Took me a minute to get into this book as I’m not a huge bachelor fan but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. This storyline was cute and once I got into it I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy!

This was such a fun queer love story and it absolutely lived up to the premise. I’ve only watched one season of the Bachelor (and several of Love is Blind), but the references were still hilarious. Every time someone said “can I steal him for a sec?” in the first 50% of the book, I giggled.

I loved Kristyn’s character. She’s clearly been shaped by comp het and that struggle was relatable for me. Comp het makes things so confusing! Lauren was a little less likable to me. She did seem fake/superficial, even though she’s grown a bit by the end. I felt like it was not believable that she didn’t want to come out because she was afraid it would hurt her influencing career. Really?! It’s 2023! There are so many queer influencers! Plenty of hate and homophobia that I’d be more scared of than losing followers, tbh.

I think the book does suffer a bit because we’re not inside either girl’s head that much, so it can be hard to understand them both at times. It’s mostly plot, which makes it a fun and fast read! It’s hard to keep track of all the other girls on the show, but that’s okay, and you get to know the final few a bit better. Josh’s character couldn’t been more developed, but it’s not really about him.

The dates they went on for the show were hilarious. Tantric yoga, tango lessons, a ropes course, paintball, mud wrestling? I am deceased. Also, Josh’s podcast all about doors opening and closing, when he’s a door salesman, made me chuckle.

Interestingly, I didn’t find the steamy scenes that hot? I think for me when the characters have more of an emotional connection, that makes the sex scenes hotter. Lauren and Kristyn care about each other, but are mostly just operating on attraction. I wonder if that’s the main reason the sex scenes felt a little flat to me.

All that being said, this book is a lot of fun, and a great read for anyone who loves (or loves to hate) the Bachelor and is looking for an entertaining sapphic love story.

[FYI - a review will be posted on my TikTok @evolution_of_emily on Monday 10/9].

I love lesbians and I love The Bachelor, so the idea of a lesbian going onto The Bachelor with the sole goal of getting more followers to build her influencer career afterwards is hilarious. “Here for the Wrong Reasons” follows Lauren, who makes it onto the show for the “wrong reasons” and Krystin, a rodeo queen who wants to find somebody. I finished the book with mixed feelings. The romance was rushed and the two women barely talked before they started hooking up—which is fine except it didn’t feel like the time matched how they felt. However, by the end, I did feel bought into their relationship and really liked the loneliness that permeated both of their lives until they found each other. The book focuses a lot on characters who don’t have much impact—the other contestants are one-dimensional and catty, playing into classic Bachelor stereotypes that feel out of date in 2023. The premise of the show in the book almost felt like a satire. I enjoy The Bachelor as a social experiment—what happens when people are practically cut off from the rest of the world and put into a competition where feelings randomly develop quickly only to fade as soon as they leave, and how contestants react when they go in with the goal of becoming an influencer and end up heartbroken. In the book, Josh is the Romantic (aka the Bachelor) and presented as a Nice Guy. He wasn’t interesting enough to matter, which is fair, the focus is on the women, but the focus on the dates felt like an unneeded distraction. The writing was at its best when the chapters focused on Lauren and Kristyn's relationship. The parts that were about the show itself, the other contestants, or their families felt more forced. The cringy dialogue feels like something you agree to when you read a romance novel and only really took away from the reading experience in the podcast transcription at the end and on the bachelor dates. Overall, I mostly enjoyed reading this book, even if I think it could’ve been stronger.

From the blurb, the book seemed like a promising sapphic comedy romance, and the setting in a reality TV show was intriguing. But I was disappointed. The romance between Krystin and Lauren felt forceful and out of nowhere. I did not feel the chemistry and suddenly, they were kissing.

One thing that also bothers me a lot is that almost all of the characters, even the main one, were annoying and childish. I have to admit it wasn't a pleasant read.

I really enjoyed this! Everyone was very human and I particularly enjoy a romance with no villains—this is just a story about people sorting out how to be the people they want to be

This is one of the rare books about a dating show in which I actually believed the contestants. I thought it was well written and I was easily hooked.

