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Reality Bites
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Expected 12 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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25 copies available
U.S. only
A wickedly funny debut romcom in which a young scientist reluctantly becomes a contestant on a reality TV dating show to save her lab—and realizes her secrets are threatened when romance unexpectedly finds her behind the scenes.
Grace Lambert’s entire family are all influencers. Her mom runs an HGTV-like Instagram, her dad operates a Yoga for Men Youtube channel, and her brothers are famous on Tiktok and Twitch. Grace, however, is a scientist devoted to saving the Southern Mountain yellow-legged frogs from extinction, who has never had social media.
When her mom signs her up for a dating show with a cult-like following, Grace hangs up on their lawyer, Andrew, immediately. She has no interest in reality TV—until her lab loses its funding, and her coworkers learn about not only the show’s worldwide viewership . . . but the cash prize.
Arriving on set, Grace immediately feels like a frog out of water. She doesn’t know how to mug for the cameras, make effortless small talk with the contestants, or watch her tongue in an interview—making her a constant thorn in Andrew’s side.
The more time Grace spends competing in challenges, unexpectedly flirting with contestants, and making Andrew’s life a living hell, the more she realizes that being there for the wrong reason and keeping it secret might be trickier than she thought—not to mention just how much trouble an illicit, off-screen romance can bring.
Grace Lambert’s entire family are all influencers. Her mom runs an HGTV-like Instagram, her dad operates a Yoga for Men Youtube channel, and her brothers are famous on Tiktok and Twitch. Grace, however, is a scientist devoted to saving the Southern Mountain yellow-legged frogs from extinction, who has never had social media.
When her mom signs her up for a dating show with a cult-like following, Grace hangs up on their lawyer, Andrew, immediately. She has no interest in reality TV—until her lab loses its funding, and her coworkers learn about not only the show’s worldwide viewership . . . but the cash prize.
Arriving on set, Grace immediately feels like a frog out of water. She doesn’t know how to mug for the cameras, make effortless small talk with the contestants, or watch her tongue in an interview—making her a constant thorn in Andrew’s side.
The more time Grace spends competing in challenges, unexpectedly flirting with contestants, and making Andrew’s life a living hell, the more she realizes that being there for the wrong reason and keeping it secret might be trickier than she thought—not to mention just how much trouble an illicit, off-screen romance can bring.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
About the author
Amy Mass
1 book45 followersAmy Mass began her career in New York City, writing those “Can you hear me now?” Verizon commercials, before moving to Los Angeles where she wrote TV comedies for 12 years, including hit shows like Last Man Standing and The Goldbergs. During the pandemic, she moved to rural Georgia, where as a City Girl in a Small Town, she obviously had to write romance novels and romcom movies. While she’s on her third writing career, she’s still in her first marriage, despite her husband’s questionable sports teams allegiances. She has two rescue mutts and an eight-year-old daughter who is the funniest one in the family by far. When not writing, Amy can be found hanging upside down in aerial yoga, dressing in team costumes for trivia night, or pressuring her family and friends into flash mobs and theme parties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 13, 2026
This book is fantastic. Watching Grace Lambert, a frog-saving scientist who would much rather be in the field than under studio lights, get swept into the chaos of a reality dating show is pure rom-com magic. Grace despises the spotlight and has zero interest in televised flirting, which makes every moment both heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny. The story takes off when her mother secretly signs her up and her lab loses its funding, leaving Grace no choice but to stay for the cash prize. The candor, awkward small talk, and behind-the-scenes chaos are hilarious. Andrew, the kind and endlessly patient show lawyer, is an absolute delight. I highly recommend this book; Amy Mass is now a must-read for me.
Five stars!
Five stars!
March 3, 2026
Grace Lambert is a biologist working to save the endangered Southern Mountain yellow-legged frogs from extinction, dedicating her life to research rather than social media fame, unlike the rest of her influencer family. When her mom secretly submits her to a reality dating show called Love Shack, Grace immediately declines. But after losing her research funding and realizing her lab and her frogs are at risk, she reconsiders. The cash prize could save everything she has worked for. Thrown into a world she does not understand, Grace struggles to navigate reality TV logistics, contracts, and producer manipulation, often clashing with the show’s lawyer, Andrew. As she adjusts to life on set, befriending contestants, embracing glam, and unexpectedly developing feelings for Andrew, she is forced to confront whether going on the show for the “wrong” reasons is actually so wrong, especially when love and her conservation mission both hang in the balance.
This book was so addictive that I read the last 70% in one sitting. The combination of a female main character who is a biologist, which is what I studied in college, and a reality dating show setting, my newfound interest, was honestly perfect for me. Even though I work in healthcare now, I am still a biologist at heart, so all the conservation talk, lab dynamics, and ecology references really worked. I loved Grace’s nerdy one-liners, especially her argument about how people are always more sympathetic to sea turtles or tiny furry animals than to frogs. Her passion for her research and the dynamic with her team made her easy to root for.
