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.

If you liked the charm offensive you'll love this one 💕

👇🏻 REVIEW 👇🏻

This book takes part on the set of the fictional dating reality show Marry Me Juliet. It's the bachelor, but with a fairytale twist. Our main character, CeCe, tries out for the show whilst under the influence of Vodka pineapples (which sounds delicious btw) and her primary objective is to stay in the game long enough to make some cash. You see this story takes place mid-pandemic and CeCe has lost her job and will do anything to keep a roof over her head.

Similarly, the Romeo (Bachelor) of the show, Dylan Jayasinghe Mellor, also has an ulterior motive. It's not love, or even fame, that he's after. He needs to show the bigwigs at his corporation that he is well enough to work after an awful panic attack.

There is so much to love about this story. The romance is swoonworthy, the main characters are full of depth and flaws. What I absolutely loved though is that the author never says where we are. The country is left ambiguous. Knowing that the author is Australian, and there are a few subtle references that hint towards it being here, but it's never explicitly said. I have this weird thing where I find it really hard to get into books set where I live. I don't know why, but I do. This is a great example of leaving it unsaid and worrying more about the story than the location. Love this.

Thankyou so much @netgalley for sending me an e-arc of this one. I read it so fast, and loved it, that I had to go and buy myself a copy.

This is my first Jodi McAlister book I have read.
As the book opened - during the Pandemic, I could relate to the anxiety and stress that Cece and her flatmates Aro and Flick, their drunken decision to enter a reality tv show Mary Me Romeo ( the title was a bit weird to me since the end of Romeo and Juliet is tragic! but hey ho it's just a made up show)
Cece ends up being a contestant - and due to the pandemic, they are all in an "estate" on large lands with two houses on it - one the main mansion and then the smaller house that the rejected contestants get sent to. ( I had to giggle at that name for the house that held the rejected Juliets, it was aptly named)
The storyline does have a bit of 'Romeo and Juliet' angst as Dylan and Cece aren't able to officially continue to create their romance on the show as Dylan sent her home the first night!
Cece ends up being asked to be the "friend" as in the show normally Romeo's are able to get help from friends and family but since they are all in quarantine that's not possible.
The storyline is a good one, showing both the realities of staring in a TV show, and how that would be affected by the lockdown, there are plenty of funny parts, heartwarming parts and then some sad realities too, and the characters in the book are able to relate quite a few issues that the current world has created - or pre-exist, such as Racial issues, anxiety, and depression. All well written into the story so that it was relatable to the reader.
Cece's history, as a child who had grown up in the foster/care home system, was very well written. she felt very real and one memory had me in tears as I read it. The author Jodie McAlister did a great job in making Cece real to me.
Dylan though, he came across as a bit wooden to me, and although his past is explained in the book I really didn't get the same feeling towards him as I did to Cece.
I really enjoyed the book, but as the story came towards the end, Dylan came across as being shallow for not stepping up, yes he may redeem himself at the end but it still for me wasn't soon enough. The ending was a bit anti-climatic but it did round the story off for the pair, so all in all this has been a great rom-com read, it would make a great holiday beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher & author for a copy of this book, my review is my honest thoughts only.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Bachelor Dylan meets Cecilia and eliminates her on the first day of filming. Pandemic lockdown results in eliminated Juliets remaining on the property. Boundaries get crossed and hearts get broken.

Loved this story, really great tale of love in a Bachelor style show and the lengths people will go to to find happiness (or money).

I enjoyed 'Here for the Right Reasons', which nimbly and smartly navigated the well-known water of reality dating shows and threw in a pandemic for the right amount of surprise. The characters are happily self-aware and connect on an understanding (not just lust) level, and I found myself excited for the follow-up.

Such a sweet, cosy, feel good read. Retrenched as a result of the pandemic, Cece finds herself without an income so enters into a reality show. Since they pay for each day, why not? This leads to a behind the scenes look at what happens. A romcom that’s got all the feels. And enjoyable read. Thank you ARC and Simon & Schuster.

I loved this one! I’ve had a little bit of trouble getting into books lately, but I picked up Here for the Right Reasons on a Sunday morning and was suddenly over halfway though – always a sign that the voice and pace is working for me.

