It was like the bachelor but so much more. I couldn't put this one down. My heart was racing with anticipation. This story had everything, the drama, the tension, the chemistry, and romance. Having a journalist go undercover in a love reality tv show was fun. It was exhilarating. Most eligible will have you laugh, biting your nails and swooning. It was absolutely delightful.

Ok, I read this one so fast! I was invested from the jump! An undercover journalist on a bachelor style dating show - just fully fun and entertaining. You’ll get drama, and laughs, and just enough spice! Highly recommend this one.

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book!

While I’ve never really been a fan of The Bachelor specifically, I do love almost anything and everything to do with reality TV. That includes fun books with a reality TV setting, so of course I had to read this one the second I got my hands on it. I’m so glad I did because it was such a perfect summer romance!

Georgia was an easy to root for female lead. Her motives felt believable, and I really liked her personality. I laughed out loud multiple times throughout this one, and I found the romance to be perfectly swoony. Second chance isn’t normally a trope that I go for, but I thought this one worked really well. Rhett was the perfect amount of dreamy and real, and I loved seeing their interactions play out throughout the story. I do wish that perhaps they had previously had more than just that one night together so their history was a little bit deeper; however, it still worked well and that’s a very minor, personal complaint.

The other contestants were really fun, and I liked that this book really tried to show just how not real reality TV is. Everything is usually so scripted and forced, all while they try to make it look as real as possible. Will I ever stop watching reality TV? Probably not. Did I appreciate the fact that Most Eligible showed the behind the scenes of reality TV? 100% yes!

And, for the first time in a long time, a lovey nickname in a book didn’t drive me up the wall! I thought Georgia Peach was perfectly cute, and it honestly didn’t give me an ick like most nicknames in books do. (Hi, I know I’m the problem here. Hahaha) Was it from the main love interest? No. Is that something we need to focus on? Also no.

All in all, this was an incredibly fun, easy to read book and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a cute summer romance!

Thank you SO much to St. Martin's Press and their Early Readers program for the eARC in exchange for my review!

All the fun of your favorite reality TV shows in the pages of book!

MOST ELIGIBLE by Isabelle Engel is just down right fun. Full of backstabbers and gossips, Georgia Rose (I mean- what a name!) finds herself in the middle of filming "Love Shack", a hit reality show centering around dating.
She's there undercover, writing an expose on the producers. But what should be an assignment turns into some real life hot-cha-cha moments for Georgia and co- star Rhett. There's more than one person with a few secrets and this book unfolds in a knock down, drag out, hilarious way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read prior to it's release in January 2026, I laughed the whole way!

If you love romance, reality TV, and love a romance book that has stakes and plot lines outside of just the romance plot, you are going to love Most Eligible. I loved this book - it felt fresh and completely original. The pacing was incredibly well done, and I felt completely engaged with the story the entire time.

This book is single POV, with us only getting Georgia's thoughts here, and while normally I love dual POV in romance books, I think it was exactly the right choice here. It kept me guessing as to what Rhett's motivations were, and you could really understand the choices that Georgia was taking in the moment because of it. When you are as aware of the manipulation as Georgia was going into filming for the show, I think it almost adds a different and more difficult layer to the already tough atmosphere of the show, because you really can trust no one. This made the push and pull between them believable.

I also laughed out loud multiple times, and I loved the cast of the show - each of the girls had fully formed personalities (which sometimes you don't get for side characters of romance books), and by the end I was really rooting for each and every one of them. And having a contestant be a cheese entrepreneur is so true to shows like the Bachelor that I knew we were in good hands (Olie is one of my favorite characters, by the way).

Overall, I'm a huge fan of this book, and even if you aren't a big romance reader, but you like the tension and drama of reality TV, I think you'll love Most Eligible! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.

If you're a Bachelor Nation fan, then this is the romance book for you! Georgia has convinced her way into the Love Shack mansion as a contestant in the hopes of writing an expose on what actually goes on behind the scenes of the show. Except the host of this season ends up being Rhett, a one night stand Georgia can't seem to forget.

This was hilarious and as a Bachelor Nation fan IRL, I loved all the drama of the mansion, the other contestants, and producers just like a Bachelor/Bachelorette season. The claws were out, the women were catty, and there can only be on winner. Despite that, I enjoyed the friendships Georgia made on the show and her realization of her friendship with Serena. I wish there was a little more backstory with Georgia and Rhett, but I enjoyed them reconnecting on the show. Overall, this was really fun and I think a lot of people will enjoy it!

