29 Reality TV Romance Books For Fans Who Love Reality Shows
What is it about “The Bachelor” and other reality TV shows that make them so popular?! If youโre a fan of reality shows and are looking for that theme in a book then look no further than this list as Iโm sharing my favorite reality tv romance books for fans who love reality TV shows.
While I might not watch a reality TV show, I definitely love this trope when it comes to romance books and there are no shortage of books that utilize a reality TV show as the backdrop for characters finding their happily ever after.
Listen to the podcast episode where I talk about my favorite reality TV romance books and then check them out and more below to know which books to add to your TBR list if you love reality TV. They wonโt disappoint.
Episode 27: Reality TV Romance Books for Fans of Reality TV Shows
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
My Favorite Reality TV Romance Books
The True Love Experiment
by Christina Lauren
Felicity โFizzyโ Chen is lost. Sure, sheโs got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when sheโs asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasnโt been practicing what sheโs preached.
Fizzy hasnโt ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, canโt-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism sheโs spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?
Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution.
What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard passโunless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.
Why I loved this reality TV romance: I may not be a fan of reality TV in real life, but if The True Love Experiment ever went live on TV, I would be glued to the screen to see a romance author choose between men representing different romance book hero archetypes. I love this idea so, so much.
You will love how Connor works in contestants that fit different romance book tropes, such as the former boyfriend who represents second chance romance, the bad boy, the military man, the sweet nerd, even a vampire!
But the best part of this book where the exit interviews for each episode where Connor interviews Fizzy because they have the best banter with one another and the chemistry is off the charts โ evident to those watching the show and to readers. This one was super cute and fun and definitely a favorite of mine and one of the best romance books of 2023. I highly recommend it.
Read my full book review of The True Love Experiment.
The Charm Offensive
by Alison Cochrun
Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So itโs no wonder then that heโs spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchiseโs history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.
Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesnโt believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, heโs a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, heโs cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.
As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, theyโll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.
Why I loved this reality TV romance: The Charm Offensive was just that โ so completely charming which is why it earned a spot on my best romance books of 2021 list as Cochrun really knocked it out of the park with her debut novel.
I found it impossible not to love Charlie and Dev โ two wonderfully diverse characters who felt so real in their fake world of reality TV. It is a book that weaves a sweet, slow burn romance with beautiful writing and exquisite character development with a much-needed look at mental health and the importance of self care.
I loved the amazing relationship development of Dev and Charlie behind the scenes, where two struggling men are finally and truly seen for who they are and finally believe themselves deserving and worth of love. Even if you arenโt a fan of MM romance, I highly recommend reading this as it is what all romance books should be โ an absolute delight with a reality tv backdrop to their love story!
Check out my full book review of The Charm Offensive.
Royally Matched
by Emma Chase
Some men are born responsible; some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap. Heโs not handling it well.
Hoping to help her grandson rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora agrees to give him “space” – but while the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own: Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.
A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world’s most beautiful blue bloods, all gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara; only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart. While Henry revels in the raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner – with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint – who catches his eye.
The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit…and her naughty sense of humor.
But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight. As he endeavors to right his wrongs, words take on new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like duty, honor, and, most of all, love.
Why I loved this reality TV romance: Just thinking about this royal romance book makes my heart flutter because I loved Henry and Sarahโs love story so much. It’s a common tale of the playboy falling for the quiet book nerd and yet it wasnโt the same ole story.
I loved the way they were honest with one another in their shared, quiet moments together whenever Henry would escape to her room to evade filming. This book has one of the most satisfying endings and epilogue which is why itโs on my list of the best romance novels of all time.
Million Dollar Marriage
by Katy Evans
If someone had bet Nell a million dollars that she would be saying โI doโ to a complete stranger on national television, sheโd have called them crazy, but with her crushing student loan payments sending her deep into the red, sheโs out of options. This should be nothing more than a business transactionโuntil she sets eyes on her groom, and everything changes.
The game is on the instant Luke spots Penelope โNellโ Carpenter. Heโs out for the money, yes, but getting a little dirty with Nell doesnโt sound too bad either. Everyone knows heโs not the marrying kind, so itโs a good thing itโs just for show. God knows heโs the worst guy his pretty wife should pick for real.
They have nothing in common, but if they want the grand prize, theyโll have to beat out eight other couples. Proving that total opposites attract should be easy enoughโฆas long as they donโt fall in love in the process.
Why I loved this reality TV romance: This reality TV romance book is an opposites attract romance that blends the reality tv shows “Married at First Sight” and “The Amazing Race.” Sounds crazy but it works and it was awesome.
