Let's Make a Scene

Theo & Cynthie #2

by Laura Wood

The companion novel to Laura Wood’s Under Your Spell follows Theo Eliott’s best friend Cynthie Taylor as she’s pulled back into a fake PR relationship with Jack Turner-Jones, the one costar she swore she’d never work with again.

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem…Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome costar Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity—have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship…and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they’re playing start to feel all too real?

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Fake Dating, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2025

About the author

Laura Wood is the winner of the Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing and the author of the 'Poppy Pym' and 'Vote for Effie' middle-grade series and YA novels, A Sky Painted Gold and Under a Dancing Star.

She loves Georgette Heyer novels, Fred Astaire films, travelling to far flung places, recipe books, Jilly Cooper, poetry, cosy woollen jumpers, Edith Nesbit, crisp autumn leaves, Jack Gilbert, new stationery, sensation fiction, salted caramel, feminism, Rufus Sewell's cheek-bones, dogs, and drinking lashings of ginger beer.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy books with the rivals-to-lovers trope—it's one of my favorites. When I found a story about two actors who can't stand each other being forced to play lovers in a British film, while also being filmed by a documentary crew, I was immediately interested.

Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones had amazing on-screen chemistry in their first film together, which launched their careers, but their real-life dislike for each other made just as many headlines. Thirteen years later, they're brought back together for a sequel with an added complication—they need to pretend their relationship is real again for publicity. With cameras constantly around them, old issues resurface, tension builds, and the boundary between acting and reality becomes unclear.

The book does a good job balancing humor, tension, and character development. By showing their story in two timelines, we see both their initial conflicts and misunderstandings alongside their current reunion, where they've matured but still maintain their distinctive dynamic. Cynthie is an engaging main character—driven and resilient—while Jack transforms from an irritating co-star to a more nuanced love interest.

The slow development of their relationship kept me engaged throughout, whether they were arguing or sharing rare tender moments. The supporting characters enhance the story, and the book offers an interesting look at the entertainment industry.

If you like enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, or second-chance romance stories, you'll probably enjoy this one. The tension, humor, and emotional moments build to a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me this entertaining enemies to lovers romance' s arc copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[mackenzie (hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ughhhhh yes. immediately yes. yes please. oui. si. in every language, in every world. yes.

rating this a 4.5 for the simple fact that i didn't love how big of a deal their falling out was in the past. like i do think it was an okay enough reason for them to have issues but at the same time any enemies to lovers in contemporary romance is gonna bother me tbh.

but the rest of it ... YES!!! jack and cynthie had the bestttt chemistry and tension and i ate every single second of it up. this is fake dating done so right authors pls take notes. the way this was written also just added to the experience with the past and present and movie and the way it was all set up. it was so unique and so fun and makes following along with the characters so much fun and helps get you so much more invested in them and their relationship. loved the writing. loved literally everything about this sigh everyone pls read this when it comes out.

pre-read:
fake dating (i think)?? famous people (i think)?? sign me right up!!

thank you netgalley & atria books for the arc!! all opinions are my own <3

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!

"I love arguing with you, just as much as I love not arguing with you. So yes, I think you're worth the effort--whatever the fuck that means--because despite what you seem to think, it's not hard to love you, Cynthie; it's easy. It's the easiest thing I've ever done."

3.75 stars

Great writing but with a jarring layout.

Much like its predecessor, this was an easy read with great characters and a good story to tell. But my biggest take away is the two timelines and just how different they were. I really liked both main characters, but the MMC was essentially two different people in each timeline, so it was difficult to really feel attached to the relationship.

I think I'm determining that dual timelines are not my thing. I think they can be done well, but it's just not something I truly enjoy. I like staying in the present and watching that progression. Every time the story goes back to the past, it takes away from the current development, and in this instance, I think too much time was given to the past. We don't get to see nearly enough of Jack being the much better version he turns into, and we don't get to see him make those changes. He just goes from being a arrogant dickhead to this big cinnamon roll just like that.

So still enjoyable and I would absolutely recommend as I think the issues I had were subjective and not necessarily reflective of the story or the writing. I think Laura Wood might be a new favorite of mine, so I'm excited to see what she does next 🩷

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half of the book. It was funny and the enemies to lovers trope actually worked and made sense, but in the second half it all lost steam. The ending was lovely but there was this long wait getting there. It also touched upon metoo so kudos for focusing on that. Overall a decent love story that somewhat fizzled out after a while.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been so good, I’m a bit disappointed.

