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A review by tashasbooks
Here for the Wrong Reasons by Lydia Wang, Annabel Paulsen
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
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!
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!