There has been a trend lately of books where social media influencers are dropped on a deserted island, whether it be for a contest or a festival that never happened. I think this is the first one I've read that involved a reality TV show! I've really been enjoying this trope lately!

From the cover and the title, I was not expecting teen Survivor with a buried treasure twist! So then I was expecting a lot. A rollicking good time. Annnd what I got was a bit of a mess. The writing was not great. The reasons for Riley to have been infamous was dumb. The treasure...Miles...I didn't buy it. Some of the time I felt like I was thrown into the second book of a series. I don't know, it just didn't work for me. And the ending was so abrupt. This is no Lord of the Flies comparison.

I read this book under its original title - Reality Gold.

After a prank went wrong at her High school, Riley and her best friend Ivy were expelled. Worst off Riley became a laughing stock and internet memes were posted about her and her friendship with Ivy faded. Now after finishing her homeschool year, she is ready to get back out into the world and show people who she really is. This opportunity arises in a reality Tv show called Reality Gold set on Black Rock Island. The TV show is a teen version of Survivor. The other thing is that this show has a twist as the island is famous for being rumored to have buried treasure on it. The treasure has never been found and is supposedly cursed. Riley knows this information firsthand as her godfather Miles was obsessed with finding the treasure and eventually wound up murdered on the island. As the reality TV show continues, we read as strange things start occurring on the island - is the island really cursed or does somebody really not want the treasure to be found by these meddling kids? As the numbers start to dwindle for the remaining contestants, it will soon become a game of true survival as they encounter murderous treasure hunters and pirates. Who will survive Reality Gold? Find out on the next episode of Tiffany Brook's book "Reality Gold". A fun YA look into the world of treasure hunting and what goes on behind the scenes of reality TV and the castings.

This book had so much potential! I YA thriller, Survivor-like reality TV show and treasure hunting, sounds so good. But the book fell flat for me. I thought the reason for Riley to sign up to do the show was unbelievable, the characters were unlikable and the ending just ok. Sorry, this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advaned copy in exchange for my honest review,

Honestly? Underwhelming... which is very unfortunate as the premise seemed like it would be very interesting. The synopsis and cover seem to promise a darker, grittier YA mystery/thriller but it just wasn't that. It felt like there weren't really any real risks for any of the characters, much less our main character Riley, for there to be any tension you would expect when reading something marketed as a cross between Survivor and Lord of the Flies.

I can't describe how this book made me feel, it was a mix of emotions all the feelings. I really appreciate this author, her book was amazing. And let's all just take a moment and look at this fabulous, mysterious cover.

I loved the characters, each had a really different story, but this is the reason why it was so interesting to read. You don't find too often books with included reality show. For me personally, the way I see it, it was more about self development and yourself. When you are able to trust and love yourself, you open up to others. Story had a bit romance, friendship creations, betrayals, but at the end, looks like everything fell down to it's place.

The only few things that I didn't like was the ending. I felt like it was too big of a gap between where the story ended and then 1 year later.

Big thanks to Net Galley for giving me an online copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's not a game...

When Riley becomes the butt of a mean joke online, she will do anything to socially redeem herself. When an opportunity arises to be on a teen reality show on an island, she jumps at the chance. But Riley doesn't just want to make friends and compete in challenges. She wants to find the treasure that's rumoured to be hidden on the island- a treasure that people have lost their lives over. Legend says seven people have to die before the island will release its treasure, and six have perished in the past. Will a seventh life be claimed in the hunt for the mysterious treasure?
I loved this novel and could hardly put it down. The storyline was gripping and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I really identified with Riley, as I know how awful it can be to feel lonely and seek validation from peers. This novel kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end, and I was not disappointed! One of my theories was correct but I could not have prepared myself for the way this novel unfolded. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves YA thrillers!

I really loved the concept of this book; I love stories centered around islands and spooky things, and there's a reality TV show? Sign me up. I thought that the reason for Riley joining up with the show was a bit...unbelievable, but I was willing to suspend my belief for a bit. Where I couldn't really get past was the fact that Riley was characterized so awfully. She was super annoying and very unreasonable in thought and action. Also the constant jumping around made it really hard to get immersed in the story and what was happening. Not only was it hard to really sink into the book, but the pacing was really slow and just made the whole thing pretty unenjoyable. I think if you're a much younger reader new to this genre of YA novel you might have a better time than I did. I'll definitely check out any other new books this author publishes but this one was just a swing and a miss for me.

Wow this book was super intense. You could feel it in your bones. This would make an excellent series or movie.