I think this might be the first book I’ve read that features the pandemic as major part of the plot, and I thought it worked so perfectly to create a ‘forced proximity’ situation. Here for the Right Reasons is McAlister’s first adult romance novel, and I loved the way that she managed to keep the story relatively light and fun, while at the same time tackling some more serious themes like mental health, racism, the foster system, and financial stress.

In terms of the actual romance, I loved seeing the relationship develop between Cece and Dylan. I thought it felt quite natural, considering the completely weird situation they were. There isn’t a lot of spice on the page, but I didn’t think that stopped the book from being swoon-worthy.

I found this one heart-warming throughout, and there’s a little hook at the end that leads into McAlister’s next novel (Can I Steal You for a Second, due out in the first half of 2023) that I thought was absolutely delightful.
I absolutely recommend this one to romance fans, especially if you’re looking for something with an Aussie feel.

If you're a fan of The Bachelor's Australian franchise, you might already be familiar with Jodi McAlister's recaps on Book Thingo (and if not, do yourself a favour and go get caught up).

Here For the Right Reasons is very on-brand for McAlister. She brings the experience of analysing countless seasons of the franchise's storytelling structure as well as casting and character development to a fresh, smartly written romance that delivers a deep dive behind the glamour that feels viscerally true to life.

Only an author who doubles as an academic studying courtship rituals could take dating reality TV show tropes and so skillfully flip them to offer a fresh perspective.

Unlike The Charm Offensive and One to Watch, Here For the Right Reasons is told by an eliminated contestant during the pandemic, making this story especially timely. McAlister intelligently navigates working with a skeleton crew in a Covid-safe bubble and sees the romantic potential and storytelling opportunities in social distancing.

And much like watching The Bachelor/ette, you think you know what to expect and that might be true, but you'll also find a lot of surprises along the way.

Seriously, Channel 10, when are you going to call her?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02JxJdCZBfWhstnU5fVW2RojbAWB85FWnCeJemvkpAfyMyoUKuHFx4jSfcVRTwVUvWl&id=136762773021494

This is an absolute delight. It is a super romantic, brightly funny, truly lovely story.

What did I love? Firstly, Cece is a great MC. She is quirky, but also clever and a bit silly. She carries trauma from a childhood spent in the foster care system, but isn't defined by it. She's brilliantly real and I would love to be friends with her. She makes wry observations and is wonderfully self aware - she's a truly refreshing character in that way. Even her reflections on watching the show ironically but then turning into an unironic super fan were hilarious and relatable.

Secondly, the premise and setting of a Bachelor-esque reality show that begins filming during the pandemic was SO much fun. We have all seen things be impacted by the virus and while having that as a major plot element could have been twee, but wasn't. It was great to see our real experiences reflected back on us and I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Finally, Dylan. How could you not love him? Love a guy who is willing to grow, even if he is fictional. Someone like him would convince me to watch The Bachelor, no question.

This was a pretty straightforward read, but I found myself laughing out loud, holding my breath and even got a tear in my eye. Will this book change the world? Probably not, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable romp all the same. 4.5* of guilt-free reality TV.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jodi McAlister has written an absolute delight, romance and humour mixed to make you laugh out loud and keep turning the pages!
The pandemic has left us all needing a bit of fun, to say the least!
Cece joins a dating show and finds herself in the middle of a lockdown with other contestants!
A reality show is used for a whole range of reasons, money and fame mainly. I enjoyed reading the slant taken by the author, showing how different personalities use a TV show to try to benefit themselves!
How will Dylan decide what’s real for him?
The characters and depth of the storyline are a great mix, heart with a few surprises!

Huge congratulations to the publisher, NetGalley and the wonderful author for the pleasure of reading this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Here for the Right Reasons” is a romance novel, with a lot of genuine feeling and a sharp and sardonic eye for the setting.

