Today's episode features Laura Heffernan, author of The Reality Star Series. The first 2 books of the series, America's Next Reality Star and Sweet Reality are already out with the final book, Reality Wedding, coming March 6, 2018. I don't want to ruin anything for you if you haven't read the first one by telling you about the second, so I'm only going to give you the description of the first book in this post.
Twenty-four-year-old Jen Reid had her life in good shape: an okay job, a tiny-cute Seattle apartment, and a great boyfriend almost ready to get serious. In a flash it all came apart. Single, unemployed, and holding an eviction notice, who has time to remember trying out for a reality show? Then the call comes, and Jen sees her chance to start over—by spending her summer on national TV.
Luckily The Fishbowl is all about puzzles and games, the kind of thing Jen would love even if she wasn’t desperate. The cast checks all the boxes: cheerful, quirky Birdie speaks in hashtags; vicious Ariana knows just how to pout for the cameras; and corn-fed “J-dawg” plays the cartoon villain of the house. Then there’s Justin, the green-eyed law student who always seems a breath away from kissing her. Is their attraction real, or a trick to get him closer to the $250,000 grand prize? Romance or showmance, suddenly Jen has a lot more to lose than a summer . . . (Source)
This series is a lot of fun, and you don't have to be a fan of reality television to enjoy it. The reality TV part of the plot is merely the vehicle that helps to drive that plot. If you are a fan, though, you will enjoy some of the behind the scenes descriptions of what happens to the contestants as they go through the process of filming their show.
I like Jen as a character because she is fairly down to earth. She makes the decision to go on the show not because she wants her 15 minutes of fame or because she's hoping to further her career in some way, but because she needs the money and she's intrigued that the premise of the show is based on games and puzzles. She isn't immune to some of the craziness that is bound to be present in a house where numerous strangers are stuck living together for weeks on end with no outside distractions.
The supporting characters are a fun and motley collection of the type you would expect to find on a reality show: The girl next door, the jock, the one everyone loves to hate, etc. Chances are good you'll find your favorite character types within these books, or that you'll recognize yourself in a few of them.
Both books are fun and funny, and perfect to read when you want to escape into a lighthearted story.
Genres:
- Romantic Comedy
- Contemporary Romance
What I loved:
- The quirkiness of the characters that makes them both funny and relatable.
- The evolution of Jen's relationships with these characters throughout the books.
- Watching the characters try to maneuver their way through and out of some of the crazy situations in which they find themselves due to their presence on a reality television show.
Who should read the Reality Star Series?
- Fans of reality television
- People who aren't fans of reality television but who like romantic comedies.
- Fans of contemporary romance
- Anyone who has ever thought about maybe...just maybe trying out to be on a reality show.
Memorable quotes:
- "I should just woman up, strap on some ovaries, and tell Justin how I felt." -Jen in America's Next Reality Star
- "The only words in my head were, 'Yo soy una margarita.' I'm a margarita? Great, Jen. Just shut up." -Jen in Sweet Reality
- "How did people wear white pants? If I even thought about wearing white on my lower half, I'd immediately start my period while falling into a mud puddle and spilling coffee in my lap." -Jen in Sweet Reality
Where you can find Laura online:
- Website: http://www.lauraheffernan.com/
- Twitter: @LH_Writes
- Facebook: @lauraheffernanbooks
To hear my interview with Lauren click here!
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