Second Act: A Sweet Fake Dating Romance

by Artemis Price

Once the darlings of a beloved family sitcom, Aimee Laporte and Liam McAllister have spent their adult careers struggling to make a name for themselves.

Free of her parents’ micromanagement, Aimee walked away from Hollywood and completely crashed and burned in the process. When she gets the opportunity to be a guest at a fan convention, she thinks of her debt and nothing else.

Liam’s been in fifteen movies since the show wrapped up, but he’s been the same character in essentially all of them. Terrified that he’s been typecast, he heads to the convention to network with his former co-stars.

As Aimee and Liam reunite, they realize they need to be relevant to get cast again. They hatch a fake a high-profile romance and ride the wave of nostalgia straight back into the spotlight.

The rules are simple. Public appearances, a few strategically timed “candid” moments, and absolutely no real feelings. But as they navigate red carpets, podcast interviews, and late-night rehearsals for their biggest roles in years, their carefully scripted love story starts feeling dangerously real.

Faking a relationship was supposed to be easy. Falling for each other? That was never in the script.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Artemis Price lives in Northwestern Connecticut with her son Dominik. When's she not crafting romances that take place in unique places, she's an elementary school teacher.

She worked at a grocery store for nearly ten years, and some of the things that Sean experienced were things that she embellished from real life experiences. Sadly no one sent her cupcakes.

Reviews

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fake dating, friends-to-lovers plot, I would check this one out. This story follows Aimee, who has left the limelight behind for a while and is now struggling to make ends meet. She agrees to attend a nostalgia con and reconnects with her old co-star, Liam. Liam is afraid he’s been typecast and needs something to help him stand out. They both agree to start fake dating to help their careers.

Overall, it was a good read. It does have mild spice, just FYI. The characters were delightful, and you get different perspectives on how they’re trying to navigate their confusing careers. Together, they complemented each other well. That said, there were a few moments that felt a bit slow. If you’re looking for an easy read, I’d definitely check this one out.

I want to thank BookSirens and Artemis Price for the copy. All options expressed in this review are my own.

[Amee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, happy go lucky, childhood friends to more, Aimee and Liam first met as child stars and now need a bit of a career revitalization. Second Act was a fast read with such cute dynamics between both m/c. Their love story was just missing something for me, but I’m not sure what. Though for me the star of the show was Aimee’s bestie, I fell in love with her and their friendship right off the bat, and would definitely pick up a book about her. Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC, as always these opinions are only my own.

[Katie Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! The story line is so cute and I love how old friends come back together!!

[Ronak AhmadyAhangar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but dragged a bit.

[Gianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars
This was a super easy to read, lighthearted book. I think when my main criticism is that the book would have done better at slightly over 300 pages is a good sign, but that’s just my personal preference. The main characters were cute and the best friend is a dream.
As someone who went down the rabbit hole of the reality of childhood stars when everything with Nickelodeon broke loose, I was surprised the characters were actually okay. They had some issues obviously, but for the most part everything remained fluffy.
For those who find a dealbreaker in 3rd act breakups, this one is a little annoying. It rides the line of being necessary for the characters and making the reader feel irritated that it’s happening the way it is.
But, overall, it’s a cute book with a fun plot line and likable characters, not much to complain about there.

Thank you to BookSirens and Artemis Price for a free advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aimee was a child actress whose fame made her loved and desired by everyone, but the pressures and expectations of that world consumed her to the point where she no longer recognized herself, so she decided to retire. Now, years later, she faces financial difficulties and feels her life is on the verge of ruin until an unexpected opportunity arises: a convention that could save her. It is there that she reunites with Liam, her former co-star.

Liam continued acting, but feels typecast in the same roles and longs for a real change in his career. Upon reuniting with Aimee, they both recognize that they can help each other and decide to devise a plan, they will both pretend to be in a relationship to improve their situations. However, between performances, the lines begin to blur, and what started as an agreement transforms into genuine emotions.

When they finally achieve their goals, they are both confused. They must decide whether to allow these feelings to become real or end it all. They both took some time apart, and although it broke my heart, I understood because it helped them discover what they truly wanted.

In the end, they chose each other again. Aimee found balance, peace, and genuine love; Liam's confession that marked their reconciliation simply captivated me. Together, they became a constant source of support, strength, and companionship as they pursued their dreams and professional goals.

I truly enjoyed this story full of emotion, growth, and love. ❤️❤️❤️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[jordi⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you reunited with your childhood co-star?
1. Reminisce about the show
2. Catch up on life
3. Devise a plan to start fake dating for publicity

“Second Act” by Artemis Price follows Aimee and Liam as they navigate the challenges they face in their careers. After acting together on My Crazy Cousin, they reunite years later and confide in each other. To solve both their challenges, they decide to fake date as way to gain publicity.

