Alice Chen’s Reality Check by Kara Loo and Jennifer Young (June 3, 2025) – Many thanks to Quirk Books for the gifted advanced reading copy. If you are looking for a fun rom-com with a side of murder mystery, this one had me laughing out loud the whole time!
Alice Chen has bills to pay because the American healthcare system is a mess, and her mom is sick. When her fiancé pulls so strings to get them on Dawn Tay’s Inferno, a Dante’s Inferno-inspired reality TV show that puts couples to the test, she’s in because of the potential million-dollar prize. Once on the secluded island for filming, she’s shocked to find her old high school academic rival, Daniel, as half of one of the other couples. But when her fiancé cheats on her with Daniel’s girlfriend, the only chance for Alice to stay in the game and potentially win the money is to fake date Daniel. As the challenges become increasingly perilous, the danger on set appears to be escalating as well. Then, a body turns up, and Alice and Daniel must solve the murder to escape the island alive. Plus, they are having these pesky feelings.
I love books that are both a fun romance and an intriguing mystery, and this one delivers on both fronts. It’s funny, wacky, and, at times, totally absurd; I absolutely loved every minute of it. The banter and still-simmering rivalry between Alice and Daniel was charming. Like Love Island, the TV show competitions were completely over the top, adding to the chaos. Once the murder-mystery component of the story took hold, it became even more entertaining. The narrative unfolds through a combination of traditional storytelling, text messages, interview transcripts, and promotional materials, including press releases. If you haven’t embraced the chaos of reality TV shows like Love Island, you may be tempted to think this is an over-the-top story, but I promise you it is both over-the-top and immensely entertaining.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Catherine Ho delivers such a fun performance in this story and is perfect in her portrayal of lovably nerdy Alice. With all the characters (initially 10 couples), I would have loved a full cast narration because all of them were hilarious. Don’t get me wrong, Ho is EXCELLENT, and she had a big job. (12h 32m)
⭐ Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 