This was sooooooo cute! I truly enjoyed it, like a lot. And i really don't care for reality TV and especially TV Shows like the Bachelor etc. etc. But this was so well written and the storyline was amazing. I loved the slow burn and how fun this romance truly was. obsessed!

Thankyou to Alcove press and Net galley for the ARC of this amazing read!
I was wary going into this as i’ve read this concept before and it’s just fallen flat for me but I was proven so wrong! I devoured this book and any time I had to put it down I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Lauren and Krystin had such an interesting timeline through this book, but the rest of the story had me equally as hooked, in the end I was even feeling bad for Josh by the end of the show but even his helping Krystin and Lauren come together warmed my heart for him as a character. This read had drama, steam, and complexities of characters and their relationship. Watching them both accept and come to terms with their sexuality both personally and publicly was so endearing and I would absolutely love to see more of these twos love story after the show.

I've never seen any reality dating TV, despite the fact that so many of my best friends love it, but I was completely enraptured by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang's Here for the Wrong Reasons, a sapphic romance that plays out behind-the-scenes of a long-running, super-straight reality show called Hopelessly Devoted. There was so much to love about this book; it surprised the absolute heck out of me.

First of all, the world-building is aspirational. Paulsen and Wong have created not only an entire dating show, but a whole believable universe around that dating show, one that feels so lived in I could easily describe the entire enterprise using all the shorthand language longtime fictional viewers have created over the show's 20+ seasons. The characters in the book talk about it with such matter-of-fact earnestness, it somehow both skewers Bachelor-type shows while also winking fondly at them. Second of all, the relationship between Lauren and Krystin is simply wonderful, in large part because neither of them are squeaky-clean-perfect; they have complicated, sometimes selfish motivations, and they also sometimes hurt the people they love. But there's something so beautiful about seeing two people come to terms with their sexuality in completely different ways, in their 20s, and find ways to be authentic about it, for themselves and for each other.

I started laughing out loud on page two and kept it up throughout the whole book. Not laughing AT these women, but with them (mostly) — Paulsen and Wong apply so much empathy to the brushes they use to fill in the lines of their characters. This book came to me at the exact right time, when I needed a warm, light-hearted, hilarious gay book. And yes, this book is GAY GAY GAY. I saw a review that said it was for straight readers, and it boggled my brain. The only straight dude main character is simply an avatar for innocuous curly-haired decent every-guys everywhere. The real story and development is all Lauren and Krystin, and it is through them that the book cements its female-only gaze.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

I fully expected not to enjoy the novel very much: as a rule, I don’t enjoy reality shows and found the premise of a man gradually choosing from a pool of young women problematic on many levels. However, I enjoyed the story itself more than I thought I would, which was a pleasant surprise. I liked that there was not that much internal struggle for one of the MCs while coming to terms with her sexuality - it really shows how we have progressed, but also how far are we yet to come.
Overall, 4/5 stars earned for the sheer surprise I felt at the quality :).

Thank you Netgalley, publisher Alcove Press, and authors Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang for providing an ARC in exchange for a review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 (rounded to 4 stars)

This book is definitely one for "The Bachelor" fans!

From what I’ve read in the comments, this book is based on the reality TV show “The Bachelor”. As a person who has never watched any versions of that show, I was highly intrigued by the plot and the premise of the book. Maybe due to my unfamiliarity with the show and its concept, I would’ve enjoyed knowing a bit more about what was happening when they were not filming, in their spare time… were they all day sunbathing? Chatting? Walking around the chateau? Daydreaming about Josh?

Lauren and Krystin got me giggling and kicking my feet, but I felt like their kiss was rather rushed. They had only interacted with each other a couple of times prior to that, and I reckon there wasn’t a good enough buildup between the two contestants, nor any emotional depth.

Furthermore, I did not like how the other women in the show were portrayed: shallow, simple-minded, catty and annoying. I don’t have much to say about Josh, mainly because he was a very bland and forgettable character.

