Honestly, Jac (the main character) reminds me of Esther Greenwood from The Bell Jar. I think it’s her caustic wit and self destructive tendencies.

This book is all very meta with the Bachelor esque reality show and Jac being a romance book author. There is Jac the person’s character arc happening parallel to Jac the reality show contestant’s story arc. You know the story arc Jac will take in the show, as it’s the title of the book. Articles, blogposts, group chat texts, social media comments, and podcast transcripts are included in between chapters to show how the public is receiving the show as it airs. This helps illustrate the differences of Jac’s lived experiences versus the edited and spliced version showcased on tv. The Villain Edit delivers a clear-eyed and unromanticized view of reality tv that feels authentic. It gives blistering commentary on the inherent sexism that is knowingly used by the makers and producers of the dating show.

Now for the romance, it is all messiness and drama in a good way. The main characters can be unlikeable and say/do questionable things, but you end up liking them all the more for it in the end. Love when characters can be actual human beings and not just cardboard cutouts of desirable traits. There is an uneven power dynamic but it doesn’t go unacknowledged and is wrestled with throughout the novel.
I will definitely be rereading this and picking up a copy when it becomes available in July.

Wow this was a surprising read; not what I expected but so I really dug it. It was engaging and juicy, I wasn’t sure where it was going but I was very invested. Absorbing and fun no matter what your stance on reality tv is.

Laurie Devore will catch your interest immediately from page one and never let it go!

How to feel about romance novelist Jacqueline "Jac" Matthis? She is a somewhat failed author, still determining her identity and self worth and suffering from an extra large case of imposter syndrome. Her big book contract has imploded so she is forced to move home from NYC. What can she do next? She is going to be a contestant on "The 1", the most popular reality dating show.

Jas is a romance author, she is well aware of what to say, what to do and when to say and do it and it isn't long before she is a top contender for Marcus the show's bachelor. She is sailing away on her well executed plan when she learns that the producers are actually casting her as the villian. Can Jac save her reputation? Will she find love on the show? Can she ever get out of her own way? You may not like all of Jac's choices but she is surely one of the most real characters I have read in popular fiction. She is one too root for, especially if you have ever found yourself to be the villain!

If you love Reality Shows..watched every episode of UNREAL or The Bachelor, or maybe just love romance in general, The Villain Edit ifs for you ! #avonandharpervoyager #avonbooks #harpervoyager #lauriedevore #thevillainedit

First, thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely salivate over “behind the scenes” Hollywood fiction, especially surrounding reality TV, so this was right up my alley. Our story is a peek behind the curtain of a “The Bachelor”-esque reality dating show called 𝘵𝘩𝘦 1, and we follow Jacqueline “Jac” Matthias as the contestant we all love to hate.

This book shows the dark side of editing that goes into these shows; how each person becomes a “character” in the story of the producers and how little control any “reality” star has over their likeness. It’s something I’d argue most of us are aware of, but the depth of it is unmatched in this book.

There’s some romance here (briefly open-door)- but not necessarily between the leading man, Marcus, and any particular contestant. The almost love triangle that is created here - through a web of lies and deception- is almost like trying to follow a mystery.

I liked this book, but I’ll tell you why it’s 3.5 and not 4 stars for me. First, no one in this story is even remotely likable and I found it hard to care when bad things befell any of them. Second, I wasn’t as engaged with it as I’ve been with other similar books. It was good, but didn’t really draw my interest. I was able to put it down and read other books.

In the end, I enjoyed the salaciousness of it; the gossiping, the behind the scenes look, the villainous editing (to the credit of the title). It was an easy and fast read, and I’d read others by this author. Also, that cover is straight up gorgeous!

This one releases July 2, and if you love reality TV, I definitely feel you should pick this one up!

This was messy, dark, complicated, cringey and had all the right ingredients for a reality tv behind the curtain sort of read.

I loved it! I think my only complaint is the pacing was off. Things would stall or speed ahead and there wasn’t ever a flow.

