Canceled: The Story of America's Least Wanted

by Michael D. Britton

What will reality TV do next? Kaylie Adams is about to find out, as she joins FBC’s new hit reality TV Canceled. A sort of “Abortion Idol,” the American viewing audience votes keep the baby, or terminate. When FBC studio executive Jake Granville learns he’s the father — and realizes he wants to be a dad — TV’s hottest new show suddenly gets very personal. But a contract is a contract.In a nation obsessed with turning the deeply private into a public freak show, opportunistic network executives push Kaylie and Jake — and America’s nerve — to the limit.America may choose the fate of Kaylie’s unborn baby, but only you can decide if you have the audacity to read this groundbreaking novel that Publisher's Weekly calls "Bitingly clever ... darkly brilliant."

381 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2011

About the author

Michael D. Britton has been writing professionally for 30 years, including leading marketing departments, working in huge private corporations and government entities, supporting non-profit healthcare systems, sprinting with tiny tech start-ups, freelancing, and producing live TV news broadcasts.

His short fiction has received seventeen Honorable Mentions in the Writers of the Future contest (including three Silver Honorable Mentions), and his novels have advanced through multiple rounds of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. His inventory of fiction exceeds 70 titles. He is featured in Fiction River magazine’s Superstitious edition, Chances romance anthology, Joyous Christmas Holiday collection, and Pulphouse Magazine #14.

Reviews

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my brother-in-law and it is amazing. I loved every minute of it. I couldn't put it away when reading. It is definitely a fantastic read. Really, where is "reality" TV and our society for that matter headed and will we be a part of it? That's what I take away from this book.

[Lisa Sumsion · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband is a friend of the author and thus we received a free copy of his book. I liked the premise of this book. He picked a controversial topic and approached it from a whole different angle. With the nation's obsession with reality TV I could almost see them doing a show like this. The author doesn't get preachy either way and if I didn't know him personally I wouldn't have known what his personal opinion was. This was a fast and easy read. He didn't get too deep about moral or ethical issues. And his character development wasn't very deep but it was thought provoking none the less. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. It was entertaining and I whizzed through it in a day and a half.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It definately kept me reading, I had to find out what happened next!! The end was nothing like I expected! Well done Michael!!

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
This title had featured in my pondering purchasing, and I considered long and hard before purchasing as at £10 I found it expensive for a paperback. though I should point out it is a decent sized paperback.
I think the cover is perfect. It shows the pregnant stomach of Kaylie, the main character in the book with the title canceled across it in larger letters. Basically this cover is telling us the book is about a pregnancy and the possibility of it being literally Canceled!
I was initially a little disappointed, looking back I am not sure what I expected for the book, but it didn't begin as I thought it would.
After a couple of reading sessions I settled into the book, and ended up being drawn into the book more and enjoying it. At first I tried to remain objective on the subject of abortion, as that in itself is a controversial subject. then throw into the mix of this decision being set as happening in a reality TV show, it makes you really think and question your TV habits and your own core beliefs.
My first thoughts were what sort of person agree's to let total strangers decide the fate of her baby? Then you read more about Kaylie and her upbringing and her inner turmoil on subconsciously knowing what she wants to do yet not wanting to face that reality. The book puts different views over such when do you decide "a fetus" is "viable" or actually "human".
You have all different "experts" that are featured on the show and their official cases and then their own opinions too.
I don't want to give away the plot so won't go much deeper into things.
There is also the Reality TV angle covered in the book, the so called 24 hour filming that is then cut to suit what they (TV Bosses) want to show in that particular weeks program.
There is a wide range of characters with varying views on termination. We have Dr Cho who is the Obn/Gyn whose personal view is pro-life, and she believes to give birth in a hospital environment surrounded with technology is the safest option.
There's Molly the Midwife, who is portrayed as a bit of a hippy midwife into burning incense, massages and relaxation music. (Rather like a midwife I came across whilst having my daughter, so they do exist in real life!).
Of course there is a Health Adviser (Vanessa) in the mix who seems extremely pro-abortion, at times I was quite uncomfortable with her views.
Len is a counselor/psychiatrist who does not give his own opinion on the abortion until the very end of the book.
Dr Ian is the "Abortion Doctor" who seems to believe in freedom of choice of the mother.
All these differing views of professionals mixed with the views of Kaylie's family along with the TV watching American public views, it's no wonder Kaylie is feeling confused! Surely it should really come down to the views of two people? Kaylie and Jake the parents of the baby. Since Kaylie signed her contract she is bound by that, even if she decides what she wants she is no longer in control. This book really does take the Reality TV phenomenon to the extreme! I truthfully could see this as a movie.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes. Would I recommend it? For a deeper more thoughtful read yes. It could certainly be a conversation starter. Would I read more by Michael D. Britton? Yes

[Azure · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a scathing commentary on American media, especially interesting knowing the author's background in the news industry. I have a hard time imagining something like this could actually happen and certainly hope it never does.

[Jenee Rager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting concept, although I'm not as pleased with the follow through. Parts were really well written and then every once in awhile the author would slip and become a little too stereotypical for my tastes. There were also some issues with laws being stretched or misrepresented (the part with the cellphone in particular) that some readers might not catch, but working in the legal field I had trouble suspending belief (I have this problem with any book where this happens). I'm sounding like I didn't like the book, but I did find it fun, and one of the most unique ideas I've ever come across. I also get the feeling the author, really, really hates Ryan Seacrest based on his portrayal of the game host and his "right after the break" repetition. That alone give him cool points with me.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend gave this to me as her bro in law wrote it. Very provocative and made me think a lot. One person who bugged me was the pseudo planned parenthood person. She was the pro-choice advocate but she never allowed the possibility that Kaylie might ever conceivably want to have a child. Ever. It was more like she thought all kids should be aborted. The description of a partial birth abortion was horrific. But the philosophical issues the therapist brought up were profound. Hopefully something like this would never happen. But you never know.

[Dania · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting concept that could only really come alive in book-form (and thank God for that!). I read this in one day, because I've been waiting to get my hands on this for a long time now. I wasn't disappointed. Great read, really has suspense and kick. Props to the author for excelling despite the obvious difficulty of this format (narrating a TV show via a book, if done by anyone else, would likely end with a "You had to be there..." moment).

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Different book with a twist on reality shows. it started out with a believable plot were the reality story was going to be a death row inmate but the goverment nixed this game show and the network came up with a show about a pregnant girl would submit herself to a vote by viewers to determine if she would be required to abort the pregnancy. From this point on a very easy read book became totally unreal and thus silly..but silly sometimes makes for ok reading and this book was ok.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Highly recommended!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome, thought provoking but entertaining book!

[Clare]

A parody, could be a poignant commentary on a difficult issue, but not sure if I can read a book about it...

[Camille · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate giving bad reviews, but this was seriously one of the worst books I have ever read. I kept reading it only because it was for my book club.