Reality Check by Alice Chen is a bold and entertaining rom-com that blends fake dating, reality TV chaos, and a murder mystery into one irresistible summer read.
Alice Chen doesn’t believe in fairy-tale endings, but she does believe in financial survival. With student debt piling up and her mother’s medical bills looming, she’s willing to do just about anything for a shot at one million dollars. That includes signing up for Dawn Tay’s Inferno, a hit new reality dating show that puts couples through emotional and physical challenges in a tropical resort setting.
Alice’s plan is simple: fake her way through a relationship, sip cocktails in paradise, and take home the prize money. But everything falls apart when her on-screen fiancé cheats on her with another contestant. Backed into a corner, she reluctantly agrees to keep playing the game by pretending to date Daniel Cho, her high school rival and least favorite person on earth.
As if fake dating a nemesis on national television wasn’t enough, the stakes suddenly take a dark turn when a dead body turns up on set. With the cameras rolling and tensions rising, Alice and Daniel must navigate the secrets and lies behind the scenes to figure out who among the cast or crew is hiding something dangerous. All while pretending to be head over heels in love.
Full of sharp humor, unexpected twists, and slow-building romantic tension, this debut by Kara Loo and Jennifer Young delivers a fresh and fast-paced story that’s as much about love and trust as it is about survival. Reality Check is the perfect pick for fans of messy reality shows, murder mysteries, and rom-coms with heart.