I thought this book was super fun. A bit drama-filled at the end, but still a really great read between the high school dropout and the girl with the Ph.D. She was the obvious brains in this set-up marriage and he was the brawn but despite them being complete opposites they really worked well together and of course fell for one another in the process. I loved the set up of this reality tv romance book which is definitely worth adding to your TBR list.
Off the Air
by LH Cosway
Spending a month filming a reality TV show with your ex is no picnic. Especially when youโve signed a contract stating that the two of you will not, under any circumstances, have romantic relations while filming.
Leanne Simmons and Callum Davidson never had an easy relationship. From enemies to lovers and back to enemies, theyโve been on again/off again for years. Things come to a head when Callum gets into an altercation with a rival for Leanneโs affections. Their management decide enough is enough and give them both an ultimatum: sign the contract or leave the show.
Unwilling to give up their livelihoods, Callum and Leanne sign on the dotted line. However, like always, they canโt resist making a bet. Callum thinks itโs only a matter of time before they break the agreement, while Leanne is determined to see it through.
Can she resist him for an entire month without losing her sanity? And what if this is the one bet that finally breaks them both?
Why I loved this reality TV romance: I thought this book was so fascinating because it followed a group of parkour athletes around the world in their reality TV show. The stunts they designed and pulled off were amazing but of course, I also loved the second chance romance between Callum and Leanne who had this angsty push/pull attraction. Itโs a wonderful read if you love enemies to lovers books or possessive heroes. I highly recommend it.
On the Plus Side
by Jenny L. Howe
Everly Winters is perfectly happy to navigate life like a good neutral paint color: appreciated but unnoticed. Thatโs why sheโs still a receptionist instead of exploring a career in art, why she lurks but never posts on the forums for her favorite makeover show, On the Plus Side, and why sheโs crushing so hard on her forever-unattainable co-worker. When no one notices you, they canโt reject you or insist youโre too much.
This plan is working perfectly until someone secretly nominates Everly for the next season of On the Plus Side. Overwhelmed by the showโs extremely extroverted hosts and how much time sheโll have to spend on screen, she finds comfort in a surprising friendship with the grumpy but kind cameraman, Logan.
Soon Everly realizes that heโs someone she doesnโt mind being noticed by. In fact, she might even like it. But when their growing connection is caught on camera, it sends the showโs ratings into a frenzy. Learning to embrace all of herself on national TV is hard enough; can Everly risk heartbreak with the whole world watching?
Why I loved this reality TV romance: Everly is the perfect candidate for the On the Plus Side reality TV show because sheโs changed in recent years from the carefree woman who lived out loud like her plus-size grandmother but who now tries to blend into the background and wants to remain unseen.
Her โmakeoverโ however didnโt make her into something sheโs not or something โsocially acceptableโ but focused on bringing out her true self which is the beauty of what that reality tv show is all about. Howe also gave us two co-hosts to adore that helped Everly along the way. They were the perfect addition and side characters to this story.
Plus, Logan, the cameraman who followed her everywhere, was amazing so much so that he earned a spot on my best book boyfriends of 2023 list! I loved the premise of this fake reality show, the characters, the writing. It was wonderful and a must-read.
Read more of my book review of On the Plus Side.
Wreck the Halls
by Tessa Bailey
Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks).
But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her motherโs band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if itโs time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet lifeโฆ and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.
Beat Dawkins, the lead singerโs son, is Melodyโs oppositeโthe camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band.
When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but itโs nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.
While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, sheโs never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everythingโthe Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.
Why I loved this reality TV romance: Itโs always fun to read a romance that doesnโt follow a typical plotline. Bailey crafted such a fun story and thatโs what keeps me coming back to her books over and over again.
While the side story about the two moms is pretty fun to follow and unique in its own right, the true story of the live-stream TV show really became about Beat and Melody and their instant attraction to one another. Tessa Bailey created two fun and unique characters that you were rooting for the entire book.
I loved when they riffed off each other – they were the best moments of the book. And even though this is quite the instalove story (they fell for each other in less than two weeks) it totally worked in my mind. Wreck the Halls has a catchy title for a Christmas romance but donโt let that stop you from reading this any time of year.
More Reality Show Romance Books to Fall For
DโVaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding
by Chencia C. Higgins
Instant I Do could be Kris Zavalaโs big break. Sheโs right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldnโt hurt, either.
DโVaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. Sheโs sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.
All they have to do is convince their friends and family theyโre getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses theyโre not for real, theyโre out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and itโs still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.
But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize moneyโs not the only thing at stake. A reality show isnโt the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.