However I loved this. I loved the behind the curtain. I love a messy main character. And I loooooved the end. The twist. The turn. So good

Stalled romance author Jac joins the cast of a popular dating reality show for publicity reasons. She has a one-night stand prior to the start of taping with Henry who is (unbeknownst to her) one of the show's producers. Henry hates his job but doesn't feel he can leave. Jac is rudderless and desperate for a publishing comeback. This is not a feel-good, cozy story and there's a lot of jagged edges here. Classifying this as a romance feels inaccurate, and describing it as a "dramedy" also didn't feel right. It's more of a character study and a biting commentary on the falseness and manipulations of created fame, with multiple dysfunctional relationships and a darker romantic sub-plot. The author writes the reality show filming process like it's a social experiment in manipulation. Honestly, it's believable.

I struggled with the main characters as I found them to be so unlikable (both apart and together) that it was hard to root for them. Jac had a hardness to her which made it tricky to warm up to her. She's complex and harsh, and there's a push-pull with her personality that as a reader I found difficult to fully process. I didn't really like Henry and I don't like the uneven balance of power that existed in his relationship with Jac. Almost everything Henry did felt manipulative, almost to the very end. And the bulk of the book is less about their romantic relationship and more about the superficiality and misogyny and voluntary exploitation that takes place on romance reality shows. If that's what you're looking for then this is the story for you. But this book just wasn't for me: I found it difficult to finish, although I did see it through to the end where the resolution and lighter tone of the ending didn't quite seem to fit with the bulk of the story. I ultimately gave it 3 stars because it was well written overall, but I really didn't enjoy this read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I always enjoy stories based on the world of reality TV, particularly The Bachelor franchise, and THE VILLAIN EDIT is now a definite favorite. The story follows Jacqueline Matthis, a struggling romance novelist whose career isn't quite where she wants it to be. She's abandoned the bright lights of NYC for her South Carolina hometown, and has been feeling more than a little lost lately. Soon, Jac comes up with a plan—she'll become a contestant on the hit reality dating show, the 1. She'll find her own love story, or create more buzz about the ones she's already been writing. But soon after Jac arrives on set, her scheme begins to go awry. She finds herself torn between Marcus, the lead of the 1, and Henry, one of the show's longtime producers, who Jac had a one-night stand with right before the filming started, not realizing who he was. On top of that, Jac's getting the villain edit, as the contestant the audience—and even some of the other women competing for Marcus's heart—loves to hate. Can Jac find happiness, success, and maybe even true love, or will she fall short of the happily-ever-after?

THE VILLAIN EDIT is entertaining, well-written, and positively unputdownable! In all my years of watching The Bachelor, I've become really fascinated by the role production plays in the show, how they build contestants up behind-the-scenes, only to tear them down with a single "Frankenbit" line or poorly placed clip, turning a complex, multifaceted person into simply a "villain" (or whichever other role production wants them to fill). And while I've definitely been invested in Bachelor Nation's latest couple, Joey and Kelsey, lately, I think this story is an important reminder that the public doesn't necessarily know how "real" these relationships are, and what is truly going on behind the rose-colored glow of the show. Laurie Devore is clearly so knowledgeable about these types of shows, as she does such a great job of building the world of the 1, and showing how just because Jac sometimes makes messy decisions or gets pulled into drama, it doesn't mean she's a horrible person with no chance of redemption, or unworthy of love. I also just enjoyed Devore's writing style overall—it was so smart and bitingly funny! The mixed media element was another huge highlight for me. I loved the inclusion of things like Reddit threads, Slack group chats, publishing announcements, blog posts, articles, and beyond, that added to the story and further highlighted the many ways in which Jac was being perceived by different people. The romance was similarly well-done, but I think the real strength of THE VILLAIN EDIT is in Jac's story and the development she undergoes throughout. She's a complicated character, who isn't always likable, but is always interesting to follow! I particularly liked reading about her career as a romance novelist/what she enjoyed about writing romance, and how all of that relates to her personality and some of the choices she makes. And regardless of how you may feel about her early on in the story, I think so many readers will be rooting for her by the story's clever ending. Needless to say, I would highly recommend THE VILLAIN EDIT—it's a definite must-read this summer, especially for Bachelor fans who are getting ready for Jenn's season! I can't wait to see what Laurie Devore writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

It's obvious that there are readers who loved this novel, but I admittedly did not make it past the first chapter. I'm thrilled for the author that there are readers who were captivated by the plot and characters.

