Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood
Published by Atria on July 1, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
The companion novel to Laura Wood’s Under Your Spell follows Theo Eliott’s best friend Cynthie Taylor as she’s pulled back into a fake PR relationship with Jack Turner-Jones, the one costar she swore she’d never work with again.
When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem…Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome costar Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity—have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.
Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship…and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.
Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they’re playing start to feel all too real?
After finding herself at the center of a Hollywood scandal, Cynthie is offered a chance to return to the movie franchise that launched her career. The best part was that everyone involved in the original film would be back but that was also the worst part as it would reunite Cynthie with her nemesis, Jack. Though their chemistry was off the charts, they butted heads the first time around. But maybe this time will be different as they embark on a fauxmance and make movie magic together.
As a BIG fan of Under Your Spell, I was excited to return to this world. I am glad to say that I was not disappointed as Wood crafted a delightful love story that was thirteen years in the making.
I am sure many readers will share my rage when they read about the way Cynthie's world had unraveled. I hate to say there was a silver lining, but I was pleased it forced her to partake in the sequel for A Lady of Quality. Being back with that cast and crew would give Cynthie a safe space to recover, but it also stirred up old feelings. Wood utilized flashbacks to fill us in on Cynthie and Jack's past. It was a glimpse of what they had which was full of so much possibility.
In present time, both were enjoying successful careers, but it was this reunion that breathed new life into their existence. It reawakened feelings that had been (or maybe had not been) latent. It brought me great joy to see them back together and getting to know these new versions of each other. I enjoyed watching their story unfold in both timelines, and the icing on the cake was that last chapter - the grand gesture. That chapter made me shed a flood of happy tears as my heart burst from all the glee I was feeling.
This is a companion book, so it was a delight to "see" Theo and Clemmie again and find out how they were doing, but Wood also assembled a stellar supporting cast. I loved that the people who were there during Cynthie's rise to fame were still there to support her in her time of need. In fact, they went from being colleagues to being family in those years between. The love was obvious and abundant, and I simply pleased with their dynamic. It was great the way they welcomed Jack into the fold as well because he really needed to have some people in his corner.
Overall, this was a wonderful story of second chances, friendship, love, and magic that transcends movie sets.
Totally And Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
Published by Dell on July 8, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
From the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask comes an inspiring romance novel about honoring the past, living in the present, and loving for the future.
In her small Montana hometown, Lauren Parker has assumed a few different roles: teenage hellraiser; sister of superstar Gabe Parker; and most recently, tragically widowed single mother. She’s never cared much about labels or what people thought about her, but dealing with her grief has slowly revealed that she’s become adrift in her own life.
Then she meets the devilishly handsome actor Ben Walsh on the set of her brother’s new movie. They have instant chemistry, and Lauren realizes that it has been far too long since someone has really and truly seen her. Her rebellious spirit spurs her to dive headfirst into her desire, but when a sexy encounter becomes something more, Lauren finds herself balancing old roles and new possibilities.
There’s still plenty to contend with: small-town rumors, the complications of Ben’s fame, and her daughter’s unpredictable moods. An unexpected fling seemed simple at the time—so when did everything with Ben get so complicated? And is there enough room in her life for the woman Lauren wants to be? Alternating between Lauren’s past with Spencer and her present with Ben, Totally and Completely Fine illuminates what it means to find a life-changing love and be true to oneself in the process.
If you asked Lauren Parker, she would tell you that she were totally and completely fine, but she really wasn't. Three years after the death of her husband, Lauren found herself confronting her past and processing her grief and other feelings in an attempt to move her life forward.
I am always here for a good grief books, and I thought Sussman did an amazing job with that aspect of the story, but this was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I cannot quite put my finger on why that was the case, but I do know that there was more good than bad which lead to an overall positive reading experience.
- As with Sussman's other books, this book was packed with humor. I know, you're thinking - this is a grief book, but there really were a lot of funny moments. This resulted in keeping the story balanced.
- I adored every character! Each character in this tale was well developed, and I found it easy to care for them. I especially loved Ben. He was like champagne bubbles in human form - totally effervescent. If he hadn't already won my heart during the set visit, I would have been unable to resist his charm during his Montana trip. He just had this huge heart and went all out to make everyone feel special.
- I was excited to catch up with old friends. Characters from Funny You Should Ask played a role in this story. It was such a treat to catch up with Chani, Gabe, and Oliver. This also presented parts of Gabe's story from a different point of view and added to what I already knew about him.
- Though this was Lauren's story, it was a healing journey for almost everyone involved. Lauren and Gabe never really processed their father's death, and none of the Parkers ever confronted Gabe about his addiction. With the death of Spencer, Gabe's best friend and Lauren's husband, it all seemed to come to a head, pushing them to finally unpack that baggage.
Overall, I enjoyed being back in Cooper and accompanying the Parkers on their healing journey.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment