Most Eligible: A Novel

by Isabelle Engel

The Bachelor meets Funny You Should Ask in this laugh-out-loud rom-com debut about a journalist who goes on reality TV only to find her country music star one-night stand is the host.

Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.

Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Adult

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 13, 2026

About the author

Originally from New England, Isabelle Engel now lives and works in Washington, D.C. When she’s not imagining ways to make reality TV even more dramatic, she can be found reading, doing dance fitness, and petting other people’s dogs. Most Eligible is her debut novel.

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, contemporary romance read! If you love watching reality television shows, this book has all of that, with a twist of course! This novel made me feel lighthearted, emotional, hopeful, mysterious and heartfelt. It is a fast paced read, where the main characters in the story were strongly developed. This novel comes with a lovable, diverse cast of characters. It comes with female friendships, a second chance romance and an undercover assignment. It was engaging and energetic! I found this book to be well written, had an interesting premise and an ending I did not see coming! I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include violence and trauma. I think that readers who love to watch “The Bachelor” would really enjoy reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Isabelle Engel and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on January 13, 2026!

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season 20 of “Love Shack” promises to have the MOST DRAMATIC finale EVER! 🌹

Music journalist Georgia Rose is going on the hit reality dating show “Love Shack” for all the WRONG reasons.

She has been promised a music column in Vivid magazine if she completes one last investigative assignment-dig up the dirt on Love Shack’s executive producer, Lainey Williams. Previous contestants have claimed that they were emotionally manipulated and fed more alcohol than food-all for a scintillating story!

This season’s Bachelor is none other than Tennis Pro, Roland Marchetti, but who the new host will be had been kept a secret. Georgia could never had anticipated that he would be Season 18’s Bachelor-country singer Rhett Auburn whose own “journey to find love” ended in a tragic divorce, followed by a one night stand with none other than Georgia, herself.

Georgia must keep her history with Rhett a secret as she navigates the MANIPULATION from BEHIND the cameras, but what she felt with him was a lot more real than what she is faking in front of the cameras to make sure she makes it through each elimination ceremony.

Yes, the love triangle this time focuses more on Georgia and the Bachelors PAST and PRESENT than it does on the contestants she is competing with-though of course, we are treated to some drama with them as well.

This ENTERTAINING exposé is peppered with excerpts from the fictional advice book “Shacking Up: The definitive, unauthorized guide to winning Love Shack”, magazine articles and interviews conducted during and after the season airs.

As for that finale? My lips are sealed. 🤐

This was a FUN debut by Isabelle Engel perhaps inspired by the REAL allegations that have surrounded these types of shows, and perfect for their fans!

3.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up!

Available January 13, 2026.

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The women going on the reality dating show Love Shack are looking for love. All except for Georgia Rose, a journalist who needs to write the best exposè on the producer of the show in order to get the job of her dreams. Everything seems to be going smoothly until she runs into the host of the show, Rhett Auburn, a famous country singer and the man she had a one-night stand with, and can’t seem to get him out of her head, no matter how hard she tries. Georgia needs to keep her head in the game and try to stay on the show for as long as she can while staying away from the drama and out of sight from the handsome man she can’t keep her eyes off of.

All right, DJ. Play Morgan Wallen’s Lies, Lies, Lies while I ramble on about this book. 😉

This was a cute and mostly enjoyable book, but geez, it took me FOREVER to finish this. 😅 But I'll just blame it on the fact that I wanted to get to my November TBR, and not that I've been avoiding it.😏 The book genuinely made me laugh, which earned me some confused glances from my family, looking at me like I’m going crazy. 😂 I liked the banter between Georgia and Rhett, and I don’t mind a good-looking country singer as the love interest. 😏🫦 Another thing that I enjoyed was the friendships between the contestants. They were sweet, and I wished them all the best. I also liked the ending, and I felt content as I closed the app and closed my stinging eyes to go to bed finally. The writing was good, the characters were okay, and the plot was quite interesting. It felt a little too long for my taste, but nothing that a little skimming and quick reading can't fix! 😆