Romance Recipe
by Ruby Barrett
Amy Chambers: restaurant owner, micromanager, control freak. Amy will do anything to revive her ailing restaurant, including hiring a former reality-show finalist with good connections and a lot to prove. But her hopes that Sophieโs skills and celebrity status would bring her restaurant back from the brink of failure are beginning to waneโฆ
Sophie Brunet: grump in the kitchen/sunshine in the streets, took thirty years to figure out she was queer. Sophie just wants to cook. She doesnโt want to constantly post on social media for her dead-in-the-water reality TV career, she doesnโt want to deal with Amyโs take-charge personality and she doesnโt want to think about what her attraction to her boss might meanโฆ
Then, an opportunity: a new foodie TV show might provide the exposure they need. An uneasy truce is fine for starters, but making their dreams come true means making some personal and painful sacrifices and soon, thereโs more than just the restaurant at stake.
The Holiday Swap
by Maggie Knox
When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smellโboth critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over.
With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?
Check out my book review of The Holiday Swap.
If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread
by Jana Aston
Dear Santa, I do not want Keller James for Christmas. I will not fall for him, no matter how charming or irresistible or famous he is. I will not be swayed by his skills in the kitchen or by his British accent. Iโm going to win the Great Gingerbread Bake Off and no one is going to stand in my way. Not even Keller. All kisses are off. I mean all bets. All bets are off. And all his clothes.
Check out my book review of the Reindeer Falls Novellas.
One to Watch
by Kate Stayman-London
Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followersโand a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one conditionโunder no circumstances will she actually fall in love. Sheโs in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. Thatโs it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. Sheโs in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, hot suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these menโand herselfโfor a chance to live happily ever after.
Tools of Engagement
by Tessa Bailey
Hair, makeup, clothing, decor… everything in Bethany Castle’s world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family’s real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She’s on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.
When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, theyโre invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother’s construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany’s skin on day one, and the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.
As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It’s a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany’s perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.
Related: Tessa Bailey Books in Order
Accidentally Engaged
by Farah Heron
When it comes to bread, Reena Manji knows exactly what she’s doing. She treats her sourdough starters like (somewhat unruly) children. But when it comes to Reena’s actualfamilyโand their constant meddling in her lifeโwell, that recipe always ends in disaster.
Now Reena’s parents have found her yet another potential Good Muslim Husband. This one has the body of Captain America, a delicious British accent, and lives right across the hall. He’s the perfect, mouthwatering temptation . . . and completely ruined by the unwelcome side dish of parental interference.
Reena refuses to marry anyone who works for her father. She won’t be attracted to Nadim’s sweet charm or gorgeous lopsided smile. That is, until the baking opportunity of a lifetime presents itself: a couples’ cooking competition with the prize of her dreams. Reena will do anything to winโeven asking Nadim to pretend they’re engaged. But when it comes to love, baking your bread doesn’t always mean you get to eat it too.
Canโt Stand the Heat
by Season Vining
Heโs ready to cook his heart out. When amateur chef Ryan Tate earns a spot on the cooking competition show, The Heat, he drops everything and heads west. His grandma needs to revamp her restaurant and heโs confident he has what it takes to win the prize money to make that happen. Little does he know, the one that got away could be the one to ruin his chances.
Assistant chef Miguel Moreno has already established a name for himself in the culinary world, but heโs tired of operating in the shadows of the greats. With the prize money from The Heat, he can finally open his own restaurant. Victory seems imminent when he learns the show has a twist this seasonโsix pros will face off against six amateurs. But heโs thrown when a familiar face stands temptingly in his path.
Their love affair a year ago was scorching, but itโs nothing compared to the heat they generate battling their way through each challenge. For Ryan and Miguel, cooking and passion have always been linked, but protecting their hearts might be their biggest obstacle yet.
Take the Lead
by Alexis Daria
Gina Morales wants to make it big. In her four seasons on The Dance Off, sheโs never even made it to the finals. But her latest partner, the star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Who knew the strong, silent, survivalist-type had moves like that? She thinks Stone Nielson is her ticket to win it allโuntil her producer makes it clear theyโre being set up for a showmance.
Joining a celebrity dance competition is the last thing Stone wants. However, heโll endure anything to help his family, even as he fears revealing their secrets. While the fast pace of Los Angeles makes him long for the peace and privacy of home, he canโt hide his growing attraction for his dance partner. Neither wants to fake a romance for the cameras, but the chemistry that flares between them is undeniable.
As Stone and Gina heat up the dance floor, the tabloids catch on to their developing romance. With the spotlight threatening to ruin everything, will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead?
