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Reality Bites: A Novel
"The book your beach bag is begging for! It's smart, snappy, sun-soaked fun, juicier than a season of Love Island and funnier than your favorite sitcom. You'll be rooting for Grace through every ridiculous physical challenge and every new romantic encounter on her madcap journey toward self-discovery and real love." - Timothy Janovsky, USA Today bestselling author of The (Fake) Dating Game
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.
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.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Amy Mass
1 book86 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 209 reviews
June 3, 2026
I'm not sure I'll ever tire of reality TV romances. I blame the drama. Give me all the production meddling, ridiculous challenges, and unlikely couples catching feelings under over-the-top circumstances. Most of all, I adored Grace! A wildlife conservationist and scientist who desperately needs the money and publicity for her conservation work ... so onto Love Shack she goes!
As a complete fish out of water who is deeply passionate about her frogs, Grace was such a nerdy delight. I loved how genuinely oblivious she was to the reality TV scene and the idea of appearing sexy on camera. Her innocence and authenticity were so lovable. It's no surprise that a certain onsite lawyer can't help becoming completely smitten with her, despite the many headaches she causes him along the way.
This was just a mindless, summery, fun time with plenty of reality TV shenanigans! I really enjoyed it.
(spice level: 1 open-door scene, explicit details)
As a complete fish out of water who is deeply passionate about her frogs, Grace was such a nerdy delight. I loved how genuinely oblivious she was to the reality TV scene and the idea of appearing sexy on camera. Her innocence and authenticity were so lovable. It's no surprise that a certain onsite lawyer can't help becoming completely smitten with her, despite the many headaches she causes him along the way.
This was just a mindless, summery, fun time with plenty of reality TV shenanigans! I really enjoyed it.
(spice level: 1 open-door scene, explicit details)
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July 29, 2026
My new favorite romance storyline: dating show gone wrong.
"It's also a promise that while you're looking out for every person and animal around you, I'll be the one looking out for you. Whether you have a sprained ankle from an obstacle course gone wrong or you're hyperventilating on a hot-air balloon.“
Grace has a thing for frogs. Or at least for saving them.
When her mother applies her for a dating show without her knowledge, she realizes it could be the only thing she could do to save everything she worked for.
While Grace annoyed me in the beginning, she quickly grew on me after slowly having a great character development.
I loved the drama, the friendship, everything.
This was so much fun!
"It's also a promise that while you're looking out for every person and animal around you, I'll be the one looking out for you. Whether you have a sprained ankle from an obstacle course gone wrong or you're hyperventilating on a hot-air balloon.“
Grace has a thing for frogs. Or at least for saving them.
When her mother applies her for a dating show without her knowledge, she realizes it could be the only thing she could do to save everything she worked for.
While Grace annoyed me in the beginning, she quickly grew on me after slowly having a great character development.
I loved the drama, the friendship, everything.
This was so much fun!
July 16, 2026
Omg I love this SO much!
After enjoying the book a few months ago, I finally got the audiobook and let me tell you... It's an absolute stunner!
As a thriller reader, I rarely read romance, and when I do, my expectations are pretty low. This book blew me away. Grace might be my second most loved FMC this year. And that's insane praise. She is SO freaking smart, so funny, so witty and super sexy too. I never thought I would laugh out loud so many times while listening to a rom com. It was truly such a surprisingly fun story. It felt like a guilty pleasure, almost like... Watching a trashy reality TV show? 😆
Amy Mass knocked it out of the park with this one. She not only wrote a funny, quirky and heartfelt story, but also picked the PERFECT narrator.
A true five star book. Who would have thought?!
After enjoying the book a few months ago, I finally got the audiobook and let me tell you... It's an absolute stunner!
As a thriller reader, I rarely read romance, and when I do, my expectations are pretty low. This book blew me away. Grace might be my second most loved FMC this year. And that's insane praise. She is SO freaking smart, so funny, so witty and super sexy too. I never thought I would laugh out loud so many times while listening to a rom com. It was truly such a surprisingly fun story. It felt like a guilty pleasure, almost like... Watching a trashy reality TV show? 😆
Amy Mass knocked it out of the park with this one. She not only wrote a funny, quirky and heartfelt story, but also picked the PERFECT narrator.
A true five star book. Who would have thought?!
May 9, 2026
✨🎥🐸 REALITY BITES was such a ridiculously fun summer read and now I desperately need more nerdy girls wreaking havoc on reality dating shows. If you love Love Island/The Bachelor type chaos mixed with STEM romance vibes, this one absolutely delivers. Grace is a total fish out of water surrounded by influencers, producers, contestants, and nonstop cameras, and watching her slowly come into her own was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.