But you know me. I am NOT the biggest fan of reality dating shows. I have enough drama in MY reality. I don’t need it on my TV screen. 😂 I know, I know. “Sarah, if you don’t like dating shows, why in the world did you read this book when it explicitly says it’s set around a dating show?” Because…because I wanted to read it for the rom-com aspect of the story. And it delivered on that front, for the most part. I just didn’t like how Rhett and Georgia, but specifically Georgia, were holding back secrets and info from each other. Look, I get it. They don’t trust each other, and I completely understand that. I’m glad they didn’t just jump into their feelings. But as the story progressed, it took them FOREVER to just tell the freaking truth. Who cares if you’ll end up together or not? Don’t you want to have some closure with your one-night stand who seems to still care about you? It’s hard to trust someone after so much lying, especially if you kinda based the foundation of your relationship on omitting certain truths and distrust. Heck, it wouldn’t surprise me if they still had trust issues years afterward. As I always say in most of my reviews, the characters need to see a therapist, imo. 👍🏼 Or maybe I just need to relax and stop looking too deeply into things. 😂

Overall, though, it was a pretty good book. Will I read it again? No. Do I recommend it? Sure, especially if this kind of rom-com floats your boat! 🩷

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

❗Content Warnings❗
Nudity
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wildly fun, spark-filled romp through the glittery chaos of reality TV romance! Most Eligible is a delicious, sharp-witted debut that had me grinning, gasping, and swooning—sometimes all in the same chapter.

Our leading lady, Georgia Rose, isn’t here to find love—she’s here to spill tea. Undercover on the dating show Love Shack, she’s ready to dismantle the carefully edited fantasy from the inside out. But then... surprise! Her host is none other than Rhett Auburn, country music heartthrob and Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand. Cue the sparks, the secrets, and the scandal!

I loved Georgia’s voice: bold, funny, and deeply human. She’s not some naive pawn in the dating show game—she’s a woman with goals, regrets, and more than a few secrets tucked into her suitcase. Watching her balance ambition and desire, façade and feeling, was pure page-turning bliss. Rhett, with his slow-burning charm and enigmatic vulnerability, is the perfect counterweight. Their chemistry? Off the charts.

But what really makes Most Eligible stand out is its ensemble cast. The fellow contestants are more than just background noise—they’re layered, lovable, and hilariously chaotic. The behind-the-scenes look at production drama, manipulative producers, and sabotage-filled dates was the perfect guilty pleasure setup with genuine heart underneath.

Romance lovers, reality TV addicts, and anyone craving a witty escape into a world of secrets, sequins, and second chances—this one’s for you.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this addictive romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 / 5 Stars
The chaos that came from the book being about a reality TV dating show was fun and silly and zany. The romance was kind of confusing and sadly lacking. In the book, Georgia is a music journalist who goes undercover on a Bachelor style show to expose how bad the producers are. In exchange, her best friend will help her land her dream music journalism job (idk exactly what that was but it was important). When Georgia gets there, she discovers that the host is Rhett Auburn, famous country music star and her one night stand from a year ago. Rhett vanished into thin air in the morning and Georgia has been trying not to think about him ever since. Kind of hard not to think about him when he is right in front of her and she has to fake date the bachelor, but Georgia is not a quitter. You get chaos, lots of “oh we can’t do this but we can’t stop,” and drama.

You will probably like this book if you like:
❤️ Romance books set in a dating reality TV setting
❤️ Love triangles
❤️ Forced proximity because he’s the host and she is a contestant
❤️ They had a one night stand, he left, and now they are seeing each other again
❤️ FMC who is a journalist uncover on a dating reality tv show

Having twenty women date one man on TV is the perfect recipe for some really silly side characters who sometimes stole the show (book?) for me. Sometimes those characters felt a little one or two dimensional but for whatever reason, it didn’t really bother me.

The romance between Rhett and Georgia was a little baffling. They had one night together so I understand that they would still have physical chemistry but Georgia’s POV made it seem like they also had this intense emotional connection and I think I just didn’t see it. It felt like they got drunk and talked about music and that was about it. Maybe I am missing something but to me, that is not enough for them to still be pining for each other one year later.

