Quick Synopsis

When decidedly unhappy Edie Pepper DMs her way onto a reality tv dating show, she’s going to realize love isn’t so easily won in this “perfect modern romcom” (Laurie Devore, author of The Villain Edit).

Publisher’s Synopsis

Thirty-five year old Edie Pepper, a rosé loving, reality TV obsessed copywriter from Chicago, dreams of plucking her soulmate from the depths of Hinge (or Tinder or Bumble). Following yet another dumpster fire of a date, Edie is consoling herself with boxed wine and E! News when Ryan Seacrest drops a bomb: Edie’s high school sweetheart has been cast as the lead in America’s most beloved reality dating show, The Key, and wow, does he look different. Charlie Bennett, Edie’s chubby cheeked, cosplay loving high school boyfriend has had a serious glow up, and is now a world traveling, extreme sports hunk.  

Desperate to reclaim her One True Love, Edie DMs the show’s conniving producers, who are more than happy to shove Edie headfirst into the competition. But Charlie isn’t quite who she remembers, and he’s as desperate to hide his past as Edie is to reveal it. Further complicating matters is Peter Kennedy, The Key‘s cranky showrunner, who, despite his best efforts, finds himself drawn to Edie’s everywoman charm. 

Navigating increasingly absurd dates, Edie starts to rethink everything she thought she knew about love. Is the biggest risk she’s ever taken about to culminate in disaster? Or is Edie about to secure the Happily Ever After she’s always wanted?

Find out this season on The Key.

Book Review

Fan Favorite is a debut romance novel about Edie, who is a bit of a mess. Coming off a terrible date, Edie turns on her television and sees her high school boyfriend, Charlie Bennett, is the newest bachelor on America’s favorite dating show, The Key (essentially The Bachelor with keys instead of roses). And he has had a major glow-up. Desperate to find her one true love, Edie messages the show’s producers and is cast as a surprise to Charlie. Will Edie’s big risk payoff or will she end up alone?

I enjoyed Fan Favorite although I did not read the full synopsis beforehand. I originally thought Edie was going on a reality TV show and not much else. So I was a little disappointed to find out that it was yet another book that piggybacked on The Bachelor‘s concept. But that is on me and not the book. After finding out that this show was the premise, I hoped for some snide and snarky comments criticizing The Bachelor, its depiction of contestants, and its patriarchal roots. Adrienne Gunn never quite went there though. 

Edie is a likable character despite her messiness and desperation. If you have dated recently, you will surely sympathize with her. The two male leads were different from your typical romance novel in a pleasing way. I found the side characters intriguing although they were not as well developed.

However, I do think this novel borders on instalove. There was not enough development of either relationship in the book’s middle. Characters’ romantic feelings were just a given after two or three scenes together. From the number of romance novels I have read in the last year, it is clear that building believable emotion is the most difficult part of writing. So I am not completely surprised to find it a bit lacking in a debut.

Overall, Fan Favorite is a solid debut novel perfect for fans of The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. I recommend it if you are looking for a good time and do not mind poking fun at the dating pool.