these two characters broke my heart in ways I never expected. The development of their relationship, with all its ups and downs, is beautiful to read, even with tears in our eyes, and makes us enjoy it twice as much when they reach their well-deserved happily ever after.
A different read than what I am used to from Ava, but beautiful and I highly recommend it!

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. It was a rollercoaster of feelings. I couldn’t put it down.
It was all fascinating, hugely intriguing, captivating, and emotional. I’m in awe!

They meet for the first time in LA at an audition, Reed offers Tate a room to rent. Tate took the offer. That’s the beginning of their story, we can follow them for more than ten years. From their early twenties into their thirties. We can follow them and their very highs and lows of ten years of friendship, to no friendship, to enemies, to… many other things. Watch them with their acting careers. The very ups and downs of addiction, grief, hate, love, it’s all there, and amazingly put together!
My heart broke several times, my eyes blurred, I laughed and cried with them. It wasn’t easy, but in de end…? they made it.

Even outside a play, Tate acts, rarely real, all for his career, his one and only goal in life, even staying in the closet and lying to friends, even his friendship with Reed has to suffer under the pressure of succeeding.
Reed was probably in love with Tate since the moment they met, he loved him and hated him.

-‘he whispered my name. “Only with me. Mine.”

Wait for it, it took them some time, but it was worth waiting because dang dang they are hot and so much more together.

This is how you write a hurt comfort story with best friends to enemies, carefully back to friends, to more and more, gosh the author did an amazing job with the relationship development!
The people from Voyagers are present! Yes! I love them so much!

There are many MANY lines I wanted to highlight, I’m not gonna spoil them, find out yourself.

Highly recommended!!

Read and Reviewed for Love Bytes

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆

𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖:🔥🔥🔥
𝕃𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕤:🤣
𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤:🥲🥲
𝕄ℂ𝕤: Tate Aduma, Reed Larkin
ℙ𝕆𝕍: 1st, Dual.
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤: Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Hurt/Confort.


Solo Tate 🥰

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MM romance with a complicated love, rise to stardom, lots of hurt/comfort, battle with addiction, ALL THE FEELS, friends who became so much more & a HEA!
I devoured my #ARC in 6hrs. Loved Reed & Tate. Many to love here, & some love-to-hate!

TW: Homophobia, addiction, abuse, death.

Tate came to Hollywood for a new start from his dark past. He's broody, sarcastic, with a dark charisma. Only caring to those he let close.
Reed came to LA for his big break. He's sweet, charming, optimist.

These 2 opposites met & then got tangled. Their story is one throughout a decade. From friends to crush & complicated to kinda enemies to friends again to finally more. It's quite the emotional rollercoaster! Along this, we see the dark side of Hollywood that makes me sick, ambition to be a star, & battles with anxiety & addiction.

The one that made the story extra angsty & SLOWBURN is Tate's internalized homophobia. Gosh, it took him time to accept his sexuality! 🥺 But when T+R finally get together, they're so hot & adorable! Love me a vers couple 🥰. Hah, the story is half angst & half sweetness lol.

I loved Reed's family & their friends. Ava did a good job showing fighting addiction is a daily choice. Heart-wrenching & fun story! RTC.

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😄😣🤫🥺☺️😬😭🤭😍🤨😤😏🥰💞
4) Steamy scenes: 3.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Sweet: 4/5
Angst: 3.75/5
Dark: 2.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Stardom, Love, Inner battles) 4.5/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.6/5

[Moni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to describe this amazing story. This was probably the most serious book I’ve read from Ava and I was absolutely blown away by the history, the pain, and the love she created between these two magnetic characters.
Tate and Reed are barely adults when they meet in LA during an audition. Tate carries a dark past with him, solely focusing on his acting and hiding his desire for men to further his career. Reed, out and proud with a sunny personality, cannot be any more different. The first part of the book shows us their complicated history that spans an entire decade. Their on-and-off close friendship and pinning, their battle in the film industry that is still hostile towards gay men, their fights with addictions, the pain that they keep causing each other … I’m not afraid to admit, I got choked up several times. Ava created an incredibly emotional story, I was hurting so much for these guys. The second half of the book is where their present shows, how they ended up working together on the same movie, and how the inevitable happens when they cannot hide their true feelings anymore. We got a lot of sweet domestic and steamy moments but it doesn’t mean that this part of their relationship is free from drama at all, both public and personal. Ava weaved several cameos into this book from her other series, so fans will be happy to know our faves will have significant parts in this story. To say that Tate and Reed's HEA was hard-earned is an understatement but it was also incredibly sweet and satisfying.
Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Hurt Comfort
Angsty
Slow Burn
Steamy
Please check the TW for sensitive content!
I was fortunate to have received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.

