I am such a fan of their podcast that I was eagerly awaiting this book. Unfortunately I did not get much out of it.

Much of what they discuss on the podcast is featured in the book, just at a deeper level. Since I do not want to go on the bachelor, I did not need the level of detail and information found here.

This reads like a textbook, which can be taken either as a positive or a negative. But for me was a negative.

I still will be listening to their podcast and if someone was interested in going on the bachelor, this is the book to read, but it did nothing for me.

Edited to add - I started listening to the audiobook and it makes a world of a difference. Chad and Lizzy have great voices and you can hear the passion for The Sport in their voices. I still did not finish the book (again since I listen to their podcast every week there isn't a ton of new information for me here) but I still really enjoyed listening to their voices and hearing them talk about The Bachelor.

Man, if I wasn't married I could probably go on and win the bachelor after reading this one. Do we think Shanae had a copy of this ready to go before Clayton's season?

My two passions in life, reading and The Bachelor, have finally converged. Co-hosts of the popular podcast, Game of Roses, Kultgen and Pace have become known for their analysis of the Bachelor franchise and sharing their findings with their audience.

This book is geared toward a very specific audience. For those people who follow The Bachelor religiously, this is a comprehensive look at the history and the way the contestants have achieved success on the show. The strategies and pitfalls will be very familiar to diehard fans. This book is extremely well-written and well-organized. The chapters explain every step of the process, including specific tactics to try and how to navigate the various outcomes. Although there is a lexicon of acronyms, the sheer number of them was hard to keep track of. I thoroughly enjoyed this deep dive into the Bachelor world.

The Bachelor has been one of my guilty pleasures ever since the first season. Long before reading this book, I had come to the conclusion that many of the contestants are not really seeking a love connection, but rather their 15 minutes (or hopefully much more) of fame. This is the ideal book for those particular contestants. I hadn't realized that Instagram followers have become such a lucrative goal, so that was the main thing I learned from reading How to Win the Bachelor. I wasn't enamored with the sports-type statistics and got bogged down in the long, repetitive reviews. A print copy would have been easier to read since I could have referred to the definitions in the Appendix to keep all the acronyms straight. I also was confused when the authors declared Jessie Palmer to be the first bachelor to reverse the usual order of the final rose ceremony. I distinctly remember Andrew Firestone doing that in an earlier season. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to preview this book.

As a huge Bachelor fan, this book was the deep-dive I never knew I needed. Lizzy Pace and Chad Kultgen completed a “super binge” where they watched every episode of the Bachelor from season 1 to season 25. While watching, they compiled data and created this masterpiece of a book that outlines how to “win” ABC’s The Bachelor.

I only started watching The Bachelor during Arie Luyendyk’s season, but Kultgen and Pace filled me in on everything I needed to know. How to Win the Bachelor includes data and advice for how best to tackle the “preseason,” night one, the “regular season,” “playoffs” (hometowns & fantasy suites), women tell all, the finale, and the “postseason.”

Within these highly researched pages, you will see the names of your favs from Bach Nation. My girl @kaitlynbristowe was noted as being arguably the best “player” in Bachelor history. Are you wondering how going on BIP, being the “ring winner,” or being crowned the next Bachelorette affects your IG following? The authors cite great examples to answer these questions.

Comparing watching The Bachelor to watching a sport was a hilarious way of looking at it. Because let’s be honest, for some of us Bachelor fans, the finale is our equivalent of watching the Super Bowl. How to Win the Bachelor is a highly entertaining and juicy deep-dive for fans of reality TV.

This is an exceptionally well documented book on the statistics and behavioural patterns of The Bachelor from the dawn of the show. While the players are real people and of course aren’t consciously making these “plays” this book gives a lot of insight into what the production and editing teams choose to air which in turn is what a prospective player should plan to say and implement when they’re being filmed. I loved the self deprecating tone of the authors as well as they describe their descent into madness because as an avid viewer of the show and a listener of their podcast, I too have descended into the depths of Bachelor obsessed theorising.
I can’t wait to see upcoming contestants implement the plays and strategies in this book and hope to see the statistical success of this book’s “best practices”

The title says it all. If you want to be on The Bachelor one day, read this book. If that is not an aspiration of yours, this book won't give you much. There are better behind the scenes books on the franchise. This is not it.