And this had forced proximity in some of my least favorite ways: 1) they were literally bumping into each other (like truly, keep track of your surroundings, Georgia) and 2) their interactions were forced in an unrealistic way. For example, Rhett drove Georgia to one of her dates with Roland, our bachelor, (also are you kidding me with two R names for the male love interests??) and that would never happen. I am sorry to be a purist but Jesse Palmer and Chris Harrison were NOT driving any contestants alone to see the bachelor. Nor were they sneaking them away to their private hot tubs in their host suites. Nor were the contestants allowed to take walks on their own. I just couldn’t get past how those things would never happen and therefore, it felt like Rhett and Georgia shouldn’t be interacting. The third act conflict also made no sense because literally nothing changed from when it happened to when it was resolved.

Alas, not for me, but I hope this book finds those who will enjoy it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: January 13, 2026
_______________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I love love triangles. I love the messiness of The Bachelor. So maybe this will hit?

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it was a fun story. Some parts were sweet and spicy. There are areas that really could tick you off. Just thinking that people are treated the way they’re treated to get a story or a particular shot for a movie fries me.

Backstabbing and underhanded manipulation are actions that I can’t stand so it’s hard to read that in a story. But yet it’s so much a part of reality TV to get the views and clicks.

The author did a really good job depicting the scenarios and laying out her plot. Scandal and tension build with each chapter. The characters were great, and I loved that she gave each person uniquely memorable aspects. And the bonding between the girls was wonderful as well. The author takes us to some interesting locations and puts people in their place.

But with all of that fluff, can we just talk about the reality here… Rhett. The dreamboat. Sweet, tender-hearted, and so in love. Broke my heart a little bit how long we had to wait for him to get what he really wanted.

