Title: You & Me, For Real
Author: Hayley Elliot
Genre: Rom-Com
Series: Hollywood Hills Book 1
Format: Kindle
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
She swore she’d never be in front of the camera again, but now she’s falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.
Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog's eyes, that is.
Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.
Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.
Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog's eyes, that is.
Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.
Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.
My Thoughts:
I believe I started following Hayley Elliot on Instagram and then applied for her street team. I love reading debut authors; they have been one of my favorites since I began blogging.
To be honest, this book took me a while to get into. I also struggled with keeping track of the characters. I wasn't a fan of Scarlet at all. She was annoying. I loved Roxy. Once Ashton and Griffin met, the story really took off for me. I'm not saying much more as I don't want to ruin it for you.
I enjoyed this book and am quite sure that Hayley Elliot will join the ranks of my favorite Rom-Com authors, like Sarah Monzon, Bethany Turner, Betsy St. Amant, and Angela Ruth Strong, to name a few.
This book releases on August 14, 2025; so go ahead and pre-order from your favorite bookseller.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Hayley Elliot:
Hayley’s always loved love. Exhibit A: her writing career began in journalism (ahem—diary entries) chronicling her crushes. Writing lighthearted romance stories was a natural transition. It gives her great joy to create fun, sweet escapes for readers with guaranteed happily-ever-afters.
She refills her creative writing well by reading (duh), doing photography, and occasionally drawing or painting. Hayley also loves taking naps, doing embroidery, and crocheting like a seventy-year old. More than anything, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and beloved Goldendoodle in their Oklahoma hometown.
You can follow and get in touch with Hayley on these platforms.
Website || Facebook || Instagram ||
