Reality Ends Here

by Alison Gaylin

From the Edgar-nominated author of Into the Dark comes the riveting and witty story of a teenage girl caught between her image-obsessed family—stars of a hit reality show about her sextuplet siblings—and the long-buried truth about her biological father.With a major crush on an adorable pop star, annoying younger siblings, and a mom and stepdad who are too strict, Estella Blanchard is a typical teenage girl—except that her daily struggles are plotlines on the reality show Seven Is Heaven, which relentlessly documents her life as the older half-sister of sextuplets. Estella’s an Oscar-worthy actress at hiding her true feelings from the camera. However, she can’t outrun the spotlight when she receives a Christmas present from her biological father...who died ten years ago under mysterious circumstances. Blamed for this “sick prank,” Estella is placed in an unorthodox support group for troubled child stars—including a twenty-three-year-old has-been, a backstabbing drama queen, and a super-cute (but very off-limits) boy bander. And, as weird as the group is, when a creepy paparazzo starts stalking her, claiming that her dad is actually alive, Estella's going to need their help to uncover the truth and stay alive.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2013

About the author

USA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for many more, including the L.A. Times Book Prize, the ITW Thriller, the Strand Book Award, the Anthony and the Macavity. She is currently at work on her 15th novel.

Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery

Reviews

[Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: An ARC of this was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. It did not influence my opinion in any way.

Edit: In my review, I discuss some parts that I saw as body-shaming/policing. I understand that not everyone read(s) it this way, but if you need more explanation as to why I think it is, comment #17 elaborates on it.

After some reflection, I've decided to give it 2 stars instead of 2.5. I'm just too confused and disappointed at this point.

Because I wanted to know what I was in for, I actually read the blurb this time. Based on the pitch, it sounds like entertaining fluff in the style of Meg Cabot's Size 12 Is Not Fat, which I really enjoyed. I draw this comparison because I thought Reality Ends Here would have the same blend of mystery and everyday problems, while also featuring a relatable MC that uses humour to put everything in perspective. Sadly that was not the case. Where I think it went wrong is that this is the author's first YA novel. I have not read any of her adult books, but it makes me wonder how the themes present in Reality Ends Here would have been handled, had it been targeted at an adult audience. It makes me sad that people still see this as a factor that can influence a story's quality to such extent.

The main problem is that I can't quite determine what this book wants to be. It's pitched as the cutesy story of a sixteen-year-old girl, Estella, who stars in the reality TV show Seven is Heaven with her parents and her younger, sextuplet siblings. Her biological father died several years ago under suspicious circumstances. Because Estella's mother wanted to keep his memory alive, she agreed to every interview on him. That's where she met Barry, Estella's stepfather and the sextuplets's father, who's an (executive) producer on several TV shows.

The story begins on the morning of the Christmas episode and someone left a present under the tree that serves of a reminder of Estella's father. When Estella opens it, her mother freaks out and they command the crew not to air this footage. Of course, there is a leak and Estella becomes even more of an internet sensation. Her parents decide to send her to a therapy/support group for famous kids. The topic of her father is sporadically picked up throughout the novel and is the backbone of the mystery. However, it was so unevenly paced and obvious that the mystery aspect severely failed in my opinion. The support group didn't work for me either, because it seems as another platform to introduce the horrible love interest, mean girl antics and lots and lots of (unnecessary) drama.

There are things I really liked, though. For instance, Estella is said to have the habit of breaking the fourth wall while filming. She also does this in the narrative. It happens regularly that she directly addresses the reader and I liked the consistency of that behaviour. However, se becomes a whole lot less consistent when other people - and especially !BOYS! - are around. It's a shame, because I generally like her voice and sarcasm, but that disappears or translates to mean and ungrateful when she interacts with other people. Another upside is that this is a quick read, but it became tedious and annoying due to all the unrealistic and sometimes even TSTL scenarios.

Let's talk Estella's social skills. At first, she judges the love interest, Jake, but not for the things that make him the asshole he actually is. He is in a boyband and *gasp* one that her six-year-old sisters listen to. It doesn't really occur to her that 1. she's not in a position to judge and 2. from her own experience, she should know better. Of course, in one of the many unlogical events of the story, she immediately trusts him with her biggest, darkest secrets. Girl, you're a public figure. I'm not saying that everyone is a backstabber or famewhore in the celebrity universe, but some caution pretty much is a job prerequisite. Of course, Jake can totally be trusted, because OF COURSE a boy would never sell someone out. OF COURSE it's his blonde, famous girlfriend who does this because OF COURSE Estella is a threat to their relationship and OF COURSE this is a convenient way to make Jake available again. In short, I really hated this part of the story and it was built on all the bad YA tropes you can think of.

What really made me uncomfortable was the focus on beauty and general outer appearance. Every time Estella talks about her father, she mentions how handsome he was, that he could have been an actor with his looks, and so on. It gets worse when the first thing Estella and the love interest, Jake, bond over is fat-shaming a certain paparazzo. On a certain level, I can understand this, because body-shaming is very much a part of modern society, but this isn't the only time that happens. In their support group, there's a former child star named Dylan and the first thing Estella thinks when she sees him is how fat he has become. After that, she consistently feels the need to point out how ill-fitting his clothing is, how many rolls are bulging over his waistband, and so on.

At first I thought the drama, the backstabbing and the disturbing obsession with looks might have served as a critique on Reality TV and society/culture in general. That interpretation becomes problematic when Estella states that everyone in LA wants to be famous, preferably as a TV star. She even calls them desperate, which is ironic on so many levels. First of all, I don't live there, but I'm going to say that's not true. It's virtually impossible to go to a place where all inhabitants want to be or do the exact same thing. Moreover, this girl really needs to check her privilege. I understand that constantly being on TV is not an ideal situation. I certainly wouldn't want to be in her shoes, but you can't just go around judging and condemning people because they want the life you wish you didn't have.

