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Will They or Won't They
On screen, they're in love. Off screen, they can't stand each other. Two co-stars with a complex history reunite to film the final season of a beloved paranormal drama in this tension-filled will they won't they romance from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood.
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Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love - well, their characters are in love on the hit paranormal TV show Intangible. It's been years since Lilah and Shane have actually enjoyed each other's company, especially since Lilah ditched the cast at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a film star. With no such luck, she's back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season.
But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left . . . Shane. Their intense romance was strictly behind the scenes during the first season of Intangible, until their fling imploded and started the bad blood between them.
Now back on set together for the first time in years, and with the world's eyes on them and their post-show careers on the line, they'll have to grit their teeth and play nice. But with pressure from the studio to keep fans of their love story happy, the show runners make sure that Lilah and Shane's characters can't keep their hands (or lips) off each other. And if they're not careful, they just might get blindsided by one final winding up together after the cameras stop rolling.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
533 people are currently reading
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July 22, 2023
I'm certain that the intense and angsty enemies-to-lovers journey of Lilah and Shane has completely captivated me. Their explosive chemistry is like the perfect dish, an experience that nothing else can surpass. From this point forward, I'll measure every love story against the passion, heartache, earth-shattering emotions, and mind-blowing connection of Lilah and Shane.
There were countless moments when I found myself yelling at them to "stop bickering and kiss already!" The tension between them is palpable, and whenever they are near each other, the air crackles with electricity, fueled by their undeniable chemistry.
Lilah Hunter, in her early thirties, reluctantly returns to the paranormal TV series "Intangible" with her tail between her legs, following the failure of her last movie. She is assigned to reprise the role she abandoned in season five due to her inability to stand her co-star. On-screen, Shane McCarthy and Lilah Hunter are adored as America's sweethearts, the most enchanting couple. But behind the scenes, they can't bear each other's presence. They despise one another, but why? Yes, they had a brief fling after season one, but it was merely physical, right?
If it was nothing serious, then why did they spend four more seasons deliberately provoking each other until Lilah walked away without looking back?
Three years later, they are reunited for the final season of the show, where they must deliver the long-awaited happy ending, sealed with a passionate kiss. But if they can't stand being in the same room, how can they convincingly portray being in love?
With the world's eyes on them and their post-show careers hanging in the balance, they must do more than just pretend. Perhaps they don't need to pretend at all. Maybe all they have to do is be honest with each other and confront the buried issues from their past.
This whirlwind romance is rife with angst, jealousy, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. When they first fell in love, they were too young to navigate the demands of fame, a relationship in the spotlight, and the commitments that come with it. But now, they've matured enough to see things from each other's perspectives. Will they be granted another chance, or is it time to bid farewell to each other forever?
As I reached the end of the book, the author shocked me with a twist that left me screaming. Thankfully, she skillfully tied up loose ends, sparing me from shedding tears once I finished this remarkable read.
I hold this book in higher regard than "How to Fake it in Hollywood," and it has already secured a spot in my top five romances of 2023. My heartfelt gratitude to Ava Wilder for crafting such a captivating story.
A special thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with this amazing digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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There were countless moments when I found myself yelling at them to "stop bickering and kiss already!" The tension between them is palpable, and whenever they are near each other, the air crackles with electricity, fueled by their undeniable chemistry.
Lilah Hunter, in her early thirties, reluctantly returns to the paranormal TV series "Intangible" with her tail between her legs, following the failure of her last movie. She is assigned to reprise the role she abandoned in season five due to her inability to stand her co-star. On-screen, Shane McCarthy and Lilah Hunter are adored as America's sweethearts, the most enchanting couple. But behind the scenes, they can't bear each other's presence. They despise one another, but why? Yes, they had a brief fling after season one, but it was merely physical, right?
If it was nothing serious, then why did they spend four more seasons deliberately provoking each other until Lilah walked away without looking back?
Three years later, they are reunited for the final season of the show, where they must deliver the long-awaited happy ending, sealed with a passionate kiss. But if they can't stand being in the same room, how can they convincingly portray being in love?
With the world's eyes on them and their post-show careers hanging in the balance, they must do more than just pretend. Perhaps they don't need to pretend at all. Maybe all they have to do is be honest with each other and confront the buried issues from their past.
This whirlwind romance is rife with angst, jealousy, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. When they first fell in love, they were too young to navigate the demands of fame, a relationship in the spotlight, and the commitments that come with it. But now, they've matured enough to see things from each other's perspectives. Will they be granted another chance, or is it time to bid farewell to each other forever?
As I reached the end of the book, the author shocked me with a twist that left me screaming. Thankfully, she skillfully tied up loose ends, sparing me from shedding tears once I finished this remarkable read.
I hold this book in higher regard than "How to Fake it in Hollywood," and it has already secured a spot in my top five romances of 2023. My heartfelt gratitude to Ava Wilder for crafting such a captivating story.
A special thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with this amazing digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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April 2, 2023《 4 ✰ 》
Overall, I enjoyed this enemies to lovers Hollywood romance. The banter was hilarious, the characters were flawed, the romance was full of angst, and I ended up highlighting half of the book! So many great quotes.
Shane was more likable than Lilah in my opinion. I did not like the way she would constantly invalidate his feelings for her. Thankfully, the therapy sessions helped. I absolutely loved their meet cute at the audition! I fell for Shane in that moment too.
There was a tiny stretch where the pacing felt a little off due to the conflict. The story began to drag. It did pick back up when the conflict was resolved.
This was a fantastic introduction to Ava Wilder! I will not hesitate to pick her books up in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Actors in a hit paranormal tv series and enemies to lovers!?! Can’t wait to start this!
Overall, I enjoyed this enemies to lovers Hollywood romance. The banter was hilarious, the characters were flawed, the romance was full of angst, and I ended up highlighting half of the book! So many great quotes.
❝
If he had a choice if he'd known he'd get one more chance at a last time with her he'd do it differently.
"I guess I always forget. Like, I convince myself my memory is playing tricks on me." … "But you really are this fucking beautiful."
Shane was more likable than Lilah in my opinion. I did not like the way she would constantly invalidate his feelings for her. Thankfully, the therapy sessions helped. I absolutely loved their meet cute at the audition! I fell for Shane in that moment too.
There was a tiny stretch where the pacing felt a little off due to the conflict. The story began to drag. It did pick back up when the conflict was resolved.
This was a fantastic introduction to Ava Wilder! I will not hesitate to pick her books up in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Actors in a hit paranormal tv series and enemies to lovers!?! Can’t wait to start this!
October 28, 2022
hello!!! this book is my contribution to the “longtime co-stars that everyone’s obsessed with who secretly hate each other in real life” canon.
the overall tone is much less heavy than HOW TO FAKE IT; the key word this time is drama, not trauma!!! also it’s funnier and spicier (and softer and more romantic imo??) and of course everyone’s very messy. that’s the ava wilder guarantee babyyyy 😎
anyway! i believe the only major content warning for this one is a POV character with an anxiety disorder, including
also fuck it, i'm giving it 5 stars because writing it was one of the hardest things i've ever done!!
the overall tone is much less heavy than HOW TO FAKE IT; the key word this time is drama, not trauma!!! also it’s funnier and spicier (and softer and more romantic imo??) and of course everyone’s very messy. that’s the ava wilder guarantee babyyyy 😎
anyway! i believe the only major content warning for this one is a POV character with an anxiety disorder, including
also fuck it, i'm giving it 5 stars because writing it was one of the hardest things i've ever done!!
June 1, 2023
DNF-ing this because the characters aren't likeable and the story line is realllllly annoying. I fought valiantly but I just couldn't get into it.
Great mental health representation, but the witchy woman character who's like that because she's anxious is an overdone trope for me after reading Nesta's story in the ACOTAR series. Dissapointed.