I really liked the main characters, their dynamic was fun and tension-filled, but the story was bogged down by all the unnecessary details, abundance of side characters, and above all, the flashback chapters.

Books that follow more than one timeline aren’t my favourite to begin with, but if done well, I don’t mind all that much. However, it wasn’t down well here.

The flashback chapters didn’t really add anything to the present-day chapters. They took me out of the actual story because there were so many of them going into such detail describing random stuff like the filming process, which after the first time, I found boring and repetitive. Overall they just dragged down the story while not contributing anything really. I just didn’t care about them that much when they were 19 or something and had just met to read like 20 flashback chapters about it; I cared about them now, 13 years later, working together again while fake dating. And that part of the story, the most important one imo, kind of got lost among everything else, which was unfortunate.

I think this would have been a much stronger story had it just been focused on them now instead.

Still recommend you check it out if you’re into celebrity romances that revolve around actors, though, because especially in the second half, they were so sweet together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.


___
What do you mean this book was inspired by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s kiss at the 2005 MTV music awards?? 🥹🥹 That kiss is iconic and I will now be reading this immediately, please don’t disappoint me 🏃‍♀️‍➡️😍🙏

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Her face lights up, and seeing her happy is my drug of choice."

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Cynthie Taylor’s career is in serious trouble. She’s a well-regarded, famous actress now caught up in a scandal that may just level her career. Her agent and her best friend approach her with a project that just might be the solution…if she can bear having Jack Turner-Jones be the leading man in the sequel to the film that launched their careers. Thirteen years ago, A Lady of Quality was Cynthie’s first role and the one that distinguished Jack from his famous theatrical parents. Problem was they couldn’t stand each other back then and haven’t seen one another since. Can they pull this off?

the heart of the story…
The story begins with Cynthie’s current woes and transitions back thirteen years to where it all began. I appreciated the dual timeline because there was so much more texture to the complicated relationship between Cynthie and Jack. There’s truly a thin line between love hate and these two personify that. Part of the PR from the first movie required them to be in a fake relationship and they were going to have to do it again for the new film’s promotion. Jack needs this movie, too, so both want it to work while struggling with those competing emotions.

the narration…
Heather Long and Sam Stafford were delightful as Cynthie and Jack, as well as giving great voices to the wonderful secondary characters. I loved their performances.

the bottom line…
There’s a lot to love here with two highly engaging characters trying to grapple with their complicated feelings for each other. It’s funny and romantic, poignant at times, and has a wonderful cast of secondary characters. Theo & Clementine make an appearance, too, which brought back some special memories. I certainly hope there’s more to come in this series as I’m enjoying being in this world’s orbit.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Anna (annareadit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
— enemies to lovers
— found family
— dual timeline / dual POV
— fake dating
— second chance
— right person, wrong time
— open door

Cynthie Taylor lands her first leading role and is over the moon. But the first meeting before filming reveals that her arrogant co-star, Jack, hates her — and the feeling is mutual. Despite that, their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. To promote the movie, the studio sees the perfect opportunity in their fake relationship.

Thirteen years later, they’re offered a chance to star in the sequel to the film that launched their careers — and once again, they find themselves in a fake relationship.

I’m in love. It was funny and heartfelt. The chemistry between the characters — and their hatred laced with longing — was amazing. I’m usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this year (most of the books I’ve read had the second-chance trope), and this book in particular, proved me wrong.

Cynthie’s struggles and inner turmoil were incredibly relatable. Jack’s letter was beautiful and deeply moving.

The side characters? Absolutely huggable.

There’s a scene that feels like the lovechild of Anthony Bridgerton’s lake moment and Mr. Darcy in the rain — I’m obsessed!
I’d love to see that on screen…

And let’s not forget the iconic scene that, in my opinion, gave off more Crazy, Stupid, Love vibes than the original source material.

Highly recommend for fans of Jane Austen and Bridgerton. For some reason, this book gave me the exact same vibe as behind-the-scenes footage from the Bridgerton set.

P.S. Now I want to rewatch Persuasion. Pretty sure I know how I’m spending my evening.