Cece has joined a reality dating show for all the wrong reasons. She is single, and sort of looking for love, and definitely looking for a bit of action after pandemic lockdowns left her without touch for a long time. But what she really wants is the associated salary. She doesn’t go in with any expectation of winning, and doesn’t give much thought to the Romeo she’ll meet. She just wants to stay on the show long enough to earn enough to pay her rent, and maybe get enough attention to earn just a little bit in sponsorships to keep her afloat later.
And then she meets Dylan and finds herself simultaneously drawn to him and struck incapable in the presence of cameras. She’s eliminated on the first night and panic sets in.

But that same night, another pandemic lockdown kicks in, and eliminated contestants can’t leave the set. Without cameras around to trigger her panic, she and Dylan begin to form a strong friendship. Turns out he’s got ulterior motives too; he’s on the show primarily to promote his charity.

Who will Dylan choose in the end? And can all the wrong reasons somehow produce the right result?

It’s interesting how popular “behind the scenes on a reality dating show” is becoming as a romance novel setting. I’ve read multiple novels with this setting in the last few months alone. It’s still a tiny proportion of the romance novels being published, of course, but it’s interesting that it’s now so established as not to be an unique setting.

One of the things that I liked about this was the attitude to those on the show. Yep, some are looking for love. But not everyone is – some want to raise their profile as a social influencer, some are aiming to get on other reality shows that use eliminated contestants, some just want to experience extravagant dates. I particularly enjoyed the vicious competitiveness the women showed: no matter why they’re there, they need screen time, and they don’t have too many scruples about how they get it. I found this both funny and appalling. And horribly realistic.

I also enjoyed the way McAlister both satisfies the conventions of the genre and throws in some clever surprises. That’s partly why the novel left me with a warm feeling, and stands out from most romance novels.

This is primarily a romance, and it’s going to appeal primarily to readers looking for just that. But it’s got a lot of heart, it’s funny at times, there is some valid social commentary about reality shows, and there’s a passing acknowledgement of current affairs. I thought it balanced being a light, diverting read with having a little substance extremely well. Readers looking for contemporary novels may well enjoy it too.

I enjoyed reading this. It’s fun, it left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and it’s an above average romance. Thoroughly recommended.

Here for the Right Reasons was wonderfully entertaining. If you love any love reality dating shows, this is the book for you. I was hooked from the first page. It has everything, suspense, drama, love, sadness, and friendship.

This was a perfect light-hearted read which was a real page-turner, a book that can easily be read in one sitting!

This was my first Jodi McAlister book and I look forward to reading more by her.

I loved the tounge-in-cheek title - 'Here for the Right Reasons' ( I read it in Chris Harrison's voice every time), because let's face it since the emergence of the influencer it doesn't seem like any contestants on The Bachelor/The Bachelorette is here for the right reasons!

Give this one a read when you are looking for something fun and endearing!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the opportunity to read and review this.

In the rise of the Covid pandemic, Cece James finds herself unemployed, with her last hope is in her success on the hit reality dating show, Marry Me, Juliet, where she managed to find her spot as one of the Juliets in the show. Her only flaw is that whenever there is a camera in her face, she freezes up.

While I found this an enjoyable read, and (other) characters were enjoyable to see, I really did not like Cece at all, for the majority of the book. While she did have a tough time growing up, which is what makes us sympathetic to her, I really did not like the fact she wants to make money by being in front of the camera, but the moment she sees a camera she freezes up and refuses to make any effort to overcome this, in order to achieve what she is after.

We see some of the characters grow within the story, and it was interesting reading a story on reality TV, and seeing the behind-the-scenes of said show, but I would have enjoyed this more if we saw Dylan's side of the story.

I am so sad that I didn’t like this! I am actually surprised that it’s being published by such a big publisher. I hated the pandemic storyline but that’s just personal- I had to live it so why would I want to read it?
I am also surprised that the author has published books before? Seems like a first or second draft to me.
There was no chemistry at all and I hated being in the MCs head (1st POV)- it probably should have been in 3rd person with both the MC and LI POV.

