I LOVED Laura Wood’s debut novel for adults, Under Your Spell, when it came out last year so I was super excited to read the next installment in the Laura Wood Literary Universe. Let’s Make A Scene stars the best friend of Under Your Spell’s romantic hero, Cynthie Taylor. Cynthie is a Hollywood megastar who is trying to climb her way out from rock bottom - her squeaky-clean image tarnished by an ill-fated affair with a dickhead director. Redemption arrives in the form of A Lady of Quality 2: the sequel to the film that made Cynthie a household name. The problem? She HATES her co-star, Jack Turner-Jones. The problem #2? Their management wants them to be in a fake relationship for the sake of the movie. What could go wrong, says you.

Surprising no-one, Wood has done it again with the perfect blend and sweet, sexy and serious that sets her romantic fiction apart for me. Told in back-and-forths, thirteen years apart, from the dual perspectives of Jack and Cynthie, it sounds like it should be hard to follow but it never gets bogged down in its own tropes or timelines. The plot(s) zip along; the dialogue is sparky and genuinely funny, the chemistry sizzles.

But what really shone for me were the characters; Cynthie is smart but vulnerable and has shut people out - watching her drop her walls over the course of the novel was satisfying. And Jack - who Cynthie dismisses as an arrogant nepo baby - becomes so much more as the novel progresses - he’s a real swoonworthy male lead, I’ll tell you that for nothing.
Let’s Make A Scene is realllll slow burn; it’s quite a long romance novel, and builds a complex relationship between the two leads rather than any kind of insta-love scenario. I liked that!

I read this one going through a tough time and Jack and Cynthie’s slow burn gave me an awful lot of comfort. Let’s Make A Scene cements Laura Wood as an autobuy author for me, it’s such a fun, glitzy read with loads of heart, too.

I really enjoyed this book once I got into it.

The story is told from a dual perspective (that of Cynthia and Jack) and jumps between the present and 13 years ago when they first worked together. The Regency drama set made me think of Bridgerton and I loved the element of the "Netflix" documentary. There are some pretty hot scenes in this too - I think Laura Wood has a knack for writing a good sex scene.

The tension between the two MCs is so good! It’s one of those ‘everyone knows they should be together but them’ stories and the falling in love with each other is 13 years in the making!!
If you love a juicy enemies to lovers trope then this is for you!
(There’s also a good level of spice😏🌶️)

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Ok I read this book in 2 days, like absolutely devoured it. Having not read the first book in the interconnected series I had no issues.

This book may genuinely contain the perfect man, Jack is the best combination of sweet, thoughtful and incredibly attractive. I literally could not stop smiling and giggling throughout.

I loved Cynthie and wish I could get more of her journey after, tbh I just want more of all the characters.

I loved the banter, the fabulous tropes, and best of all one of the most supportive found families to ever be written.

I had an absolute blast with this book and will absolutely be reading every other book this author has written!

Loved this! All of it. The characters, the banter, the yearning. The enemies-to-lovers was brilliantly balanced, in a way that made sense given their backstories and history. I was completely on board with Cynthie and Jack’s friction. I’ll be looking up other books by Laura Wood.

Set in the same world as Laura Wood's previous book, Under Your Spell, this time it focusses on Theo's best friend and film star, Cynthie Taylor. 13 years ago Cynthie was working on her first ever professional acting job, a regency romance set in Britain, and working opposite the talented and egotistical Jack Turner-Jones. The film was a hit and made Cynthie's career, but they had to fake-date for the press in order to improve the sales. Nowadays she's a Hollywood star but after a messy breakup with a married co-star the press are gunning for her and the studio for her latest movie have dropped her. Jack has become a household name for a popular vampire tv series, but appearances aren't all they seem! When the opportunity to make a follow-up to the film comes about, Jack and Cynthie must bury the hatchet and pretend to renew a relationship that was fake even the first time around. Only this time a camera crew is following their every move!

This is a fun and spicy enemies-to-lovers romcom with dual timelines (13 years ago and now) and both Jack and Cynthie's POVs. It flits between how they fell for each other in the most volatile and unhealthy way the first time, but wouldn't admit it to either themselves or each other, and how this time they have both matured enough to fall in love but in a healthy way. I loved how different Jack was in the present day compared to before, how Cynthie gains confidence over the years and how their found family of the crew negates the negative influence of their families. I really enjoyed spotting all the nods to 90s romcoms too!

3 🌟

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

I have enjoyed other books by this author but I really could not get into this one. It was kind of boring and the characters were annoying. Took me so long to read this as I refuse to dnf a book and I did not enjoy this one!