The humor is sharp, biting, and genuinely funny while also being surprisingly dead on about how toxic and manipulative reality TV culture can be. It’s very tongue in cheek but still manages to say something real about social media, fame, and the way these shows manufacture drama. The behind the scenes look at production was SO entertaining, and the romance? Adorable. The “here for the wrong reasons” setup had me laughing immediately because if you know Bachelor lore… you know 😂
This felt like the perfect beach/poolside rom com: light, cute, bingeable, but still smart and self aware. If you love Ali Hazelwood style STEM heroines, reality dating show drama, awkward/funny heroines, or romances with sharp commentary woven in, definitely put this one on your radar. 🎬💘
The humor is sharp, biting, and genuinely funny while also being surprisingly dead on about how toxic and manipulative reality TV culture can be. It’s very tongue in cheek but still manages to say something real about social media, fame, and the way these shows manufacture drama. The behind the scenes look at production was SO entertaining, and the romance? Adorable. The “here for the wrong reasons” setup had me laughing immediately because if you know Bachelor lore… you know 😂
This felt like the perfect beach/poolside rom com: light, cute, bingeable, but still smart and self aware. If you love Ali Hazelwood style STEM heroines, reality dating show drama, awkward/funny heroines, or romances with sharp commentary woven in, definitely put this one on your radar. 🎬💘
May 13, 2026
#harperperennialpartner
I had a great time reading Reality Bites, and the character Grace made it so. Though she’s the “odd duck” in her family of “influencers”, it just makes her more snarky about everything around her, as well as them. And the fact that it’s her who ends up on a dating reality show—something that she did not want to be on—is even more hilarious. She figures out how she can benefit from the show and goes for it.
I loved Grace’s personality. She is not only the “odd duck” or “frog out of water” in her own family, but also among the other contestants on the show. She, on the other hand, doesn’t see anything wrong with it. She brought one suitcase—so what. A one-piece bathing suit vs a bikini? Of course!
It’s more than just a reality show for Grace. It’s a learning experience. The relationships she develops with the contestants—hello, Hot Scott, and learning what a “hook-up” means, and the show's attorney, Andrew, she butts heads with, but can’t deny that there are romantic feelings there—all of it brought a smile to my face. Reality Bites was a winner.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Author Amy Mass for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had a great time reading Reality Bites, and the character Grace made it so. Though she’s the “odd duck” in her family of “influencers”, it just makes her more snarky about everything around her, as well as them. And the fact that it’s her who ends up on a dating reality show—something that she did not want to be on—is even more hilarious. She figures out how she can benefit from the show and goes for it.
I loved Grace’s personality. She is not only the “odd duck” or “frog out of water” in her own family, but also among the other contestants on the show. She, on the other hand, doesn’t see anything wrong with it. She brought one suitcase—so what. A one-piece bathing suit vs a bikini? Of course!
It’s more than just a reality show for Grace. It’s a learning experience. The relationships she develops with the contestants—hello, Hot Scott, and learning what a “hook-up” means, and the show's attorney, Andrew, she butts heads with, but can’t deny that there are romantic feelings there—all of it brought a smile to my face. Reality Bites was a winner.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Author Amy Mass for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 25, 2026
Scientist enters Love Island-style reality show to save frogs” is the kind of chaotic premise that either completely loses you… or becomes the perfect poolside read. 🐸☀️📺
Reality Bites by Amy Mass follows Grace, the only member of her influencer family who wants absolutely nothing to do with internet fame. While her dad runs a bro-yoga empire, her mom is a lifestyle influencer with a million followers, and her brother dominates Twitch, Grace has two PhDs and studies frogs. She was immediately my favorite kind of main character. 😂
When funding for her frog conservation work is threatened, she agrees to join a dating reality show called Love Shack for a chance at $250,000. The setup is ridiculous in the best way, and the whole book has that light, upbeat summer energy that makes it easy to fly through. This is definitely a “read by the pool and don’t overthink it” kind of story, complete with a happy ending and plenty of reality-TV-style drama. 🌴🍹
My biggest issue was that the book critiques reality TV for reducing contestants into shallow stereotypes… while also kind of doing the exact same thing with many of its own characters. Most of the romances also lean heavily into insta-love, which isn’t usually my favorite trope. There’s no spice, though, so this feels more cozy and playful than overly dramatic. 💕
If you love books set around reality TV production, influencer culture, or dating-show chaos, this is a fun escape read.