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

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did the audiobook for this one and I enjoyed it. The narrators, Heather Long and Sam Stafford were fantastic. The way they brought out the characters' personalities and their chemistry was really well done. 

The main characters, Jack and Cynthie, are actors who worked together while filming a small British movie thirteen years ago, and they did not like each other. Their on screen chemistry though was amazing. They were told to fake a relationship to draw in the fans. And they did. But they haven't spoken since.

Now they want to film the sequel and they want them to do this AGAIN. This time while a documentary crew follows them. They agree because they need this to work, for the sake of their careers. 

Such a fun, light-hearted and FUNNY book. I felt the tension growing in their feelings towards each other, but they were so set on “acting” that they weren't willing to roll with their real emotions. I was happy when they finally realized that there was just no avoiding it anymore. Both characters were likable and the plot was entertaining. A fun summer read! 

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second chance romance
Fake dating
Rivals to lovers
Actor/Actress

Cynthia and Jack, co-stars with great on screen chemistry who actually hate each other. It’s no secret. Thirteen years later, they are brought together for the sequel but must pretend to be dating. They both have reasons for needing some positive publicity and this might just be the key. Past tension and feelings come to the surface and it isn’t long before the lines between what’s real and acting are blurred. They had good chemistry but this wasn’t my favorite.

[Fahmida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
ARC provided by Atria Books!❤️

I honestly had the lowest expectations for this book considering the fact that I've been in a slump for a while now with my busy schedule. But this was honestly really good!

I'm not the biggest fan of the actor x actress trope or the second chance trope or books with dual timeline. But this was well written for a debut adult novel. The friendships were beautifully portrayed, the chemistry was there, the rivalry was there and everything flew in a proper pace. However, the one thing that sort of irked me was them claiming they were in love w eachother for 13 years after sleeping together ONCE. Mind you, they dated other ppl over these years too so this made absolutely zero sense to me and idk why authors do this. How can a person be in love with a certain someone for YEARS whilst sleeping/dating other ppl too? Or am I just too slow?

Anyways, other than that, the book was a fun time so hehehe.

[Anila]

DNF at 31%

The dual timeline did not work in this book because the leads were insufferable as their younger versions. I feel like I’m in the minority but I could not stand Cynthie and Jack. They were both so childish, arrogant and whiny. The first 40% of the book are spent in the past and I don’t have it in me to get through more of those chapters. Maybe it would have helped to alternate the chapters between the past and present because having to read around ten chapters in a row of them at the age of twenty-four was a miserable experience. Cynthie and Jack might have matured in the present timeline but I have personally checked out of their story and have no interest in finding out how they fall back together.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our story begins as Cynthie is hiding from the world. She’s just been caught in somewhat of a scandal, as this actress slept with her married director. He told her they were separated, and on the way to divorce, but you know how that story goes.

Her agent tells her that unfortunately, she has been removed from the newest Marvel film, but there’s a good opportunity here. She can star in a sequel to a film that she was the romantic lead in 13 years ago. The only problem is, her costar Jack is going to be reprising his role as well. Back then, they put together a fake dating publicity relationship. And the studio would like them to repeat this and do fake dating again. And he is her sworn enemy!

I like this book, I didn’t love it. Your tropes here are enemies to lovers, Second Chance, romance, and fake dating. All of those things have all of the little subtleties that they imply. This book takes place in the same universe as the authors former novel, and those characters have supporting roles in this novel as well. It’s fun to catch up with Theo and Clemmie.

There is no shortage of references to Jane Austin, pride and prejudice – the original enemies to lovers romance. I counted 12 in total. I love it when an author pays homage to the classics.

The book also has good pacing, but some of the characters motivations were a little bit confusing. I can’t honestly understand why they didn’t like each other, except that they did? There are a few cute scenes, one involving ice cream and the other involving Steve Carell. There was a lot of yearning in this novel, which is always good. It was a cute relationship with cute side characters. I’m just not sure it was necessary for them to not speak for 13 years. Except that it created a second chance romance situation

Thanks to NetGalley and atria books for the ARC. Book to be published July 1, 2025.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a one-of-a-kind path towards happily ever after, this couple had me absolutely HOOKED. They were fire together, with chemistry and angst that lit up the pages. I actually loved the dual timelines, which showcased just how much they grew and matured in their time apart. At 20 and 24, they didn’t know what to do with their intense feelings, too stubborn and proud to admit they didn’t know if what they felt was hate or love. At 33 and 37, they understand that what they feel for each other is special, and they’re willing to put in the work. Add in a second round of fake dating and the tension of being filmed, and this was an unpredictable, devourable read. I was eager to see this couple find their way together, and there were some seriously compelling moments along the way. A fantastic read - I adored it!

