Americas Next Reality Star - Laura Heffernan

I was given this book for an honest and unbiased review.

A fun read based around a reality television show.

Jennifer is flat out of luck and about to be evicted so the chance to join the cast of a reality to show in hopes of winning some huge money is too good of an opportunity.

Of course the supporting characters, with their individual quirks, endear themselves to the reader but the chemistry and interplay between this fabulous cast of crazy characters is a great escape read.

Looking forward to more in this series from Laura Heffernan.

In a society where reality TV has taken over the cable networks it is no wonder it has made its way to contemporary romance.

Jennifer Reid is a newly single and unemployed, smart, lively young woman who has just received an eviction notice due to her apartment becoming part of a condo unit.With her life turned upside down she is suddenly grasping as straws until she sees an ad for a puzzle-loving, quicker thinker, fun loving girl who wants the chance to win $250,000 as the Grand Prize in a new reality TV show called The Fishbowl. She jumps on that chance.

Jen started off as a character that was enjoyable, she hit a rough patch but she was still a go-getter and fun, but as soon as she was thrust into the Fishbowl and was charting into the unknown her character ceased to grow and basically regressed. The interaction with the other characters was petty because it was based off of TV show interactions and it shows how much is scripted and prompted by the producers [book wise.]

Justin is her counterpart - someone we scarcely get to see or really interact with because other characters are continuously popping up and interrupting things, so we never get to feel chemistry between Jen & Justin, we never get to see them grow together, either.

Because this is largely a character driven story I was expecting something more enrapturing, something grittier, but it wasn't, it was exactly like I was watching reality TV. So by the ending I couldn't actually believe what was transpiring, because it didn't feel real and it didn't feel as though that should have happened [yes, vague I know.] Everything felt relatively superficial.

While my rating may or may not seem harsh, my 2-star ratings are just an "It's ok" rating, it doesn't mean it was awful, it simply had more flaws [in my opinion,] than what I enjoyed.

So if you love to eat up reality tv, this is a book for you!

Jen signs up to go on a reality show called Fish Bowl.  She thought it was a show for smart contestants due to an ad she read.  She is surprised when she is put through physical and mental challenges with people that are not all the brightest.  Jen has had a rough dating history and is determined to win the grand prize. She is thrown for a loop when her chemistry with Justin comes to light. 

This was a cute light read.  I wish there had been a more extensive ending, but I get that it was setup for another book.  There was comedy and drama and light hearted romance.  4 stars from Reviews by Reds!

Do yourself a favor and sit down right now and read "America's Next Reality Star." Even if you are not a fan of reality shows (I am not), you are going to love this book. About 10 pages in, I was happily lost in the characters and the plotline, trying to guess what would happen next but happy to just go with whatever Laura Heffernan had created in this alternate reality world inside a glass fishbowl. I loved every minute I was between her pages. Her characters are well thought out and developed, three dimensional and very human. Her plot had enough turns to keep me guessing to the very end. And while I am not a fan of reality shows, I didn't need to be to find this novel thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Heffernan obviously spent time developing her reality show concept, her characters and the plot so that her readers would not just be rehashing something they had seen on TV multiple times before. Her originality and fresh concept come through on every page. This is a winner.

Stevie‘s review of America’s Next Reality Star (Reality Star, Book 1) by Laura Heffernan
Contemporary Romantic Comedy published by Lyrical Shine 07 Mar 17

I don’t watch many reality shows, but I work with a lot of people who do, so it’s impossible to avoid having at least a passing knowledge of how the genre works and the type of characters to be found within any given series. Having said all that, the aspect of this book’s blurb that intrigued me most was the part where it was implied that the show this story was about would feature more tests of intelligence and reasoning than most real reality series seem to manage. The heroine’s description grabbed me less intensely – she sounded like the protagonist of far too many romance clichés – but I wanted to see the puzzles, and so I started reading.

Jen is a twenty-something marketing assistant plagued by crippling repayments for a medical bill, an often absent boyfriend, and an intensely boring job. When a contact links her with an ad for a reality show that’s looking for particularly intelligent contestants, Jen is convinced all her problems will be solved by the prize money on offer. Then she loses both her job and her boyfriend, while winning a place on the show.

