This was actually a super fun take on your modern dating shows. Two women are cast in a dating show to compete for the heart of a man. One is clearly there for the wrong reasons since she is into women and the other becomes confused when she starts to figure out what she actually likes. Lauren is clearly there for the wrong reasons, aka getting a social media following and hiding who she is. Krystin finds herself when she rooms with Lauren and their friendship turns relationship starts as a rivalry. I also think Josh is pretty comical and the whole dating show thing is so cringy. But as a bachelor nation fan, I enjoyed this one!

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Dreamscape Audio for the gifted audio-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

This just did not work for me. It was overly based on the show part, not the romance. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two. I didn't enjoy many of the characters.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A fun and sweet read that I wish focused more on the relationship between women

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
The Batchelor/ reality tv shows
Romantic comedies
Sweet sapphic romance
Slow burn
Rodeo queen / influencer

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
How different Lauren and Krystin’s paths were

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I felt like there was too much reality tv content and not enough relationship building
Felt a little childish at times
Miscommunication

I thought the narration was done well

DNF at 10%, unfortunately. I just can't bring myself to like either of the MC's, making this an unenjoyable audio experience for me. This may be good for someone else, but it just wasn't for me!

3.5 Stars, rounded up.

This book was so cute and I've been absolutely loving reality tv show premises, so I was so excited to dive into this! Overall, it's a good fluffy novel that had good vibes and was enjoyable to read. I quickly read the audiobook, not wanting to put it down and to really dive into the story.

Lauren was nominated for the show by her sister years ago, and now well into her influencer career, decides to go, despite knowing that she is a lesbian. She's only out to a select handful of people, namely her best friend and her hookups, but she knows what being queer could do to her as an influencer and she's not ready for that. And now she has the perfect opportunity after hiding her sexuality all this time - she gets to go on a reality TV dating show with hopes of growing her page and nailing down partnerships to help with her career. She knows she won't be there for the long haul, but she's willing to do anything for this chance to grow her followers and them maybe then she'll feel comfortable coming out of the closet.

Krystin is from Montana and holds Rodeo Queen titles, but she's ready for the next step of her life. Having not dated due to her titles and restrictions, she thinks going on this dating show might be her best chance at meeting her future husband. She goes with all the right intentions, thinking this is her chance for love, knowing she'd have to forfeit her titles (that are ending soon anyway).

Lauren and Krystin meet as contestants on the show, both vying for Josh's heart, along with dozens of other girls. This is a bit of insta-lust and they end up connecting. They ultimately become attached at the hip, but unbeknownst to everyone, they have their own secret fling.

This book was very insta-lust and instalove, in a way that I didn't really pick up. The characters felt underdeveloped to me. I didn't feel the connection I wish I could've with them, that would've been rooting for them the whole time. It felt like they rarely ever talked or had any communication, or really knew each other, at least because we didn't get to see them knowing each other. I think with some more depth, I would've been rooting for the characters more and their HEA.

I will say, there was some good rep! The MMC was Ashkenazi Jewish, and it was mentioned a few times, including a small conversation about his bar mitzvah. Lauren is secure in her identity as a lesbian and has no issues using the name to word it, which is something that has been skirted around for years. And ultimately, we get to see a bit of Krystin's queer identity come out and for her to find the language that makes sense for herself. I love seeing these things named, but definitely could see how more in-depth rep would've been beneficial!

The audiobook was wonderful - I enjoyed the dual narrations and thought it was paced and spoken well. I highly recommend listening, as I loved being immersed into the story that way. 10/10 for the audiobook!

Annabel Paulsen did a great job capturing the feel of the bachelor contradictions and sometimes inauthentic feeling sentiment and all! I think if you like the bachelor may be a good indicator as to whether this book is for you. I am not a huge bachelor fan because it tends to feel a bit contrived to me and I think this book was difficult for me for similar reasons.

I liked Lauren and Krystin's connection but I struggled a bit with the position being on the show put them in with the bachelor and sometimes even their friends and families. I wished they had been willing to be more insightful and honest sooner. I ended up struggling to connect with any of the characters. I do think this is a fun read but if character likeability is a big issue for you another read might be a better choice.

I listened to the audio for this title and thought Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus both did a great job. While this isn't their fault, I did wish their voices had been a bit more distinct. I still struggled at times to know which POV I was in. However, overall I enjoyed the audio.