⭐️ 3.5/5 stars
QOTD: If you had to go on a reality TV show, which one would you survive the longest on?
Reality Bites by Amy Mass follows Grace, the only member of her influencer family who wants absolutely nothing to do with internet fame. While her dad runs a bro-yoga empire, her mom is a lifestyle influencer with a million followers, and her brother dominates Twitch, Grace has two PhDs and studies frogs. She was immediately my favorite kind of main character. 😂
When funding for her frog conservation work is threatened, she agrees to join a dating reality show called Love Shack for a chance at $250,000. The setup is ridiculous in the best way, and the whole book has that light, upbeat summer energy that makes it easy to fly through. This is definitely a “read by the pool and don’t overthink it” kind of story, complete with a happy ending and plenty of reality-TV-style drama. 🌴🍹
My biggest issue was that the book critiques reality TV for reducing contestants into shallow stereotypes… while also kind of doing the exact same thing with many of its own characters. Most of the romances also lean heavily into insta-love, which isn’t usually my favorite trope. There’s no spice, though, so this feels more cozy and playful than overly dramatic. 💕
If you love books set around reality TV production, influencer culture, or dating-show chaos, this is a fun escape read.
⭐️ 3.5/5 stars
QOTD: If you had to go on a reality TV show, which one would you survive the longest on?
August 3, 2026
I was feeling a bit burned out on romance books which has been disappointing since I really do love that genre. Thankfully Reality Bites pulled me out of my Romance funk. This one was refreshing, fun and hilarious.
I couldn't wait to get back the book every time I had to step away
I was able to listen to this one from my Libby app. Christine Lakin was the narrator and she did a great job. This book is truly perfect in that format
There is one very steamy scene, easy to skip if not for you
I couldn't wait to get back the book every time I had to step away
I was able to listen to this one from my Libby app. Christine Lakin was the narrator and she did a great job. This book is truly perfect in that format
There is one very steamy scene, easy to skip if not for you
August 4, 2026
I'm so mad about grace kissing Javi and screwing over Sierra and Andrew. I devoured the first 2 hours of the audio book, then almost dnf'd this book three times. Then swooned and kicked my feet for hours. Then got so pissed about this that I wanted to dnf again. The mc was too judgy and I really feel like she cheated on Andrew (i hateeee cheaters) but i still stayed up until 1 am to finish this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
Got like 45% through it but couldn’t finish the book. Lowkey hated the FMC and the way the other characters were written reminds me of Quotev fanfics. Might finish another day but def not today. Loved the concept though.
June 13, 2026
The concept for this book was so interesting but the execution was SO BAD. FMC is such a “i’m not like other girls” character & the writing was just cringy.
June 5, 2026
(4.5 Stars) Thank you to @amymasswriter and @harperperinnal for the gifted advanced copy of this really charming debut!
Grace Lambert is a scientist with two PhDs who has dedicated her life’s work to saving a frog species. This intense academic work is very different from the rest of her family - they are ALL social media influencers. Grace doesn’t even have social media. She’s also never watched reality TV. So when she discovers that she’s been cast on a Love Island-esque reality dating show thanks to her mother, she is horrified. But when she learns of the potential prize money and what it could do for her research, she reluctantly agrees. What follows is a totally charming, laugh-out-loud story about finding friendship and love in the most unexpected places.
I absolutely INHALED this book! I am a proud Love Island watcher, and this was an absolutely fantastic book for anyone who loves the show as much as I do. There is (obviously) a really charming banter-filled romance at the center of this book, but there’s also a big theme about family - that we were born to and that we choose as well as an important message about not judging people by their appearance. It is also simply an incredibly fun read. This is Amy’s debut, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!
🎧 Audio Performance: I really love everything Christine Lakin narrates - she narrates smart women so well, and her way of executing humor is fantastic! I stayed up way too late listening! (10h 21m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Grace Lambert is a scientist with two PhDs who has dedicated her life’s work to saving a frog species. This intense academic work is very different from the rest of her family - they are ALL social media influencers. Grace doesn’t even have social media. She’s also never watched reality TV. So when she discovers that she’s been cast on a Love Island-esque reality dating show thanks to her mother, she is horrified. But when she learns of the potential prize money and what it could do for her research, she reluctantly agrees. What follows is a totally charming, laugh-out-loud story about finding friendship and love in the most unexpected places.