In the end, Reality End Here, didn't work for me. There were some interesting ideas but their execution left a lot to be desired. I think the main reason for that is that this story needs to decide whether it wants to be a critique or just a cutesy, fluffy read. As it stands now, the mystery is unnecessary, ridiculous and nonsensical and the resolution is all these things to the power of a gazillion. The ending could have been sweet if I didn't despise the love interest so much and if their relationship had been built on something else than instatrust/-lust and -love, and a general tendency to body-shame the hell out of people.

I'm really disappointed because I love the title and the cover and the blurb hinted at potential. Nevertheless, many thanks go to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for approving me.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella’s life is an open book, a little too open because her family, has their own reality TV show. The only REAL things about it are that it is totally invasive and commercialized. After the death of her father, Estella’s mom remarries and now Estella is the big sister to sextuplets, now six years old. Nothing is private, nothing is sacred, truth is an illusion and she is tired of it, suffering because of it and feeling isolated and lost. When falsely accused of playing a cruel prank on Christmas, Estella must attend ‘therapy’ with other troubled Hollywood kids and there are those who see another avenue to make more money off the plastic façade of her life. Doesn’t anyone care about the emotional toll this is taking on the sextuplets? When Estella is led to believe her father may still be alive, she becomes obsessed with finding him, again, making more fodder for public consumption. When will it end?

In spite of the twisted and skewed tale of the negative effects of living for the public’s morbid curiosity, Reality Ends Here by Alison Gaylin is a thoroughly entertaining read, probably because, in spite of it all, Estella keeps her wits about her, possibly being the most mature and mentally stable character in the book! There are deeply emotional scenes that made me want to smack some sense into the star-struck adult characters. There are quirky characters, a cameo appearance by a young rock star and a sweet romantic interest for Estella that adds depth to this quick read. Alison Gaylin has written a good tale of what NOT to do to your family, intentionally or not! (Too bad the general public seems to love this kind of stuff!) Her style is crisp, easy to follow and the pace flows along well, complete with characters you can easily enjoy or despise!

This ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Pocket Star in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
ISBN: 9781476727592
Recommended Age: Young Adult
My Rating: 3.5 stars

Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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[Fahima M (Hitch Theory) · Rating 2 out of 5]

For more book reviews, visit I Read, Ergo I Write

The blurb sounds interesting, doesn't it? All girl stuff and mystery and intrigue?

Well, dont let it fool you. It's not.

The Blanchard family's story is uncannily similar to the Kardashian's story. As I was reading the book, there were several instances where I went, 'Oh wait, that sounds familiar.' Estella's father, Martin Fisher, was a criminal defense attorney who only represented people whom he believed were innocent. One Christmas eve, when Estella was 6, he died on a freeway after buying a Christmas gift. The catch is that he died on a road which was nowhere near home or on the way home either. But the mystery fizzles out since there's no evidence whatsoever. Few years later, Estella's mother remarries and gives birth to sextuplets. And so the reality show, 'Seven is Heaven' started.

What did I like? I liked the portrayal of the children, both on and off camera. When a bunch of children, all below ten, are often manipulated and coerced into behaving in a certain way for the sake of ratings, they're bound to change in many ways. One wets her bed often, and is terrified of anyone finding out, another is scared spitless of almost everything (including birds), another grows mean and snarky, and yet another struggles with her 'weight issues' being discussed on national television. She's six years old, for crying out loud! There's a vulnerability to them that just makes you want to cuddle them and promise that everything will be alright. I felt like this gave me a glimpse into the possible real lives of reality show stars and how they cope with all the attention.

But other than that, the book left me wanting so much more than what I got. And I dont mean that as a compliment.

Estella as a person is pretty level headed, and I understood why she took the steps that she did. But she's also contradictory at times. She goes to the support group, where she meets Jake and a bunch of other kids and one adult with problems like coping and stress. I'm always surprised at how quickly kids nowadays 'fall' for guys. On the same day they meet, Estella and Jack meet each other outside at a burger house. When Estella finds out that he has a girlfriend, she feels crushed and foolish. I mean, really? You just met the guy, for God's sake. And I understand having a crush, but this was a bit more than that.

Jake, by the way, is a very sweet guy. He's nineteen, so there's some maturity there (thank God). He's also really sweet to all the kids in the book, which was so adorable! But there were times I found myself rolling my eyes at his dialogues.

"I like you," he said.
"Even though I'm a damaged child celebrity?"
"I really like you, Estella. A lot."

Oh, how eloquent.

Now see, I can see the appeal in an awkward confession where he's too in love with her to be very articulate. But this, after just a few days, and for a guy who up till than had been very confident and expressive, was too much.

The plot is so outlandish and has so many holes that it just became plain annoying near the end. At the end of the day, it's something of a 'For the want of a nail...' story. And the older, bigger question, that gave rise to all the mystery? Unanswered. Yep. That just about killed it for me.

Bottomline: You could call it a Kardashian family fan fiction, that is just as unentertaining (those of you who enjoy the Kardashians, no offense :). It was definitely not the book for me, but it could be the one for you if you want something fluffy and dont want to think too hard about it.

For more book reviews, visit I Read, Ergo I Write

*A copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For as far back as she can remember, Estella has been a star.

Her claim to fame, though, as been as the infamous older sister of reality TV's favorite set of sextuplets -- all of whom star, along with Estella, her mother, and her stepfather, in one of the country's biggest hit reality television shows, SEVEN IS HEAVEN.

Growing up in front of the camera is tough for Estella, especially since she lost her father at an early age, as he mysteriously died on his way back from getting Estella's very last Christmas gift from him -- a Polly Pocket toy she had been wanting for so long. So, imagine her surprise and horror when she finds this very gift wrapped and delivered under the Christmas tree years later, for all of the world to see on reality TV!

