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Escape!: A Novel
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.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2026
448 people are currently reading
15852 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 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!
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 30, 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.
January 31, 2026
somehow 0-100 real slow?? in a good way? stephen fishbach this was insane.
February 1, 2026
This was implausible, melodramatic, unsubtle, and filled with the most unlikable characters ever. So overall a decent representation of Survivor!
I was entertained by this reality competition "thriller," but it's kind of in the way I like the season Game Changers, in that every once in awhile something made me grimace. The main character, Kent, is a washed up winner of a Survivor-like show (however NOT Survivor, because Survivor is also canon in this universe and discussed), and the absolute worst. He's also obviously not someone we're fully meant to get on board with, but it's hard to separate how Kent treats and talks about women with the fact that it's no better in chapters from other perspectives, including the women.
Speaking of, some of the more entertaining parts were from the other perspectives, notably Beck, a camera-op whose POV gives us a glimpse into the manipulation tactics used in reality competition shows. The characters are horrible people, vile, nasty -- true to reality TV! My issue is that the characters fit these specific archetypes, which are iterally spelled out in the book, when Kent finds a story bible explaining everyone in the competition's backstory. Rather than subvert or play into these tropes, I felt like the book used this to cut corners establishing this cast of characters. (There are also some Survivor contestant easter eggs scattered in these backstories — at least i assume intentional — and some are definitely interesting!)
But again, like a mediocre season of Survivor, I was generally entertained. The story takes awhile getting to the actual filming of the show, spends too much time in the middle, and breezes through the crazy parts, but it's readable, and its flaws work to it benefits if you imagine it as a slasher -- completely unbelievable, ridiculous, requisite misogyny, and you might be rooting for everyone's demise, but that’s probably mostly intentional.
2.5
I was entertained by this reality competition "thriller," but it's kind of in the way I like the season Game Changers, in that every once in awhile something made me grimace. The main character, Kent, is a washed up winner of a Survivor-like show (however NOT Survivor, because Survivor is also canon in this universe and discussed), and the absolute worst. He's also obviously not someone we're fully meant to get on board with, but it's hard to separate how Kent treats and talks about women with the fact that it's no better in chapters from other perspectives, including the women.
Speaking of, some of the more entertaining parts were from the other perspectives, notably Beck, a camera-op whose POV gives us a glimpse into the manipulation tactics used in reality competition shows. The characters are horrible people, vile, nasty -- true to reality TV! My issue is that the characters fit these specific archetypes, which are iterally spelled out in the book, when Kent finds a story bible explaining everyone in the competition's backstory. Rather than subvert or play into these tropes, I felt like the book used this to cut corners establishing this cast of characters. (There are also some Survivor contestant easter eggs scattered in these backstories — at least i assume intentional — and some are definitely interesting!)
But again, like a mediocre season of Survivor, I was generally entertained. The story takes awhile getting to the actual filming of the show, spends too much time in the middle, and breezes through the crazy parts, but it's readable, and its flaws work to it benefits if you imagine it as a slasher -- completely unbelievable, ridiculous, requisite misogyny, and you might be rooting for everyone's demise, but that’s probably mostly intentional.
2.5
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 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!
Read
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
Review of advance copy
✨ 3.75/4 stars ✨
As someone who’s been forced (lovingly) to watch every season of Survivor thanks to my husband, I knew I had to pick this one up—and I’m so glad I did.
Escape! pulls back the curtain on the messy, uncomfortable, and often manufactured reality of reality TV, and it was fascinating from start to finish.
I genuinely felt like I was watching a show unfold: the jungle atmosphere, the confession-style interviews, the strategic maneuvering, and the way contestants are edited into “types.” It’s sharp, self-aware, and honestly just fun. Stephen Fishbach clearly knows this world inside and out, and it shows.
Even though some sections felt a bit overdone for me—extra dialogue and drawn-out moments made the book longer than it needed to be, and it took a while to really get going- I was fully invested.
Overall, I had a great time with this one. It’s a smart, entertaining look at manipulation on tv, how far some willTV, to win and finding ones true "arc"
As someone who’s been forced (lovingly) to watch every season of Survivor thanks to my husband, I knew I had to pick this one up—and I’m so glad I did.
