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Escape!
A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.
Everybody gets the story arc they deserve.
Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.
The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.
As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece.
Everybody gets the story arc they deserve.
Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.
The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.
As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2026
821 people are currently reading
19005 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 612 reviews
January 29, 2026
UPDATE: OUT NOW!!! GO BUY IT
FELLOW SURVIVOR HEADS LFGGGG
our beloved fish (robbed in second chances btw) has at long last released his debut fiction book based on survivor and all the reality tv game shows we love, and it’s GOOD
we follow the process of creating a brand new reality survival game show mainly focused on a former winner of a survivor-type show who is recruited (blackmailed?) to come back to tv through this show, and a similarly blackballed producer brought onto assist with the show’s production - so we’re seeing the show play out from both the perspective of a contestant and a producer, which keeps things interesting.
what starts out as a typical survival show quickly spirals more into thriller territory and i had so much fun with the turns this story takes! you can tell Fish put a lot of his own experiences and knowledge into the book (makes me wonder what shady production tactics he’s trying to warn us about 👀) and the book even exists in a universe where Survivor is a real show (he even name drops actual contestants to give background to lore).
this was a really unique book that will especially be a lot of fun for survivor/reality show fans or if you’re just looking for a thriller that offers something more than husband and wife drama!
FELLOW SURVIVOR HEADS LFGGGG
our beloved fish (robbed in second chances btw) has at long last released his debut fiction book based on survivor and all the reality tv game shows we love, and it’s GOOD
we follow the process of creating a brand new reality survival game show mainly focused on a former winner of a survivor-type show who is recruited (blackmailed?) to come back to tv through this show, and a similarly blackballed producer brought onto assist with the show’s production - so we’re seeing the show play out from both the perspective of a contestant and a producer, which keeps things interesting.
what starts out as a typical survival show quickly spirals more into thriller territory and i had so much fun with the turns this story takes! you can tell Fish put a lot of his own experiences and knowledge into the book (makes me wonder what shady production tactics he’s trying to warn us about 👀) and the book even exists in a universe where Survivor is a real show (he even name drops actual contestants to give background to lore).
this was a really unique book that will especially be a lot of fun for survivor/reality show fans or if you’re just looking for a thriller that offers something more than husband and wife drama!
February 15, 2026
A decently well written debut novel. For me it suffered just a tiny bit from not knowing exactly what kind of book it wanted to be?
It’s not quite a scandalous tell-all of a fictional reality show, a wilderness survival story, or emotional character drama. It has elements of all of these, but doesn’t quite fully commit to any of them, leaving me with a slight feeling that some opportunity was missed.
It is readable enough, and Fishbach does have some storytelling talent. It would be great if he could turn away from the world he knows so intimately through his participation and ongoing involvement in reality television and see what else he is capable of. I get that this is probably the hook that ultimately got this book published, but I think it may also do him a disservice as a writer if he continues to lean on that experience alone, however life defining it was for him.
It’s not quite a scandalous tell-all of a fictional reality show, a wilderness survival story, or emotional character drama. It has elements of all of these, but doesn’t quite fully commit to any of them, leaving me with a slight feeling that some opportunity was missed.
It is readable enough, and Fishbach does have some storytelling talent. It would be great if he could turn away from the world he knows so intimately through his participation and ongoing involvement in reality television and see what else he is capable of. I get that this is probably the hook that ultimately got this book published, but I think it may also do him a disservice as a writer if he continues to lean on that experience alone, however life defining it was for him.
October 17, 2025
The author's two-time history on "Survivor" was the initial hook—a promise of authentic, insider perspective—and I'm pleased to report that the book not only delivered on that promise but significantly transcended it.
"Escape!" is a gripping, high-octane dive into a fictional reality competition that pulls back the curtain with unflinching detail. What truly elevates this novel beyond a mere genre exercise is its masterful use of multiple points of view (POV). By allowing us access to both the on-screen contestants and the off-screen production team, the author creates a dizzying, panoramic view of the manufactured chaos. This structural choice is brilliant; it's the literary equivalent of a split-screen edit, letting us see the illusion and the mechanics of the illusion simultaneously.
The characters are commendably multidimensional, wrestling with ambition, ethics, and the corrosive nature of constant surveillance. They feel earned, not merely sketched out. However, I must acknowledge the one notable critique: the narrative occasionally leans more toward telling than showing. While this is a common challenge, particularly when an author is juggling an action-packed plot and a large ensemble cast within a tight page count, I found myself wishing for more moments of quiet, sensory immersion to truly anchor the characters' internal lives. Given the sheer density of events and revelations packed into this book, however, it’s a forgivable sin—the author clearly prioritized momentum, and the plot benefits immensely from that relentless pace.
Yet, where the book truly succeeds is in its fearless, almost hyperbolic exploration of the industry's dark underbelly. The plot is rife with shocking surprises, and the author skillfully exaggerates the already-vicious competitive spirit and ethical compromises of reality television. This hyperbole, however, never feels gratuitous. Instead, it acts as a fun-house mirror, distorting the reality we know to reveal its terrifying potential. For a fan of the genre, the ethical dilemmas and outrageous twists resonate with a deep, knowing truth; the book’s critique of the consumption of human struggle is potent and felt true to the genre even in its most outlandish moments.
"Escape!" is more than a thrilling read; it’s a significant piece of pop-culture commentary written from the inside. It cements the author as a voice uniquely equipped to dissect the drama they once lived.
