Review: Will They Or Won't They by Ava Wilder
Thank you Random House Group, Ballantine for my copy for Will They or Won’t They! All thoughts are my own.
Ava Wilder’s debut HOW TO TAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD was one of my favorite books of 2022 so I was eagerly anticipating her follow up. It didn’t disappoint! Ava Wilder really taps into the mind of an actor and I find the main characters to be incredibly relatable while also keeping the books light and fun. She writes great banter, dreamy love interests, and fills the pages with tension.
This time around we’re staying the realm of celebrity romance but it’s also got second chance, love to hate to love, and insta-attraction. I really enjoyed this book!
Synopsis:
“Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love—at least, their characters are. As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, Lilah and Shane spent years pining for each other onscreen . . . until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a movie star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season, in which Lilah and Shane’s characters will get together at last.
But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. Ever since their secret behind-the-scenes fling imploded at the end of season one, the two of them have despised each other.
Now reunited on set for the first time in years—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 under pressure to give Intangible’s fans the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, Lilah and Shane are forced to get closer than ever. And if they’re not careful, they might just get blindsided by one final twist: a real-life happy ending of their own.” —StoryGraph
What I Liked:
The Mental Health Representation—As an actor myself, wow was I able to connect with Lilah and Shane’s internal dialogues. I love the balance of banter and emotional connection. This is something I think Ava Wilder does very well and falls into the category of “Literary Romance” like Carley Fortune and Emily Henry.
The Characters—I really loved Lilah and Shane! I wish we got to know some of the side characters more but I loved the time I spent with them.
The Pacing—The first 40% was paced so well and made it so I didn’t want to put the book down.
What Didn’t Work:
Honestly, no notes from me. I think some readers will criticize the main conflict, but I found it very reasonable and made sense for where the characters were in their lives.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Content Warnings:
anxiety, panic attacks