Escape! pulls back the curtain on the messy, uncomfortable, and often manufactured reality of reality TV, and it was fascinating from start to finish.
I genuinely felt like I was watching a show unfold: the jungle atmosphere, the confession-style interviews, the strategic maneuvering, and the way contestants are edited into “types.” It’s sharp, self-aware, and honestly just fun. Stephen Fishbach clearly knows this world inside and out, and it shows.
Even though some sections felt a bit overdone for me—extra dialogue and drawn-out moments made the book longer than it needed to be, and it took a while to really get going- I was fully invested.
Overall, I had a great time with this one. It’s a smart, entertaining look at manipulation on tv, how far some willTV, to win and finding ones true "arc"
January 31, 2026
Yikes. Stood in B&N and started reading this with the intention to purchase it. I was immediately turned off by the corny dialogue, overuse of sloppy similes, and head scratchingly odd sentences.
Think I am being overly critical? You tell me what “she had a voice like a cowbell” means. Its used more than once in the first few pages.
For ultra fans of Survivor only.
I didn’t read far, but I read far enough to know that not even the best plot would keep me engaged.
$35 saved.
Think I am being overly critical? You tell me what “she had a voice like a cowbell” means. Its used more than once in the first few pages.
For ultra fans of Survivor only.
I didn’t read far, but I read far enough to know that not even the best plot would keep me engaged.
$35 saved.
November 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 🌶️/5 (a couple closed-door scenes and kissing)
⚠️Trigger warnings at the bottom - read if you have sensitivities but skip if you don’t want spoilers
This was such a fun wilderness survival reality show thriller! The plot was full of unpredictable twists and turns. It was fun to peel back the curtain and see both the producer’s and the player’s point of view. I wasn’t quite sure if the narrators were reliable, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing was lush and immersive.
The author is a legendary Survivor player, and his real experience lent a lot of authenticity to what it was like surviving in the jungle.
Although the characters were compelling, I had a hard time connecting with them. I also wish the ending was more satisfying.
Highly recommend to fans of toxic characters, twisty thrillers, and reality tv!
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⚠️ trigger/content warnings: death of a dog, drug use, mental illness, injury, blood, murder
Spice: 🌶️/5 (a couple closed-door scenes and kissing)
⚠️Trigger warnings at the bottom - read if you have sensitivities but skip if you don’t want spoilers
This was such a fun wilderness survival reality show thriller! The plot was full of unpredictable twists and turns. It was fun to peel back the curtain and see both the producer’s and the player’s point of view. I wasn’t quite sure if the narrators were reliable, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing was lush and immersive.
The author is a legendary Survivor player, and his real experience lent a lot of authenticity to what it was like surviving in the jungle.
Although the characters were compelling, I had a hard time connecting with them. I also wish the ending was more satisfying.
Highly recommend to fans of toxic characters, twisty thrillers, and reality tv!
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⚠️ trigger/content warnings: death of a dog, drug use, mental illness, injury, blood, murder
January 28, 2026
So FUN! Super rough draft - 4.5 stars
#ad much love for my finished copy @duttonbooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Escape!
< @
As a girl who grew up watching reality TV - the Real World, Big Brother, Road Rules (The Challenge) I couldn’t wait to read this book. I never got into Survivor much tho - only watched I think 1 season.
Funny, sad, a range of emotions while reading.
I liked how the story was broken up into parts, of course each part ramping up as the story progressed.
I also loved how we got perspectives of both the production and the contestants. This dual POV is what really made this a five star read for me.
While I wish the games themselves had been a little more high-stakes - complex or more complicated - the plot carries itself and surprisingly (while it would have bothered me in other books) it didn’t ruin anything for me.
Exceptionally written with vibrant and complex characters.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and loved it. The dual narration made this a perfect listen and I def recommend listening to this one.