Here for the Wrong Reasons is an entertaining read that instantly transported me back to the guilty pleasure of watching reality TV, particularly shows like 'The Bachelor.' The novel's ability to capture the essence of those shows and weave it into a captivating story was a delightful surprise.

What makes this book truly enjoyable is the way it delves into various perspectives and situations, mirroring the drama and intrigue one might experience while watching a reality dating competition. The characters' unique viewpoints and the unexpected twists and turns in their journeys kept me thoroughly engaged.

For anyone who's ever been a fan of the reality TV and wondered what it might be like in book form, Here for the Wrong Reasons is a must-read. The author's skillful storytelling allows you to vividly visualize each moment as the plot unfolds, making it a truly immersive experience.

This book for me was a great escape as a reality TV enthusiasts, offering a fresh and enjoyable take on the genre in literary form. I couldn't help but get caught up in the drama, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a fun and engaging read.

I truly have never read anything that’s hit this hard before. The perfect combination of heartwarming, emotional, funny, and romantic. There is nothing like it.

I can’t believe this is only the authors’ first book! Crossing my fingers for more!!

What a great read! The story, characters, writing, and dialogue worked together to create an easy to read, witty, and often funny romantic novel which could be read in one sitting! As someone who is not a Bachelor (the show) aficionado, the authors left me enough clues to understand the inside dynamics. For someone who is a big fan of the show, I imagine it was endless fun! On the substance, the message was refreshing, important, and literally poetic. The irony of two young women unexpectedly finding love for each other in one of the most supercharged heterosexual environments on the globe, was a powerful message which should resonate with everyone who has ever found, or searched for, a soulmate. I cannot believe this was the first novel for these two talented writers. I can't wait to read their next book!

What a great read! This novel is everything you want a romance to be: sexy, surprising, and lots of fun! I also loved the poignant critique of our reality show and influencer culture that the authors captured in this book. We really get an up close view of the uncomfortable truths we so often ignore about shows like The Bachelor. So excited to read this again and again!

I have been a fan of the Bachelor franchise for a while, and as a queer woman, this novel totally warmed my heart! I loved all the nods to the real Bachelor franchise and thought the authors did a great job of capturing the essence of a show like that.

I thought that the character development of Krystin and Lauren individually was strong, but I would have loved to get more time exploring their connection outside of physical moments. I loved the times we got to see them banter and I wanted more of it.

I loved reading this book so much!! It was such a pleasure to be engrossed in the minds of Krystin and Lauren in a fictionalized version of a TV show I hold near and dear to my heart. The story was so fun at every turn. They were such endearing characters, and this concept was so clever and so well executed! The writers created such lovely characters that I could root for from the beginning. I may have shed a few tears here and there, but what can I say, I'm a sucker for a good romance. Can't wait to see what these two write next..

4.5 stars! As a Bachelor fan, I really enjoyed this book! I thought the premise was so good, and couldn't want to see how it all played out. Here for the Wrong Reasons follows Krystin and Lauren, two very different women who both find themselves on the hit reality dating show, Hopelessly Devoted, competing to win the heart of this year's Hopeless Romantic, Josh Rosen. Krystin is an earnest Montana Rodeo Queen who has never quite been able to make it work with any of the guys from her hometown, but is determined to finally get her own love story. Lauren is a polished influencer who plans to make it far enough on the show so she can leverage some influencer clout—and finally come out. Both contestants are about to find true love...but it just might be where they least expect it.

I feel like people who watch The Bachelor franchise will especially appreciate this book, because the way the authors create the Hopelessly Devoted setting, take things that are so true to the Bachelor universe and then completely make them their own, is just so clever! I loved their writing styles and how they developed this whole world. I also thought they did a good job of showing how contestants are so focused on curating their image/brand, while also making sure everyone knows that they are there for "the right reasons"—finding love, of course (even when it will all probably inevitably end in a joint breakup statement after six months together). The dynamics between the contestants and the general environment really felt like something you would see on an actual reality dating show. I loved getting both Krystin and Lauren's POVs, their voices were so distinct and well-developed, and it was nice to have both of their perspectives. It definitely showed how even though they are both very different people, they might also be similar in more ways than they had previously thought. Plus, I always enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers romance, so it was fun to see how their story unfolded!