Great mental health representation, but the witchy woman character who's like that because she's anxious is an overdone trope for me after reading Nesta's story in the ACOTAR series. Dissapointed.
June 14, 2023
I was lying to myself when I initially gave this 3 stars. It’s a 2 for me sadly.
I was so excited to get this ARC because I absolutely loved "How to Fake it in Hollywood” and I am a sucker for celebrity romances. I really wanted to like this book, but I had so many problems with the relationship, mostly due to the female main character, that I am left feeling conflicted.
This novel claims to be a second chance romance with 10 years of history between Shane and Lilah. They are starring in the same show again after not working together in years and having a huge romantic falling out. They cannot stand to even be in the same room and are supposed to resume playing the main love interests in a TV drama. No one knows that they used to have a private “relationship” and they are desperate to keep it that way, despite it being painfully obvious that something dramatic happened between them.
I really hate disliking female main characters because it feels misogynistic, but Lilah is the sole reason why their relationship had so many problems. She was constantly belittling Shane’s feelings, having outbursts, and making hurtful comments to him. Yes, Shane said some uncalled for things too, but Lilah was often the instigator (also they are in their 30’s why are we acting this way?). Lilah was also the one who initially broke them up for some stupid reason that made no sense. In her backstory, it was revealed that she has anxiety and attachment issues, but that is not a reason to treat someone who cares for you so poorly.
There were multiple instances when Shane and Lilah were not getting along and Shane would try to reconcile with Lilah in a small way and Lilah would reject him even though she’s the one who should be groveling. I don’t mind reading about flawed characters - I actually love it when I can see self-awareness and a desire to change. But, I did not see that from Lilah and I don’t think she deserves Shane’s unconditional love. Their relationship seemed so toxic to me literally up until the end and the way they just jumped right into a PUBLIC relationship after confessing feelings and barely working through their past issues was crazy to me! Ultimately, I was not convinced that they were right for each other.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for this ARC.
I was so excited to get this ARC because I absolutely loved "How to Fake it in Hollywood” and I am a sucker for celebrity romances. I really wanted to like this book, but I had so many problems with the relationship, mostly due to the female main character, that I am left feeling conflicted.
This novel claims to be a second chance romance with 10 years of history between Shane and Lilah. They are starring in the same show again after not working together in years and having a huge romantic falling out. They cannot stand to even be in the same room and are supposed to resume playing the main love interests in a TV drama. No one knows that they used to have a private “relationship” and they are desperate to keep it that way, despite it being painfully obvious that something dramatic happened between them.
I really hate disliking female main characters because it feels misogynistic, but Lilah is the sole reason why their relationship had so many problems. She was constantly belittling Shane’s feelings, having outbursts, and making hurtful comments to him. Yes, Shane said some uncalled for things too, but Lilah was often the instigator (also they are in their 30’s why are we acting this way?). Lilah was also the one who initially broke them up for some stupid reason that made no sense. In her backstory, it was revealed that she has anxiety and attachment issues, but that is not a reason to treat someone who cares for you so poorly.
There were multiple instances when Shane and Lilah were not getting along and Shane would try to reconcile with Lilah in a small way and Lilah would reject him even though she’s the one who should be groveling. I don’t mind reading about flawed characters - I actually love it when I can see self-awareness and a desire to change. But, I did not see that from Lilah and I don’t think she deserves Shane’s unconditional love. Their relationship seemed so toxic to me literally up until the end and the way they just jumped right into a PUBLIC relationship after confessing feelings and barely working through their past issues was crazy to me! Ultimately, I was not convinced that they were right for each other.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for this ARC.
August 3, 2023
3⭐
Genre ~ romance
Publication date ~ June 27, 2023
Page Count ~ 373
Audio length ~ 10 hours 4 minutes
Narrators ~ Kristen DiMercurio, Jay Aaseng
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline, celebrity's, slow burn, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, second chance, minimal steamage
Lilah & Shane met when they worked on the same tv series, they had a falling out, so she left the show. Now it's a few years later and Lilah's career never really took off, so she's back on set with her nemesis.
Enemies to loves is not my favorite trope because inevitably there's going to be some miscommunication and boy do we have it. Neither character is really likable. I did not like how rude Lilah was when she ended their secret relationship years ago or how Shane handled it. He could have been so much more mature. Actually, I didn't find either of them mature really for being in their 30's. Her throwing a fit about the donuts annoyed me. I usually like banter, but it was too much for me in this one. There's some jealously thrown in, too, with an assumption and you know what happens when you assume....
Overall, this was just fine for me. I am happy there was dual POV and timeline to help get a feel for both of their sides of the story. I like the cover, too.
Currently an editor's pick for best romance and 4.2 on Amazon, so I seem to be in the minority. I think this would appeal to enemies to lovers fans.
I was able to listen to an audio copy as well.
Narration notes ~ they both did a great job. I was pleasantly surprised there were two narrators since it was told in the 3rd.
*Thanks to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ romance
Publication date ~ June 27, 2023
Page Count ~ 373
Audio length ~ 10 hours 4 minutes
Narrators ~ Kristen DiMercurio, Jay Aaseng
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline, celebrity's, slow burn, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, second chance, minimal steamage
Lilah & Shane met when they worked on the same tv series, they had a falling out, so she left the show. Now it's a few years later and Lilah's career never really took off, so she's back on set with her nemesis.
Enemies to loves is not my favorite trope because inevitably there's going to be some miscommunication and boy do we have it. Neither character is really likable. I did not like how rude Lilah was when she ended their secret relationship years ago or how Shane handled it. He could have been so much more mature. Actually, I didn't find either of them mature really for being in their 30's. Her throwing a fit about the donuts annoyed me. I usually like banter, but it was too much for me in this one. There's some jealously thrown in, too, with an assumption and you know what happens when you assume....
Overall, this was just fine for me. I am happy there was dual POV and timeline to help get a feel for both of their sides of the story. I like the cover, too.
Currently an editor's pick for best romance and 4.2 on Amazon, so I seem to be in the minority. I think this would appeal to enemies to lovers fans.
I was able to listen to an audio copy as well.
Narration notes ~ they both did a great job. I was pleasantly surprised there were two narrators since it was told in the 3rd.
*Thanks to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
August 1, 2023
You don’t understand, I am obsessed.
I absolutely loved Ava Wilder’s debut novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood. It was just over-the-top and dramatic enough to make it a delicious celebrity romance, but not so crazy that it made me believe I was reading a book about aliens, if you know what I mean.
Will They or Won’t They has the best qualities of How to Fake it in Hollywood: it’s still a celebrity romance, but it’s also incredibly authentic, heartfelt and grounded in reality.
Plus, if you spent 2010 to 2020 watching CW shows and obsessing over the actors’ real life relationships (you know you went crazy when Damon first kissed Elena in The Vampire Diaries and you knew the actors were actually together!!!!), then, one, you are my people, and two, consider this a public service: READ THIS BOOK!!!!
Lilah and Shane were the stars of Intangible, a juicy, angsty, romantic show where she played a medium and he played a ghost, and they couldn’t give into the sexual tension because, well, they literally couldn’t touch. I felt the urge to binge watch that in my bones.
Over the course of the filming of season one, they could not get out of each other’s pants. However, due to a Mysterious Fight, they stopped speaking and basically made the cast and crew’s lives hell for five more seasons.
Eventually, Lilah left the show to try her hand at a movie career, but her big shot ended up exploding in her face. So, what now? Oh, you guessed it: she has to come back with her tail between her legs to shoot the final season of Intangible, which means she has to work with her ex-boyfriend even though they loathe each other and also THEIR CHARACTERS FINALLY GET TO MAKE OUT!!!
