I love me book about reality tv. The messier the characters the better. Jac was made out to be the villain, but she was the most human out of all them. All the hurts and romance made realer by the characters reactions. I can't wait to get my hands on Laurie Devore's back catalog. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!!!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon and Avon and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This would make a great beach read. The juicy behind-the-scenes take on reality dating shows. I imagine this is what it’s really like to film shows like The Bachelor. Lots of fun characters and a fast-moving storyline. I like how it’s a narrative of the story but also features Instagram posts, blog discussions, DMs, etc. definitely a guilty pleasure read.

3.5

This was such a good book to be published in touring the resurgence of the bachelor love island era. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope they redo this again from a different contestants POV.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

First, kudos to this author for knowing her stuff when it comes to the Bachelor universe. I’m a super fan and it’s obvious she’s done her research. I’ve read quite a few romances based around this universe, and this one holds up well. However, I should note that I wouldn’t consider this a true romance. It’s a lot grittier and darker.

I loved the parts surrounding the behind the scenes of the show. I did get bogged down a bit by all the self loathing between the main character and her love interest - parts of it felt like saying the same thing over and over again. While the author is good at writing dialogue, some parts intentionally felt like they really weren’t saying anything at all.

This book was such an intriguing idea. I love The Bachelor and this really went into how shows manipulate the truth. Jac is honestly a bitch, but the producers were also making it so she was bitchier and more cold hearted than she actually is. This novel shows how people can be so mean online when they THINK they know the full story. I really really enjoyed the conversations in here. I even enjoyed the little toxic complicated relationship aspect we got in here.

I had a lot of fun with this one! You could really tell that the main character was invested into working the reality show and trying to get the most out of her time there. I like the retrospective on how the show was cut and viewed by its audience. There was a clear like between what was actually happening and what the rest of the world saw. I love when female characters get to be mean and a little bitchy.

DNF at 42%

“Emily Henry meets Fleabag” = FALSE

I couldn’t root for Jac because of her neverending “I’m not like all the other girls”-ing and being so much prettier than everyone else (of course) and making out with Marcus and maybe having real feelings for him (?) but also lusting over Henry and maybe having real feelings for him (?) because of course both men are hot to trot for her (see: not like all the other girls) while being constantly manipulated by the producers (including Henry) while thinking she’s so above it all because she’s A Writer who lived in NEW YORK CITY (!) and she is NOT LIKE ALL OF THOSE OTHER GIRLS - it became unreadable.

I absolutely 5-star LOVED Devore’s last book (A Better Bad Idea), but this one was clearly not the book for me.

I've finished the book, and what a ride it was! The premise had me hooked: reality show inside info from the POV of the show's villain. We've seen enough memoirs of reality show contestants to realize that the actual reality of these shows is far darker than even the most scintillating show premise. I was here for it, and Laurie Devore delivered. I fully credit her research on The Bachelor and all the related podcasts and analyses, as well as citing all the readings of aforementioned memoirs in her Acknowledgments. She put in the work, and the result is as compelling a trainwreck as any of those types of shows. I just think readers should know what they're in for.

This is not for traditional romance readers, unless you've grown a bit cynical about common romance tropes. Jac is not a likeable heroine. If you're like me, you'll have some things in common with Jac -- especially falling into the "not like other girls" trap and the near-constant need to see yourself as special. She is a complex character who makes self-destructive decisions and follows toxic patterns, but always in a believable way. She is no tidy stand-in character for the audience, both a liberated woman that's also an ideal version of ourselves. Jac is messy as fuck. And so is Henry, the love interest. It's their flaws and toxicity that end up both bonding and strangely redeeming both. In that way, this is the most modern romance I've ever read.

I read an ARC, so some of the final polish may have been missing. Other critics have pointed out the banging soundtrack made up of the chapter titles of the novel, for which I'm headed to my music streamer next to find. Looks pretty emo-punk like Fall Out Boy and Paramore, and I recommend the explicit versions to closely match the vibe of the text.

This book is surprisingly explicit, while some details could have been fleshed through more thoroughly. I respect that Jac is as sexual as she is, and this book is the first I've read (that's marketed as a romance) that covers that sexual chemistry can be entirely separate from whether you actually like the person. This novel really is like a roller-coaster ride (complete with the occasional regret when you get a good look at what you got yourself into). There were times when I thought it was getting too dark to go on. But I made it through to the HEA, and so did Jac, even though other critics have pointed out that the ending seemed too rushed. The other characters outside the triangle featuring Jac weren't terribly fleshed out, but that makes sense in that they barely registered on Jac's radar, and the story is from her POV. I'm sort of mystified that Jac's family is as positive and supportive as they are, and she's still so damaged, but I suppose that feeds into her complexity being her own making and not the result of terrible trauma.