A must read if you love/have watched the Bachelor franchise (or any reality TV centered around finding love).
Georgia becomes a contestant on a reality (Bachelor-like) TV show, but Georgia is definitely not here for the right reason. She is there to investigate the producers of the show for a career-making expose that she plans to write and uncover. On the first day, she finds out that the host is her unforgettable one-night stand, country singer Rhett, who also ghosted her the very next morning.

I absolutely devoured this book and read it in 1 day. I was hooked. The descriptions of the characters were each very unique and there was everything you could ever want from a reality TV show but in a book. There's drama, anticipation, sabotage, betrayals, twists and turns, LOL moments: it's like you're actually watching on TV. The tension between Rhett and Georgia as they fight to keep their secret one night stand just between them and their unresolved feelings...and the YEARNING were all *chef's kiss*. The ending was surprising yet sweet, and the strong friendships that developed between the girls were unexpected and some of the best parts of the book.

An excellent debut novel by Isabelle Engel.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC!

Absolutely adored this one!
I've honestly been in a bit of a rut when it comes to RomCom books lately- since the genre has become so oversaturated. However, this one pleasantly surprised me. With all this talk of "Love Island" recently, it only made sense to read a novel like this. A journalist going undercover to write an exposé piece on a reality show? The premise is just perfect. Plus the love interest being a musician definitely played into how much I adored this one. Isabelle Engel did an excellent job balancing out the storyline between plot and character chemistry. (I feel like that's hard to come across nowadays with RomComs). It was funny, fast-paced and just the perfect summer read!

I loved this book so much that I couldn't start another book for days because nothing else lived up to the drama and storytelling in this one!

Journalist Georgia Rose goes undercover as a contestant in a Bachelor-style dating show to expose the showrunner's problematic behavior. She is shocked to find that her one-night stand is this season's host. Georgia finds herself sneaking stolen moments with the host while simultaneously dating the show's lead for the cameras.

This book has SUCH GOOD drama! I loved feeling like I was getting behind-the-scenes access to a reality show.

I highly recommend this book for fans of The Bachelor or any other dating reality TV show!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book! Very fun and funny and also quite romantic. The perfect read for reality TV fans and skeptics alike!

A debut sure to make you laugh, smile, and swoon from start to finish! Perfect for fans of Miss Congeniality, The Bachelor, and Ava Wilder novels! I loved Georgia and found her funny and relateable. The chemistry between her and Rhett had me from the jump. All of the side characters add to the fun world-building and had me grinning with the zany and larger-than-life chaos. If you want a romance that has just as much comedy, this is an excellent read.

I really enjoyed this as a romantic comedy, it had that element that I wanted from a journalist on reality TV. It had that overall feel that I was looking for and thought it was a fun concept. I enjoyed getting to know Georgia and how she was there to create a expose. I was engaged from the first page and was invested in what was happening in the romance and how it was set up. Isabelle Engel has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this. I'm excited to read more from the author as this was everything that I wanted.

I devoured this book so quick. I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with the "film business" and there was so much wonderfully delicious drama for this reality tv show romance.

this book did not disappoint it gave me Bachelor vibes it also kind of gave me Love Island Vibes as well I really enjoyed this book a lot It was such an enjoyable read.

Most Eligible is a fun, hilarious romantic comedy about a journalist who enters a reality TV dating show to write an exposé on the producers... only to discover the host is her former one-night stand. I was rooting for Georgia the whole time, both with her exposé and her second-chance romance with Rhett. My favorite part was all the side characters (they were laugh-out-loud funny!) and the friendships that developed between them. Fans of shows like The Bachelor will get sucked into the reality show drama—I know I did. This is a must-read for reality TV and rom-com fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

As a longtime Bachelor fan, this book was basically written for me. It felt like stepping behind the scenes of a reality dating show, with all the drama, glitz, and emotional roller coasters I live for but with even juicier twists (and no commercial breaks).

It’s fast-paced, addictive, and absolutely impossible to put down. The story serves up everything: backstabbing, betrayal, blossoming friendships, unexpected alliances, and romance that actually makes your heart flutter. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the twists at the end hit like a rogue rose ceremony.

If you love messy reality TV, love triangles with teeth, and a main character who’s not just there to fall in love… this one’s for you.

Fans of The Bachelor will absolutely love Isabelle Engel’s debut novel. Witty, filled with drama, and heartfelt, Most Eligible will have readers flipping through the pages.

