I’m not a huge fan of reality TV, but I know people who definitely are. The concept behind Scripted is a really unique one, and the closest thing I’ve seen done before is A Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M O’Brien (my review here) which, as you might remember, I was not a fan of. Scripted, on the other hand, was stellar. There are so many different aspects of this book, and I really hope that you end up reading it.
The first thing about this book is the main character, Nettie. She isn’t anything like most of the reality TV stars on television these days. She isn’t even close to perfect. She’s awkward, and quirky. She makes mistakes, and she owns up to them. She’s REAL. Also unlike most reality TV stars, she isn’t so certain that she wants her life to be on TV. The television show that her island stars in, Blissful Days, watches every move she makes. Nettie was never incredibly popular, and she knows that the viewers don’t like her nearly as much her best friend, Lia.
The slow-burning romance between Nettie and another Character, Callen was sweet and awkward. Nettie has secretly liked Callen for years, but he has been dating the uber-popular Lia. When they break up, the producers suggest that Nettie going after Callen would increase her rankings.
The island of Bliss is seemingly perfect on the exterior. No one is poor, no one is starving, and it is a safe haven compared to the mainland. I really liked this island and–more specifically–the secrets within. The plot twist at the end really surprised me, and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.
One of my only complaints is the ending, really. I felt like everything was wrapped up much too nicely. Bliss is the whole world to Nettie and her comrades, and everything they believe to be true just might be a lie. I like a satisfying ending as much as the next bookworm, but I expected a few more loose ends. Everything was wrapped up so perfectly.
As I said before, I don’t watch a lot of reality television, but I love the dark futuristic concept behind this story. If you do like reality television, I expect that you’ll like this book just as much (if not more) than me! It has also been pitched as Lost meets The Hunger Games, and I think that’s a great way to put it. A great read!