Great read, thank you! This book was the gossip-filled juice I needed to get between bachelor and bachelorette season breaks.

I am a fan of the Bachelor franchise and I was hoping that this would be full of great behind the scenes information. While the book was interesting it wasn't as full of the juicy tidbits I was hoping for. What it had was interesting and kept me engaged but it seems many members of Bachelor nation declined to comment for fear of backlash. A true fan would still find this book interesting but people with a casual interest can probably pass.

I never watched a season of Bachelor (or Bachelorette) until I went down the rabbit hole of Bachelor in Paradise (blame it on the fact there is nothing decent on TV during the summer). While this book was written in a snarky and at times humorous tone and I liked getting a bit of inside information on how "reality" TV is actually created, for the most part, much of what Kaufman detailed wasn't that interesting to me. However, true fans of the show may devour every single tidbit of what really happens during the show.

BTW, I did enjoy the first part about the creators of the show and the history of how "dating" type games were developed (Dating Game, Love Connection, et al).

Review: http://www.everydayiwritethebookblog.com/2018/08/bachelor-nation-amy-kaufman/

Bachelor Nation is a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise, compiled with lots of research about the show and how it works. Kaufman starts with a history of dating shows, which is a little dry, but then explores how the Bachelor franchise got started and why it’s so popular. Kaufman explains how the producers manipulate interviews and dates to create drama, and how people on the show are pressured to act certain ways and say certain things for the cameras. She covers the double standard for men and women on the show and gets a bit into the details of what it’s like to live in the mansion.

I didn’t learn anything earth-shattering, but Kaufman did answer some of the questions I’ve amassed over time. I wish she had gone into more detail about the daily lives of the contestants and what it’s like for the couples when the cameras stop rolling. Many of her sources were other books, articles or blogs, and I wanted more first-person accounts and interviews. I feel like I never have enough detail when it comes to The Bachelor!

I love The Bachelor to the point where it has reached an unhealthy level. This book gave a more "behind the scenes" look into what really happens while The Bachelor/Bachelorette is filming. It was interesting and gave me a good insight into editing and what the contestants really go through. Enjoyable for any Bachelor fan!

I’m assuming anyone who has Bachelor Nation on their TBR is either a fan of the show or they “hate” watch it like I do. If you’ve never watched the show then this book won’t appeal to you at all, but if you haven’t HOW have you escaped it?! It’s such a pop culture phenomenon that I’m genuinely curious.

Back to hate watching, I use that term because every time I decide to tune into a new season I wind up regretting it. I watched the first few seasons religiously then got bored and stopped. A few years ago I decided to give it another chance to see if much had changed. Spoiler alert, it hadn’t, really you could just tell the shows budget was larger as the dates were more extravagant. But this past season was SO bad that I didn’t even make it past the first few episodes, one small

example of my frustration was that the bachelor was like twelve years older than one of the front runners. She was over eighteen, who cares, right? It only annoyed me because it was guarded like some sort of state secret, she was the only contestant without a name attached to her bio. I had to Google to find out how old she was and I was just annoyed by the whole thing, it felt like a cheap way to create drama when really, putting her age like all of the other women would’ve been the right thing to do, she was clearly very young, but again NO ONE cared until it became this very noticeable difference. So as you can see by my ranting, I truly do hate watch, but I really couldn’t pass up an opportunity to read a book that promised juicy details and behind the scenes information about a totally addictive show. Did it deliver? Mostly.

Kaufman is clearly well versed in all things The Bachelor related, she knows her stuff and while she did have a few juicy stories, most of what she discussed was stuff I already knew or assumed. Let me clarify, there’s a show called Unreal, it’s a scripted series about the producers of a bachelor style show co created by a woman who used to be a producer on The Bachelor. Still with me? This show opened up my eyes about how much producers actually manipulate contestants into doing things on these type of reality shows. Sure, it’s a TV show so obviously there’s some exaggeration, but my point is that some of Kaufman’s reveals were less than shocking to me. Now that’s not to say that they weren’t interesting and entertaining, but never before revealed? Eh, not exactly.

So what kept me turning pages? Kaufman’s writing style for one, I felt like I was chatting with a friend about this train wreck of a show, albeit a friend that’s met most of the former cast mates, but her style really read like a laid back, gossipy conversation you would have with a buddy. She is snarky and funny and this was a fast paced read, she snagged some pretty big names as far as past contestants go and her overall knowledge was impressive. Read this if you’re a fan of the show and don’t know some of the inner workings.

I thought this was a really interesting, behind the scenes look at the show. While I am not a huge fan, I have watched the show before and thought the author did a good job of detailing how the show was created as well as what all goes into making it.

