This was a charming self discovery story, and it was a good escape read.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm a huge fan of Rachel's from The Bachelorette and I enjoyed her first novel. I love that it included a reality dating show, and her main character, Maya, has a nice arc. I just wish the romance had been more satisfying.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the copy to review.

WARNING: Some Plot Spoilers
Real Love, the first novel by former reality tv star of "The Bachelorette' was not quite the strong follow up offering I anticipated, having read Rachel Lindsay's excellent first book (a memoir/collection of life vignettes) published in 2022, "Miss Me With That". While I was aware Lindsay was now diving into fiction versus serving us up more juicy non-fic tidbits about her real life, I did not expect the YA-feel of this book, the superficially drawn cast of characters, and the stilted dialogue. I was deeply disappointed.

Protagonist Maya Johnson, a highly accomplished young Black finance professional in Miami, along with her two besties, a sultry but sweet Latina and a classic All-American golden girl, make up the bulk of the surface-level (and not quite believable, in all their perfection) cast of characters. Early in the story, Maya's spontaneous, free-spirited, and of course drop-dead gorgeous (see what I mean with the too-perfect constructions?) younger sister vaults herself into Maya's tightly controlled life. She upends it by encouraging her to let down her hair, give herself over to an uncomfy but intoxicating new romance, and even to ditch her pinstripe jacket for the day and sail away on a boat with her sister and the new paramour -- at the same time that Maya is gunning for a huge promotion that took years of work (for a third time, NOT believable). But while I can normally suspend my disbelief in an over-the-top plotline if the writing is sharp and witty or the characters are drawn with enough depth to trigger my inner empath, this was not the case in "Real Love".

Frustration with plotlines, characters and dialogue aside, the book did have some stronger moments. Bachelor Nation fans will like the many allusions to the 20+year series, a "love-to-hate it" sordid TV show that I originally thought would serve as another character in this book but which rather disappointingly only served as a minor sub-plot (does anyone really care that - early on - Maya is revealed to have turned down The Bachelorette-like lead role of Real Love?). I also cringe-read the rapid dissolution of Maya's 10-year relationship with her gaslighting college sweetheart, only to chuckle over her even quicker ascent into the dating saddle again.

But ultimately the flimsy construction of the story and characters and (to me) the shocking ending made me want to wring my hands in frustration. I am a true Bachelor fan and have always enjoyed Lindsay in all of her numerous other roles (lawyer, tv star, telejournalist, social justice warrior). But this latest turn as fiction writer, sad to say, is not it.

2 out of 5 stars, mainly because Rachel Lindsay is tied to the project.

Maya has her life all mapped out and is successfully checking off every box on her list. So when she has the opportunity to be the star of a reality dating show, she turns it down and suggests her best friend Delilah get the part instead. However, as she watches Delilah’s life change from this opportunity, Maya can’t help but wonder if she made a mistake and if she should deviate from her plan.

I loved Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette, so when I saw she wrote a romance novel adjacent to the reality TV world, I was all in. Unfortunately, this book fell a little flat for me and I’m not sure why. There were many things I usually love in a book: romance with great chemistry, drama, a journey of self-discovery and of course some reality show behind the scenes moments. That being said, the friend drama got to be a bit much for me and the ending was not my favorite. I also felt that Maya really didn’t show as much growth as I expected.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the advance copy.

I tried, really hard… but i just couldn’t get into this book like i hoped i would 🥴

I couldn’t find myself connecting with the characters & storyline of the book at all.

This book is hard for me to review from a non-bias stance. I followed Lindsay through her Bachelorette journey and did not like a lot of what went on with her and the franchise. The book was okay. It was a bit frustrating having her write a book that parallels the show that she has talked so negatively about and expected to profit from its notoriety. That put me off from the start. Had she written something that didn't have anything to do with the show, then I would have had a much easier time with it. The storyline is one that has been done over and over again, with just a bit of difference. Unfortunately, I can only give this 2.5 stars as I did not enjoy it. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC.

I had high hopes for this and I think I did myself a disservice. At first, I didn't understand the point of the storyline where Maya turned down The Bachelor(-like show.) It seemed like an irrelevant part of the story. I started to like it more once I understood the premise (what would Rachel's life have been like had she not done The Bachelor) but I still didn't believe in the romance. And I was really rooting for Maya to stay at her job! You can have a boring job and still be a fun, interesting person!