Whisked away to a distinctly odd house in a secret location, Jen quickly discovers that not all the contestants have been chosen for the same attributes she tried to show off to the selection committee. Most of them have at least one quirk that is sure to grab viewers’ attention for good, or ill, and various of them quickly rub Jen up the wrong way. Apart, of course, from Justin: the cute guy who Jen met at her audition. While the book features some of the promised puzzles in amongst the other antics of Jen and her housemates, I didn’t find their description or execution particularly satisfying. The assorted misunderstandings between Jen and Justin and with others of the housemates did nothing to endear any of the cast to me, and the ending felt distinctly flat, as well as mainly being a set-up for the next book in the series.

All in all, not a book, series, or author I’m planning to revisit.

Grade: D

This book was charming, despite the main character being a frustrating narrator. I didn't love being in her head for the does-he/doesn't-he, more angst than I usually love, but overall a fun read and one I'll follow to the next book.

So Jennifer had it all thought through. She had a job, a boyfriend and a lot of depth. Well, that last one she tried not to think of a lot, but she did her best to deal with the payments. All that until she finds out that her boyfriend is a cheater. Not only that, but she gets fired, and she also has to evacuate her apartment in a few months. Her whole world comes to ashes in a couple of days. Thankfully, she gets chosen for a reality show with a $250,000 prize to run through the summer. At least she has something to do until she gets it all sorted out.

In the show she gets to know many people that vary from good and intelligent to stupid and mean. Pretty much what people can find in most reality shows. She doesn’t give up as she has a target: to pay her bills and restore her life. What she didn’t expect was to find love, or what it looked like love.

The author gives a glimpse of life in the real life and life in a reality show, pretty much as we can see every day. The characters she created are not far from real life characters and are those or some of those we would expect to find in a reality show. She has done a great job on that part.

The content of the show is pretty nice too. It could be a real show, no argue on that. The descriptions and narrative create vivid images, that put the reader into the viewer’s position, as if the show was on TV instead of a book!

This is the first book I have read by this author and it's very different to any book I have read before but I have to say I really enjoyed it and will be looking at other books from Laura Heffernan. If you love reality shows you will love this book.
Jen is a contestant on The Fishbowl a reality show based on a combination of strength, personal skills and general knowledge. From round one there was chemistry between Jen and Justin but can he be trusted after all they are competing against each other, Jen needs to win, she has hit rock bottom financially and the Grand Prize will be her saving grace.
This book has it all, humour, twists and turns and some hot romance. One thing is sure this book will leave you smiling like a Cheshire Cat. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

3 “Who doesn't like reality TV” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Kensington!

Okay, you guys, I love reality TV. It’s out there now. No taking it back. Reality TV shows are super fun.

When it comes to them, I think people tend to think the trashier the better, right? I mean, some will still watch the “better produced”, serious ones, but after a while it tends to get kind of boring because people don’t really turn on the TV to watch boring people to do boring stuff. People want the crazy, trashy shows so they can escape reality.

I can relate to that idea, too. I’m not above watching Big Brother or America’s Next Top Model. In fact, Tyra Banks and I go way back… I watched every season of that show, so I won’t be the one judging you for watching the Kardashians, even though I never did.

But, yeah, I like the serious ones, too. By serious, I mean better versions of ANTM, like Australia’s Next Top Model. Or American Idol. Project Runway. Top Chef. This last one makes me hungry, but I love watching it.

But that’s not the kind of reality show featured in this book. America’s Next Reality Star brings to life a show that is a bit more serious than those. Sure the house and the drama reminded me of things you’d see on Big Brother, but the activities and idea behind the show was a lot more interesting.

And that was what caught—and kept—my attention in this story. The reality TV premise was interesting and different enough to make this book stand out. It’ll appeal to pretty much everyone who’s watched TV for the last decade, and it’ll make you want to see what’s behind the camera. We all know reality TV tends to be as fabricated as “normal” show, but we don’t have many opportunities to see the whole process. This books allows us to peek behind the curtains and cameras and get to know a little about how one goes from working a normal job to becoming a TV star. I’m not saying it’s a hundred percent accurate, but it reads reasonable enough.