"Escape!" is a gripping, high-octane dive into a fictional reality competition that pulls back the curtain with unflinching detail. What truly elevates this novel beyond a mere genre exercise is its masterful use of multiple points of view (POV). By allowing us access to both the on-screen contestants and the off-screen production team, the author creates a dizzying, panoramic view of the manufactured chaos. This structural choice is brilliant; it's the literary equivalent of a split-screen edit, letting us see the illusion and the mechanics of the illusion simultaneously.
The characters are commendably multidimensional, wrestling with ambition, ethics, and the corrosive nature of constant surveillance. They feel earned, not merely sketched out. However, I must acknowledge the one notable critique: the narrative occasionally leans more toward telling than showing. While this is a common challenge, particularly when an author is juggling an action-packed plot and a large ensemble cast within a tight page count, I found myself wishing for more moments of quiet, sensory immersion to truly anchor the characters' internal lives. Given the sheer density of events and revelations packed into this book, however, it’s a forgivable sin—the author clearly prioritized momentum, and the plot benefits immensely from that relentless pace.
Yet, where the book truly succeeds is in its fearless, almost hyperbolic exploration of the industry's dark underbelly. The plot is rife with shocking surprises, and the author skillfully exaggerates the already-vicious competitive spirit and ethical compromises of reality television. This hyperbole, however, never feels gratuitous. Instead, it acts as a fun-house mirror, distorting the reality we know to reveal its terrifying potential. For a fan of the genre, the ethical dilemmas and outrageous twists resonate with a deep, knowing truth; the book’s critique of the consumption of human struggle is potent and felt true to the genre even in its most outlandish moments.
"Escape!" is more than a thrilling read; it’s a significant piece of pop-culture commentary written from the inside. It cements the author as a voice uniquely equipped to dissect the drama they once lived.
January 28, 2026
J.T. Thomas could never.
I just did something I haven’t done in 20 years and read a 435-page novel in a single day. Does it get a little silly by the end? A little. But how can I not give it five stars?
I’m a longtime Survivor fan, and Stephen Fishbach co-hosts my favorite Survivor podcast. So, sure, I have a parasocial relationship with him and I feel a little bit like I’m reading something by a friend. I really didn’t know he had THIS in him. This book is compelling for the way it (hopefully?) satirizes and exaggerates the worst qualities of reality show production, but it does so with a literary flair marked by three distinct character voices, each of whom subtly raise questions about the reliability of the other two as narrators. And as characters I was really impressed by how well-drawn and complex their motivations were—it almost makes me wonder about the dark depths inside the mild-mannered Mr. Fishbach himself 😆
I recommend this book for anyone who loves reality TV and is willing to playfully explore their own voyeurism and love of that kind of drama. Like me!
I just did something I haven’t done in 20 years and read a 435-page novel in a single day. Does it get a little silly by the end? A little. But how can I not give it five stars?
I’m a longtime Survivor fan, and Stephen Fishbach co-hosts my favorite Survivor podcast. So, sure, I have a parasocial relationship with him and I feel a little bit like I’m reading something by a friend. I really didn’t know he had THIS in him. This book is compelling for the way it (hopefully?) satirizes and exaggerates the worst qualities of reality show production, but it does so with a literary flair marked by three distinct character voices, each of whom subtly raise questions about the reliability of the other two as narrators. And as characters I was really impressed by how well-drawn and complex their motivations were—it almost makes me wonder about the dark depths inside the mild-mannered Mr. Fishbach himself 😆
I recommend this book for anyone who loves reality TV and is willing to playfully explore their own voyeurism and love of that kind of drama. Like me!
March 11, 2026
This was implausible, melodramatic, unsubtle, slightly problematic, and filled with the most detestable characters ever. So overall a decent representation of Survivor!
2.5
2.5
February 1, 2026
wow wow wow! stephen fishbach could have handed an idol to russell hantz but jt thomas could never have written this book
January 31, 2026
somehow 0-100 real slow?? in a good way? stephen fishbach this was insane.
January 22, 2026
I went into this novel extremely excited after seeing so many rave reviews, and it absolutely held up against the seemingly never ending sea of hype. The prose is great, the story is surprising and I absolutely flew through this!
January 27, 2026
I loved this book. Like, loved it.
I’ve been a fan of Stephen Fishbach since his Survivor days, so I already knew I wanted to read Escape! — but it ended up being nothing like what I expected in the best way.
It hooked me from page one. The story is twisty and unpredictable, and I genuinely had no idea where it was going. And that almost never happens to me. I usually pride myself on being able to see the ending coming… not this time.
The writing is so clever and unique, especially the different POVs. The producer’s POV — with all the behind-the-scenes reality TV stuff — was fascinating. I could not get enough of that angle.
The pacing was great, the story was layered and complicated, and I honestly didn’t even know who or what I was supposed to be rooting for — which made it even more compelling. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished, which is always a sign of a great book for me.
If you love reality TV, Survivor, or just books you don’t want to put down because you need to know what happens next — this one is absolutely for you.
Highly recommend.
I’ve been a fan of Stephen Fishbach since his Survivor days, so I already knew I wanted to read Escape! — but it ended up being nothing like what I expected in the best way.
It hooked me from page one. The story is twisty and unpredictable, and I genuinely had no idea where it was going. And that almost never happens to me. I usually pride myself on being able to see the ending coming… not this time.
The writing is so clever and unique, especially the different POVs. The producer’s POV — with all the behind-the-scenes reality TV stuff — was fascinating. I could not get enough of that angle.
The pacing was great, the story was layered and complicated, and I honestly didn’t even know who or what I was supposed to be rooting for — which made it even more compelling. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished, which is always a sign of a great book for me.