I absolutely INHALED this book! I am a proud Love Island watcher, and this was an absolutely fantastic book for anyone who loves the show as much as I do. There is (obviously) a really charming banter-filled romance at the center of this book, but there’s also a big theme about family - that we were born to and that we choose as well as an important message about not judging people by their appearance. It is also simply an incredibly fun read. This is Amy’s debut, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!
🎧 Audio Performance: I really love everything Christine Lakin narrates - she narrates smart women so well, and her way of executing humor is fantastic! I stayed up way too late listening! (10h 21m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
June 15, 2026
I will never get tired of watching and reading reality TV romances and competitions. Grace is a wildlife conservationist who is passionate about saving endangered species. I loved how she was oblivious to slang and to social situations but deeply passionate about biology and protecting animals. She was a breathe of fresh air as a character in the reality tv show setting.
June 21, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ I’m loving the reality TV show books lately. I read when I started Love Island and it definitely enhanced the experience. As a STEM girly I loved that the FMC is a scientist and the wildlife protection that was discussed. It could have used some more spice but overall I really enjoyed.
Thank you NetGalley & Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC!!
Thank you NetGalley & Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC!!
August 17, 2026
Such a cute rom com, I loved this! It reminds me of love island a lot!
May 16, 2026
I don't even know where to start with Reality Bites because I LOVED this book!
This was such a witty, funny, feel-good read that had me laughing out loud from beginning to end. The characters felt so real and vivid that I found myself mentally casting them the entire time. In my head, Grace was giving major Sandra Bullock energy while Andrew was absolutely Luke Wilson.
Grace was impossible not to love. While the rest of her family are social media influencers, she's a wildlife conservationist and scientist whose biggest concern is saving endangered frogs. When her lab loses funding, she reluctantly agrees to appear on a reality dating show in hopes of winning money and bringing attention to her conservation work. Watching her navigate the world of reality TV was hilarious. I was cracking up when she showed up with a one-piece swimsuit while everyone else clearly understood the assignment!
The fish-out-of-water storyline worked perfectly, and the banter between Grace and Andrew was one of my favorite parts of the book. They constantly butt heads, but underneath all the frustration and sarcasm, the chemistry keeps building. The romance felt natural, and I loved how the emotional intensity grew as the story progressed.
What surprised me most was how much heart this book had beneath all the humor. Yes, it's funny. Yes, it's romantic. But it's also about staying true to yourself in a world that constantly wants you to perform for an audience.
This is the PERFECT addition to your beach bag. It's charming, laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and impossible to put down.
And now for a special thank you to Amy Mass. Our Book Nook Buzz retreat group had the opportunity to chat with her, and it made us love this book even more. She was incredibly kind, gracious, and so much fun to talk to. We loved hearing about her writing process, the inspiration behind the story, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how this book came to life. The consensus among our entire group was that this was the perfect book club pick because there truly was something for everyone. We all enjoyed it so much, and getting to meet the author was the icing on the cake.
Six stars from me if I could give them!
This was such a witty, funny, feel-good read that had me laughing out loud from beginning to end. The characters felt so real and vivid that I found myself mentally casting them the entire time. In my head, Grace was giving major Sandra Bullock energy while Andrew was absolutely Luke Wilson.
Grace was impossible not to love. While the rest of her family are social media influencers, she's a wildlife conservationist and scientist whose biggest concern is saving endangered frogs. When her lab loses funding, she reluctantly agrees to appear on a reality dating show in hopes of winning money and bringing attention to her conservation work. Watching her navigate the world of reality TV was hilarious. I was cracking up when she showed up with a one-piece swimsuit while everyone else clearly understood the assignment!
The fish-out-of-water storyline worked perfectly, and the banter between Grace and Andrew was one of my favorite parts of the book. They constantly butt heads, but underneath all the frustration and sarcasm, the chemistry keeps building. The romance felt natural, and I loved how the emotional intensity grew as the story progressed.
What surprised me most was how much heart this book had beneath all the humor. Yes, it's funny. Yes, it's romantic. But it's also about staying true to yourself in a world that constantly wants you to perform for an audience.
This is the PERFECT addition to your beach bag. It's charming, laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and impossible to put down.
And now for a special thank you to Amy Mass. Our Book Nook Buzz retreat group had the opportunity to chat with her, and it made us love this book even more. She was incredibly kind, gracious, and so much fun to talk to. We loved hearing about her writing process, the inspiration behind the story, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how this book came to life. The consensus among our entire group was that this was the perfect book club pick because there truly was something for everyone. We all enjoyed it so much, and getting to meet the author was the icing on the cake.