Imagine Survivor for teenagers, throw in some treasure hunting, and you have to premise of The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Riley Ozment is a contestant on a Survivor-style reality TV show for teens. She has come for 2 reasons - to try to redeem her reputation after becoming vilified on social media, and to find a hidden treasure. But she isn't the only one who know about the treasure, so not only does she have to contend with the local curse that says that seven people need to die before the treasure can be found, but also the other teens who have come to island in search of the treasure. Riley thinks she has an advantage given her father funds treasure hunting expeditions and 2 years ago she was on the island with her god-father, who tragically became victim number 6 to the curse.

Can Riley find the treasure, survive being voted off the Island and learn to trust people again?

Whilst the premise of this thriller was good, I have to admit it didn't quite all come together for me. There is a cast of unlikeable characters, Riley who says she wants to redeem her reputation seems to do everything in her power to do the opposite, and whilst the curse makes a few appearances in the storyline - it seems to be forgotten in the end.

Thanks to Netgally and Sourcebooks Fire for the advance copy of this. book to read and review.

Definitely, this book is very much Survivor meets Tomb Raider. It has lord of the flies vibes but it’s in its subtle. For me, this isn’t a book I would recommend for someone coming out of a reading slump. You will for sure lose interest. This story feels like everything else. It feels like a draft of a Karen McManus book—but in a slight great way. I will say this this book is fun but I personally just wish there was something in the book wether small or big that made this story different from others already on the shelves in bookstores. Again, if you are coming off of a long slump DO NOT read this story—you’d be better off listening to the audiobook.

Rating 4 🐻🐻🐻🐻

The tag line for this book is "Survivor meets Lord of the Flies" but I think it should be "Survivor meets Tomb Raider".

I switched between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook and both formats were enjoyable. This book started out really strong and started to lose me towards the very end. But due to spoilers I won't say what bugged me. Luckily I did stick with it and I'm glad I did because that bugging feeling didn't last long! I enjoyed the reality tv aspect with the twist of treasure hunting. This idea felt fresh and definitely made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

Riley was such a great main character. She was an outcast that is full of flaws/personality. I can definitely see a lot of readers being able to connect and relate to her. There were a lot of side characters and the author did a great job of giving them their own backstory and characteristics. I didn't care for all of them but instead had my favorites that I was rooting. This always happens when it comes to reality tv!

One thing I could have done without was the light romance in the story. Personally, I didn't see the need for Riley to have a love interest. I would have much preferred if she focused more on herself and trying to mature rather than have a insta love/obsession with a certain character.

Overall, this was a great YA thriller. It will keep your interest throughout and will make you guess what's truly going on. I recommend reading this book over a few days rather than in one sitting so it's like you're reading episodes of a show!

*Received a copy of this book on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much @sourcebooksfire , @dreamscape_media for providing me with a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

**Review posted to Instagram, Goodreads, and will be posted on my blog.**

I think I went into this with the wrong expectations. I saw the "Survivor meets Lord of the Flies" description and was ready for a dark, deadly YA thriller. This is much more of an adventure story with a mystery/thriller element. It also starts off with the main character essentially being ~cancelled by a woke mob~. She gradually realizes that other people have had it worse and that she could have handled it better, but she still is angry that people didn't take her intent into account.

"I thought about all the times in the past year I wanted to disappear. Now I couldn't imagine not fighting to stay alive."

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks follows our main character, Riley Ozment, on a journey to discover herself. What better way to discover yourself than joining a reality show with prize money and a treasure hunt on a deserted island? Once all of the contestants and crew arrive and Black Rock Island, the games and secrets begin.

With the contestants divided into two teams with challenges awaiting them for the show, they are also encouraged to hunt for the hidden treasure. However, things start to go haywire, and people begin to wonder if the treasure's curse is real. With six people dead from previously searching for the treasure, it is known that a seventh must die before the truth is revealed. With several people now on the island and the treasure at stake, things are going to get tenser.

With accidents and clues of other people searching for the treasure, the contestants realize they are not the only ones on the Island. They might be facing pirates, people desperate for the treasure, and each other.

"What sign would that be, I wondered. Danger was already all around me."

At its surface, it may seem like the book only revolves around the reality show aspect and the hidden treasure, but we also get to see characters grow. Riley and other characters seem like they are never going to change or move on, but by the end of the book, we see those changes present.

Maren and AJ were two of my favorite characters, and I absolutely loved them! <spoiler>Secretly wish Riley ended up with AJ and not Porter.</spoiler> With various characters, it took a little bit of time to remember everyone and keep them separate. The storyline progressed nicely, and as someone who does not watch reality tv shows, this book intrigued me.