I also loved the reality TV aspect and the behind-the-scenes commentary. Watching Grace discover dating show quirks for the first time was so fun, especially as someone who only recently got into reality TV. The chemistry and banter between Grace and Andrew were great, and the forbidden trope really delivered and gave me slight Unreal vibes. I appreciated the conversations about perception and awareness in reality TV, and how Grace’s perspective evolved as she grew closer to her castmates. It made me reflect on how easy it is to say no one goes on these shows for love when, at the end of the day, they are just humans on a massive platform being constantly watched. The only reason this was not a five-star read for me is that I did not feel deeply connected to Grace beyond her “hot scientist” identity. Her lowest moments felt a little rushed, and her third-act redemption happened too quickly and felt a bit too rose-colored for my taste. I wish she had more time to really sit in her emotions. Still, this felt like the behind-the-scenes of Love Island I have been looking for, and the actual Love Shack twist was hilarious. Definitely a great pick for fans of reality TV dating shows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this advanced reader copy.
This book was so addictive that I read the last 70% in one sitting. The combination of a female main character who is a biologist, which is what I studied in college, and a reality dating show setting, my newfound interest, was honestly perfect for me. Even though I work in healthcare now, I am still a biologist at heart, so all the conservation talk, lab dynamics, and ecology references really worked. I loved Grace’s nerdy one-liners, especially her argument about how people are always more sympathetic to sea turtles or tiny furry animals than to frogs. Her passion for her research and the dynamic with her team made her easy to root for.
I also loved the reality TV aspect and the behind-the-scenes commentary. Watching Grace discover dating show quirks for the first time was so fun, especially as someone who only recently got into reality TV. The chemistry and banter between Grace and Andrew were great, and the forbidden trope really delivered and gave me slight Unreal vibes. I appreciated the conversations about perception and awareness in reality TV, and how Grace’s perspective evolved as she grew closer to her castmates. It made me reflect on how easy it is to say no one goes on these shows for love when, at the end of the day, they are just humans on a massive platform being constantly watched. The only reason this was not a five-star read for me is that I did not feel deeply connected to Grace beyond her “hot scientist” identity. Her lowest moments felt a little rushed, and her third-act redemption happened too quickly and felt a bit too rose-colored for my taste. I wish she had more time to really sit in her emotions. Still, this felt like the behind-the-scenes of Love Island I have been looking for, and the actual Love Shack twist was hilarious. Definitely a great pick for fans of reality TV dating shows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reality Bites positions itself as a great read for fans of Ali Hazelwood's STEM romances, but Amy Mass has her own distinct style.
The side characters in this story really shine. I absolutely love the depth Mass gave to the friends Grace makes on the show. There's some really good social commentary here about reality TV, how real is it, and the potential toxic environments of shows like this.
Mass did a great job making this feel like a reality TV show!
The romance here has some great moments, and I liked Andrew a lot at a MMC. I love that he makes the righteous choice about his career. The ending and wrap-up for the story is satisfying overall, I enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, though... I really dislike Grace as a FMC, which is difficult since it's her own POV. She's judgmental and thinks she's better/smarter/whatever-else than everyone and that grated on my nerves. I also found her obliviousness super unrealistic in a way that just had me rolling my eyes. She comes from a social media influencer family and doesn't know anything about reality tv, social media, common slang, etc? Just screamed, "I'm not like other girls" in an annoying way.
Everything about this book should have been a total 5 star hit for me but my distaste for Grace makes it a 4 star for me. I wouldn't reread this because of her being the FMC.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Amy Mas for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!
The side characters in this story really shine. I absolutely love the depth Mass gave to the friends Grace makes on the show. There's some really good social commentary here about reality TV, how real is it, and the potential toxic environments of shows like this.
Mass did a great job making this feel like a reality TV show!
The romance here has some great moments, and I liked Andrew a lot at a MMC. I love that he makes the righteous choice about his career. The ending and wrap-up for the story is satisfying overall, I enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, though... I really dislike Grace as a FMC, which is difficult since it's her own POV. She's judgmental and thinks she's better/smarter/whatever-else than everyone and that grated on my nerves. I also found her obliviousness super unrealistic in a way that just had me rolling my eyes. She comes from a social media influencer family and doesn't know anything about reality tv, social media, common slang, etc? Just screamed, "I'm not like other girls" in an annoying way.
Everything about this book should have been a total 5 star hit for me but my distaste for Grace makes it a 4 star for me. I wouldn't reread this because of her being the FMC.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Amy Mas for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!
February 9, 2026
Reality Bites by Amy Mass follows Grace Lambert a scientist devoted to help the endangered species of frogs. When she discovers her mom signed her up for a reality TV show called Love Shack she absolutely refuses until she discovers her program is over because of lack of money… Until she realizes that at the end of the show there is a cash prize of $250,000 that would help keep her program opened for another year. Grace doesn’t feel like she belongs on the show since she prefers working instead of having fun, but still manages to go on the show & actually be Americans favorite contestant for a while during the show she makes friends outside of work something she didn’t imagine would happen she meets interesting people… especially a special someone 👀
Overall I enjoyed this book the beginning had me thinking I knew what was going to happen but it did throw some curve balls along the way I was definitely not expecting that spicy moment but hey it worked. I really enjoyed how Grace had character growth & actually got to make friends along the way.
Overall I give it a 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big thank you to Harper Collins Publishers for my Advanced Readers Copy.
Overall I enjoyed this book the beginning had me thinking I knew what was going to happen but it did throw some curve balls along the way I was definitely not expecting that spicy moment but hey it worked. I really enjoyed how Grace had character growth & actually got to make friends along the way.
