Worth Playing For

by Katie Gergel

A woman begrudgingly takes her identical twin sister's place on a reality competition show, but there’s more than money at stake when she fakes a strategic relationship with another contestant—her first love—in this thrilling debut romance.

Willa was never supposed to have the adventure. That path was Bernie's—the golden child and not the twin dealing with a quarter-life crisis while working at Sip & Scrab, their family’s struggling board game cafe. But when Bernie can no longer compete on Rival Isle, a new reality survival show, Willa must secretly take her place in hopes of winning the million-dollar prize. Spending four weeks on a deserted island competing against total strangers is her literal nightmare, but she'll do anything to save the cafe from bankruptcy.

Her concerns of passport fraud and sleeping in the sand are soon forgotten when she comes face to face, as Bernie, with fellow competitor Noel, the man who broke her heart eight years ago. But she needs to play smart, and upon learning that they'll need to appeal to their rivals and at-home voters to stay in the game, the two form an alliance and on-screen-only romance. After all, who doesn't love a love story?

Between underwater endurance challenges, double-crossing elimination ceremonies, and never-ending meals of coconuts and rice, Willa unlocks a side of herself that's long been buried. But as she reconnects with Noel under the mask of Bernie, it becomes harder to distinguish what's real and what's for the game. Caught between the tides of public perception and private longing, Willa must ask Are her feelings really just for show?

Genres: Romance, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 27, 2027

About the author

Katie Gergel is a marketing manager by day and one of the world’s leading reality TV consumers by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking a spicy margarita, planning an elaborate themed party, or falling down the latest pop culture rabbit hole. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her fiancé and two needy cats.

Reviews

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a "Survivor" style second chance romance and I was here for it!

Willa and Bernie are identical twins who decide to switch places when Bernie gets injured and can no longer compete on a reality show for a million dollar prize. Both sister want to win that money for their mother and their failing board game cafe. The only problem is Willa has always been the more introvert and less popular twin. She does not think that she can pull this off even though it is for a great cause. She ends up traveling to Fiji to compete but ends up running into the guy who broke her heart 8 years ago. Now she has to pretend that she doesn't know him but she still has lingering feelings for him. She must figure out not only how to win this reality competition, keep her identity a secret, and somehow not fall in love with Noel again.

This book was straight up fun. Willa was smart and strategic but not over her ex. This added great romantic tension while she was on the island trying to win a million dollars. I also enjoyed reading about the other competitors. They each had incredible and unique personalities. From a no holds bar older woman who had no problem being nude, a middle school teacher beloved by his students, a single mom trying to win for her daughter, a young man who wants to be a vampire, and a rich arrogant young man. Each brought their style to the competition and made for delightful reading. I honestly wish I could really watch this show.

The romance was also on par. There were flashbacks to Willa and Noel's relationship when they were seniors in high school. The romance was subtle and not over the top. I was definitely rooting for the two of them by the end of the book. It also did not quite fit the typical style we see in romances which I enjoyed. It was a little different making for a more interesting read.

I definitely recommend this romance especially if you love reality shows, second chance romance, and just an overall fun book. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to Dell Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Kayne Spooner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s showtime! There’s a reality show, a twin switch, and second-chance romance in this adventure story and it kept me entertained the whole way through. Willa works at their mom’s struggling board games store, Sip and Scrab. Her twin sister Bernie comes up with a plan to rescue the store and make her famous at the same time. She applies to be on a new Survivor-type of reality show called Rival Isle and she gets chosen! The only problem is that Bernie breaks her leg and needs Willa to take her place. Willa isn’t thrilled with the idea. She’s not as outgoing as Bernie, but she agrees to go along with it in hopes of saving their family’s store.

When Willa arrives at Rival Isle she discovers that Noel is one of the ten competitors. He’s surprised to see her too and wonders why she’s going by Bernie, her twin sister’s name. Willa and Noel first met eight years ago, when they were eighteen, at Sip and Scrab. They became really close when he started coming in to play Scrabble with her, but something happened to break them up and they were both hurt by it. Willa wonders why Noel signed up for the show and thinks he has secrets.

Willa comes up with the idea that she and Noel should pretend to be a couple. She thinks viewers won’t vote them off because they will want to see what happens next between them. There are challenges for immunity and other rewards and the competitors are encouraged to share their stories while they experience adventures. There’s jealousy, scheming and lots of laughs.

