Will They or Won’t They Summary, Characters and Themes

Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder is a sparkling, slow-burn romantic dramedy wrapped in the world of television fame and behind-the-scenes heartache. 

It follows Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy—former lovers and co-stars of the cult supernatural series Intangible—as they reunite for the show’s final season after years of estrangement. With unresolved feelings, industry pressures, and the ghosts of their shared past looming large, the story explores what happens when the line between scripted love and real emotion begins to blur. It’s witty, poignant, and emotionally raw—a second-chance romance that doubles as a story of personal growth.

Summary

Ava Wilder’s Will They or Won’t They unfolds through a dual timeline—past and present—centered on the tangled, emotionally charged relationship between Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy, the magnetic leads of the hit TV show Intangible. 

Years ago, Lilah and Shane fell into a passionate, secret relationship while filming the early seasons. But fame, ego, and poor communication led to a painful breakup and Lilah’s abrupt departure from the show. Now, after a string of professional setbacks, Lilah reluctantly returns to Intangible to wrap up its final season—and face Shane for the first time in years.

The novel opens with a prologue showing their first ever meeting at a chemistry read for the show—an instant spark with more than just acting potential. Fast-forward to the present, Lilah and Shane are reunited at the network’s upfronts event. 

The energy between them is tense, sharp, and full of unspoken history. The rest of the cast and crew are on edge, knowing the drama behind the scenes could eclipse what’s happening on screen.

As filming begins, the tension simmers. 

Their early scenes are professionally shot but emotionally charged, with both constantly second-guessing the other’s intentions. Lilah struggles with self-doubt, trying to reclaim her place in a world that seems to have moved on without her. 

Shane, on the other hand, is torn between resentment and unresolved longing. His career is stable but uninspired, and seeing Lilah again stirs up regrets and old feelings he thought he buried.

Flashbacks deepen the reader’s understanding of their former romance: secret kisses in trailers, emotional vulnerability shared behind closed doors, and the slow unraveling as professional pressures cracked their foundation. 

Both were flawed and reactive—Shane emotionally withdrawn, Lilah impulsive and wounded.

As the season progresses, their chemistry bleeds into the show’s narrative, and fans begin speculating about a real-life reunion. A media leak further fuels rumors, prompting the network to lean into the gossip. 

They’re forced into a series of press appearances, including a junket where their flirtatious banter revives memories—and feelings—they’ve long avoided. Amid these pressures, Shane is offered a breakout film role, but he questions whether he can succeed without Lilah by his side.

An emotionally raw turning point arrives during the filming of an intense romantic scene. Walls crumble. They let go—briefly—of the bitterness and give in to desire, sleeping together for the first time in years. But the aftermath is messy. Lilah worries it was just nostalgia; Shane fears repeating old mistakes. 

Arguments resurface unresolved issues, including Shane’s silence during the downfall of Lilah’s short-lived movie career, and the loneliness she felt at the height of her professional collapse.

Gradually, accountability emerges. Shane publicly defends Lilah at a cast dinner, a gesture that marks his growth. Lilah, meanwhile, begins separating her identity from her career and from Shane. 

She starts dreaming beyond Intangible, ready to rebuild her life on her own terms. 

As filming wraps, their final scene together—full of layered subtext—is so powerful that the crew is left stunned. It’s a perfect blend of performance and truth.

In the final stages,, Shane confesses he never stopped loving her, but he needed to grow before trying again. Lilah listens, guarded but open. She doesn’t give a definitive answer—just a maybe, full of potential. The book ends not with a grand romantic declaration, but with a quieter, more grounded hope: two people finally learning how to be whole—on their own and possibly, together again.

Characters

Lilah Hunter

Lilah is a character defined by her emotional vulnerability and the complex balance between her desire for success and her personal struggles. Initially, she returns to the show Intangible with a sense of uncertainty, knowing that her career has taken a hit.

Her internal conflict stems from her past mistakes, both professionally and in her personal life with Shane. Throughout the book, Lilah shows growth as she confronts her insecurities, fears of failure, and unresolved feelings for Shane.

Her journey is deeply emotional, marked by her efforts to reclaim her sense of self-worth. At the heart of her character is a search for authenticity, as she longs for a genuine connection both with herself and with others, especially Shane.

Despite the tensions and bitterness between them, her vulnerability and honesty gradually transform her from a character riddled with self-doubt to one who begins to make decisions based on what she truly needs, rather than the expectations of others.

Shane McCarthy

Shane is initially portrayed as more guarded and emotionally distant, though it’s clear that he too is haunted by the past. His return to the show is marked by a reluctance to confront his lingering feelings for Lilah, and he struggles with the mixed emotions stirred by their reunion.

Shane’s relationship with Lilah is complicated by his own insecurities and fears of failure, as he grapples with professional stagnation and personal guilt for his role in their past relationship’s demise. Over the course of the story, Shane is forced to confront his emotional walls and comes to terms with his role in their estrangement.

His growth is characterized by a gradual opening up, particularly when he realizes the need to reconcile not only with Lilah but also with himself. The pivotal moment in his character arc is his recognition that he must learn to love himself before he can fully commit to another person.

Shane’s journey involves balancing his career aspirations with the need for genuine emotional connection. This makes his eventual decision to pursue a second chance with Lilah a powerful moment of personal growth.

Supporting Characters

While Lilah and Shane are the central figures, the supporting characters, such as Lilah’s sister and Shane’s agent Renata, play crucial roles in the development of both protagonists. Lilah’s sister serves as a sounding board for her emotional turmoil, helping her navigate the complexities of her feelings and career.

