America's Next Reality Star

Reality Star #1

by Laura Heffernan

Life after college isn’t as seen on TV: Jen’s low-paying job is uninspiring, her boyfriend won’t commit, and she just got evicted. The most exercise she gets comes from dodging debt collectors. Then she sees aån ad seeking competitors for a new reality show with a $250,000 prize. She desperately needs money and the lottery isn’t looking good, so she applies, never expecting
to get the call.

Until she does.

With nothing to lose, Jen packs a bag and heads for the Hollywood hills to star in The Fishbowl. Most of the contestants want to create drama to gain viewer votes, but Jen is all about the joy of the game. Unfortunately, she becomes embroiled in a love triangle and battling another woman for the attention of a fellow contestant. It’s tricky balancing act to hold onto viewers without lying, cheating, or backstabbing—things that don’t bother her opponents. When Jen discovers that she’s on the verge of elimination, she must decide whether “winning” means sacrificing the money, love, or her sense of self.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance, Humor

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

Laura Heffernan once broke up with her now-husband during a board game after realizing that he was ahead 96-3. She hasn't played that particular game since. Her best friend still talks about the Great Uno Card Throwing Incident of 2003. Yet, somehow, Laura insists that she is incredibly gracious whether winning or losing. She lives in the northeast with her husband, new baby, and two furry little beasts.

Laura loves connecting with readers. Find her on her website, www.lauraheffernan.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LH_writes, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.

Reviews

[Marty Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to have the chance to read this MS as a critique partner, and let me spell it out in one word: FANTASTIC.

I love this book! Jen is such a sweet character. I fell in love with her almost immediately; she's so relatable! And Justin? Swoon. New book boyfriend material right there. I also enjoyed all the unique twists Laura came up with for the reality show. The games were fun and unusual, not your usual TV fare. The secondary characters were well-developed, and (spoiler) there's a perfect villain.

All in all, this is an excellent read. I can't wait to see what Laura comes up with for book 2!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read with a main character you want to root for, and an ensemble cast that rounds everything out perfectly. I thought the book's reality show was so cool--I wished it was a real show! Will definitely read the next one.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, witty, and really freaking good, AMERICA’S NEXT REALITY STAR is a fun read that has you cheering from the first paragraph through the last page. Laura Heffernan spins an entertaining tale, expertly mixing the main character’s real life events with the reality show’s challenges. With enough drama to not only satisfy fans of reality TV shows, but readers who thrive on a good story with humor and romance, this book is a perfect read.

(I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.)

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! I haven’t been a watcher of reality television since the Austin season of The Real World, but this made me want to start flipping through the television channels for a fix. Oh, the drama of a group of strangers picked to live in a house … and, in this case, a house with glass walls! What could go wrong? ;) (Also, there’s an A+ Buffy reference at the start of Chapter 3, which I found delightful.)
[N.B. I received my copy through NetGalley.]

[Sandi Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a die-hard reality show fan, but I’ve watched a few in my day (haven’t we all?) I enjoy shows that are based on hopes and dreams, where the contestants have compelling back-stories and a chance at winning redemption (and/or a great prize, like a new house). There’s probably no more popular type of show than the ones based on interpersonal drama and romance, which America’s Next Reality Star has in spades.

This book is told from the point of view of Jen, a reality show contestant in “The Fishbowl”. The Fishbowl is a game that’s a combination of smarts, strength, and personal skills.

Will Jen win the grand prize and get back on her financial feet? After heartbreak, will she make a connection with handsome contestant Justin—and can she really trust him, when he’s competing against her? The storyline has plenty of built-in dramatic tension, including scenes with loyal friends and despicable bad guys, as the weeks advance toward the finale.

This book is full of humor and amusing twists. I was chuckling to myself before I even left the Acknowledgments page. I’d describe it as a guilty pleasure and fun to read!

I related to Jen and would’ve made similar choices to the ones she made along the way. The ending paid off with a big moment worthy of a reality TV show. And I turned the last page with a smile on my face. What else could you ask for?

I received an Advance copy from NetGalley.

[Lindsey Frydman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for months to read this book and holy crap, Laura did not disappoint! I couldn't put it down!

I gave up my reality TV addiction a long time ago, and I have to say...Laura made me itching for more! Her fun and flirty romance had me flipping pages, eager to see what crazy antics or swoonworthy scene came next! The reality show, featuring puzzles and an awesome cast of characters, kept me intrigued and laughing.

Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of love triangles, and this one was killer. You know the kind: with that one girl you love to hate, the hot, down-to-earth guy, and the girl that actually deserves him. (Pardon me while I fangirl.)

Every character brought something new to the party. And the two main characters? Jen is incredibly relatable and in desperate need of some cash. I was rooting for her from the start with her brains and quick wit. And Justin? He's everything I love in a hero: reserved, caring, sexy and at least one part enigma. Their slow-burn romance had me desperate to know if their relationship was truly a romance or a showmance.

❤ I'm a forever fan. ❤

[Kari Lemor · Rating 5 out of 5]

America's Next Reality Star by Laura Heffernan was a fun, enjoyable read. It was one of those books where I didn't want to put it down because I became invested in the main characters (and a few of the secondary ones) and had to see what would happen to them. For romance readers, it starts a little slow as we see the heroine still dating a guy (not the hero) but soon we realize why they shouldn't be together and the real romance begins.

Heffernan has written great characters who you want to cheer for and some you want to almost claw their faces, they are that nasty. The plot moves along fairly easily and always keeps you entertained. There were a few moments the overwhelming feelings of the main character sinks deep inside and you want to just curl up in a ball for her. But the games and challenges the contestants faced were creative and fun.

There was a sneak peek of the next book in this installment at the end and now I'll be counting the days until I can get my hands on that one too! Well done!

[G.L. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! I was figuring on a romantic little bit of fluff, but surprisingly I couldn't put the book down and had to finish it before doing anything else. There are some great twists and turns--some I could see coming, others that surprised me. All in all, it's an incredibly sweet story well told. I'm personally not much of a reality TV fan, but it's something so immersed in our society that it all felt perfectly familiar to me. Author Laura Heffernan did a great job with this quick read novel.

[Michelle Hauck · Rating 5 out of 5]

America's Next Reality Star is the perfect book for spring break, especially if you are a fan of reality shows. Which I totally am! Honestly, I couldn't put this down and I zoomed to the ending. Jen is such a likable character. You can't help rooting for her to win the competition and Justin's heart. I felt almost as connected with her friends on the show, Birdie and Ed. I found myself rooting for them just as much.

My only regret is this isn't actually a TV show that I could pull up on Netflix. :-) I would totally watch it. I guess I'll just have to wait for the sequel.

[Cheryl O'Harney · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads*

Title: America's Next Reality Star (Reality Star #1)
Author: Laura Heffernan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5

This for me started a little slow it took me a while to settle into it but that was mostly down to the fact that heroine was dating someone other than the hero however we soon find out why they shouldn't have been together and this is where it picked up.

A twisty storyline with even more twisted characters made this an entertaining an enjoyable read. Very well written I honestly felt like I was getting a candidly open behind-the-scenes look at was truly goes on in the world of reality television.

This was my first read by Laura Heffernan but it certainly won't be the last, I'm very much looking forward to the sequel of this one.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a warm fuzzy rom com.

[Adriana Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly fun read. From the very beginning, you'll find yourself pulling for Jen, an extremely likable and relatable protagonist. Jobless, homeless, and reeling from a tough break up, Jen is selected to compete in "The Fish Bowl" - a reality show set in a glass house. Once she gets there, however, she questions her resolve to win the grand prize of $250,000 at all costs...especially when it comes to handsome co-contestant, Justin. The romantic tension between Justin and Jen is palpable, and I found myself whizzing through the chapters to find out if Justin's feelings are real or manufactured for the reality show.

Heffernan excels at setting scenes. Her descriptions are so vivid, I feel like I actually watched one heck of an entertaining reality show. She also paints compelling secondary characters, from devious villain Ariana to Christian, family-man Abram.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!

[Mary Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super enjoyable romance whether or not you like reality TV shows, but if you've ever wanted to be on one, then this book is like getting to walk in the shoes of a reality star for a stretch. The plot is just as twisty as these contests tend to be, with producers throwing curve balls and other contestants looking to get an advantage. Throw in a hint of romance, and you've got an explosive mix. Jen enters this world looking only to make a buck and get herself out of debt, but when she meets Justin, she finds herself wanting more than just the cash prize. But can she get both the money and the man? Or is the man only playing on her emotions to win the game? Those are the questions facing our heroine as she maneuvers the obstacles that come in the form of puzzles, traps, and other contestants. It's just as page-turning as any season of your favorite reality show.

[Tabby Vos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastically written with an eye towards a really interesting genre (reality shows).... you're immediately engaged with the narrator, and with her interpersonal struggles/successes. The sexy nerd protagonist is immediately likable and relatable,... you really root for her in the game (and in her love life) the whole way through. Villains are villainous, love interests are lovable... but the book remains fun and light. I really liked the openings to each chapter - they're fun and set the tone for what you're about to read. This was a fun read and I look forward to more great books from Laura Heffernan in the future! Note: I received a free book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenni Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first time I read the premise for AMERICA'S NEXT REALITY STAR I was excited to read it. And, it turned out to be such a fun, light, entertaining story! I've been known to spend my Monday nights with ABC, watching a houseful of strangers fight over a love interest, so I was excited to experience Heffernan's version of a reality show, with a 'fighting for money' instead of 'love' bend (though there is some romance in this book, too!). I truly felt like I was getting a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in these comical, sometimes awkward shows. A fun book to pick up this spring/summer!

[Joselynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance is not my usual genre, nor do I watch many reality shows, but I was looking for a lighter read as an escape. This book hit the spot! It took me a couple of tries before I got hooked, but then I would look forward to anytime I had free for reading, and it became a page-turner. I was surprised how quickly it was over--I'm not generally a fast reader! Overall it was a very fun and light read, and when it ended I couldn't wait to find out what happens next! Thankfully, I hear there will be more books from Ms. Heffernan, so I'll be able to satisfy my curiosity soon! Yay!

Note: I received a free advance copy of this book.

[Rê · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 “Who doesn't like reality TV” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Kensington!

Okay, you guys, I love reality TV. It’s out there now. No taking it back. Reality TV shows are super fun.

When it comes to them, I think people tend to think the trashier the better, right? I mean, some will still watch the “better produced”, serious ones, but after a while it tends to get kind of boring because people don’t really turn on the TV to watch boring people to do boring stuff. People want the crazy, trashy shows so they can escape reality.

I can relate to that idea, too. I’m not above watching Big Brother or America’s Next Top Model. In fact, Tyra Banks and I go way back… I watched every season of that show, so I won’t be the one judging you for watching the Kardashians, even though I never did.



But, yeah, I like the serious ones, too. By serious, I mean better versions of ANTM, like Australia’s Next Top Model. Or American Idol. Project Runway. Top Chef. This last one makes me hungry, but I love watching it.

But that’s not the kind of reality show featured in this book. America’s Next Reality Star brings to life a show that is a bit more serious than those. Sure the house and the drama reminded me of things you’d see on Big Brother, but the activities and idea behind the show was a lot more interesting.

And that was what caught—and kept—my attention in this story. The reality TV premise was interesting and different enough to make this book stand out. It’ll appeal to pretty much everyone who’s watched TV for the last decade, and it’ll make you want to see what’s behind the camera. We all know reality TV tends to be as fabricated as “normal” show, but we don’t have many opportunities to see the whole process. This books allows us to peek behind the curtains and cameras and get to know a little about how one goes from working a normal job to becoming a TV star. I’m not saying it’s a hundred percent accurate, but it reads reasonable enough.

Jen Reid is the one to guide us through that. She’s a young woman who’s going through a tough financial time, and is about to watch life pretty much blow up in her face. The opportunity to change that comes in the form of a reality show that’s seeking smart people to perform intellectual and physical tasks while locked up in a glass house. The name of the show is The Fishbowl, because of its glass walls. Walls the characters keep walking into. Side note: If I were in the house, I would’ve probably gone to the hospital after the first few days.

We follow Jen through auditions, the entire casting process and, obviously, her journey as a reality TV contestant. There are a lot of insane tasks, but they’re actually pretty interesting. It’s nothing like I’ve seen on TV, and I think I’d want to watch a show like that if a network decided to produce and broadcast it. For me, that was the best part of the book by far. It was interesting and unique, and it delivered on what it promised: a story about a different kind of reality TV show.

The reason I didn’t rate this book higher is because I went into it thinking it was a contemporary romance, but that’s not how I’d describe this book. It’s probably more Women’s Fiction than anything else. Trying to make it about the romance will leave readers disappointed, in my opinion.