If the Shoe Fits
by Julie Murphy
Cindy loves shoes. A well-placed bow or a chic stacked heel is her form of self-expression. As a fashion-obsessed plus-size woman, she can never find designer clothes that work on her body, but a special pair of shoes always fits just right.
With a shiny new design degree but no job in sight, Cindy moves back in with her stepmother, Erica Tremaine, the executive producer of the worldโs biggest dating reality show. When a contestant on Before Midnight bows out at the last minute, Cindy is thrust into the spotlight. Showcasing her killer shoe collection on network TV seems like a great way to jump-start her career. And, while sheโs at it, why not go on a few lavish dates with an eligible suitor?
But being the first and only fat contestant on Before Midnight turns her into a viral sensationโand a body-positivity iconโovernight. Even harder to believe? She can actually see herself falling for this Prince Charming. To make it to the end, despite the fans, the haters, and a house full of fellow contestants sheโs not sure she can trust, Cindy will have to take a leap of faith and hope her heelsโ and her heartโdonโt break in the process.
Related: Meant to Be Series Order
Kiss the Sky
by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie
Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But not everything comes easy.
When Rose’s fashion line is in peril, she plans an unconventional solution to save it. Making matters more intense, she agrees to be in a relationship with her “godly” college rival, Connor Cobalt.
At twenty-four, Connor Cobalt bulldozes weak men. Confident and smart-as-hell, Connor vows to help Rose outside of the bedroom and inside. But melting this ice queen is a challenge no one has been able to succeed at. And now they’re living together.
Related: Addicted Series Order
Wicked Games
by Jessica Clare
Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. Sheโs just not the โsurvivalโ type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant.
Once in the game, itโs clear that Abbyโs in over her head. The game itself is full of competitive, aggressive people, and no oneโs more aggressive than delicious โ and arrogant โ Dean Woodall. Sure heโs clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. Thatโs fine with Abby; sheโll just ignore the jerk.
But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up โ alone โ on the beach. Itโs either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one elseโs company but their own, they learn they do make a good team after all.
And that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion. This book features enemies, lovers, enemies who become lovers, and lots and lots of tropical heat…
Battle Royal
by Lucy Parker
Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on the hit baking show, Operation Cake. Her ingenious, creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere. When Sylvie’s unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has used her fame to fulfill her dream of opening a bakery. The toast of Instagram, Sugar Fair has captured the attention of the Operation Cake producersโฆand a princess.
Dominic is His Majesty the Kingโs favorite baker and a veritable British institution. Heโs brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that Sylvie will be joining him on the Operation Cake judging panel is enough to make the famously dour baker even more grim. Her fantastical baking is only slightly more troublesome than the fact that he canโt stop thinking about her pink-streaked hair and irrepressible dimple.
When Dominic and Sylvie learn they will be fighting for the once in a lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose, the flour begins to fly as they fight to come out on top. The bride adores Sylvieโs quirky style. The palace wants Dominicโs classic perfection. In this royal battle, can there be room for two?
Throb
by Vi Keeland
The rules: No dating. No hitting it under the sheets outside of the game. No disclosing the terms of the contract. Rules were made to be broken, right?
Eight weeks ago I signed a contract. One that seemed like a good idea at the time. A handsome bachelor, luxury accommodations, and a chance to win a prize my family desperately needed. There were some rules though. Lots of them actually. Follow the script, no dating, hanky-panky, or disclosing the terms of the deal.
After my self-imposed moratorium on men the last year, it wouldnโt be hard to live up to my end of the bargainโฆso I thought. Until I realized the deal Iโd made was with the devilโฆand I was in love with his dirty-talking brother.
Love and Other Disasters
by Anita Kelly
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chefโs Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flyingโnot quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.
After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. Theyโre there to prove the trollsโincluding a fellow contestant and their dadโwrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.
As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and Londonโs steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchenโand they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
Hot Bachelor
by Katie McCoy
I just landed my dream summer gig: working as a production assistant on TV’s smash-hit reality show, Ever After. Two months of sun and fun at the beach? Sign me up! Until the moment I come face to face with this season’s bachelor, racing’s bad boy Dash – aka, the mysterious hottie I just hooked up with at a creepy motel off the I-80. Can you say, awkward?
Dash is hot, charming – and totally off-limits. But the chemistry between us is way too hot to ignore. He’s playing to win, and he’s got his sights set on the prize: me!
Soon, the action is heating up off-screen. But between ratings-hungry producers, back-stage drama, and twelve of the most cutthroat glamazon contestants known to womankind, I’m in way over my head. Can I find my happily-ever-after, or will it be lights, camera, heartbreak?