Of course, her parents are quick to hide the clip, deciding that a viral glimpse into the horrific moment would destroy the family's fame and reputation -- but, of course, the video is leaked to the press anyways, catapulting Estella's fame to a terrifying new level.

Presuming that Estella has sent the Christmas gift to herself for attention, her step-father sends her away to a therapy center for troubled childhood stars to work out her newfound emotional issues. But when clues start to hint that Estella's father might actually be alive, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of her father's death, to close the case for once and for all. What is the secret group -- "The Law" -- and how was her father involved?

Might Estella's father actually be alive -- and if so, is he in trouble?

How much can Estella really trust the "reality" that has surrounded her for most of her life?

REALITY ENDS HERE gives an exciting portrayal of one teenage girl's quest to really get to the bottom of the truth of her own life in a time in which everything around her seems so scripted and false. I really enjoyed seeing just how much of her "reality" television life had been so misrepresented -- even to her, as a starring character in a role that should seem so true and real to herself.

I think the premise of the whole mystery of her father's death is a really intriguing one, and I was definitely sucked into the novel, fascinated to learn the whereabouts of her poor father. That said, I felt a bit disappointed by the end of the story. A few parts here and there just felt so disjointed and lost, thrown together to create a false sense of excitement that really didn't play out for me. Things were really built up for so much of the novel, so I just expected the story to end in more of a BANG than what I actually received.

Additionally, I wasn't crazy about Estella's fixation with the stunningly gorgeous boy-bander, who was simultaneously attending the same group therapy. Can't I just have a good mystery here without being weighed down by another tale of love and first sight?

Even so, I feel like the author had great intentions and a fun, interesting idea by giving us a different spin on "reality" television than what may be portrayed in other YA novels on the subject. As a metaphor for teenage life, reality television is an interesting medium by which to explore common teenage themes. I think I would have enjoyed a little less contrived action, though, and a little more personal reflection on Estella's part.

If you love reality TV, mysterious, cute boys, and mismashed action, though, give REALITY ENDS HERE a try. It's a quick read, so it's hard to ultimately feel disappointed.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this title through NetGalley as an ARC. This story interested me because it was a YA book that did not have to do with vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.

Reality Ends Here is a YA book about Estella who is a teen whose family members are all stars of a hit reality show about her sextuplet siblings, and her struggle to find the long-buried truth about her biological father.

Estella does not enjoy the fame, and she points out when the meal is "brought to you by their sponsors" as she tells her story. The snippets of behind the scene life were not surprising to me since I was never a believer that reality television is, in fact, real. There are numerous mentions of today's stars such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, the Gosselin family, etc. I understood that Estella wasn't pleased with her fame and that she "never asked to be famous", however, I also felt that she was a bit whiny and naive at times.

The "mystery" surrounding Estella's father added a nice twist to the otherwise surface read, although I wasn't terribly surprised to find that my guess was correct.

I did not dislike this book. I didn't love it either. I felt like if I was still reading my children's books to approve them before they read them, I would approve this book for them. It's relatively clean - no sex, there is some reference to alcohol/drugs, and some reference to physical abuse of a child (minor reference), but nothing like some of the YA books have in them today.

The story is easy to follow, and there weren't any major flaws or anything that I found problematic. For me, it was definitely a YA novel that had YA type problems and characters. I can't say that it's one of those books that crosses over into adult reads.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella is best known as the big sister of the sextuplets you see each week on Seven is Heaven. While she balances teen life and reality stardom, she is a bigger fan of being a good sister off-camera and reading the myriad of books she has in her room. When a ghost from the past manifests itself on the set, in the form of a mysterious package, Estella gets blamed for it.

While Estella is given a daily dose of group therapy for 'problem child stars' as punishment, it opens up a lot of questions Estella needs to answer. And when a paparazzi starts to get her asking questions of her own, she realizes that there are things about her life that she really needs to know--and she's not going to sit idly by and let them go. Armed with knowledge, a former child star, and a teen heart-throb, Estella sets off to learn the truth about her father and the LAW...

I love reality tv. While I know much of the reality isn't really real, I like to read books about the concept. I feel like at some point we really are going to be used as an object lesson to future generations (and species!)--just like in the Orville. I also really like that the author seems to know her stuff when it comes to reality tv, and to a compelling heroine that the reader is interested in getting to know better. I really enjoyed this book, and I am happy it is my 9th book of 2018! I cannot wait to read more--hopefully about Estella.

[MartyAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality TV is anything but reality. This is a fictional young teen's viewpoint of being in the middle of a Reality TV show. This brands the title "Reality Ends Here" into the mind. Estella is a teenager with six very famous siblings -- sextuplets now turning six years old. Their show is called "Seven is Heaven." They live with no privacy, used to morning make-up calls, their wardrobes handled by a pro, and any tension at all becoming a plotline.

All this leaves them finding ways to be real with each other -- for example, they communicate by sign language when necessary. And they try to find out of the way spots for a few moments of respite from the all-seeing cameras. Estella finds herself blamed for mysterious things, and gets to have an hour a day with a teen group of stars as therapy. Even this is outside reality...except for the crush Estella develops on another star. But what looked like a few pranks becomes a twisting group of lies and impossible truths. Pretty soon some friends from the group are her only hope at staying safe from a dangerous game being played out behind the scene...is her father really dead...can you ever trust a paparazzi?

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember requesting this one, but somehow I got it. And so, I read it. It was a quick read and very light. Not too deep, but enjoyable.
Characters- Estella is the 16 yr old daughter and sister of sextuplets. She's a sweet sister, caring that one of her sisters, 6 yr old Gracie still wets the bed in the middle of the night. Gracie runs to Estella's room for help and Estella changes her sheets and washes them in the middle of the night all without anyone knowing so that Gracie doesn't get yelled at, on camera, by their mother. Such is the life of a reality star. She knows the personality of each of her brothers and sisters and has a tender heart when it comes to watching them being used and extorted for ratings. She tries to protect them. She knows that secrets are being kept from her and feels like she can't trust anyone. There isn't quite enough depth to her to really make a big impression on us. But you'll like the way she treats and protects her siblings.