Beck - producer with a previous scandal
Kent - was on an older reality TV show offered to come back for charity
3 parts
And just what?!? 😂🫠
Face like a bruised orange
Pancake makeup
Monkey poop 🐒
Loser energy 👏🏼👏🏼
“I have a wife (person 1)
I have a Facebook” (person 2) 😂😂😂😂😂
Hair like a hedgehog
Death of dog and Pig
#ad much love for my finished copy @duttonbooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Escape!
< @
As a girl who grew up watching reality TV - the Real World, Big Brother, Road Rules (The Challenge) I couldn’t wait to read this book. I never got into Survivor much tho - only watched I think 1 season.
Funny, sad, a range of emotions while reading.
I liked how the story was broken up into parts, of course each part ramping up as the story progressed.
I also loved how we got perspectives of both the production and the contestants. This dual POV is what really made this a five star read for me.
While I wish the games themselves had been a little more high-stakes - complex or more complicated - the plot carries itself and surprisingly (while it would have bothered me in other books) it didn’t ruin anything for me.
Exceptionally written with vibrant and complex characters.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and loved it. The dual narration made this a perfect listen and I def recommend listening to this one.
Beck - producer with a previous scandal
Kent - was on an older reality TV show offered to come back for charity
3 parts
And just what?!? 😂🫠
Face like a bruised orange
Pancake makeup
Monkey poop 🐒
Loser energy 👏🏼👏🏼
“I have a wife (person 1)
I have a Facebook” (person 2) 😂😂😂😂😂
Hair like a hedgehog
Death of dog and Pig
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 2, 2026
2.5 stars. I don’t know what I thought would happen in this book, but I ended up disappointed. I think a big part was I didn’t know who I was supposed to root for and when I did pick someone, I didn’t know what I was hoping they would do. I felt constantly ya led around and I hated everyone. I also have read other books and seen shows which detail the behind the scenes grossness of reality shows so this didn’t tell me anything new.
January 31, 2026
Loved it! Equal parts literary fiction and pager turner, Escape! is the most fun I've had with a book in a long time. Stephen Fishbach is a great writer, and sentence for sentence this book can stand next to anything out there. Also for non-Survivor fans, don't worry! I'm not much of one myself, just love a good read and I ripped this. Can't wait to read what he writes next!
February 1, 2026
4.5. This book was a wild ride in the best way possible. A behind the scenes look at reality tv production and the drama surrounding it. Well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns along the way.
Thank you Goodreads and Dutton books for this arc!
Thank you Goodreads and Dutton books for this arc!
January 29, 2026
Ugugugugygygyg(=(=(=(=6+5-&-4-&-&*&@4#*-*
January 29, 2026
This started off really strong & then absolutely lost the plot.
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
February 1, 2026
Woah! This crazy story made me think of how one of my favorite shows, Survivor, is made in a whole new light! What's real, What's not?! Who knows!
Read
October 18, 2025This will be someone’s 5 star read — alas, that person isn’t me. I simply didn’t connect with the primary characters in time for them to make an impact, and while I had fun with the first and last quarters of the book, the middle ultimately fell flat for me.
There are some insightful paragraphs and killer lines in the book, and the author’s own life experience helps to create a vivid atmosphere and lifelike storytelling…which may actually be where the book lost me. Reading about the parts of the reality show that get cut before they hit the air, while important for the plot here, is, well, a reminder of why so much gets cut. There’s drama, but it didn’t feel like it meant much in the end. That could be a testament to part of the point the book is making, of course, but maybe I just expected a genre that this is not.
The game itself seemed a bit flimsy to me, perhaps because it’s really a backdrop for the characters to move against. Then again, perhaps I’m just still busy being bitter about how terrible this season of Love Is Blind has been (I joke, although half of that is true)
I have a personal rule against submitting a star rating under 4 before a book has hit 50 reviews, but between you and I, this one was a 3.5 for me. By no means a bad book, just not my match ⭐️
I would recommend this more for a reader looking for a character-driven, multi-POV story that happens to include an interesting perspective on the world of reality TV, I would not recommend it for a reader who’s in it for edge-of-your-seat suspense or the game itself
There are some insightful paragraphs and killer lines in the book, and the author’s own life experience helps to create a vivid atmosphere and lifelike storytelling…which may actually be where the book lost me. Reading about the parts of the reality show that get cut before they hit the air, while important for the plot here, is, well, a reminder of why so much gets cut. There’s drama, but it didn’t feel like it meant much in the end. That could be a testament to part of the point the book is making, of course, but maybe I just expected a genre that this is not.
