This was such a good read. The dating game is about a reality TV show where the ‘Stag’ finds his ‘Doe’.
Abby is a writer and gets pushed ( blackmailed really, by her boss ) into appearing on the show so she can get an inside scoop about what happens. The long list of characters didn’t put me off as we learn quite quickly who is important and who isn’t (the disclaimer at the start scared me).
It was really interesting to read about what really goes on behind the scenes on one of these type of shows.
I loved the blossoming love story involved in this book ( I won’t say too much, no spoilers ) and it flowed really well. The friendships formed were really lovely.
Sandy Barker is one of my favourites and I’m so happy she delivered with this one, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book. The Dating Game was a funny and probably very realistic look into the world of reality TV. I loved the host of characters and seeing the genuine friendships forming between the women on this show. While I am not the biggest fan of shows like the bachelor, I do love that this book kind of calls out the whole concept. There’s this formulaic take to these shows with villains and such defined roles season after season, there is no way that it is fully genuine, and I loved the way we see that in this book. It also didn’t hurt that we got a cute side romance with the main character and one of the producers, which honestly seems far more realistic than one of them falling for a lead they see for a few hours a week. Anyway, to sum it up, this book was a really fun read and I would definitely recommend it!

Sandy Barker is a new author to me but was super excited when I received the ARC from Netgalley!

I personally love dating game shows so this book was right up my alley. Abby is a writer who wants to be taken seriously. She is invited to be on The Stag but has a secret agenda.

It was hilarious, sarcastic and fun to read!

This is the first time I've read this authors work and as the first book I've read from her I enjoyed it alot.

The Dating Game was such a fun and enjoyable read it made me laugh and swoon. A sweet, witty and cute romance

3.5

The Dating Game is a quick and enjoyable read. If you've ever seen The Bachelor, this book is for you!

For every episode of The Stag, Abby has been watching it and writing about it under the false identity "Anastasia." One day, a producer from the show called her and persuaded her to do something she couldn't refuse.

Abby will not only be writing under the name Anastasia for the new Stag season in Sydney, but she will also be a fake love interest. It was the ideal strategy for her to acquire the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes during filming. It will also assist her with her writing.

Will Abby fall in love with the Stag or will she be attracted to someone else?

"The dating game" was exactly what I expected this novel to be. A cute, fun and witty romance that made me laugh and kept me interested in the story from beginning to end.

As a journalist, I loved the portrayal of Abby. Having experienced similar situations to hers, it was interesting to see that applied to a fictional character. For me, it made her more real.
The whole concept for the book felt unique and fun. Abby, both when just being her and when writing as "Anastasia" was really witty and hilarious. One of the highlights of the book for me was getting to read her recaps of "The Stag". It was a very clever way to introduce some info-dumping without taking us out of the story or making the book boring. On the contrary, it made the book more dynamic.

Another strong point was the way the friendship aspect was treated. I might have actually enjoyed that more than the romance. In a story like this, it's very easy to just use the trope of women hating on other women for the sake of creating drama. However, even though some characters fit that profile, there was a strong element of friendship that made the story feel more modern and less problematic.

The romance was good as well. It didn't feel rushed or slow, it was just the right pace that suited the rest of the story.

My only complaint is the ending. Not because of the actual ending, which was fine, but because of what I expected from it. I wished we could have gotten to see how the other contestants reacted to learning Abby's secret. And I really wish she had written the exposé.
Still a solid ending, though.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a fun romance that doesn't feel like every other romance out there and that features really nice friendships.

This book was good! Love the premise, the setting, the characters. First book from this author and I'm definitely going to read more of her books. The reader's submerged in the reality show business so if you watch the Bachelor, you should try reading this. The story is a fun, laugh out loud, entertaining romcom. Do I need to say more?
Thank you NetGalley,HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC.

Favorite Quotes:

…your laugh sounds like a donkey going through menopause…

I’m not one of those women who gets a natural blush of pink on the apples of her cheeks. When I blush ―or flush, as in the case of a near-panic attack― my cheeks could be used to guide the aeroplanes landing at Heathrow.

My mind wants to grasp onto words like ‘adventure’, ’escapade’, or ‘jaunt’, but settles on ‘utter debacle waiting to happen’.

All things considered, I would make a terrible spy. I’d be given a state secret and be busting with it before I left MI6, blurting it out to the security guards in the lobby.