The plot of this book is something we all spent YEARS thinking about as teenagers (and you know we still do!!!). Ava Wilder knows her audience and she’s hitting all the right buttons.
Lilah was an intensely real character. She was very flawed in a way that I understood deep in my bones. Shane was a genuinely good guy but was not shy about lashing out at her in the midst of their explosive fights.
Listen. Everything you could ever want in a book, this one will offer you. Hate sex? Check. Making out in front of the cameras with real longing? Yep. Friends to sex friends to ENEMIES to frenemies to lovers? You know it.
I feel the very real need to go back to the beginning and just reread the whole thing. That’s how much it spoke to my soul.
I absolutely loved Ava Wilder’s debut novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood. It was just over-the-top and dramatic enough to make it a delicious celebrity romance, but not so crazy that it made me believe I was reading a book about aliens, if you know what I mean.
Will They or Won’t They has the best qualities of How to Fake it in Hollywood: it’s still a celebrity romance, but it’s also incredibly authentic, heartfelt and grounded in reality.
Plus, if you spent 2010 to 2020 watching CW shows and obsessing over the actors’ real life relationships (you know you went crazy when Damon first kissed Elena in The Vampire Diaries and you knew the actors were actually together!!!!), then, one, you are my people, and two, consider this a public service: READ THIS BOOK!!!!
Lilah and Shane were the stars of Intangible, a juicy, angsty, romantic show where she played a medium and he played a ghost, and they couldn’t give into the sexual tension because, well, they literally couldn’t touch. I felt the urge to binge watch that in my bones.
Over the course of the filming of season one, they could not get out of each other’s pants. However, due to a Mysterious Fight, they stopped speaking and basically made the cast and crew’s lives hell for five more seasons.
Eventually, Lilah left the show to try her hand at a movie career, but her big shot ended up exploding in her face. So, what now? Oh, you guessed it: she has to come back with her tail between her legs to shoot the final season of Intangible, which means she has to work with her ex-boyfriend even though they loathe each other and also THEIR CHARACTERS FINALLY GET TO MAKE OUT!!!
The plot of this book is something we all spent YEARS thinking about as teenagers (and you know we still do!!!). Ava Wilder knows her audience and she’s hitting all the right buttons.
Lilah was an intensely real character. She was very flawed in a way that I understood deep in my bones. Shane was a genuinely good guy but was not shy about lashing out at her in the midst of their explosive fights.
Listen. Everything you could ever want in a book, this one will offer you. Hate sex? Check. Making out in front of the cameras with real longing? Yep. Friends to sex friends to ENEMIES to frenemies to lovers? You know it.
I feel the very real need to go back to the beginning and just reread the whole thing. That’s how much it spoke to my soul.
July 1, 2023
Exasperating characters in boring repetitive book.
March 13, 2023
4.75 ★
3/13/23 — SCREAMING CRYING BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH 🥹
read if you like ↴
➳ second chance
➳ celebrity romance
➳ dual pov
➳ enemies to lovers
➳ slowburn
➳ spice (2/5 🌶️)
this was a very unexpected 5 star, i’m not a big fan of second chance romances but i absolutely ATE THIS UP.
i loved how the characters were written. dual pov is one of my favorite things ever, i love knowing that the characters that supposedly “hate” each other are instead YEARNING for each other. this author did amazing writing the characters. like i said before, i don’t really like time jump books because i usually favor one time more but that was not the case with this book! i loved every second of it. when i tell you i highlighted over 200 quotes I MEAN IT.
i also loved the anxiety representation. as someone who seriously struggles with it everyday it feels so good to see it represented in a book! 🫶🏻
this book did what funny you should ask thought it was doing 🤭 this is easily my new favorite celebrity romance! highly recommend! definitely buying it when it releases!
release date: june 27th, 2023
thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3/13/23 — SCREAMING CRYING BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH 🥹
read if you like ↴
➳ second chance
➳ celebrity romance
➳ dual pov
➳ enemies to lovers
➳ slowburn
➳ spice (2/5 🌶️)
this was a very unexpected 5 star, i’m not a big fan of second chance romances but i absolutely ATE THIS UP.
i loved how the characters were written. dual pov is one of my favorite things ever, i love knowing that the characters that supposedly “hate” each other are instead YEARNING for each other. this author did amazing writing the characters. like i said before, i don’t really like time jump books because i usually favor one time more but that was not the case with this book! i loved every second of it. when i tell you i highlighted over 200 quotes I MEAN IT.
i also loved the anxiety representation. as someone who seriously struggles with it everyday it feels so good to see it represented in a book! 🫶🏻
this book did what funny you should ask thought it was doing 🤭 this is easily my new favorite celebrity romance! highly recommend! definitely buying it when it releases!
release date: june 27th, 2023
thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 19, 2023
4.25⭐️ 2.5🌶
A Hollywood second chance romance with lovers to enemies to lovers literally packed full of anxiety inducting tension& angst!! Yes there is miscommunication but I personally loved it , sue me.
I absolutely loved Shane and Lilah, their love story was something that had me gripping the book for dear life in anticipation. Seeing the way that they could get under each others skin and knew what buttons to press in order to get the other all worked up, had me all worked up!!! I was also very pleasantly surprised at the spice that came along with this!! But seriously I kid you not when several moments in the book made stomach plummet!!!
Yes yes yes I would read again & recommend to people who like books that could give you grey hair!!
What to expect:
Second chance, lovers to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first, costars on a tv show
A Hollywood second chance romance with lovers to enemies to lovers literally packed full of anxiety inducting tension& angst!! Yes there is miscommunication but I personally loved it , sue me.
I absolutely loved Shane and Lilah, their love story was something that had me gripping the book for dear life in anticipation. Seeing the way that they could get under each others skin and knew what buttons to press in order to get the other all worked up, had me all worked up!!! I was also very pleasantly surprised at the spice that came along with this!! But seriously I kid you not when several moments in the book made stomach plummet!!!
Yes yes yes I would read again & recommend to people who like books that could give you grey hair!!
What to expect:
Second chance, lovers to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first, costars on a tv show
June 26, 2023
This was SO GOOD! ₊˚ෆ Ava Wilder has written one of the best slow-burn romances I've ever read. Set in Hollywood, with two characters who are actors, Will They or Won't They has to be on your TBR.
If you love celebrities and actors as main characters, this book is for you. In this novel, Wilder introduces Lilah and Shane, two actors whose lives are forever intertwined. Why? Because 9 years ago, they auditioned for a TV show and got the part. Their characters would eventually have one of the most epic love stories in national TV. But in real life, these two HATE each other. They can't even be in the same room without making it clear they hate each other.
There's so much history behind this hatred and what happened to arrive to that place, and you'll get to read all about it in this book. With BEFORE and NOW chapters, you'll get to experience Lilah and Shane's off-screen love story! ❀*ੈ✩‧₊˚ This is such a slow burn, just letting you know. They take so long to even kiss, because they know and realize that when they kiss, it's because this is for a forever-kind of love. There will be no going back from that! Which makes me so happy because if, when, they kiss, it's the moment you know the happily ever after is happening ♡♡♡♡
Shane is that hero who has been pining and loving the heroine for many years. You'll see it clearly, even if they show that they hate each other. Shane would drop down on one knee if Lilah tells him she wants him. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. She was it for him since forever ago and she still is the most beautiful person to him years later.
I also really love seeing how this relationship changes. When the eprson you hate is the one that is always there for you. When you're feeling down, when you want to cry, they always appear and are there for you. This is Shane and Lilah in its entirety. They know what the other one is feeling and want to be heplful in some way even if they are at odds. When you see Shane and Lilah talking on the phone and holding hands when they need it the most >>> Ava Wilder knew what she was doing! This book was superb and will touch your heart instantly.