Six stars from me if I could give them!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The author reached out to me on my instagram - @booklistfordays - and asked if I wanted a copy of the book. After reading the blurb, I immediately said YES!
I'm not really a TV watcher, let alone reality TV. Why? Because I'd always rather be reading; however, I was a sucker for for this book.
🧬Women in STEM
📽️Social media family
👨💼Broody lawyer who not-so-secretly hates his job
📺All the drama reality TV producers stage
I didn't want to stop reading this book. Grace was submitted as a contestant by her mom, who wants to see her in a relationship. But Grace wants to conserve the lives of tadpoles and frogs, something her family doesn't understand.
When Grace makes it as a contestant she can't so no. The tadpoles quite literally depend on her winning the show and winning the prize money.
But what happens when she ruffles all the feathers and falls for the lawyer that she shouldn't even be falling for considering he is not even a contestant on the show!
Start to finish this book will have you giggling and wanting more.
Check out my reels about this book here and here.
I'm not really a TV watcher, let alone reality TV. Why? Because I'd always rather be reading; however, I was a sucker for for this book.
🧬Women in STEM
📽️Social media family
👨💼Broody lawyer who not-so-secretly hates his job
📺All the drama reality TV producers stage
I didn't want to stop reading this book. Grace was submitted as a contestant by her mom, who wants to see her in a relationship. But Grace wants to conserve the lives of tadpoles and frogs, something her family doesn't understand.
When Grace makes it as a contestant she can't so no. The tadpoles quite literally depend on her winning the show and winning the prize money.
But what happens when she ruffles all the feathers and falls for the lawyer that she shouldn't even be falling for considering he is not even a contestant on the show!
Start to finish this book will have you giggling and wanting more.
Check out my reels about this book here and here.
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 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!!!
May 14, 2026
Poorly written cringefest.
May 11, 2026
Reality Bites is a fun, easygoing rom-com about a scientist who signs up for a reality dating show. While it touches on deeper themes like family, friendship, and finding unexpected love, the heart of the story is pure entertainment. Filled with humor, chaos, chemistry, and reality-show drama, this book had me laughing throughout. The perfect beach read for anyone looking for something light, funny, and delightfully bingeable without being too serious.
Thank you HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
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.
March 2, 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.
June 24, 2026
this was the perfect summer read! i loved that the fmc was in a reality show during this book. i don’t normally watch reality shows but i think i need to start! after hearing about this book from a booksta friend, i knew i had to read it. i love rom coms and this was different than any of the other rom coms i have read, but in the best way! also, i want to take a minute to talk about the banter between the fmc and mmc. it gets heated from their first conversation and doesn’t let up! could not get enough of this book and im really hoping for another book 🤭
July 20, 2026
Reality Bites is such a charming surprise. Amy Mass captures the messy, hilarious, and sometimes painful reality‑show experience through Grace, a scientist who never expected to be in the spotlight. The book gently explores not judging too quickly, giving people room to grow, and finding your voice when it matters most. A sweet, engaging read — I flew through it!
May 31, 2026
This was such a fun read from beginning to end! I never watch reality TV, but I found this totally engaging. I love everything about Grace; from her career to her friends, and how giving she is. With the weight of her and her team possibly losing their jobs, she has no other choice but to try to win the grand prize to save her lab.
The competitions on the reality show were laugh-out-loud funny and the clothes were outrageous. As awkward as Grace was in the beginning, the experience of getting out of her comfort zone actually led her to gain a lot of confidence. She made new friends, had to see past stereotypes, and discover that she could do hard things- like look to her family for help and take a chance on love.
If you are looking for a fun read with a strong FMC, along with some discovery, taking chances, and realizing she’s more than just a scientist, you will love this one!
The competitions on the reality show were laugh-out-loud funny and the clothes were outrageous. As awkward as Grace was in the beginning, the experience of getting out of her comfort zone actually led her to gain a lot of confidence. She made new friends, had to see past stereotypes, and discover that she could do hard things- like look to her family for help and take a chance on love.
If you are looking for a fun read with a strong FMC, along with some discovery, taking chances, and realizing she’s more than just a scientist, you will love this one!
June 14, 2026
This has everything I want in a romcom PLUS women in STEM and reality TV! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- no notes! 🐸
August 3, 2026
3.5 stars - cute and was exactly what I was looking for post Love Island.
October 12, 2026
sorry but a bit too unrealistic for me
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