Contemporary Romances with a Reality Show Twist
I believe it was Shakespeare who wrote, "All the world's a...reality show." Considering how much of the current tv roster reality shows take up these days, that doesn't feel so far from the truth. Evolving from over-the-top dramas filled with deception and, frankly, meanness, the unscripted genre is now rounded out with kinder, gentler offerings and plenty of reality competitions. If you're a fan and also enjoy romance books, you're in luck as these titles below combine the two!
If the Shoe Fits
by Julie Murphy
A fashion-obsessed plus-size woman fills in for a no-show contestant on her executive producer stepmother’s popular dating reality show and becomes a body-positivity viral sensation overnight and could actually picture herself falling for the eligible suitor.
The Love Con
by Seressia Glass
Joining the reality show competition Cosplay or No Way, gamer Kenya Davenport, required to have a significant other, asks her best friend to roleplay as a couple in love, but when real feelings get involved, it could cost her the best friend she’s ever had.
Tools of Engagement
by Tessa Bailey
Meticulous real-estate designer Bethany Castle is invited to compete against her brother on a house-flipping reality television show with the assistance of a brash but attractive Texas cowboy construction team leader.
The Charm Offensive
by Alison Cochrun
Successful producer on the long-running reality dating show Ever After, Dev Deshpande, with his own love life in complete disarray, falls for contestant Charlie Winshaw who has better chemistry with him than any of his female co-stars.
The Homewreckers
by Mary Kay Andrews
While starring on a beach house renovation reality show called The Homewreckers, Hattie Kavanaugh is drawn into a mystery—and an unexpected romantic triangle—when, during the demolition, evidence is unearthed about a long-ago crime.
D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding
by Chencia C. Higgins
To elevate her brand, a closeted social media influencer goes on a reality TV show where she must convince her family and friends she's getting married to the love of her life in six weeks.
One to Watch
by Kate Stayman-London
Frustrated by a lack of body diversity on her favorite reality show, a plus-sized fashion blogger uses an unexpected invitation to star in the show to bolster her career, before an unexpected romance complicates her prospects.
Love & Other Disasters
by Anita Kelly
While competing on a popular cooking show, Dahlia Woodson stirs up trouble when she gets involved with a nonbinary contestant, and as their relationship heats up both in and out of the kitchen, she wonders if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
Recipe for Persuasion
by Sonali Dev
Chef Ashna Raje thinks that joining the cast of Cooking with the Stars will help save her restaurant and prove to her mother that she's not a failure, but when she's paired with her first love, Rico Silva, the kitchen begins to heat up.
Battle Royal
by Lucy Parker
After being kicked off by judge Dominic De Vere on a baking-competition show, an otherwise successful London baker, Sylvie Fairchild, returns to Operation Cake as a judge, setting off an intense rivalry and maybe a bit of romance.
Sadie on a Plate
by Amanda Elliot
Landing a coveted spot on her favorite TV show, chef Sadie, a rising star in the trendy Seattle restaurant scene, arrives in NYC and has a spontaneous one-night fling, or she thought was a one night, until she arrives on set and gets the surprise of her life.
The Holiday Swap
by Maggie Knox
When they switch places, chef Charlie Goodwin, a cooking show judge, and Cass, a bakery owner, they discover that temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined especially when new romances are added into the mix.
The Corset Diaries
by Katie MacAlister
In desperate need of money, Tessa agrees to appear on a reality TV show called A Month in the Life of a Victorian Duke, where she must live on an English estate circa 1879, wear corsets, and pretend to be married to a real-life duke who unexpectedly steals her heart.
Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.