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adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am absolutely speechless, this was, I think, one of the best books I’ve read in 2025. I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to read this book in a few days but unfortunately time didn’t allow me to, which is probably better because I’m happy I got to savor it.
I think I had a different perspective on this book then most people because I worked on Love Island S1 and the way the characters were in the compound and how they reacted to the producers is so spot on, it was so much fun to read, I truly felt like I was reading a very messed up version of Love Island or even Too Hot to Handle with Lana. The writing in this book was so incredible, it was simple but addicting. The story flowed so well I found myself just wanting more and more and more of it. There were days when I stayed up until 2 AM or so, to finish a chapter or a few chapters because I just couldn’t put it down.
Reading about how people will literally risk anything for materialized items that they don’t need is so realistic in today’s society, and it’s so sad. Food and water. I completely understand, but there were so many instances where a person had to hurt either another person or a person‘s things to get a materialized item. It just shows how deep into capitalism we are, and I think that’s a dystopian in itself.
I definitely could’ve used more insight on the outside world, but I think that was the whole point really of the show was to not know about it so I understand why the author decided to only give out bits and pieces.
I don’t wanna give too much away, but honestly fuck all of the boys who were there. Moral of story is boys are trash and you should never trust them, especially on a dating show!!
I think if you are a fan of the Hunger Games and or Love Island, you will eat this book up.
I think I had a different perspective on this book then most people because I worked on Love Island S1 and the way the characters were in the compound and how they reacted to the producers is so spot on, it was so much fun to read, I truly felt like I was reading a very messed up version of Love Island or even Too Hot to Handle with Lana. The writing in this book was so incredible, it was simple but addicting. The story flowed so well I found myself just wanting more and more and more of it. There were days when I stayed up until 2 AM or so, to finish a chapter or a few chapters because I just couldn’t put it down.
Reading about how people will literally risk anything for materialized items that they don’t need is so realistic in today’s society, and it’s so sad. Food and water. I completely understand, but there were so many instances where a person had to hurt either another person or a person‘s things to get a materialized item. It just shows how deep into capitalism we are, and I think that’s a dystopian in itself.
I definitely could’ve used more insight on the outside world, but I think that was the whole point really of the show was to not know about it so I understand why the author decided to only give out bits and pieces.
I don’t wanna give too much away, but honestly fuck all of the boys who were there. Moral of story is boys are trash and you should never trust them, especially on a dating show!!
I think if you are a fan of the Hunger Games and or Love Island, you will eat this book up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book in 6 hours. I was capitvated. While it's more fun than deep, I appreciated the commentary on social dynamics, consumerism, and the insatiability of humans set within an entertaining reality show. I wish I knew more about the outside world, and the main character bothered me a bit, but that was kind of the point, so I can't fault the book for those. The only reason I took off half a point was because of the ending, which wasn't terrible but also wasn't special; I felt like the last several chapters were the weakest part of the book. Regardless, I was surprised by how wildly entertaining it was as a whole!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Respectfully - what the heck did I just read? Listen, I was gripped by the first 50-60% but unfortunately it didn't stick the landing for me.
I was really compelled by the premise as someone who has watched her fair share of reality tv. I'm always interested in the psychological elements of these shows - contestants who are isolated from their friends, family, and other connection to their real lives and put in increasingly desperate situations to achieve fame and glory. I'm fascinated by both the individual and group unspooling that seems to happen with a few weeks left, and the way that this book captures on this idea and takes it to its extreme is an intriguing premise.
The idea here is a Big Brother or Love Island but contestants are dropped off at a "compound" that is essentially a shell - there's no food, no clothes except what they have on their backs, no furniture, and certainly no creature comforts. They must complete individual and collective tasks to "earn" rewards, but of course the producers don't make it easy on them, manufacturing drama and conflict as they test the group's resilience both on their own and as a whole. (Think: giving one contestant food as a secret reward for a task while withholding food from the group amidst increasingly dwindling supplies).
The book is described as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies, but I think that does it a disservice because all the competition, drama, and revenge in this book is purely manufactured for TV audiences and the competitors know that. They could leave at any point, taking their spoils with them (and many do).
The book is supposedly set in a dystopian world, but we don't get much of any detail on what is happening in the outside world. There were times I thought this was actually a smart decision and other times when I think more information would have been more helpful to understand the contestants state of mind - just how bad was the "real world" outside the compound?
