I received this book for free from Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood Published by Atria Books on July 1, 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Enemies to Lovers, Fiction, Romance, Second Chance
ISBN: 9781668051979
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster
Buy on Amazon
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?
Let’s Make a Scene is a charming and nostalgic return to the world Laura Wood crafted in Under Your Spell, this time putting Cynthie Taylor—Theo’s vibrant best friend—front and center. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Cynthie and Jack Turner-Jones is electric, even when they’re pretending it’s all just for show. Their banter crackles, their chemistry leaps off the page, and the behind-the-scenes film set drama gives everything a glamorous yet grounded feel.
Wood does an excellent job capturing the tension, wit, and heart between two people forced back into each other’s orbit. The fake relationship trope is used to great effect, especially with the added pressure of a documentary crew capturing every lingering glance and awkward silence.
While the alternating timeline—flashing back thirteen years and then back to the present every few chapters—wasn’t quite my favorite format, it did add depth to the characters and their shared history. Watching Cynthie and Jack navigate the blurred line between performance and real emotion is both hilarious and heart-tugging.
A fun, heartfelt story about second chances, growing up, and learning to trust the person you never thought you could love. Perfect for fans of fake dating, reluctant co-stars, and slow-burn romance.
Review Links
About Laura Wood
Laura Wood is a bestselling author whose first novel won the Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children’s Writing in 2014. She also has a PhD in nineteenth century literature from the University of Warwick.
Her middle-grade novels have been shortlisted for the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards and the Blue Peter Book Awards, while her YA novels have been shortlisted for the YA Book Awards, the Books are My Bag Awards and the Romantic Novelist’s Association Awards.Her debut adult novel, Under Your Spell, published in 2024 and has sold into seventeen languages.
Laura lives in Warwickshire with her husband, and their dog, Bea. Her favourite things include: Reading romance novels, Fred Astaire films, cups of tea, fancy cocktails, recipe books, poetry, cosy woollen cardigans, crisp autumn leaves, Rufus Sewell’s cheekbones, Being near the sea, scented candles, and new stationery.
