One to Watch

I have a confession—before I started @spiveysbookclub, I went on The Bachelor to find love. It was almost 10 years ago and I am now a vocal critic of the show, but you can imagine my trepidation when I was approached to review One to Watch. After reading this book, however, I can confidently say that the author has provided a compelling, realistic, and funny story about reality TV that is poised to be one of the breakout rom-coms of the summer.

Bea Schumacher is a popular and stylish plus-sized fashion blogger who has given up on dating. After a night of live-tweeting and drinking (which I can confirm is usually a bad idea), Bea pens an epic takedown of Main Squeeze—a reality dating show that resembles The Bachelor—criticizing them for their lack of size-inclusion and diversity. When the blog post goes viral, Bea is asked to be the next star of the show. She decides to use the opportunity to jump start her career, without falling in love. Unfortunately, she is not prepared for manipulative producers, fairy-tale date scenarios, or the charms of sexy suitors!

This book is way juicier than any written by former Bachelor contestants. Fans of reality dating shows will squeal with glee at the familiar characters we all love to hate, while critics will appreciate the smart commentary from a relatable feminist heroine about the unrealistic beauty standards popularized by these shows. Who needs Bachelor In Paradise when you can just read One to Watch and imagine the progressive show that we all deserve?

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers—and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She's in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, razor-sharp debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men—and herself—for a chance to live happily ever after.