Equal parts romance and undercover, it gives a refreshing view of reality tv and the idea that reality tv shows are not always what they seem. Through it all, Most Eligible also is able to develop female friendships that warm your heart, even as they’re participating in an environment designed to pit them against one another.

As a long-time fan of reality tv dating shows (any and all of them, truly), I was itching to get my hands on this book! Most Eligible had everything I love about these shows: backstabbing contestants, fake love declarations, unexpected drama, and the most dramatic final ceremony ever 😉 This book is for you if you like:

🌹 Single POV, present tense
🌹 Strong female friendships
🌹 Open door but not super explicit spicy scenes
🌹 Laugh out loud shenanigans
🥀 Heartbreak (temporary!)
🌹 A satisfying happy ending

This was a perfect romcom with very little angst and a lot of laughs, perfect for fans of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren!

Most Eligible is one of the most fun reads I've had in years. Filled with reality show hijinks, backstage shenanigans, and unexpected romance, the book is a delightful and joyous adventure. I never quite knew what to expect from this cast of characters, who kept me swooning and laughing at each surprising turn. This is a classic Rom Com that meets the moment and is an ode to reality TV as much as it is a critique. Georgia is a perfect Rom Com heroine--spunky, scrappy, and resourceful. It's impossible not to root for her. This is an absolute five-star read. I can't wait to read it again.

I ADORED this book! Georgia Rose is a music reporter, but is also interested in busting the dirty truths about a reality TV dating show (think "The Bachelor"). In order to do this, she has to present herself as different than who she is, and I loved her internal dialogue. If she sticks with it, though, her profession is going to skyrocket. There were so many different "girls" (iykyk) that were vying for main man Roland's affections, but Georgia gets a bit caught up in Rhett, a country start and a previous year's star, who she happened to have a one night stand with.

Lainey, the producer was soooo good at being bad!! The side characters were so, so fun. Rhett was such a great MMC -have to love a second-chance romance!

I would highly recommend this as a super fun, easy read. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to provide an honest review in exchange for early access to this book.

Most Eligible is everything I want from a contemporary romance—sharp, charming, and full of heart, with enough behind-the-scenes drama to keep me flipping pages late into the night. If you’re a fan of reality TV chaos, smart heroines, and romance that simmers with real emotional tension, this one’s a must-read.

Set against the backdrop of a televised dating show, the story follows Georgia, who enters the spotlight with eyes wide open. She’s not naive about the game, which makes watching her navigate the twists and turns of a manipulated environment all the more compelling. Told entirely from her perspective, the single POV was a brilliant choice—it left just enough mystery around Rhett’s intentions to keep me constantly questioning: is he playing the part or falling for real?

Georgia’s voice is witty, grounded, and refreshingly self-aware. She knows the odds, she knows the stakes, and yet she lets herself feel anyway—which makes the emotional payoff incredibly satisfying. Rhett, the brooding musician and show’s leading man, is a perfect mix of sincerity and secrecy, and their slow-burn, push-and-pull romance is the definition of tension-filled chemistry.

And let’s talk about the cast. Every one of the contestants felt distinct and real—quirks, flaws, cheese businesses and all. The friendships, rivalries, and unexpected connections gave the story real texture and warmth.

What makes Most Eligible stand out in a sea of rom-coms is how balanced it is. The romance is central, but the plot doesn’t disappear into it. Instead, we get stakes, ambition, vulnerability, and a thoughtful take on what it means to put your heart on the line while the world is watching.

For readers who like:
-Reality TV tropes
-Slow-burn, high-stakes romance
-Banter, drama, and heart

Final Verdict
Most Eligible is a sparkling rom-com with depth, drama, and a heroine you’ll want to root for from the first page. Funny, fast-paced, and full of charm, it’s the kind of summer read that leaves you smiling long after you’ve closed the book. Isabelle Engel is definitely one to watch.

Grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Isabelle Engel for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

This has to be a top romance coming in 2026. Easiest five stars I have given this year to a book. I absolutely devoured this book. I am so impressed by Isabelle's writing, characters, and story that this book is going to be living rent free in my mind for quite a while. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew I would be hooked and this book did not disappoint. A rom-com based on a bachelor contest? Sign me up! You will want to pick this book up when it releases. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was skeptical about reading a book with a reality tv show plot but I enjoyed this book so so much. We have Georgia who is one of the contestants but she’s not there to find love, she’s there to expose the world of reality tv. Georgia was a very likeable character playing her role well but also being kind to the other characters and trying to get her job done. I liked that Rhett made sure she was always okay and that he didn’t expose her to anyone. Every other character made this book just as enjoyable and all the drama added to the fun. Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book, I really enjoyed it!!