This book was well-written and I especially connected with Aimee and her struggle with finding success after her life didn’t turn out the way she expected. Aimee and Liam’s growth was well-depicted, so much so that I felt genuinely proud when they made choices that they wouldn’t have several chapters before. Although this is a romance novel, I appreciated the strong emphasis on Aimee and Bria’s friendship, as well as the importance of having a balance between work and relationships.

Watching Aimee and Liam’s bond grow was truly beautiful. I loved how gentle and protective Liam was of Aimee from start to finish. They truly brought out the best in each other and I was so glad they eventually realised it.

Thank you BookSirens and Artemis Price for a free ARC of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aimee LaPorte is a former child star turned burned-out college dropout who’s desperate to get out of debt. Liam McAlister is her former costar, now the “Scream King,” worried that he’s getting typecast and hoping for opportunities in other genres. When they reunite at a convention, they hatch a scheme to fake date to further both their careers.

This book is very cute, with likable leads, an amazing best friend, and a fun podcast subplot. The leads have genuine chemistry and it’s delightfully refreshing how much they both like and respect each other right from the start. It has one mildly spicy scene, close to the end. My only complaints are that I wish the third act moved a bit slower - there’s a time skip of about a month that I’d had loved to be more fleshed out - and the dialogue is occasionally a bit formal. Overall, it was a quick and fun read, and I’d recommend it to someone looking for a sweet and cozy fake-dating romance with mild spice.

Thank you to BookSirens and Artemis for providing me with an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taneesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aimee and Liam were once the sweethearts of a hit family sitcom, but adult life hasn’t been so easy. Aimee walked away from Hollywood and her life hasn’t exactly gone as planned.
Liam’s been stuck playing the same character in movie after movie and he’s ready for a change.

When a fan convention reunion opportunity arises, they decide to come up with a plan to fake a romance in order to get back in the spotlight. Aimee and Liam agree to public appearances, staged “candid” moments, and zero real feelings. Unfortunately, their carefully scripted romance isn’t so fake anymore. I really enjoyed this sweet (no spice) story. I loved the characters and the storyline. I definitely recommend this book!!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️: 4.5/5
Spice 🌶️: 0.5/5

One of my favorite reads of 2025! I loved every moment of it. It was funny, sweet and had me kicking my feet! All the characters added so much to the storyline and really brought something special. I especially loved Liam and Aimee's dynamic. They complimented each other very well. I truly could feel their love for each other radiate off the pages.

If you are looking for a sweet romance to read that will have you giggling, this is for you!!

The only reason it wasn't a 5/5 is because I felt like certain scenes were rushed or skipped over that I wanted to read more about. But other than that, this book really was *chef's kiss* 🤌

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book to read to put you in a good mood. The characters are a mixture of funny, fiercely loyalty, and Aimee especially is a hot mess. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I felt kind of sorry for Aimee the way Liam handled the end of their agreement. I felt like he was actually more confused about his life and choices then Aimee was, and that's saying something! Not a lot of heat in the story, but definitely on the sweet side. My favorite part was the live podcast show. I was very proud of Liam for standing up. Pretty good book!!

[Tracy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fake-dating romance is the first book in the Art of Love series. It was an honest take on the trope that can usually feel forced and fake. Although it could have used a little editing, the story was so sweet and made me want to keep reading. I was so sad when the story was over, not due to the storyline, but because I didn’t want to stop reading about the couple. Pick this one up for your next easy read, you won’t regret it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

[Serena Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story line. Agree to be fake boyfriend girlfriend….how do you think that will end? Yep you guessed it or did you? I liked the child actors to adults trying to figure things out. I imagine it can’t be easy. These characters were good and believable. Would for sure try another Artemis Price book.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-2.75 stars
The book was a bit meh - predictable, longer than it needed to be with dual POVs, and I didn't feel an urgency to continue reading it once I set it down. Maybe not my genre, but fine for readers who need the comfort of a formulaic story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Meghann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one! A little wordy at times but I still blew through it! The story kept my interest. I didn’t feel like there was your typical miscommunication trope (where it ends up being frustrating to read) which was actually really refreshing.

[Karen Wheat · Rating 5 out of 5]

aww this was so cute I loved it. The characters were so relatable even though im not in the entertainment field. I could still relate to their struggles and desires. I enjoyed the book all the way through.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, not my cup of tea. It felt like reading a story on Wattpad (sorry..)
I felt zero connection with any of the characters. Could’ve been a good story but the way it played out was just not for me

[Katelyn Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect lighthearted book I needed after having I had just finished reading The Housemaid. The story was cute and creative, the characters had a sweet friends to lovers romance, and the ending was satisfying.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever introduction to a series of romances. I look forward to reading them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.