For instance, I couldn’t connect the romance at all, and that made me lose my connection with Jen because the book tried to focus too much on the romance in the second half. I liked Jen enough in the beginning, but once the romance took over the book and her life, she lost me. I realize that sounds insane coming from me, the romance addict, but the reason I almost wish this book had no romance subplot was because I couldn’t feel it at all. I didn’t feel the chemistry, despite Jen mentioning it repeatedly, and I didn’t root for them to end up together. In fact, I think the romance hurt Jen’s character. She became obsessed with Justin, someone she barely talked to or spent any quality time with, for no apparent reason. It irked me that she made some many wrong decisions that impacted her chance to win the show for a guy she barely knew. I still don’t think they got to know each other all that well, despite being in the same house for weeks. I can count on my fingers the amount of scenes they spent talking or doing anything that can be remotely considered as romantic. I think Justin spent more time with Ariana (the villain) than with Jen, so some of the choices—especially that ending—didn’t make any sense to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked Justin. He was a smart dude and he came across as really mature for his age, which kind of made Jen look worse, because she had a lot of immature attitudes in the second half of the book. I just didn’t think the two of them had any chemistry.

Jen’s immaturity was mainly related to Ariana, the wanna-be actress with a hot body, gorgeous face and no brains. I guess Ariana is a representation of what is wrong with America these days—she was a fan favorite despite being a complete bitch. She was a liar and she liked to get under people’s skin, but she was playing to win and she manipulated the voters with all the drama she managed to create. The main source of that drama was her relationship with Jen and Justin. She wanted Justin and she made sure Jen saw that. The problem is, Jen could’ve focused on the game or taken the mature road and dealt with it as a grown-up. Anything other than desperately trying to expose Ariana would’ve been a smarter path.

Ariana’s personality is a bit cartoonish, but with Trump winning the election, I can’t really get mad at the writer for writing her that way. Plus, I’ve seen enough shows to know some people really put on a character and refuse to let go no matter how horrible and ridiculous they look.



Last but not least, I have to say I was super happy to find a Brazilian character in the story. He was one of my favorite characters. Not only because he was Brazilian, but because he was fun and level-headed. I really, really liked him. Another one of my favorites was the contestant that was obsessed with Twitter. #canrelate

So, if you go into America’s Next Reality Star with the right expectation—hoping to read a book about reality TV shows and the people who try out for it, I think you’ll have a good experience. I wouldn’t go into it betting a big love story, though, because I’m afraid you won’t find it.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was either written by AI or a person that has never talked to another human before. Perfect for my camping trip so I wasn’t scared in the woods.
All of the characters were stupid and I hated them.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big reality TV fan, but this book hooked me hard! It's just as addictive as I imagine reality TV to be: there's constant stakes as to who will leave the show, lots of suspense with the little challenges and contests along the way, and plenty of drama with clashing personalities amongst people in the house, as well as getting to know more about the nice ones that you root for and don't want to see leave. I love how the author avoided a lot of cliches I was expecting--the MC isn't bookish and shy (getting really tired of that one), her boyfriend at the start of the book is really nice and endearing (because I read so many books where the MC starts out dating a total jerk and I always think, what's the attraction? Maybe...don't date a jerk?). And the line, "The gay guy never wins these things." So sad, so true. The endearing gay guy is probably a strong second place finisher in lots of reality shows, huh? That sucks. Anyway, this book was a really fun read, and I enjoyed all the growing friendships and secret reveals throughout. Having the very end told through media coverage of the show was a fun technique and a great way to picture what happened to everyone afterward. 4.5 stars!

[Kari Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I'm a fan of certain reality shows (fashion designers, chefs, tattoo artists) and I watched the first 6 or 7 seasons of "Survivor." The reality show most similar to the one portrayed in this book is "Big Brother," which I have never watched. I thought the rules, challenges, and concept for the fictional "Fishbowl" reality show were very believable. The author might just have a brilliant career in reality show production to fall back on if she ever tires of writing.

I think the book's mix of characters/contestants was also great. Every reality show has the contestants you root for and the ones you hate. After many years of these shows, we all know that some contestants choose to play a part rather than be themselves. Heffernan nailed it all.

