Reality Check (Mass Market Paperback)

by Leslie Carroll (Author) "Are you perennially single?..." (more)
Key Phrases: cone throne, most honest show, bad date, Rob Dick, Rick Byron, Jack Rafferty (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Carroll (Miss Match) offers a tongue-in-cheek look at one of television's hottest trends in this comic contemporary romance. Frustrated with her job and burnt out on dating, Manhattan copywriter Liz Pemberley figures she might as well sign up for "Bad Date," a live reality game-show, and profit from her many misadventures with men. Her two lovelorn roommates follow suit, and miraculously, all three make it onto the show. The object: to relay your worst dating experiences and be the last one standing after the participants with the least objectionable stories have been voted off. The prize: one million dollars. Liz's witty and at times caustic remarks add spice to the show and the narrative, but her relationship with Miami restaurateur and co-contestant Jack Rafferty is the novel's true source of heat. Despite the couple's instant attraction, a no-fraternization clause in their TV contract holds them apart for a while, but there's never any question that they're destined to break the rules. Carroll strains the book's credibility by having Liz's roommates find love and lifelong happiness during the show as well, and the story's sheer number of coincidences will cause many to cringe (how likely is it that a New Yorker and an out-of-towner will run into each other in Manhattan?). Still, this cheery caper will strike a chord with readers who have had plenty of dating dilemmas.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
New Yorker Liz Pemberley is bored with her life as an advertising copywriter when she spots an announcement for a new reality show called Bad Date. When she and her roommates, Jem and Nell, sign up for interviews, they meet devilishly handsome Jack Rafferty, who is immediately taken with Liz's quick wit and humor. All four of them are accepted as contestants on the show, where each week they tell America their dating woes before being voted off one-by-one for having the weakest bad date story. Even though contestants aren't supposed to fraternize, Liz and Jack can't help themselves, but Jem and Nell dislike Jack, which prompts Liz to question his motives. When it becomes clear that the show is straining the women's friendships, they vow not to let the show come between them, then, in the midst of hashing through their worst dates, they start having the best dates of their lives. Carroll's clever and suspenseful behind-the-scenes peek at a reality-based show is sure to keep readers riveted until the very end. Megan Kalan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books; 1 edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804120005
• ISBN-13: 978-0804120005
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #816,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irresistably Funny TV Fantasy, January 23, 2003

By	Virginia Lore "rumtussle" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Leslie Caroll has done a terrific job providing the ideal "what if" scenario in Reality Check, a contemporary urban fantasy for anyone who has ever daydreamed (or had a nightmare) about auditioning for a reality-based t.v. show.

In Reality Check, Liz has decided to audition for Bad Date, a t.v. show in which contestants compete for one million dollars with stories of how badly their romantic lives have gone. Though Liz and her roommates audition for a lark (each of them has an altruistic reason to want the big bucks), when all three of them are cast trouble is ahead. A bigger brouhaha may be coming when Liz and fellow contestant Jack begin to find each other irresistibly attractive.

The real nugget of gold amidst all these dreams of winning is Carroll's sense of humor. Though the novel is an insubstantial read, Carroll thoroughly enjoys manipulating the peccadilloes of the English language. She is unable to restrain herself from giving Liz, an ad copywriter, ludicrous products with equally ridiculous names for which to create ad campaigns. Bars and restaurants have playful names as well. Carroll writes with a light and even hand, creating a book that's easy to pick up, laugh-out-loud funny, and quick to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Delightful And Very funny, February 23, 2003

By	Lisa "lluvsbooks" (San Bernardino, CA) - See all my reviews

I picked this book out because I am a reality Tv junky. If you want a happy funny kind of a book this is the book for you. I loved all these charaters, Jem and Nell they were so funny I would love to have friends like that. Liz and Jack were the best! This book made me laugh out loud and thinking about it know I am laughing all over again. I highly recommend this book.
Happy Reading Lisa

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Total gem!!, June 7, 2005

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Liz and her 2 friends audition for spots on a reality dating show for dating "losers." The last standing after 13 weeks of re-telling horrendous dating experiences will win $1 million. At the audition, she meets Jack and soon falls for him, despite rules against them fraternizing. The other contestants are pretty sterotypical, but that does not take away from the story.

Liz is chosen primarily because the producers can tell that she will give the host Rick Byron (who was introduced as one of the dates in "Miss Match"), a hard time on camera. They were right - the snappy comebacks for all of Rick's inane comments are totally hysterical, and most of them she said under her breath, only to realize the microphone was on.

Liz and Jack do all that they can to keep the relationship a secret from both her roommates and the show's producers. Will all this clandestine activity wreak havoc on the relationship? Their first (non)date is a hoot, it is a wonder they tried for a second.

This is a very humorous look at the wonderful (or pitiful, however you look at it) world of dating via television. Another great book to catch in a similar vein is Bachelorette #1 by Jennifer O'Connell.