Ok, I'm not gonna lie - we are all drawn to shows like this, even when we know - WE KNOW - how truly irresponsible they are. This book admits that - and then deftly explores that impulse as well as explaining the history and motivation behind it. Written in a highly approachable, self-deprecatory narrative, Kaufman taps in to her own love of the show to help us understand this phenomenon of American Culture.

Amy Kauffman, a journalist at the Los Angeles Times, has been a “member of Bachelor Nation” for many years and, for awhile, she was able to attend studio events, screenings, etc. – until the show’s producers decided she was “too negative” in her commentary. I confess, I’ve watched more episodes than I would probably admit, but it is fun to watch “separately together” with my sister, who lives 7 hours away and who I miss terribly. We compare notes and predictions, and I try not to tell her too much of what Reality Steve has written. I also watched one season of UnREAL, the TV show based on The Bachelor which left me feeling like I needed a shower – so I was happy to have the opportunity to read Ms. Kaufmann’s book, Bachelor Nation, thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

People who are just looking for juicy gossip (what REALLY happens in the Fantasy Suite? Or Was Juan Pablo really as much of a jerk as he seemed?) will find lots to enjoy here – although I admit that frequently when she referred to past participants by name, I drew a blank more often than not. Still good info, and fun stories (with some schadenfreude for sure) despite my apparently bad memory.

Two areas where this book stood out were its look at the reasons WHY this ridiculous show remains incredibly popular among a huge variety of viewers (old, young, male, female, gay, straight, urban, rural) and how the show has evolved to maintain that popularity. I also liked the way she stated one of her reasons for watching this and other reality shows without embarrassment: people enjoy seeing other people in situations that they themselves would never encounter. It isn’t just to ogle beautiful bodies, to see how incredibly stupid people/bitchy/mean-spirited or just bizarre people can be – although that surely provides a significant amount of entertainment value.

There is also a boatload of information about the show’s history and production, including wild stories about the creators and producers, and the way the participants are treated.

For members of “Bachelor Nation” for sure, but also for those interested in “what our fascination means, culturally: what the show says about the way we view so-called ideal suitors, our subconscious yearning for fairy-tale romance, and how this enduring television show has shaped society’s feelings about love, marriage, and feminism.” Four stars.

[3.5 stars]

I’m an unapologetic fan of The Bachelor and am fascinated by all the behind-the-scenes drama. So, I’m almost the perfect reader for this book (my downfall is that I already know a lot of this stuff from reading Reality Steve). Kaufman investigates The Bachelor‘s cultural place in America, how producers get contestants to give them good TV, how and why contestants think they fall in love over such a short period of time, what happens to the couples after the show ends…and, a history of dating shows (which should have been edited out). This best part of the book are the excepts from contestant Sharleen Joynt‘s journal she kept during filming…she clinically picks apart the psychology of the show while she’s in the middle of it. She’s brilliant and her take is articulate and well thought-out. Kaufman doesn’t really dish on contestant-specific gossip (who’s hooking up with whom, etc), but raises the overall curtain to reveal Oz. Beware if you want to preserve the fairytale because you’ll for sure be watching the show differently after reading it.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

So I ended up requesting this book because of the subject matter. I've honestly never watched the Bachelor show or any of the other shows in the franchise but I've always kind of had an interest in the show. I recently watched a show on Facebook, RelationShipped, that is a similar premise to The Bachelor shows and I loved the RelationShipped show, so when I saw this book available I figured, what the heck I'll give it a try. I was impressed by the amount of work and research that went into this book, it was a behind the scenes look into how the Bachelor works and gets produced but it also looks at the show from a psychological aspect. This book really sparked an interest for me and made me want to start watching the show (I bought and am watching Season 13 now). Hearing about how fake everything was actually made me want to see the show more, because while the people and their feelings are very real, what the audience is seeing isn't always exactly what happened and that makes it feel more fictional to me. 

I liked this book a lot, the only reason it didn't get a higher score for me was just because I really prefer fiction (personally). The book overall was really interesting and fairly well paced, but the lack of a "plot" always leaves me feeling a little disappointed. Overall though this was a good book and was super informative, I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like The Bachelor TV series.

This was an interesting sociological examination of The Bachelor franchise. The author clearly did her research over several years, and was intimately familiar with each season and iteration of the show. There were interviews with contestants from various seasons, references to their books, conversations with previous production crew, and access to behind the scenes documents and procedures. The psychology and sociology behind The Bachelor franchise are definitely part of the appeal of the franchise, and this book spoke to those interests by pulling back the curtain and exposing much of the reality behind the fantasy.