Here For The Right Reasons takes place on the set of Australian reality TV show Marry Me Juliet and is set during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the story is a romantic comedy, it has plenty of angsty moments, which help to drive the plot forward.
I empathised with heroine Cece, who has lost her job and is flat broke. She’s a lovely character, whose warm personality shines through from the first, though most of her decisions seem to be driven by a lack of money. That changes when she falls in love with Dylan, the gorgeous, talented and thoroughly decent star of Marry Me Juliet, a man she can’t have for so many reasons.
Dylan is perfect hero material from his six-pack abs to his caring personality. I loved the ways he engineered time with Cece and opportunities for her to continue generating income.
With one road block after another, these two tread a rocky road to true love. I thoroughly enjoyed their story.

Here for the Right Reasons follows Cece James, who enlists herself into the show in order to keep paying her rent, after losing her job due to the pandemic. With the paycheck coming in with each subsequent week she can stay on the show, Cece isn't really concerned about the Romeo or falling in love. But sometimes love strikes when you least expect it.

Oh my gosh guys, this was the cuuuuutest book! I actually read it in one sitting because I was so invested in the story. The main characters are both incredibly likeable and the supporting characters are interesting too. I really hope we get a sequel to this one as I'm not ready to let it go!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster AU for the eARC!

Cece James is a criminology student and because of the pandemic, now unemployed. Needing to make a bit of quick money, she decides to participate in the hit reality show 'Marry Me, Juliet'. She ends up getting eliminated in the first episode but because of the pandemic, the eliminated contestants end up staying in a house on location until the entire shooting of the season is over. That's when Cece and our handsome hunk of a bachelor Dylan (who is the main guy of the show) get to know each other a little more.

Happy publish day to the book and the author!! This book was such a delight to read. I used to love watching the bachelor so this was right up my alley. The whole book was just so fun. There were a few twists and turns here and there, the writing was easy to read and the plot was fun and super easy to follow along. The characters had depth and weren't one-dimensional. Each chapter brought something new and I just loved everything about the whole book!

Some shows are designed to binge, some books also. And Jodi McAlister’s ‘Here For The Right Reasons’ could easily be both!

In the rise of a pandemic with lockdowns imminent, job loss and financial insecurity reigning, Cece James’ last hope lies in her success on the hit reality dating show, Marry Me, Juliet. Her reasons for vying for“Romeos” attention may not be right in the eyes of the producers - not many, including our Romeo’s are - but, sometimes, right has a funny way of coming about in the end.

Cece and Dylan steal the show in this golden rom-com that hits all the marks for angst and tv drama for hours of entertainment without the ad breaks. McAlister crafts with humour and heart, showcasing a raw beauty to the mutual respect and vulnerability between these characters and the underlying messages that have been conveyed. The mental health advocacy was strong, and I admired the reminder woven throughout that we all need people, and that’s okay.

Dylan was an absolute sweetheart, and the stolen moments off-screen between these two when everything was real and untarnished by the spotlights and re-enactments was the highlight of this read. The execution of both Dylan and Cece’s characters were clear and layered, and their backstory‘s respectful and well portrayed. There was an added depth to the comedic elements, and the two of them shared a natural friendship and an unscripted chemistry despite the roles forced upon them.

For a rom-com that hits a little deeper, a sweet love story, and one hell of a fireball for a side character, I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for the advanced copy of this book. 4.5⭐️

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Even though I have never watched Dating Reality TV shows, it's always fascinated me how audiences are carried away on these 'love stories' and how they really are a vehicle for people to promote their own interests. I never expected to like the characters in a story told from the perspective of a contestant on a show like this, but I really did. Firstly, all those Juliets can get out of my way, Dylan Jayasinghe Mellor is mine!! Kidding (obviously) - but I can totally understand why Cece falls for him. He is absolutely wonderful - and his charity (despite the unfortunate name) is inspired.

I adored Cece as well and the way her character's decisions are informed by her past without making her seem like a sympathy case. Although I really did sympathise - my heartstrings were officially tugged. I'd like to tell her that Sri Lankan curry fixes all ills, so she should hit Dylan's Mum up for a buriyani ASAP.

I loved the other characters and how they seemed real in a completely surreal environment. Lily was fantastic. She needs her own book.

This was a great story - the romance is beautifully told and there was wonderful depth to it. One of my favourite romance reads of the year.