The Villain Edit

April 1, 2024

Her once promising writing career stalled, romance novelist Jacqueline decides to become a contestant on a Bachelor-like reality TV show. Her goal isn't to find love but to get her name out in the media and hopefully revive her book sales. The night before production starts on the reality show, she has a sizzling one-night stand with a stranger named Henry. When she arrives on set for her first day of shooting, she and Henry are shocked to encounter each other; it turns out that Henry is one of the show's producers. As production goes on, Jacqueline is supposed to be winning the heart of the show's star, Marcus, but she can't seem to keep away from Henry. Their forbidden love affair is as hot as it is messy, as they both risk upending their lives if they get caught. Jacqueline will have to figure out whether her feelings for Henry are real while also dealing with manipulative producers and toxic fellow contestants. VERDICT While the romance storyline sometimes feels secondary, Devore's (A Better Bad Idea) fast-moving novel full of entertaining behind-the-scenes reality TV drama will appeal to fans of dating shows and readers who enjoy a little chaos in their romances.--Migdalia Jimenez

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2024
A struggling author gets in way over her head when she becomes a contestant on a dating show. Jacqueline Matthis has never been good at love...not even when she's the one writing the story. Her career as a romance novelist stalled out after her series got canceled, but she has the perfect plan to increase book sales: Become a contestant on a Bachelor-esque reality show called the 1. She doesn't have to win the show, or the heart of the bachelor himself, Marcus Bellamy--she just needs to get enough airtime and attention to convince people to buy her books. But right before the show starts, Jac makes the mistake of having a one-night stand with a handsome stranger who ends up being Henry, a producer on the 1. She feels an undeniable pull to Henry, but she can't tell if he actually cares for her or is simply manipulating her to get good TV. And then there's Marcus, who inexplicably thinks Jac is amazing, even if the other women on the show hate her for her brutal honesty and refusal to play the game. Jac finds herself cast as the villain of the season, and she doesn't know if she can trust Henry, Marcus, or anyone on the show. There's no shortage of romance novels about reality TV, but Devore's adult debut stands out by focusing on Jac's sometimes caustic nature and her genuine cynicism about love--her writing career is flailing because she didn't understand the cardinal rule of romance novels: The characters have to end up together. Jac is a deeply human character who wants to be loved even as she keeps making mistakes. Devore keeps the stakes high, and a few twists make the story feel almost as propulsive as a thriller. A darkly fun romance that will make readers question what they think they know about reality television.

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May 27, 2024
Devore’s juicy adult debut (after the YA novel A Better Bad Idea) takes a cynical look at reality dating shows, with the love story taking a backseat to the behind-the-scenes drama. The night before jaded romance author Jacqueline “Jac” Matthis is due to begin filming as a contestant on a Bachelor-esque reality show she hopes will boost her book sales, she meets charming, pensive Henry at a bar and the two flirt their way into a one-night stand. Thinking little of it, Jac arrives on set, where she’s surprised to find she has genuine chemistry with the leading man, Marcus. Even more shocking? Henry is a producer on the show. The pair agree to keep their tryst a secret and do their best to avoid each other, but this becomes increasingly difficult as the contestant pool dwindles. Meanwhile, Jac builds a strong connection with Marcus and, due to her tendency to say exactly what she’s thinking, completely fails to endear herself to her fellow contestants. The narrative is propelled by Jac’s efforts to outsmart the producers and manage her image, while the love triangle with Henry and Marcus functions as more of a B plot. As a result, the relationship progression feels both scattered and rushed. Still, readers looking for soapy drama should snap this up.