Sorry, maybe I'll enjoy other future books by this author!

Last weekend, I devoured Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood. Once I started, I couldn't tear myself away from reading this fun, flirty, and hilarious enemies-to-lovers rom-com with a dash of rip-your-clothes-off spice.

Laura Wood's writing is magical, endearing, and engaging, constructing a beautiful story told from Jack and Cynthie's POVs, between the present and flashbacks 13 years to their first movie production together. Her characters come to life on the page in a very relatable and authentic way, which was a joy to read. For readers who loved Under Your Spell, we get a lovely cameo of Theo and Clemmie in their happily ever after.
The plot explores the fallout of celebrity scandal, on-set film production and promotion, sexual exploitation and abuse of women in the film industry, and a lesson on 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say it, as you land in deep trouble'. I loved the story's swoony meet-cute, adorable found family, witty banter, and romantic references, as well as nods to some of the best 80s and 90s classic rom-com movies, all set against profound and poignant themes.

The dynamic between Cynthie and Jack is full of delicious friction – he's celebrity royalty with credentials, and she's a hard-working newcomer desperate to prove herself on raw talent. You don't know if they want to kiss or kill each other. I gobbled up all their antics, cutting sarcasm, and a slow-burn journey that brings Cynthie and Jack full circle, from their past assumptions to build a tender affection as fake dating blossoms into true love. Best part? Not a 3rd act breakup in sight, but a dose of healthy, wholesome communication that made my heart skip a beat.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and @lauracwood for sending me a physical proof of Let's Make A Scene. A perfect rom-com that will tickle the funny bone and make your heart swell with all warm fuzzies with a whirlwind plot of mayhem, laughter, and swoony romance.

This romance novel follows Cynthie Taylor, an aspiring actress who lands her first big role in a small British movie. Over the moon with excitement, her joy is quickly tempered by her arrogant yet annoyingly handsome co-star, Jack Turner-Jones, with whom she shares a mutual dislike. Despite their off-screen rivalry, their on-screen chemistry is electric, prompting the studio to orchestrate a fake romance to captivate fans. Fast forward thirteen years, and after keeping their distance, a sequel to their cult classic film brings them back together—with the catch that they must revive their pretend relationship, this time under the watchful eye of a documentary crew. Both needing a career boost, Cynthie and Jack navigate trust issues, simmering tension, and the blurred lines between script and reality, leading to a heartwarming second-chance romance.

Laura Wood’s storytelling is immersive, with vivid characters and a perfect blend of humor, emotion, and slow-burn passion. The dual timeline—flipping between their past clashes and present reconciliation—adds depth, showcasing their growth from youthful misunderstandings to mature vulnerability. The supporting cast, including Cynthie’s loyal assistant Hannah and the quirky film crew, brings a delightful found-family vibe. What really had me giggling were the hilarious scent descriptions! I read a lot of romance and I have to admit I’m tired of characters always smelling like cedar 🤣 so the “incredibly sexy jam” had me chuckling and swooning in equal measure, adding a quirky, relatable charm to their dynamic. I also loved that we got to see the characters from the authors previous book make a cameo!

Perfect for fans of fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes, this book is a must-read poolside escape. Grab your copy and fall in love with Cynthie and Jack’s journey!

So , I didn't realise this was the second book in the series - and maybe this was the reason why I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this book.
I usually really enjoy Laura Wood's books, but the central characters here were just soooo annoying!
I found them to be super privileged, and super whiney!! I just couldn't get into the plot as the characters were just so dislikeable!
Didn't enjoy this, but will still continue to read Laura Woods books - hopefully i'll enjoy her next one more!

Fun, flirty, and bursting with rom-com energy 🎬💘. Let’s Make a Scene sounds like the perfect escape for anyone who loves swoony meet-cutes, witty banter, and a bit of romantic drama. Laura Wood delivers sparkling dialogue, lovable characters, and the joy of finding your voice—and maybe love—along the way. Pure romantic comedy bliss!

I first started reading Laura Wood through her YA historical novels which I enjoyed very much, but her adult novels made her one of my favourite authors, first with Clemmie and Theo’s beautiful love story in Under Your Spell and now with Let’s Make A Scene. It’s been a few days since I’ve finished reading it and I am still thinking about not only Cynthie and Jack’s swoony romance, but also the wonderful cast of characters who surround them.

Let’s Make A Scene is an enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance told in two different timelines: thirteen years earlier, Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones get their first important acting job, playing two star-crossed lovers in Regency England and, on the set, their chemistry was off the charts, but off the set their dislike for each other turned into elaborate pranks and continuous bickering; thirteen years later, Cynthie’s classy, understated, English rose image is marred by a scandal. To restore her image she needs to not only accept to make the sequel of the movie that made her famous, but also pretend to be dating her former enemy, Jack.

Once again, Laura Wood created an addictive, well-written, and wonderful story. I loved the characters of Cynthie and Jack. They feel relatable and authentic: Cynthie has always dreamt of becoming an actress, she is enthusiastic, lively, and resilient, and when her own family practically abandoned her, she created her own family through her friends. All his life, Jack had to deal with the expectations and criticisms of his overachieving parents and becoming an actor has always been his road. He is thoughtful, charming, and I just adored him: he reads Jane Austen and I kept imagining him either as Andrew Garfield or Jonathan Bailey.

There is second-chance romance, chemistry, friendship, witty banter and humor, character development, and Laura Wood neatly takes from the best romcom movies: there is the Bill-Pullman-Leaning scene from While You Were Sleeping, the wet shirt moment, the lift scene from Dirty Dancing, and she masterfully recreates the Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s Best Kiss Moment at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. I can’t recommend Let’s Make A Scene enough and I can’t wait to read whatever she is planning next!

I fell in love with Cynthie and Theo in Book 1, Under Your Spell, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next in ‘Let’s Make a Scene’.

The happy couple are no longer together, but that’s ok, we’ve moved on. Cynthie is now a huge movie star, plucked from obscurity by A Lady of Quality her first film, a Bridgerton-esque Regency drama. Her male co star Jack is obviously hot as hell, dark and brooding. There’s animosity and misunderstanding between the two of them from the start, but that adds to the romantic tension and build up on set.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie signs up for the sequel, unsure if this is the worst mistake of her life. She hasn’t seen Jack in all those years and has no desire to . As well as the filming, they are being asked to take part in a behind the scenes documentary and fake a relationship to boost audience interest. The two of them are still wary around each other but you know there’s still a huge connection between them.

The story is funny, sexy, emotional and empathetic, the chapters are told from both Cynthie and Jack’s perspectives adding in extra layers of character and drama

I giggled, I kicked my feet and cried in equal amounts whilst reading this beautifully romantic, yet hilarious story. It gave me all the emotions you need to lose yourself in the moment. I wanted to be one of Cynthie’s friends and could imagine exactly what Jack looked like before ‘that kiss’ The writing is absolutely superb and even the serious topics that are covered can not detract from the perfection that is this love story. Obviously Reckless Ed and Hannah need their own book next!

✨5 stars✨

Wow I really enjoyed this book, even more than Under Your Spell which I didn’t think was possible.

This book contains dual POV and dual timeline (13 years in the past and the present day). I really enjoyed how the author was able to weave these aspects together.

There was so many bits I loved, with the found family aspect alongside the cameos of Theo and Clemmie, and the Dirty Dancing lift😍

Special mention to Petra and the scene with her, Cynthie and Jack, I actually laughed out loud on the train!

And finally the romantic gesture at the end was perfect.

Definitely recommend!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

After adoring Wood's Under Your Spell last year, I couldn't resist requesting Let's Make a Scene which follows one of the characters we meet in the first book, Cynthie Taylor, Theo's best friend. And let me tell you, the choke hold this book had one me, I was giggling, laughing at their antics one minute and then getting hot under the collar the next. If you love a bit of fake dating with enemies to lovers I can't recommend this enough.

My one, teeny tiny issue, and this is something I see a lot of in romance, is that the majority of the issues our characters have could have been fixed with one quick conversation. It wasn't miscommunication per se (the dreaded trope) but there were absolutely some parts where I wanted to jump into the book and wallop them over the head, specifically Jack. But that never lessened my love for the story, or the characters, just raised my blood pressure on a few occasions.

Cynthie Taylor's life has just been turned upside down. Lied to by the man she was dating, she's gone from Hollywood's starlet to it's harlot within days. Having an affair with a married man is a big no no, and no one cares that the scumbag told Cynthie he was going through a divorce. She needs something big, something to re-invent her in the public eye, even if that means working with her arch-nemesis Jack Turner-Jones. Cynthie is someone who I instantly loved. Someone who has struggled for everything she has, she's not going to give it up easily. And Jack, my sweet Jack. I don't think I've ever met a character who had me feeling sorry for them and wanting to give them a good whack over the head in equal measure, but here we are. We follow their relationship over two time periods, the present tense and 13 years ago when they first met, and this really allowed us a deep dive into their characters and relationship.

Both Cynthie and Jack are struggling with impostor syndrome in one way or another. We see this more in the past timeline with Cynthie being given her first big movie roll and not sure she is up to the standard and Jack living in the shadow of her super famous parents. Something that should have united them is instead the thing that makes them arch-enemies, and it's pretty much all downhill from there. Jack calling Cynthie an amateur and asking whether she should be on the project at all, and Cynthie claiming he only received the part thanks to nepotism. And while they may be shooting daggers at one another, the tension between them is palpable. They're the kind of enemies to lovers where you're not sure if they're going to kill one another or jump into bed, and this created a delicious friction throughout the book.

The dual time-line add's so much depth to the story. Allowing us to see the growth that Cynthie and Jack have gone through in the last 13 years, but also letting us see just how long these two idiots have been in love with one another Their chemistry is just as palpable off screen as on it, the only difference is that neither is willing to admit it. Instead they force their feelings of lust into something more hateful, pulling pranks on each other, making snide remarks to hurt one another. It's second chance in the best kind of way, because these characters have grown so much since their last interaction, but Wood makes sure that all of the drama from 13 years ago isn't forgotten, rather it lingers between them. They know what it's like to touch, to kiss, to want one another, they know how easy it is to make the world think they're in love, they just struggle allowing each other to see it.

I really enjoyed the movie aspect of this. Following them on the movie set both now and 13 years ago was fun, not only because of getting a view of it from an inside perspective, but also because of the wealth of side characters we get introduced to. There's Hannah, Cynthie's best friend and assistant, Patty and Liam, the most brilliant hair and make-up team, Arkun the third AD. Wood really brings these characters to life in the best way, making them so much more than simple plot devices to further Cynthie and Jack's story, but making them people you start to care about just as much as the MC's. She really creates a found family vibe and I loved seeing the interactions between them all, both 13 years ago when they weren't much more than kids, and in the present when they've, mostly, grown up.

I really loved this one, so much so I read the majority of it in one sitting. There's something about Wood's romances that just have me grinning like an absolute idiot throughout, and this was no different. I did think I might have seen a hint as to her next romance (I hope I'm right), but either way I am absolutely going to be picking up whatever she writes next. If you love second chance romance, fake dating, enemies to lovers, I can't recommend this enough.

📚 Book Review 📚

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book and a special thank you to @simonschusteruk for sending me a proof.

Do you remember the first film that made you ugly cry? For me, it was The Notebook, and yes my friends and I immediately rewound the dvd to rewatch that heartbreaking scene all over again. So when I found out that Laura Wood was writing a story inspired by the chemistry between the leading stars of the film, I was very excited.

Cynthie's film career has hit a rocky patch so when an opportunity to film the sequel, to the film that launched dher career, is presented she decides to take it. The only problem is she has to start alongside her previous co-star and they can't stand each other.

This book was everything, there was entertainment, fun, tension and romance. I was kicking my feet, giggling and smiling from earlier to ear. Laura Wood's writing is soothing for the soul!

I loved Cynthie and Jack, they had a complicated history but they worked so well together. Getting a chance to see behind the scenes of filming a movie was also fun, especially the pranks.

This is a book that every romance lover should read, it's guaranteed to melt your heart and make you believe in happy ever afters. I think I've officially found my favourite book of the year!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I really enjoyed this one! Cynthie and Jack are both actors, but with very different intros to the industry. They worked together for the first time 13 years ago, when Cynthie stars in her first production, a period drama, alongside Jack, a household name due to his famous parents. Jack is dubious of the new girl with no experience. There’s tension and conflict from the start. This story flicks between this and current day, where the sequel to this hit production is now being made - bringing the whole cast back together for the first time in 13 years.

Jack and Cynthie both have reasons they need this to be a success, and to improve their public image. They agree to enter into a fake relationship but their residing tensions are really not easy to overcome.

The rivals to lovers, fake dating tropes in this are done so so well. The cutting dialogue and sarcasm made me laugh many times, and it was interspersed so well with the moments of true feelings. The tension was perfect and I ate it up. I found the beginning a bit slower paced, but once the story got going and we learn more about what happened between the pair, I was so invested.

Laura’s writing was brilliant and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Highly recommend this one!

Very cute/easy beach read. I love rivals-to-lovers tropes (as well as fake-dating to dating!) and both of these characters were likable *and* layered.

Having previously read Under Your Spell I was excited to delve more into Laura Wood's writing with Let's Make A Scene, and I am SO glad I did. This was such a delight, although also tackled some quite serious topics around toxic relationships and also mental health. I also really enjoyed the connection to Under Your Spell, and cannot wait to see what comes next from Laura Wood!