Renata, Shane’s agent, provides a pragmatic lens through which Shane confronts his internal battles, especially regarding his professional identity and his future. These characters act as catalysts for the protagonists’ growth, providing guidance and perspective, while also highlighting the contrasting ways in which different characters approach love, success, and personal fulfillment.

Themes

The Struggle Between Personal Identity and Public Perception in a Fame-Dominated World

A key theme in Will They or Won’t They revolves around the internal conflict characters face when navigating the expectations and demands of fame while trying to maintain their authentic selves. Both Lilah and Shane grapple with the tension between their on-screen personas and their true identities.

Their relationship is entangled in this complex interplay, where public perception often colors their private actions. Fame imposes a version of themselves onto their relationship—one that is scrutinized, dissected, and often distorted.

Shane, in particular, faces the dilemma of his identity being shaped by the public’s fixation on his past romance with Lilah, which leads to a sense of disillusionment. Meanwhile, Lilah struggles with being reduced to her past failures, both professionally and romantically, as her public persona contrasts sharply with her vulnerable, personal self.

The theme ultimately asks whether one can truly be themselves in a world so obsessed with image and reputation, exploring the cost of maintaining one’s identity when external pressures threaten to eclipse it.

The Burden of Past Mistakes and the Struggle for Redemption

The story delves deeply into how past mistakes shape the lives of its characters, especially Lilah and Shane, and the weight of unaddressed guilt that follows them throughout the narrative. Their broken relationship is not only a result of their emotional disconnect but also their individual failures to protect and support each other when they needed it most.

The theme of redemption runs parallel to their journey of reconciling with the past. Lilah, in particular, bears the scars of a career that once flourished but then imploded, largely due to the fallout from her personal life becoming entangled with her professional one.

Shane, though largely silent about his own missteps, carries the guilt of not stepping in to defend Lilah when she was vilified. The tension between seeking forgiveness and the fear that redemption may not be possible is a persistent undercurrent in their interactions.

This theme explores how people wrestle with their past mistakes and whether they can ever truly redeem themselves in the eyes of those they have hurt.

The Complexity of Unresolved Romantic Tension and the Difficulty of Closure

The unresolved romantic tension between Lilah and Shane is a cornerstone of the narrative, exploring the difficulties of moving on from a love that has not fully faded. Their past relationship, full of passion and secrecy, haunts both of them as they struggle to find closure.

This tension is made more complicated by their professional commitments, with the lines between their on-screen roles and real-life emotions often blurring. Every interaction is tinged with the ghosts of their former connection, and yet, they both seem trapped in a cycle of wanting more but being afraid of what it might cost them.

Their inability to move on, even as they attempt to forge new paths, highlights the emotional complexity of unresolved relationships. The novel examines how these unresolved feelings—whether they are regret, longing, or resentment—can prevent personal growth and hinder emotional closure, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.

The Transformation of Self-Perception and Personal Reinvention in the Face of Adversity

A theme that emerges strongly in the later chapters is the idea of personal reinvention, particularly for Lilah. After the fallout from her career and her relationship with Shane, she is forced to reevaluate her sense of self-worth and her role in the world.

The theme of personal reinvention is explored through her journey from being defined by her past failures to discovering her own strength and agency. Lilah begins to realize that her identity does not have to be rooted in her past relationship with Shane or her struggles with her career.

Through the pressures of returning to Intangible and confronting old demons, she learns to detach her self-worth from external approval. This transformation is not immediate but is gradual and painful, marked by moments of clarity and self-doubt.

Her journey highlights the empowering notion that true reinvention involves shedding the layers of old expectations and embracing an evolving version of oneself that is no longer defined by external forces or past mistakes.

The Power of Vulnerability in Overcoming Emotional Barriers and Finding Connection

Throughout the narrative, vulnerability plays a pivotal role in breaking down emotional walls. The tension between Lilah and Shane is not just born from past mistakes but from an inability to be vulnerable with each other.

Both characters are initially guarded, avoiding emotional openness out of fear of being hurt or rejected again. However, as their relationship evolves, moments of vulnerability become the turning point in their reconciliation.

The intimate scene in Chapter 22, for example, is a pivotal moment where both characters allow themselves to be emotionally raw, leading to an emotional breakthrough. These moments are where the true power of vulnerability is revealed—offering the potential for healing and reconnection.

The theme underscores how emotional honesty and the willingness to expose one’s true feelings are crucial for personal growth and the mending of broken relationships. It suggests that real emotional intimacy can only emerge when both parties are willing to risk the pain of being open and honest with one another.

The Importance of Accountability in Healing and Moving Forward

Accountability emerges as a central theme, particularly in the resolution of Lilah and Shane’s relationship. For much of the story, both characters are caught in a cycle of blame and resentment, unable to move forward because neither takes full responsibility for their role in the breakdown of their connection.

However, as the narrative progresses, there is a gradual shift toward accountability, with both characters beginning to acknowledge their mistakes and the impact those mistakes had on the other. Shane’s heartfelt apology in Chapter 24, in which he admits his silence during Lilah’s career downfall, is a crucial moment of accountability.

Similarly, Lilah’s self-reflection allows her to realize that her past actions also contributed to the strain in their relationship. This theme of accountability explores how taking responsibility for one’s actions is not only essential for personal growth but is also a critical step in rebuilding relationships that have been fractured by past mistakes.

By embracing accountability, both characters are able to pave the way for healing and a potential second chance at love.