4.5/5

A contestant on the latest Love Shack season, Georgia Rose should be vying to win the heart of America’s most eligible bachelor… but she’s not here for the right reasons. A covert journalist, she plans to unveil the dark truths rumoured behind the scenes. Mix in betrayal, chaos, and an unexpected host (with whom she has an intimate past) and Georgia’s plans may need to change before they backfire.

As a shameless fan of reality dating shows, I couldn’t wait to read this book and it delivered all the chaotic, fun, and dramatic energy that I had hoped for!

The writing is excellent, with fast pacing and enjoyable characters. Georgia is genuine, funny, and finds her voice along the way. Rhett is caring, and I loved his moments with Georgia. There were many women alongside our FMC, and I enjoyed their distinct voices and friendships. The twists were mostly predictable, but entertaining nonetheless!

Among my favorite extra touches were the clippings from articles, online threads, and the unauthorized guide to winning Love Shack at the start of each chapter. They provided context, and also emulate what it’s often like to watch reality TV with all the surrounding gossip and theories.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Isabelle Engel for providing an ARC of this book!

A fun read! I was rooting for Georgia the whole time and was satisfied with the ending. I loved how each chapter began with an excerpt from an exterior source. A great debut from a new voice in romance.

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An incredible rom-com debut. I don’t even watch The Bachelor, so I probably missed a bunch of references, but I flew through this and enjoyed it so much. The whole cast is fleshed out and interesting, the yearning is PEAK, and the prose is infinitely readable without being trite or overly simple.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this, and I can’t wait for this author’s next book!

ok this book was sooo cute!! i loved it!!! such great writing and totally lovable characters. 5/5 stars for sure!!!

I really enjoyed this debut from Isabelle Engel. It was well written, interesting, and kept me reading all night to find out what would happen. Will be excited to see more from Engel in the future.

So. Much. Fun! A great romcom full of fun characters and an engaging plot. A really excellent debut from this author, and I look forward to reading more of her work!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Close is the perfect mash-up of The Bachelor and Funny You Should Ask—and somehow even better than I expected! From page one, I was hooked by Georgia’s sharp wit and ambition, and the behind-the-scenes chaos of Love Shack made for a totally addictive read.

The chemistry between Georgia and Rhett sizzles, but what really stood out was the emotional depth beneath the laughs and banter. There’s just the right balance of humor, heart, and drama—and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.

This book had it all: messy secrets, swoony moments, laugh-out-loud scenes, and a strong, smart heroine I was rooting for the whole time. If you’re a fan of reality TV, second chances, or just a ridiculously fun romance, Close should be next on your TBR. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

I absolutely loved Most Eligible! Isabelle Engel delivers a fun, fast-paced, and romantic story that perfectly blends reality TV drama, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments.

Georgia Rose is not on Love Shack for love—she’s there for an exposé that could land her dream journalism job. But when her unforgettable one-night stand, Rhett Auburn, turns out to be the show’s new host, all her plans begin to unravel. Between behind-the-scenes sabotage, on-screen drama, and undeniable off-screen attraction, Georgia’s second chance with Rhett is as risky as it is irresistible.

What I loved most was how Engel captured the chaos of reality TV while also giving us authentic emotional depth. Georgia is a strong, witty, and relatable heroine, and Rhett is the perfect mix of charming and grounded. Their banter, stolen moments, and complicated history made me root for them from start to finish.

What I learned from this book: Sometimes the best opportunities—and relationships—come when you stop trying to control every outcome. Letting go of fear and embracing the unexpected can lead to something even better than your original plan.

If you love second-chance romance, reality TV settings, or stories full of twists, secrets, and irresistible chemistry, this book is a must-read!

Positively delightful, heartfelt, and real! Fun look into the emotions and workings of reality TV, and a perfectly satisfying finish.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review of Most Eligible

Most Eligible is an absolute delight from beginning to end—a charming contemporary romance that strikes the perfect balance between heartfelt emotion and lighthearted escapism.