Nonetheless, it was a nice “feel-good” rom-com, an easy, fun and quick read! If you like “The Bachelor”, I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

'Here For The Wrong Reasons' by Lydia Wang and Annabel Paulsen.
Krystin knows exactly what she a husband, a horse, and a place to hang all her competitive rodeo blue ribbons. But when none of the eligible bachelors in Montana end up being right for her, she turns to reality TV. On Hopelessly Devoted, Krystin will compete against dozens of other women for the heart of this season’s Hopeless Romantic, Josh Rosen. She’s determined to win the perfect life she came here for—if she can just ignore the glossy brunette whose crimson smile gives her goosebumps.
Lauren has never done anything for the right reasons—and she’s definitely not on Hopelessly Devoted to win Josh’s heart. Lauren’s plan is simple: stay on the show long enough to build her social media following, and then gracefully leave when it's her turn to be eliminated. With enough followers, she’ll finally have enough influencer clout to do whatever she wants—including come out of the proverbial walk-in closet. But the longer she stays on the show, the more she finds herself tangled up in a certain blonde’s lasso.
But neither contestant expects a heteronormative dating show to challenge their own deeply-ingrained ideas of who they are—and what they want.
I enjoyed this story, it was an exciting rom-com with well thought out characters. Loved Krystin and Lauren and was rooting for them from the start.
Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the authors for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

Here for the Wrong Reasons by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang

Oh, my god! It was wonderful! I've never watched the Bachelor or any shows like that, but I could relate to The Selection by Kiera Cass.

I loved it very much! A Rodeo Queen and a Content Creator fall for each other while participating in a reality show competing for the love of the handsome and nerdy Josh.

Lauren and Krystin won my heart as the story moved on. The title is apt and the book cover is very pretty. The thing I enjoyed the most were the Confessionals and the participants' information right in the beginning. And of course, the lovely ending!

I'd love to read more novels if this is turned into a book series- maybe of Damien's, next.

This was better than I was expected! I'm queer and a big Bachelor fan, but I think I sort of expected this to be like other recent books in this genre - a little superficial, with a MMC who is a one-dimensional villain that the FMCs have no problem ditching for each other.

Instead, this was a really sweet coming-of-age/coming out story about two women who find each other on a reality dating show. Krystin is a wide-eyed innocent from Montana who is totally ready to find a husband, despite the fact that she's never had boyfriend and only ever felt passion for her female best friend when they were in high school. Lauren C. (haha) is a cynical closeted lesbian who is on the show for one reason: social media followers. There's a spark, then a kiss, and then both women have their lives thrown into chaos.

There's something really sparse about the writing here - I actually really vibed with it, although I can see how some people may not enjoy it as you don't get to spend as much time in each woman's head as typical in romances like this. For me, it worked. It kept the pace moving along nicely and I was still all in with both women's journeys. And like I mentioned, Josh isn't the typical goofy lead - he IS goofy, and he does make the wrong choice at almost every turn, but he seems to genuinely mean well. He's a real Himbo, a la Ken (at the end of Barbie, not in the middle).

This won't change the world, but it is a very enjoyable read with some really fun characters. 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove for the ARC.

This story definitely had a different plot than what I was used to for lesbian romances. While I'm not a fan of reality TV or shows like the Bachelor, this storyline was one for the books.
Reading the progress of character development and not knowing what would happen on the next page was my favorite part. Like other lgbtq stories, there was some predictably but not enough to know the exact story.

Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes reality TV drama and some side romances.

This is a wonderful read about a group of women competing for a marriage proposal while being filmed for broadcast.
What could devolve into a set piece about women using nasty tricks to eliminate each other instead becomes a love story involving two of the contestants. Their respect for the game show and other contestants makes this a story that defies conventions.
It makes you root for the happy ending.

3.5 stars
a quick and enjoyable read! I love books with settings on reality tv shows way more than I actually like to watch reality tv shows. Last year I felt burned by a different "two girls go on a straight dating show and end up falling for each other and not the man" Bachelor style book. Here for the Wrong Reasons almost healed me from that disappointment.
I say almost because while the romance was solid and its conclusion satisfying, I found the language used for all other female contestants to be frustrating. Our second main character, Lauren is literally participating in the show for internet clout, but the text repeats over and over how all the other contestants are the shallow ones. Even Krystin, who is there to find love, makes these nasty judgments towards the others. I wouldn't mind if it was a character flaw, but when its apparent across both point of views, it reads as very mean-spirited. There also needed to be more introspection. Shocking for me, since I always complain about too much introspection, but this book desperately needed some thoughts bonking around in Krystin and Lauren's heads because I never understood them. Major events were happening and I'd just be like hmm it would sure be great if I knew what was going through their head in this moment. Everything that happened I would be shocked because there would be absolutely no critical thinking done by the characters.