If you love reality TV, Survivor, or just books you don’t want to put down because you need to know what happens next — this one is absolutely for you.
Highly recommend.
February 1, 2026
Kinda concerned about Stephen after reading this book because it was majorly depressing. The characters were intolerable and psychotic. This felt like a giant “f*ck you” to Survivor. I know some parts must have been grossly exaggerated, but it’s actually terrifying to think about what the producers are doing behind the scenes. But worst of all, to have Miriam basically turn into Kent?! I’m disgusted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Escape! follows a disgraced reality TV player and a producer trying to get redemption on a new Survivor-esque show. Instead of trying to outwit, outplay, and outlast the other people on the island… Escape! is about working together (or not) to escape the island.
If you know me, I’ve probably talked about Survivor Australia twenty timesthis week. I love the show, and I’m always frustrated that it takes so long for new seasons of Survivor Australia to come out. So I always attempt to watch Survivor US and, gurl, I just can’t. The players are unlikable, phony, and loud. They feel more like characters trying to step on each other for no reason than people actually playing a game. Stephen Fishbach has been a player on Survivor US twice and has worked in the reality TV business and, while the author notes that the “bad stuff” in the book is based on other shows and not Survivor… he got the characters right. They were obnoxious, unlikable, and problematic (one is sexist and obsessed with his dick, another hurts animals, another is just obsessed with winning and deliberately does awful things to others…). Anyway, this made the entire thing irritating for me.
I don’t even know how to review this because I just want to ramble about Survivor right now. So I’ll just say:
- I enjoyed that the book focused on how unscripted reality TV shows are not fully “unscripted.” The people behind the cameras put ideas in the players’ minds so they do things, don’t do things, sabotage… and when that fails, they do it themselves and manufacture the filming of it.
- I also liked the aspect of discussing what happens with the “fame” that comes from Survivor/other shows and what happens after the game (i.e., eating too much after starving).
- The discussion of how players trust the crew despite the crew being… just like them. It reminded me of a couple of times players on Survivor AU got hurt because the game setup wasn’t actually safe.
I’m giving this 2.5 stars, rounded up, because Nick Iadanza, one of my favorite Survivor AU players, liked this book ✨ thanks.
If you know me, I’ve probably talked about Survivor Australia twenty times
I don’t even know how to review this because I just want to ramble about Survivor right now. So I’ll just say:
- I enjoyed that the book focused on how unscripted reality TV shows are not fully “unscripted.” The people behind the cameras put ideas in the players’ minds so they do things, don’t do things, sabotage… and when that fails, they do it themselves and manufacture the filming of it.
- I also liked the aspect of discussing what happens with the “fame” that comes from Survivor/other shows and what happens after the game (i.e., eating too much after starving).
- The discussion of how players trust the crew despite the crew being… just like them. It reminded me of a couple of times players on Survivor AU got hurt because the game setup wasn’t actually safe.
I’m giving this 2.5 stars, rounded up, because Nick Iadanza, one of my favorite Survivor AU players, liked this book ✨ thanks.
March 20, 2026
This was a well-written satire of reality TV production, and what it does to the people making it, performing in it, and watching it. I just didn't find myself super pulled to it, which makes sense as unless it involves food or drag queens, I hate reality TV. It makes me feel bad. I thought bc this book was criticizing it I would be okay, but the atmosphere and everything else I hate about it carried over. Oh well!
Buzzword Reading Challenge: keyboard keys
Buzzword Reading Challenge: keyboard keys
February 16, 2026
The book was interesting but the 2nd half of the book until the end was a bit slow. The ending was really great though. It felt like this book could've been 100 pages shorter. How crazy things got at the end felt a bit unrealistic, even for a fictional book. As a fan of survivor and reality TV, I still enjoyed the book though.
January 19, 2026
This was a wild ride of a read. I was completely eating up the behind the scenes production bits - especially the confessionals! I was utterly obsessed with this book as a certified reality TV junkie - but I truly think anyone who picks this up is going to throughly enjoy it. It’s a very real study of the human mind and condition. Stephen’s personal experience, years of podcasting about Survivor afterwards, and behind the scenes insight from reality TV producers and camera workers help put together a striking and insightful story about reality TV and the human psyche.
Thank you Dutton Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!
Thank you Dutton Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!
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February 2, 2026As a Survivor fan, I was excited to see that Stephen Fishbach was coming out with a book. I was not expecting Escape! to be such a rollercoaster. I liked that the book was told through multiple perspectives and that we got to see both the contestants and the producers' sides. I particularly enjoyed the beginning where we got to see the build-up of Kent getting back on TV. The behind-the-scenes glimpses and show bible were fun to see as a reality tv show fan. That being said, I had a hard time picturing Kent's previous show, Endure. It was giving off Survivor/Fear Factor vibes; however, there wasn't one paragraph that truly explained the show. Kent, Beck, and Miriam were deeply flawed characters and as the story progressed, they actually became more unlikeable. Their character arcs felt very intentional on Stephen's part and although I didn't mind it, it was still difficult to watch them unravel. There were more gory and deadly scenes than I expected. The animal deaths were hard to read, and I wasn't a fan of the death at the beginning of the book. I thought Stephen expertly highlighted the struggles reality show contestants face. I liked seeing their moral dilemmas and their decision making when it came to how the viewers would perceive them. The producer's side of the story was just as compelling and highlighted how manipulative the industry can be. With the story revolving around the three main characters, we didn't get as much from the side characters as I wanted. Reflecting on this book, there were a lot of things that happened and the ending was a bit hard to follow. Overall, this story started off very strongly and went a little off the rails by the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
February 24, 2026
I was so excited to read this book as Stephen is my all time favorite Survivor player! I got to meet him on his book tour in DC and it was an incredible getting to meet an icon and a legend!
