The Villain Edit

Devore’s juicy adult debut (after the YA novel A Better Bad Idea) takes a cynical look at reality dating shows, with the love story taking a backseat to the behind-the-scenes drama. The night before jaded romance author Jacqueline “Jac” Matthis is due to begin filming as a contestant on a Bachelor-esque reality show she hopes will boost her book sales, she meets charming, pensive Henry at a bar and the two flirt their way into a one-night stand. Thinking little of it, Jac arrives on set, where she’s surprised to find she has genuine chemistry with the leading man, Marcus. Even more shocking? Henry is a producer on the show. The pair agree to keep their tryst a secret and do their best to avoid each other, but this becomes increasingly difficult as the contestant pool dwindles. Meanwhile, Jac builds a strong connection with Marcus and, due to her tendency to say exactly what she’s thinking, completely fails to endear herself to her fellow contestants. The narrative is propelled by Jac’s efforts to outsmart the producers and manage her image, while the love triangle with Henry and Marcus functions as more of a B plot. As a result, the relationship progression feels both scattered and rushed. Still, readers looking for soapy drama should snap this up. (July)