Overall I give it a 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big thank you to Harper Collins Publishers for my Advanced Readers Copy.
Read
April 15, 2026By and large this didn’t feel fresh and wasn’t for me, but I think this will sing to a lot of people who enjoy a tropey romcom. I feel like this may play better on a screen than it does on the page.
April 6, 2026
This book was so unexpectedly fun! I literally laughed out loud multiple times. I love Love Island so I enjoyed the premise and the fact that our main character was smart, funny, and likeable. Perfect summer read.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 12, 2026
Grace Lambert is a scientist working in conservation and, along with her team, they spend their days trying to save endangered species. Her entire family, both her brothers and her parents, are popular social media personalities but Grace doesn’t have an online presence- much to the dismay of her Internet savvy family. When her mother signs Grace up for a reality dating show, Grace is inclined to decline until she finds out that the prize money could fund her scientific research for the next year, so she reluctantly agrees. Before she knows it, she’s the contestant labeled “The Sexy Scientist” and is living in a dilapidated shack and doing body shots for the cameras, but she knows it’s for a good cause. Grace expected over-the-top drama and staged, phony dates but what she didn’t expect was that she would actually find love.
Amy Mass’ debut novel, “Reality Bites” is a heartwarming, romantic beach read. Grace is the awkward, self-proclaimed science nerd who finds herself on the set of a reality T.V. show, feeling very out of place. She doesn’t fit in among the contestants but she doesn’t fit in within the social media celebrities in her family either, so she’s kind of used to being the odd one out. Grace was an easy character to get behind and I built an instant rapport with her as the awkward, academic misfit. Grace is someone who stands up for the underdog, and is kind of an underdog herself, which made it easy to cheer for her.
As soon as Grace meets the entertainment lawyer attached to the show, it was obvious that a relationship was going to develop; however, it was entertaining to watch as it played out. What surprised me was the depth Mass gave to the rest of her characters, who on the surface were vapid and self-centred, but were so much more if you looked below the surface, which was a common theme in “Bites”.
I am not a fan of reality television, especially reality television that focuses on finding “love”. In fact, these shows playing on a loop is my literal idea of Hell, so I was a little skeptical about reading a novel that focuses on reality television. However, I was pleasantly surprised with “Bites”, as there were deeper themes within the plot and characters that were actually likable.
“Bites” is a sharp, lighthearted romance that took me by surprise! Mass’ debut is well-written and genuine, and I have a feeling it will stand out among the 2026 summer beach reads.
Expected publication date: May 12, 2026
Grace Lambert is a scientist working in conservation and, along with her team, they spend their days trying to save endangered species. Her entire family, both her brothers and her parents, are popular social media personalities but Grace doesn’t have an online presence- much to the dismay of her Internet savvy family. When her mother signs Grace up for a reality dating show, Grace is inclined to decline until she finds out that the prize money could fund her scientific research for the next year, so she reluctantly agrees. Before she knows it, she’s the contestant labeled “The Sexy Scientist” and is living in a dilapidated shack and doing body shots for the cameras, but she knows it’s for a good cause. Grace expected over-the-top drama and staged, phony dates but what she didn’t expect was that she would actually find love.
Amy Mass’ debut novel, “Reality Bites” is a heartwarming, romantic beach read. Grace is the awkward, self-proclaimed science nerd who finds herself on the set of a reality T.V. show, feeling very out of place. She doesn’t fit in among the contestants but she doesn’t fit in within the social media celebrities in her family either, so she’s kind of used to being the odd one out. Grace was an easy character to get behind and I built an instant rapport with her as the awkward, academic misfit. Grace is someone who stands up for the underdog, and is kind of an underdog herself, which made it easy to cheer for her.
As soon as Grace meets the entertainment lawyer attached to the show, it was obvious that a relationship was going to develop; however, it was entertaining to watch as it played out. What surprised me was the depth Mass gave to the rest of her characters, who on the surface were vapid and self-centred, but were so much more if you looked below the surface, which was a common theme in “Bites”.
I am not a fan of reality television, especially reality television that focuses on finding “love”. In fact, these shows playing on a loop is my literal idea of Hell, so I was a little skeptical about reading a novel that focuses on reality television. However, I was pleasantly surprised with “Bites”, as there were deeper themes within the plot and characters that were actually likable.
“Bites” is a sharp, lighthearted romance that took me by surprise! Mass’ debut is well-written and genuine, and I have a feeling it will stand out among the 2026 summer beach reads.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reality Bites by Amy Mass is a smart, silly, and surprisingly heartfelt romcom that feels like the perfect vacation read. It is light, fast, and entertaining, but still has just enough substance to keep it from feeling fluffy.
Grace is an introverted conservation scientist trying to save endangered frogs while being born into a family of full-time influencers. When she ends up on a cringey, cult-favorite dating show to save her lab’s funding, the setup is chaotic in the best way. Watching a socially awkward, no-social-media scientist navigate reality TV drama is genuinely funny. The behind-the-scenes look at production, contestants, and what drives people to sign up for these shows adds a fresh layer that makes the story stand out.
Grace’s character arc is messy but relatable. She can be judgmental and a little “I’m the smartest person in the room,” which makes her imperfect, but that also gives her room to grow. I appreciated that the story explores how quick we are to label people based on appearances, both on camera and off.
The romance is sweet with a touch of spice, and the off-screen tension adds just enough heat without overpowering the humor. There is a slight nostalgic romcom feel, especially in the classic transformation moments, but it works within the tone of the story.
This is not a heavy, think-piece romance. It is fun, quick, and easy to sink into. Fans of STEM-forward romcoms like Ali Hazelwood or light sports and small-town romances from Piper Rayne will likely enjoy this one.
A solid four-star read that delivers exactly what it promises: chaos, chemistry, and frogs.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Amy Mas for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!
Grace is an introverted conservation scientist trying to save endangered frogs while being born into a family of full-time influencers. When she ends up on a cringey, cult-favorite dating show to save her lab’s funding, the setup is chaotic in the best way. Watching a socially awkward, no-social-media scientist navigate reality TV drama is genuinely funny. The behind-the-scenes look at production, contestants, and what drives people to sign up for these shows adds a fresh layer that makes the story stand out.
Grace’s character arc is messy but relatable. She can be judgmental and a little “I’m the smartest person in the room,” which makes her imperfect, but that also gives her room to grow. I appreciated that the story explores how quick we are to label people based on appearances, both on camera and off.
The romance is sweet with a touch of spice, and the off-screen tension adds just enough heat without overpowering the humor. There is a slight nostalgic romcom feel, especially in the classic transformation moments, but it works within the tone of the story.
This is not a heavy, think-piece romance. It is fun, quick, and easy to sink into. Fans of STEM-forward romcoms like Ali Hazelwood or light sports and small-town romances from Piper Rayne will likely enjoy this one.
A solid four-star read that delivers exactly what it promises: chaos, chemistry, and frogs.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Amy Mas for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reality TV meets the rom-com book world! I actually really enjoyed this story. The premise sounded like something fun and a bit quirky, and it definitely was.
Grace is a scientist who is all about saving animals, specifically endangered frogs. And she would much rather be in her lab and with the animals than anywhere else. She gets accepted to be a contestant on a reality dating show, without her knowing. When her friends convince her to actually go on the show, they don't tell her what it is all about and she is quite surprised when getting to the set!
Poor Andrew, the lawyer for the production company. Grace is set to make his life more difficult and after hanging up on him and sending snarky emails, is convinced he is an old crotchety lawyer. She is surprised to find a handsome guy in a suit when she arrives on set. I really liked Andrew and how throughout everything he does the best that he can to always try to make the right choice and help others out.
Grace learned a lot during her time on the show about herself, others, and about the real world. The one thing that I didn't care for with her is that she was so judgmental and thought she was smarter than everyone else. She was VERY disconnected from the real world not knowing anything about reality TV, social media, and so she put down others that did.
Overall, I thought it was a cute and fun story, and I loved how the ending wrapped up. The author did a great job of bringing reality TV elements into the book and showing us the behind-the-scenes parts of it.
Thank you to Amy Mass, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the early copy to read!
Grace is a scientist who is all about saving animals, specifically endangered frogs. And she would much rather be in her lab and with the animals than anywhere else. She gets accepted to be a contestant on a reality dating show, without her knowing. When her friends convince her to actually go on the show, they don't tell her what it is all about and she is quite surprised when getting to the set!
Poor Andrew, the lawyer for the production company. Grace is set to make his life more difficult and after hanging up on him and sending snarky emails, is convinced he is an old crotchety lawyer. She is surprised to find a handsome guy in a suit when she arrives on set. I really liked Andrew and how throughout everything he does the best that he can to always try to make the right choice and help others out.
Grace learned a lot during her time on the show about herself, others, and about the real world. The one thing that I didn't care for with her is that she was so judgmental and thought she was smarter than everyone else. She was VERY disconnected from the real world not knowing anything about reality TV, social media, and so she put down others that did.
Overall, I thought it was a cute and fun story, and I loved how the ending wrapped up. The author did a great job of bringing reality TV elements into the book and showing us the behind-the-scenes parts of it.
Thank you to Amy Mass, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the early copy to read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m a sucker for romances set in the television industry, especially if they’re inspired by shows like The Bachelor or Love Island 🌹🏝️. It’s honestly kind of funny that I don’t actually watch these shows, but I love reading books about them.
This one takes on a Love Island–style setting called Love Shack. Grace comes from an influencer family where everyone makes their living online, but she is the outlier. She’s a STEM girl with zero social media presence 🧪✨. So how does she end up on a reality dating show? Her mother pushes her into it, and Grace agrees in hopes of winning the prize money to save her lab. Of course, chaos and drama follow.
I really enjoyed Grace’s perspective as someone who doesn’t even watch reality TV and is suddenly thrown into that world. It allowed for some sharp social commentary about toxic environments and manufactured drama. That said, Grace could be pretty judgmental at times, especially toward her family, which occasionally grated on me.
As for the romance, I loved it ❤️. The tension between Grace and Andrew at the beginning was so good and naturally evolved into flirtation and chemistry. There is a third act breakup that felt a little unnecessary, and I would have happily watched them get together sooner. Still, I understand it was meant to support Grace’s growth, and their connection felt undeniable.