This was 5 stars from me and I will be keeping an eye out for more from Katie Gergel. Thanks to the author, Dell and NetGalley for this ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads.com closer to the release date, April 27th.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was browsing romance titles on NetGalley and when I came across Worth Playing For I did a double take. As a huge fan of competitive reality tv I immediately recognized the title as a familiar phrase from Jeff Probst and I knew I needed to read this book ASAP. I’m happy to report that it was exactly what I hoped it would be and I loved it!

I really enjoyed Willa and her strategic mind. After so many years of watching Survivor and Big Brother and shows like them, it was cool to feel like I was in the game from a first person perspective. I also loved the premise of Rival Isle and I would absolutely watch it and be hooked on the live feeds. I also liked Noel and I was rooting for their relationship. I sometimes struggle with second chance romances/flashbacks but I thought this was well done. It felt believable that they didn’t stay together originally but could move past it to have a healthy relationship.

The cast of fellow contestants were amusing and overall the reality tv stuff was well done and realistic. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves competitive reality shows and romance novels because this is the perfect mix. I was also really impressed with the quality of the writing. This was a great debut novel from Katie Gergel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sammie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO fun! As an identical twin, Survivor superfan, and rom-com lover, I truly don't think I could dream up a better plot if I tried. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys Survivor or reality tv in general - I loved all the nods to the show and was super interested in the gameplay on Rival Isle. Even if you don't watch, this book has a unique plot that will engage anyone who is looking to get away from typical tropes (okay, there is fake dating, but it's for a good reason!). If you like highbrow literary fiction, this isn't for you, but if you want to laugh and fly through an absorbing and entertaining rom com, this is perfect. Even with the new half/quarter stars, this book earns a perfect 5 from me!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Cate Neiffer-Gygi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I ATE this up. Anyone who knows me knows my fave things are Survivor and reading. So a book surrounding a second chance love story mixed with Survivor themed reality show?? My literal heaven. Loved the twin dynamic, the struggle of comparisons to each other.

Pick this up in April 2027 if Survivor, second chance romance or identity swap is your niche.

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rom-com of the summer, the year, the decade! This stole my heart from the very first page, and I fear that while the Rivals may no longer be on that beach, my heart remains there, swooning in the sun and surplus of ideal second chance angst and romance!

Reading this debut was like discovering Justin Bieber's first YouTube video pre-virality. Reading Ali Hazelwood when she was still on AO3. Being friends with Taylor Swift in high school. It was realizing that you're in the beginning, the before.

Worth Playing For was perfectly crafted, expertly paced and curated from start to finish. Characters that felt vivid in both their wins and losses, and who had you rooting for them all the whole time, even with all the twists and turns. A romance which felt incredibly realistic but equally as enticing, enhanced only further through the Survivor-style setting.

I read this book in record time, the ideal beach read or bingeable weekend escape from reality. I don't even know how to fully express just how much fun I had. Every single chapter was it's own adventure, and I never wanted it to stop.

For those who love or identify with:
- Reality-TV/Survivor
- Second Chance Romance
- Casts of hilarious characters
- The exploration of sisterhood, friendship, and family dynamics
- Thrill seeking/competitive streaks

Then this should be at the absolute top of your TBR.

I am honored to have read this brilliant rom-com in it's "before", and cannot wait to see all the success which surely awaits it in the "after".

Thank you so much to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC! :)

[reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! 5⭐️

THIS BOOK. I LOVE I LOVE I LOVE.

I have to say I’m usually not one for tropical OR reality tv show settings in books, but I’ve been following the author for a while and it sounded so good (parent trap meets survivor vibes??) so I requested on netgalley and decided to give it a try!!! Best choice ever. To me, everything about this book was perfect. There were a few things that could have lowered the rating for me had she chosen to do them, but the author made such good decisions with the plot and characters that everything played out better than I thought it could’ve. The writing style is so good, natural, and feels like I’m with the characters in-person. I loved that all of the Rivals (competitors) had such unique personalities, but didn’t feel like caricatures or stereotypes. Hana, Rowan, Willa, Noel, Vampire Sam, Estelle, etc. were all so easy to imagine and I loved them all, even when I hated them (you included, Vertonica). Every choice, every plot twist was so well-done, they had my jaw dropping every chapter. I loved the characters so dearly, and I related to Willa on a molecular level. Also, I loved seeing the behind the scenes of the reality show, whether it was realistic or not. Worth Playing For felt so different from other romance books, and I can’t wait to pick this up on release day (and all the author’s future books too).

[chelseabrookelikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tribe has spoken and apparently I’m voting all of you onto the island with this book. 🏝️

I knew the second I saw “Survivor-style reality competition meets second chance romance” that this had my attention, but I did not expect to become this invested in a completely fictional reality show. I’m talking alliances, challenges, strategy, betrayals, ridiculous contestants…I was STRESSED…over people who do not exist! 😂

Willa was easily my favorite part. She’s spent so much of her life believing Bernie is the twin meant for adventure while she’s the one who stays behind. Watching her get thrown completely out of her comfort zone and slowly realize she is so much more capable than she’s ever given herself credit for? I loved every second of it.

And THEN you throw her first love onto the same island?! Noel and Willa have eight years of history between them, so the past and present timelines worked so well here. We get to see them fall for each other the first time while simultaneously watching all those old feelings start bubbling back up. Then they decide an on-screen romance might help their game and…sure guys. Totally just strategy. Nothing to see here folks! 👀

This genuinely felt like getting to binge an entire season of a reality competition show while also reading a second chance romance, and I’ve never read anything quite like it.

Thank you so much to Ballantine/Dell, NetGalley, and Katie Gergel for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[bookish girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survivor fans y’all aren’t ready for this one!!

[Rachael Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

An identical twin whose family owns a board game shop goes on survivor and fake dates her ex. Not sure I could come up with a more Rachael coded plot if I tried

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Katie on TikTok for a while, and the second she started talking about this book, it became one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Survivor-inspired. Identical twin swaps. Fake showmance. First love/second chance. The tropes were delicious, and I could not wait to see how she pulled this off.

So when I tell you how excited I am that I both got to read this early AND she pulled it off beautifully??

As a longtime Survivor watcher, I had SO much fun with the reality competition side of this. You can tell Katie is actually a fan. The challenges, the strategy, the alliances, the ridiculous cast of personalities, the eliminations...it genuinely felt like I was watching Survivor at times. My heart rate was up. I was stressed! lol. I loved all the different archetypes among the contestants too. It really brought the whole concept to life.

And I loved Willa and Noel. The past and present timelines worked really well for me because I got to actually SEE their history and first love while watching all those feelings come back in the present. It gave their second chance so much more weight, and I was just as invested in their love story as I was in who was getting voted off the island.

I also really loved Willa herself and watching her come into her own over the course of the competition. There's something so satisfying about watching the twin who thinks the big adventure belongs to her sister realize that maybe she's a lot more capable of having one than she thought.

The writing is so quick and funny and readable. I flew through this. And I just really admire how DIFFERENT it felt. I read a lot of romance, and getting a premise that immediately made me think, wait, I've never read this before, was such a treat.

Also, Worth Playing For is just...the PERFECT title. My Survivor girlies will know.

I couldn't wait to read this, and I'm SO happy I loved it. Such a fun, original debut and easily 5 stars for me.

Can't wait to see what Katie writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Katie Gergel for the eARC!

[Katie Camden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked as soon as I first read the premise of this book months ago, and the actual reading experience was exactly what I hoped for. WORTH PLAYING FOR is so entertaining, with the majority of the action happening on an island among Willa and her fellow contestants on a Survivor-esque reality TV competition.

Willa stands in for her twin sister Bernie, who gets injured just before her big chance to compete for a million dollars. Her first love, Noel, who disappeared on her eight years earlier, shows up as a fellow contestant, and though he still sparks the old feelings of attraction, she has to mask her feelings, since she can’t risk getting outed for posing as her sister. But an onscreen romance does seem like the way to go to appeal to reality TV viewers, whose votes influence whether she gets to stay and up her chances at winning the cash prize.

The book is filled with heartfelt memories of Noel and Willa’s romance that ended just in time for them both to go off to college, as well as the present-day reality TV competition, complete with hunger and dirt and backstabbing and tests of logic and endurance and psychological strength. Underneath it all, Willa’s desperate to win the money as well as find closure to what went wrong with her and Noel years ago.

This book hit all the right notes for me—the intrigue of what goes on behind the scenes in reality TV, the emotions of being reunited with your first love and possibly having a second chance, the deep-seated desire to make your family happy even if it means potentially missing out on your own dreams.