Most Eligible is an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the crazy reality-based love shows. I was cheering all the way for our two main characters wading through the drama, and capped it off with a great ending! Love, friendship, and even a few villainous characters make this one to watch for.

~~~~
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/most-eligibl...

[Milena Bookish❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like watching The Bachelor or reality shows? This is for you...This one’s for the girlies, no doubt about it. It’s light, it’s fluffy, it’s unapologetically girly—and yes, it actually made me laugh out loud a few times...playful, chaotic, and delightfully unserious.

Now, the romance? Left me completely unmoved. Zero chemistry, zero investment. The romance felt like background noise, and I was fine with that. This book reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of a reality dating show—the petty rivalries, the over-the-top antics, the glittery fakeness of it all. The real heart was in the friendships between the contestants.

So if you’re here for a compelling romance, you might walk away disappointed. But if you’re down to shelve the love story and dive headfirst into the frothy, chaotic fun of reality TV drama in book form, this one absolutely sparkles...Releases on Jan 13, 2026

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher, for the eARC.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ★— A hungry music journalist wanting to get ahead. A past fling she hasn’t forgotten. And a fake persona as a contestant she adopts to secure the perfect hit piece from a Bachelor-esque reality show and the man at its center.

I like a good reality TV show and have watched enough Love Island and Bachelor seasons to rot my brain, so a book about a woman going on a show like this for a journalistic scoop sounded right up my alley.

I’m a little disappointed to say I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. The book uses plenty of familiar reality-show conventions and has fun with the behind the scenes chaos, showing how scripted everything is and how much of it is completely ridiculous. The problem is that its main draw, the romantic storyline, left me cold.

The story starts abruptly and pushes the heroine onto the show almost immediately. As a reader, you quickly learn about her past fling with the book’s MMC, Rhett, a country singer she spent one night with before he vanished from her life. He’s now the show’s host, and their shared night gets referenced constantly. The FMC is clearly hung up on him and has thought about him a lot since then. I expected the book to give me richer flashbacks that explained why that night meant so much to her, but aside from a few brief scenes, it didn’t. I never got anything that made her obsession feel earned.

And that’s a problem. The book sets up this one-night stand as a defining moment for both characters but never shows what actually bonded them. It ends up making the FMC seem fixated, almost desperate, instead of like someone who genuinely fell for a person after a meaningful experience. One of the big takeaways from their night is that she was impressed he asked about her music taste, which is just incredibly basic.

The book has some fun moments during the challenges the contestants and the FMC have to face, but otherwise I was entertained without ever feeling fully invested. The resolution also felt a bit rushed.

A fun listen, but not much more.

🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
I’m not going to lie, the way the narrator said “Georgia” when voicing Rhett, who’s supposed to have a noticeable country twang, started to grate on me. Overall, I didn’t think the narration was very strong, and the listening experience wasn’t particularly pleasant.
_________________

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Clare Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny and all too topical, MOST ELIGIBLE is the romcom of the moment. I was swooning and gasping every chapter! Hands down, this was the most fun reading experience I’ve had in a while! Consider me Engle’s biggest fan. If you want a guaranteed happily ever after, skip The Bachelor and read this instead.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A raucous, fun loving inside look at the contrived nature of reality TV. Georgia is a journalist, going undercover into Love Shack (it’s meant to be The Bachelor). She is going to expose the producers for less than integral methods and toxic culture. But she is surprised that Rhett, her one-time-stand, is going to be the host. A country singer and past star if the show, his short marriage fizzled shortly after the cameras stopped rolling.

The plot is just as juicy as you’d expect. Georgia is a bit insecure but ambitious, and her personality and exposure to the show really changes her. My favorite part of this one were the side plots, the minor characters involved in the show and how they are manipulated by the producers. It really makes you think about reality shows and how they are manufactured to do a certain storyline. It made me think of one Bachelor season where the bachelor made his choice then started sobbing dramatically—- and then at the cast reunion announced he was now engaged to the runner up.

The audiobook performance on this one is excellent. I particularly loved her voice acting on all the bachelorettes. I found it easy and fun to follow on audio. I even listened at 1.0 speed which I find luxurious and almost never do.

I had to uprank this one because I really loved the finale.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. book to be published January 13, 2026.

[elise | bookingthroughlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars!!!

i wanted a fun romcom & this was the PERFECT fix !!!!!! a reality tv show romance BUT she's an undercover journalist looking to expose the harsh behind the scenes of the show. . . & he's the host who also happens to be the one night stand she can't stop thinking about !!!! like PLS !! it's so goodddd & full of drama!!! THIS is a romcom done right 🤭💞