I was also sort of stunned by the toxicity of the publishing world as depicted in the book. That was a bit traumatic to my reader's impression that authors are supportive of each other. The fellow authors who knew Jac before the show were just as petty and judgmental as those who ripped through the show in online commentary. The whole thing left me feeling like I needed about three consecutive showers.

A compulsively readable romp of a book, but not to be mistaken for light reading.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

TW: alcohol abuse, suicide attempt (off-camera), parental death, cancer descriptions, racial slurs (referenced off-camera), threats of sexual violence (commentary), death threats (commentary), slut-shaming, and disordered eating with body image depictions, online harassment.

2.5 stars

I love books with social commentary, books that challenge accepted narratives or shine a light on subjects like misogyny and the inhumanely manipulative nature of reality TV. But this book felt heavy-handed in its commentary.

My biggest problem is that the characters were hard to connect to. Rikki was probably my favorite out of all of them. The rest? I didn't care. And the love triangle never had me wondering. I'm not sure why, but I was confident I knew who was endgame in that situation.

We see Jac and Henry and Marcus and most of the contestants and producers at their worst. I don't care that Henry's manipulative or that Jac earns her villain edit -- their flaws can make for some great characters. But everything was so muddled so fast that I never had time to empathize with anyone. Maybe this is on me (I don't do subtext, I don't play mind games) but these were interesting characters with unscalable walls for me as a reader.

This is also the second book I've read this year by the same title, dealing with similar subject matter. They're structured very differently and they make their points in different ways but I wholeheartedly preferred the other one.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This Book was so unique! I really appreciated how it showed the amount of manipulation these types of shows create both in front of and behind the camera, and how that affects the contestants’ mental health. I also liked how it shows the public response to the shows as they air. The main character was so funny, relatable, and even infuriating at times. Highly recommend this especially if you watch reality dating shows!

As someone who considers a reality dating show my guilty pleasure, this was such an intriguing read that gave some of the beloved high drama alongside a critical look at the production side of reality tv. Casting truly is everything, right?

However, the summary giving us comps of Fleabag and Emily Henry didn’t quite resonate for me. While this wasn’t what I expected, I over all enjoyed the story and it was a great poolside read.

This was an interesting story. Let me start by saying I don't watch any of the "reality" dating shows. But I found this story a real page-turner. Jac joins the show to attempt to gain social media followers and book sales. From the descriptions of her books, they were very poorly received. She is older than other contestants, but manages to connect with one of them on a friendly level. She's painted as the villain through the show, but I found I kind of agreed. She was quite the manipulator and didn't want bothered with the other girls and hated doing all the activities like girl chats and "in the moment" chats. Marcus was okay at first, but I agreed with Jac's assessment that she couldn't get to now him. Henry, the producer/one-night-stand, was where all the chemistry was at for me. The ending was a little rushed for me. I wished we had more. Overall, it felt like a behind-the-scenes look at one of those shows, and according to the end note, there was quite a bit of research so it felt like a real exposé.

As someone who hasn't ever watched the Bachelor/Bachelorette but has seen some other reality "dating" shows and enjoyed them, the premise of this novel definitely caught my attention.

This book was just as messy, toxic, and engaging as the shows themselves, which can be seen as a good and bad thing. I also really like the "behind the scenes" aspect found in the excerpts between chapters and following some dialogue/events throughout the writing.

If the goal of this novel was to help humanize and provide some insight into to the psyche of the type of people you take part in modern reality shows, it did a fantastic job.

Thank you Laurie Devore, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper for the E-ARC.

The Villain Edit, a darkly entertaining romance that embraces everything that’s great (and awful) about the reality television business. If you’re a fan of competitive dating shows or only just watched UnReal for a couple of seasons, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here in this journey of a woman who accidentally makes herself the woman everyone loves to hate on a Bachelor-style dating show.

**Book Review: "The Villain Edit" by Laurie Devore**

Laurie Devore's "The Villain Edit" delves into the turbulent world of reality TV and the psychological complexities that underpin it. The novel follows the journey of 17-year-old protagonist April Donovan, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes a contestant on a popular reality show called "The Fishbowl." Known for its cutthroat competitiveness and manipulation tactics, the show becomes a stage where April must confront her deepest insecurities and desires.