While this book was interesting, I felt like parts were disjointed and it was dry reading in certain respects despite the very juicy content being discussed. However, if you are a fan of the franchise or the fictional UnReal, or if you just want to understand reality television better, than this book is worth checking out.

Have you ever wanted a peak behind the curtain of The Bachelor? See how those fantasy dates are created? How the contestants are chosen and how those In-The-Moment (ITM) interviews are made? Amy Kaufman wrote a book encompassing all of that and much more. You come for the secrets and leave with much more than you bargained for.

Kaufman is a journalist for the LA Times and has been a Bachelor fan for years. While she was covering The Bachelor for the newspaper and in ABC's favor, her job had some perks including being invited to some Bachelor events and meeting several former contestants. When a former "villain" attended one of her weekly Bachelor viewing parties and seemed perfectly normal, she realized that maybe she had misjudged some of the contestants based on the way they are portrayed on the show. This realization ignited the idea for this book.

Kaufman writes about EVERYTHING in Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure. It's overwhelmingly clear she did a lot of research for this book including interviewing several former contestants, former producers, and scholars on feminism and fairy tales. She write about how contestants are selected, producers' manipulation tactics, and why the contestants think they're falling in love in the short two months of filming. Kaufman even writes in depth about the recent focus on why educated, strong women enjoy watching a show that seems like it should be labeled trashy, unrealistic, and anti-feminist and she does it without once making you feel guilty. Every single aspect of this insanely popular show is examined and analyzed by so many different perspectives. Even if you have read one or two memoirs by former contestants or think you know most of the show's secrets, there is still something for you to learn in this fascinating book.

If you are a Bachelor fan, this is the book you need to read before you start watching the next season. It will change the way you watch the show forever.

If you're reading this post, chances are high that you are a fan of The Bachelor franchise; "fan" may be an exaggeration, but this includes those of you who watch episodes and clips, here and there, so that you can snark on either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, and their corresponding potential loves, with your friends.

"We don’t want to see them getting married. We just want to see them getting proposed to, because the idea of someone wanting to spend the rest of their life with you is better than actually doing it."
— Comedian Nikki Glaser, quoted in Bachelor Nation

My foray into the world of rose ceremonies began in 2003, with Trista Rehn's stint as The Bachelorette; I'd not watched the two previous seasons of The Bachelor, but I was hooked after the debut of this spin-off. Many years later, more than I'd like to acknowledge, I'm still watching. I'm thankful for the advent of online viewing services, like Hulu, so that I no longer have to stay up late on Monday nights and endure endless commercial breaks.

"Villa de la Vina - or the Bachelor Mansion, as it’s known to millions of viewers - is hidden off a canyon road just a few exits on the Ventura Freeway past the Kardashians."

Thanks to her position as a writer, covering celebrities, film and pop culture, at the Los Angeles Times, author Amy Kaufman was able to build a unique relationship with the franchise; however, as soon as she stopped playing by their (unspoken) rules and voicing her own opinions of the show, the network revoked her access.

"There was no final rose. I didn’t get a chance to say my goodbyes. No one even offered to walk me out."

Not only does Kaufman share some of what she encountered during her insider's view of the production, but she also delves into the why; for example, why are we watching this show? Most of us are highly educated, successful women who are likely very supportive of gender equality and might even consider ourselves feminists. Why do like-minded individuals agree to become contestants on one of these shows?

"Young women in the twenty-first century who are college educated and have managerial positions - in other words, the main Bachelor demographic - have been told for years they can do anything they want. And yet these women still face pressure to be thin, beautiful, and stylish."

It's an interesting question, and one that could likely spark lively debate; initially interested in the secrets she might divulge, Kaufman exceeded my expectations when she shared some of the research she'd done on the topic and I began asking myself deeper questions...and also wondering how I would ever pack to appear on one of these shows.

"Both genders are told to bring clothes for all climates: swimsuits, winter jackets, sweaters, t-shirts, tank tops, casual day clothes, gloves and warm hats - plus fourteen formal outfits, in case they make it through all of the rose ceremonies."

Highly readable, compelling and unique, I devoured Bachelor Nation in under two days; if you are even remotely interested in this topic, I highly recommend Kaufman's book!

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an advance copy of Amy Kaufman's book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Amy Kaufman provides an unauthorized look at The Bachelor franchise.

LIKE- I was a reluctant fan of The Bachelor,  including all of its many spin-offs. I became a fan of the show, when I was a caretaker for my aunt, who was obsessed. Now, years after my aunt has passed away, it remains one of my favorite "guilty pleasure" shows.

At one point Kaufman was officially invited by ABC to be part of the press for Bachelor events, but they found that she was being too negative on social media and she was blacklisted. To write Bachelor Nation, she combined her insider knowledge, research (there are so many interviews/articles/books) and she interviewed both previous contestants, and those who worked on the production. Not everyone would speak with her, but her book still feels comprehensive. My main take-away regarding Kaufman's interest in the subject, is that she's simply a huge fan of the show, warts and all. 

It's pretty trashy. I don't think it will come as any surprise that The Bachelor is heavily produced and a large portion of Kaufman's insider look involves exposing the tricks that the producers use to create characters out of contestants and manufacture story-lines. It's more fascinating than the actual show. Let's face it, producing is the primary reason that the show is compelling. I've not seen about 3/4 of the seasons, so I didn't know all of the contestants, yet Kaufman explains the scenarios in a way that is easy to follow, without prior knowledge. Even a casual fan, will find Bachelor Nation to be an engaging read.

Kaufman has also alerted me to  the Lifetime series, UnReal, a fictional  look at the production of a Bachelor-esque show= I know my next binge weekend. 

DISLIKE- Truely, I enjoyed Kaufman's behind-the-scenes look, but I didn't like how her writing style leaned towards informal, using a lot of slang to make herself sound relatable. It didn't work for me. For example, she refers to her group of friends and fellow journalist that meet to discuss The Bachelor as "Bach Discush." I cringed each time I read that. 

RECOMMEND- If you watch The Bachelor or are interested in the behind-the-scenes of a reality show, Kaufman's Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure, is a must-read.

My secret is out....I'm a Bachelor Fan! Of course, my immediate family and a few friends know I love The Bachelor and Bachelorette shows but it's not something I regularly admit to watching. I know I'm not alone since I've been seeing comments for this book pop up on Goodreads from others who start off by saying The Bachelor is their guilty pleasure show. And a secret. Well, Amy Kaufman has now put our #BachelorNation obsession into coherent words with her engaging, witty book. Seriously, how has this show continued season after season, weathering controversy and drama and still manages to bring in millions of viewers each episode?? Amy has your answers.

Friends, I have to say this up front...I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I read it in one sitting on a Friday evening with a large glass of wine and I had the best time. As someone who's watched the show since Trista and Ryan's season, so the 2nd season and they're now on season 24 I believe, I absolutely loved reading about how the show was created (a fluke) and the very interesting behind the scenes details about it's creators. Amy Kaufman had behind the scenes access to the show for many years until one day it vanished and she was deemed banned from all things Bachelor...makes you say hmmm. I loved her interviews with past contestants and her inside scoop on how the episodes are actually made. I always wondered how the producers were working behind the scenes to get the girls and guys to SAY some of the things that come out of their mouths...now I know and truly I'll never watch the show the same.

What I especially liked was Amy's writing and her ability to keep the pace fast and the tone upbeat. I never felt that the book ventured into gossip territory; rather, I found her writing to be intelligent and informative. The only part that I sort of breezed through was the chapter on the history of reality dating shows but I appreciate the background info she was providing to put The Bachelor of today into context. If you're a fan, secret or otherwise, of The Bachelor/Bachelorette I think you'll absolutely enjoy this book!

Loved getting into the nitty gritty of the world of The Bachelor. I enjoyed the author's style. It felt like reading a long blog post. I also really enjoyed the short pieces from celebrities who watch the Bachelor. Funny to hear from people like Donnie Wahlberg and Josh Molina about why they love the show.

I really liked this book, though it may have ruined my Bachelor watching experience forever! It was well-written with information from credible sources. The world of reality TV is a lot darker than I ever imagined! Some parts of this book were a little, "slow", but other than that I enjoyed it. I closed this book feeling deluded.

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of a tell-all that doesn’t come out until March of this year. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette used to be my guilty pleasure, but I’d been watching since Trista and Ryan’s season, so I got a little bored with the concept. Kaufman perked me right up again talking about what happens behind the scenes. Last night I watched with a new perception of what goes on with this reality show.

Every girl on The Bachelor has to bring 14 formal dresses for each of the rose ceremonies should they make it to the end. But they can only have two bags. That right there seems fairly impossible. But Kaufman has more to dish. I don’t want to give any of it away, but if you’re a fan, you’ll love this book. It peals back all the layers.

Watching The Bachelor has been my guilty pleasure since the show started......if you are not a fan of the show, do not read this book. However, I thought this was one of the better books on the show. The author interviewed many of the show’s former participants and cast members and they have all shared names, places, and many details that I have never read before. There is also a chapter about the history of reality dating shows, which was fun to read about, going back to the Dating Game days.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this more than any of the other Bachelor books that I have read, and I’ve read a few. I would recommend this to any Bachelor fan who is curious about the inside info!