This was a fun, fluffy read that was great as a holiday read. An interesting premise, especially for those who are fans of reality shows! While it did feel a little slow to start, it's hooked me enough that I'm off to check out book two in the series.

After drunk-applying for reality show Marry Me, Juliet (aka The Bachelor in the real world), Cece finds herself accepted as one of the girls hoping to catch the eye of ‘Romeo’ Dylan, a handsome ex-Olympian sailor who now runs a charity foundation.

Let’s be honest, we all suspect (know?) that these shows are scripted and none of the girls are really there ‘for the right reasons’ and McAlister doesn’t dissuade this line of thinking. Just about every girl on the show has an ulterior motive, including Cece, who desperately needs to stay on the show as it's 2020 and she needs to earn money after recently losing her job due to the pandemic.

The book started well. I thought, at last!, we had a winner in the [incredibly tricky to get right] chicklit arena! However, I will admit my attention did wan at about the 75% mark. I think my main issue was the two leads. I found Dylan terribly bland and Cece’s constant crying made me want to slap her silly. In contrast, supporting characters Murray and Lily were much more interesting.

I did like the way McAlister poked fun at reality shows. I’m not sure I was supposed to find the ridiculousness of the contestants’ challenges and their staged arguments more interesting than the romantic relationship of the main couple but, there you go.

The ending was a little predictable, especially if you read the blurbs from book 2 and 3 in the series (try not to, the spoilers did take away from my enjoyment). But, McAlister definitely has potential. 3 out of 5

Actually a really good romance. A bit silly, but lots of fun and with a believable and touching romance.

I normally struggle with watching reality TV so was hesitant with starting this book and if it would be able to capture my attention, so was shocked when I absolutely loved it! First time I have been able to appreciate a cliffhanger, cannot wait for what's next!

Loved this book - a nice, light, fun read. It was an enjoyable and fluffy way to while away a weekend, and while it wasn't the height of literature, it was silly and fun and sometimes that's exactly what we need from a book.

In all honesty, the plot was not engaging enough to make up for how slowly it moved. Although having a character from Bangladesh as the primary character was good, I prefer it when a character of colour as the main character when more of their culture is discussed. Since the love was present and all, the book may have been finished in ten chapters, but the narrative could have been stronger.

I recieved an advanced copy of this for free thanks to @netgalley in exchange for an honest review that I am leaving completely voluntarily.
Cheesy, fun, light, easy reading.. all come to mind when I think of this book. It’s all drama and warm fuzzy feelings and just an all round good time!
I chose this read as was drawn to its bright cover. I was initially a little worried due to not long finishing a book with a similar theme (The Charm Offensive) but I needn’t have been as it didn’t stop me enjoying this one by any means. I found I was actively reaching for this for the next update to see what happened next.. one could say I was invested in the storyline.
As much as this was light hearted and enjoyable, I did find it somewhat predictable and quite surface level in terms of plot lines. It heavily focussed on the blood shed competitiveness of the female contestants and the bitterness that brews in a pressure cooker environment that it felt at times a little repetitive.
I really loved that amongst all the hate there was some kindness hidden amongst the scenes. After all.. it is a book based on love. The forever romantic within me found myself smiling at all the heart warming cheesy one liners! They were most definitely my favourite part of this read! Even if some were a bit corny and cringey!
It was really refreshing to have the book referencing current day times and controversial topics such as multi race contestants and covid restrictions. Normalising the world we live in is something I would like to see more of.
I did like the tug of war analogy between the head and the heart in regards to doing the right thing over doing what you want. It showed varying angles of this emphasising what people will do in the name of love.
I did feel a little let down with the ending as it felt rushed in that details seemed to be skimmed over or left out entirely.
Unsure if this was intentional but I would have liked to see more of how it all unfolded when they both came clean. I do also appreciate the art of letting the reader fill the gaps!
All in all a hilarious and heartwarming romcom examining all things love blooming in unlikely yet staged environments. I recommend this read.

I loved this book. It was an easy read, hard to put down and very entertaining. It’s one of those warm fuzzy stories that you expect to have a happy ending, but you just never know. A nice light book that is perfect after reading an emotionally exhausting book that took me forever to get through. If you like light hearted rom-coms, this book is for you! Lots of giggles and gasps throughout. I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars if that were possible. I look forward to enjoying more work from Jodi McAlister.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance reading copy in return for my honest review.

Can’t say I enjoyed this book. The main character Bachie is too reminiscent of a recent season of The Bachelor; which was not enjoyable. The forced close proximity due to the pandemic worked for the story, however, the desperate main female character was annoying to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc for review. I had been in a streak of reading lots of bachelor-esque style books and have been enjoying them! Here for the right reasons definitely went in a different direction than I thought it would. I’m not sure whether I liked it or not? I guess Cece being eliminated right away meant it took away the main charm of the book I was hoping for…but I guess it worked. I liked Cece and Dylan and their chemistry and relationship, but I think sometimes it felt a bit too….perfect? Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it covered some good issues but I wish it had a bit more drama/other characters in it surrounding the main characters!

Jodi McAlister is a phenomenal Australian voice. A fan of hers ever since I picked up Valentine on a whim and devoured it on one sitting, I knew I was going to love this book based on name alone. And I was right, it was an easy transition from the writing I was familiar with to this new experience reading this book and I loved it every second of the way. An auto-buy author for sure.