Allow me to begin with I really enjoyed Rachel Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette and I have her memoir that I'm still really excited to read. But... Real Love being marketed as a romance does this book a true disservice in literally every way. There's an open ending not an HEA and because this book is marketed as a romance, I feel like it's only fair to let you know that up front. Because if you go in anticipating a romance, the ending will piss you off. Ask me how I know.

But, if you force yourself to look past that, Real Love is a book with an interesting concept that only kind of worked for me even if I consider it to be a contemporary fiction. It's about a woman who thinks she's satisfied with her life, but she's actually living her life with her mom's voice in her ear telling her what to think and what to do instead of living for herself. So instead of breaking up with her boyfriend when the spark is very much gone and they're not prioritizing one another at all, she just keeps the relationship going. And then her best friend, Delilah, goes on The Bachelorette-esque show and comes back glowing and so happy in love. And since Maya had been offered the spot originally, she's having a lot of thoughts and re-evaluating her life. To an extent, I really enjoyed Maya's attempts to find herself. It made me think that I want to find hobbies outside of reading and blogging while reading it and that was exciting.

But the romance that is introduced is like... good, but not enough to carry this book as a romance and then the end happened and I just... Romance is not a genre for an open ending. So basically, what I'm saying is, this book is what it is and it isn't a romance, so you'll enjoy it way more if you go in expecting the personal journey that you actually get.

This book was a quick read but was really lacking for me. I found myself unable to fully invest myself in the book and it felt boring at times which made it hard to pick back up again. If you're a fan of Rachel or The Bachelor, you may love this book and it certainly is a quick beach read. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me.

Finished “Real Love” by Rachel Lindsay and LOVED it. An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

This book follows 30 year old Maya, a successful woman who ends up realizing that her perception of “success” may not be what she actually wants in life.

I saw so much of myself in Maya - her rigidity, anxiety, stubbornness, and comfort with security and safety. I think that was why I fell in love with her and was rooting so hard for her happiness. She’s a completely raw and real character with lots of development and growth throughout the novel. I loved the themes of self-love, friendship, and going with the flow (and of course loved the parallels to The Bachelor).

Would highly recommend this book as a fluffier read or beach read if you’re just looking for something make you feel good that you’ll read quickly.

"Real Love" by Rachel Lindsay is an insightful and thought-provoking book that explores the complexities of finding true love in the modern world. Lindsay, who gained fame as the first Black Bachelorette on the popular reality TV show, shares her personal experiences and the lessons she's learned about relationships, love, and self-worth.

One of the strengths of this book is Lindsay's willingness to be vulnerable and honest about her own struggles with love and relationships. She shares the highs and lows of her journey, as well as the mistakes she's made along the way. Lindsay's relatable and down-to-earth writing style makes this book accessible to a wide range of readers, regardless of their relationship status.

Another strength of "Real Love" is the way Lindsay addresses some of the more difficult topics related to love and relationships, such as infidelity, trust issues, and the importance of self-love. Her insights and advice are practical and actionable, and she provides a range of strategies for building healthy and fulfilling relationships.

While I found "Real Love" to be an engaging and valuable read overall, there were moments where I felt that Lindsay's advice was a bit simplistic or overly generalized. Additionally, the book can feel a bit repetitive at times, as Lindsay revisits certain themes and ideas throughout the text.

Overall, I would highly recommend "Real Love" to anyone who is interested in exploring the complexities of love and relationships in the modern world. While not perfect, this book offers valuable insights and advice that will be helpful to anyone looking to build more meaningful connections with others.

I was very excited to read Rachel Lindsay’s first work in fiction and had to give it a read! The beginning is slow and the main character, Maya, is not very fun or interesting to follow initially. Her life is pretty sad and boring. However, once Maya’s younger sister Ella is introduced and Kai, the love interest, it really picks up steam! Kai’s influence on Maya launches a journey of self-discovery beyond just romance. The metaphor of her bare beige apartment and her wanting to add color to it translates well to her wanting to reconnect with her own passion life! If you’re a fan of the bachelor, this is a fun, light-hearted read with some popcorn-worthy drama I can’t spoil! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review

I really enjoyed Rachel on the Bachelorette and wanted to give her novel a try. This leans heavily on woman’s fiction and was cute. It didn’t have the angst and spark that I really like in a romance book but it was a good debut and written well.