The story follows Cynthie and Jack, two actors who met when they were just starting out. As costars in a romantic film, Cynthie and Jack clashed in real life while finding love on the screen. Their real life conflicts were intense and fraught with tension, which made filming - and faking a relationship - exceptionally complicated. Now older and wiser, thirteen years have passed since Cynthie and Jack’s fake relationship ended, and they’re both established in their careers. When faking a relationship while filming the movie’s sequel makes the most sense, they find themselves with a second chance to get it right.

I love a fake relationship romance with Hollywood elements, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Wood’s work, so I was excited to dig into this. It quickly became clear that the second chance vibes were stronger than I anticipated, but I actually really liked the scenario. Yes, both Cynthie and Jack knew there was something sparking between them in the past, but neither one ever really knew if it was love or hate. They clashed at every opportunity, and they were in such different places that it never would’ve worked. I loved the contrasts between the flashback scenes and the present day, which showed that they truly are different people now. They can look back at that time through a different lens, and make sure they don’t make the same mistakes again. I loved Jack and how steady he was; he has put in the WORK, and he was such a good, emotionally intelligent man. I was rooting for them to make it work, and every layer that was peeled back just made me love the story more. I binged it in a single day, and was immersed the entire time.

Audio note (after loving the ebook): I personally didn’t love the audio, but it is well done! Wood is a British author and the characters are also British, so the accents are strong with this one. I found it more difficult to connect in audio, since I was so focused on hearing the words correctly. That certainly won’t be the case for every reader, but it’s something that’s worth noting before you dive in. I think both narrators did a great job overall – it’s dual narration, with Heather Long and Sam Stafford voicing the characters. You can still feel the tension in the audio. The story is a slowish burn with sexual tension throughout. There are a few scenes that are spicy, but otherwise it’s not a bad choice for a workday listen. At 13 hours, it’s a lot to get through in a single day, but I definitely binged the story when I read it. If you’re fine with the accents, then it works well in the format. Big thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC!

[Maren’s Reads]

I cannot wait to read this one, but given that this is a companion novel to her previous book, Under Your Spell, I need to back track and read that one first!

Thank you Atria for the gifted copy!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood
Theo & Cynthie series #2. Contemporary romance. Multi-timeline. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Thirteen years in the past - Cynthie Taylor gets her first professional acting job on a historical British movie opposite costar Jack Turner-Jones. There are sparks between them but they tend towards bickering. She thinks he’s arrogant. He’s under a lot of pressure to have a successful film. The studio says they need to fake a romance to draw crowds. They do it. Both are attracted and interested in more but they end up going their separate ways.
Thirteen years later - Cynthie and Jack agree to a sequel. More mature, more experienced and again willing to put on a show for the public, they start production.
Can they make it real this time or are they destined to walk away from each other?

I loved the depth of this story and the fact it didn’t just include the stars at the time. It includes friendships, made family, women’s issues, self analysis and acceptance all over and above the second chance romance. Laughed at the horse running for Hannah. Cried at the abuse. Swooned at the leaning.
Because of the timeline shift, you do have to pay attention to chapter beginnings since settings are pretty much the same.
A dream come true Enchanting.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in a dual timeline and two different points of view this is a fun rom com full of Hollywood drama. This book is about two celebrities who fake date in order to help boost their careers.

I loved all of the behind the scenes type stuff you got to see in regard to how movies are made and the lifestyle/downfalls celebrities deal with. This added a lot to the story and gave insight to what the main characters were going through. It also made the whole fake dating trope more believable as it played out.

It was nice seeing Cynthie and Jack’s characters develop as the story progressed. I really liked how the characters were not one dimensional, as they were layered. This made them more relatable even though they were celebrities.

Read this if you like:
→ Fake dating
→ Second chance romance
→ Enemies to lovers

If you like romance books with a mix of humor, emotional moments and enemies to lovers tension this is the book for you.

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.

