Reality TV Bites

by Shane Bolks

Book Overview

Allison Holloway may be one of the last holdouts: a true reality TV junkie. (Hey, there's no shame in admitting you enjoy watching the Donald say "You're fired " for the millionth time.) But when her boss signs up their interior design firm for Kamikaze Makeover, Allison knows things are never going to be the same again. Dozens of cameras are set to tape every embarrassing moment as two teams compete for $3 million by executing a bold design concept...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060773111
• ISBN13: 9780060773113
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Great fun

At first, I was hesitant to buy this, because I'm not really into reality shows. But I liked Shane Bolks' previous chick lit effort (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I've Dated), so I picked it up. I'm glad I did. It's the story of Allison Holloway, a girl who's always wanted to be a princess. With wealthy parents, an extravagant lake house, a glamorous model brother and a European prince who happens to be interested in her...she's well on her way. The glitch is sexy Dave, a kind of blue-collar guy of whom her parents wouldn't approve. The chemistry between them is undeniable (it practically leaps off the page!) but he keeps pulling back and she feels rejected. In the meantime, Allison is an interior designer for Interiors by M, and the company is invited to do an interior design competition...for reality TV. The problem is, they're asked to make people's homes worse, not better. On national television. The reality TV aspect of the book is humorous, and doesn't take up too many pages. So if you're not into reality shows, no fear. The romance between Allison and Dave is really hot and there's some hilarious pudding wrestling. I finished this book in a few hours.

my kinda heroine and hero

For anyone who's dreamed of being a princess when she grew up, this one is one that you can relate to. I did. Shane's humor shines in this tale of Allison, a prince who turns into a toad - or worse - and the ultimate hero, Dave. Though all the crap, Allison learns that it isn't about what other's think about the outward persona, but the true person inside. Colorful characters, disfunctional family and quirky friends make this a read that had me laughing, groaning, and cheering. Great Job, Ms. Bolks -- the force was with you on this!

Loved It! Witty and Original

Not being a twenty/thirty something woman on the dating scene, I didn't expect to be sucked in on page one and to finish the whole book in one afternoon. But that's what happened. The heroine/narrator is so charmingly flawed I cheered for her all the way, even when she was doing very foolish things. It was refreshing that the hero didn't fall insanely in love with her on page 1. The story was fun and original with some hilarious twists. The secondary characters were also great--multi-dimensional and real (I found mother painfully familiar). As for the humor--I laughed out loud more than once. Without reservation I would say this is one of the best, if not the best, book I've read in this genre.

lighthearted satirical romantic romp

In Chicago, beautiful Allison Holloway seems to have it all as she enjoy her interior designer job, makes good money, dates bulls, and loves reality TV though she would not mind a Prince Charming whisking her away to his magical castle. However, her boss Miranda informs Allison that she and her company Interiors by M will be on Kamikaze Makeover competing against a rival firm for three million dollars and their reputation. Allison struggles with the concept of participating in front of millions instead of being her usual couch potatoes spectator self. Her date Dave takes her to the Bulls games while Prince Nicolo wants to sleep with her and the activist media watches her every move to survive the war in which traitors, backstabbers, snipers and cheats will do anything to win even destroying a woman trying to play by the rules. This is lighthearted satirical romantic romp gently shreds reality TV, the media feeding frenzy, and fairy tales that encourage a woman to wait for her prince to arrive. The amusing chick lit story line focuses mostly on Allison as she struggles with the reality of invasion into her private life. The support cast especially the Prince, Dave, her long time friend Rory and mom add humor to a fun frolic. Harriet Klausner