The female heroine, Jen, is a smart girl experiencing a streak of bad luck. The desperation that leads her to audition for the show is believable. While not strictly a romance novel, the potential romance between Jen and a fellow contestant is a large part of the story, so that appealed to me as well.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

America's Next Reality Star is highly entertaining! I fell in love with the main character, Jen, much quicker than I thought I could. I found her extremely relatable in life challenges and personal interests. While not much of a fan of reality shows, I love puzzles and game shows. I felt like I was diving into different parts of the story alongside various characters. While (as on actual reality shows) there were some stereotypical contestants, the author kept me bouncing around between laughter, frustration, irritation, and cheerfulness. Never a dull moment - and plenty of irksome ones that had me yelling at my Kindle. I was pleased to have a teaser for the sequel following this installment. I want more adventures with this group in their 'lives-with-too-much-network-involvement' saga!

[Laura]

Thank you so much everyone for reading! I had a lot of fun writing this book, and I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please consider copy/pasting your review to Amazon and other bookseller websites. It only takes a minute, but it's a huge help for the author. Thank you!

[Laura Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novel! I started it while on vacation and it was the perfect beach read. The writing and story drew me right in. I loved Jen and her spunk and had a blast with the reality show concept. Can't wait for the author's next novel!

[Mary]

YES. THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL. I MUST HAVE IT.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for www.buriedunderromance.com
Who hasn’t thought about going on a reality show? In AMERICA’S NEXT REALITY STAR by Laura Heffernan, part of the Reality Star Romance series, we get to live vicariously through our heroine, Jen Reid. Attractive contestants, interesting challenges, big prizes, behind the scenes intrigue, gossip, jealously, backstabbing and, of course, romance. It’s all there! Grab a bowl of popcorn and get comfortable. It’s time to watch America’s latest craze Fishbowl!
Jen, who lives in Seattle, has a boyfriend that she loves, but her job is just ok, she can barely afford her apartment, and she has medical bills she can’t pay. Scrolling through Facebook, Jen notices a post seeking young, intelligent participants for a new reality show based on trivia games and puzzles. The grand prize is $250,000. On a whim, she applies and is offered a spot on the show. Suddenly watching her life fall apart as she loses her job, gets evicted from her apartment, and finds out her boyfriend isn’t what he seems, she decides that spending the summer on the show would give her a place to live for a few months. Besides, there was another hot contestant that it might be fun getting to know!
I’ll admit to having watched my fair share of reality shows so the premise of this book immediately intrigued me. A cross between Big Brother, Survivor, Jeopardy and The Bachelor, Fishbowl was a lot of fun. There were physical challenges, trivia contests and more than its share of backstage drama. Jen was very likeable as a contestant from the reader’s point of view, but she had her struggles with the other “fish” and the viewing public. I found myself cheering for her all the way! Some of the other contestants were equally as likeable, especially Jen’s potential love interest, Justin. Of course, we had to have the resident villains to round out the fish in the bowl, and these characters were equally well written and just as despicable as you would expect them to be.
While you might expect Jen’s journey through the Fishbowl to be somewhat predictable given that she is the heroine of our story, but our author, by telling the story in the 1st person from Jen’s point of view, has done a very good job of keeping Jen’s journey full of surprises all the way through to the end. The story is told more through what happens off screen than on, and while I have no way of knowing how true to life everything is when compared to an authentic reality show, I enjoyed “being in the know” nevertheless.
Some of the challenges and games played as part of the show seemed a little silly to me, and I feel the book would have benefitted from more action in that respect. I also felt that the romance aspect of the book could have been ramped up a bit, too, but all in all, a fun read from author Laura Hefferman. I’m giving it three stars.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Cara Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as Jen gets laid off from her job and loses her apartment, she gets the chance to go on a reality TV show in which the grand prize is $250,000. It’s called the Fish Bowl. Think Big Brother, only it’s a house with glass walls. She’s determined to keep her eyes on the prize, but starts to develop feelings for Justin, another contestant. But after recently discovering that her first and only boyfriend was married, she’s a little gun shy—and as much as Justin seems to like her, he also seems to like another female contestant. Worse, the viewing audience loves her rival but hates her and keeps nominating Jen for eviction. Can she last until the end and claim the big money?

I swear this book was written just for me! I’ve been an avid reality TV show watcher and will read just about any book with a reality TV show theme. This one was loads of fun and so well crafted. I really felt like I was getting an inside look at what goes on in behind the scenes in a reality TV show. The author did a great job in designing “challenges” for her character contestants. Everything about the book felt authentic. Great characters. Witty banter.

Loved it. Loved it!