The game itself seemed a bit flimsy to me, perhaps because it’s really a backdrop for the characters to move against. Then again, perhaps I’m just still busy being bitter about how terrible this season of Love Is Blind has been (I joke, although half of that is true)
I have a personal rule against submitting a star rating under 4 before a book has hit 50 reviews, but between you and I, this one was a 3.5 for me. By no means a bad book, just not my match ⭐️
I would recommend this more for a reader looking for a character-driven, multi-POV story that happens to include an interesting perspective on the world of reality TV, I would not recommend it for a reader who’s in it for edge-of-your-seat suspense or the game itself
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Through the looking glass and outside a packed concert, JUKEBOX HERO is the ditty about a boy, a six-string and the herculean, or Munchausened feat of pulling oneself out of obscurity and into the lime-lighted hot seat of stardom and fame. Inventive shenanigans aside, JUKEBOX HERO was the third single of FOREIGNER's fourth studio album and also addressed humble beginnings and remembering who you were. Promoted as a faded star and a disgraced producer both on a quest for redemption, ESCAPE! is in reality about all the people with big stories inside them, yearning to get out, pining to get on reality TV and leave their mark. It's the brutal and exploitative side of Reality TV, plumbing the depths of the human soul, showcasing what really happens when people are stranded together in the jungle and exposing the true nature of humanity. A show designed to strip contestants to their cores, ESCAPE! chronicles the return of a hero, remembering the path, appeasing the Jungle Gods, and pushing the boundaries of the medium. It's all the things viewers wouldn't expect to happen on reality TV but probably did or could. They certainly do in ESCAPE!--edited and color corrected for survival reality TV novel perfection.
Proof that the contestants' show experience lasts a fistful of weeks, the money a couple of years but that the TV show is forever, Kent Duvall coasts on reality TV fumes in a gluten free California salad mix of sun drenched fun enthusiasts and ruthless fame chasers. He's a former winner of a fictional SURVIVOR style show, his heyday fifteen years in the past and now a man without an identity outside of a DVD box set. Before his stint on the island Kent was just average, blending into the background even at the grocery store; then TV worked its magic, making him a rock star with roses and underwear littering his path everywhere he went, or something like that. The harsh inner voice and his wife are the only ones that saw through the charade while the motivational speaking circuit slowly churns on, albeit decent money. The rub: for the memory and chance of a lifetime, a new show is looking for a former show pony to headline the marketing pitch. Pay the bills and fuel the ego. A slick smoothie Lothario in muted color fishing shirts and overstuffed cargo pants in charge of the show and a new addition to the crew looking to bolster her botched producing career will guide Kent through this jungle survival experience from hell. If he agrees to head to the island for a second time. ESCAPE! is sublime fare for a numb and bloodthirsty American public. Eight contestants, fifty days, one incrementally increasing treasure and the HEART OF DARKNESS, the island's jungle. Facing off against each other and mother nature, it's not how long you can stay but whether you can make it off the shore, grab the loot and ESCAPE!
While brandishing a disclaimer on page one stating that this novel does not seek to smear the (good) people of SURVIVOR, ESCAPE! does somewhat destroy the suspension of disbelief and the possibility that the things contained therein might be true. Nonetheless, by page two, ESCAPE! is in full swing dishing on reality TV productions, the world of producers and manipulators where there are always two games, the one contestants play against each other and the one the producers are playing against the contestants. It's their show, their game to play. Taking readers through the journey of a man freezing in a bus station to six months later, a tropic warrior figuring whose going to be next on the chopping block, ESCAPE! is genuine atmospherics--sweat, bad breath, charred fish and (campfire) wood smoke. It also demonstrates contestants' need to work through their own demons, soothing the soul, recreating previous glory and dealing with unhealthy obsession about killing a boar, like Sawyer on LOST.