If you love the Bachelor, you’re going to love this! Hilarious take on reality tv and looking for love.
Cece is all out of luck, Jamie just wants to bring awareness to mental health and race. Their worlds collide and sit back for a hilarious ride.
Thanks #netgalley for the advanced copy.

After losing her retail job due to the pandemic, criminology student and Marry Me, Juliet fan Cece drunkenly applies to be a contestant on the reality TV show.
Her Romeo is Olympic sailor Dylan but then Cece is eliminated on the first night after a run-in with villain Lily results in her falling in the pool.
However, due to stage four restrictions, Cece can’t leave the site so she agrees to being filmed in extra scenes, where she lends an open ear to her new friend Dylan. Both Cece and Dylan are here for different reasons than finding love but is romance still on the cards?
I really enjoyed this story, much more than I was expecting to, with its different take on the reality TV genre in Cece being an early evictee. Her background of being raised in foster homes added an extra dimension to her character. The book has been publicised as the first in a series set on the dating show, so I’ll be keeping my eye out for the next.

One of my favourite romance sub genres right now is "reality tv romance", where the two characters meet on the set of a reality show and things go from there. This book ticked all my boxes, and was such a sweet read!

Cece is not a fan of reality tv, but her almost empty bank account leaves her few options, and she agrees to appear on Marry Me, Juliet. Dylan has a charity to promote and something to prove as the show's first non-white male lead. Cece unfortunately blows it and is voted off in the first eliminations....but the pandemic shuts everything down and the show ends up in its own bubble. What will happen to Cece now? And how will Dylan cope with the pressure?

Touching on mental health, the unreality of "reality" tv, the pressures of being a diversity cast, this wasn't all cotton candy fluff. But it was also charming and sweet, and even the other contestants weren't catty caricatures - they all had their own reasons to be there, and you couldn't help but cheer them on for all their future endeavours. The relationship that develops between Cece and Dylan is charming and feels quite organic. I also loved the ending with the Big Gesture (I do love a well done romance trope!) and this is definitely a reality tv romance I would be happy to rec to all my friends.

Here for the Right Reasons was a fun book. It was entertaining to read a game-show Bachelor/Bachelorette-esque story, which I'd never read before, and it was an interesting and up-with-the-times addition that it was set during a time of Covid and lockdowns.

While it was a fun and quick read, and I did enjoy most of it, I probably wouldn't read it again. If you're a fan of romance, The Bachelor / The Bachelorette, friends-to-loves sort of vibe, then pick up Here for the Right Reasons.

A sweet romance novel that shows that sometimes love can be found in the most expected place such as on a dating tv show. Can Cece and Dylan love still bloom both on and off the screen?

I'm really enjoying books that have the dating show element in the book. You know that there is going to be heartache but you don't know the implications that arise and Here for the Right Reasons really showcase the true power of love when you are in it for the right reasons.

I love that McAlister included people of colour in this book, it was a nice change especially because in most love show stories where most participants are usually caucasin.

The characters in this book truly showed their flaws, which sadly in turn I couldn’t connect with them. I know that sounds a bit harsh to me judging them because of their flaws but to me it felt a bit unrealistic. But a camera shy person who goes into panic attacks going on live tv, come on! Seems a bit OTT!

Overall, a good romantic book with some good redeeming qualities.

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the digital copy of Here For The Right Reasons.

An easy to read rom com set during the pandemic
After losing her job and drowning her sorrows one night Cece finds that she has applied for a spot on a reality show called “Marry Me Juliet” where Juliets vie for the attention of Romeo with the hope of finding true love.
Although Cece went in with no expectations she finds herself being eliminated in the first round and as per the contract now has to stay in the house until the whole filming is completed. Cece however strikes up a friendship with the resident Romeo Dylan who is on paper a fantastic catch and they support each other through some ups and downs of the show.
Will this end up being a happy ever after for Cece or will she walk away no better off than before she entered?
I really enjoyed this book and fans of the Bachelor will not be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and easy read, perfect for any Bachelor/Bachelorette lovers out there! It had the perfect amount of fun and a bit of heart and I found myself tearing through it on audio. I know some don’t enjoy reading books that reference the pandemic, so steer clear if that’s you! This is based heavily in an Australian lockdown which I actually quite enjoyed.

If you’re looking for something quick and easy and a bit of fun, look no further.

I had read the Young Adult series written by Jodi McAlister that begins with Valentine and really liked her style of writing; highly entertaining and very engaging. I was very interested to see what she would create for an adult audience and I was not disappointed. She works within the romcom realm but with a nice sense of irony. Set in a Covid world Cece James is about to become part of the reality television universe when she signs up as a bachelorette for the latest series. Little does she know that her reasons for going on the show are going to become completely side-tracked. There is something very likeable about a leading character who doesn't quite have their stuff together and there were some really nice unexcepted moments within the storyline. I really don't want to give anything away - this is really a great weekend read with a pot of tea and some good quality chocolate or over a nice chill bottle of sav blanc). Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this novel. Very much looking forward the next book by this author.

I found this book a bit hard going and found the premise pretty ridiculous. Cece auditions for a ‘bachelor’ like tv show. She gets through but gets sent home very early. Several farcical things happen and she is put in the position where she has to play confidante to the ‘bachelor’ . All while being filmed for tv. Things just get more ridiculous from here. I found it difficult to finish and was a miss from me. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.