Mom- A bit fame hungry, seems zoned out through most of the story. She doesn't believe anything Estella says when things happen and Estella denies she did it. She seems to only be interested in how things look on t.v. Even the children suffer under her detachment. She redeems herself a bit in the end.

Barry (Stepdad)- Producer of numerous reality shows and father of the sextuplets. Seems to be a caring man, but it never quite reaches his eyes if you know what I mean. He seems to have very little to do with the kids.

Steve- Bodyguard, the only one that Estella has ever trusted. He's been with them since the kids were born. They have a rocky relationship.

Jake- a teen boy band member who Estella falls in love with way too quickly

Dylan- 20 something washed up child star who is probably one of the most genuine people in the entire book.

The World- Honestly, reality t.v. is probably the most non real t.v. there is. I don't watch it. Ever. I like my drama in books. Anyway, the world is reality t.v. Almost every moment of their waking day, this family is on film. There are supposed rooms that are off limits, but even those seem to be being filmed when Estella investigates. When not being filmed, Estella has to attend counseling with fellow child actors at TMTS led by a former child actor himself. And then, if she can slip away, Estella is searching for proof that her father is still alive. Paparazzi, teen stars, autographs, screaming fans, disguises, clandestine meetings, all part of the world.

The Story- Estella is being led to believe that her father is still alive by a truly despicable man, the lowest of the paparazzi. Yet, rather than take pictures of her crying about the news he's giving her, he puts his camera away and gives her clues. She uses some of her therapy group to help her with her investigation. She's arrested, a friend is shot. They find out what her dad was involved in. She goes viral on You-Tube. All sorts of things go on, but they follow a logical sequence.

My thoughts- There is really no depth to this story and the lack of that leaves me feeling a bit so so about the whole thing. My characters need depth and layers and to show growth. I really like the way Estella treated her siblings and that was about all I could say about her. There wasn't a lot of development after that. She was in love with Jake after one group counseling session that lasted less than one hour and he had a girlfriend! Too Fast! And he was on board with it by the third day, I think.
After he broke up with the girlfriend. (I know the magic of Hollywood). There is the suspension of belief and then there is I'm just not buying this. Most of it leaned toward the I'm just not buying this.
But, if you can suspend belief easier than me in your contemporaries, you'll enjoy this fast paced novel.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher for review. Regardless, my opinions and thoughts about the novel were not influenced by this.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many thoughts – positive and negative – about this cute YA mystery, I don’t know where to start, so I’m just going to throw it all out there in the order it pops into my head. Okay, so first things first. The reason I picked up this book for review is because it sounded fascinating and completely different from the usual YA formula, and indeed this is exactly what it ended up being: different. Suffice to say, I enjoyed it tremendously. The behind-the-scenes parts about what things are like when the cameras aren’t rolling and how staged reality shows really are, was a definite eye-opener for me and a big reason why I enjoyed this book so much. The tongue-in-cheek mention of sponsors providing food to showcase their brands during the filming of each episode of “Seven is Heaven”, was a nice touch, and yet another eye-opener for anyone who thought reality shows are reality. I have to add here that I’m not a fan of reality tv, so naturally, the Kardashians and other such similar shows hold no attraction for me (and also because said Kardashians is a firm favorite with my hubby).

So on to the story. The mystery elements were well plotted and kept me guessing all the way. Most of it was unpredictable and the real culprit at the end was someone I didn’t suspect at all. The little bit of romance there is in this story happens more towards the end and is – thank goodness – not the main focus or the key element driving the plot. I didn’t much care for most of the characters and I especially didn’t like Estella’s mom. The things she and her husband, Barry, made the sextuplets and Estella do for the sake of entertainment was sometimes downright bad parenting. I couldn’t view Estella’s mom as anything other than pretentious and shallow, and even when the cameras weren’t rolling I found her to be cold and distant. A few of the sextuplets got more attention than the rest of their siblings and Estella also seemed to have her own favorites, but overall I found the six younger siblings the most entertaining of the entire cast of characters. Estella is okay if you add a pinch of salt and I felt as frustrated as she did with all the grown-ups withholding the truth from her and trying to keep her in the dark about her father, but sometimes she annoyed me with her bratty behavior. If ever I came across a contradicting main character, she was definitely it. The one character I did like a lot was Steve. He seemed to be the most balanced of all of them and if I ever need a bodyguard, I would like to have someone like him. Not only did he safeguard Estella and her family, he is also a terrific friend to her and her siblings. There were times though when his evasiveness frustrated me as I felt he could’ve provided some of the answers Estella needed. But that’s neither here nor there and his caginess didn’t lessen my overall enjoyment of the story.

Like I said before, Reality Ends Here is an engaging mystery which made for a fun, quick and fluffy read. The author kept it straightforward and drew me into the world of reality television with a flourish. The ending was good, but rather anticlimactic after all that build-up. Not the exciting finale I had hoped for, but definitely one I didn’t expect. I’d recommend this book for readers aged twelve and up.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[multitaskingmomma · Rating 4 out of 5]

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“Filled with pop-culture references and even featuring a cameo by Justin Bieber, this fast-paced mystery keeps its tension from beginning to end.
Estella is a spot-on combination of sass and teenage vulnerability…reality-show lovers and haters alike will enjoy the behind-the-scenes perspective.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Alison Gaylin’s mind-bending teen novel!”
—New York Magazine Approval Matrix


REALITY ENDS HERE (Pocket Star; June 11, 2013; $4.99) is a Young Adult EBook original from Edgar Award-nominated author Alison Gaylin. It is the story of a teenage girl who, along with her sextuplet siblings, stars in the country’s hottest reality television show, “Seven is Heaven.” On Christmas day her life is turned upside down by a stalker who thinks he knows secrets about her long-dead father, including the possibility that he may not be dead. Readers will follow the heroine of the story, a teenage reality TV star, and get a “look behind the camera” into the turbulent world such figures endure. For the heroine, who must navigate a notorious paparazzo, malicious producers, a pop star crush, and her sextuplet siblings in order to find the truth about her long-presumed dead father, the chaos is challenging but does not stop her. REALITY ENDS HERE will keep readers glued from scene to scene, page after page, alongside the heroine—delighting in every step of her pursuit to uncover the truth.