ESCAPE! is a novel that feels more human and genuine than the typical jaded reality show. This is literary reality producing and the author is really good at it. Gifted with the keen eye and observational hilarity of a stand-up comedian, Stephen Fishbach leverages his two stints on SURVIVOR with gems like alliance jealousy, feed the edit, hashtag island hero and aquadump. The author's been around the reality TV block a few times and it really shows when reading the fascinating yarn about ESCAPE!, boldly asserting that everyone gets the story arc they deserve, to keep the cameras rolling no matter what, FCC rules say you can't touch reality show contestants, and that you know people are plotting when the boom mike goes close. Most of all, ESCAPE! is testament to the fact that in real life there is no story-arc and that adults play out their junior high insecurities for eternity. Reminding readers and possible future contestants that hooking up with fans is taboo and to not suck at confessionals, ESCAPE! is all challenge guys, weaselly schemers, big moves, obscure maneuvers, strategic titans and lying. It's not HAMLET, it's ESCAPE! Much like the 50 seasons of SURVIVOR, ESCAPE! is star-crossed romance, betrayals and heartbreak. Blood and guts. Sign up, head to the island and feel the intensity, the emotion, the ESCAPE!
Big Thank YOU! to Stephen Fishbach, NetGalley, Dutton for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of All, Thank you Netgalley for this arc!
It seems that I find myself in the minority group here, though I think that others would really enjoy this book. I was excited to read a book that is similar to the reality show Survivor, especially by a previous winning contestant! Although I think I would've enjoyed a memoir of the author's real life experience on the show.
Let's start out on a positive note. If you want drama and toxic characters, this book is for you! I don't watch reality TV in my free time which is why I probably felt so disconnected but if you enjoy reality TV, you will really like it. What is fun about this book is you get both the contestant POV and the producer POV.
Regardless of the push and pull of the producers, you will definitely find a favorite to root for. I would have enjoyed more character POVs (I think it would have helped flesh out the characters more).
Now on the flip side...I think this should be labeled as a drama not a thriller. The pacing was off and I felt like I had to drag myself through the story. There were definitely times of high stakes and drama but most of the time, like they say in the story, the contestants are just laying around starving! At other times, the story gets so unbelievable that I just stopped caring.
I had a really hard time connecting and caring for any of the characters. The characters are very surface level and, in my opinion, INSUFFERABLE!
Kent: the previous big shot winner that comes back for a redemption of his fame. He was wishy washy and so woe-is-me. He was very annoying to me from beginning to end.
Beck: A fallen from fame producer (for a very valid reason! *read trigger warnings*). Beck felt like a husk of a character. This weird back story of not knowing her mom and distant relationship with her father was just mentioned. I wanted to experience her back story in a show-don't-tell fashion. She was all over the place in her decisions and plot throughout the book. She has a pivotal moment at the end of the book that just gets glossed over and briefly recapped. I was very disappointed.
Miriam: Probably the character I enjoyed the most. (sue me, I love an under dog) Due to some level of producer manipulation/motivation we do see her character arc throughout the game on the island. Given her being the nerd and least expected to be successful makes sense for her to be fairly easy to manipulate, unlike Kent "the supposed pro." In The end of the book, she is really the only character that has her own thoughts and has a spine!
Like I said, I am in the minority here, and I do truly believe this would be a smash hit for someone else. Personally though, its a 2 star for me.
#Netgalley
It seems that I find myself in the minority group here, though I think that others would really enjoy this book. I was excited to read a book that is similar to the reality show Survivor, especially by a previous winning contestant! Although I think I would've enjoyed a memoir of the author's real life experience on the show.
Let's start out on a positive note. If you want drama and toxic characters, this book is for you! I don't watch reality TV in my free time which is why I probably felt so disconnected but if you enjoy reality TV, you will really like it. What is fun about this book is you get both the contestant POV and the producer POV.
Regardless of the push and pull of the producers, you will definitely find a favorite to root for. I would have enjoyed more character POVs (I think it would have helped flesh out the characters more).
