Book Review: Reality Bites
If you love books with behind-the-scenes reality show satire and a steamy love story, you will devour Reality Bites by Amy Mass! This book will be published on May 12 in the U.S.
Reality Bites was a true delight to read! This contemporary romance novel was funny, fast-paced, and romantic. Often when a review says a book is hilarious, I don’t really believe it, but Reality Bites had so many hilarious moments! The dialogue is witty at times, heartfelt at others, and there is a perfect mix of romance and friendship storylines.
Grace is a scientist and conservationist who doesn’t watch reality TV. Her mom has other ideas. Somehow she submits Grace to be cast on Love Shack to find true love, and Grace is chosen! At first, Grace refuses to go on the show...
Her family is full of influencers and sometimes she feels left out. When her frog conservation project loses its budget, she finds out that the cash prize on Love Shack could save her research and the jobs of her and her friends at the non-profit.
On the TV show, she is cast as a “Sexy Scientist” and the book makes fun of many reality show tropes often seen on The Bachelor and Love Island, among others. Grace bonds with other contestants, Ciara and Madison; meanwhile, things are heating up behind the scenes with her enemies-to-lovers relationship with grumpy yet hot corporate lawyer Andrew. As the manipulation and hijinks of reality TV take Grace by surprise, she might find true friendship instead of true love (or both). There is also a story arc with her family, who is there for her when she needs it most (loved that).
My Thoughts
The banter and tension between Andrew and Grace was cute and steamy. The dialogue was standout, and I could tell the author Amy Mass was a screenwriter. I loved Grace’s character development, as she moved from being someone who was inexperienced with dating and not focused on finding a relationship, to being open to the possibility. Thematically, she learned a few things about judging others, being open-minded, and opening up to others in general; I love a satisfying character growth story.
In the past few years, women in STEM has become popular job for a leading character in romance novels, but often there is not much science involved or mentioned in the book, so it can come off as unrealistic. I liked how Grace truly cared and was knowledgeable about her research focus and her job as a lab director. Science information was shared and her job informed her personality, but there was no info-dumping. It just made it more realistic that she was actually a woman in STEM.
If you love books with behind-the-scenes reality television satire and a steamy love story, you will devour Reality Bites by Amy Mass!
Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Book-a-Likes
Readers who enjoyed reality-TV-set romance books like The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren and Here for the Right Reasons in the Marry Me, Juliet series by Jodi McAllister will love Reality Bites.