Brilliantly written from the point of view of a teenager trapped in a world of the lies of Hollywood and reality TV with sextuplets for siblings. Hilarious, ridiculous, and totally mind-boggling. Bieber aside.

Reality Ends Here is a fitting title for a book where a reality TV show is viewed by millions who know, accept and deny that anything on TV produced by Hollywood and labeled as "reality" is anything but.

That said, Estella is a typical teenager in the middle of a mid-life-teenager-crisis. She is caught between a body of a siren, a ridiculous but oh-so-real jerk of a boyfriend, and a family that - well - lives together literally under the microscopic camera lens for the whole world to witness. Is this really something we want to read about?

Definitely this book is something to talk about. It is curious how so many millions around the world can get so engrossed in the life of celebrities thru the lens of a camera. Of course, they know that everything is a lie, but who cares? Its reality! Right? Therefore, those who like these types of shows (and Bieber) would love this book, and those who don't care for them will love to hate this book. In short, it is simply a must that everyone should read this as this is reality. Right?

Reality Ends Here is a book I love to hate but could not stop reading. Yes, there are all the teenaged angsts, the pop-culture, etcetera etcetera etcetera. Did I love it?

Definitely Not! I hated it! BUT I JUST KEPT ON READING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For that reaction alone, I say: brilliant Ms. Gaylin, Brilliant!

Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Summary:
16 year old Estella lives with her mom, stepfather, her sextuplet siblings, and a camera crew. She has a reality tv show called Seven is Heaven. On Christmas, Estella gets a present from her dad who died ten years ago in a car crash onChristmas Eve. Her mother thinks that Estella put it there and freaks out. When the video of Estella opening a present that her dead father got her ten years goes viral, her parents think she's acting out and sends her to group therapy. At the therapy group, she meets Jake, who she finds quite attractive. As Estella left the therapy group, a paparazzi ambushed her and said he knew her father. Jake tells her that the paparazzi is Conald Delp and should never be trusted. Estella keeps getting a series of texts from Delp, and when she tries to show anyone the texts, she finds that they've disappeared. Estella goes on a search to find her father, who might possibly be alive. The one clue that she gets from Delp isThe Law. As the search for her father and the mysterious gift and video person goes on, Estella doesn't know how big the situation actually is.

My Thoughts:
I LOVED the beginning. I liked how the author described the problems, the constant distraction of cameras, and invasion of privacy. What made me so sad was how the tv show manipulated the sextuplets to bully each other and ask Estella questions of her father. The ability to manipulate a child into calling someone, their sister, fat is just cruel. And when her parents insist that she's fat and spurs on the horrible internet jokes os horrible. The beginning of the book was really touching to me.

The middle was alright. It didn't really catch my attention. The whole wild chase to find Estella's may-or-may-not-be-dead father was a bit of a surprise to me. It made the story a bit far fetched and strayed off the family path the beginning took. Some of the events were sort of unrealistic and the "villains" were a bit to quick on everything.

The chemistry betweenEstella and Jake felt a bit unreal. I didn't feel that much emotional input from Jake as I did from Estella. Estella's personality didn't grow so much in the book as I had expected. She was slightly bland and boring, but she really shined when it came to her family. Again with the family element, I felt like the mother-daughter relationship seemed to be still unresolved at the end of the book. I felt like the mother was heartless throughout the book. She'd consistantly put the show as top priority, even before her children, and I don't think that was emphasised in the book enough. The deceptions by the camera crew was sort of distracting. The constant pointing fingers, lack of trust, and claiming blames was slightly disorienting, but I found my way through the book.

Overall, I think it was a great book. Even though I had many criticisms towards the book, it was enjoyable. I would have enjoyed it if there was more of a family theme in it like the beginning because that part was so well written. It was one of my favorite parts of the book.

My Rating: 4 Stars

For more reviews, you can go to www.myviewpointonbooks.blogspot.com

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality Ends Here is a sweet and charming read. Unless you have been living under a rock, I don’t think it will be any shock to see how fake reality shows are but I enjoyed the behind the scenes glimpses at how one is manufactured.

Estella is a teenage girl, who along with her sextuplet siblings star in a popular reality shows ‘Seven is Heaven’. On Christmas day, she seemingly gets a message from her long dead father and Estella begins to wonder what secrets have been kept from her and decides it time to do a bit of digging around.

This was a bit of an addictive read for me. It won't change your life or make you think deep or profound thoughts but it scores high on the cute, fluffy, entertainment scoreboard. I loved the snippets of life that we saw between Estella and her siblings, both the real moments and the staged ones. We got a glimpse of the personalities of all her siblings and enough though it was just a glimpse; it was enough for me to form a picture of all of them. To be honest, I would have liked more of these scenes in the book as they were my favourite part.

The reality show aspects blow the lid on how totally unreal these shows are and to what extent everything is planned and scripted. Like I said earlier I don’t think anyone will be wide eyed with surprise about this though. The details show how invasive these shows are on normal family life and makes you appreciate the privacy that we take for granted. I have always felt uneasy about children in reality shows and I feel even more so now as you see how exploited they really are.