Jen Reid is the one to guide us through that. She’s a young woman who’s going through a tough financial time, and is about to watch life pretty much blow up in her face. The opportunity to change that comes in the form of a reality show that’s seeking smart people to perform intellectual and physical tasks while locked up in a glass house. The name of the show is The Fishbowl, because of its glass walls. Walls the characters keep walking into. Side note: If I were in the house, I would’ve probably gone to the hospital after the first few days.

We follow Jen through auditions, the entire casting process and, obviously, her journey as a reality TV contestant. There are a lot of insane tasks, but they’re actually pretty interesting. It’s nothing like I’ve seen on TV, and I think I’d want to watch a show like that if a network decided to produce and broadcast it. For me, that was the best part of the book by far. It was interesting and unique, and it delivered on what it promised: a story about a different kind of reality TV show.

The reason I didn’t rate this book higher is because I went into it thinking it was a contemporary romance, but that’s not how I’d describe this book. It’s probably more Women’s Fiction than anything else. Trying to make it about the romance will leave readers disappointed, in my opinion.

For instance, I couldn’t connect the romance at all, and that made me lose my connection with Jen because the book tried to focus too much on the romance in the second half. I liked Jen enough in the beginning, but once the romance took over the book and her life, she lost me. I realize that sounds insane coming from me, the romance addict, but the reason I almost wish this book had no romance subplot was because I couldn’t feel it at all. I didn’t feel the chemistry, despite Jen mentioning it repeatedly, and I didn’t root for them to end up together. In fact, I think the romance hurt Jen’s character. She became obsessed with Justin, someone she barely talked to or spent any quality time with, for no apparent reason. It irked me that she made some many wrong decisions that impacted her chance to win the show for a guy she barely knew. I still don’t think they got to know each other all that well, despite being in the same house for weeks. I can count on my fingers the amount of scenes they spent talking or doing anything that can be remotely considered as romantic. I think Justin spent more time with Ariana (the villain) than with Jen, so some of the choices—especially that ending—didn’t make any sense to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked Justin. He was a smart dude and he came across as really mature for his age, which kind of made Jen look worse, because she had a lot of immature attitudes in the second half of the book. I just didn’t think the two of them had any chemistry.

Jen’s immaturity was mainly related to Ariana, the wanna-be actress with a hot body, gorgeous face and no brains. I guess Ariana is a representation of what is wrong with America these days—she was a fan favorite despite being a complete bitch. She was a liar and she liked to get under people’s skin, but she was playing to win and she manipulated the voters with all the drama she managed to create. The main source of that drama was her relationship with Jen and Justin. She wanted Justin and she made sure Jen saw that. The problem is, Jen could’ve focused on the game or taken the mature road and dealt with it as a grown-up. Anything other than desperately trying to expose Ariana would’ve been a smarter path.

Ariana’s personality is a bit cartoonish, but with Trump winning the election, I can’t really get mad at the writer for writing her that way. Plus, I’ve seen enough shows to know some people really put on a character and refuse to let go no matter how horrible and ridiculous they look.

Last but not least, I have to say I was super happy to find a Brazilian character in the story. He was one of my favorite characters. Not only because he was Brazilian, but because he was fun and level-headed. I really, really liked him. Another one of my favorites was the contestant that was obsessed with Twitter. #canrelate

So, if you go into America’s Next Reality Star with the right expectation—hoping to read a book about reality TV shows and the people who try out for it, I think you’ll have a good experience. I wouldn’t go into it betting a big love story, though, because I’m afraid you won’t find it.