There were a few things that I wish had been expanded on a little more. I did want a little more development from Krystin and Lauren's relationship. They had such great, palpable chemistry, but things seemed a little bit rushed initially because there were so few interactions/moments between them in the first part of the book. I also thought the ending was so sweet, but wanted it to be drawn out a little more. I would've loved to see more of Krystin and Lauren outside the "bubble" of the show, and what their relationship was like in the real world. In terms of the other characters, I would have liked to see a little more development from Josh, and more about his Judaism. The other contestants were fun to read about, too, and showcased the different sorts of personalities you might see on a show like The Bachelor, Love Island, etc. Overall, I thought this was a super fun romcom that was equal parts sweet and laugh-out-loud funny! Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.

If you are a fan of the Bachelor franchise, and want to read a story where the two front runners end up falling for one another, this is the book for you!

I know this was supposed to be a romantic comedy book, and it does have quite a few "laugh out loud" moments. What really caught me off guard was the earnestness with which Krystin and Lauren fall for one another.

It was clear from the get-go that this enemy to lovers story was going to be a good one, but the twists and turns of this novel kept me at the edge of my seat. More so, this book approaches the heteronormativity of dating shows in a way that truly makes us reflect on where we stand as a society in 2023.

The fact that the main characters worry more about what coming out will do to their reputations than their happiness speaks volumes to the lengths we still need to go as a society. Krystin is worried about maintaining her image as Montana's Rodeo Queen. Lauren is trying to get more contracts and endorsements as an influencer. Both know that coming out, or really, being queer is just not something that equates with success in either of their lives.

I have never watched any of these reality dating shows, so to me, it was interesting to explore the character interactions behind the scenes, and the intense image/brand building the contests go through before and after the shows.

I will say that there were a few things I wish the authors had approached differently with this book:

- I would have been ok not spending a ton of time on the other contestants. I did find myself skimming large parts of the conversations between some of the supporting characters.

- I wish there was more interaction between Krystin and Lauren that wasn't just kissing, or sex. So much of their shared time revolves around their time in the sheets, there is little character development on how they really bond and develop a blossoming romance.

- I wish the book picked up maybe later in the season of the reality TV Show and gave us a glimpse into the future of Lauren and Krystin's life together. I did see another reviewer mention that this book had mostly a heterocentric storyline with a sapphic ending. And I think that this is a fair way to describe it.

Bottom line: Giving it 4 stars because I would still recommend this book to most of my friends (and have in fact convinced 3 of them to read this as soon as its published), even with the caveats above. It is a great read!.

As someone who gets overstimulated by reality TV, but who absolutely loves the idea of it, I enjoyed what this book was able to do for me. I love reality TV tropes and will read anything that is staged as a game show or online competition, etc. Here for the Wrong Reasons was a balanced story in that it explored itself through the TV show as much as it did through the lesbian couple... perhaps even more. I loved that about the story though, because it was not in any hurry to squish two contestants together randomly. I appreciated all of the TV media clips, the bios of all the other contestants, and every step of the journey it took to lead us up to the final romance.

Lauren and Krystin were a cute couple, but I do wish there was a little more time dedicated to one-on-one experiences with them. There were some steamy sex scenes, which were very enjoyable, and it would have been cool to see them in a few more non-sexual scenes as well. Still, it was a story that unfolded at a good pace and built up to a really sweet and adorable ending. I have only seen clips of the Bachelor, but I would watch an entire season if it ended the way this book did.

Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Alcove Press for sending me an e-ARC! This was a mashed potatoes and mac-and-cheese "comfort food" kind of read with a soft landing at the end. Here for the Wrong Reasons will be a lovely addition to anyone's sapphic romance shelf!

This book basically had me smiling from start to finish. I love riffs of The Bachelor so this was up my alley and I loved how the author showed us behind the scenes while sassing the show in a nuanced way. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this but was pleasantly surprised on all fronts. Krystin’s journey was tactfully handled - I loved her character and how her confidence and self-awareness unfolded. I also loved Lauren and the perspective she brought. And together, their chemistry is palpable. I would have liked Josh (and his Judaism) to be developed a bit more as well as some of the other contestants but that’s how reality tv goes. These characters will sit with me…I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for a future bonus chapter.

Short summary: Rodeo Queen Krystin is missing a husband - reality tv is a good solution, right? Lauren could care less about Josh- she’s on TV for the followers..like everyone else. Except Kristin is shockingly earnest, and keeps looking at Lauren…

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this sweet book and loved the way familiar reality TV tropes intersected with unglamorous real life. Queer fans of The Bachelor and UnREAL will eat this up just like I did!

3.5 (rounded to 4 stars)

Here for the Wrong Reasons is definitely for the Bachelor fans!

Krystin is a Rodeo Queen from Montana who has spent her life competing in barrel racing, and wants to give Hopelessly Devoted a try. Josh Rosen is the new lead and Krystin will leave to compete in the reality TV show for his heart and find the husband to fill the life she's always wanted. Lauren on the other hand is an emerging content creator who joins the cast of Hopelessly Devoted in order to increase her follower count and social media following. She has no interest in Josh, because she is hiding her sexuality and hopes to make it far enough to be memorable but not lead him on. As both women compete in the show, they turn each other heads and must navigate the sticky situation they find themselves in.

I am a massive Bachelor fan and I feel like you have to be one as well to truly like this book because so much of the book surrounds that. It's actually really funny how they changed it just enough for its own show. Instead of handing out roses, they hand out strings and the lead will "cut" the strings on their wrists at the "string-cutting ceremony". They give out gold ribbons for dates instead of strings and there is a first impression ribbon. And of course, an "After the Final String" tv special.

It was a ton of fun to get a book in this setting and I very much enjoyed that part and I truly did like the lead Josh. I will say this book really delves into the setting and there is a lot of time spent on the show and the different group dates they go on as they compete further and further into the show.

One part I found lacking was that there was little interaction between Krystin and Lauren for a huge part of the first book. When they kiss for the first time, it felt strange because it lacked any yearning and development of their feelings for each other, specifically on Krystin's end. It seemed like Krystin really did like Josh and she pulled a 180 when she kissed Lauren, whereas more of Lauren's perspective shows how she is thinking about Krystin romantically. I did feel we got more development on Krystin's side, but Lauren's motivations seemed more murky and more to push the overall plot. Once their romance does develop, I really enjoyed it and truly felt the depth of their relationship.

Another part that I really didn't like was how the other contestants in the dating show were treated. They were all depicted as shallow, annoying, and self-serving. Obviously Lauren is there for the wrong reasons, but they make it seem like every other woman besides Krystin are there for the wrong reasons as well and super catty. Overall, it felt strange to me and I really wish there were different characterizations of female contestants in this book that didn't push them into this one box.

Again, I don't think this is a book for everyone. The reason why this kept so many stars is because it was so fun to read about a book essentially about the Bachelor and because I'm a fan I really enjoyed that aspect. So if you want to read a romcom about the Bachelor that ends in a sapphic relationship, then this book is for you!

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

Cuteee! Very cute!! I loved the concept in the story and it did have me laughing at some parts! I will say the romance was a little fast paced and it took me a while to get into it but overall i had a pretty good time reading this.

An interesting premise but so much information about side characters that brought nothing to the story, and that’s half the book. I feel like it was too much really about the dating show and not the 2 MC developing their relationship. The other half was ok but then the ending was so abrupt. All in all it was a quick, cute read and you’ll enjoy it if you are a fan of dating shows.