Full of drama, fun, and scorching love scenes, this love story is worthy of the silver screen.
A fake relationship between an up-and-coming starlet and a down-on-his-luck actor threatens to turn into something real.
Grey Brooks has been acting since she was a child, but her career isn’t exactly where she wants it to be. Fresh off a campy teen soap and hoping for more, she’s writing a script with her best friend and trying to get cast in a new franchise. When her publicist brings up the idea of starting a fake relationship to get press, she’s skeptical—and then she hears the name of her proposed fake boyfriend. It’s Ethan Atkins, a former heartthrob who fell on hard times after his best friend died in an accident years ago. Ethan turned to alcohol, went through a divorce, got dropped from the big movie he’d been filming, and hasn’t acted since. Their publicist thinks that a few strategic outings could be good for both of them—Ethan could show that he’s more stable, and Grey could get attention for being on the arm of a major star. Ethan isn’t sure about the idea, either, but as soon as he meets Grey, he can’t deny his attraction. The two of them enter into a highly choreographed “relationship,” complete with scheduled paparazzi run-ins, mandatory public dates, and a strict nondisclosure agreement. But what they don’t count on is falling for each other for real, and soon they’re juggling their feelings, their careers, and their pasts. Ethan, in particular, struggles to cope with the loss of his best friend and his relationship with alcohol. Can he overcome his demons, or will his relationship with Grey become just another casualty of his self-destructive behavior? In her debut, Wilder creates an angst-y and compelling love story that feels realistically Hollywood. Grey and Ethan’s chemistry burns through the pages, especially in the numerous steamy scenes. Both actors come across sympathetically as humans who are trying their best to have creative careers they’re proud of. Wilder also populates their world with a cadre of richly drawn side characters, like Grey’s no-nonsense agent and Ethan’s supportive ex-wife.
Full of drama, fun, and scorching love scenes, this love story is worthy of the silver screen.Pub Date: June 14, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35895-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Dell
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
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