Did Lauren and Krystin ever feel guilty for stringing Josh along? Did Krystin ever like Josh? If she didn't then why did she continue with the competition? Why did Krystin like Lauren? No idea! It is hard to root for people to be together when they're assholes to everyone else around them and you don't know what's going on inside their head! If i wanted to read rehashed 2010s feminism with characters I couldn't connect with in a reality tv format I would reread The Selection.

As a long time lover of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, this was such a cute read - and it was SPICY! The writing was clever and witty, and I found myself chuckling at the humorous references (including Josh's stereotypical "bachelor" character!). I really adored both Lauren and Krystin and the whole "kinda enemies to lovers" trope. Paulsen and Wang really captured the corniness of the production (screaming Josh's name for footage) and poked fun at the confessionals and girl drama - I loved it!

As much as I loved the storyline and punchy writing, some parts dragged on - I feel like the romance between Lauren and Krystin took too long to develop and I was losing some interest by the end. I get the whole idea of building tension, but it resulted in me just becoming impatient. Other than that, this was a really fun, quick read for any romance reader!

This was a cute RomCom. It’s the first F/F RomCom I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. We need more of the rep for our gals!
You’ll laugh, kick your feet and smile the whole time.
But it also pulls on your heart strings.
It’s fun and all of the characters are well written.
I recommend reading!

I really enjoyed this book, it’s the third book I’ve read in the past year I think that combines f/f romance with the dating show format and this was my favourite of the three. The pacing worked well which I think is no mean feat when it comes to writing a book that is trying to represent a very formulaic TV show, and I got very invested in the romantic relationship between the two protagonists - they seem like believable characters with understandable motivations. I also liked a lot of the side characters - Damien and Delia in particular. One of my favourite romances of the year.

I have so much love for this book and its unique characters. Both Lauren and Krystin had heartbreaking back stories and emotional arcs and I truly cared about each of them before they fell for each other. The book was laugh out loud funny and I even teared up at the end. This is a great read for fans of The Bachelor franchise and romantic comedies. I will revisit the book when it's published and I can't wait to read it again with fresh eyes. I want a spin off about Damian!!

Here for the Wrong Reasons is a fun take on the Bachelor-type dating shows with the twist being that two of the women competing for the lead fall in love with each other instead. Krystin is a rodeo queen from Montana. She hasn't really been out of her home state and hasn't really driven her life where she wants it to be. and believes the show will give her a shot at happiness with a nice man. Lauren is an influencer from Jersey, knows she isn't into guys, but joins the show to up her followers and get some new sponsorships. She is fairly aloof and figures she will be voted out before things get too serious with Josh, the eligible bachelor. Needless to say, things don't go the way either of them planned. They start falling for each other while Josh starts falling for them.

If you like the dating shows, you will love this book. It's an interesting peak into what they are like for the contestants. I'm not a particular fan of them, but was always curious how a group of men or women dealt with essentially all dating the same person and Here for the Wrong Reasons describes some of those scenarios, and especially acknowledges that the people on those shows are self aware of what has happened on previous ones...it gives it a sense of authenticity around it's subject.

The romance is sweet at times, though there were not very many hints that Krystin was into women until she just kisses Lauren one day. It's filled in better after that and both women have some self-reflection to do about their lives and how they are living them. I don't want to give any spoilers, and as this is a romance I think I can safely say everyone gets their happily ever after. My one complaint is I would have likes an epilogue to see how they were meshing their Montana/Jersey and cowgirl/influencer lives.

I received and ARC and am leaving an honest review.

This was a really fun book. I am not a big fan of reality TV, so was hesitant to read this one. Glad I did though. I was fun and quick read. I enjoyed that they highlighted everyone has their own timeline in coming out. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this title early.