Estella is forced into a group therapy session for troubled child stars - including a twenty-three-year-old has-been, a backstabbing drama queen, and a super-cute boy bander. I found these sessions bittersweet as you know that there is an element of truth to the feelings/problems that these famous teenagers have. Tough enough being a teenager without also being stalked by paparazzi waiting for you to mess up.

There is a bit of a love story for Estella in this book but it is very innocent and just a bit of fun. I did think it was annoying that it was an insta-love but on the other hand when you fall for your first crush; it can seem like love so I’ll allow that one! And her first boyfriend is a famous popstar so maybe I would have had some insta-love too. Actually scratch the maybe, I know I would!

The mystery story about her father built up momentum throughout the book and the conclusion when it came was a little bit of an anti-climax. However I wasn’t expecting much from the mystery side of the book and it was the reality show element that attracted me to the book so it didn’t bother me too much.

Overall this is a well written, highly engaging book. If you like reality tv shows and contemporary YA books, this is a nice mash up and I have no problem recommending it to you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

16 year old Estella Blanchard is one of the stars of reality tv’s hottest show, Seven is Heaven. She’s your typical teenager, except everything in her life is scripted. While taping their Christmas episode, a present appears under the tree addressed to Estella. The sender? Her biological father who died in a car crash years earlier. Her parents blame her and ship her off to celebrity therapy. Meanwhile, Estella’s just trying to figure out who sent that package and if her father is really dead.

I enjoyed most of this story – the last half at least. I had a hard time in the beginning getting through based on the parents. Her mother and stepfather were horrible people. Everything they said or did was for ratings. After finding a present from her dead father, Estella runs up to her room to be alone only to have one of the sextuplets come in and start quizzing her about her real father – in front of a camera after being prompted by the parents. They were just horrible. The way they treated Estella disgusted me and almost turned me off of the book. There was just so much manipulation and lying going around from people you were supposed to be able to trust. I’m sorry, encouraging bullying between the children and telling one of them to lose weight because she’s chubby is just not right. YOU’RE HORRIBLE PARENTS.

However, I stuck with it. And we finally moved away from parents and were introduced to two characters who became important figures: Jake, the heartthrob singer and Dylan, the washed up former tv star. I loved the scenes with the three of them. Jake, who I liked instantly, understood Estella like nobody ever had before. Their connection was believable and I rooted for the two of them.

Dylan was pure comic relief. I mean, he created a distraction by having Justin Beiber perform on top of a limo. But he was loyal. He stood by his friends when everything went crazy. He was just so much fun.

The story took an interesting turn about halfway through and became this mystery that surrounded Estella, her father, and other people she thought she knew. Most of it was a little unbelievable and there were a few holes here and there, but I won’t deny that I was intrigued by the mystery. Overall, an enjoyable read.

This review can also be seen here at my blog.

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read more reviews at The Anonymous Book Life

When I read the blurb for this I thought that it had a lot of promise and it did, but Alison Gaylin took it so far out of reality that it became very unbelievable at a fast pace.

Now, I know a lot of reality television is in fact, fiction, but if I was to see this ridiculousness on my screen or read about it in the papers, I would have officially lost all faith in humanity. We have a family with a number of children that are dealing with problems and parents that are always making light of the situation, seemingly because they are the ones that cause most of the problems in the first place. I mean, if I was given a leotard that was a few sizes too small as a Christmas gift and expected to smile about it, while my mother informed the world that I will be going on a diet (because she cannot have a slightly overweight child on camera), all at six years old, I would have bawled my eyes out. Actually, no. I would have no idea what was really going on, or what a diet was, and would have moved on the the next present and never looked at the leotard again. Gaylin portrayed the sextuplets in a way that made them all seem a lot older than their supposed six years, with Estella often stepping in to be the mother figure that they clearly needed.

If the plot had centered around Estella's emotional journey to find out more about her father and coping with her reluctant fame as a reality TV start, I think the story would have been a lot more believable. The whole mystery aspect would have been in there, but in a way that did not make it seem as far fetched. As it stands, the second half of the story is laughable in the unbelievably of it all. A young heartthrob getting shot and no one caring? I highly doubt it.

It all culminates in a rushed explanation of actions and a HEA that we all knew was going to happen. There are so many thing that I think could have made this story better, more interactions between the kids in the therapy group, for one.I really would have liked to see how the participants dealt with their everyday lives and how things would have played out if it were a real therapy group and not something that someone was profiting off of. The list is endless, but as it is Reality Ends Here was just a really unsatisfactory adventure into the lives of people we would watch and not really care about.

[Jennifer Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was something compulsively readable about this book. Like a box of animal crackers, I kept popping along, wondering what would happen next and how someone could stay sane living a totally public (and totally fake) life. How would you keep it straight in your head, where fiction ends and reality begins? But I guess that is the point of this story; you can't, reality is harder and harder to come by for someone whose life is partially scripted and 100% a valuable product.

Just a note, I don't watch reality television anymore, something about it is too annoying and a little bit boring if you watch long enough, to keep me coming back, week after week. If you watch enough of it, the characters (er, reality stars) start to seem similar, that said, I did fall in love with MTV's The Real World, just the first season (is that even on tv anymore?) way back before the current plethora of reality shows took over television. I guess the novelty of seeing people hanging out and having their every moment filmed seemed sorta silly/naughty. What can I say, I was in college and unlike the way college is portrayed in movies, I'd found it be rather stressful and homework-y instead of romantically entangled and non-stop partying like I'd hoped.

Anyways, back to the book and the main character, Estella. Estella is the oldest child on popular reality show, Seven is Heaven, she has six younger brothers and sisters, a scarily fame focused mother, a similarly ambitious stepfather and a life that borders on the absurd; the kids at school call her Tabloid Trash behind her back.

She also has a fake boyfriend, hidden cameras in the bushes outside her bedroom and a long dead father that she can barely remember.