I thought I was a Bachelor franchise superfan — I run a league and hosted regular watch parties pre-pandemic — until I read How to Win The Bachelor. Chad Kultgen and Lizzy Pace have taken Bachelor obsession to a new level in this book, watching and analyzing every single episode. It's an impressive, if obsessive, work. Non Bachelor fans will want to skip this one and even fans of the franchise might find it all a bit much, but I find their commitment impressive.

Loved this book! Just watched the season premiere of the Bachelor and was able to utilize my new knowledge. Such an interesting perspective and loved the stats!

Here's the thing... if it is your goal to be a contestant on The Bachelor, or you have already been selected as a contestant on The Bachelor, this is the book for you. The title is perfectly descriptive, as this nonfiction guide walks you through exactly what you need to do to secure your chances of The Ring, The Crown, and/or Instagram Followers. There is no doubt that this book fills the void of Bachelor guides and provides useful advice for future contestants (even if they have to hide the fact they read it from, well, everyone).

But if you are NOT a future/aspiring Bachelor contestant... this book may not be worth reading. As a huge fan of Lizzie and Chad's Game of Roses Podcast (I am IN the pit, y'all), I was super excited to read this book. I have read many Bachelor books--Courtney Robertson's, Bachelor Nation, and more--as I always like a peak behind the curtain. But this book isn't really that. It's also not really satire. Or, if it was trying to be satire, it missed the mark. Unlike the podcast, it doesn't bring the funny.

There's also a somewhat out-of-place, out-of-the-blue chapter on racism in the franchise near the end of the book. While racism in The Bachelor franchise is undoubtedly a hot topic and an important one, it feels random in this spot--like it was thrown in after the Chris Harrison debacle and written after the fact. I think its content would have been better digested if sprinkled elsewhere in the book and what doesn't fit elsewhere is unnecessary for this kind of book.

That being said, if they wrote "How to Win The Bachelorette" or "How to Win Bachelor in Paradise," I'd probably read those, too, out of morbid curiosity at a minimum.

Note to the publisher: the charts are near impossible to read in e-book.

Thanks to Gallery for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 stars - 6/10

This book is easily the most comprehensive breakdown of the reality show "The Bachelor" to ever be published. Chad and Lizzy break down the show in impressive detail, while making the compelling argument that "The Bachelor" is actually the fastest-growing professional sport in the US. This book is essentially a how-to guide on how to successfully play the game if you are cast on the show, including strategies for preseason, in-game, and postseason play.
If you are not familiar with their podcast "Game of Roses," I would recommend that you start by reading "The Lexicon," which is located in the Appendix. This section explains the terms that they have coined to describe certain game elements and strategies. Next, read "The History of Our Beloved Game," also in the Appendix, which provides context for each season of the Bachelor that will be mentioned. I have been watching all Bachelor-franchise shows religiously since Kaitlyn Bristowe's season, but I had very little knowledge on the earlier seasons, especially those that are not available on any streaming services.
After reading these sections, you are ready for the hefty 12 chapters of gameplay explanation and strategy. Although these chapters are very detail-heavy, the authors punctuate their statistics with humorous examples from "hero players" that make the book entertaining and easy to read.
Thank you very much for providing me with an ARC of this book to review-- I loved reading it and will be purchasing the audiobook! I can't wait to hear this narrated by my favorite podcast hosts. Pleaseee make this a trilogy-- I need to read "How to Win the Bachelorette" & "How to Win BIP" asap!!!

How to Win the Bachelor truly changed my view of this mega franchise and show that’s been airing for 20 years. From learning the lingo to understanding every aspect of the “game,” this book truly opened my eyes and blew my mind.

I’ve been a fan of the Bachelor since 2015 and this book was both entertaining and informative and it showed how so many things in the Bachelor happen behind the scenes and, after reading this book and then watching the Bachelor, it was like WOW okay this totally makes sense and actually does happen.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of reality TV, The Bachelor and Bachelorette and even sports fans (you’ll see why). This book was a super easy and fun read and I can’t wait to purchase it once it comes out. Hopefully we’ll also see a full analysis of the Bachelorette and BIP too!

This book was very academic and hard to read for such a lighthearted topic. You thought that it would have interesting examples, instead you got academic boredom. I was not able to read the whole book. The title denotes something fun, in reality it was too detailed.

Okay book. You really need to be into the show to fully appreciate the topic in the pages. It is well done and easy to read.