A very fun romance with some very spicy sex scenes. The premise of it being at a reality show is pop culture relatable for anyone whose ever watched even one episode of the Bachelor. It handles coming out in your 20's/coming to an understanding of yourself very well. A quick, upbeat, and sexy read.

★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Here for the Wrong Reasons by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang
Book 1 - Spin off
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️3.75/5
🌶️
Rom-Com, Romance, LGBTQIA+
➳ Rom-Com
➳ LGBTQIA+
➳ Reality TV Dating Show
➳ Unexpected Pairings

✨If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if a reality tv dating show and a book had a baby, you’ll love this book.✨

📚📚📚
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“Here for the Wrong Reasons” takes place within the setting of a reality dating show, which gave a unique twist on your standard Rom-Com narrative. However, I found myself wishing there was more emotional depth and buildup between Krystin & Lauren. Don’t get me wrong, I still found myself giggling and cheering for them… I just wanted a bit more to their story & connection. The side characters felt like satirical representations of how we generally see women represented on reality tv, and i wanted a little more depth & dimension to them. Side characters are often used for comedic relief, but in this sense it made it harder for me to feel fully immersed in the story.

Krystin’s struggle with comphet felt incredibly believable, and emotionally resonant. The exploration of that theme was much appreciated, as well has giving me the satisfaction of feeling some degree of personal growth for the characters. I think if the relationship felt less rushed I would’ve been a lot more moved by this story. Of course, this is a rom-com and when it comes down to it i definitely felt entertained, and felt the good warm feelings I’d expect from the genre.

This story definitely hit the mark on the comedy front, and I’d wager that for many it met their expectations for the romance area of the genre as well, I just seek a bit more buildup to generally feel the romantic resonance..

The themes of authenticity, compulsory heterosexuality (comphet) and self discovery were all central elements of the story, and when it comes down to it I felt the authors hit the nail on the head for the main characters in this regard. The struggle between Lauren’s genuine self and the persona that she presents to the public as an influencer is a feeling anyone can relate to.

The ending successfully resolved the major plot points & character arcs and i think i would have felt thoroughly satisfied had there been more emotional buildup and tension between Krystin and Lauren prior to end.

I found the humor to be incredibly engaging, but the pacing felt uneven when it came down to the romantic connection between Krystin & Lauren, i would’ve preferred a more gradual buildup.

There were some definite moments of cringey dialogue, which perfectly aligned with reality TV Dating shows we see in the real world. The authors really utilised a character-centric plot and honed their attention into making us love and fall for Lauren and Krystin despite their inherent flaws.

When it comes to a Rom-Com I expect Authors to deliver a feel good element, humour and romance. I found this nailed the “feel-good” element and humour, and was nearly there for the romance aspect. I wanted to be able to savour the romance and feel the nervous tension. If it had been a bit more gradual, it would’ve met that mark.

If you like the bachelor, love is blind, love island etc. I would definitely suggest you add this to your tbr. It’s more comedy than romance, but I think that’s the case with reality dating shows as well.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Here For The Wrong Reasons is a hilarious and sweet romance that takes place on a fictional Bachelor-style reality dating show called Hopelessly Devoted. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think others will as well.

Our two main characters have come on the show for very different reasons. Krystin, a twenty three year old Rodeo Queen from Montana, has every intention of finding love. In fact, she hopes that being on the show will help her finally feel something for a man-- oh, Krystin. Lauren, a twenty five year old influencer, is there purely to gain followers. She's pretty sure that's what everyone's there for anyway, but is caught off guard by a particularly sweet and genuine Rodeo Queen.

There were so many laugh-out-loud moments as the book lovingly roasted The Bachelor-- from Josh, "The Romantic," having started a successful podcast after being a contestant, to twenty seven year-olds crying about "running out of time," to contestants with the same name being identified with their last initial.

I enjoyed both characters' arcs as they each found something they weren't expecting. Each had to come to terms with and work through their journey in their own way. I couldn't predict how the reality show element was going to conclude, so it was fun to see everything play out! It's always fun to have a queer book spin on our favorite guilty pleasure reality shows, and this book did not disappoint.