[yazaleea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars... This was a wild ride! For the first 45% I was steadily on my way to thinking this would be a 5 "oh my god this is far from perfect but still damn GREAT" stars. Then I just got bored. Sorry :/

Tate and Reed meet as aspiring actors at a casting and that marks the start of 10 whirlwind years of love, hate, addiction and grief. Tate has had a tough childhood, and has been on survival mode all his life, hiding his sexuality and pouring everything he has into his dream of become a movie star. Reed is a sunshine, an out actor who shares a dream with Tate. They were always meant to be, it just took them 10 years to get there.

The first half of the book retraces their meeting all the way to present time, with one chapter spanning over a year, like a countdown to disaster. I loved that part so much, seeing them get close, and always being drawn apart by life and the ruthless industry. Tate develops a coke addiction to keep functioning on his highly stressful lifestyle of intense work and hiding his hookups and pretending all the time. Reed is in love with him, but it hurts him to see Tate do this to himself. During these ten years, they go through many fights, are torn apart and reunited only to let secrets and repressed feelings get in the way again.

“Shut it,” I hissed.
“Oh yes,” Reed leaned forward and placed a finger to his lips. “Be q-quiet. But only about who you fuck, right Tate? Secrets, that’s what you’re good at.”
“You’re so obnoxious when you’re drunk.”
“At l-least I’m honest,” Reed waved his glass around, spilling the contents all over his hand.
“Really?” I asked and tossed him a napkin to clean up. “And what about that kiss today?”
Reed stared at me with glassy green eyes. “It was so fucking hot.”

I liked the characters! They were not always likeable, early Tate was a piece of work but he does redeem himself (mostly). Reed was adorable and deserved everything and his arc his alcoholism following his mother's death were really moving. I think their chemistry was good, but the moment they got together, I just lost interest. I liked their tension and their pining and the almost fate-like string that no matter what always drew them back together. They spent 10 years being best friends or worst enemies (it wasn't really HATE just a fuckton of resentment) and I loved that toxicity. They were adorable as a couple but so so mushy out of nowhere and I just got bored sorryyyy. The book tackles a lot of heavy topics though, from abuse to addiction, and I really liked to see that both Reed and Tate always had each other's back even when they were fighting (except that one time Tate went too far lol).

“We can do this, right? Pretend we’re still just friends. I mean, we’re actors for fuck’s sake.”
“Definitely.”
Definitely not, as it turned out.

Anyway, amazing start that I thought fizzled into an OK middle and end. It did feel like we followed them on their entire journey, almost like reading a journal. I just wish everything from the moment they got together till the rest of the book was more impactful, compared to the gut-punching first half, it felt a bit weak to me. Not that I don't like to see them happy, I just wanted them to keep the tiny bit of fucked up that was so damn hot! Ok, maybe I do have issues. Anyway, my heart is still on the delicious pain the first half gave me.

Can't wait for Korry and Travis' book I KNOW must be coming! Bodyguard x fast car racer? Yes please.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

review pendingWe first met Reed & Tate in the Voyagers series, and their story was one which was being told in subtext and nuances throughout the entire series. I was ecstatic to see they would be getting their own HEA because I needed to see how their story played out.

What I didn’t expect was to have a 10 year long push & pull relationship. What I didn’t expect was how much pain these two were in. What I didn’t expect was the angst. What I didn’t expect was to love all the pain and all the angst.

As the story begins 10 years ago, we first meet Tate Aduma at his first audition since arriving in LA. He’s moody, closed off, and singularly focused. He is determined to become the star no one believed he could be. As he leaves his audition, he sees Reed, all golden boy looks, a winning smile and an openness which knocks down Tate’s walls immediately.

Reed and Tate came from very different worlds, and while Reed knows that Tate’s life wasn’t easy he truly has no idea how bad it really was. While Reed is an out and proud actor, Tate is locked so far into his closet he can’t even find the light.

The book spans their relationship and how it changes over the 10 years since they met. How they both end up struggling with addiction, how grief can change the course of anyone’s life and how true friendship can stand the test of time even when it seems all is lost.