Now on the flip side...I think this should be labeled as a drama not a thriller. The pacing was off and I felt like I had to drag myself through the story. There were definitely times of high stakes and drama but most of the time, like they say in the story, the contestants are just laying around starving! At other times, the story gets so unbelievable that I just stopped caring.
I had a really hard time connecting and caring for any of the characters. The characters are very surface level and, in my opinion, INSUFFERABLE!
Kent: the previous big shot winner that comes back for a redemption of his fame. He was wishy washy and so woe-is-me. He was very annoying to me from beginning to end.
Beck: A fallen from fame producer (for a very valid reason! *read trigger warnings*). Beck felt like a husk of a character. This weird back story of not knowing her mom and distant relationship with her father was just mentioned. I wanted to experience her back story in a show-don't-tell fashion. She was all over the place in her decisions and plot throughout the book. She has a pivotal moment at the end of the book that just gets glossed over and briefly recapped. I was very disappointed.
Miriam: Probably the character I enjoyed the most. (sue me, I love an under dog) Due to some level of producer manipulation/motivation we do see her character arc throughout the game on the island. Given her being the nerd and least expected to be successful makes sense for her to be fairly easy to manipulate, unlike Kent "the supposed pro." In The end of the book, she is really the only character that has her own thoughts and has a spine!
Like I said, I am in the minority here, and I do truly believe this would be a smash hit for someone else. Personally though, its a 2 star for me.
#Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While I’ve read several novels based on the premise of a Survivor-type TV reality show, I couldn’t resist this one as it’s written by a two-time Survivor contestant who does a decent job of pulling back the curtain to show us what really goes on behind, and in front of, the scenes.
Escape! is an escalation of Survivor: 8 contestants are dumped on a tropical island with the promise of big money if they can make their way to another island and unlock a treasure chest. They can work together or alone but the longer they wait, the more money they win.
The two main narrators are Kent, a has-been alpha male winner from a previous survival show, who is looking to regain the feeling of really living he had on that show and Beck, a producer who has been vilified because of an accidental death on a show she was working on. There are also a few chapters told from the perspective of Miriam, the nerd of the cast who is looking to change not just her life but her whole personality.
Pulling the strings is the legendary reality producer, Jacob Malibu, who manipulates his crew, particularly Beck, as much as his crew manipulate the cast. Jacob seems to have a plan as to where he wants the show to go, raising the stakes and the drama to put himself back on top. But nothing goes quite as planned as each character is working with their own motivations.
The author has wisely chosen to keep his show's cast at 8 characters, all delineated types from reality TV, though the production crew is a bit less fleshed out. There's an odd loose end in the plot as we seem to be heading down a supernatural/horror path as we're told early on that the local people believe there to be a monster on the island and the contestants are warned not to go into the heart of the jungle, but this just sort of fizzles out.
We’ve seen on shows like Unreal how “reality” is more of a construct than a description and, presumably drawing from his own experience, the author skillfully shows what’s really going on behind the camera.
As things get really out of hand, we do lose touch with, uh, reality but where would be the fun in just having a bunch of contestants get along and win the money. After all, Survivor hasn't lasted 49 seasons without ensuring there’s always something to talk about, even if they don’t go quite as far as Escape!
Clearly the author has some writing chops and, while a bit trite, this slips down very easily. Perfect for the wait until Survivor season 50.
Thanks to Dutton and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
Escape! is an escalation of Survivor: 8 contestants are dumped on a tropical island with the promise of big money if they can make their way to another island and unlock a treasure chest. They can work together or alone but the longer they wait, the more money they win.
The two main narrators are Kent, a has-been alpha male winner from a previous survival show, who is looking to regain the feeling of really living he had on that show and Beck, a producer who has been vilified because of an accidental death on a show she was working on. There are also a few chapters told from the perspective of Miriam, the nerd of the cast who is looking to change not just her life but her whole personality.
Pulling the strings is the legendary reality producer, Jacob Malibu, who manipulates his crew, particularly Beck, as much as his crew manipulate the cast. Jacob seems to have a plan as to where he wants the show to go, raising the stakes and the drama to put himself back on top. But nothing goes quite as planned as each character is working with their own motivations.