If you love celebrities and actors as main characters, this book is for you. In this novel, Wilder introduces Lilah and Shane, two actors whose lives are forever intertwined. Why? Because 9 years ago, they auditioned for a TV show and got the part. Their characters would eventually have one of the most epic love stories in national TV. But in real life, these two HATE each other. They can't even be in the same room without making it clear they hate each other.
There's so much history behind this hatred and what happened to arrive to that place, and you'll get to read all about it in this book. With BEFORE and NOW chapters, you'll get to experience Lilah and Shane's off-screen love story! ❀*ੈ✩‧₊˚ This is such a slow burn, just letting you know. They take so long to even kiss, because they know and realize that when they kiss, it's because this is for a forever-kind of love. There will be no going back from that! Which makes me so happy because if, when, they kiss, it's the moment you know the happily ever after is happening ♡♡♡♡
Shane is that hero who has been pining and loving the heroine for many years. You'll see it clearly, even if they show that they hate each other. Shane would drop down on one knee if Lilah tells him she wants him. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. She was it for him since forever ago and she still is the most beautiful person to him years later.
I also really love seeing how this relationship changes. When the eprson you hate is the one that is always there for you. When you're feeling down, when you want to cry, they always appear and are there for you. This is Shane and Lilah in its entirety. They know what the other one is feeling and want to be heplful in some way even if they are at odds. When you see Shane and Lilah talking on the phone and holding hands when they need it the most >>> Ava Wilder knew what she was doing! This book was superb and will touch your heart instantly.
March 21, 2025
2.75⭐️
It was cute I just cant with the miscommunication galore
It was cute I just cant with the miscommunication galore
February 5, 2023
Summary: When Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are reunited for the final season of their long running tv series, sparks fly. After their secret fling imploded at the end of season one, they spent the next four years hating one another - until Lilah left in search of a bigger career. Now back in each other’s orbits, the two struggle to put their feelings aside to finish out their filming, they are forced to confront feelings they thought they had left in the past.
Thoughts: There is just something so easy about reading Ava Wilder’s books. Going in, you know that each and every character, including those in supporting roles, will be fully developed and relatable. You know that the pacing will be steady throughout without the dreaded “drag” that can happen especially in romance novels. And you know that by the time you reach the conclusion, you will most definitely have a vested interest.
The lovers to enemies to lovers trope was done exceptionally well and it was so much fun to see the progression of our MCs relationship both in the present day as well as through flashbacks of varied time periods. Some of my favorite scenes were Shane and Lilah’s counseling sessions where we were able to gain a glimpse into their very repressed emotions.
Read if you like:
•second chance romance
•forced proximity
•lovers to enemies to lovers
•hollywood setting
•jewish rep (MC)
Thank you Dell Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thoughts: There is just something so easy about reading Ava Wilder’s books. Going in, you know that each and every character, including those in supporting roles, will be fully developed and relatable. You know that the pacing will be steady throughout without the dreaded “drag” that can happen especially in romance novels. And you know that by the time you reach the conclusion, you will most definitely have a vested interest.
The lovers to enemies to lovers trope was done exceptionally well and it was so much fun to see the progression of our MCs relationship both in the present day as well as through flashbacks of varied time periods. Some of my favorite scenes were Shane and Lilah’s counseling sessions where we were able to gain a glimpse into their very repressed emotions.
Read if you like:
•second chance romance
•forced proximity
•lovers to enemies to lovers
•hollywood setting
•jewish rep (MC)
Thank you Dell Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2023
Lilah and Shane are pulled back together for one final season of the hit show that brought them into the spotlight and saw them through their breakup years ago. Due to their animosity, the network demands counseling for the two; during which they begin to realize their mistakes in their past relationship. As the two grow closer, they begin to fall back into their old roles, on and off the screen.
As my first Ava Wilder book, I'm conflicted. I enjoyed the writing and I liked the plot more than I expected, however, I found the book to be drawn out and the conflicts to be brushed under the rug after a simple conversation and understanding. On the other hand, I loved the character development and how real Lilah and Shane felt together, their relationship felt very raw and I enjoyed how that played out in the often glamorized Hollywood background.
-I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review-
As my first Ava Wilder book, I'm conflicted. I enjoyed the writing and I liked the plot more than I expected, however, I found the book to be drawn out and the conflicts to be brushed under the rug after a simple conversation and understanding. On the other hand, I loved the character development and how real Lilah and Shane felt together, their relationship felt very raw and I enjoyed how that played out in the often glamorized Hollywood background.
-I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review-
July 15, 2023
DNF @ 65%
I'm giving up, I really don't care to see how this will end. There's nothing happening and I don't like the characters, there's no chemistry, I'm just bored. Also second chance YET AGAIN, wasn't planning on attempting two of these back to back but the library decided for me so here we are.
I do want to read the author's other book at some point, I think that one should work better for me.
I'm giving up, I really don't care to see how this will end. There's nothing happening and I don't like the characters, there's no chemistry, I'm just bored. Also second chance YET AGAIN, wasn't planning on attempting two of these back to back but the library decided for me so here we are.
I do want to read the author's other book at some point, I think that one should work better for me.
June 28, 2023
thank you netgalley for the arc !
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
read if you like:
♡ second-chance romance
♡ lovers to enemies to lovers
♡ angsty hollywood love-story
♡ dual pov and dual timeline
♡ forced proximity
♡ anxiety rep
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ fraught with off the charts sexual tension electrifying between two jilted former lovers, ava wilder’s sophomore romance novel will they or won’t they will whip you off your feet bridal-style… and dump you right into a vertiginous emotional rollercoaster!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ years after saying goodbye to her role on hit paranormal tv show intangible, actress lilah hunter is doing the walk of shame back for the ninth season, following a failure to make it big on her own. but reprising her role also means being reunited with former onscreen love interest and off-screen sworn enemy shane mccarthy who she left on less than amiable terms with in her wake. forced into close-quarters, struggling to stop their work environment from becoming collateral damage and under pressure from fans to finally unite their characters for a happy-ending in the final season of the show, lilah and shane seem to be finding themselves rewriting their own bitter ending.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ in having lilah fill the office of the emotionally unavailable half of the couple, wilder opts for a more subversive and less moth-eaten spin on the right person wrong time trope. anxious, perfectionist and at her core, possessed of an implacable fear of abandonment, lilah keeps a stubbornly white-knuckled grip on the distance between herself and shane. through piecemeal references, we will later come to recognize her ‘prickly’ veneer and self-sabotage in her relationship with shane for what it is: a stirring symptom of an unhappy childhood. sure, she may very well drive you up the wall one too many times, but she is an unflinching, tough as nails, if veristic fmc. the barbed comments, the cool affectation are nothing more than a pretence for the sake of concealing a pitifully soft underbelly. and it’s not merely a troubled past which prevents lilah from being true to herself - the sad truth is as a woman in hollywood she cannot afford to be vulnerable or to be anything other than what the public eye would deem acceptable. whilst shane may get away with a co-star entanglement scot-free, she knows full well she could only dream to be so lucky. no, for an actress any relationship is indelible and comes with more than what you bargain for.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ shane himself proved equal to the task of being just as flawed as lilah, albeit in a less self-evident fashion at first glance. he is in many regards more riddled with insecurity than her, suffering from the looming shadow of his imposter syndrome. this in turn then muddies the waters of his and lilah’s relationship when he inevitably draws assumptions propelled by his insecurity. it’s a classic case of confirmation bias really and these negative conjectures and suspicions beget more rancorous offspring until you have one big miserable brood of misunderstandings. to add insult to lilah’s injury, shane of the past is part of a semi-fraternity group of dude-bros comprised of less than savoury misogynists who continuously bad-mouth and take disgusting tones with her. yet her golden retriever boy has his head so far up everyone’s ass he could wipe for them - thanks to a pathological need to be liked by everyone - that the most he does is offer a mild reproach in defense of her virtue.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ what is then truly masterful craftsmanship, is how in the face of all of these unlikable traits wilder still makes you fall head over heels for lilah and shane, to say nothing of then finding yourself shipping them so viscerally you groan and fight begrudged tears whenever they are at odds. still not over the angst and i’m normally a card-carrying member of the anti-second chance romance novels. when they are at their best they are tender and cotton-candy soft with chemistry like a nuclear power plant. shane redeems himself for his former indiscretions (i.e. not standing up for lilah when she’s being degraded by a sexist) by going on to take up arms for her whenever she’s at the receiving end of misogyny. he’s a total softy for her and i wound up with a huge incurable crush on him even when we got off on the wrong foot. also, they have stellar banter absolutely sizzling with electric currents!!! even when they’re at each other’s throats - on second thought, you know what it might be the better for that…
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ funnily enough, these same strengths in character were, perforce, what cauterised my rating… i was so embroiled in the drama and angst that in my darkest hours i kind of hoped they’d break up. there is a fine line between realistic angst and toxicity. i’d be the first to admit there were more than a few moments where i felt that shane in particular was a total schmuck.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ there was some lag in the pacing which became more palpable towards the end but overall it was a well-oiled machine. also the plot twist?!? despite seeing it coming it was mwah, chef’s kiss.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ conclusion:
some writers just get it when it comes to understanding people and such is the case with wilder. will they or won’t they is pretty much a bespoke romance novel for those of us who enjoy our romance to be more faithful to real life with messy characters.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
read if you like:
♡ second-chance romance
♡ lovers to enemies to lovers
♡ angsty hollywood love-story
♡ dual pov and dual timeline
♡ forced proximity
♡ anxiety rep
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ fraught with off the charts sexual tension electrifying between two jilted former lovers, ava wilder’s sophomore romance novel will they or won’t they will whip you off your feet bridal-style… and dump you right into a vertiginous emotional rollercoaster!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ years after saying goodbye to her role on hit paranormal tv show intangible, actress lilah hunter is doing the walk of shame back for the ninth season, following a failure to make it big on her own. but reprising her role also means being reunited with former onscreen love interest and off-screen sworn enemy shane mccarthy who she left on less than amiable terms with in her wake. forced into close-quarters, struggling to stop their work environment from becoming collateral damage and under pressure from fans to finally unite their characters for a happy-ending in the final season of the show, lilah and shane seem to be finding themselves rewriting their own bitter ending.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ in having lilah fill the office of the emotionally unavailable half of the couple, wilder opts for a more subversive and less moth-eaten spin on the right person wrong time trope. anxious, perfectionist and at her core, possessed of an implacable fear of abandonment, lilah keeps a stubbornly white-knuckled grip on the distance between herself and shane. through piecemeal references, we will later come to recognize her ‘prickly’ veneer and self-sabotage in her relationship with shane for what it is: a stirring symptom of an unhappy childhood. sure, she may very well drive you up the wall one too many times, but she is an unflinching, tough as nails, if veristic fmc. the barbed comments, the cool affectation are nothing more than a pretence for the sake of concealing a pitifully soft underbelly. and it’s not merely a troubled past which prevents lilah from being true to herself - the sad truth is as a woman in hollywood she cannot afford to be vulnerable or to be anything other than what the public eye would deem acceptable. whilst shane may get away with a co-star entanglement scot-free, she knows full well she could only dream to be so lucky. no, for an actress any relationship is indelible and comes with more than what you bargain for.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ shane himself proved equal to the task of being just as flawed as lilah, albeit in a less self-evident fashion at first glance. he is in many regards more riddled with insecurity than her, suffering from the looming shadow of his imposter syndrome. this in turn then muddies the waters of his and lilah’s relationship when he inevitably draws assumptions propelled by his insecurity. it’s a classic case of confirmation bias really and these negative conjectures and suspicions beget more rancorous offspring until you have one big miserable brood of misunderstandings. to add insult to lilah’s injury, shane of the past is part of a semi-fraternity group of dude-bros comprised of less than savoury misogynists who continuously bad-mouth and take disgusting tones with her. yet her golden retriever boy has his head so far up everyone’s ass he could wipe for them - thanks to a pathological need to be liked by everyone - that the most he does is offer a mild reproach in defense of her virtue.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ what is then truly masterful craftsmanship, is how in the face of all of these unlikable traits wilder still makes you fall head over heels for lilah and shane, to say nothing of then finding yourself shipping them so viscerally you groan and fight begrudged tears whenever they are at odds. still not over the angst and i’m normally a card-carrying member of the anti-second chance romance novels. when they are at their best they are tender and cotton-candy soft with chemistry like a nuclear power plant. shane redeems himself for his former indiscretions (i.e. not standing up for lilah when she’s being degraded by a sexist) by going on to take up arms for her whenever she’s at the receiving end of misogyny. he’s a total softy for her and i wound up with a huge incurable crush on him even when we got off on the wrong foot. also, they have stellar banter absolutely sizzling with electric currents!!! even when they’re at each other’s throats - on second thought, you know what it might be the better for that…
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ funnily enough, these same strengths in character were, perforce, what cauterised my rating… i was so embroiled in the drama and angst that in my darkest hours i kind of hoped they’d break up. there is a fine line between realistic angst and toxicity. i’d be the first to admit there were more than a few moments where i felt that shane in particular was a total schmuck.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ there was some lag in the pacing which became more palpable towards the end but overall it was a well-oiled machine. also the plot twist?!? despite seeing it coming it was mwah, chef’s kiss.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ conclusion:
some writers just get it when it comes to understanding people and such is the case with wilder. will they or won’t they is pretty much a bespoke romance novel for those of us who enjoy our romance to be more faithful to real life with messy characters.
March 13, 2023
4.5/5 ☆
While I didn't enjoy Wilder's debut book, 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥, I was blown away by how much I adored 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺. This celebrity, second chance romance delivered on chaos of the industry, but also the complications of falling in love with a co-star.
Lilah and Shane reunite to carry out one last season for the hit TV show they met on 10 years ago. Due to a falling out that left their relationship in disarray, they attend counseling, hashing it out and finally addressing what went wrong in their previous relationship.
Lilah and Shane's story was well done and captured their development perfectly. In the beginning, they are often bickering and using insults to deflect from actually talking. As they attend counseling, we see them become more vulnerable and learn to communicate without all the previous hostility. In turn, they become so in tuned with each other, constantly catching each other's eyes and trying to make the other one laugh. It was incredibly cute to read. Their growth and communication really made this book and exemplified how and why they loved each other so much.
On top of that, instead of sidelining it, which I find happens often with other romances, Wilder has done an excellent job at weaving in the celebrity aspects to Lilah and Shane's relationship. This career they both share is how they met and why they grew apart - an important element that Wilder emphasizes and one I greatly appreciate. It felt full circle seeing them reconnect and fall back in love.
𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 has easily become my new favorite celebrity romance! I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy when it comes out.
While I didn't enjoy Wilder's debut book, 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥, I was blown away by how much I adored 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺. This celebrity, second chance romance delivered on chaos of the industry, but also the complications of falling in love with a co-star.
Lilah and Shane reunite to carry out one last season for the hit TV show they met on 10 years ago. Due to a falling out that left their relationship in disarray, they attend counseling, hashing it out and finally addressing what went wrong in their previous relationship.
Lilah and Shane's story was well done and captured their development perfectly. In the beginning, they are often bickering and using insults to deflect from actually talking. As they attend counseling, we see them become more vulnerable and learn to communicate without all the previous hostility. In turn, they become so in tuned with each other, constantly catching each other's eyes and trying to make the other one laugh. It was incredibly cute to read. Their growth and communication really made this book and exemplified how and why they loved each other so much.
On top of that, instead of sidelining it, which I find happens often with other romances, Wilder has done an excellent job at weaving in the celebrity aspects to Lilah and Shane's relationship. This career they both share is how they met and why they grew apart - an important element that Wilder emphasizes and one I greatly appreciate. It felt full circle seeing them reconnect and fall back in love.
𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 has easily become my new favorite celebrity romance! I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy when it comes out.
May 31, 2025
I know a book isn't for me when I am still contemplating DNF-ing it with only two chapters left to go.
Initially, I was very excited about this digital advanced reader's copy (DRC) because I've heard fantastic things about Ava Wilder's debut novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood which I've heard is for those who love Emily Henry books. So, when I could get my hands on this DRC I was so hyped because I've seen so many fantastic things about this book already! Unfortunately, I can't give her a zero, so I'll give her a one...
Firstly, the pacing of this was so off for me. It was way too long and drawn out. It had me entering my delusional era because I was like "Well, maybe it's supposed to mirror their long and drawn-out T.V. series!" GIRL. In theory, I should have DNF-ed this book, but as the month gets closer to the end, I have a harder time not finishing a book than I would at the beginning of a month. Also, when the characters were together, they were just bickering and bantering but not in a good way, just in an 'I am so terrible at communicating' way! I could not do it! I understand an enemies-to-lovers moment, but there were no enemies, no hate to like, just really bad communication. Don't get me wrong I love an angsty moment, but not when it's almost 400 pages and is so drawn out the book is boring.
I don't mean to be a hater, because over 50% of advanced readers have rated this 4+ stars, so clearly I'm in the minority, but this book took me almost a week and had zero payoff.
I'm still going to try out her other book, just because I do own it and I'm still really excited for that one, but this one was such a letdown for me :(
Initially, I was very excited about this digital advanced reader's copy (DRC) because I've heard fantastic things about Ava Wilder's debut novel, How to Fake it in Hollywood which I've heard is for those who love Emily Henry books. So, when I could get my hands on this DRC I was so hyped because I've seen so many fantastic things about this book already! Unfortunately, I can't give her a zero, so I'll give her a one...
Firstly, the pacing of this was so off for me. It was way too long and drawn out. It had me entering my delusional era because I was like "Well, maybe it's supposed to mirror their long and drawn-out T.V. series!" GIRL. In theory, I should have DNF-ed this book, but as the month gets closer to the end, I have a harder time not finishing a book than I would at the beginning of a month. Also, when the characters were together, they were just bickering and bantering but not in a good way, just in an 'I am so terrible at communicating' way! I could not do it! I understand an enemies-to-lovers moment, but there were no enemies, no hate to like, just really bad communication. Don't get me wrong I love an angsty moment, but not when it's almost 400 pages and is so drawn out the book is boring.
I don't mean to be a hater, because over 50% of advanced readers have rated this 4+ stars, so clearly I'm in the minority, but this book took me almost a week and had zero payoff.
I'm still going to try out her other book, just because I do own it and I'm still really excited for that one, but this one was such a letdown for me :(
August 10, 2023
Loved it so much!
I love with Ava Wilder is doing with celebrity romance (in both her books both MCs are actors). Intense, character-focused second chance romance.
There were valid reasons for the break up in the first place and it took the characters a lot of growth and change and TIME, for them to try a relationship again. There was no rushing through, no brushing off of their experience in between (they were apart for 9 years).
They really got to know each other, including through therapy (together and on their own). It was not all a big misunderstanding and we loved each other all along but rather we loved each other all along but didn't know how to express it properly, how to make a relationship work so instead we hid our feeling and did stupid shit that hurt each other.
There is a major plot twist in the end that made me gasp and was not sure if and how they recover from it but they did and it was real and convincing. The HEA they got was the one that was best for them.
I strongly believe Ava Wilder is an underrated romance author and can't recommend her books highly enough.
CW: anxiety, minor injuries, some workplace abuse, dysfunctional families, drug abuse (in the past), smoking pot (on page)
I love with Ava Wilder is doing with celebrity romance (in both her books both MCs are actors). Intense, character-focused second chance romance.
There were valid reasons for the break up in the first place and it took the characters a lot of growth and change and TIME, for them to try a relationship again. There was no rushing through, no brushing off of their experience in between (they were apart for 9 years).
They really got to know each other, including through therapy (together and on their own). It was not all a big misunderstanding and we loved each other all along but rather we loved each other all along but didn't know how to express it properly, how to make a relationship work so instead we hid our feeling and did stupid shit that hurt each other.
There is a major plot twist in the end that made me gasp and was not sure if and how they recover from it but they did and it was real and convincing. The HEA they got was the one that was best for them.
I strongly believe Ava Wilder is an underrated romance author and can't recommend her books highly enough.
CW: anxiety, minor injuries, some workplace abuse, dysfunctional families, drug abuse (in the past), smoking pot (on page)
March 19, 2025
without a doubt, will they or won't they is one of the best celebrity romances I've ever read!
original & reread rating: 4.5 ★
original review:
it's evident when ava wilder chose this trope for her next release, she fully committed, never once shying away from every aspect of being in the entertainment industry — the filming, the interviews, the lavish events, the public scrutiny. from the start, this second-chance romance was captivating, full of witty banter and sizzling tension.
when lilah and shane met at an audition for an upcoming tv show, neither could have predicted how entangled their lives would become over the next decade. despite the romance between their characters being beloved, their relationship behind the scenes couldn't be more opposite. and now that lilah has returned to the set that initially brought them together, ignoring their chemistry becomes impossible as they are forced to unearth the pain and misunderstandings that wrecked them once before. but the question remains: can they salvage something, or has too much damage already been done?
there was a real art to the way wilder structured this story. never once was I bored or frustrated by the pacing; her ability to write engaging dialogue between two characters that were very flawed and angry beyond skillful. I can't say enough good things about the fun I had getting to see lilah and shane fell in love again. though I gave it my best effort, there's no way I did this book justice with this review. there wasn't a false note to be found. if you've ever shipped two actors because the sparks flying between them could be felt through the screen (don't lie, we've all done it), you'll want to read this one.
thanks to random house and ava wilder for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
original & reread rating: 4.5 ★
original review:
it's evident when ava wilder chose this trope for her next release, she fully committed, never once shying away from every aspect of being in the entertainment industry — the filming, the interviews, the lavish events, the public scrutiny. from the start, this second-chance romance was captivating, full of witty banter and sizzling tension.
when lilah and shane met at an audition for an upcoming tv show, neither could have predicted how entangled their lives would become over the next decade. despite the romance between their characters being beloved, their relationship behind the scenes couldn't be more opposite. and now that lilah has returned to the set that initially brought them together, ignoring their chemistry becomes impossible as they are forced to unearth the pain and misunderstandings that wrecked them once before. but the question remains: can they salvage something, or has too much damage already been done?
there was a real art to the way wilder structured this story. never once was I bored or frustrated by the pacing; her ability to write engaging dialogue between two characters that were very flawed and angry beyond skillful. I can't say enough good things about the fun I had getting to see lilah and shane fell in love again. though I gave it my best effort, there's no way I did this book justice with this review. there wasn't a false note to be found. if you've ever shipped two actors because the sparks flying between them could be felt through the screen (don't lie, we've all done it), you'll want to read this one.
thanks to random house and ava wilder for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2024
"What if we're different now?"