I adored this novel! Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the chance to read it early (I know I’ll want to read it again)!

[Lauren Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC review!

Worth Playing For made me so happy. I loved getting a first-person look at Survivor (let’s face it, Host Joe was fooling no one. We all know what this is) and seeing the strategic gameplay that goes into alliances, advantages, and figuring out how to work the system. That part of the story was so much fun, and I really enjoyed seeing how all of those pieces played into the romance and the characters’ choices.

Having Willa also need to find her own voice and sense of self added another layer to her character, and I really enjoyed the way the twin swap was handled. It could have easily become confusing or gimmicky, but I thought it worked really well within the story.

And Noel was perfect. Dreamy, completely in her corner from day one, and someone who believed in her goals and aspirations. I loved how supportive he was of Willa and how clearly he wanted to see her succeed.

The original breakup also had a believable reason behind it and felt like a big enough hurdle that it actually meant something when they eventually found their way back to each other. I was glad they were able to sort through everything relatively easily once they finally got there. I didn’t need them to drag out the conflict just for the sake of drama.

Overall, I felt completely swept up in the story and the romance. Although I do think these characters could have really shown us more of how they fell back in love with each other on the page, I still never had any trouble believing them as a couple. I was invested in them, I loved watching them find their way back to each other, and by the end, I was just really happy for the HEA.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth Playing For is a romance for all my fellow Survivor superfans. I’d love this to be a series where we can see other couples fall in love while participating in Rival Isle, the reality competition TV series in the world of the book.

It’s a beautiful second chance romance between the FMC, a twin sister who often feels less than and is stuck in her life, and the MMC, who is down bad for her. The MMC is soft and supportive, and I think the FMC will resonate with a lot of readers.

The tone is a bit saccharine, and the humor is cheesy, which prevents me from giving the book all the stars. Some parts just pull you right out of the story in this one. There’s a character called Vampire Sam who has fangs and is part of a vampire cult? Other characters are also over the top, as are some slapstick moments (I feel like the author has it out for Jeff Probst).

I’m curious to see how readers who aren’t Survivor watchers react to this one. The show within the book is a clear imitation of it, and I enjoyed the references, but not sure how it will play out with others. I’d love to read more, though I wouldn't mind it being less goofy.

Also, what the sister did makes very little sense and is a contrived way of breaking up the couple. Like, who does that? I'm going to read my sister's email, forward it to myself, delete it from her account, plan to bring it up with her later, and then just not do it?

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anna Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re watching Survivor 51?
Add this to your TBR

If you’re a sucker for the iconic duo of Boston Rob and Amber?
Add it to your TBR

If you watch reality shows like it’s a second job?
Add it to your TBR

If you’re a big fan of fake dating, second chance romance, and or forced proximity (like 10-people-on-a-deserted-island level of proximity)?
ADD. IT. TO. YOUR. TBR.

As a Survivor fan, I ATE THIS STORY UP! It truly felt like you were immersed in a season of survivor, even down to so many Easter eggs from different seasons. The cast of characters were so fun and quirky (which felt VERY on-brand with the Survivor-esque back-drop). Willa and Noel had so many sweet moments and I loved the way the resolution was wrapped up (I’ll stick to non-spoilers with this so you’ll just have to read it to fully understand 😉)

I’m interested to see if non-Survivor fans are able to grasp the visuals with the challenges (a total non-issue for a fan because it truly felt like you were dropped onto the Survivor set), but if you’ve never seen Survivor and are interested in this story, tonight is the perfect time to remedy that because season 51 of Survivor premieres TONIGHT!

In the meantime, add this to your TBR so you’re ready to visit Rival Isle in April! 😍

4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to @katiegwrites @ballantinebooks @dellromance for the advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review! 🫶🏻

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about a romance set in the reality television world is when the show plot/gameplay is just as good as the love story. And y'all, this fit the bill for that. When Willa's identical twin sister can no longer compete as a castmember on an upcoming reality show, she decides to take her spot. When she gets there, she realizes her ex who broke her heart is also part of the cast. So now Willa is navigating the show, keeping her secret, and (re)connecting with Noel. There were some great twists in this one via both the game and the evolution of Willa and Noel, especially in some of the culminating plot developments. It a delight of a read and one I definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this April 2027 release.