Also, if you love Outer Banks (the show), consider reading this because the gold fever is present!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me Lord of The Flies meets Survivor vibes, and it was quite good. Honestly, I was expecting it to be more of a thriller rather than a treasure hunt, but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. This was interesting, and I was curious about the whole treasure hunt aspect, that was unique and interesting to read about, not something we see a lot in ya. This wasn't my favourite read as I found the main character Riley to be very unlikable, but overall it was ok. It wasn't for me, but I could see how other people might enjoy this, so definitely give it a shot if it sounds like it would be something you'd enjoy!

Sadly, not what I expected. The plot was too thick, everything happened too quickly, and the character wasn't a buildable or likeable character. This shouldn't even be marked in the category of Thriller, but more in Mystery and Crime. Wouldn't recommend for people expecting a slow-ish burn kind of "thriller". Definitely for those people who want to wait for more action.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much
By: Tiffany Brooks
Publication Date: January 4, 2022

My last book of 2021 and it went out with a bang! This book was almost like a revamped Goonies. It had treasure hunting, teens, and pirates. Mix that all up with a reality tv show and you have an interesting and captivating book.

Riley Ozment is looking for a new start after making a fool of herself and becoming an internet meme. Luckily, she was able to get cast on a Survivor like reality show for teens on a South American island. She doesn’t care about the show though. She is more focused on finding the treasure that is said to be hidden on the island. Along with 19 other teens, Riley must survive the reality competition and the person who wants to stop Riley from finding the treasure at any cost.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks is a treasure hunt with a twist. Depicting a reality show set on a deserted island that is rumoured to hold buried treasure, this one contains drama and a main character who is determined to reinvent herself. I especially enjoyed reading about the show’s entertaining challenges and the mysterious treasure markers. This is a unique contemporary that is perfect for those who enjoy a bit of adventure.

On a deserted island, twenty contestants compete on a reality TV show for the chance to win a million dollars. However, on their first day, they learn that there is treasure rumoured to be buried somewhere on the island, and if one or more of the contestants find it, they will be rewarded with an even greater cash prize. Riley, the main character, is already familiar with this mysterious buried treasure thanks to her godfather’s involvement with treasure hunts, but in her search, she comes to find that treasure hunting is more dangerous than she thought, and that she is not the only one on the hunt.

❀ FLAWED MAIN CHARACTER

Riley is a flawed main character, and she transforms throughout the book. She joins the reality show in order to fix her image, as she gained negative attention on social media, and she is desperate to get others to see her true self. On the island, no one knows about Riley’s past, which creates the perfect opportunity for a new beginning. I especially enjoyed reading about Riley’s resourceful tactics in hunting for the treasure and her motivation for finding it–to honour her godfather’s legacy.

❀ COMPETITIONS ADD SUSPENSE

There are two competitions in this book–the main reality show and the treasure hunt–and I enjoyed both of these aspects. The challenges on the show are entertaining, and the descriptions of the production process create drama. Throughout the book, there are also many descriptions of the treasure hunting process as characters decipher treasure markers in an attempt to figure out if the buried treasure is real or only a legend. I have never read anything like this before, and the dangers of searching for treasure build suspense, especially with the backdrop of a deserted island.

❀ UNIQUE STORY

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks is a unique story of self-discovery with a touch of thrill. I enjoyed the two different competitions that the book depicts as well as the main character’s determination to share her true self with the world. The treasure hunting scenes are particularly strong, making this a great read for those looking for a more suspenseful contemporary.

I feel like if this were a Black Mirror episode it would be the best one that gets nominated for Emmys, like this is a great concept for a Black Mirror episode. So if you are a Black Mirror fan, check it out!

This was a super enjoyable and fun read! I mean definitely a pick for any fan of survivor but I do have to say the comparison to "Lord of the Flies' is super misleading as is the thriller label for it. I would say that it's more heavily on a reality game/treasure hunt vibe with a bit of mystery dashed in. Riley was not the easiest character to like at times and it wasn't because she was meant to be unlikeable, I think it was just more of her obsession on self-image though you could see where she was coming from, it got annoying. The cast of characters were typical to not only teens but the stereotypes you'd see on a reality show and I thought that was a pretty good touch and I appreciated the mystery of the island treasure; though the curse is lost among everything else going on, and there's a lot going on.

Overall I gave it 3 out of 5 due to it not being really much of a thriller or even a mystery (but 4/5 for a reality tv read or even a treasure hunt vibe). Thanks so much to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Full review to be published on blog closer to publication date.