Last Updated on October 31, 2020 by Natalie
With the the popularity of tv reality shows and competition shows, so rises the popularity of reality tv show romance novels. This is good news for reality show aficionados who love reading romance novels of the same subject. Let’s check out these awesome competition romance books!
Best Reality Show Romance Novels
I love this newer genre of our heroines meeting their heroes on a TV reality show. It’s a lot of fun and gives us another glimpse of what shooting those shows are actually like (or at least closer to what the behind the scenes is actually like). Let’s check out these fun romance novels!
Best Reality Show Romance Novels
Disclaimer
Pen and Lady a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission.
Best Competition Romance Books
Dating Mr. Darcy
by Kate O’Keeffe
Emma Brady gets herself on a a reality TV dating show solely to promote her new active wear line. It seems like an easy plan, until she falls out of the limo, quite literally at the feet of the sexy Mr. Darcy, Sebastian Huntington-Ross. Sebastian really does fit the part, with his chiseled jaw and sexy as can be accent. Of course, Emma finds him arrogant.
But Sebastian has his own reasons for doing this ridiculous, yet swoon-worthy show. Secret meetings, back stabbing, and heartbreak follow Emma around and the lines are blurred between reality and reality TV. Is there a happy ending for our hero and heroine?
I actually loved this fun book. Emma is our lovely heroine, totally going into the show solely to promote her clothing line. Of course, right from the start, it all goes wrong. She falls out of the limo on camera upon her introduction to Sebastian, after not having quite enough time to change from her gown to her own clothing. Then, her dreams are dashed when she isn’t allowed to wear her own clothing after all.
Of course, Sebastian is lovely and not the smug, arrogant jerk that it first appears. I eagerly await the second book in the series, Marrying Mr. Darcy, because the first book was so fun!
Tools of Engagement
by Tessa Bailey
Bethany Castle is perfect. Well, obviously, she’s not actually perfect, but she takes great pains to appear to be perfect. In reality, Bethany is just like the rest of us – totally faking her perfection! After taking a hiatus from men (because frankly, it’s too much work – even my heart hurts for Bethany!) and going out on a limb to do a flip, even against her family’s wishes, Bethany finds herself over her head and she needs help.
Enter Wes Daniels, the younger man and a seriously scrumptious book boyfriend. Wes and Bethany met in a previous book in the Hot and Hammered series and sparks flew. They trade barbs like crazy – but Wes leaves his job with Bethany’s brother to help Bethany flip her house.
Then, Bethany gets into it with her brother and they end up competing against each other on a TV show. Will Bethany break with the challenge?
I love the steam and enemies-to-lovers thing that Bethany and Wes have going on. On top it, Wes is a really good guy. He stepped up to raise his niece when his (somewhat estranged) sister needed his help. Now the former bull-rider is somewhat settled. A lot of us will be able to relate to Bethany’s anxiety and desire to appear perfect. She’s really a hot mess, just like everyone else.
Check out more awesome books by Tessa Bailey!
Thirty-Three Going on Girlfriend
by Becky Monson
This is the second book in the Spinster series and I do recommend reading Thirty-Two Going on Spinster first.
Julia Dorning suddenly has it all. She’s in a relationship with Jared Moody and she has her dream career as a bakery owner. Just as she’s getting comfortable, she has an opportunity to be on a reality tv show baking cupcakes. On top of it, Jared throws a wrench into their relationship.
Her usual confidants are off being busy and Julia is left on her own to figure out her life. Can she do it or will she turn it into a disaster of epic proportions?
Julia is easy to like because she’s a bit of a disaster most of the time (a little bit like Bridget Jones Diary), but that doesn’t stop her from working on her dreams… or things that scare her.
There’s also a third book in this series, Thirty -Four Going on Bride, which concludes the story of Julia’s shenanigans.
Runaway Groom
by Lauren Layne
Gage Barrett, a popular actor with a great career, makes a bet and loses. To fulfill the bet, Gage has to appear on the reality TV series, Jilted, a show matching wannabe brides with runaway grooms. Gage soon learns there is one contestant who is more miserable than he is – and she hates his guts. However, Gage likes a challenge.
Enter Ellie, said miserable contestant. She can’t believe she’s on this show and she let her best friend talk her into this craziness. Her business is struggling and the exposure seemed like a good idea at the time. She figures she’ll be the first to be eliminated, but Gage is a lot different than she’d anticipated.
This was a fun romp in the behind-the-scenes adventures of reality show contestants. I enjoyed a glimpse into this crazy world. Both Ellie and Gage are the normal among the otherwise bat-shit crazy contestants. This book is part of a series, but also reads fine as a standalone romance novel.
Reality TV Show and Competition Romance Books
I look forward to watching this genre develop, with more and more TV competition romance novels coming out as more people discover how awesome these novels are. From baking shows to dating shows, there are plenty of great romance book options!
What’s your favorite reality show romance novel? My readers provide the best feedback. Leave a comment with your thoughts and suggestions of books I should read. Thanks!