[Savannah Mattair · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely love reality tv and grew up watching survivor with my grandma. i admittedly haven’t watched survivor in years (just clips here and there) but i was really intrigued to read this.

this was such a fast paced book. sometimes i did wish it showed down a little. most of the book was during the competition on the island but it still felt like we didn’t get enough game play because it moved so fast through the days.

i thought the “operation sister switch” was going to go differently then it did in the end but i didn’t mind it after some things were cleared up in the epilogue.

the flashbacks were a nice touch and i was genuinely not able to figure out what went wrong the first time until the reveal.

this was a really good debut novel and i can’t wait to see what else Katie has up her sleeve!

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!

[Sara McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley!

I enjoyed this second chance romance a lot! It was a really fun read and moved a quick pace. As someone who doesn’t watch much reality TV some of the challenges/concepts weren’t 100% my thing but the relationships between the characters kept me hooked no matter my lack of reality knowledge!

I definitely recommend this book pick up your copy next April when it comes out!

[Hanna Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from page one. Noel and Willa are so so special. Katie Gergel has such a way with weaving a story. I cried throughout this whole thing (not new for me) but what was new for me was that I was crying over not just the romance but the gameplay too. Without spoiling anything, Willa plays a ruthless game and her inner turmoil really stuck with me. I loved every second of it and I think you will too. Thanks to Dell for the eARC.

[Amber Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book was so fun and fantastic! I read it in two days and truly that’s saying something since I’m a mom of two, working on my own book. As a survivor fan, I’ve been excited about this book since I first heard about it and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. The characters were so dynamic and unique. And the relationship between Willa and Noel! Ah loved it so so much! This is a page turner you don’t want to miss!

[Lex fullybookedbabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun light read. Survivor the tv show meets 2nd chance romance book.

The beginning was a little stiff and slow but once the actual competition started, I was fully invested.

If you can suspend your disbelief (à la Parent Trap twin switch) then I recommend this fun quick read.

[asreadbystevie · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This was a fun, light read that I think will be fun for fans of Survivor because of the Easter eggs. The romance was fine, and I did appreciate the flashbacks and how well they were weaved through. Where this book falls apart are the side characters, I didn't feel like I got to know any of them and the ones I did were annoying. Overall a fun read, but probably not one I'd return to

[emily · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

rtc !!

[Becca T · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up watching Survivor with my parents and always rooted for potential couples on the show, I loved this book so much! Not only did Worth Playing For give me nostalgia, but it made me laugh out loud, tear up, and swoon! It was the perfect RomCom with suspense. I’ve already recommended it to others to read when it comes out.

Willa has an identical twin, Bernie, who’s pretty much her opposite and people won’t stop reminding her of that fact. When Bernie gets into an accident and can no longer compete in the new reality TV show, Rival Isle, she persuades Willa to take her spot. Nothing to worry about though. Willa just has to act like a completely different person in front of millions of viewers and coincidentally, Noel, the man who broke her heart at eighteen and who also happens to be competing on the show. Easy, right?

Worth Playing For was quite the adventure and a book I truly didn’t want to put down. The suspense of the TV show made the book entertaining, but the yearning and tension between Willa and Noel kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited for them to get their “happily ever after.” I even gasped as new details came to light. I also thought the dual timeline was a really great addition to the book so that we could learn more about the characters!

Thanks to Katie Gergel, Dell, and NetGalley for the eARC of Worth Playing For in exchange for my honest review! I loved it and can’t wait to read more by this author.

[Sonica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and addictive read. I loved the mix of reality TV drama, second chances and emotional tension. It contains the perfect blend of romance, humor and high stakes adventure.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy romantic tension with plenty of twists.

[t · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book so much. This book was the perfect mash up of so many of my favorite reality tv shows (Traitors, Love Island, Deal or No Deal Island) packaged up in the sweetest second chance romance story.

Willa is such a relatable main character. While I don’t have a twin, I really could connect with her struggles of balancing family obligations with her own dreams that got a bit lost along the way of adulthood & real life. I loved how she found herself (again) throughout the course of the Rival Isle competition.

The challenges and setting of Rival Isle itself was an absolute stand out. I felt sick to my stomach as Willa navigated alliances and betrayals (I felt like I was inside the head of someone competing in Traitors), and the challenges were so well-described that I felt like I was experiencing them through my tv. I laughed out loud at some of the characters’ antics and the situations they were put in. I’m also so impressed that the author was able to weave in so much game play and strategy in the confines of a book.