Another librarian’s review summed this one up perfectly: “Horrifyingly thorough!” This book was written by two “superfans” who watched every season of the Bachelor — so we dont have to! Despite the subtitle referencing the “secret to finding love and fame on America’s favorite reality. show.” they really don’t focus all that much on finding love, pretty much abandoning any pretense that this show is about anything other than finding celebrity. Other terms rot the actual goal of women going on the show include “gaining followers,” “becoming an influencer,” or “the Crown” — the most coveted goal of all: being the next Bachelorette!

There has only ever been one actual marriage between a Bachelor and one of his eager suitors (talking about you, Sean and Catherine) but the show goes on. There is a TON os specific advice on how to clean up your social media in preparation for being cast, how to be cast, how much to spend on clothing (thousands!), and how to exit the limo on night one to be memorable but not foolish.

Interesting if you are a fan, borderline creepy if you aren’t. More than you probably want or need to know. With gratutude to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for this honest review, I am so glad I didn’t spend money on this, but for anyone in the proper demographic, it just might be money well spent. Three stars.

Reality TV fans: here is your Bachelor how to guide. Need to know any stats from the show? Curious on odds of getting past night one? Want strategies to stand out if you go on the Bachelor? Chad Kultgen and Lizzy Pace wrote just the guide for you!

Kultgen and Pace performed the impossible: watched all seasons of the Bachelor so you don't have to! Breaking up everything from rose statistics to night one entrances, this guide is a tribute to the franchise. It doesn't bite back from satirical comedy and doesn't shy away from any aspect of the game.

Bachelor fans and reality TV fans will enjoy reading this how to guide.

Pub date: Jan 18, 2022
In one sentence: Chad Kultigen and Lizzy Pace watched every episode of The Bachelor - and they know how to play the game.

Oh, The Bachelor. Some people love it, some people hate it, some (most?) people love to hate it. And it's not just the show - there are multiple spin-offs plus tons of podcasts, so you could spend your entire day in the Bachelor universe. But no podcast has broken the Game down so thoroughly as HOW TO WIN THE BACHELOR. I used to watch The Bachelor in college and grad school, but I'm less familiar with the show now.

I enjoyed following Chad and Lizzy's journey through the seasons of the show - moving from the early days, to the beginnings of Instagram to what they call the "Professional Era", today's launchpad for wannabe influencers. They break down the common character types, date types, and key moments across the seasons. The book got a little long in the end, but I appreciated how comprehensive it was. They also have a chapter addressing the show's whitewashing and the Chris Harrison scandal, and I'm really glad they called out the racism that frustrates many of the show's viewers.

If you're a Bachelor superfan, or you love to snark about the show, I think you'll enjoy this book!

Thank you to Gallery Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a serious, comprehensive analysis of each aspect of the game of The Bachelor using all available evidence up to this point. Organized by game milestone (first impressions, one on one dates, hometown visits, etc.) it breaks down each step and the strategies that have worked and backfired as well as how the women have been perceived (Good Girl, Villain, etc.) either by accident or by design. I liked that it clearly identified two different end goals--The Ring (love, the actual bachelor) and The Crown (casting as the next Bachelorette and/or significant notoriety).

As seriously as the book takes its subject, it's definitely not dry! It's fun, wry, and highly readable. Any fans of the show, and reality TV in general, will find this a very worthwhile read. And, of course, anyone even vaguely entertaining the idea of trying to participate should have it memorized!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Thanks to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for my gifted copy of How to Win the Bachelor, by Chad Kultgen and Lizzy Pace. This book is out on January 18th.

How to Win the Bachelor is exactly as the title says: a guide to how to win the bachelor, but not necessarily how to fall in love. It goes into detail about when to say the appropriate affirmations, when to share certain details about yourself, the difference between roses and your chances of winning based on a particular rose, and more. It is an impressive conglomeration of information about The Bachelor (the writer’s dedication knows no limits), and quite different from typical books I’ve seen written about the Bachelor. If you’re wanting to go on the Bachelor to win and gain followers, this guide is the one for you!

As a huge fan of the franchise, this non-fiction guide was both hysterical and dead on with the infamous TV show. I loved both the asides and nods to actual athletics as well as the fierce dedication to analyzing each and every season. The references were a delight, writing easy to read, and the humor on point.

I would read this again and again. Absolutely going on my keeper shelf.