This book broke my heart so many times, but even though each time felt worse than the last, the way these two kept showing up for each other put me back together again.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed and Tate ❤️

5 Stars ⭐️

I have waited for the story of Reed and Tate since they were introduced in the Voyagers series and let me tell you, it's so freaking EPIC. This was the best emotional roller coaster ride ever! There were so many ups and downs in this friendship throughout the years it ripped me apart one moment and warmed my heart the next. These two share something so special that withstands the trials and tribulations of being young and thrust into the ugly side of Hollywood trying to make it, through out the tears, addiction and pain these two always found their way back to one another like two magnets drawn together even when the friendship is fractured. It had a bit of an unrequited love vibe mixed with friends to lovers and an insane chemistry that was explosive. These two both held my heart from the first page but when they finally realized what they were to each other, my adoration for them grew tenfold. Even though these two have a long and difficult road to their HEA, it was so worth it in the end to see them both right where they belong. I would absolutely recommend this read and as a matter of fact the whole Voyagers series!!! Ava Olsen never disappoints and this one proves it once again❤️.

* I received an ARC, this is my open and honest review *

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Ya'll! Come join me while I tell you about this book I just read.
The title is CoStar by Ava Olsen it's part of the Hollywood Lives series. I think it's book one, though it seems there were other books I can't find any.
The cover is sexy. The summary drew me in because long time friends, working together sounds good. I love a good friends to lovers and slow burn.

My favorite main character was Reed. Tate was awesome too, but something about all Reed hoes through.
There is a secondary character I loved.Kory was awesome. So was Dylan and Jared but they kinda mate up and I was looking for their books. I hope Kory gets one.

The plot was intriguing with twists and turns and rooting for these two to get together. When they do oh boy!

The ending is HEA. I woukd love seei g all these other characters stories.BRING IT ON!

I recommend this if you like best friends to lovers, lots of chemistry, grumpy. Sunshine, hurt, comfort lots of angst and a slow burn worth waiting for!

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ARC review~

This was a bit of a rollercoaster ride of a book. It spans for 10 years which just tells that not all love stories are simple. In those 10 years there’s a lot happening. Both love each other but they struggle with their own demons, the expectations, the outside forces and especially their own ideas of what their lives will look like. They hurt themselves and each other over the years. They go from roommates to friends to best friends to estranged to enemies to friends and then to lovers.

The story is a lot, mostly it’s a lot of hurt but there’s a lot of love as well. I loved how I can feel the difference in the book between the LA lifestyle versus the English one when they are shooting their last film – the pace slows down, it just all feels lighter in UK. I loved Reed and Tate even if they didn’t seem to always love themselves. They had great friends around them that supported them throughout the years. And I really liked the bodyguard, hope he gets his own story.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars An okay story.
A great start as Tate tries to begin his acting career 10 years prior at an audition, at 20 years. At the same audition he meets Reed.

Tate had changed his name before he left home to pursue his acting in LA. Tate had a horrible past which he was reminded of everyday from his stepfather's actions.
Reed had a new housemate with Tate joining in with the lease, but Tate tells him he's straight.
The story for them both told over a countdown from 10 years to present time as they explore their acting careers.
With the success of a celebrity status it comes with the drugs into their scenes. Other drama and emotional scenes come into play that threaten their friendship with lots more into the story.
This was an okay story but the way the story was written with the yearly gaps, I couldn't connect to the characters as gap jumps aren’t a fav of mine in books.
I received an advance reader copy via bookfunnel and this is my thoughts.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tate and Reed are actors who were roommates, then best friends, then fought and avoided each other. One openly gay, one in the closet. Reed concealed his love for Tate, Tate was in denial until he woke up. It was painful to read of them, tearing each other apart. After many years, when they admit they want each other--it's explosive! I loved Tate's possessiveness, volatility and jealousy. I loved Reed's gentle patience, sweet loving and caring. They are soulmates who have always needed each other to be complete. What a passionate, emotional book! I received a copy of this book through Booksprout and this is my voluntary review.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

Fair warning, you get a lot of backstory with this book - the first third of the book runs you quickly through vignettes over more than a dozen years as we see these two men go from roommates to best friends to enemies and finally to lovers...

Because this book has so much backstory, you need to know just how emotional and wonderful the final 2/3 of the book is and how worth it that backstory is! I truly loved watching both Tate and Reed finally accept themselves and each other and work towards a beautiful HEA!