So, this was my first Laura Heffernan book but it also appears to be her first full novel. And let me tell you, that kind of blows me away, simply because I had no idea she hadn't published a book before. Her writing was smooth, flowed well and the story line definitely kept me captivated by Jen's life. This is an author to keep your eyes on, folks!
If you've ever watched a reality show, you know what a train wreck it can be. But be honest, it's definitely a guilty pleasure. Well, then dive into The Fishbowl. This name cracks me up, but the reason why is even funnier! And I work in a glass office so I TOTALLY understand. I enjoyed getting to see the interview process through Jen's eyes. Her life isn't completely terrible, but the reader definitely watches as things change for her and The Fishbowl couldn't come at a better time. We see her slyly meet her possible competition and the secretive things the reality show does to their potential contestants. I literally could not put this book down and I DEVOURED it. The way Laura sets everything up, the conversations and the competitions was all fascinating. She writes in such a way that I could see it all playing out. I was sucked into this reality show and truly wish it was the real deal! I'd watch it! The cast of characters was interesting and felt realistic. And a show like this would love DRAMA! It's there, too. But unexpectedly for Jen, so is Justin. I loved getting the little glimpses into their encounters and their thoughts of dating on national television. It's sweet, fun and like Ed and Birdie, I was definitely rooting for them. This story takes you on a once in a lifetime journey of reality tv, friendship and love that you won't be able to put down. I HIGHLY recommend this book and look forward to Sweet Reality!

Jen was a marketing assistant at McCain and Webster. Jen’s boyfriend was Dominic.Jen felt she wasn’t an actress that marketing and academics were her thing. Dominic worked as a traveling nurse. Jen had met Dom/Dominic when she was in college and he was a graduate student. Dom and Jen had been dating for over a year and he had the key to her apartment. Jen did well at her interview in L A for the reality show and decided just to go to Dom's instead of calling first and then she found out Dom was actually married and cheating on his wife with her. That was the end of Jen and Dom. Then Jen lost her job when the company was downsizing. Also she had a notice that her apartment building was being turned into condos and she had to be out if she wasn’t buying a condo. Then Jen was notified that she had got on the reality show called The Fishbowl. All twelve of the contestants had to stay in a glass house for the duration of their stay. Justin- the young man Jen was attracted to was there. Another young woman- Ariana had hit on Justin but so far he didn’t act too interested. One of the contestants was named Sky and she acted like she was above everyone else.. Jen had been up for elimination after week three but had made it through. Then in week five is mud week challenge and Jen is tied to Justin by a scarf and will be for twenty four hours.
I really enjoyed this book. Although I did think it dragged a little in some places but not enough to make me not continue on. I enjoyed the insight to a reality game show also. I didn't like Ariana at all and was mad she kept getting saved when all she was was a liar about everything. But their are definitely people like there doing whatever they have to as long as they think it will help them get ahead. I thought Jen really had some rotten luck and really didn’t think it was very realistic but that was okay as this is fiction. Your heart definitely goes out to her. I loved the ending!!! I loved most of the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

Jen feels like her life is not what she wants it to be, so when she sees an advertisement for a reality show for people who love puzzles, she is intrigued. The prize money would help her to pay off her medical debts as well as the competition would stimulate her mind. Taking a chance, she fills out an application, yet is surprised when she is asked to interview. Jen has to decide what she wants more, her safe boring life, or a chance at the unknown.

I loved the Chasing the Dream series by Briggs which also dealt with different characters in reality show premises, so I was excited to get my hands on this book to see if I could get my fill of reality drama (which is surprising that I like to read these kinds of books since I usually avoid watching reality tv shows, minus my obsession with America's Next Top Model, but let'd not talk about that). I found the story to be instantly engaging, I fell into the book within the first chapter and I rooted for Jen. I went into the story with no expectations and I really enjoyed the read.

Man, that girl had a LOT thrown at her in a short period of time. I also enjoyed the process of attempting to get on to the reality show, the hoops she had to jump through like personality test, IQ test, and video, as well as the strange questionnaires (shrubs???) that she had to fill out, the boring downtime and chores in the house. It put a new spin on the behind the stage process of reality TV. The challenges were quirky and interesting and the elimination kept me on my toes- seriously, nobody was safe and I loved that. I rooted for Jen, but there was no guarantee that she would win, which was half the fun. There was also a romance aspect of the book, where Jen had to determine if she wanted to fight for love or fight for money, a hard questions when everyone's motives were in question.

Overall I thought this was a super fun story and I am glad I had a chance to read it. I had assumed this was a standalone novel, but when I got to the end I saw that this is the first in a reality show themed series and I can't wait for the next installment. ​This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.