Into this tolerable existence enters a stalker who wants to remind her of what she's lost and how easily she can be messed with.

I don't want to give away what happens or how she reacts to it, but I finished this book in just two days, all while planning a Minecraft party, dealing with a migraine and trying to find my missing shoe. The mystery of the stalker and her father's death was enthralling enough that I hobbled around the house, sans left shoe, trying to finish this book before my guests arrived.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Reality Ends Here was a decent read. I liked Estella well enough, I felt like she and her siblings were absolutely exploited by their parents.

I thought that Estella was a very well rounded person considering up bringing. It must’ve been very difficult especially because in many ways I felt like she was abandoned her mother. I especially hated how no one believed her about the package, they all thought she would do that. It really bothered me, because I felt like they wanted her to have issues so it could be used to her advantage.

I loved that Estella took care of her younger siblings, by doing things like teaching them sign language and comforting them. I think that her mother and step-father forget that they are just kids. It must be terrible for them, and they each get their own little role on what their personalities are supposed to be. There were numerous instances in which they signed to Estella that they were sorry but someone put them up to asking questions or instigating drama.

I really liked that there was the mystery aspect to this novel, but it just seemed like something that was thrown in. It didn’t even end up being all that much of a mystery, it was just wishful thinking. So it seemed like I spent a lot of time hoping with Estella only for nothing to change. It just felt like there were other things that could’ve been focused on.

I did really enjoy Jack and how he and Estella became best friends. It was definitely adorable to see them meet each other, and realize how much they had in common. Then to grow into more by the end of Reality Ends Here, it was really nice to see how sweet he was with her.

Overall it was a good read, and I would recommend it. However, it did feel really short, and I felt like the mystery was blown up too much for what ended up happening. I would give it 3 out 5 stars, because I would’ve liked to see more of her family.

*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf http://moonlightgleam.com/2013/09/rea...*

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estella is sixteen and is the half-sister of six-year-old sextuplets. Her family is the subject of a reality show ... she has no privacy because there are cameras throughout their house and their every move is filmed. Estella hates it but does what she has to do.

A Christmas gift is left for her with a tag saying it's from her real father, who had died when she was a child. Everyone assumes she left the present because she wants attention so her mother and stepfather make her go to a support group to get therapy. There she meets Jake, who is in a boy band. Through mysterious clues from a paparazzi, it appears that her father really wasn't killed in a car accident and Estella, with the help of Jake, starts looking for him.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. As a fan of reality shows, it was interesting to read the behind-the-scenes and how things are manipulated for the viewers.

I liked the writing style ... I thought it flowed and was well-paced. It is written in first person, in Estella's voice. It could be read by a young adult but also by adults too. I didn't find it immature and was caught up in the mystery ... was Estella's dad really alive and why has he been hiding for the last ten years?

I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/06...

[Alex McGilvery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reality Ends Here is what teen fiction should be like. It is funny, sassy and touching without getting maudlin. Estella is the older sister of sextuplets and an unwilling star in Seven is Heaven, which is produced by her step-father. It isn't easy being sixteen and the older sister of a mob of six year olds. It is impossible when you know that you are always under the gaze of the camera.

The story starts with Christmas Day and an unscripted present that appears to be from the father who died in a car fire ten years before. It continues with Conrad Delp a paparazzo who is stalking her, but never publishes a picture of her. Add in a dreamy hunk who plays in a saccharine sweet boy-band and you have a recipe for confusion and mayhem.

Estella is a very true-to-life teenaged voice. She is extremely well portrayed and is never forced outside of her character. The cast of strange characters that make up her world are even more odd in contrast to her down to earth emotions and actions. The bit of mystery that drives the book is not overdone and gives Estella room to shine and still be a real sounding girl.

I recommend Reality Ends Here for anyone who like a good story that will give you some good laughs, but also touch your heart. This is one of those rare books that I wish I could hand out a six star rating.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a review copy of Reality Ends Here by Alison Gaylin from Net Galley. I have to say that I really enjoyed the book. The main character, Estella, was spunky and charming. I’m not sure about the rest of the family dynamic. There were too many brothers and sisters to focus on them much, but it didn’t distract from the story.

I loved the pop culture references, especially those from the past. With the current and past pop culture references, this should appeal to both teens and their parents. Estella’s new friends, Jake and the other kids in TMTS, are enjoyable characters.

The book overall was well written. There were only a couple of typos and I didn’t notice any grammar issues. I read this on my Nook and there were multiple places where there was no space between words. It was probably some sort of issue with formatting, but otherwise it looked nice and was laid out well.

My only real issue with the book was the ending. I felt that the motivation of the minor characters was not really well flushed out. Without giving any spoilers, I would have liked to understand why some of the characters at the end behaved the way they did. It felt a little unbelievable.

On the whole, this was a well written, enjoyable, action packed book. It was a quick and easy read. I would recommend this for teens or anyone that likes to read YA books and reality shows.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality Ends Here was a cute YA mystery. I would say that the book is youngish YA. But I still found it very enjoyable and well written.

As mentioned the book features a mystery, which I really like in YA books.

The narrator is 16 year old Estella. Estella's father died when she was 6. She was an only child. Now her mom is remarried and Estella's siblings are sextuplets who are all 6. Their family is on a reality show that follows their lives.

The thing is Estella doesn't want to be on tv. She is tired of having the cameras in her house 24/7. And since she doesn't want to be on a reality show she (and the producers) often help things along for the show's sake.

The book features a little bit of romance. And an interesting mystery. At Christmas time (filmed of course) a Christmas present is found in their house that is identical to the one Estella's father gave her on his last Xmas. Estella knows that she didn't send it (but everyone seems to think she did). But who did put in the house? This is a big part of the mystery that needs to be uncovered.

