Absolutely fantastic, engrossing and so hard to put down, Million Dollar Marriage is the best reality-show-based romance I’ve read, and one of the best books I’ve read this year. The story follows Nell, a woman who can’t seem to stop attending college for fear that she’ll have to start paying her student loans and finally enter the real world, where her studious habits won’t be appreciated as much as they are in an academic setting. She is reserved, loves classical music and reading books in French. When she realizes that she’s going to have to start paying off her mountain of student loans, Nell auditions to compete in a new reality show, Million Dollar Marriage, where the top prize is $500,000 and the rules of the game are a mystery. It’s on the show that Nell meets Luke, whom she considers to be a “dirty thug,” because of his dark good looks, tattoos and bad boy attitude. Luke needs cash to save his bar, so he agrees to compete on the show, knowing he’ll likely have to marry someone in the process (it is in the name of the game, after all). As Nell and Luke begin competing on this Married at First Sight/Bachelor/Amazing Race mashup of a show, they realize that while they might be total opposites, that doesn’t mean that their personalities don’t complement each other perfectly.

It’s an extremely well-written, engrossing read. I loved how immersive it felt - the vast majority of the book is Nell and Luke stuck together at all times, heavy on the dialogue with fantastic banter and chemistry. I’ve never read a book that felt like a shining example of what.a reality show contestant must go through, but this exemplifies that perfectly - with all of the ups and downs that go along with the process. It’s a slow burn romance, executed so well - the buildup of the relationship made the payoff that much sweeter. Don’t let the slow burn fool you, this is still a sexy read, and Luke is a loveable, swoonworthy guy who might be a little rough around the edges, but he is a fantastic catch. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I couldn’t wait to start reading this book and I am so glad that it lived up to - and exceeded - my expectations.

Luke sometimes isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, if you get my meaning, "I let out a low laugh. “You didn’t look so disgusted last night when you were sneaking looks at my thingy.” Her jaw drops..." Penny doesn't appreciate her man's clothing choices, "...she picks up the panties with a finger. “This is, like, dental floss. You really think I wear underwear like this?” I liked this book, I loved Luke.

This book was a nice, easy quick read. I loved the tie in with reality tv shows. It was well written, descriptive and it flowed nicely. Seemed a little rushed in the ending but would read more of this authors work.

This is Nell and Luke’s book, Luke runs his grandfathers dive bar, Nell is a perpetual student they both decide to go on a national television show saying I do to $1 million dollars!! Nell needs to pay off her student loans and Luke needs the money to pay off the mortgage on the bar! This book was freaking awesome it was so funny and definitely had some steam to it , it was really good! I highly recommend reading this one! It was such a fun enjoyable read! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

wow, i blew through this one! this is my 4th katy evans book, i think? and it is the one i have enjoyed the most. i don't know what about it worked for me exactly but it really did. i liked the two main characters separately and together, which is always a bonus. it was fairly fast paced and very readable. the conflict was a wee bit predictable and you could see it coming and you kinda want to shake characters when something like this happens, but eh. what can you do. i liked the way it wrapped up. overall this was a solid, enjoyable read for me.

4* Was on track for this to be a 5* read if not for the contrived - but not entirely unexpected - angst shortly before the end of the tale.

This is a tale that's better than the blurb, and that pretty much anyone who's watched a reality TV show can visualise. I won't go into detail and Spoiler it, but it is really well done, with a couple of very decent leads who come from different stations in life and whose lives have been poles apart, but who are a case of opposites attract. And, in the case of Penny/Nell, that attraction terrifies her because her life as a student and degree holder and PHD holder hasn't prepared her for real life and for seeing herself as a woman and fancying a guy who at first glance is all about the beefcake. And Luke sees her as a cool, collected challenge who he'd like to see, and get, all flustered.

There's behind the scenes stuff, competing, bitching and more and I could picture these guys and all the other contestants working together. But, when the tale seemingly was ending, around 82% gone, I knew that couldn't be the case and lo and behold the author dropped in something so predictable that I could see it coming a mile off, and, I couldn't see how P/N couldn't. That's what lost the tale 1* for me, as she should have had a little faith, as by then she and Luke were something real and she was wise to the machinations of the TV crew/directors/host etc. I didn't think it was really necessary and it did require a bit of suspension of disbelief, and I couldn't stop the eye-rolling.

But, it's a romance and the tables get turned quite satisfyingly. I'd definitely read more from this author.

ARC courtesy of Montlake Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.