Lilah and Shane haven't seen each other for a few years and are reunited again to finish the last series of the tv show they use to both be on until Lilah decided to leave at the end of season 5 to presume other roles. On screen they both are in love with each other. But during series 1 they had a fling for a while, which ended badly and they both have hated each other every since.
I have never wanted to bang two peoples heads together more than Lilah and Shane. There was so much tension and energy between the two and they both are their own worst enemies. They just need to communicate more and just say what they are really feeling but they are both stubborn as each other. Throwing insults at each other whenever they are in the room together as a way to deal with everything.
I really liked how the struggles of the acting world was portrayed and that both Lilah and Shane suffered with mental health which was shown in a way that wasn't the main focus of the book. But showed a bit of a reason to why they acted in a way as they did and it shows it took time to rebuild their relationship back from enemies to lovers.
I loved this book and I was invested in both Lilah and Shane from the word go. Ava's writing is so easy going and flows really well that I flew through the book. I will definitely be reading Ava's work again.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book for an honest review.
Lilah and Shane haven't seen each other for a few years and are reunited again to finish the last series of the tv show they use to both be on until Lilah decided to leave at the end of season 5 to presume other roles. On screen they both are in love with each other. But during series 1 they had a fling for a while, which ended badly and they both have hated each other every since.
I have never wanted to bang two peoples heads together more than Lilah and Shane. There was so much tension and energy between the two and they both are their own worst enemies. They just need to communicate more and just say what they are really feeling but they are both stubborn as each other. Throwing insults at each other whenever they are in the room together as a way to deal with everything.
I really liked how the struggles of the acting world was portrayed and that both Lilah and Shane suffered with mental health which was shown in a way that wasn't the main focus of the book. But showed a bit of a reason to why they acted in a way as they did and it shows it took time to rebuild their relationship back from enemies to lovers.
I loved this book and I was invested in both Lilah and Shane from the word go. Ava's writing is so easy going and flows really well that I flew through the book. I will definitely be reading Ava's work again.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book for an honest review.
July 28, 2023
”In one version, she glanced back at him, making sure he was watching. In the other, she didn’t bother. Three and a half years later he still wasn’t sure which one was worse.”
Can’t believe everything I’m about to say.
At first I thought this was going to be a miscommunication trope (and there is some of that), but no. It’s a he falls first and harder trope. And ya girl was here for it!
Books that are in the same world as Will They or Won’t They usually have all these cliches that irk me, and I find myself usually hate reading them, but Wilder had a way of keeping the classic romance vibe alive and fresh. She managed to pull off a book with the perfect balance of banter, backstory, and believable chemistry.
The witty banter between Lilah and Shane was never too much too. You know how authors often make that the characters whole personality and then there’s no depth beyond that… well this just gave the characters the extra little bit of personality to pull you in. Oh, and I have to let it be known the two leads have actual conversations!!!! It’s not just them talking about their romance! Amazing right?!
I loved the pull between the past and present. How the story flowed. The build up and the take backs. It just worked for me. Also the spice was the perfect amount and perfectly placed throughout.
My favorite part and the thing that shocked me the most, was how funny this was! The jokes were so perfectly timed. The Lean Pockets and Redbull joke coming full circle had me dying!! All of it just felt authentic. Scenes and dialogue felt real. The kitchen scene with Shane and his mom… perfection! Everything seemed so well thought out.
My only real criticism is the last like ten or so pages I didn’t love, besides that I have no real complaints.
I went into Will They or Won’t They not expecting to like it, but always happy when a book proves me wrong.
4.5 stars
ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group & NG
Can’t believe everything I’m about to say.
At first I thought this was going to be a miscommunication trope (and there is some of that), but no. It’s a he falls first and harder trope. And ya girl was here for it!
Books that are in the same world as Will They or Won’t They usually have all these cliches that irk me, and I find myself usually hate reading them, but Wilder had a way of keeping the classic romance vibe alive and fresh. She managed to pull off a book with the perfect balance of banter, backstory, and believable chemistry.
The witty banter between Lilah and Shane was never too much too. You know how authors often make that the characters whole personality and then there’s no depth beyond that… well this just gave the characters the extra little bit of personality to pull you in. Oh, and I have to let it be known the two leads have actual conversations!!!! It’s not just them talking about their romance! Amazing right?!
I loved the pull between the past and present. How the story flowed. The build up and the take backs. It just worked for me. Also the spice was the perfect amount and perfectly placed throughout.
My favorite part and the thing that shocked me the most, was how funny this was! The jokes were so perfectly timed. The Lean Pockets and Redbull joke coming full circle had me dying!! All of it just felt authentic. Scenes and dialogue felt real. The kitchen scene with Shane and his mom… perfection! Everything seemed so well thought out.
My only real criticism is the last like ten or so pages I didn’t love, besides that I have no real complaints.
I went into Will They or Won’t They not expecting to like it, but always happy when a book proves me wrong.
4.5 stars
ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group & NG
April 9, 2024
An average cute, easy to read romcom - just with famous people!
February 21, 2025
I. AM. OBSESSED.
I think celebrity romance might be my favorite trope because I have loved every single one I have been reading lately. In this book, Lilah and Shane are co-stars who TRULY hate each other after hooking up during season one of their show and then something happens where they decide to call it off and never speak of it again. This book had all of the drama, so much angst, and was very sweet all at the same time. In Ava Wilder's debut How to Fake It In Hollywood, the first half of the book and the last half felt like they had two different tones. While in Will They or Won't They, the writing improved so much. I also connected with Lilah and her troubles with anxiety/panic attacks as well as her feelings of being unlovable. Shane loved Lilah so much and watching them go to therapy and come back together was beautiful to read.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc!
I think celebrity romance might be my favorite trope because I have loved every single one I have been reading lately. In this book, Lilah and Shane are co-stars who TRULY hate each other after hooking up during season one of their show and then something happens where they decide to call it off and never speak of it again. This book had all of the drama, so much angst, and was very sweet all at the same time. In Ava Wilder's debut How to Fake It In Hollywood, the first half of the book and the last half felt like they had two different tones. While in Will They or Won't They, the writing improved so much. I also connected with Lilah and her troubles with anxiety/panic attacks as well as her feelings of being unlovable. Shane loved Lilah so much and watching them go to therapy and come back together was beautiful to read.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc!
June 28, 2023
6/27: HAPPY PUB DAY!!!
3/4: 4.5 stars. This was my first Ava Wilder book and I really enjoyed it. I liked her writing, so at some point I want to check out her other book(s). This book has the co-star/Hollywood energy, which I love!!!! This also has second-chance romance, miscommunication, and enemies-to-lover tropes. Love it all except for miscommunication trope, which is why I deducted a star. The chemistry was phenomenal and I was rooting for the main characters, Lilah and Shane, the entire book. Such a great read and I definitely recommend it.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher (random house publishing group, ballantine) for the arc! all opinions are my own! Releases June 27th 2023!
3/4: 4.5 stars. This was my first Ava Wilder book and I really enjoyed it. I liked her writing, so at some point I want to check out her other book(s). This book has the co-star/Hollywood energy, which I love!!!! This also has second-chance romance, miscommunication, and enemies-to-lover tropes. Love it all except for miscommunication trope, which is why I deducted a star. The chemistry was phenomenal and I was rooting for the main characters, Lilah and Shane, the entire book. Such a great read and I definitely recommend it.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher (random house publishing group, ballantine) for the arc! all opinions are my own! Releases June 27th 2023!
August 18, 2023
Ava Wilder is so good at making dynamic, gritty characters. Her storytelling feels realistic, not cheesy like other romances can sometimes be. I can’t wait for her to release more books!