Overall, despite a few nitpicks, I really enjoyed this one. It’s easily one of the better reality TV–inspired romances I’ve read this year, and I can definitely see myself rereading it 📚✨.
This one takes on a Love Island–style setting called Love Shack. Grace comes from an influencer family where everyone makes their living online, but she is the outlier. She’s a STEM girl with zero social media presence 🧪✨. So how does she end up on a reality dating show? Her mother pushes her into it, and Grace agrees in hopes of winning the prize money to save her lab. Of course, chaos and drama follow.
I really enjoyed Grace’s perspective as someone who doesn’t even watch reality TV and is suddenly thrown into that world. It allowed for some sharp social commentary about toxic environments and manufactured drama. That said, Grace could be pretty judgmental at times, especially toward her family, which occasionally grated on me.
As for the romance, I loved it ❤️. The tension between Grace and Andrew at the beginning was so good and naturally evolved into flirtation and chemistry. There is a third act breakup that felt a little unnecessary, and I would have happily watched them get together sooner. Still, I understand it was meant to support Grace’s growth, and their connection felt undeniable.
Overall, despite a few nitpicks, I really enjoyed this one. It’s easily one of the better reality TV–inspired romances I’ve read this year, and I can definitely see myself rereading it 📚✨.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Grace—brilliant scientist, frog expert, and serial non-dater—somehow ended up in a family of wildly successful influencers with big personalities to match. When her mom signs her up for a reality dating show, she’s having NONE of it. Until she loses her research funding and frog extinction lingers in her mind, and she finds out the show offers a cash prize….
She has zero social media and has never even watched a reality show, so she’s ridiculously out of her element and it’s hilarious—and not just that part. The writing is so clever, witty, and downright funny. I can easily see how the author wrote TV comedies before jumping into novels.
But wait, there’s more! I loved the relationships and how they all grew, how some people fit the reality tv stereotypes and others decidedly didn’t, how the book pokes some fun at reality TV, and how there’s room in this book for ALL the personalities.
And then there’s Grace and Andrew. Their enemy banter and the way they just give it right back to each other had me dying to get to the next scene and see what they’d say to each other. It took a little while. We didn’t see him all that much at times, but as the book went on I really started to love him and adore them together. The friendships and the way friends and family pulled together was really special too.
Overall, Reality Bites is a fun, quirky, and hilarious read with some beautiful and touching moments in there too.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for my free advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
She has zero social media and has never even watched a reality show, so she’s ridiculously out of her element and it’s hilarious—and not just that part. The writing is so clever, witty, and downright funny. I can easily see how the author wrote TV comedies before jumping into novels.
But wait, there’s more! I loved the relationships and how they all grew, how some people fit the reality tv stereotypes and others decidedly didn’t, how the book pokes some fun at reality TV, and how there’s room in this book for ALL the personalities.
And then there’s Grace and Andrew. Their enemy banter and the way they just give it right back to each other had me dying to get to the next scene and see what they’d say to each other. It took a little while. We didn’t see him all that much at times, but as the book went on I really started to love him and adore them together. The friendships and the way friends and family pulled together was really special too.
Overall, Reality Bites is a fun, quirky, and hilarious read with some beautiful and touching moments in there too.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for my free advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
March 2, 2026
STEM FMC: PhD conservation biologist (the text constantly notes that she has 2 PhDs, but it is never said what they are both in, but she's definitely a biologist based on her work)
This book reminded me a bit of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: reality dating show, antagonists to lovers, she falls for someone on the show who isn't a contestant, B-roll footage used in love declaration. The show that she's on kind of reminds me of Perfect Match on Netflix.
Overall, it's not a bad romance, but I had some issues with the FMC. She was incredibly pretentious about her education, and she judged every single person in her life who wasn't also a scientist. She judged all of her immediate family members for being shallow, and she immediately judged every single contestant that she met. She deemed all of the women as dumb because they wore pink and were feminine or super girlie... like, since when has pink precluded anyone from being intelligent? I feel like that's normal for a man to assume, but for the FMC to do that is shitty. She was super condescending to every single person until she got to know them, and then she was shocked to find out that every one of them had depth and was intelligent. That really took away from the overall feel of the book for me. The plot was totally fine, and the MMC was a green flag. If you are looking for a lot of spice, this is not the book for you.
This book reminded me a bit of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: reality dating show, antagonists to lovers, she falls for someone on the show who isn't a contestant, B-roll footage used in love declaration. The show that she's on kind of reminds me of Perfect Match on Netflix.
Overall, it's not a bad romance, but I had some issues with the FMC. She was incredibly pretentious about her education, and she judged every single person in her life who wasn't also a scientist. She judged all of her immediate family members for being shallow, and she immediately judged every single contestant that she met. She deemed all of the women as dumb because they wore pink and were feminine or super girlie... like, since when has pink precluded anyone from being intelligent? I feel like that's normal for a man to assume, but for the FMC to do that is shitty. She was super condescending to every single person until she got to know them, and then she was shocked to find out that every one of them had depth and was intelligent. That really took away from the overall feel of the book for me. The plot was totally fine, and the MMC was a green flag. If you are looking for a lot of spice, this is not the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2026
In a family of social media influencers, Grace is the outlier. She is an accomplished scientist and passionate about animal conservation. She would never do something like go on a reality dating show. Except her mom sent in an application without her knowing, and it turns out that her lab is in danger of losing it's funding and the winner of the show receives $250,000. Which is how she ends up on Love Shack (a fictionalized version of Love Island). Grace is in it to win it, but in her way are conniving producers, flirtatious castmates, and an antagonistic on-set lawyer with distracting forearms and a surprisingly good heart.