This book is a charming story. I really enjoyed the reality tv aspect. And I really enjoyed the mystery aspect.




Thanks to netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for allowing me to read this book.

[Karyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I'm just not sure if I want to examine it too closely. The setting is Pasadena and the unreal world of reality tv. There were references throughout to reality shows and stars (to my limited knowledge) without being too insider. The mystery start with a present labelled as being from her late father and leads deeper into the past of a man Estella can barely remember.

Estella was an interesting protagonist - confused and fumbling at times, both jaded and too trusting. You can see the influences that made her this way as working on her show has kept her sheltered from the rest of the world while exposing her to a particular brand of manipulation and crazy. She isn't always smart, but her curiosity and determination pull her through to the truth.

The plot could have used some tweaking. There were so many different plots and schemes going on that there wasn't enough focus on the other characters, especially those in her therapy group. The roles of Jake and Levity especially felt unearned. They were cardboard cutouts for those spaces in the narrative rather than their own people.

Overall I liked the book, and I'm considering picking up some of her previous work.

[Taffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First line:

""It happened again," said my sister Gracie."



I'm not a watcher of reality TV. I'm really not except, like, Storage Wars or Duck Dynasty and those only a few times a month. I often wonder how those on the shows fare outside of the show.

This book gives a glimpse into one girl's life on and off a reality show. Estella is the oldest of seven, the other six are sextuplets. The step dad decided they would make a great reality show and Estella's life has been turned upside down, espeically now with ratings down. Now someone is setting her up to boast ratings...or are they??

I liked this quick, clean read. Full of intrigue, mystery and romance, I think many young readers will also enjoy this book. It has reality show stuff, teen stars and big TV/movie names.

Thanks, netgalley

Rating: PG 13

L: No

V: No

S: No

Liked:

Estella

Disliked:

Quick conclusion

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

Read my full review: http://bit.ly/190j7Aq

My opinion: I thought this was a really cute and mostly clean read. The main character was an approachable character and supported by a cast of quirky, "drama-queenish" characters that kept the storyline light and airy, yet the mystery flowed well. The book was free from heavy profanity, sex and or drug scenes. I think this could go to even earlier than what the publisher is stating (15+) because of this.

Now, I do have to admit that I enjoy Ms. Gaylin's Brenna Spector series, but found this one to be much lighter. However, this book is targeted towards the young adult readers. If I wasn't reading this for review, it would not be one that I would enjoy as an adult. I finished this book about 10 days ago, but have forgotten the better chunk of the storyline already.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and found the story to be entertaining. That said the story did get tedious sometimes and made it hard for me to finish it. I liked the idea of the book and started reading it expecting to not want to put it down. I was disappointed but did finish it and found that if you just push through the boring parts it is actually a pretty good story. I gave this book 4/5 stars. If you are looking for a story that will draw you in and make you want to cheer for the main character this book will do just fine. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys teen stories and stories about reality shows. I would not recommend this book to someone who wants a book that will entertain them from cover to cover.

I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog http://asoutherngirlsbookshelf.blogsp...

All in all I thought this book was ok. I didn’t love it but it wasn’t awful either. It’s a very quick read, read it in just one sitting. I liked the premise of the book I just felt something was missing. I felt the “romance” between Estella and her love interest was well lacking…romance. I didn’t feel the connection between these two. No sparks, I thought they made better friends than potential boyfriend/girlfriend.

I did feel that it captured the right feel of the whole reality television vibe that’s going on right now. Showing how everything isn’t as it seems, that in actuality “reality” isn’t really real at all. Everyone it seems wants their 15 minutes of fame; even if it means hurting and exploiting those they “love”.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book. The story line looked interesting, and I was inquisitive to find out what life is like in the house of a reality TV family.

I found the story entertaining and an easy read, but the plot fell a bit flat in the middle of the story and never seemed to gain momentum. The mystery surrounding the deceased father also seemed a bit far-fetched and the characters involved (the bad guys) did not come across as believable as they could have been.

My favorite character in the book was Dylan, he had his flaws but he was honest and real. The two main characters – not so much.

All in all I enjoyed the book and I think it is a book that will appeal to the tween and early teen readers, and for that reason I give it four stars.

I received this book from NetGalley to review.

[Nick Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rush! I read it in a few hours. Thanks to the publisher for giving me a review copy.
Bookish teenager, Estella Blanchard, is the black-haired nerd in a family of redheads and blonds - mom, stepdad, and six younger siblings. Home is full of video cameras - the family stars in Seven is Heaven, a "reality" television series.

On the Christmas day special, when Estella opens a strangely-wrapped present it is a gift from her father - not her stepdad - her natural father who has been dead for ten years. Wrongly accused of committing a ghastly prank, Estella is bundled off to child-star group therapy.

Part coming-of-age story, part mystery as Estella gnaws at the puzzle of who sent that Christmas present to her and why. This hopeful story of unwilling fame, friendship and conflict, difficult parents and annoying siblings will appeal to diffident teenagers and younger readers.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Reality Ends Here. The mystery was engaging, but I really liked the reality show concept. While everyone knows that "reality tv" is fake, sometimes it's hard to see that the people on TV are still real people. It's easy for children to be manipulated.

Told in first person, Estella felt fully fleshed out, but her brothers and sisters were less three-dimensional. It didn't feel too ridiculous though because the story does focus on Estella, and as a teenager, that is sometimes how you see siblings.

All-in-all, I would call it an enjoyable read.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Thought it would be better than it was...I think it tried to do too much when it just should have been centered on one theme and stuck with it. We have the reluctant reality tv star, the supposedly rebellious teenager who must go into "therapy", the mystery surrounding her father, the love interest (maybe), the washed-up stars trying to make a comeback...It could have fit together, but in the scope of this novel, it just doesn't work, feels thrown together and clunky. The ending is fairly touching, which elevates the novel a bit, but most of it is awkward.