I did catch one factual error. In one of the challenges, the characters were supposed to figure out clues and then take a picture of the answer/object. They were given disposable film cameras. When it came came time to look at the photos to see if they were correct, the producers printed out the photos on a portable printer. Film has to be developed in a darkroom with chemicals. That was an oops, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.

If you like reality TV shows, you have to read this book!

[Treena · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

I loved the blurb bec I like reality-tv but, for me, the story itself was a disappointment.

While I loved all the challenges described, I didn’t get the romantic angle between Justin and Jen. I felt like there wasn’t enough heat or chemistry between them. I wanted more dialogue, more flirting, more scenes with them as they’re the MC’s, to make me believe in their HEA. I don’t understand how they went from “oh-he’s-cute!” to “I love you!” Like how did that happen? When???

I will also say that one star from my rating is purely for the challenges and puzzles described. That’s what actually kept me reading, btw. They’re pretty cool! If it weren’t for them, I would probably DNF’d this book. Sorry to the fans.

[No Apology Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Laura Heffernan, who requested my honest review of her work and kindly sent me a copy to read.

In quick succession, Jennifer Reid broke up with her long-term boyfriend, lost her job, and received an eviction notice. No better time to audition for a reality show, right? She had nothing to lose, and she needed the prize money to get her life in order. But to win, she’d have to outsmart, outrun, and outlast the other contestants. Could she rise above their attempts to undermine her determination with baiting insults…and a disarming pair of dimples…to be the last one standing?
____

I debated a couple of times if I wanted to actually finish this book. I got just about to the end…and then the scene in the rain. I said, out loud, “No. Just no.”

If this is the finished, published product, I shudder to think what the rough draft looked like. Did ANYONE try to edit this?

*Researches author* *Stares blankly at information on screen*

Ms. Heffernan is employed as a copyeditor and offers proofreading services along with a host of other writing services.

Well, that’s awkward. Because at one point when I was making notes, I thought I would insert a joke about sending a bill for editing services.

This book read like halfway decent fanfiction. It had its moments; there were very clever bits and quite a few original ideas. I admire and seriously respect that. But my god, there were so many mistakes, both in the mechanics and the narrative. I started to make notes of them, as I do with all the books I review, but I gave it up after the first couple of chapters took me the better part of a day to get through. It was exhausting; I couldn’t get through a page without seeing a typo or stumbling on something that was inconsistent or illogical. It certainly sucked the life out of the book and the fun out of reading it. After I began to force myself to ignore the mistakes, I was able to get a bit more invested in the story.

Now, I understand that some minor typos can be made during the process of formatting an ebook. I also understand humans are subject to folly, and I know this is a debut novel. But there are far, far too many mistakes to get away with those excuses.

It’s not possible for me to list all of the problems I had with the story, but I’ll try to hit the more relevant highlights.

To start, and this could just be how I personally perceived the tone and style, I got a strong sense that this is, purposefully, a Sophie Kinsella knockoff. First-person narrative—check. Light, self-deprecating sense of humor—check. The protagonist even had a low-level job in marketing. Classic Kinsella. If this was written to echo that style, it glanced off the edge of the target and shot out into oblivion. It lacked the emotional depth/heart and relatability of a Kinsella novel, and while there were moments of cleverness, it lacked an overall tone of maturity and intelligence.

Furthermore, this was no romance. It rather upsets me that this is branded and marketed as one. It’s really nasty of me to say, but did the team who put this book together have any idea what they were doing? Because seriously. This was Jen’s story, and Justin just happened to be shoe-horned into it. This was pure women’s fiction, specifically chick-lit. We only experienced the story through Jen’s eyes, never got in Justin’s head. Never knew what Justin was thinking. Barely got to know Justin at all. I felt no connection to him, I felt no attraction to him, and I had no respect for him. I honestly did not like him. We didn’t even see all that much of him.

What did I think of Jen and Justin’s relationship? What relationship? Oh, you mean the irrational fangirlish obsession she developed for him? It was painful to read. Or wait, you mean when they circled each other with mistrust and unfounded preconceptions mounting between them? Also painful to read. And then they’re suddenly in love and making grand romantic gestures in the rain! *pinches bridge of nose*

They had no chemistry. I would say they had nothing in common, either, but I don’t know enough about them to know if they had anything in common.

I liked Jen to begin with, mostly out of the benefit of the doubt. I liked that she didn’t want to be on the show for vain reasons, like wanting to become famous or show the world how beautiful she was. She primarily wanted the money, which I can’t blame her for, but she also really wanted to seize the opportunity to audition and do something exciting with her life. I respect that.