Aunty Lo took one look at him and said in an incredibly loud stage whisper, ‘Ooh, he’s a bit of all right.’


My Review:

This was an endlessly entertaining, enjoyable, and relatable tale with well-fleshed characters, keenly honed and cleverly amusing storylines, and well-detailed scenes that evoked sharp imagery and smoothly flowing visuals through my gray matter. This was only my second time indulging in this skilled wordsmith’s craft and I snickered and smirked my way through her cunningly insightful and perceptive observations hidden in snarky levity.

Ms. Barker has a rapier wit that I connect with on all levels. The fiendishly clever shenanigans she came up with for the contestants on and off camera, which her character equated to “The Hunger Games,” was a constant delight woven into a rich and vibrant narrative of snarkalicious inner musings. I am now one of Ms. Barker’s most avid fangirls and quite eager to see what she conjures next.

At first I wasn't sure if this book was my thing but I soon became engrossed in it and fell in love with the characters and plot.
It's an interesting plot with lots of drama and good plot twists.
I also really enjoyed the ending and found it was rounded off well.
The only thing I struggled with was the amount of character's there are and I did sometimes have to stop and remind myself who's who.

Well this isn’t my typical read, but I’m a fan of the author so I had to give it a go, and while I’m probably not the go-to audience being that I’ve never seen an episode of any of these types of shows, I did enjoy it! If you’re a fan of Love Island, The Bachelor or any of those type of “reality” shows, then you’re going to love this! Cute and witty, and a super quick read-perfect for a sit down with a cuppa and a cool fall breeze.
Abby is a journalist who’s had some local success but is still struggling to find her breakout piece when her boos tells her that based on her most recent article, she’s being chosen to go behind the scenes of the latest season of “The Stag”. She writes under a pseudonym so no one will know it’s her that is giving the inside scoop on what’s really happening when the cameras aren’t rolling.
If you suspend reality, which you have to do with this type of show, it’s quite fascinating to see the different personalities run together and against each other, sometimes in the same person! But I loved that the genuine women who were there not for ulterior motives but to truly find love formed actual friendships and not just the made for tv kind.
This book has a little but if everything-There’s some romance, some snark and some fun! There’s even a few darker moments.
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review

I was really in the mood for a good romance and I loved this one. It made me smile ear-to-ear! Will be recommending.

Thank you to Rachel for letting me take part in this tour and to One More Chapter for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This is the second book I have read by Sandy.

I really loved the concept of this book. I watch some reality shows like Love Island and Married at First Sight. I admit I haven't watched The Bachelor which I think The Stag is based on but that's not necessary as Sandy explains how the show works in the book.

Abby is such a great main character. I really enjoyed the different 'hats' she was wearing. I loved the Anastasia recaps. They were sarky and so funny.

I really enjoyed meeting all the Does and seeing the girls all become friends, supporting each other and making memories. The behind the scenes of the show, seeing the 'storylines' etc was very entertaining. We all suspect that some things are faked on these shows so seeing this being played out through the book was interesting.

For me, the only disappointment was that the book ended rather abruptly. I knew I was getting to the end but I wanted so much more to happen. I wanted to see life after the manor. An epilogue would have been a great addition just to see what happened say 6 months later.

This book is perfect for a summer escape. Set in Sydney, the book explores the beaches, wildlife, vineyards and botanical gardens. It really gives you a sense of the area surrounding Stag Manor. I found it so easy to dip into this book in this mini heatwave we are having this week

This was a really cute book with a fun premise.
Abby is a staff writer at online tabloid, recruited to star in the next season of a popular Bachelor-type dating show, The Stag, to infiltrate and give exclusive behind the scenes dirt on her fellow contestants. Flying to Sydney, she gets to spend some one-on-one time with the shows dreamy producer, Jack, and sparks fly.
I’m not a big fan of “reality tv” and dating shows, but this book was really fun and cute, keeping my interest with alternating views of Abbys experience on the show, and her biting commentary as ‘Anastasia Blabbergasted’ her tabloid persona.

If 'Love Island' and 'The Bachelor' are your guilty TV pleasures, then this book is for you!

Abby, an online writer who recaps each episode of the TV show 'The Stag', gets a shock when it is suggested (aka forced by her boss and the TV network) that she becomes a contestant of the newest series in order to get the inside scoop on the show.

