Title: Alice Chen’s Reality Check
Author: Kara Loo and Jennifer Young
Year Published: 2025
Genre: Romance/Mystery/Commercial Fiction
Setting: The US (California), a tropical island
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alice Chen’s Reality Check: A Blurb
Alice Chen has a problem: she needs money. She has student debt, a mother with hospital bills to pay, and a useless fiancé to deal with–all on a middle school teacher’s schedule and salary. When her fiancé, Chase, propositions her with the possibility of going on a new reality show with a $1 million payout for the winners, she sees her way out.
The reality show, billed as Survivor meets Love Island, turns out to shake things up quickly. Beyond having to adjust to the constant cameras, Alice and Chase’s relationship surprisingly dissolves almost immediately, leading her to have to fake-date her old high school rival, Daniel, to stay in the game.
As their romance heats up, so do the stakes on an island. Things keep going wrong, and when they find a body, Alice is determined to figure out who is behind the chaos–while still winning the show for her mom. Filled with suspense, humor, and romance, Alice Chen’s Reality Check has a little bit of everything for everyone.
My Thoughts
Alice Chen’s Reality Check was basically the perfect book for me. I flew through it and was engaged the entire time. It was the perfect blend of romantic, fun, and entertaining, and I honestly don’t have enough good things to say about it. It’s rare that I give a book five stars so readily, but this one really took the cake.
Characters
Characters make or break a novel, and these characters were relatable, strong, and admirable. Having worked in education, I could really relate to Alice from the get-go, and loved that her level-headed, family-oriented spirit prevailed throughout. One thing that I don’t love about rom-coms is that (minor spoiler) they tend to have characters fall apart over silly miscommunications that could have easily been avoided. When I read rom-coms, I’m generally thinking, “Ok, this is cute, but these people are so emotionally immature that it bothers me.”
With this story, there was none of that. Both Alice and Daniel were emotionally intelligent, and the obstacles to their budding relationship were external and unavoidable. Both of them felt fleshed out, fun, and rational, and the way that they reacted to everything–as well as how their relationship’s growth felt very real–kept me invested in their characters.
The side characters weren’t as fleshed out, but honestly, I didn’t mind one bit. They were fun and added to the drama, and each one served a purpose. I’d consider this a win in the characterization department.
Plot and Pacing
Okay, I loved the plot. I saw someone say that they didn’t feel like the murder mystery part was necessary, but I thought it was fantastic. This book was so great because it had something for everyone, and mysteries happen to be the thing for me. I honestly feel like it would have been an okay book with just the romance and reality drama, but the mystery part was what took it to a memorable level.
I also appreciated the fake dating trope in this situation. Usually, I don’t full buy it, or I appreciate it for the sake of plot but am not 100% sold on it in real life (i.e., in What Happens in Amsterdam). In Alice Chen’s Reality Check, however, made it make sense. Both characters had a motive, and the fake dating was humorously explored.
Finally, the pacing was great. I didn’t feel like the story was too rushed at any point, and I was impressed at how well the authors balanced the reality drama, relationship building, many characters and dynamics, and the murderous hijinks. There was a lot going on, but at no point did it feel confusing. Instead, the authors kept the excitement and energy going throughout, right up until the end.
A Final Word
If you like reality TV, Dial A for Aunties, Miss Congeniality, or good rom coms in general, you definitely need to pick up Alice Chen’s Reality Check. It’s the perfect summer read, and it’s by far my favorite romance that I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait to find more from the authors.