Never Ever Getting Back Together
by Sophie Gonzales
Itโs been two years since Maya’s ex-boyfriend cheated on her, and she still canโt escape him: his sister married the crown prince of a minor European country and he captured hearts as her charming younger brother. If the world only knew the real Jordy, the manipulative liar who broke Mayaโs heart.
Skye Kaplan was always cautious with her heart until Jordy said all the right things and earned her trust. Now his face is all over the media and Skye is still wondering why he stopped calling.
When Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, theyโre whisked away to a beautiful mansionโalong with four more of Jordyโs exesโto compete for his affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans: exposing Jordy and getting revenge. As they navigate the competition, Skye and Maya discover that their real happily ever after is nothing they could have scripted.
The Love Con
by Seressia Glass
Sometimes Kenya Davenport believes she was switched at the hospitalโhow else could a lover of anime, gaming, and cosplay come from STEM parents? Still, Kenya dreams of being able to turn her creative hobby into a career. She finally has a chance to make it big when she joins the reality show competition Cosplay or No Way.
There’s just one catch: the challenge for the final round is all about iconic pairs, and the judges want the contestants’ significant others to participate. Unfortunately, Kenya is as single as can be at the moment. Luckily her best friend, Cameron Lassiter, agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the show.
Roleplaying a couple in love will force them to explore what they’re hiding under the mask of friendship. Can Kenya and Cam fake it until she makes it, or will she be real about her feelings, knowing it could cost her the best friend sheโs ever had?
Royally Crushed
by Melanie Summers
Iโm Princess Arabella of Avonia. Iโm sure being a princess sounds wonderful (and it definitely has its perks) but honestly, itโs got a downside too.
Iโve spent my first twenty-nine years in an endless loop of high teas, state dinners, and the same five conversations. Every minute of my day is planned by someone else. From what to wear to what to eat, the royal handlers keep me on a tight leash. To make matters worse, theyโre insisting on finding me a suitable husband before I turn thirty (and believe me, the men theyโre suggesting are all absolutely awful).
Desperate to escape, I secretly sign up to co-host a new nature docu-series starring Will Banks, the man dubbed McHotty of the Wilderness. Iโm about to spend two glorious weeks in the wilds of the Congo without any bodyguards, assistants, or bossy advisors, and I cannot wait.
Only it turns out this whole thing was the worst idea Iโve ever had. The first thing I have to do is repel out of a helicopter into the jungle. Iโm so scared, Iโm pretty sure Iโm going to pee my cargo pants. Somehow I manage it, only to find myself alone with no food, no shelter, and a rugged outdoorsman who hates everything about me.
And guess what? I hate him right back. With a passion. The longer weโre out here alone, the more this pure, unadulterated hate feels like unbridled lust. To act on it, would be nothing short of reckless. But apparently, Iโm going to do it anywayโฆ
Mr. Perfect on Paper
by Jean Meltzer
The perfect Jewish husband should be:
- A doctor or lawyer (preferably a doctor)
- Baggage-free (no previous marriages, no children)
- And of courseโhe must be Jewish
As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting loveโat least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, sheโs been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Daraโs checklist for โThe Perfect Jewish Husbandโ on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Daraโs search into must-see TV.
As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesnโt check any of Daraโs boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Daraโa task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if โperfect on paperโ can compete with how hard sheโs falling for Chrisโฆ
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake
by Alexis Hall
Following the recipe is the key to a successful bake. Rosaline Palmer has always lived by those rulesโwell, except for when she dropped out of college to raise her daughter, Amelie. Now, with a paycheck as useful as greaseproof paper and a house crumbling faster than biscuits in tea, sheโs teetering on the edge of financial disaster. But where thereโs a whisk thereโs a way . . . and Rosaline has just landed a spot on the nationโs most beloved baking show.
Winning the prize money would give her daughter the life she deservesโand Rosaline is determined to stick to the instructions. However, more than collapsing trifles stand between Rosaline and sweet, sweet victory. Suave, well-educated, and parent-approved Alain Pope knows all the right moves to sweep her off her feet, but itโs shy electrician Harry Dobson who makes Rosaline question her long-held beliefsโabout herself, her family, and her desires.
Rosaline fears falling for Harry is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Yet as the competitionโand the ovensโheat up, Rosaline starts to realize the most delicious bakes come from the heart.
Related: Alexis Hall Books in Order
Recipe for Persuasion
by Sonali Dev
Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isnโt a complete screw up? When sheโs asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. Sheโs a chef, whatโs the worst that could happen? Rico Silva, thatโs what.
Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster.
FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn’t too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he’s definitely over her.
But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierceโฆand so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico. Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreakโor a recipe for persuasionโฆ?
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