The author has wisely chosen to keep his show's cast at 8 characters, all delineated types from reality TV, though the production crew is a bit less fleshed out. There's an odd loose end in the plot as we seem to be heading down a supernatural/horror path as we're told early on that the local people believe there to be a monster on the island and the contestants are warned not to go into the heart of the jungle, but this just sort of fizzles out.
We’ve seen on shows like Unreal how “reality” is more of a construct than a description and, presumably drawing from his own experience, the author skillfully shows what’s really going on behind the camera.
As things get really out of hand, we do lose touch with, uh, reality but where would be the fun in just having a bunch of contestants get along and win the money. After all, Survivor hasn't lasted 49 seasons without ensuring there’s always something to talk about, even if they don’t go quite as far as Escape!
Clearly the author has some writing chops and, while a bit trite, this slips down very easily. Perfect for the wait until Survivor season 50.
Thanks to Dutton and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
February 1, 2026
I heard of this book because I’m a Survivor and RHAP superfan. It’s an enjoyable read and I was quite impressed by Stephen’s prose: some standouts include the second chapter where Beck films the dog dying and the chapter where Kent is losing his mind and body at Ponderosa after being evacuated (I forget what it’s called in the book), incredibly engaging and vivid.
My main criticism is actually one that I’ve heard Stephen allude to himself in interviews. He’s said (paraphrasing): “why haven’t there been novels written about reality TV before?” I think in reading this book I kind of discovered that the answer, for myself at least, is that you can’t really capture the magic of reality TV with fictional reality TV; that is to say that even with the most fantastical, dramatic plot as plays out on the show Escape!, even with the deeper perspective from both players and producers that you could never get on real reality TV, the emotional impact for me just felt… muted(?) when compared to ex. a season of Survivor or any other (good) reality show. I’m not smart enough to figure out WHY I feel this way but I suspect it’s just like a couple layers of translation too deep, like reality TV is already a twisted version of real life so a fictional version of reality TV ends up being like a twist of a twist, a hat on a hat, or whatever the adage is.
I also think that Kent dying was meant to elevate the drama but it actually had the opposite effect for me, I wanted so badly to have Kent reckon with returning to real life after failing on the show, as he was the only castaway whose real life we had significant background on, so I was disappointed for him to end up as more of a device for Miriam and Beck (whose endings I found a bit unsatisfying). Some of the strongest parts of the book I think were Kent’s reflections/delusions post-evacuation but pre-mountain.
It’s a good book overall especially as a reality TV fan and I am recommending it to friends. Having the majority of the book told through the perspective of the producer was an inspired choice. I look forward to Stephen’s next work!
My main criticism is actually one that I’ve heard Stephen allude to himself in interviews. He’s said (paraphrasing): “why haven’t there been novels written about reality TV before?” I think in reading this book I kind of discovered that the answer, for myself at least, is that you can’t really capture the magic of reality TV with fictional reality TV; that is to say that even with the most fantastical, dramatic plot as plays out on the show Escape!, even with the deeper perspective from both players and producers that you could never get on real reality TV, the emotional impact for me just felt… muted(?) when compared to ex. a season of Survivor or any other (good) reality show. I’m not smart enough to figure out WHY I feel this way but I suspect it’s just like a couple layers of translation too deep, like reality TV is already a twisted version of real life so a fictional version of reality TV ends up being like a twist of a twist, a hat on a hat, or whatever the adage is.
I also think that Kent dying was meant to elevate the drama but it actually had the opposite effect for me, I wanted so badly to have Kent reckon with returning to real life after failing on the show, as he was the only castaway whose real life we had significant background on, so I was disappointed for him to end up as more of a device for Miriam and Beck (whose endings I found a bit unsatisfying). Some of the strongest parts of the book I think were Kent’s reflections/delusions post-evacuation but pre-mountain.
It’s a good book overall especially as a reality TV fan and I am recommending it to friends. Having the majority of the book told through the perspective of the producer was an inspired choice. I look forward to Stephen’s next work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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