But as the book progressed, she seemed to get stupider, more immature, more gullible, and more naive. In my opinion, she did not change. If anything, she regressed. Didn’t have an arc so much as a downward slope. She didn’t grow as a person, didn’t get stronger in any way. She was hypocritical and contradictory. For example, in the beginning, maybe the first chapter, she wrote that she “chose a career in marketing because I like figuring out what the consumer wants and how to give it to them.” Then in chapter twelve, she says, “I need to appeal to America, too. That’s tough, because I don’t know what the viewers want or how to give it to them. I wish there were some way for the people watching to send me a clue.” How odd that someone who chose to go into marketing couldn’t figure out how to market herself.

There was also a part where she said she loved surprises, but when she discovered her long-term boyfriend was married, she didn’t even comment on the irony. Missed opportunity, that.

The other characters were a mixed bag. I liked Abram, and Birdie and Ed grew on me. The others were either bland because they were unimportant, cartoonish to create drama, or possibly just examples of tokenism. No one exceeded two dimensions; most only had one.

The plot was probably the only thing this book had going for itself. I can’t recall coming across any other books that put the characters in a reality show. I’m sure similar books are out there, but it was a fresh idea to me, and that was the main reason I wanted to check it out. (Even though I absolutely loathe reality shows.) So for the most part, the plot worked for me. I’d be interested to learn how much of the behind-the-scenes is based on fact and how much was made up.

A few more points on the writing. I was neither here nor there on the sound-bite things that started the chapters. I know what they were going for, thinking it was a cute, clever way to convey information and other points-of-view without having to actually incorporate it into the narrative, but some would call that lazy storytelling. I didn’t think they were all that necessary, but they didn’t particularly bother me. Except the contract ones. Those were freaking ridiculous. Who in their right mind would sign off on that?

Also, the beginning of the story, before the show started, was a bit unfocused. There were bits here and there that didn’t seem relevant to the story whatsoever and should have been cut. Scenes like when Jen had trouble on the stairs going to the interview. And I never understood the point of the romantic overnight getaway. Maybe to make Dominic look shady? I didn’t need it; I saw his infidelity coming from a mile away.

As for the mechanics I’m whining about, it was largely obvious typos (the “stop” of the stairs, always “on to” and never “onto,” random commas, missing words, words typed twice) as well as things that interrupted the flow of the narrative, like misplaced modifiers, the rare incorrect verb tense, sentences and paragraphs that would have made more sense if rearranged, and flaws in logic or ridiculous quips I simply could not swallow. Like, who goes into a job interview and jokes, deadpan, about being an assassin? Even if it’s clearly untrue, it’s not very professional.

Overall, the premise was intriguing, but the execution was a hot mess.

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[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny light-hearted read

Reality shows aren't really my thing but the cover of this book was so cute I thought why not?
This is a cute and light-hearted read about a young woman who ends up being in debt due to medical bills, after she has a broken leg.
She loses her marketing job and her landlord pulls on the lease, and she decides to enter a reality show for the winnings.
What she doesn't expect us to fall for one of the other competitors but it's not all smooth sailing
If you're a fan of reality TV, you will love this sweet romantic comedy.
Well written with rounded characters that are likeable.
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can also be found in Chill and read

So Jennifer had it all thought through. She had a job, a boyfriend and a lot of depth. Well, that last one she tried not to think of a lot, but she did her best to deal with the payments. All that until she finds out that her boyfriend is a cheater. Not only that, but she gets fired, and she also has to evacuate her apartment in a few months. Her whole world comes to ashes in a couple of days. Thankfully, she gets chosen for a reality show with a $250,000 prize to run through the summer. At least she has something to do until she gets it all sorted out.

In the show she gets to know many people that vary from good and intelligent to stupid and mean. Pretty much what people can find in most reality shows. She doesn’t give up as she has a target: to pay her bills and restore her life. What she didn’t expect was to find love, or what it looked like love.

The author gives a glimpse of life in the real life and life in a reality show, pretty much as we can see every day. The characters she created are not far from real life characters and are those or some of those we would expect to find in a reality show. She has done a great job on that part.

The content of the show is pretty nice too. It could be a real show, no argue on that. The descriptions and narrative create vivid images, that put the reader into the viewer’s position, as if the show was on TV instead of a book!