[Mel || mel.the.mood.reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars rounded down

Let's Make a Scene is a bit of a rollercoaster, but not in the way of an emotional ride I was locking in for, but more of a frustrating push-pull between greatness and a disappointing comedown. There has been a recent resurgence in a debate around the enemies-to-lovers trope. Can it ever really work outside of a fantasy context? Are the parties really even capable of being true enemies when they aren't members of opposing factions in some longstanding magical war? I haven't ventured into this debate in any real way thus far, other than to point out that so much of what is marketed as "enemies" or "rivals" really ends up being "lustful co-workers/frenemies/strangers who argue a lot." However, one only has to evoke the name of Jane Austen to know that enemies to lovers can work in a non-fantastical context, you just need a little bit of that Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth flair.

Unfortunately, while Let's Make a Scene does an admirable job in its first half masquerading as a proper enemies to lovers tale, at some point after the halfway mark it became clear to me that there's nothing really to this other than its frequent assertion by the characters that holds any water. The story follows Cynthie and Jack , two actors caught up in a plot that wears its influences on its sleeve (think Persuasion, meets the 2005 Pride & Prejudice film adaptation, meets Kristen Stewart post Snow White "scandal" fan fic, and America's Sweethearts all thrown into a blender and that gives you some semblance of what you're in for.) The two are both successful actors 13 years into their careers and in need of a shakeup for very different reasons. Cynthie's former squeaky clean reputation has been raked through the mud in the aftermath of a cheating scandal with a vile director who misled her about the status of his marriage, and Jack is seasons into a longstanding role on a Buffy-esque TV show where the fate of his character is up in the air during contract renegotiations. It's this limbo that drives the two of them to sign on for a sequel to their first film, a Regency-era romance that has inexplicably become a cultural smash with the younger generation in recent years and features a steamy make out in a very British downpour (sound familiar?) The one catch? They have been asked by the studio to fake date after 13 years of radio silence. Oh and of course there's a documentary crew on set to capture their every move. Naturally the pair have some history that led to them going radio silence for over a decade, but there's also a heat between them that can't be denied...

If this sounds like a lot, it's because it absolutely is. The story is also told in dual POV and dual timeline, oscillating between 13 years ago and the present. I am a sucker for Hollywood stories, and I loved the idea of dual filmmaking narratives, it feels very meta in a cheeky way Wes Craven fans who also love a bit of romance would appreciate. The problem for me is that the premise starts to collapse under its own weight. People hook up on sets all the time, Jack's own parents are famous actors who had an affair on-set that led to his very existence. So why all this insistence by both parties in both timelines, that hooking up while making either movie is untenable? We're told repeatedly it's not a good idea, but the reasons for why are scant and never given any life in the actual story being told. The two also failed at being true "enemies" because Jack is down bad for this woman immediately, and Cynthie isn't far behind. The true enemy was each of them standing in their own way. A tale as old as time I guess.

A shaky central conflict aside, there's a lot of fun to be had in both timelines. There's a great cast of secondary characters we meet on the past timeline film set that are expanded upon in the present, adding a wonderful found family element to the story. There's also some cartoony villainous characters that worked in the Hollywood setting, thanks to the addition of Jack's actor parents and Cynthie's emotionally abusive former director/ex. Some of the discussions around women in Hollywood felt a bit didactic and unnecessary, but I understood what Wood was going for. There's a wonderful scene about the use of an intimacy coordinator on set that I really appreciated, and it provided a great scene backdrop in a story where there's a constant pull between what's real and what's acting. It's clear that Wood did some research on the behind the scenes environment of making a historical romance film, so I was unsurprised to see Emma Thompson mentioned in her Acknowledgments.

Overall, while I wished for higher stakes and a truer enemies to lovers arc, this was still an entertaining read and a worthy edition to any beach bag this summer. While the influences are plentiful, for the most part they work, and the story by and large sticks the landing. I flew through this one and I'm sure you will too!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the earc in exchange for my honest review!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Past/present contemporary romances are tricky because you find yourself wanting to stay in one of the timelines, and rarely both keep your attention. I think the author could have kept things fresh and intriguing in the present storyline. This one was just ok for me.

*audio is a dual narration though and very well done!

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
If you love serious enemies-to-lovers romances, this is one you need to read. This story starts off innocuously, and then things explode, and we witness a serious hate between two people for much of the book.