Devore's narrative is a compelling exploration of identity and morality in the context of fame and social media. The strengths of the novel lie in its vivid portrayal of the pressures faced by young adults thrust into the spotlight. April's internal struggles with authenticity versus performance resonate authentically, capturing the existential crises many teenagers experience in today's hyper-connected world.

One of the novel's standout features is Devore's ability to craft complex, flawed characters. April is not a typical heroine; she is manipulative, driven by ambition, and often morally ambiguous. This portrayal adds depth to the story, challenging readers to question their own judgments and perceptions of right and wrong. The supporting cast, including fellow contestants and behind-the-scenes influencers, further enriches the narrative, each character contributing to the overarching theme of image versus reality.

However, despite these strengths, "The Villain Edit" occasionally falters in its pacing and plot execution. The novel's transition from April's ordinary life to the high-stakes world of reality TV feels rushed at times, with certain pivotal moments lacking the emotional depth they deserve. As a result, some plot developments may come across as predictable or underdeveloped, detracting from the overall impact of the story.

Furthermore, while Devore adeptly explores themes of manipulation and the consequences of seeking validation from external sources, the resolution of April's character arc feels somewhat abrupt. The novel's ending, while satisfying in some respects, leaves certain threads unresolved, leaving readers with lingering questions about April's ultimate growth and redemption.

In conclusion, "The Villain Edit" by Laurie Devore is a thought-provoking read that shines in its portrayal of complex characters and the dark allure of fame. It navigates themes of identity, ambition, and morality with nuance, offering readers a glimpse into the tumultuous world of reality television through the eyes of a compelling protagonist. While the novel stumbles in pacing and plot development, its strengths lie in its introspective exploration of human nature and the pursuit of validation. Devore's ability to capture the moral ambiguities of modern-day media culture makes "The Villain Edit" a noteworthy addition to the young adult fiction landscape, despite its occasional narrative missteps.

Despite my love for reality TV, I don’t watch dating shows and have only seen the first two seasons of The Bachelor. I enjoyed it - it was entertaining, but not exactly memorable.

I have the same feelings about this book, which I think was meant purposefully.

People behaving badly (or being perceived as such) will always have a must-watch (or in this case, must-read) element to it. It creates drama, conflict, messiness – all things that are always welcome in moderation.

As a reality TV junkie this was a fun imagining of the behind the scenes of my favorite dating shows. I enjoyed rooting for the anti-hero, and wondering who to trust and who was there for the "right reasons."

Jac, a failing romance novelist, wakes up one day and decides to generate popularity and book sales by going on a dating reality show — the 1. Forever the relationship-abhorrent author, Jac thinks, maybe she will fall in-love with Marcus, the 1’s bachelor.

While in isolation before joining the rest of the cast, Jac meets Henry at a bar and has a wonderful one night stand. She connects with Henry easily, but she knows she’ll never see him again….maybe.

Low and behold, Henry is one of the 1’s producers and Jac can’t stay away from him! Not only is Henry charming, hot and sexy, he’s also Turing Jac into this season’s most hated villain.

Can Jac turn Marcus’s head and get the guy? Will America hate Jac like most of the cast? Is Henry out to get her and can Jac ever find true love?

My thoughts:
Wow! I lLOVED this theatrical and suspenseful, very entertaining romance-like story! Jac is absolutely fabulous and so easy to love! Witty, no-nonsense and hot af! She’s a disaster though and I love it! A fast page-turner that was over way too fast!

Readers of Lucy Score will love this book!

I have never watched the Bachelor or any of the reality shows related to it, so maybe that is why this one was hard for me. I felt like I was as trapped as Jac because I didn't want to stop reading even when I wasn't feeling it. I wanted to see how it all turned out for Jac in the end. I didn't really care for the supporting characters. I wanted to care more about Jac, but it was tough for me. However, as much as this one wasn't for me, I am recommending to those who love reality tv and the New Adult crowd. I think this book has an audience, but it is a narrow one.

A complicated, messy, toxic love story alongside a scathing review of reality tv and the people we let it make us - contestants, producers, and viewers alike. And if you don’t find bitchy women (I say that lovingly) and the seedy underbelly of reality tv intriguing, then you’re wrong.
I may have found a new favorite romance author. It’s tough to deliver me the right combination cheese and happy endings vs. cynicism and stark reality. But this? It was the perfect ratio for a true jaded romantic.