As a former fan of The Bachelor franchise, I was truly excited when I got approved for this title. Not only is Rachel Lindsay my favorite Bachelorette of all times, but I've also enjoyed so much of her content throughout the years that I couldn't wait to read this book.

The premise of the book, I assume is based on Lindsay's experiences in the show and her take on the "what-ifs" had she refused the offer to become the first Black Bachelorette a few years ago. In this story, Maya Johnson's good friend and coworker Delilah becomes the lead in a reality TV dating show. Once the show starts airing, Maya sees Delilah fall in love with the love of her life while taking advantage of all the new opportunities the show opened for her. And while Maya had refused the role before Delilah got it, she starts to notice how her friend's life has taken a turn for better. Maya wonders if she made a mistake by not taking the opportunity. It isn't until she meets Kai thanks for her younger sister Ella that Maya starts to question if the path she is currently in is right for her or if she needs to be looking for more.

I must say that for a debut novel, this book is not bad. However, the title, cover, and description of the book could be misleading for people who are wanting to read a love story as this is more of a self-discovery journey story line.

This novel delves into the the idea of following one's heart and questioning whether the "perfect" life plan is really the key to happiness. Maya's plans include her future with her boyfriend, getting promoted at work, and building a fabulous life in Miami, but when her boyfriend ends things with her, everything seems to start falling apart. As Maya struggles to come to terms with her breakup, she is also faced with the reality that her life plan may not be as perfect as she thought. Watching her best friend Delilah find love on a reality TV show and change her life path makes Maya start to question everything she believed in. She begins to wonder if she has been pursuing the wrong goals all along and whether there is more to life than simply checking off boxes on a to-do list.

The author does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, particularly Maya, who is a relatable and well-developed protagonist. While she is already a highly successful professional and truly likable character, I found it fascinating to see her navigate the crossroads in both her personal and professional life. I also enjoyed the contrast between Maya's attitude in comparison with her sister's carefree approach to life. The plot is engaging, and the twist involving Maya's sister adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

However, while the book is enjoyable, it falls short in some areas. The romance between Maya and Kai feels rushed and lacks depth, and some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped. Additionally, the book's ending feels abrupt and leaves several plot points unresolved. I'm sure Lindsay let an opening ending for the reader to make their own assumptions but it felt so rushed that I just wish she had given closure to the story.

Overall, Real Love is a solid novel that offers a good balance of romance, self-discovery, and reflection on the importance of following one's heart. However, the book's flaws prevent it from being a standout read, earning it a rating of 3.5 stars.

Rachel Lindsay has never let us down. Not with as the Bachelorette. Not as a podcast host. And certainly, not as an author. I absolutely loved this and could see what she drew as inspiration from her real life!

I went into this book with low expectations and it really impressed me. I really enjoyed this story. A lot of people were saying that this was more women's fiction than romance and for me I did not mind that aspect as typical romance these days seem repetitive and nothing that stands out about them. This story felt fresh and original and I liked how that the authors background brought authenticity to the plot.

Definitely will be reading more by this author.

Maya turns down her chance on Real Love, which is basically the Bachelorette. Instead, she suggests her friend Delilah for the show and it becomes a life changing experience for her. In the end it ends up being life changing for Maya too, just not in the same way. It was a fun read and definitely highlights the "not everything you see on TV is true."

While I had high hopes for Real Love, I had to not finish it around fifty percent in. The plot was very loose and I felt that the reality show part was pushed to the wayside. I love reading about a character's self love and finding who they truly are. This just wasn't the story for me.

Thank you Random House- Ballentine and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I love dating reality shows so this book intrigued me. I love seeing the show worked in to the book while Maya, who originally turned down a spot on the show, was in her own journey of live and re-discovery. Great characters and an enjoyable read.

This one was very middle of the road for me. The characters didn't feel like full people and the plot was kind of weak. I was also let down because it was listed as Romance, but it really read more like Women's Fiction. The "love story" was more of a background accent than a focal point.