This book did not disappoint! I was really hoping for a realistic depiction of a reality tv show in book form and that is exactly what was delivered. It was well researched and also pulled from Stephen’s own experiences. I could definitely tell when the emotions the characters were feeling came straight from Stephen’s on the island.
My one critique of the novel is that there was a section in the middle that felt slow, especially when compared to the fast paced nature of the rest of the story. Otherwise, I loved the book and am excited for whatever Stephen writes next!!
****************
***SPOILERS***
****************
I want to talk about my favorite parts of the novel with spoiler warning. I absolutely adored the beginning of the book! As someone who attends Survivor fan events I loved seeing the events from the perspective of the players. Seeing them pregame for shows that they might not even get cast on felt so true to real life. I’m sure some former Survivor players are strategizing at all times.
The portion where Kent has to play Wii Sports to get the fan to delete the photos had me rolling. Hilarious section of the book. I don’t know how Stephen thought of that.
My other favorite part was the portion when the players had to vote someone into the duel to potentially get eliminated. The scramble here felt so real and my heart was pounding thinking about how the other players could be double crossing Kent. I will say, I do wish they had actually voted and Miriam didn’t just volunteer. I wish we saw more of this since it’s my favorite part of Survivor, but I understand that it would be too much of a Survivor rip off if we were voting every chapter.
This book did not disappoint! I was really hoping for a realistic depiction of a reality tv show in book form and that is exactly what was delivered. It was well researched and also pulled from Stephen’s own experiences. I could definitely tell when the emotions the characters were feeling came straight from Stephen’s on the island.
My one critique of the novel is that there was a section in the middle that felt slow, especially when compared to the fast paced nature of the rest of the story. Otherwise, I loved the book and am excited for whatever Stephen writes next!!
****************
***SPOILERS***
****************
I want to talk about my favorite parts of the novel with spoiler warning. I absolutely adored the beginning of the book! As someone who attends Survivor fan events I loved seeing the events from the perspective of the players. Seeing them pregame for shows that they might not even get cast on felt so true to real life. I’m sure some former Survivor players are strategizing at all times.
The portion where Kent has to play Wii Sports to get the fan to delete the photos had me rolling. Hilarious section of the book. I don’t know how Stephen thought of that.
My other favorite part was the portion when the players had to vote someone into the duel to potentially get eliminated. The scramble here felt so real and my heart was pounding thinking about how the other players could be double crossing Kent. I will say, I do wish they had actually voted and Miriam didn’t just volunteer. I wish we saw more of this since it’s my favorite part of Survivor, but I understand that it would be too much of a Survivor rip off if we were voting every chapter.
January 25, 2026
Thank you to Dutton for an early copy of Escape! in exchange for an honest review.
Like many Survivor fan, I was SO excited to A) get a copy and B) read this.
Listen, I’m not mad per-say, I’m just disappointed.
We follow Kent, a washed up reality TV star who made a mistake at a gala, and Beck, a reality TV producer who needs to salvage her career as they embark on a brand new survival reality show called Escape!
Everyone is under pressure: Kent needs to be able to make money again and Beck needs to keep her job by any means necessary.
While I think Fishbach tried to bring all of the different aspects of reality TV together, I don’t think the plot actually worked. The ending (and really the entire last part) gave me a sense of “am I dreaming or could this have been explained better with a different POV?”
Say it with me: just because a book has some thrilling aspects, does not make it a thriller
What would have made this more successful for me:
• Adding in some multimedia aspects in here could’ve improved the TV aspect of this for me
• If this was described as something besides a thriller (it’s not a thriller)
• One or two chapters from two specific character POVs would’ve pulled it all together
In the end, I loved the premise, but the execution didn’t strike a fire for me.
Like many Survivor fan, I was SO excited to A) get a copy and B) read this.
Listen, I’m not mad per-say, I’m just disappointed.
We follow Kent, a washed up reality TV star who made a mistake at a gala, and Beck, a reality TV producer who needs to salvage her career as they embark on a brand new survival reality show called Escape!
Everyone is under pressure: Kent needs to be able to make money again and Beck needs to keep her job by any means necessary.
While I think Fishbach tried to bring all of the different aspects of reality TV together, I don’t think the plot actually worked. The ending (and really the entire last part) gave me a sense of “am I dreaming or could this have been explained better with a different POV?”
Say it with me: just because a book has some thrilling aspects, does not make it a thriller
What would have made this more successful for me:
• Adding in some multimedia aspects in here could’ve improved the TV aspect of this for me
• If this was described as something besides a thriller (it’s not a thriller)
• One or two chapters from two specific character POVs would’ve pulled it all together
In the end, I loved the premise, but the execution didn’t strike a fire for me.
March 6, 2026
The morning I finished this book, I also was listening to the latest RHAP Know-It-Alls episode with Stephen Fishbach, which is to say, I am a big fan of Stephen. I've rooted for him in both of his Survivor seasons, I love listening to his commentary on Survivor each week, I love his Blood on the Clocktower videos, and I was really excited to read his first book. So it really pains me that I wasn't as into as I wish I was. I do have a lot of respect for Stephen and I will continue to read his books, but I have several problems with this book.
One of the things I noticed about this book was how it felt like it was really trying hard to describe things in new ways, which I understand wanting to say something new and not cliche, but it would sometimes feel clunky or unnecessary. The most egregious example of this is when the contestants go to their first challenge and there's a sentence that goes "A shiver ran through Kent's prostate, like right before he orgasms." Huh??? That's another thing I had a problem with, there were so many unnecessary weird sexual stuff. Listen, I am not a prude, but the way it was written in this book just made me cringe. And again, they are on an island where they are dirty and starving, and you're thinking of sex? As Michaela Bradshaw once said "You stink, your mouth is nasty, your got sand in your drawers, and you kissing somebody. That’s disgusting." This is like the least romantic environment and so when I realized they were trying to set up a romance with Kent and Miriam, I got really annoyed. For example here's another description from Miriam's perspective "Think of Kent tonight in the shelter when you win, his dick jumping with joyful pride." Like that just grosses me out. Though I am realizing, maybe this is because I primarily read books written by women where I never see sentences like this.
A big part of why I just couldn't get into this book was because my opinion on this characters ranged from neutral to actual hatred. I could not stand Kent. I despise cheaters so when we are introduced to him in the first few chapters with him cheating, it was going to do a lot to win me over, but he just rapidly got worse. And the thing is, I can do unlikable main characters, I think those can be fun characters, but I don't think I was supposed to hate Kent like I did. The best thing this man did in the whole book was not kiss Miriam even though I felt the book wanted me to be sad that he didn't. I didn't want Miriam to fall for a loser of a man that he is and just for her to stay away from him. I was not sad he died at all, and by this point, I was not even sad on Miriam's behalf. I couldn't believe that both Kent and Miriam were claiming they were in love with each other. If we're going with Survivor references here, this isn't Rob and Amber, this is Figgy and Taylor. I liked Miriam alright at the beginning but her story devolving into mostly being about her romance with Kent really bothered me so then I grew to not really like her either. Beck was fine, I too found her more interesting in the beginning. I think I just got kinda bored in the middle of this book. Also, I don't really like how the perspectives were written. Beck's chapters are first person, while Kent and Miriam's chapters are third person.
I do want to give some things I liked about the book. I enjoyed the Survivor references scattered about. I will never not laugh at a "severe gastrointestinal distress" joke, especially when Stephen is the one doing so. I did find the production tampering and twisting the story to be interesting and it did make me want to go onto Survivor to see how true it is. I thought the ending with Kent's death was interesting though I have no idea how they were able to air the show like that. Overall, this book isn't terrible, it's well written especially for a debut but I had a problem with some of the writing, the characters, and for me some of the story lines just didn't feel like it ended in a satisfying way.
One of the things I noticed about this book was how it felt like it was really trying hard to describe things in new ways, which I understand wanting to say something new and not cliche, but it would sometimes feel clunky or unnecessary. The most egregious example of this is when the contestants go to their first challenge and there's a sentence that goes "A shiver ran through Kent's prostate, like right before he orgasms." Huh??? That's another thing I had a problem with, there were so many unnecessary weird sexual stuff. Listen, I am not a prude, but the way it was written in this book just made me cringe. And again, they are on an island where they are dirty and starving, and you're thinking of sex? As Michaela Bradshaw once said "You stink, your mouth is nasty, your got sand in your drawers, and you kissing somebody. That’s disgusting." This is like the least romantic environment and so when I realized they were trying to set up a romance with Kent and Miriam, I got really annoyed. For example here's another description from Miriam's perspective "Think of Kent tonight in the shelter when you win, his dick jumping with joyful pride." Like that just grosses me out. Though I am realizing, maybe this is because I primarily read books written by women where I never see sentences like this.
A big part of why I just couldn't get into this book was because my opinion on this characters ranged from neutral to actual hatred. I could not stand Kent. I despise cheaters so when we are introduced to him in the first few chapters with him cheating, it was going to do a lot to win me over, but he just rapidly got worse. And the thing is, I can do unlikable main characters, I think those can be fun characters, but I don't think I was supposed to hate Kent like I did. The best thing this man did in the whole book was not kiss Miriam even though I felt the book wanted me to be sad that he didn't. I didn't want Miriam to fall for a loser of a man that he is and just for her to stay away from him. I was not sad he died at all, and by this point, I was not even sad on Miriam's behalf. I couldn't believe that both Kent and Miriam were claiming they were in love with each other. If we're going with Survivor references here, this isn't Rob and Amber, this is Figgy and Taylor. I liked Miriam alright at the beginning but her story devolving into mostly being about her romance with Kent really bothered me so then I grew to not really like her either. Beck was fine, I too found her more interesting in the beginning. I think I just got kinda bored in the middle of this book. Also, I don't really like how the perspectives were written. Beck's chapters are first person, while Kent and Miriam's chapters are third person.
I do want to give some things I liked about the book. I enjoyed the Survivor references scattered about. I will never not laugh at a "severe gastrointestinal distress" joke, especially when Stephen is the one doing so. I did find the production tampering and twisting the story to be interesting and it did make me want to go onto Survivor to see how true it is. I thought the ending with Kent's death was interesting though I have no idea how they were able to air the show like that. Overall, this book isn't terrible, it's well written especially for a debut but I had a problem with some of the writing, the characters, and for me some of the story lines just didn't feel like it ended in a satisfying way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
3.5/5 stars
This is a review of the ebook and audiobook. In the audiobook Beck is performed by Julia Whelan, Kent is performed by Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Miriam is performed by Imani Jade Powers.
I love the competitive reality show Survivor. So I was very excited to read this debut novel from former Survivor contestant Stephen Fishbach.
It is about a fictional reality show called Escape. The show has eight contestants who compete to “escape” from a remote island.
The story has 3 main characters: Kent (a former reality show winner), Beck (a story producer) and Miriam (a nerdy young contestant on the show).