March 12, 2026
This is the perfect crossover book for romance readers and reality tv lovers! It follows a cast from a reality tv show through the sexy, yet ridiculous challenges, amazing dates, and all the drama in between! The female main character, Grace, is a nerdy conservationist that is just trying to save the frogs! Her mother signs her up for a Love Shack, a reality tv show that’s focused on finding love. As you can imagine, Grace is a fish out of water; however, the amazing women on the show and in the book help guide her along the way. I LOVED how the female friendships were written! It was a joy to read the supportive sisterhood that developed and the differing personalities made it interesting and relatable. The side character, Blue, reminded me of a fairy godmother! He helped Grace and cared for her while on the show. He was hilarious too! Andrew, the uptight lawyer of Love Shack, starts off as a pompous guy with a pension for rules. His character development was so well-written and captivating to read. The enemies to lovers quickly turned into a swoon-worthy rom-com! I was “shipping” Andrew and Grace from day one! I absolutely enjoyed every page I read and am so grateful to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Amy Mass for the opportunity to read and review this one!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have never seen an episode of the Bachelor but for some reason I love reality dating show tropes. Reality Bites is a great read for fans of Sarah Adams and is similar in tone to dating show books Thank You, Next by Kathryn Freeman and Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce. Grace comes from a family of influencers and her mom schemes to get her on a reality dating show to find love. Grace agrees because wining the grand prize will save her environmental biology lab from closing. A late bloomer with no dating history, who has never watched a reality show, she is a fish out of water. Of course she is most attracted to the show's attorney and not any of the contestants. This book has a slow start but is very cute with vintage 2000s rom-com vibes. It doesn't seem very grounded in reality- the cameras are barely around and there are so many rules so easily broken. But, it's fun and easy to read. Andrew and Grace have great chemistry, though Grace is definitely lacking in social skills and is pretty short-sighted for someone so highly educated. If you are looking for a fun slump buster fluffy book- this is for you. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Perennial for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a fun and clever debut rom com! I absolutely loved the concept of a scientist who wants nothing to do with social media getting thrown onto a wildly popular reality dating show. Grace being the only non-influencer in a family full of them made the setup even better.
Grace is passionate, awkward, and totally out of her element on set, which leads to so many funny moments. Ths book was genuinely so hilarious at so many moments. Watching her try (and fail) to play the reality TV game while secretly being there to save her frog research lab was both chaotic and endearing. I loved that she’s not there “for the right reasons,” and the tension of keeping that secret added an extra layer to the story.
The behind the scenes look at the dating show was one of my favorite parts, especially her dynamic with Andrew. Their banter was sharp, and the slow burn, off screen romance made everything even more sweet.
This was witty, charming, and just a really good book. A perfect pick if you love reality TV drama mixed with smart, science girl energy and plenty of romantic tension!
Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Mass, and Harper Perennial for the eARC of this book.
Grace is passionate, awkward, and totally out of her element on set, which leads to so many funny moments. Ths book was genuinely so hilarious at so many moments. Watching her try (and fail) to play the reality TV game while secretly being there to save her frog research lab was both chaotic and endearing. I loved that she’s not there “for the right reasons,” and the tension of keeping that secret added an extra layer to the story.
The behind the scenes look at the dating show was one of my favorite parts, especially her dynamic with Andrew. Their banter was sharp, and the slow burn, off screen romance made everything even more sweet.
This was witty, charming, and just a really good book. A perfect pick if you love reality TV drama mixed with smart, science girl energy and plenty of romantic tension!
Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Mass, and Harper Perennial for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 ⭐
This book follows Grace (FMC) and Andrew (MMC). Grace is a scientist who is trying to help save endangered amphibians. Andrew is a lawyer, specifically for the reality TV show Love Shack.
Grace finds out that not only did her mom sign her up for a reality TV dating show but her lab is losing funding. Grace goes on the show to help promote her yellow legged frog friends but ends up gaining so much more.
Grace makes besties with the girls on the show and the guys, both on and off camera. Grace fights against basic human rights and her own prejudices towards others. She grows as an individual, family member and friend.
Grace and Andrew get off to a heated start over email and grow their relationship over time behind the scenes.
As more drama and bad managing come to light, so to does Grace's feelings toward a certain lawyer.
I thought the premise was really interesting. I loved having a behind the scenes view into a reality TV dating show. I hadn't realized how much goes on after the cameras turn off and how much is scripted or pushed for by producers (especially for ratings).
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
This book follows Grace (FMC) and Andrew (MMC). Grace is a scientist who is trying to help save endangered amphibians. Andrew is a lawyer, specifically for the reality TV show Love Shack.
Grace finds out that not only did her mom sign her up for a reality TV dating show but her lab is losing funding. Grace goes on the show to help promote her yellow legged frog friends but ends up gaining so much more.
Grace makes besties with the girls on the show and the guys, both on and off camera. Grace fights against basic human rights and her own prejudices towards others. She grows as an individual, family member and friend.