[Willow P · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

Co-star is so much fun!! Read it in one sitting.
It has everything. The humour. romance. hurt and comfort. passion.

Even though neither are perfect, they are perfect for each other. Watching the unconditional love and devotion despite hardships is something that I love to see.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jennifer Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Olsen really knows how to write a story that can suck you in.

Co-Star is best friends to enemies to lovers. Even when they are enemies, I mean are they really. lol.

Tate is new to LA and seeking an acting career. He is grumpy, in my opinion, when he meets Reed who is sunshine to him. Friendship develops and more for someone but also there’s hurt/ addiction that keeps them apart. Honestly, I had a hard time connecting at first to Tate but in the end, he made it up to me, and to Reed. lol

Their friendship goes on one heck of a roller coaster ride with some highs and some very low lows but in the end, they were always there for each other.

Another great book by Ava and I can’t wait for a certain bodyguard to find his HEA.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the driest book. Nothing happened. They had absolutely no spark, and the entire beginning was explaining the past, some I absolute HATE in books. Their relationship went back and forth, and the book mentions difficult topics, like addicting, but fails to address them in any meaningful way, making these difficult subjects seem trivial. I was in no way rooting for them, and as soon as the couple got together, it was like everything became perfect. Also, the sheer number of unnecessary side characters was insane.

Overall, while I loved the idea behind this book, its execution was not my cup of tea.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

8% DNF

I suspect that first chapter was heavily edited. It was a lie. Thereafter, the author's extremely annoying habit of using many, many, MANY one-sentence-paragraph breaks in a row over pages of chapters killed any mild interest I'd had for the plot and characters.

That kind of single line emphasis is for realization, for surprise, for impact. Nothing was surprising, or revealing, or anything but so annoying that even skimming is like driving over a washboard gravel road in need of grading.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed and Tate's story packed a powerful emotional punch. Their journey, told in a series of chapter-long snapshots in time, tackled several different stages of their personal and professional lives from their first audition to their ascent to Hollywood's most elite status and all the ups and downs along the way. I don't always like books with a lot of time skips because they tend to add distance between me and the characters, but in this case I thought it was the perfect way to show the impact of time on Tate and Reed's relationship. Ava Olsen's writing was so thoughtful, focusing on the most impactful events to these mens' lives and allowing me to bridge the gaps in time with quick reflections from the characters without detracting from their individual narratives. Their journey had its fair share of heartbreaking moments, and because I'd gotten to know Reed and Tate all the way back at their first audition, it was especially heartwrenching to see them lose themselves in addiction and the race to get ahead. Throughout it all, Tate and Reed's relationship anchored the story, the two of them never fully out of each other's orbits even when they had months of silence between them. 

Tate was deep in the closet, physically and emotionally scarred from his upbringing, and that influenced a lot of his actions and drove him to do whatever it took to stay ahead as an actor. Reed, in contrast, grew up with a very supportive family and was able to be freely himself from his first Hollywood debut. For people with such opposite personalities, their friendship grew organically during their two years as roommates and turned into something a lot more like love, even if neither of them was brave enough to say it out loud. That love went through so many trials and tribulations, through years of supportive friendship and years of bitter hatred, through rising stardom and crushing grief, through the perils of addiction and the slow road to recovery. Tate and Reed would have had several valid reasons for walking away from each other and never looking back, and yet in their worst moments they were always there for each other. I lost my heart to the two of them early on, and though Ava Olsen really put us through the wringer waiting for their happy ending, the wait was absolutely worth it to see them in a stable place, sober, and ready to take that next step together. I feel like I really got to see these characters grow into better versions of themselves, and I felt so proud watching both of them put the work in to heal from the things life threw at them. Their romantic relationship was just as lovely and steamy and delightful as I knew it would be, and after so many years of waiting it was wonderful to see them get to ride off into the sunset together.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions. 

