Reality dating shows proliferate across the TV landscape—90 Day Fiancé, Indian Matchmaking, Love Is Blind, Married at First Sight—and in forthcoming romance novels, which mine the genre for all its drama, competition, and aspiration.
Here for the Wrong Reasons
Rodeo queen Krystin and social media influencer Lauren are vying for the heart of Long Island door salesman Josh on season 22 of Hopelessly Devoted, and instead find themselves falling for each other. This sapphic rom-com debut with real-world counterparts—contestants chose each other instead of the lead on The Bachelor Australia in 2016 and The Bachelor Vietnam in 2018—is “as deliciously addictive as the most bingeable reality show,” per PW’s starred review.
Hot Summer
Cas Morgan’s dating-app employers secure a partnership with the team behind Hot Summer, a Love Island–esque British reality dating show, and promise her a long-awaited promotion if she agrees to compete and makes it to the finals. In what PW’s review called an “inclusive, pop-culture-forward romance,” Cas’s career advancement plans hit a snag when she falls for fellow contestant Ada. “Everhart has a light touch with both plotting and prose, and her heroines’ bisexuality is refreshingly unsensationalized,” the review said. “This is one to throw in the beach bag.”
Name Your Price
After a dramatic and public argument goes viral, broke exes Olivia Walsh, a Hollywood scion, and Chuck, a rising-star actor, are cast on Name Your Price, a reality game show. To win $1 million each, the combustible pair have to do the seemingly impossible: live in a house together for one month.
Not Here to Make Friends
Lily Ong and Murray O’Connell are former reality TV co-showrunners and best friends who became estranged after Lily’s husband died. When she resurfaces a year later, it’s as Lily Fireball, the villain in season 11 of their show Marry Me, Juliet—and instead of vying for the program’s Romeo, she’s interested in Murray, who may share her feelings. The season turns to chaos as the two battle for control of the narrative.