Grace and Andrew get off to a heated start over email and grow their relationship over time behind the scenes.
As more drama and bad managing come to light, so to does Grace's feelings toward a certain lawyer.
I thought the premise was really interesting. I loved having a behind the scenes view into a reality TV dating show. I hadn't realized how much goes on after the cameras turn off and how much is scripted or pushed for by producers (especially for ratings).
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Reality Bites was a fun read that gave a little peek behind the scenes of a reality tv show. Grace had no interest in any kind of a dating life, let alone any desire to do a reality dating show. But when funding for the endangered frogs is in jeopardy, you do what you have to do!
Grace was a great character. The author did a nice job showcasing her strong personality and willingness to stand up for what's right, but at the same time, she was human and had vulnerabilities just like the rest of us. The chemistry between Grace and Andrew was pretty apparent from early on and it only built throughout the book but my favorite aspect was the friendships Grace managed to build while on the show. It really played to the whole "don't judge a book by it's cover" vibe. The reality tv trope is one of my favorites and this definitely didn't disappoint!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Grace was a great character. The author did a nice job showcasing her strong personality and willingness to stand up for what's right, but at the same time, she was human and had vulnerabilities just like the rest of us. The chemistry between Grace and Andrew was pretty apparent from early on and it only built throughout the book but my favorite aspect was the friendships Grace managed to build while on the show. It really played to the whole "don't judge a book by it's cover" vibe. The reality tv trope is one of my favorites and this definitely didn't disappoint!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can’t believe how much I loved this book since I’m not much of a “romance” reader.
But this book?
This will be THE Summer read for 2026.
It doesn’t even make sense to me to purely put this in a category of “Romance”. What a bummer to misrepresent it in that way. Friendship. Self discovery. Pushing your limits. Family. Growth. Judgement. Misjudgment. SO much more than a stereotypical “romance”.
I was hooked from the summary.
And then I started reading.
Grace was the perfect FMC. I loved Ciara and Cassie and Madison and Javier and Andrew. Her family - The Lambert’s - what a hoot. And Blue! He livened things up.
10/10. Such a fun read. I’m still smiling and I just finished reading it maybe ten minutes ago! :)
But this book?
This will be THE Summer read for 2026.
It doesn’t even make sense to me to purely put this in a category of “Romance”. What a bummer to misrepresent it in that way. Friendship. Self discovery. Pushing your limits. Family. Growth. Judgement. Misjudgment. SO much more than a stereotypical “romance”.
I was hooked from the summary.
And then I started reading.
Grace was the perfect FMC. I loved Ciara and Cassie and Madison and Javier and Andrew. Her family - The Lambert’s - what a hoot. And Blue! He livened things up.
10/10. Such a fun read. I’m still smiling and I just finished reading it maybe ten minutes ago! :)
Review of advance copy
Reality Bites is a hilarious and fun debut rom-com.
-Introverted scientist
-Studio lawyer
-Reality tv dating show vibes
-Science Girl energy
-off screen romance
Grace Lambert is an introverted scientist who studies frogs in a laboratory. The story starts when Grace's mom secretly signs her up to be a reality tv dating show. She declines until she loses a grant her team needed to fund their research. The banter between Grace and Andrew was sharp. Behind the scenes of a reality TV dating show. Mass delivers social commentary about how real reality TV is and the potential toxic environment of shows like this.
-Introverted scientist
-Studio lawyer
-Reality tv dating show vibes
-Science Girl energy
-off screen romance
Grace Lambert is an introverted scientist who studies frogs in a laboratory. The story starts when Grace's mom secretly signs her up to be a reality tv dating show. She declines until she loses a grant her team needed to fund their research. The banter between Grace and Andrew was sharp. Behind the scenes of a reality TV dating show. Mass delivers social commentary about how real reality TV is and the potential toxic environment of shows like this.
February 23, 2026
Reality Bites is pure entertainment. This is a funny debut, rom-com by Amy Mass. I am not a reality tv fan but still really enjoyed this book. Grace is a scientist in a family of influencers and finds herself on a reality dating show in hopes of winning the prize money to fund her research. She isn't expecting to gain much from her experience other than the money but ends up opening her mind and her heart to new people and experiences. This would be the perfect beach read! 3.75 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC!
April 7, 2026
4.75⭐️
This book was amazing. I loved how Grace—a workaholic scientist who just wants to save an endangered species of frogs and has absolutely no plans of falling in love—ends up doing exactly that in the least likely place on Earth: reality TV.
As a STEM girl myself, I loved getting to read about a female scientist so passionate about her work while also getting this cute, funny, and romantic story. It gave me romance, friendship, and characters fighting for something that truly matters.
And the best part? This was my first giveaway win, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
This book was amazing. I loved how Grace—a workaholic scientist who just wants to save an endangered species of frogs and has absolutely no plans of falling in love—ends up doing exactly that in the least likely place on Earth: reality TV.
As a STEM girl myself, I loved getting to read about a female scientist so passionate about her work while also getting this cute, funny, and romantic story. It gave me romance, friendship, and characters fighting for something that truly matters.
And the best part? This was my first giveaway win, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
April 21, 2026
A scientist walks onto a reality dating show. No, this isn’t a joke. It’s her only shot at saving her lab.
Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
Reality Bites by Amy Mass is the romcom your beach bag is waiting for. 🐸
Grace Lambert is a serious scientist dedicated to saving an endangered frog species from extinction. Her entire family? A bunch of influencers. Her mom has an HGTV-style Instagram, her dad runs a yoga YouTube channel, and her brothers are all over TikTok and Twitch. Grace has never had social media a day in her life, and she’s perfectly fine with that.
Then her lab loses its funding and suddenly the cash prize on a reality dating show looks a lot more appealing.
So Grace shows up on set with zero idea what a reality show is and no interest in the other contestants. And absolutely no intention of falling for anyone. Especially not Andrew, the show’s attorney, who she immediately annoys and who immediately annoys her right back.
You can probably guess where this is going. And it’s a blast getting there. Reality Bites hits every romcom trope you love: fish out of water, nerdy girl who doesn’t realize she’s gorgeous, enemies to lovers, the third act breakup, the grand gesture, the HEA. It hits them well. The banter between Grace and Andrew is sharp and genuinely funny. But my favorite part was watching Grace’s family, the influencers she never quite understood, rally around her when she needed them most and use their skills to fight for her lab. That family dynamic gave the book a little extra heart.
This is a debut novel, and Amy Mass (a TV comedy writer who worked on Last Man Standing and The Goldbergs) clearly knows how to write funny. It shows. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Out May 12.
Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
Reality Bites by Amy Mass is the romcom your beach bag is waiting for. 🐸
Grace Lambert is a serious scientist dedicated to saving an endangered frog species from extinction. Her entire family? A bunch of influencers. Her mom has an HGTV-style Instagram, her dad runs a yoga YouTube channel, and her brothers are all over TikTok and Twitch. Grace has never had social media a day in her life, and she’s perfectly fine with that.
Then her lab loses its funding and suddenly the cash prize on a reality dating show looks a lot more appealing.
So Grace shows up on set with zero idea what a reality show is and no interest in the other contestants. And absolutely no intention of falling for anyone. Especially not Andrew, the show’s attorney, who she immediately annoys and who immediately annoys her right back.
You can probably guess where this is going. And it’s a blast getting there. Reality Bites hits every romcom trope you love: fish out of water, nerdy girl who doesn’t realize she’s gorgeous, enemies to lovers, the third act breakup, the grand gesture, the HEA. It hits them well. The banter between Grace and Andrew is sharp and genuinely funny. But my favorite part was watching Grace’s family, the influencers she never quite understood, rally around her when she needed them most and use their skills to fight for her lab. That family dynamic gave the book a little extra heart.
This is a debut novel, and Amy Mass (a TV comedy writer who worked on Last Man Standing and The Goldbergs) clearly knows how to write funny. It shows. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Out May 12.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Huge thank you to NetGally for the ARC. As a fellow woman in STEM, I relate to this book. Grace is a scientist who joins a reality dating show to help fund her frog research. What she did not factor in to the equation was romance. I loved the chemistry between Grace & Andrew. I devoured this book. The pacing was great, the plot was excellent, I really loved everything about this book. If you liked Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romance novels, give this a try. 5/5 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for this ARC!
I absolutely devoured this book! I love any reality tv plot and I could not stop laughing through this one. I just fell in love with Grace and her frogs and her feistiness. I have read several books with a reality tv plot, but I have never seen one about someone who has never seen a reality show ever. Grace's messiness and extreme loyalty was so real and so fun. This is definitely a new favorite for me.
I absolutely devoured this book! I love any reality tv plot and I could not stop laughing through this one. I just fell in love with Grace and her frogs and her feistiness. I have read several books with a reality tv plot, but I have never seen one about someone who has never seen a reality show ever. Grace's messiness and extreme loyalty was so real and so fun. This is definitely a new favorite for me.
March 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was looking for a fun, light read to break up all the thrillers I read and this one fit the bill perfectly! I’m kind of a sucker for books that center around reality dating shows and this one had the potential to be a bit of an eye roll like most of them end up being. This one turned out to be delightful and built enough likable characters to keep me entertained.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I was looking for a fun, light read to break up all the thrillers I read and this one fit the bill perfectly! I’m kind of a sucker for books that center around reality dating shows and this one had the potential to be a bit of an eye roll like most of them end up being. This one turned out to be delightful and built enough likable characters to keep me entertained.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this as a GoodReads giveaway, and I really enjoyed it. Lots of humor and especially fun for reality show fans. It's predictable, but I was okay with that, and I appreciate that most of the characters had some depth to them. The main character was a bit annoying at first but she learned and grew throughout her reality experiences.
Review of advance copy received from Author
DELIGHTED to get an early copy from the author. One chapter - and a tankful of adorable frogs - was all it took to hook me into this delicious reality tv romp. Smart, hilarious, and more addictive than the best binge-watch.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hilarious romcom! As someone who does not watch any television, let alone reality T.V. I found myself relating more to Grace. The lengths this scientist is willing to go to save her little frogs cracks me up. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Throughout it all, Grace does find her HEA.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Got this as an ARC at Book Fest and devoured it the same weekend. I love a reality show romcom, and this book made me laugh, roll my eyes, and grin like an idiot every time Andrew was on the page. Rating this one a 4.5 stars that I am rounding up due to my crush on one handsome lawyer...
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