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Co-Star by Ava Olson is part of her Hollywood Lives series. It is a hurt/comfort story about two movie/TV stars who encounter each other, become friends, have highs and lows in their relationship and eventually find love. Tate Aduna has come to Hollywood to become a movie star after a life filled with hate by his stepfather, who always told him he wasn’t good for anything. Because of this he has the drive and work ethic to succeed but his background follows him everywhere. When he first gets there he meets Reed Larkin at a casting audition and they are opposites, with Tate being dark and not letting anyone in and Reed being sunshiny and openly out. They hit it off and decide to room together. As time goes on they climb the ladder until they both become stars. But it takes a toll on both of them and at one point, each of them becomes an addict – one for drugs and one for alcohol, which leads both of them to rehab. They have arguments, fight, separate and live apart, but the spark between them is always there and they eventually find their ways back to each other, usually when they are needed the most. Tate also likes men but refuses to let it come out, hiding his hook ups behind closed doors, because he is afraid it will hurt his image and his career. It takes time and therapy for him to openly admit it and when he sees Reed flirting and making plans with his body guard he loses it and the flood gates open. They start their relationship with lots of hot love scenes because they can’t get enough of each other. Tate decides to come out but wants to do it on his own terms and slowly let others know. But, of course, someone on the set he’s working on leaks it to the paparazzi and he has to move up his time table. Both men almost have relapses but they are there for each other, work through what is going on, and finally declare their love for each other. I enjoyed this story but there is a lot of angst that you feel for both characters and everything they have gone through. It is a long journey for Tate because of his childhood experiences and it is hard for him to open up. Reed also had his share of hardship but he is so caring of the people in his life, especially Tate. Their family, friends, and manager are also helpful as they work to find a way to be together. I also liked the epilogue as it makes you see how far they have come and leaves you with a hopeful and happy feeling for their future as the story ends. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like angsty stories about movie stars who have to overcome their pasts and move forward to find love and the lives they want to live.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Tate and Reed just about broke my heart at times. Co-Star was a much more emotional read than I was expecting and it had me truly caring for these two messed up men.

Tate who had survived an abusive home situation was emotionally damaged and unable to accept who he was, used acting as a way of surviving, as a way of proving he was worth someting while not believing in his real worth. When the story starts Tate denies his sexuality both because of his past and because the film industry wasn't open or kind to gay actors. Tate struggles and drugs become his downfall and cause problems for his career and his friendship with the man he loves.

Reed who befriended Tate from day one and loved him but couldn't act on that love and stood by Tate even when he tried to push him away. When eventually, everything that kept them friends snapped and their friendship seemed broken beyond repair, they become enemies but underneath their love for each other still lived it just took them a while to find each other again.

This slow burn, hurt/comfort, second chances read spans 10 years and deals with some hard but important issues that really had my feelings on a rollercoaster. Tate and Reed both dealt with their own addiction, grief, mental health issues, past abuse and an industry where people are sometimes willing to do whatever it takes to succeed even at the expense of others.

I loved the way Ava Olsen has managed to link this novel to both her Wayward Lane and Voyagers series with several characters making an appearance. Dylan and Max from Starboard and Jared and his men play important roles in Tate and Reeds life. If you haven't read them yet not to worry this story stands completely separate from those books. These men have a lot to offer Tate and Reed in their careers but also as true friends who are there to support them both when things get really tough for them. They are actually really lucky with the small but truly supportive people they have managed to surround themselves with.

I think this is one of my favourite reads of Ava Olsen's and so far I've enjoyed everything she's written. These two men had a hard and messy road to their HEA but I am so glad they made it.

[Bol.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey from friendship through hurt and hate to love
Tags: immersive, easy to read, dynamic, captivating, contemporary, opposites, friends to lovers, steamy, heartwarming, emotional, dual POV, no cliffhanger
This is an emotional, relatable, compelling story about two opposites and their journey from friendship through hurt and hate to realizing and accepting their differences and the healing power of love. Though set in the lavish background of fame and indulgence of the entertainment world, the story is a realistic, touching, and profound reflection of the hurt, dilemmas, and turmoil of confronting the past to protect the future.
I loved both main characters immediately. They are actors, opposites in every aspect possible, one badly hurt and damaged and the other easygoing and charming. Yet, they are a perfect match for each other.
Tate is grumpy, hot, attractive, abused as a child, traumatized, broody, focused on success, deep in the closet, yet relatable and lovable despite his insecurities and rough exterior. As the opposite, Reed is easygoing, with a sunny attitude, likable, charming, fiercely loyal, and in love with Tate.
The plot focuses on the ten years of developing relationships between MCs. Dramatic twists and turns in their lives and relationships, along with eloquent and vivid writing, transform the story into a compelling, emotional, page-turning read. I especially loved the slow progression from past to present, which profoundly contextualizes their relationship and challenges.
The book is insightful, tackling complex issues without overwhelming the reader with drama and angst. It is a touching and emotional description of love, hurt, friendship, hope, understanding, and acceptance.
Recommendations
Readers who enjoy eloquent and vivid writing, profound and emotional narrative, complex issues and characters, and easy-to-read yet profound novels with dynamic and captivating storylines will enjoy reading this book.
Seekers of action, tension-packed plots, and novels full of dark drama and angst might not like it as much.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book. This review is an independent and genuine reflection of my thoughts.

