Amy Kauffman, a journalist at the Los Angeles Times, has been a “member of Bachelor Nation” for many years and, for awhile, she was able to attend studio events, screenings, etc. – until the show’s producers decided she was “too negative” in her commentary. I confess, I’ve watched more episodes than I would probably admit, but it is fun to watch “separately together” with my sister, who lives 7 hours away and who I miss terribly. We compare notes and predictions, and I try not to tell her too much of what Reality Steve has written. I also watched one season of UnREAL, the TV show based on The Bachelor which left me feeling like I needed a shower – so I was happy to have the opportunity to read Ms. Kaufmann’s book, Bachelor Nation, thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

People who are just looking for juicy gossip (what REALLY happens in the Fantasy Suite? Or Was Juan Pablo really as much of a jerk as he seemed?) will find lots to enjoy here – although I admit that frequently when she referred to past participants by name, I drew a blank more often than not. Still good info, and fun stories (with some schadenfreude for sure) despite my apparently bad memory.

Two areas where this book stood out were its look at the reasons WHY this ridiculous show remains incredibly popular among a huge variety of viewers (old, young, male, female, gay, straight, urban, rural) and how the show has evolved to maintain that popularity. I also liked the way she stated one of her reasons for watching this and other reality shows without embarrassment: people enjoy seeing other people in situations that they themselves would never encounter. It isn’t just to ogle beautiful bodies, to see how incredibly stupid people/bitchy/mean-spirited or just bizarre people can be – although that surely provides a significant amount of entertainment value.

There is also a boatload of information about the show’s history and production, including wild stories about the creators and producers, and the way the participants are treated.

For members of “Bachelor Nation” for sure, but also for those interested in “what our fascination means, culturally: what the show says about the way we view so-called ideal suitors, our subconscious yearning for fairy-tale romance, and how this enduring television show has shaped society’s feelings about love, marriage, and feminism.” Four stars.