So, I've read a few of these. One to Watch and The Charm Offensive, both of which I've greatly enjoyed which is ironic because I don't watch reality TV. I simply haven't seen much and what I have, I generally have decided isn't for me. But OMG was this fun! I don't know what it is about these books but they're so incredibly bingable! I read this mostly in one sitting and didn't get bored or tired or need breaks. It's a short, quick read and the first half is mostly stupid reality TV drama with catty women (which the main character repeatedly calls out, making it a bit meta), high tension and an amount of pining that has me kicking my feet and squealing into the early hours of the morning.

The Villain Edit follows Jac, a failing romance author, who applies for a long-running reality TV show called The One. Selected as a contestant, she curates a relatable character to showcase, when, before filming, she topples into bed for one last one-night-stand before internet fame and hopefully more sold copies of her books! Sparks fly and when she arrives on location, she stumbles upon her one night stand again. Only this time, it's his job to get her to fall for a man he seems to greatly dislike. Agreeing to keep it quiet for the sake of both their careers, drama ensues.

My main problem with this would be the reality TV aspect of it, haha! It's pretty cliche and taps all the classic girl-drama you'd expect. Oddly enough, I actually had a lot of fun with it. As a raging feminist, I started off a bit put-off, but it's clearly called out and that aspect of the story is what makes it into what it is.

My main problem was mostly how cringy it felt in the beginning with the main character recognizing and having a problem with the shallow-ness of the other women on the show. It felt a little too on-the-nose as well as a little too much girl-against-girl which is really hard for me to get on board with. Originally I was going to drop the rating because of this, but it ended up being a larger factor in the story, which made it so captivating! Jac is a 30-something, well past petty drama and banter, so when she's picked on by the other cast members, she avoids conflict which comes across as hotty and bitter, thus our title.

As previously mentioned, the beginning is a bit cliche and silly but it becomes so much more fun and includes a lot of emotional drama that really hits home. I ended up feeling very emotional about the female friendships formed, and also the expectation of how women turn on one another so quickly. The friendships and situationships formed here are fascinating to watch play out as the lines between work and the emotions of real people are on the line.

The romance seems to be on the sidelines but becomes more prevalent as the book goes on. Open door, but no spice. I'm here for the pining and longing and the drama of it all, and boy does it deliver! I also very much ended up sincerely liking all the characters! I just had so much fun and wasn't expecting to be as emotional as I got. Highly recommend for an overnight binge-read. Prepare the tissues.

To put it simply, this book made me cry! I began the book having fun and enjoying the ride and ended up an emotional mess!

I really liked the beginning of this and then it just dragged. Jac was also so confusing. I did not understand her at all. Was she a bitch/villain and playing the game or was she a wounded, never been loved, closed off but funny woman. It was like two different women were inside her but I did not understand why she was so wounded or bitchy. I kind of also liked how Marcus did what he did to Jac and Henry they deserved it.

My favorite romance novel of the year 2024! This book has the most unforgettable yet convoluted heroine that is thrust into the world of reality TV where nothing is as it seems. Will she win her love? Such a great and compelling read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I loved how messy and not straightforward this book was. Jac, a semi-failed author, tries to resurrect her career by going on a reality dating show--on the face of it, this novel sounded like several of the other reality dating show novels that have been published. But I loved that Jac was the villain of the show and that none of the characters were all that "nice." As much as this is a romance (and we know that there will be some version of a happily ever after), it felt like the most realistic, cringey (in the best way) book I've read in a while.

"Emily Henry meets Fleabag meets the Bachelor"! I really enjoyed this messy and kinda dark romance. The characters are complex, I was interested in the supporting characters, and I didn't know how the story would get wrapped up. I also really enjoyed the setting of a dating show that's basically the Bachelor - it made me really think about what it must be like on the inside, and how easily it must be to lose track of what's real and what's just show production. This was an excellent read.