[Kiki Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
A happy ever after a decade in the making -
I couldn’t put down Co-Star by @avaolsenauthor Sunshiny blond Reed and dark and broody Tate meet at an audition when they are both Hollywood hopefuls. They become roommates and friends. But Reed is out and Tate is in denial about his sexuality, still carrying the scars of an abusive step father.
The years roll forward as Tate and Reed both reach success. I really liked how they were each other’s best friend and biggest supporter.
This story takes them from friends to enemies to tentative friends again to finally, at long last, lovers.
It’s quite a journey, one filled with trauma, addiction, recovery, and grief. Even when Tate abandons Reed thanks to a Machiavellian director and agent, they still care for each other. They just can’t get their timing right.
Ten years in, they get their chance with a film that pushes them out of their comfort zones and has them confronting their true feelings for each other. Clueless idiots to lovers is becoming a trope I really enjoy. And when they give in, whew! Ten years of pining leads to some spectacular sizzle.
Another thing I loved? Love didn’t make their addictions disappear. It was a constant struggle, exacerbated by stress. The way they showed up for each other was beautiful.
There are great secondary characters, but Tate and Reed are the stars of this story. Their growth as friends, and then a couple is amazing. They’ll both frustrate you (Tate maybe more so) but that’s because of how real they both feel.
There’s a full circle moment near the end that is amazing. A trip to the industrial warehouse where it all began sets the stage for a new beginning full of hope and promise.
There are some dark themes, but the light grows until the brilliant, glorious epilogue.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much angst in the first 50% of this story, that I very nearly didn't finish it! However , thank goodness I persevered. Tate kind of annoyed me to begin with but he definitely grew on me as his walls came down. Reed beautiful, kind, and in love with Tate, was just such a captivating character. The two of them together on screen? Magical. Both face huge problems in the real world though, and cause each other a world of hurt. Once Tate and Reed finally sort through their issues, it becomes clear they’re soulmates. There are definitely things they have to work through, Tate especially has some big life decisions he needs to make, but these two are meant to be together. Both had to grow up a bit, their development as both individuals and as a couple made the story so much more emotional. Tate especially needed to face his past , and definitely needed to change to be worthy of Reed, he could be down tight nasty to Reed at times, and I occasionally felt he just needed a good smack! When Tate finally starts to comprehend what's happening with Reed, a major change takes place between the two guys and things begin to look up. The ending wraps everything up nicely, I loved meeting up once again with some of the characters from the previous books, it was great to find out where they were up to. It's such a well written story, Ava does a fantastic job slowly bringing the two guys together. I would definitely recommend this book, but it will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride so keep the tissues handy.

[GreenwingReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited a long time for this book, and it was worth every second! It might very well be my favorite by Ava Olsen to date.

The story covers the ten-year relationship of friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers Tate and Reed, both actors in LA. Writing a story that covers so much time in detail is no easy feat, and Ava handled it beautifully. I really felt like I was seeing snapshots of their lives and able to follow everything these guys went through...and they went through A LOT! This was the most emotional, angsty book I've read by Ava to date. I felt a full range of emotions from sadness and anger, to joy and satisfaction while reading.

This story deals with a lot of heavy topics, especially with Tate and Reed's addictions. You'll definitely see the darker side of LA and fame here. They had to fight hard for their HEA, but once they decided they were all in, they put in the work. I really appreciated that Ava didn't treat their addictions as something that can be "cured" and after going to rehab, would be perfectly fine. That's not the reality of addiction, and Ava made it clear that their battles were on-going and each day had to be taken as it came.

Tate and Reed are so sweet together and really understand each other on a level that I think many couples can only aspire to, but that had a lot to do with what they had each been through. Nothing in this story was sugarcoated and it makes their love so much more impactful. Don't give this one a miss, but heed your trigger warnings.