this book is marketed as miss congeniality meets the bachelor & i can confirm it's the perfect mix of the two !!! i LOVED LOVED LOVED it !!!! i was eating up all the craziness of the contestants & the show & was 100% laughing out loud!!

rhett is actually the best kind of man !!!! & him and georgia are perfectionnnnnn. i want to say more about how much i love them but i don't want to spoil any of the book. . . pls pls pls read this book & come obsess over it with me!!

if you're looking for a romcom to fall in love with immediately, this is the one !!! genuinely can't wait to see what isabelle writes next 👀

thank you St. Martin's Press for the arc! this is my honest review.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel is a sparkling, laugh‑out‑loud contemporary rom‑com debut about Georgia Rose, a spirited journalist who goes undercover on a hit reality dating show called Love Shack not to find love, but to write a killer exposé about the producers and secure her dream job, only to discover that the show’s new host and her unforgettable one‑night stand from the year before, country music star Rhett Auburn, might be her biggest complication yet as drama, secrets, and second chances start to blur the line between performance and real connection. The story is a nod to The Bachelor and Miss Congeniality with witty banter, reality TV chaos, and heartfelt romantic tension at its core.

What made this book genuinely fun for me was how effortlessly Engel captures both the absurdity and vulnerability of reality TV culture. Georgia’s ambitions and sharp sense of humour kept me rooting for her even when her spy‑style secrets felt like emotional landmines, and watching her slow‑burn chemistry with Rhett grow amid scripted dates and behind‑the‑scenes drama made me laugh out loud and swoon in equal measure. The cast of contestants and producers adds juicy, entertaining layers that feel like watching a TV production unfold right before your eyes, and the way the narrative toys with expectation and genuine vulnerability made the emotional payoff feel rich and satisfying.

Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving Most Eligible this score because its humour, heart, and charming heroine made me feel like I was right inside the drama room with Georgia, torn between laughter, hope, and genuine affection for how messy and joyful love can be when we least expect it. If you love clever rom‑coms set against high‑stakes fun with real emotional depth beneath the laughter, this one felt like a delicious treat from cover to cover.

[MillennialMomReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️: I received this ALC from Macmillan Audio and it was a fun, low stakes listen that is perfect for fans of The Bachelor. I thought the narrator did an excellent job keeping the pacing of the story up. I do think the book made a lot of leaps in terms of relationship progress and the second chance romance was very much instalove, but I really enjoyed the relationship between the contestants. This book is a great palate cleanser if you are between heavy reads and worth checking out on audio!

Goodreads…give us half stars already!

[gracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, knowing my less than stellar track record with books about reality dating shows I do not know why I thought I would enjoy this. I did appreciate the subtle commentary on how dehumanizing and misogynistic these type of shows can be but other than that there's not much else I liked about the book.

The author did amazing with showcasing diverse relationships and friendships between the women in the house, including the really messy ones but the main relationship between Georgia and the love interest, Rhett, was incredibly underwhelming. I did enjoy Georgia as an individual character though!!

The audiobook narrator was amazing at her narration and this was a pretty easy listen doing my laundry.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Griffin Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Monet Daffodil · Rating 4 out of 5]

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Most Eligible
Author: Isabelle Engel

Bachelor fans unite! A friend who knows my obsession with the Bachelor franchise recommended this one, and it delivered everything I hoped for. The story follows a journalist who goes undercover on a reality show called Love Shack to write an exposé on the shady main producer. The twist? The host of the show is a former Love Shack lead, a famous country singer, and also her one-night stand from the year before. The book has all the drama you’d expect: over-the-top dates, travel, catty contestants, and behind-the-scenes chaos. It was such a fun read. The ending caught me off guard in the best way, and I thought the author made it feel fresh and unique. Isabelle, please write one based on Bachelor in Paradise next. I would absolutely lose it. Thank you St. Martins Press for the copy!

[bayan alrefai · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was SO much fun i was literally giggling out loud; i can definitely see this as an adaptation! i loved the interactions between rhett and georgia and the little interview snippets (bachelor vibes 100%). also all the girl characters in the cast were so crazy yet so fun and adorable i was rooting for them all!

i felt like the ending was a bit rushed & there was a third act breakup w some miscommunication but the writing was very fast paced & easy to follow and i liked the little plot twist reveal! such a good debut novel that puts you in the rom-com giggly mood!

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review <3

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️ moderate

Georgia Rose isn’t here for the right reasons. She agreed to come on the reality dating show Love Shack not to find love, but to get intel for an investigative journalism piece on the mistreatment of contestants on the show. Nothing will get in the way, at least, not until this season’s new host turns out to be an unforgettable one-night stand from a year ago: singer Rhett Auburn. Rhett was a former Love Shack lead whose reality romance fizzled out in scandal and whose return to host the show is a redemption arc. But Georgia has to keep her cool by avoiding the flames from her night with Rhett; will she convince herself (and the show’s producers) that she can stay?

This book is being marketed as Miss Congeniality meets The Bachelor, and it’s the perfect love child of the two (there’s even a shoutout to Gracie Hart and Miss Congeniality)!. It’s about #SecondChances, reality TV shows, investigative journalism to bring down exploitative producers, a touch of cringe-worthy country music, and yes, some swoon-worthy romance. I give the author so much credit for such an entertaining plot, with the added bonus that I didn’t have to wait a week between episodes to find out what happens at next week’s elimination. Amanda Leigh Cobb’s narration was SO binge-worthy; she crushed the rapid-talk journalism of Georgia, the country twang of Rhett, the random European accent of a production assistant, and gave personality to a number of the different contestants. The production quality of the audiobook was fantastic: from dramatic elimination ceremonies to confessionals, awkward hot tub scenes to lively banter, the audio was such a treat to the ears. I can’t recommend this one enough!

Reviewed as part of an #ARC. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you:
🗽 consistently quote “She’s beauty and she’s grace, she’s Miss United States”
🐴 have never doubted that Li’l Sebastian is in horse heaven
🌹 laugh every time you hear “Can I steal you for a sec?”

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[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the fun of your favorite reality TV shows in the pages of book!

MOST ELIGIBLE by Isabelle Engel is just down right fun. Full of backstabbers and gossips, Georgia Rose (I mean- what a name!) finds herself in the middle of filming "Love Shack" a hit reality show centering around dating.
She's there undercover, writing an expose of the producers. But what should be an assignment turns into some real life hot-cha-cha moments for Georgia and co star Rhett. There's more than one person with a few secrets and this book unfolds in a knock down, drag out, hilarious way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read prior to it's release in January 2026, I laughed the whole way!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious, dramatic and a sizzling second chance at romance story. I relished in Isabelle Engel’s rom-com debut.

Once upon a time I was a HUGE Bachelor Fan, and this rom-com brought back all those reality show vibes—and then some. It left me with all the feel-good moments I was hoping for.

Most Eligible followed Georgia Rose, a driven investigative journalist. She signed up for the reality dating show Love Shack with no intention of finding love. Her goal was to uncover the shady tactics of its producers and land her dream job. But things got complicated when she realized the host is Rhett Auburn, the country singer she had a fling with a year ago. Georgia had to keep her past a secret, navigate the chaos of reality TV, and still pull off her exposé—all while sparks started flying again between her and Rhett.

Overall, this was such a fun read! Most Eligible was like The Bachelor meets a second-chance romance, with plenty of drama, chaos, and laugh-out-loud moments. I loved Georgia. She was smart, messy, and easy to root for—and her chemistry with Rhett was so good. Some of the twists were a little predictable, but honestly, I didn’t mind because it was so entertaining and binge-worthy. Definitely recommend this debut rom-com for longtime Bachelor fans, as well as anyone who enjoys a fun second-chance love story.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for my review.

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3/5⭐️
.5/5 🌶️

I have a love/hate relationship with this book.

Georgia Rose enters into a reality tv show, Love Shack(similar to the bachelor) as an undercover journalist. She wants to dig deeper into the production crew to write a life altering expose.

Georgia expects to be involved in the drama and backstabbing; but what she doesn’t expect is her newly found friendships. She also is definitely not expecting Rhett Auburn, her one night fling she never got over to be hosting the show.

This book is filled with secrets, lies, love, and DRAMA!!

I really enjoyed the drama and the idea behind it. It is definitely a fast paced book that for some reason I couldn’t put down. It was funny and at some moments intense.

However, that being said some of the flash back scenes, I thought, could’ve been better. Or at least transitioned better than it did. Because she was telling her story and then all the sudden it goes right into a flash back and it’s like umm ok.. I could see how that could get some reader confused. I also wished that there was a little more insight on the characters to make them more memorable and relatable. Then lastly I wish it was dual p.o.v. Because I would have really enjoyed reading from the mmc perspective. So, that I could understand how he really felt about the fmc.

[✨Poppy✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio!

Georgia joins the hit dating show Love Shack not for romance, but to write an exposé that will launch her journalism career. Everything unravels when Rhett, her unforgettable one-night stand, appears as the show’s new host. As secrets, scandals, and real feelings collide, Georgia must choose between her career and a risky second chance at love.
This was FUN! I loved the promise of a Bachelorette-style setting but with a main character who’s there to uncover secrets instead of looking for love. The behind-the-scenes drama, hidden agendas, and growing tension made the story so entertaining, and the plot is well-rounded with just the right balance of romance and intrigue.
Listening speed: 1.75x
Narrator: Amanda Leigh Cobb
Feedback: Amanda Leigh Cobb delivered a fantastic narration, her upbeat tone and energy made the story even more engaging. She brought every moment to life and was an absolute delight to listen to!
Pub date: Jan 13th

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book by a new to me author! Thank you to MacMillian Audio for the ALC.

I can honestly say I’m not a reality TV show girlie, I’ve never seen the Bachelor or Bachelorette. But I have seen Flavor of Love 😬 Anyway, this book is about a woman who is an undercover reporter being cast on a show like The Bachelor. Her purpose is to get dirt on a specific producer who is toxic so she can expose them.

When Georgia does get on the show she is shocked to find that the new host is a man she had a one night stand with a year ago and left her the next morning. Apparently neither of them are over it.

[Lisa]

DNF’d at 50 percent. I just couldn’t connect to the MC and her hang ups. And I didn’t see her connection with the MMC.

Just not a “me” book

[Sherry Moyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This offers nothing new or interesting. There’s very little in the way of plot. The narration is inconsistent. I did not enjoy it.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced reader and listener copies of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel is a second chance romance set on a reality TV dating show. Georgia Rose is an investigative journalist looking to uncover the dark truth behind one of the popular show’s producers. She goes undercover as a contestant only to find her one night stand from a year earlier, country singer Rhett Auburn, is the show’s new host.

I was hopeful about this “action-packed rom-com debut” based on the novel’s promising premise. And there is plenty of catty behavior from the contestant’s, producer blackmail, and a few laughs. Unfortunately I didn’t swoon at the romance between Georgia and Rhett. I struggle with insta-love in general, and didn’t feel their love story was given enough time to develop. However I’m always a sucker for a happy ending.

I think this novel will appeal to reality dating show fans looking for a lighthearted escapist romance. I also think the story is best suited for eyeball reading as the narrator of the audiobook struggled to perform several of the accents in a believable way. 3/5⭐️

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin Publishers for the digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars

As an avid (hate) watcher of the Bachelor franchise, when I saw this as an upcoming release, I immediately requested it. Pair that with the twist that our main girl is actually pining for a producer instead of the leading man? An absolute dream of a book for me.

And Isabelle Engel delivered.

Georgia Rose is a realistic, well-written main character/narrator. I enjoyed how Georgia had other ambitions besides falling in love, namely exposing the main producer for being unethical. I also strongly enjoyed her character trajectory as she navigated the chaotic household dynamics. I mean, 20 women trying to fall in love with the same guy but also living together? It’s bound to get messy.

Surprisingly, however, this book included a diverse cast and female friendships. Engel wrote a disabled character (and the hardships a character with a disability would face under the scrutiny of a tv show), as well as multiple POC characters with ambitions. I hate to praise the bare minimum, but both were refreshing to see!

One wish would be for there to be a bit more detail throughout! The book was fast paced, which was great, but I sometimes wished for more in various scenes. Filler scenes, if you will.

However, this book has everything you’d expect from a reality tv show centered book: villains you love to hate, behind-the-scenes chaos, and love becoming a reality despite all odds. But it also held more: an unlikely second chance romance, authentic friendships, representation, and decent twists!

[jessie_bookmind · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of The Bachelor and reality TV in general! Georgia is a journalist going undercover for the scoop of the behind-the-scenes drama of this bachelor-type show, “Love Shack”. It has a fairly silly plot with unlikable lead characters. Georgia is fine, but her motivation is lacking, and her ethics are blurry. Roland, “the bachelor,” is pretty bland, but I think that’s the point. Rhett, the country music star from Georgia’s past who is hosting the show, is the most likable out of the three, but that’s not saying too much.

If you go in with low expectations to this low-stakes rom-com, you could enjoy it!
Amanda Leigh Cobb does an excellent job narrating. This is a breeze to listen to and a quick read! As many of the other reviews stated, the supporting cast of characters is a funny bunch, which also makes up for the leads.

Thank you Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook!

[Brandi Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for approving me for the audio ARC of this book ✨

Have you ever watched the bachelor? Bachelorette? Bachelor in paradise? Think of every season, combined with interviews from previous cast members (after the NDAs expired, obvi), plus Colton’s infamous fence jump and you have Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel. This book was so cute and also kinda reminded me of ‘Never Ever Getting Back Together’ by Sophie Gonzalez.

I also wanted to mention the narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb. She did a great job and I enjoyed listening to her! Very clear voice and even though she narrated every character I feel like she did a good job differentiating them enough that I could keep track of who was talking (at one point there were 20 women + the lead + Rhett + multiple producers!!)

The ending literally had me laughing out loud. Thanks again for this early audio arc!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Eligible is perfect for anyone who loves rom-coms and The Bachelor. We follow Georgia going on "Love Shake" to write a piece on the misconduct happening. Little did she know she would run into an old flame when she ends up on the show.

From here, the story is filled with drama, trauma, and finding love in unexpected places... along with an eye-opening indicator on what is real vs. fake. Georgia lacks confidence and finds herself getting pushed continuously to act in a way she doesn't want to.

Overall, the story was cute. The narrator Amanda did a great job with Georgia's character, and I was able to distinguish the difference between when someone else was talking(like Rhett) 🤭

Thank you so much, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley, for the opportunity for ALC.

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, entertaining for sure. Full review to come