However, they are definitely in love with each other throughout the war, but are too stubborn to see it themselves. The author sprinkles in enough yearning, heated encounters, and passionate kisses to confuse them and to keep the reader begging for an end to the war.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and the art of drawing the reader in is in play here. Vivid descriptions and the push/pull of heartstrings and emotions are fully displayed. Each character has love/hate qualities that turn on and off throughout the story for the reader and each other.

The secondary characters are great and add an additional layer to the dynamics of the lead character’s relationship, good and bad. It does help break up the 13-year “romance” and adds much-needed respite to their stubbornness.

If a second chance and enemy-to-lover romance is calling your name, Let’s Make a Scene is loaded with simmering longing and a few amazing passionate scenes that will keep fanning your flames! I just got frustrated a few too many times!

~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/lets-make-a-...

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Just loved it!!

[ari ⋆˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
╰┈➤ i'm catching up to all my netgalley arcs, who is proud?

⋆˚࿔ let's make a scene review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

┆ ⤿ 💌 4.25 stars!

I really enjoyed Laura Wood’s first book in this interconnected series, Under Your Spell, so I was super excited when I got approved for this ARC! I LOVE LOVE LOVE a good celebrity romance, and this one had some of my favorite tropes: second chance romance and fake dating? Yeah… sign me up 😭

I’m usually not the biggest fan of timeline shifts, but I actually didn’t mind it here. Getting to see Cynthia and Jack go through similar experiences at two different points in their lives was such a interesting way to show how much they've grown, not just in their careers, but as people too! Jack was way more mature in the 13 years later timeline, and Cynthia was way more confident and experienced with her acting. They’re not in their early 20s anymore, and it shows! Which made me actually enjoy the later timeline even more than the earlier one.

Also, it’s dual POV which is almost a must have for me when it comes to romance. Getting inside both their heads added so much depth especially when it’s also enemies-to-lovers. The tension between them was palpable (I WAS SQUEELING), even when they were at each other’s throats, which made the spicy scenes even more intense. Overall I had a great time and can’t wait for Laura Wood’s next book!

Thanks so much to Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ

⤿ follow me on instagram

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC - 4/5⭐️ Let’s Make A Scene was a cutesy, fun enemies to lovers romance that tells the tale of Cynthie and Jack. They are both actors reuniting years later to film a sequel to their breakout romance film. In order to create some buzz and excitement about the upcoming movie, Cynthie and Jack participate in a fake relationship to grab the medias attention; the only problem is that they hate each other.

At first, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about this one considering that they’re both actors and it just wasn’t relatable for me. However, towards the middle and end I actually really enjoyed it. It was fun and I do really love the fake dating trope. Parts of the story just felt a little choppy with the constant switching of the then and now timeframes. The ending was what made it for me. love love love 🥲

Such a great beach read for the summer!! 🏖️☀️ Highly recommend checking this one out! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🩷

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pitched as an enemies to lovers with fake dating and second chance romance, I couldn’t download it fast enough.

I really liked Cynthie and Jack. They’re both really good people who are riddled with insecurities and are looking to break out and do something for themselves. This entire “feud” is something that could have been easily fixed; however, it instead starts a load of chemistry filled button pushing, arguing as foreplay, and so much UST it’s amazing. I especially loved the secondary cast of characters (Patty, I’m looking at you) and how they all rallied to support.

Plot wise, it was really satisfying. I loved getting the past and present range of chapters as it really highlighted the growth from Cynthie and Jack, as individuals as well as in a relationship. There’s (eventually) loads of open conversations and more importantly, active listening. The grand gesture was fantastic and the 2-years-later chapter was exactly what I wanted for them.

Overall, this was a fantastic read from a new-to-me author and I can’t wait to read more from her.

FYI: talk of #MeToo situations; there’s nothing explicit on the page, but mentions of shitty men doing shitty things

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Meg Anderson ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s Make a Scene is the rom com equivalent of a perfect red lipstick it’s glamorous from the very first page. When Cynthie Taylor, a British actress with a talent for repressing feelings, is cast in a sequel alongside Jack Turner-Jones (her ex) things get deliciously complicated. The twist? They’re being filmed behind the scenes for a very public ‘reunion’ documentary, and the studio wants them to fake date. So of course they do.