I received this title in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit mg blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

I was a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed the story with the way it was written. Basically as a script for the reality show. I liked the central characters of Jen & Justin. Grew to hate Ariana & Joshua. I have to admit watching reality shows is a guilty pleasure of mine. If you are a fan of these types of shows you will enjoy the look into that world by Ms Heffernan.

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.”

From the first time I read the premise for AMERICA'S NEXT REALITY STAR I was excited to read it. And, it turned out to be such a fun, light, entertaining story! I've been known to spend my Monday nights with ABC, watching a houseful of strangers fight over a love interest, so I was excited to experience Heffernan's version of a reality show, with a 'fighting for money' instead of 'love' bend (though there is some romance in this book, too!). I truly felt like I was getting a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in these comical, sometimes awkward shows. A fun book to pick up this spring/summer!

An incredibly fun read. From the very beginning, you'll find yourself pulling for Jen, an extremely likable and relatable protagonist. Jobless, homeless, and reeling from a tough break up, Jen is selected to compete in "The Fish Bowl" - a reality show set in a glass house. Once she gets there, however, she questions her resolve to win the grand prize of $250,000 at all costs...especially when it comes to handsome co-contestant, Justin. The romantic tension between Justin and Jen is palpable, and I found myself whizzing through the chapters to find out if Justin's feelings are real or manufactured for the reality show.

Heffernan excels at setting scenes. Her descriptions are so vivid, I feel like I actually watched one heck of an entertaining reality show. She also paints compelling secondary characters, from devious villain Ariana to Christian, family-man Abram.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!

I picked the book because the title, and then the premise intrigued me. I'm not much of a reality show watcher but I love reading blog posts the day after outlining what happened on the shows. This type of book could become catnip for me.
The back cover is a little misleading. Jennifer (Jen) Reid doesn't lose her boyfriend, job, and apartment in one fell swoop, but they do happen in fairly quick succession. So when the reality show, The Fishbowl, that she applied for sort of as a joke calls and says that they want her, Jen is ready to go -- after breaking her foot while uninsured, she could use $250,000. She, and eleven other people, are picked to live in a house that is all glass while solving puzzles (both mental and physical) in order to try not to be voted off by their fellow contestants. There's all the drama that you might expect but surprisingly little manipulation from the directors. Even though Jen has an archnemesis in the house, Arianna, somehow Arianna keeps getting voted to stay on while Jen keeps being put up for elimination by the audience. And there is a possible romance, the cute law student Justin. But is he actually interested in her? Or is he playing the reality game? If not, why is he spending so much time with Arianna?
The ending was a bit fast for me. I wanted to spend more time with Justin and Jen, to see more of their relationship develop; I was able to connect with Jen but wish there had been more to connect with Justin and with their romance. I liked the world building and am looking forward to the next book, hoping to see more of a connection between the characters. I am wondering if it is going to be the next season of The Fishbowl or if we're going to get to know more about Jen and Justin.

Four stars
This book comes out March 7

This book was okay, but I was expecting more. If you've seen any reality show, you know how this book is going to go. I was hoping for a twist, something fresh or at least a few "insider secrets" on how this show worked, but it is exactly what you think it will be. Nothing more. The challenges aren't even that hard or intellectual. And the ending is what took it down from three to two stars for me - contrived and unbelievable. I won't be reading the next book.

America's Next Reality Star is the perfect book for anyone who thrives off of watching reality TV. While I am not sure how accurate Laura Heffernan's account of behind-the-scenes at a reality show truly is, the book did come across as well researched and in-line with other reality show books that I have read. My only complaint is that I wish the author focused a little bit more on the simple struggle of being separated from her friends, family, and technology as well as the personal struggles anyone would face with being hated by the fans.

Let me spell it out in one word: FANTASTIC.

I love this book! Jen is such a sweet character. I fell in love with her almost immediately; she's so relatable! And Justin? Swoon. New book boyfriend material right there. I also enjoyed all the unique twists Laura came up with for the reality show. The games were fun and unusual, not your usual TV fare. The secondary characters were well-developed, and (spoiler) there's a perfect villain.

All in all, this is an excellent read. I can't wait to see what Laura comes up with for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley, Lyrical Shine, & Laura Heffernan, for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.