I loved that this book is about a fictional competitive reality show. And I really liked that the author shows us the perspectives of both the contestants and a producer.
The audiobook is very good. Sean Patrick Hopkins is good as Kent. Julia Whelan and Imani Jade Powers are excellent as Beck and Miriam. Julia Whelan has quickly become a favorite. I thought that she was so good as Beck. This is my first time listening to Imani. And I thought that she was perfect for the character of Miriam.
Beck is a disgraced reality show producer who is given a second chance on Escape. I am fascinated by story producers on reality shows. In this book the producers are manipulative. I would love to know how this portrayal compare to what actually occurs on competitive reality shows.
There are parts of this story that I really enjoyed. I was not expecting the story to start before they are on the island. I did like the middle. But the book is long. And I found certain parts towards the end were too out there.
I am definitely happy that I read this. I love listening to Stephen Fishbach talk about Survivor weekly. And I love that a book exists featuring a competitive reality tv show.
*Stephen Fishbach was a contestant on Survivor Tocantins (S18) and Survivor Cambodia (S31). He is also the cohost of the Survivor Know It Alls podcast with Rob Cesternino.
Thanks to Dutton and netgalley for the ebook.
This is a review of the ebook and audiobook. In the audiobook Beck is performed by Julia Whelan, Kent is performed by Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Miriam is performed by Imani Jade Powers.
I love the competitive reality show Survivor. So I was very excited to read this debut novel from former Survivor contestant Stephen Fishbach.
It is about a fictional reality show called Escape. The show has eight contestants who compete to “escape” from a remote island.
The story has 3 main characters: Kent (a former reality show winner), Beck (a story producer) and Miriam (a nerdy young contestant on the show).
I loved that this book is about a fictional competitive reality show. And I really liked that the author shows us the perspectives of both the contestants and a producer.
The audiobook is very good. Sean Patrick Hopkins is good as Kent. Julia Whelan and Imani Jade Powers are excellent as Beck and Miriam. Julia Whelan has quickly become a favorite. I thought that she was so good as Beck. This is my first time listening to Imani. And I thought that she was perfect for the character of Miriam.
Beck is a disgraced reality show producer who is given a second chance on Escape. I am fascinated by story producers on reality shows. In this book the producers are manipulative. I would love to know how this portrayal compare to what actually occurs on competitive reality shows.
There are parts of this story that I really enjoyed. I was not expecting the story to start before they are on the island. I did like the middle. But the book is long. And I found certain parts towards the end were too out there.
I am definitely happy that I read this. I love listening to Stephen Fishbach talk about Survivor weekly. And I love that a book exists featuring a competitive reality tv show.
*Stephen Fishbach was a contestant on Survivor Tocantins (S18) and Survivor Cambodia (S31). He is also the cohost of the Survivor Know It Alls podcast with Rob Cesternino.
Thanks to Dutton and netgalley for the ebook.
March 13, 2026
Was waiting to review since Kendall is reading but early discussion seems like we share a lot of thoughts and feelings about the book so here we go.
I wanted to love this book. Went to the author talk and all. It’s a solid 3.
It’s too long. Plain and simple. Probably could have been 100 pages shorter. The GOAT (Agatha Christie) can whip up a mystery in 200 breezy pages. No reason this needed to be 450.
A point in favor of the book was the insider point of view of what reality competition “characters” go through and the producing of the contests. On the flip side, I feel like this was overindulged and led to some shark-jumpy moments.
Overall, some fun moments and a very unique plot and story, just was a bit laborious in the end.
I wanted to love this book. Went to the author talk and all. It’s a solid 3.
It’s too long. Plain and simple. Probably could have been 100 pages shorter. The GOAT (Agatha Christie) can whip up a mystery in 200 breezy pages. No reason this needed to be 450.
A point in favor of the book was the insider point of view of what reality competition “characters” go through and the producing of the contests. On the flip side, I feel like this was overindulged and led to some shark-jumpy moments.
Overall, some fun moments and a very unique plot and story, just was a bit laborious in the end.
March 22, 2026
Like the TV show Unreal, but for Survivor and wilderness shows. Stephen Fishbach is obviously very knowledgeable about this topic, which makes it a fun, quick read. The ending is bonkers and went in directions I didn't expect.
I do think you need some basis of reality TV knowledge to understand why this community is so insular, ego-driven and obsessed with the "edit."
I do think you need some basis of reality TV knowledge to understand why this community is so insular, ego-driven and obsessed with the "edit."
February 7, 2026
*Thanks to PRH Audio for my e-ALC and Dutton for my e-ARC (out now); all opinions are my own.*
This novel by former Survivor contestant Stephen Fishbach is a look behind the scenes of fictional reality tv show Escape from the perspective of a producer and two contestants. We see the lead up to the show and then the filming as things get increasingly crazy. Think Survivor meets Lord of the Flies.
As a reality contestant himself Fishbach clearly knows his stuff! And my good friend @readingismycardiobookclub who is a reality tv producer herself said that this book does the best job of portraying what it’s like to be a reality producer that she has ever seen. (Which frankly given what goes on in this book is a little scary!) Definitely a propulsive and entertaining read, though a bit too long. And the end got a little too dark in its satire for me.
I listened to this on audio and the multi-cast narration by Julia Whelan, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Imani Jade Powers was fantastic and really brought the story to life.
3.75 stars
This novel by former Survivor contestant Stephen Fishbach is a look behind the scenes of fictional reality tv show Escape from the perspective of a producer and two contestants. We see the lead up to the show and then the filming as things get increasingly crazy. Think Survivor meets Lord of the Flies.