The result is a fizzy, enemies-to-lovers-to-maybe-lovers-again slow burn that sparkles! Together, they’re magnetic in that ‘we’re absolutely not falling for each other again except, oops, we are’ kind of way. AND the dual timeline adds just enough ache and nostalgia, giving the reader glimpses of their early connection and the heartbreak that followed.

So if you like your romance with British wit, movie star glam, a sprinkle of drama, and a whole lot of longing glances across film sets, this one absolutely steals the scene.

Let’s Make A Scene releases July 1st.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on a journey, filled with a lot of emotions! Some of these emotions include love, humor, happiness, sadness, and feelings of hope! This book does have a slow start to it, but it does pick up! When it starts to get interesting, it gets really good! I love the dual point of views and found this book to be beautifully written. Furthermore, the characters are well developed and it is an easy read.

Let’s Make A Scene takes you on a journey about a woman named Cynthie Taylor and a man named Jack Turner Jones. Cynthie gets her first acting job and is overly ecstatic about it. However, she finds out that her co-star, which happens to be Jack, cannot stands her. Behind the scenes of this film, they do not get along at all, but in the film they are in love with one another. They stay away from each other for a while, until another acting opportunity pops up that they can’t say no to. Do they end up falling in love or will their trust issues that they have between one another break them apart?

Be sure to read the content warnings before reading the book. Overall, I rate this incredible book a high 4 out of 5 stars! It was enjoyable, entertaining, and full of love! This book is one of a kind to me!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Wood, and Atria Books Publicity Department for providing me with this digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

Let’s Make A Scene is expected to be released on July 3, 2025!

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 45%

Not worth it to finish

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐️ rounded down

So this was a different reading experience for me from Wood’s previous book, Under Your Spell, which i absolutely loved and was a 5 🌟 read. Let’s Make a Scene was a good book with some great characters, it just took a bit too long for me to connect with the story and the alternating time lines and POVs didn’t work well for me.

The main characters, Jack and Cynthe, were both charming and interesting, with family issues that drive so much of their personalities and decisions, for better but a lot for worst. They made great enemies when they first met and brought some teeth to their relationship and I liked them a lot as a couple at the end. There are also a fun cast of supporting characters who add color and the second half of the book, where Cynthe and Jack find their way back together was my favorite part.

I had a couple of problems, though. In the early part of their relationship, I didn’t feel the tension that makes for a great enemies-to-lovers scenario work. When Jack and Cynthe first met, they really seemed to hate each other straight up and then also lust for each other. I didn’t get any of the basis for caring or love in their early relationship. There are a lot of comments about being attracted to each other, with remorse, and one short but heartfelt conversation and that was it. I didn’t see any basis for them to be in love until it was explained through a photo montage at the end of the book. That gap made it hard for me to buy into them secretly carrying torches for each other over a 13 year gap in their relationship. Thirteen years with no contact at all while secretly pining for each other after actively hating each other for 6 months was just unrealistic and way too long - 3 years, 5 years, that works. Thirteen? Too long.

When the two meet again 13 years later, Jack is basically a completely different human. He has transformed from an outwardly haughty and arrogant person with obvious parent issues to a kind, sweet, thoughtful man living his best life. I like the transformation but would have loved some content about why and how he made that happen. It would have been nice to get more content in general about the intervening 13 years and how it brought them to who and where they were when they came together.

A lot of the details come out at the end, but that was later than I’d have liked. I would rather have seen three sections - 13 years ago, the middle 13 years and now - rather than the alternating. It left too many gaps for me that left me disconnected. I missed the funny humor of her previous book, also. This book had a more serious tone and the humor was a little more forced.

Overall this was a good book and it got better at the half way point as more of the pieces fell into place and the main characters got more development. I will definitely read more books by this author in the future. I’m thinking Nico and Lee for the next book with a return to some of the laugh out loud humor from Under Your Spell!

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been waiting months to listen to this and I really wanted to love it. It had all the right ingredients but the spark never fully caught fire. The enemies to lovers vibe felt a bit off and the dramatic ending leaned more toward cringe than swoon.

Thankfully narrators Heather Long and Sam Stafford were fantastic. Their chemistry, tone and energy brought the story to life and made the listen much more enjoyable.

If you are new to Laura Wood, start with Under Your Spell. That one had heart, depth and real romantic magic 💕

This was fine. Just not my cup of tea.

[ahmeeka]

soft dnf