The book is set as a romantic comedy. It's definitely got its hilarious moments, but I wouldn't class it as a romance. There's the start of a budding relationship, but that's not necessarily the main focus of the book. It was interesting to read more about the behind-the-scenes elements of reality TV, and to see Abby accept herself as an intelligent, beautiful and kind woman, who is worthy of love.

Overall, a really enjoyable read with some fun characters. I'll definitely be trying the author's next book!

This story was a magical, one-way ticket to Sydney, Australia and I l had so much fun reading it- seriously, I could not put it down! From the cast of characters, to the character development, to the chaos, to the swoon-worthy moments, and the reality television troupe - all *chef's kiss* perfection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I really enjoyed it! The story is about Abigail, a blog writer who is "forced" to be a contestant of a reality called "The Stag" aka the Bachelor. But instead of falling in love with the Stag, she prefers Jack, the hot Australian producer of the show, Jack.

This book is hilarious. The characters are funny, realistic and interesting. I won't deny that around 70% I got a bit tired of the competition, but the end it was everything you would want. All I'm gonna say is that Stag got, what he deserved.
One thing I needed more, was the romance part. We all love slow-burn, but nothing really happens It's a clean romance. I

I received a free copy and these are my honest opinions.

Absolutely loved this one!! It was such a fun concept, and considering I enjoy watching shows like the bachelor, I definitely got into this book very easily! I loved that we have Abby who goes undercover as one of the contestants, what they call a "Doe," to get an insider scoop on the life behind reality TV especially on the show called "The Stag". What she doesn't expect is to have immediate chemistry with one of the producers on the show! AHHH! The relationships formed, the characters, and the plot was all wonderful and I really enjoyed reading this book!! I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy watching dating TV shows, Rom coms and forbidden romances!

This was a good, fun read. I'm not familiar with the Bachelor or Bachelorette and don't watch dating shows so it was fun to read about a dating show in a book.

This story follows Abby, Abs, aka Anastasia, as she spies as a "Doe" on a dating show to win over Daniel, the Stag. Abby writes a column under Anastasia so being on the show gives her front row to the show, Does, and Daniel.

My favorite part of the book was Abby befriending a few of the does. I loved Kaz, Becca and Lizzie first off and really loved Stevie and Daphne later on. The relationships evolved and were fun and the girls were there for each other. The book could have just focused on that and I would have been happy.

Abby had a love interest in Jack, the producer. It was a cute, but predictable, romance. There was a slow burn to "I like you" and jealousy which made for good fun.

Daniel, the Stag, was a douche and I'm glad the book ended the way it did.

This book was a fun, light read. Things felt rushed at the end. Becca all of a sudden realized that Daniel was a douche? He acted like it the entire book. I did enjoy the way it ended and the book overall though.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sandy Barker, and the publisher for allowing me to read this and provide an honest review.

I seriously enjoyed this book. It's a little slow to start as it introduces Abby and gets her to Sydney, but once she arrives at Stag Manor the book really gets going. This is a story about love, but it's also a story about friendship, as the friendships Abby makes among some of the Does drive the story just as much if not more than the eventual love story. I was a little apprehensive at the start, given Abby's rather catty review of the previous season of the Stag, and yes, some of the Does are written as Fillers or out-and-out Villains, but the majority of them are layered and complex characters with their own voices and motivations (and given the cast list is at the back, reducing some of the Does to stereotypes does help one keep track of who's who). Her mum gets one of the best scenes in the book.

Abby is a hoot and her recaps are entertaining if sometimes confusingly entwined with her inner monologue (I received an ARC so I'm hoping the formatting will make the distinction clearer in the final copy). I enjoyed watching her mature and learn to reconcile her multiple identities (Abigail Jones, would-be journalist; 'Doe Abby', hopeful contestant; Anastasia Blabbergasted, witty recapper) in order to claim her own happy ending.

Laugh-out-loud and deliciously entertaining, this book has all the drama of a so-called reality show but no celebrities were harmed in the making! Best enjoyed with a fruity cocktail while wearing some strappy stilettos

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own

If you’re looking for something deep and thought provoking, this isn’t for you but if you’re looking for a quick, fun read with a side of laughs, you’ve hit the jackpot! This was a great rom com!