And, of course, the romance between Willa and Noel was so so sweet. The flashback chapters were so tender and captured the innocence yet depth of a first love so well, and it made my gut wrench as I tried to figure out what went wrong for them 8 years ago. I loved how Noel saw all of Willa’s strengths and encouraged her dreams (and it didn’t feel like either of them compromised any parts of themselves in the relationship).

One of my favorite romance reads of the year so far!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars, thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

This book follows Willa and Noel in a second-chance romance on an island competition reality TV show (very clearly a mix between Love Island and Survivor). For a book entirely from one POV where she had to "play" an identity of someone else for a good portion of the book (sister swap), I'm really impressed with how much I connected to and felt for/with Willa. Noel was quite endearing, some single POV books MMCs are more so like a caricature, but he felt distinctly real and I was really rooting for him as much as his and Willa's romance.

This is a debut, for which I am even more surprisingly impressed with! Will most definitely be staying up to date with Katie for any future books. I highly recommend when this comes out April 27, 2027!

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of the author and so happy she’s publishing her debut novel!!!! I’ve betaread sections and it so so so good I can’t wait to get my hands on the full thing 🤩🤩

[BoredBrunetteBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed. Really really enjoyed this. To the extent that I now want to watch Survivor, an instinct I have never had before.

Loved the way we see the internal mechanics of the game and getting to see the “weak” twin put her game skills to the test, playing with cutthroat strategy. Loved the ending too! Warm feelings all around.

Read it in one sitting, staying up late into the night. Eagerly awaiting whatever this author puts out next.

[Julianne Harkleroad · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Goosebumps.

Worth Playing For brings together all the thrill and excitement of Survivor and The Traitors, coupled with the swoony heart palpitations of your favorite slow burn romance!

Bernie Walters, the sunshine twin, signs up for the adventure of a lifetime: a chance to win 1 MILLION DOLLARS! Generously, she's excited to share some of her potential winnings with her mom to save their little coffeeshop from closing. There are only 9 rival competitors, a few challenges, and viewing audience votes between her and that cash prize- easy, right?

Well, it was until she got into a terrible car accident and can no longer participate. A devastating loss for her personally, but also for Sip & Scrab, which will surely have to close now. Unless.... unless Bernie's "average", nerdy, and shy twin Willa is willing to assume her identity and go in her place?! Willa is anxious (to say the least!) but as one of the managers at the coffeehouse, she knows just how bad their financial straights are and agrees to this con even against all the odds and legal consequences of the international fraud.

Bernie, a hairstylist by trade, gives Willa an identical makeover- a fun scene I wish we got more of!- and then the trip is on! Their mom is convinced that Willa has permission to go in Bernie's stead and friends are told Willa is offline, backpacking for a few weeks as she assumes her sister's entire persona in Fiji. What could go wrong??

Noel Freaking Hudson, that's what. The man who broke her heart 8 years ago is now trapped on Rival Isle with her and 8 other cutthroat competitors. Willa has to pretend she's Bernie 24/7 because the cameras and mic-packs never turn off. Holy cow. He's seen every inch of her and, she thought, loved her as much and she loved him ... With their loose end threatening to unravel and her needing to pretend she's never met the man, does Willa stand a chance at keeping her secret identity hidden?

"If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth doing."

Worth Playing For was exciting and brought so many feelings up! Between the game play, strategy, sabotage, viewer vote elimination, immunity challenges- readers wonder if every choice on this island is just to get the money? Alongside the thrill accompany rooting for your favorite television competitor, readers root for Willa and Noel to reconnect and have a second chance at what we read is an adorable first connection in Willa's flashback point of view chapters. But what happened to break Willa's heart 8 years ago???

My only critique is that Gergel had Willa not realize her own vote wasn't already accounted for to add suspense when readers and Willa both knew hers was the last vote (and how she voted).

Tropes: dual timeline, island competition show, lgbtq+, secret identity, second chance romance, isolated locale, forced proximity, fake dating, slow burn, big reveal, plot twist, secret villain, found identity and true meaning in life, HEA
Spice: 5/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 5/5 👀
Triggers: identity fraud, broken bone on page

Thank you to Ballintine and NetGalley for this ARC!