As a reality contestant himself Fishbach clearly knows his stuff! And my good friend @readingismycardiobookclub who is a reality tv producer herself said that this book does the best job of portraying what it’s like to be a reality producer that she has ever seen. (Which frankly given what goes on in this book is a little scary!) Definitely a propulsive and entertaining read, though a bit too long. And the end got a little too dark in its satire for me.
I listened to this on audio and the multi-cast narration by Julia Whelan, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Imani Jade Powers was fantastic and really brought the story to life.
3.75 stars
February 18, 2026
4.75 stars ⭐️
If you enjoy Survivor or reality tv competition shows, this is a MUST READ. So fun, intense. Feels like watching tv. Ending was a little flat for me, which is why it’s not fully 5 stars for me. But I absolutely loved it!
If you enjoy Survivor or reality tv competition shows, this is a MUST READ. So fun, intense. Feels like watching tv. Ending was a little flat for me, which is why it’s not fully 5 stars for me. But I absolutely loved it!
February 3, 2026
WOW! What an ending. This book is a perfect thriller for anyone who likes to read about reality TV. This year has brought us a few fun books about the production of reality TV, but is it any surprise that the best one is the debut novel of a podcaster about reality TV and a veteran of Survivor?
Escape is a show that is a combination of Survivor and Naked and Afraid. There is no host, a treasure chest gets money added to it daily, and 8 people get to spend 45 days trying to survive and keeping the treasure from the others. A full cast audio, we get 3 distinct voices here.
Beck- an associate producer, she had a tragedy on a show about surfing dogs and has come to this production to rebuild her brand
Miriam- a young marketing associate who is rather meek and everyone thinks will be leaving quickly, except Beck who wants Miriam to be the hero
Kent- back for more, this middle aged Alpha male is grizzled by his former experience and has left his shambles of a marriage
I was very engaged in this and as a debut novel I was particularly impressed by the pacing. It is fun from the beginning and it paints a picture of survival TV as a business. Everyone gets the story arc they deserve!
Do you need to ESCAPE? Have I got the book for you!
Escape is a show that is a combination of Survivor and Naked and Afraid. There is no host, a treasure chest gets money added to it daily, and 8 people get to spend 45 days trying to survive and keeping the treasure from the others. A full cast audio, we get 3 distinct voices here.
Beck- an associate producer, she had a tragedy on a show about surfing dogs and has come to this production to rebuild her brand
Miriam- a young marketing associate who is rather meek and everyone thinks will be leaving quickly, except Beck who wants Miriam to be the hero
Kent- back for more, this middle aged Alpha male is grizzled by his former experience and has left his shambles of a marriage
I was very engaged in this and as a debut novel I was particularly impressed by the pacing. It is fun from the beginning and it paints a picture of survival TV as a business. Everyone gets the story arc they deserve!
Do you need to ESCAPE? Have I got the book for you!
December 4, 2025
I went into this book very excited and with high expectations as I am a huge Survivor fan and have enjoyed Fishbach’s commentary about the show for many years. I am happy to say that this book absolutely lived up to my expectations.
This book was engaging from start to finish. I especially appreciated the multiple narratives from both the contestants POV and the producers. As someone who has always been fascinated by the ins and outs of reality television production, I found the producer's storyline particularly intriguing. While, you can definitely see similarities between characters in the book and some big characters on Survivor, the characters still feel fully realized and three dimensional.
What I was especially delighted by in this book was the amount of action. I was originally dubious when I saw the length of the book, but Fishbach manages to keep this book action packed and I can genuinely say I had no clue what was going to happen next. For someone who has consumed as many reality competition shows as I have, this was especially refreshing and fun.
I highly recommend this one! If you enjoy high stakes adventure and reality television it will not disappoint.
Thank you to Dutton & NetGalley for the eARC!
This book was engaging from start to finish. I especially appreciated the multiple narratives from both the contestants POV and the producers. As someone who has always been fascinated by the ins and outs of reality television production, I found the producer's storyline particularly intriguing. While, you can definitely see similarities between characters in the book and some big characters on Survivor, the characters still feel fully realized and three dimensional.
What I was especially delighted by in this book was the amount of action. I was originally dubious when I saw the length of the book, but Fishbach manages to keep this book action packed and I can genuinely say I had no clue what was going to happen next. For someone who has consumed as many reality competition shows as I have, this was especially refreshing and fun.
I highly recommend this one! If you enjoy high stakes adventure and reality television it will not disappoint.
Thank you to Dutton & NetGalley for the eARC!
February 10, 2026
I really wanted to love this, but it was a DNF for me. I’m so sorry! I got 2/3 of the way in and just couldn’t do it anymore.
September 20, 2025
*thank you to netgalley and dutton for this arc in exchange for an honest review*
out of all the reality tv–themed novels i’ve read, this one was by far the most fun. the structure is neat and systematic: first meeting the contestants, then the production chaos. we mainly follow kent (an old star who wants to shine one more time), miriam (the nerd archetype who becomes so much more), and beck (a morally ambiguous producer desperate for her own comeback). through their eyes, the story shifts between the staged spectacle and the messy reality behind the scenes.
what really worked for me is how the novel feels like watching an actual reality show. the alliances, rivalries, the meddling, and sinister little twists build in a way that feels both outrageous and somewhat realistic. the plot is so well thought out that i found myself grinning at how cleverly it unfolded.
in a nutshell: Escape! nails that mix of entertainment and tension. it's propulsive, smart, and genuinely addictive.
out of all the reality tv–themed novels i’ve read, this one was by far the most fun. the structure is neat and systematic: first meeting the contestants, then the production chaos. we mainly follow kent (an old star who wants to shine one more time), miriam (the nerd archetype who becomes so much more), and beck (a morally ambiguous producer desperate for her own comeback). through their eyes, the story shifts between the staged spectacle and the messy reality behind the scenes.
what really worked for me is how the novel feels like watching an actual reality show. the alliances, rivalries, the meddling, and sinister little twists build in a way that feels both outrageous and somewhat realistic. the plot is so well thought out that i found myself grinning at how cleverly it unfolded.
in a nutshell: Escape! nails that mix of entertainment and tension. it's propulsive, smart, and genuinely addictive.