February 12, 2023
five stars! ʚïɞ
ava wilder does it again! she is quickly becoming an autobuy/autoread author for me. i absolutely adored her debut, how to fake it in hollywood, last year and was so stoked to find out that she was writing another novel! i genuinely let out a scream when i got the email that i had been approved for the arc of this, and i almost quit reading my current book to pick this up then.
despite all of my excitement for this book, i never actually read the synopsis before starting it so i really had no idea what this book was about. will they or won’t they had me hooked from the prologue though, and i immediately fell in love with lilah as a main character and the spark between her and shane. and then i realized this was a second chance romance and i was so giddy with excitement because the set up was just so good. i think this has to be one of my favorite second chance romances now! <3
this book follows lilah and shane, two actors on a very popular television series where they essentially play star-crossed lovers. during the initial first couple of seasons on the show, lilah and shane very quickly develop feelings for each other and have a secret relationship, until that blows up in their faces. ten years later, lilah decides to join the show again for their final season, and the emotions between her and shane are still as raw as they were when she left.
over the course of the novel, the two characters realize that the bickering and tension between them is not healthy and, with the help of couples therapy sessions, they form a sort of truce and eventually develop a friendship. we also get to see a bit of what happened in the past with them, which just added to their relationship and dynamic. seeing how shane would stand up for lilah, and how they learned how to communicate with one another, ugh they were just so perfect for each other. everything was so meaningful and genuine. and the angst and tension between the two?? *chef’s kiss* times a million. there was even a scene that slightly resembled the hand flex scene from the iconic pride and prejudice movie and i was living for it!!
this book perfectly does a realistic job at the whole “lovers to enemies to friends to lovers” thing and i ate that up the entire time! their banter and arguments when lilah first comes back was so entertaining and reminded me a lot of naomi and nicholas from you deserve each other in the sense that both couples intentionally would do or say things to get on the others nerve in a slightly comical way. i loved both shane and lilah’s characters so much, they were both insanely realistic and flawed yet still completely lovable. i definitely had heart eyes for shane (not to mention he’s from oklahoma… i’m from oklahoma??? where the hell are the men like that??) and there was some amazing anxiety rep with lilah, i saw a lot of myself in her!
overall this was such a great novel, and i’m so thankful i got my hands on it early! i’ll definitely be preordering a physical copy, as i can’t wait to get this in my hands to reread and annotate! i can’t wait to see what ava wilder does next, but i can imagine i’m going to be loving it just as much as i’ve loved her first two books! <3
huge thank you to netgalley and random house publishing for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review! ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
ava wilder does it again! she is quickly becoming an autobuy/autoread author for me. i absolutely adored her debut, how to fake it in hollywood, last year and was so stoked to find out that she was writing another novel! i genuinely let out a scream when i got the email that i had been approved for the arc of this, and i almost quit reading my current book to pick this up then.
despite all of my excitement for this book, i never actually read the synopsis before starting it so i really had no idea what this book was about. will they or won’t they had me hooked from the prologue though, and i immediately fell in love with lilah as a main character and the spark between her and shane. and then i realized this was a second chance romance and i was so giddy with excitement because the set up was just so good. i think this has to be one of my favorite second chance romances now! <3
this book follows lilah and shane, two actors on a very popular television series where they essentially play star-crossed lovers. during the initial first couple of seasons on the show, lilah and shane very quickly develop feelings for each other and have a secret relationship, until that blows up in their faces. ten years later, lilah decides to join the show again for their final season, and the emotions between her and shane are still as raw as they were when she left.
over the course of the novel, the two characters realize that the bickering and tension between them is not healthy and, with the help of couples therapy sessions, they form a sort of truce and eventually develop a friendship. we also get to see a bit of what happened in the past with them, which just added to their relationship and dynamic. seeing how shane would stand up for lilah, and how they learned how to communicate with one another, ugh they were just so perfect for each other. everything was so meaningful and genuine. and the angst and tension between the two?? *chef’s kiss* times a million. there was even a scene that slightly resembled the hand flex scene from the iconic pride and prejudice movie and i was living for it!!
this book perfectly does a realistic job at the whole “lovers to enemies to friends to lovers” thing and i ate that up the entire time! their banter and arguments when lilah first comes back was so entertaining and reminded me a lot of naomi and nicholas from you deserve each other in the sense that both couples intentionally would do or say things to get on the others nerve in a slightly comical way. i loved both shane and lilah’s characters so much, they were both insanely realistic and flawed yet still completely lovable. i definitely had heart eyes for shane (not to mention he’s from oklahoma… i’m from oklahoma??? where the hell are the men like that??) and there was some amazing anxiety rep with lilah, i saw a lot of myself in her!
overall this was such a great novel, and i’m so thankful i got my hands on it early! i’ll definitely be preordering a physical copy, as i can’t wait to get this in my hands to reread and annotate! i can’t wait to see what ava wilder does next, but i can imagine i’m going to be loving it just as much as i’ve loved her first two books! <3
huge thank you to netgalley and random house publishing for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review! ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
June 28, 2023
Ava Wilder is quickly becoming one of my favourite romance authors.
After loving ‘How to Fake it in Hollywood’, I knew I had to get my hands on her latest release and it did not disappoint!
What makes Ava Wilder’s work stand out to me is how well she balances both the internal and external conflict between her characters.
You can see how much thought and care went into crafting Lilah and Shane, the resulting chemistry between them feels real and undeniable. The tension built frustratingly well, it made the “i KNOW you and SEE you” moment that much more genuine and satisfying.
The writing was impeccable with kick-your-feet-up-in-the-air chemistry and a plot that had me guessing until the very last page.
I definitely recommend for fans of Rosie Danan, Abby Jimenez, and Helen Hoang.
After loving ‘How to Fake it in Hollywood’, I knew I had to get my hands on her latest release and it did not disappoint!
What makes Ava Wilder’s work stand out to me is how well she balances both the internal and external conflict between her characters.
You can see how much thought and care went into crafting Lilah and Shane, the resulting chemistry between them feels real and undeniable. The tension built frustratingly well, it made the “i KNOW you and SEE you” moment that much more genuine and satisfying.
The writing was impeccable with kick-your-feet-up-in-the-air chemistry and a plot that had me guessing until the very last page.
I definitely recommend for fans of Rosie Danan, Abby Jimenez, and Helen Hoang.
October 19, 2023
5 STARS!!
These two! So much emotion . . . and denial, but the pay off was absolutely worth it.
Ava Wilder has gained a life-long reader with this one. I mean, I really enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood, but Will They or Won't They is now on my all-time favorites list!
The process of peeling back the layers of these two very complex characters was so satisfying. On the surface, Lila wasn't even remotely likable, but she ran deep. And Shane, who came across as affable and shallow, proved to be much more than eye candy.
And together, they turned out to be two halves of a whole.😍😍
I sometimes despair that writers shy away from complex female characters. So many times, their sharp edges have been filed down to the point where they're dull because readers don't like getting cut. I say bring on the switch blades - because screw traditional gender roles. Sorry, rant over.
I highly recommend this one if you're into reverse grumpy/sunshine reads that will leave you bleeding. 😂
These two! So much emotion . . . and denial, but the pay off was absolutely worth it.
Ava Wilder has gained a life-long reader with this one. I mean, I really enjoyed How to Fake It in Hollywood, but Will They or Won't They is now on my all-time favorites list!
The process of peeling back the layers of these two very complex characters was so satisfying. On the surface, Lila wasn't even remotely likable, but she ran deep. And Shane, who came across as affable and shallow, proved to be much more than eye candy.
And together, they turned out to be two halves of a whole.😍😍
I sometimes despair that writers shy away from complex female characters. So many times, their sharp edges have been filed down to the point where they're dull because readers don't like getting cut. I say bring on the switch blades - because screw traditional gender roles. Sorry, rant over.
I highly recommend this one if you're into reverse grumpy/sunshine reads that will leave you bleeding. 😂
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