Happy Pub day to this cute read! It reads exactly as a show of the bachelor or love island would! It's fun and drama filled with a fun LGBTQIA+ twist! It had just the right amount of spice that it didn't take the whole focus of the book which was great! I had a really fun time reading this one! I enjoyed the characters and the plot was really easy to follow! It's for sure a very fun summer read that would be perfect to read by the pool or at the beach!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I wanted to bump this one up to 4 stars because overall I did enjoy it but I just couldn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think I’ve gotta stop reading reality dating show books because I just end up comparing all of them to Charm and none of them will ever be able to measure up lol But I do enjoy that format and I like the idea of two contestants accidentally falling for each other! I just think that both Krystin & Lauren were lacking depth. I wish the story just would’ve delved more into them so that I could’ve really loved them. And I think all of the background was there to be able to do it but it all just ended up being pretty surface level. I also know that miscommunication is a big thing but there was no reason for them to not have an honest conversation after the overnight dates 🤷🏻‍♀️ And with Lauren already knowing she’s a lesbian before going on the show, it just felt unnecessarily cruel for her to fight to go through to the final 2 when she knew she was going to be kicked off… idk I liked it but didn’t love it but I think it had great potential

This was okay. I enjoyed it on the moment, I do like a TV reality story but I kept mixing up the characters and their names didn't stay with me. I read this two weeks ago though and I don't remember much. It was fine and fun but not very original? I'll probably won't remember anything in 2 months but that could very much be a me problem.
Anyway, if you're looking for a nice TV reality romance, this is the book for you. I did really enjoy it overall.
And I'll probably read more books by these authors. I love a fun sapphic romance.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook copy of Here for the Wrong Reasons.
I am trying to read more sapphic books this month and when I saw this beauty I knew I needed it in my life. I am also a huge fan of reality TV so it was perfect. I’ve never watched The Bachelor but assuming this is similar to that show and it was entertaining. As far as the audiobook went I really enjoyed it because I love when if a boo has multiple POVs that they are read by different people so that worked for me and I really enjoyed their voices. They fit their descriptions perfectly.
Krystin seemed like the typical blonde rodeo girl living her best horse girl life. And Lauren seemed very mature and comfortable in her skin. I’m not a huge fan of Lauren pretending to be straight to get followers that could have really backfired in her face. I did enjoy how we are along for the ride with Krystin in figuring out who she is and who she likes. I enjoyed following their love story. I also really liked Josh, what a great guy because a lot of people would not have been as easy going as him if that had happened to them. I’m glad they were all friends in the end. I would like a prequel novel about Delia though lol I think she’s an interesting character.
Overall I’d recommend this book to romance lovers and sapphic junkies.

This book was fine. I was really wishing more from it, more because the two women don't even begin to start becoming friends until like 40% in. Most of this book they aren't really friends and have this first kiss where the timing seems weird because I feel like they don't really know each other to prompt it. I have watched the bachelor before, so i am pretty familiar with the format of the show and this is for the most part a copy and paste version of it. I wish there was a little more creativity that came into the game show versus just doing the same thing. I found Josh to be pretty bland, Lauren was okay, and Kristin was probably the most interesting character. I wasn't upset with Lauren on her strategy and reasoning for the game show, because im sure that is a very common reason on the real bachelor show. But all her lying did get old after awhile, and just wasn't something i think that held for me as a reason to stay on the show for so long. I don't think this was a bad book, but i definitely think that there could be some small improvements made to it that would make it more entertaining and something that stuck with me. I did enjoy the narrators though!

⭐ Rating: 3/5 stars
🗓 Publish date: May 21, 2024
🌈 Representation: lesbian MCs, gay SC

CW/TW:
Sexual content, Cursing, Alcohol use, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Addiction (minor)


Here for the Wrong Reasons is a decent book, but it also isn't particularly outstanding. I've really enjoyed a few queer books with the reality TV trope (particularly The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun and Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales) and so I was hoping I would love this one, too. The great thing about the reality TV set-up is that it adds a lot of structure to the storyline and is almost guaranteed to bring the drama. But Here for the Wrong Reasons often struggled with pacing and grabbing my attention. There were some fun moments, but there were also times where I was just kinda bored.

I think the main issue was probably that I didn't feel particularly invested in the characters. They were quite bland, and I sometimes mixed up the MCs, even halfway through the book. I did like the themes of struggling against internalized homophobia and compulsory heterosexuality, though.

I listened to the audiobook version, which I thought was well-done, although even with the different narrators for the MCs, I still got them mixed up in my head.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 I liked this I will say that I enjoyed the story from the 45% mark on. The beginning isn't just slow the 2 MCs barely interact with one another for the First 30%. And while there are subtle setups it's really into the theme of the dating show. I thought Lauren's character was a bit more interesting and complex from the beginning. But once it got to that 45% I was intrigued. with a few pacing issues in between I did overall enjoy the story the characters are messy and complex with discussion of coming out publicly and to yourself. The spice was good, the audio narration was well done. Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the narrators for this story. Unfortunately the story itself left a lot to be desired. I did enjoy the way the dating show was presented. However, Lauren's ulterior motives for going on the show make her hard to root for. I also think a big issue comes with how far these two girls make it in the season while lying to the main guy. It also doesn't help that he is a generally likeable guy. The last part of the book after all the truths come out was honestly my favorite part of the entire book.