March 22, 2026
“I wish I was Escape! by Stephen Fishbach, so you would pay as much attention to me,” someone close to me said the other day.
Full disclosure I am a Stephen fan and a reality TV contestant so I’m absolutely biased but I tore through this thing so fast and had a blast. I haven’t had a compelling, easy read like that since Tomorrow x3. Yes, I mean it.
There is something VERY personal about this novel that balances three different POVs and keeps you guessing until the end and not entirely sure who you’re rooting for either.
I guess I’m trying to come to terms with Stephen finally being the one to write the great American reality TV novel. I also feel like Escape! leaves way more story to tell and I hope Fishbach keeps writing more.
The novel is both literary and, dare I say, fun? It’s actually enjoyable to read, which for me (4-5 novels/year) is a fantastic balance. I’m left thinking about the themes, my own experiences on television, and best of all, I was really really entertained.
I will read this again one day.
Full disclosure I am a Stephen fan and a reality TV contestant so I’m absolutely biased but I tore through this thing so fast and had a blast. I haven’t had a compelling, easy read like that since Tomorrow x3. Yes, I mean it.
There is something VERY personal about this novel that balances three different POVs and keeps you guessing until the end and not entirely sure who you’re rooting for either.
I guess I’m trying to come to terms with Stephen finally being the one to write the great American reality TV novel. I also feel like Escape! leaves way more story to tell and I hope Fishbach keeps writing more.
The novel is both literary and, dare I say, fun? It’s actually enjoyable to read, which for me (4-5 novels/year) is a fantastic balance. I’m left thinking about the themes, my own experiences on television, and best of all, I was really really entertained.
I will read this again one day.
February 5, 2026
What the f***????????
I pre-ordered this book because it’s another guy whose podcast I’m a huge fan of who wrote a book. And it’s about reality tv, a recent (who am I kidding? Long-term) obsession of mine.
This isn’t like any other book I’ve read about reality tv. If you’re expecting a feel-good story about how everyone’s life changed for the better from it, you’ll be disappointed.
This story was gut-wrenching at times, funny at others, utterly disturbing at a few? It blew my (high) expectations out of the water. I had no idea what was going to happen and got so invested in the characters I found myself surprised by a gripping plot as well. It’s hard to explain what makes this book 5 stars without going into spoilers but I guess just trust me on this one, it was really freaking good.
I pre-ordered this book because it’s another guy whose podcast I’m a huge fan of who wrote a book. And it’s about reality tv, a recent (who am I kidding? Long-term) obsession of mine.
This isn’t like any other book I’ve read about reality tv. If you’re expecting a feel-good story about how everyone’s life changed for the better from it, you’ll be disappointed.
This story was gut-wrenching at times, funny at others, utterly disturbing at a few? It blew my (high) expectations out of the water. I had no idea what was going to happen and got so invested in the characters I found myself surprised by a gripping plot as well. It’s hard to explain what makes this book 5 stars without going into spoilers but I guess just trust me on this one, it was really freaking good.
February 27, 2026
I’ve only seen Survivor a few times after the first season came out decades ago, but I plan to try the new season. I’m not super into reality tv, but mainly because I have very limited tv-watching time.
I picked up this book because my second novel that I’m currently revising includes a reality tv element, so I’ve been studying potential comps. This book was fantastic for that! It’s a great blend of reality tv drama, strong character development, and bigger-picture meaning-of-life reflections.
I enjoyed the rotating perspectives and the stakes exceeding what is typically expected for reality tv (and the exploration of what that would mean). I don’t want to spoil it, but I think it made sense to have the story go in the direction it did toward the end. The beginning of the book sets it up well.
I think the author’s perspective as a Survivor contestant (and the additional research/interviews he did) provides an authentic and nuanced portrayal of the topic, and I’d read more from him.
Overall, this was a fun read and I’ll likely use it as a comp when I’m ready to query for my novel (so I have a small stake in this book doing well - I hope more readers find it! 😆). It effectively layered the drama and humor of reality tv with thoughtful considerations. It certainly delivered on my expectations based on the description.
I picked up this book because my second novel that I’m currently revising includes a reality tv element, so I’ve been studying potential comps. This book was fantastic for that! It’s a great blend of reality tv drama, strong character development, and bigger-picture meaning-of-life reflections.
I enjoyed the rotating perspectives and the stakes exceeding what is typically expected for reality tv (and the exploration of what that would mean). I don’t want to spoil it, but I think it made sense to have the story go in the direction it did toward the end. The beginning of the book sets it up well.
I think the author’s perspective as a Survivor contestant (and the additional research/interviews he did) provides an authentic and nuanced portrayal of the topic, and I’d read more from him.
Overall, this was a fun read and I’ll likely use it as a comp when I’m ready to query for my novel (so I have a small stake in this book doing well - I hope more readers find it! 😆). It effectively layered the drama and humor of reality tv with thoughtful considerations. It certainly delivered on my expectations based on the description.
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