If you're a fan of shows like The Bachelor and appreciate a compelling anti-hero, this is the perfect read for you. Set in the world of reality TV dating shows, this novel provides a fictional glimpse into the behind-the-scenes drama. It has an addictive plot and likable yet complex characters, you'll find yourself eager to uncover Jac's fate. 'The Villain Edit' is a breezy and entertaining read that's hard to put down. It's a delightful take on the chaotic realm of dating shows, making it an ideal choice for a beach read."

I'm not into reality TV, but this looked like an interesting read and I was hooked on the peek into how these shows work and how far reality is from what is aired on TV. I was pleasantly surprised by all the unexpected twists. It kept me guessing right until the end – a real rollercoaster ride that would make for a great vacation/summer read.

I devoured this in one sitting and can't stop thinking about it

Jac, a failing romance author, goes on a reality show in an attempt to sell more books. she knows she's good at writing characters, so why not make the perfect one to get publicity? hard to keep those plans when the producers are casting her as the villain... and when one of those producers was her one night stand directly before the show.

this was such a dramatic and fun read, even for someone who isn't super into reality tv. I loved Jac's biting humor and found a lot of her internal conflict so relatable. a woman seen as anything other than demure, sweet, and submissive is going to automatically get the role of the bitch, and Jac's navigation of her own personality and how the other contestants (and millions of viewers) would perceive her was something I loved. not to mention her chemistry with both Henry and Marcus???? the tension was so good all around and I GASPED at Marcus's reveal in Cancun....

I did get a little frustrated by how quickly she abandoned the character she supposedly created for the show. there were so many deviations that it almost felt pointless to even try to maintain. for someone who supposedly went into the show 10000% unaffected, it seemed that she also got caught up incredibly easily.

regardless, this was such a fun read and I absolutely loved the switch up at the ending. I did kind of want it to have the same type ending as Jac's first book (iykyk) but still overwhelmingly enjoyed the ride. please give this a read!!!!

thanks so much to Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review

This is not even the first reality TV romance I have read this year (The One by Julia Argy being the other), but I loved how the MC thought she could manipulate the process, but finds out she is the villain to the TV viewing audience. It was a fun, breezy read that I would heartily recommend for some escapism. For something similar on TV, check out a show that Lifetime (I know, I know) created called UnReal. Not quite the same, but close enough to scratch the itch.

♥️ Reality TV Show [bachelor vibes]
♥️ Mini Love-Triangle INO
♥️ Grumpy/Bossy FMC
♥️ Spice 🌶️🌶️

Oooo when I tell you that I absolutely LOVED the sh!t out of this book…I loved it. I was approved for it and finished it all within a 24 hour period because I couldn’t wait for it. I am a sucker for a good book that is centered around a reality TV situation with any character who is identified as grumpy/sunshine. 🤣🤣. This book brought all the things to the table.

You will be drug along this wild crazy ride from the very first page and the twists and turns are crazy! Each character within this book brings something to the table, they are very well developed and their dynamics and chemistry is just simply perfect. I absolutely loved watching Jac navigate her little triangle of love she has going on with Henry (ahem the ex btw) and Marcus (another smokin’ hot man on the set). This book will keep you in a headlock until that very last page. Bravo.

I think this book is going to be on the top of everybody’s list at release and if it’s not already sitting on there by now waiting…it should be. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

Thank you @netgalley and @avonharper/voyager for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance! Perfect escapist fiction for those going through withdrawals from Joey’s season of the bachelor!! Felt like a fly on the wall of the bachelor mansion and the filming process. Really enjoyed this one; creative, fun, and timely plot!

This book was fantastic. I finished it in one sitting, once I got into it I did not want to put it down. Definitely not a traditional romance novel, but I don't think it's trying to be one. It was such an interesting exploration into what being on a reality tv dating show is like for the contestants. I've always imagined its extremely stressful and in someways preys on women's insecurities/anxieties and that was captured really well here. Including other media (social media posts/group chats) was also such a creative way to include how Jac was being portrayed to the audience, especially as she's lead to believe something else. Jac and Henry are somehow both unlikeable and unlikeable characters at the same time, they came across as extremely complex and relatable. Wondering how the two of them were going to end up really kept me reading.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends when it comes out!