[Traci S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read, I loved taking this journey with Tate and Reed. This was maybe a bit more angsty than other books I’ve read from Ava Olsen, but I really enjoyed the drama and emotion in this story. I loved seeing the ups and downs of their friendship and their careers in Hollywood. From roommates to friends to not friends to finding a way forward together, Tate and Reed have a turbulent and compelling story to tell. These characters are beautifully flawed. I love a good grumpy character and Tate is so wonderfully brooding, but you also feel the weight of his traumatic past pulling him down. Reed is his opposite, friendly and kind, he tries so hard with Tate but ultimately they both have too much fear and pain to be together. It does seem hopeless at times but Reed and Tate get a second chance when they become costars on a new film.
We got a glimpse of the tension coming to ahead for Reed and Tate in the Bon Voyage series, so it was so interesting to pick up the rest of their story. Sometimes a little competition is needed to shock you into action, and that what happens to Tate. I loved this turning point and was very invested in these two finding the healing needed to be together. It’s a genuinely beautifully story, painful at times but Tate and Reed have something worth fighting for. By the end, their HEA feels like a small miracle, I really loved this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Heather Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Well, these two were put through the wringer!

Tate and Reed are combustible. Best friends and enemies in equal measure. Hollywood stars, with all the Hollywood problems. One is deeply in the closet, and the other is in love with him. They can’t live without each other but they also can’t seem to sort themselves out.

It’s a story ten years in the making, so the first half of the book gives highlights or glimpses into their lives, and how they’ve ended up where they are now. Both are the best ones to bring comfort while being able to also cause the most hurt. Add to that, the traumas of life and the ups and downs of their careers, and it’s a compelling story.

I love stories where the characters really have to work for it, and where they are still flawed humans in the end, just humans who have found their person, that will love them through it all.

We also get lots of visits from some of our other favourite characters which should intrigue new readers into wanting their stories, while giving seasoned readers all the warm and fuzzies.

[Dinoh (Akari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story focuses on two men, Tate and Reed, who struggle to achieve their dreams in a city where nothing is easy and everything has its price. They meet young, when they were just starting out and soon become best friends and roommates, but the ladder to fame and the secrets they must hide, not only from the public and fans in general, but between the two of them, make that friendship faltered during the next 10 years, moving away and getting closer again and again, but never ending up breaking the bond that had formed between them since they met.

The sacrifices they must make, sometimes even putting their own dignity up for sale, in order to reach the top leave their mark on them in the form of addictions, which add to the traumas they already carry, especially Tate, which makes it difficult for them to communicate and be honest and open with each other, denying the deep attraction that was born the same day their friendship was born. They go from being best friends to enemies to friends and lovers, hurting each other deeply in the midst of all those ups and downs, but luckily, with the years comes maturity, and they begin to understand that fame is not everything, that there are more important things, that dreams change and that what they really want, they always had in front of them.

I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book telling the story of Tate and Reed over a period of 10 years, written from the past to the present, not in flashbacks.

A chance meeting at an audition opens the way for a friendship first, then a fallout and back to friendship and lovers. The way towards their HEA is hard, there are several topics which are a lot darker than the author's other books and the description "Hurt/Comfort" defintiely fits this book.

Tate has more demons than hell, he opts for a different way to live his life than the open and out Reed. Reed's background can't be more different but I found his loss even more heartbreaking.

You feel for Reed, you suffer with Tate. You want to shake Tate to realise what is going on and that his way of coping is not working.
Even at their lowest and it feels like the last break was final, they are there for each other and you can see the underlying connection they just can't break.

I love that the move towards lovers is not at the end, it shows how they learn to be together as a couple and also the ups and downs being out in Hollywood.

Apart from several characters from the other books, I really love Hen, Reed and Tate's agent. Also Cary and Grant are adding fun.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gritty, painful hurt-comfort, second-chance romance between men who grow up together, then grow apart before growing into the love they've always had for each other. And while Reed has always known his feelings for Tate were love, it takes Tate longer to recognize what he's lost. Both men struggle with their individual challenges as well as with the trauma inflicted by their choices and the wounds of fate. The methods they choose to find relief result in addictions, adding to their already full emotional plates. Thankfully, they finally stick with a plan of recovery that brings them not only peace as individuals but also as a couple.

It's such a great story of coming back to love from a desert of ignorance, misguided thinking, and loss. They grow in both their professional and personal lives, sometimes one at the expense of the other, and often hurt each other in the name of mental health. But love wins in the end because it's what they've had since they first met a decade before. I love how the writer tells their story, going from the past to the present, giving us their history through their own eyes. It's a great flashback technique that is riveting and brings the reader completely into their story, feeling all their emotions with them.