Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Writing and romantic partners Paulsen and Wang debut with a tremendously fun sapphic rom-com. Season 22 of the Bachelor-esque reality show Hopelessly Devoted has Josh Rosen looking for a wife--and 35 female contestants ostensibly hoping he'll choose them. Included are rodeo queen Krystin, who has always felt there's something missing in her life and tries to convince herself it's a husband, and influencer Lauren, who's a closeted lesbian. She wants to hang on long enough to gain online followers, but not long enough to break Josh's heart. As the show takes contestants to Argentina and Costa Rica, Krystin struggles to accept that she feels a connection growing not with Josh but with Lauren. The authors expertly incorporate dating show staples like over-the-top excursions and cheesy on-camera dialogue while still keeping the plot surprising. Meanwhile the romance itself is a wonderful mix of sweet and steamy. Ripped from tabloid headlines (contestants fell for each other instead of the lead on the 2016 season of The Bachelor Australia and the 2018 season of The Bachelor Vietnam), this proves as deliciously addictive as the most bingeable reality show. Agent: Kristy Hunter, Knight Agency. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Rodeo queen Krystin has given up on the men in her state of Montana (yes, the whole state). When the reality TV show Hopelessly Devoted asks her to join the cast, Krystin jumps at the chance; she just knows she'll be the one to win the bachelor's heart this season. Lauren, another Hopelessly Devoted contestant, has different reasons for joining the cast. She's hoping that her appearance on the show will parlay into social media partnerships. Lauren, who is a lesbian, fully expects to be kicked off the show early but is dismayed as the weeks go by and she's still having to pretend to be straight. At the same time, she's becoming more and more attracted to Krystin, who seems to be feeling the chemistry as well. VERDICT This sweet, sexy rom-com has delightful characters and an intriguing premise that is fulfilled with skillful worldbuilding and witty, humorous writing. Fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and reality TV will clamor for this debut novel by real-life partners Paulsen and Wang.--Heather Miller Cover
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two contestants on a reality dating show start falling for each other--instead of the guy they're meant to be competing for. Former rodeo queen Krystin spent most of her early dating years devoted to competitions, which didn't leave much time to prioritize romance. When she realizes she's exhausted all the options in her Montana hometown, she decides to sign up as a contestant on the reality dating show Hopelessly Devoted. While her best friend is vocally skeptical about the odds of her finding anything resembling true love, Krystin is trying to go into the experience as optimistically as possible. If only one of her fellow contestants didn't give her more butterflies than the guy she's meant to be winning over! Lauren knows she isn't appearing on Hopelessly Devoted for the right reasons--she's more interested in using the show's visibility to grow her brand as an influencer than in finding a boyfriend. The truth is that she's not even romantically interested in men, but somehow, she's securing herself a spot on the show week after week--and getting ever closer to earning a proposal from Josh Rosen, the season's Hopeless Romantic. While Krystin and Lauren aren't really sure what they want to get out of this experience, they both know it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore their growing feelings for each other. Paulsen and Wang have co-authored a romance that tackles the world of reality competition shows honestly without becoming too cynical about the behind-the-scenes experience. Through Krystin and Lauren's evolving relationship, which brims over with chemistry; the two women's individual journeys to exploring their identities; and a fearlessness in introducing morally complex characters, this debut contributes bold new aspects to the romance genre while embracing that all-important happily-ever-after. A charming contemporary romance that doesn't shy away from tackling big issues. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