Georgia is such an instantly relatable heroine: ambitious, determined, and intent on building the future she always dreamed of. But the author cleverly adds a twist by thrusting her into the whirlwind of a dating reality show. The tension between Georgia’s carefully planned path and the unexpected connection she finds behind the cameras makes this story addictive and impossible to set aside.

The writing is engaging, witty, and filled with warmth, and the characters are drawn with just the right amount of depth to make you cheer for their happiness while still keeping the pace brisk and fun. This is the kind of book you can curl up with and get lost in—ideal for readers who crave romance with a mix of entertainment-industry drama and genuine emotional payoff.

I wholeheartedly recommend Most Eligible to anyone looking for a feel-good romance to brighten their day. Whether you’re a longtime romance reader or new to the genre, this one will leave you smiling long after the final page.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book! It definitely gives off "The Bachelor" vibes. Georgia, the fmc, is a journalist who is trying to land her dream job. She goes undercover as a contestant on a dating show to get the inside scoop for an article she has to write. Things aren't always what they seem to be. Will she get her story and a happily ever after or will everything fall apart? The main characters are easy to like and the secondary characters add a lot to the story. I finished this book in one day because I could not put it down.

A fun romp! Engel is clearly a fan of the genre (the genre being messy reality tv, haha). I am extremely picky with my reality tv books because I am first and foremost a Bachelor/Love Island fangirl, so I had high expectations for this one. Georgia and Rhett were a slow burn for me, but they got there in the end!

The side characters make this one memorable, and I think that's essential for a book set in this world.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press!!

I read this in a single day! It was so well written that the pages were flying. I was gripped with excitement and tension and lots of hope. I have never watched The Bachelor before and the story's premise of going undercover was an interesting enough premise for me to request this book. And boy was it a good choice!

First of all the story was so well written! I can't believe this was a debut romance novel. It was so engaging and fun. It was not formulaic but unique with characters who wear their personalities well. My personal fav was Olie Ravioli haha. The conflict between the MCs is not mind numbing and boring and it MAKES SENSE! I loved how fast paced this book was. Again. I can't believe this is a debut. This book is perfect for rom com novel addicts, who need something refreshing and fun and done well. It's a tight book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Such a good book. So many good characters. I loved Rhett from the start. So glad Georgia became her true self. I would love to read more about these characters such as Ollie,Addison,Monica,Norbert and so many more.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends.

A delicious guilty pleasure of a book. If ‘The Bachelor’ was half this good, I’d be obsessed!
Journalist Georgia goes undercover on a dating show to write an exposé on the producers poor practice, the only problem is, the one-night-stand she used her pseudonym with is working on the show. Expect for drama, adventure, and romance!

Such a fun read and a superb debut! I found it to be unexpectedly gripping, and with no lulls, it’s hard to put down. It’s full of juicy content, great side characters (Olie especially), rich and vivid settings -what’s not to love? Plus it’s funny in the messiest way.

Read-a-likes I recommend: ‘Here for the Right Reasons’ by Jodi McAlister’ and ‘The Villain Edit’ by Laurie Devore.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review to post week beginning December 28th.

4.5⭐️
I absolutely loved this! Georgia and the whole cast were perfect. This gave me all the drama, gossip and love I want from actual reality tv shows. I found myself unable to put this one down because it’s hilarious and had twists I was not expecting from a rom com.

Really fun, funny, sweet romance in the subgenre of Bachelor/reality TV romances, which I personally love. This read like more of a traditional romance than a book interested in the mechanics of reality TV, which kept the focus on the central relationship while keeping it believably slow-burn. But I think the best part of the book might have actually been the side characters for me. I am obsessed with Olie.

Miss Congeniality was my favorite movie growing up, so it's no wonder that I absolutely fell in love with Isabelle Engel's delightful debut! It's a hilarious, smart, angsty take on an undercover operation in the reality TV world and I devoured it as fast as I could!!

From start to finish, this book was packed with witty banter and a cast of charmingly flawed characters. Most Eligible is a laugh-out-loud, tug on your heart strings, second-chance romance full of hilarious dialogue with plenty of tension and heat. The charaters portrayed in this book will have you constantly torn, switching between who you love and who you love to hate. Isabelle Engle's debut is a juicy page-turner that perfectly encases the drama of reality television, complete with scandal and gossip.

MOST ELIGIBLE is laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and irresistibly topical—the romcom of the moment. Engle delivers pure fun with gasps, laughs, and heart in every chapter. Forget The Bachelor—this guarantees a happily-ever-after and cements Engle as a new favorite on my romcom shelf.