I am not likely to recommend this one.

To be completely honest, I almost put this book down at the very beginning because the bios of some of the girls were soooooo cheesy. I'm so happy I looked past that and kept reading because this book is as deliciously bingeable as the reality tv it is based on (with its own spin and plot twists.)
I could not stop smiling and laughing at this book. I HIGHLY recommend for fans of the Bachelor or Love is Blind but wish there were some LGBTQ+ representation.
A book for everyone who spent the entirety of Rachel and Gabby's season thinking "just kiss already!"
This belongs on my top shelf of lesbian rom-coms right up there with Delilah Green, Fiancee Farce, and Written in the Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the reality tv dating show aspect of this book and felt really bad for poor Josh. I enjoyed how Lauren and Kristen started off as rivals and slowly started to feel for each other. This was a fun romance and would make a good summer beach read. It is also fitting with the popularity of reality dating shows on tv.

The audiobook of Here for the Wrong Reasons is a captivating listen, brought to life beautifully by phenomenal narrators, Mara Wilson & Lindsey Dorcus. Their expressive performances and distinct character voices elevate the story, making every moment engaging and vivid. These narrators’ skillful delivery enhances the emotional depth and humor, truly immersing the listener in the narrative.

This partial sexual awakening and coming-out story centers around the complexities of reality dating shows, making it a great pick for fans of such TV genres. If you enjoyed Never Getting Back Together and are looking for a more adult version, this story is for you.

Despite my general aversion to reality TV, particularly dating shows, and my dislike for love triangles, I found this debut novel from these two talented authors, Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang, to be an emotion-provoking experience. The characters are complex and developed, and the plot takes you on a ride of the emotional spectrum- I experienced a wide range of emotions through this listen, everything from frustration and eye-rolling at the lack of communication to giddiness over these two FMC's finding each other. This novel offers a sapphic take on familiar themes. I enjoyed the writing style and I would love to read more from these authors, especially stories that aren't centered around reality shows.

Overall, Here for the Wrong Reasons is a great debut, and the audiobook version is a standout, thanks to the exceptional narrators who bring every aspect of the story to life.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, & Annabel Paulsen; Lydia Wang for an ARC of this Audiobook.

This book is one of my most hotly-anticipated releases of 2024 and it truly did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed the characters of both Krystin and Lauren as they navigated being contestants on a dating competition but also finding love with one another. I think this book also did a really good job of including snippets of confessionals like you would see on a dating TV show which did an incredible job of making the dating TV show feel fully-realised and something that you would be able to tune into watch weekly.

I had SUCH a good time listening to this book! Before you read the review, full disclosure: I have been a faithful Bachelor viewer for many, many years. After such a long time with the franchise, I know the Bachelor (t)ropes. The artificial setting is perfect for a romance novel, and I especially love when authors give us a little twist on the formula.

Here for the Wrong Reasons features two very different contestants ("ladies") on a very Bachelor-inspired show, "Hopelessly Devoted." Lauren C. is a closeted influencer looking for clout. Krystin is a Rodeo Queen who thinks it's totally normal to want to kiss her friends and has never had a serious boyfriend - but not because she's not straight! She just hasn't met the right guy who will let her follow what she thinks is the normal path to happiness: like the song says, "first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby..."

Through group dates (that include mud wrestling and horseback riding in the Pampas) and forced proximity, Lauren and Krystin end up falling for each other. At the same time, the lead is also falling for them. Sure, everyone is leading everyone else on at least a little bit, but Lauren and Krystin are also thinking hard about the goals they had when coming on the show and how their very real feelings will end up determining how important those goals ultimately are.

This book is on the nose for any Bachelor viewer, but it's also a heartfelt (and steamy!) sapphic romance. I listened to this one, and the dual narration was perfect for the format and concept of the book. If you liked The Charm Offensive or One to Watch, you'll definitely like this one. And for all you non-Bachelor viewers out there, the romance stands on its own. I had a great time with this.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

‘bachelor’ dupe. horse girl. sexual awakening. social expectations.

what worked for me:
- great humor that made me literally LOL
- characters i wanted to root for!!
- last chapter was a fun and silly perfect ending
- audiobook: narrators did a great job with different voices and loved the dual POV. pacing was perfect. casting was spot-on.

what didn’t work for me:
- pretty much everything before hometowns until the end of the show. no spoilers here but the character’s intentions were confusing, frustrating, and, to a level, irredeemable.
- slow burn - not just in the romance but the plot!
- too much filler about the show. that space would have done better to deepen relationships (or add a final spicy scene!!)

overall a fun story that was well-written, but it was difficult to accept the character growth that occurred. one honest conversation could have solved so much, OR the conflict could have been written in a way that didn’t feel so yucky at the expense of others.

i would read future books by these authors, but a sapphic bachelor spinoff deserves better / 3.25 stars

thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC!