So, I did just that and walked away from the month with 52,000 more words under my belt, and half of a new novel! Still, it was possible that Lucy was the stylish woman sipping an Americano and flipping through Variety over by the ficus. Before I go into how this book made me sad and heartbroken, I’m just going to mention real quick that this book delivers in the romance aspect. It might get a little messy between them but I liked how things resolved; the grovelling and acceptance, and the little peak into their future too. An additional 50 pages of showing how good this couple could be together - outside of the bedroom - would've done wonders for the overall story and given them the kind of foundation required to withstand the conflict.

As I reached the end of the book, I wondered if my rating was going to decrease just slightly to 4 stars, but after some thinking, I’ve decided to keep it at 5 stars. That's why I think they needed more of a solid foundation; there needed to be more time spent on them actually falling. Told in chapters alternating between her and him, this tale jumps right into the action in the first few pages when the two are recruited for a PR stunt by their mutual publicist. I know I’m late to the party so her next book is already out but this was a very solid, traditional romance right down to the third act break up.

With their plan working perfectly, the sizzling chemistry between Grey and Ethan soon starts to feel like more than just an act. Sure, she’d worked a little in between seasons—­a bad studio slasher here, a Hallmark Christmas movie there—­but her last few auditions had gone nowhere. With a life-changing role on the line, she’s finally desperate enough to agree to her publicist’s scheme… faking a love affair with a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob who needs the publicity, but for very different reasons. And the difficult topics were dealt with in a serious, respectful manner and not just a passing thought. Grey walked around the side of the building toward the parking lot and found a secluded tree to stand under.

It's not always an easy one as the characters have their own issues (one more than the other) to work on.

What does the modern, sophisticated, sexually liberated woman pack for her very first overnight stay at her fake boyfriend's house? I do wish that this couple had more swoony moments together, more time to develop their relationship before they hit such a rocky road. I definitely highly recommend picking up this story, and I can’t wait to see what comes next from Ava Wilder! With a life-changing role on the line, she's finally desperate enough to agree to her publicist's scheme. The second half of this book turns into an angsty, toxic mess (but in the best way possible, I promise).

The book delves well into both characters’ personalities, exposing their flaws in a way that’s raw and gut-punching. Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my pure honesty. I couldn’t put it down; I was staying up late to see what would happen next, and picking this book up was my first thought in the morning. Grey and Ethan's relationship feels genuine in its messiness and complications, and Ava Wilder's breathtaking depiction of their highs and lows had me totally invested in their fate.But of course, as all fake-dating stories go, they develop real feelings, and helping each other extends beyond their careers: resolving Grey’s insecurities, and Ethan’s grief and alcohol problems. What I loved most about this book were the positive female relationships (ex-wife and girlfriend don’t hate each other! Addiction is a disease, and I’m glad this book didn’t go the “he meets a woman and pulls his act together for her” route. I honestly love character-driven stories because of how we see characters grow and most of the time their journey towards fulfilling their character arcs is really worth the time spent reading.