There was a lot of building of tension that I undoubtedly enjoyed and I was really hooked but then the book devolved in a way that was unsatisfying to me. While I enjoyed following the increasing desperation of our narrator, Lily, and the escalation of others' behavior that had been forecasted early in the book, the ending sorta fell apart in a bizarrely violent mishmash.
It was highly entertaining but I don't think it has a much deeper meaning than a "money can't make you happy" and that point was accomplished with a sledgehammer rather than with any nuance. If you want a book that you can devour in an afternoon by the pool, this might be it, but I don't think it will stick with me longer than that.
I was really compelled by the premise as someone who has watched her fair share of reality tv. I'm always interested in the psychological elements of these shows - contestants who are isolated from their friends, family, and other connection to their real lives and put in increasingly desperate situations to achieve fame and glory. I'm fascinated by both the individual and group unspooling that seems to happen with a few weeks left, and the way that this book captures on this idea and takes it to its extreme is an intriguing premise.
The idea here is a Big Brother or Love Island but contestants are dropped off at a "compound" that is essentially a shell - there's no food, no clothes except what they have on their backs, no furniture, and certainly no creature comforts. They must complete individual and collective tasks to "earn" rewards, but of course the producers don't make it easy on them, manufacturing drama and conflict as they test the group's resilience both on their own and as a whole. (Think: giving one contestant food as a secret reward for a task while withholding food from the group amidst increasingly dwindling supplies).
The book is described as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies, but I think that does it a disservice because all the competition, drama, and revenge in this book is purely manufactured for TV audiences and the competitors know that. They could leave at any point, taking their spoils with them (and many do).
The book is supposedly set in a dystopian world, but we don't get much of any detail on what is happening in the outside world. There were times I thought this was actually a smart decision and other times when I think more information would have been more helpful to understand the contestants state of mind - just how bad was the "real world" outside the compound?
There was a lot of building of tension that I undoubtedly enjoyed and I was really hooked but then the book devolved in a way that was unsatisfying to me. While I enjoyed following the increasing desperation of our narrator, Lily, and the escalation of others' behavior that had been forecasted early in the book, the ending sorta fell apart in a bizarrely violent mishmash.
It was highly entertaining but I don't think it has a much deeper meaning than a "money can't make you happy" and that point was accomplished with a sledgehammer rather than with any nuance. If you want a book that you can devour in an afternoon by the pool, this might be it, but I don't think it will stick with me longer than that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1/3 reality show vibes
1/3 suspenseful
1/3 emotional and raw
Mildly unsettling air about the entire book. I feel like this one is going to stick around my brain for a while.
I would not classify this as a psychological thriller like the description says.
1/3 suspenseful
1/3 emotional and raw
Mildly unsettling air about the entire book. I feel like this one is going to stick around my brain for a while.
I would not classify this as a psychological thriller like the description says.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, War
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was a fantastic debut. nihilistic, dystopian consumerism at its core. this was the book that made me think more about vegetarianism 🥲 super hatable main character that makes you think a lot about values and society.
also the narration of the audiobook was REALLY good
also the narration of the audiobook was REALLY good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have a feeling I'll keep thinking about this book for a long time. The isolated, eerie setting and total lack of world building worked in this novel's favor. I found the plot works better because we don't know anything about the time, location, or history of the world its occurring in. The very limited interaction with producers and the outside contribute to the character's isolation as felt by the readers. I won't say I agree with all of the author's choices, but I do think that they generally propelled the story forward in an unsettling way. Similar to a trainwreck, I felt unable to look away.
The thrilling, mostly character-driven narrative examines what we do and don't owe each other under stress, deceit, surveillance, and personal desires for wealth and fame. If you don't spend your free time thinking about the panopticons of reality TV shows, contestant mental health, unethical social experiments, and the relationship between viewers and contestants, this book won't be for you.
The thrilling, mostly character-driven narrative examines what we do and don't owe each other under stress, deceit, surveillance, and personal desires for wealth and fame. If you don't spend your free time thinking about the panopticons of reality TV shows, contestant mental health, unethical social experiments, and the relationship between viewers and contestants, this book won't be for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicide, War
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence
Moderate: Animal death
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reality tv bc this is literally reality tv in a book. I loved it. I understand the qualms and things people didn’t like it, but I just feel like that’s even more reality tv, ya know?
Anyways, I need Rawle to now write a sequel on everyone’s lives outside of the compound bc I can’t even imagine how they adjust back into a completely different reality.
Anyways, I need Rawle to now write a sequel on everyone’s lives outside of the compound bc I can’t even imagine how they adjust back into a completely different reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: War