Book Review | Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Shrek tells Donkey that onions have layers, and so too does Something Real. You can take it at the top layer – a teenage love story. Or, you can peel those layers back to reveal the core – a comment on our reality TV obsessed society. The good news is that each layer tells an amazing story in its own right, and author Heather Demetrios does an amazing job of giving the reader all the feels. 

Join protagonist Bonnie™ Baker as she continues her senior year of high school, trying to live it as normally as possible after a life in the limelight. Her family is the subject of popular reality show Baker's Dozen. You guessed it: Bonnie™ is one of thirteen siblings, and the only one birthed by her mother. The show was cancelled a few years back, after some serious family drama. Bonnie™ is finally creating a life for herself, though she must lie to her friends to keep her fame a secret. Something Real is told through Bonnie™'s perspective, and readers begin to understand what life is like for those surrounded by cameras 24/7. 

I normally wouldn't purchase a brand new hardcover at Barnes & Noble, but I had a 15% off coupon and headed to the Union Square location to use it. With it's vibrant cover and "Autographed Copy" sticker  I knew Something Real was going to be mine. Plus, as a reality TV junkie, this book called out to me as soon as I read the dust jacket's summary.

My signed copy! 

The story is one of the first of its kind – a fiction book that goes behind the scenes of the reality TV phenomenon and shows the reality behind "reality." I find this story beyond intriguing. I couldn't figure out where Demetrios was guiding the reader. In fact, the ending was unforeseeable to me, yet I was compelled to keep turning the pages despite my blindness. Something Real is definitely one of those books that I'll be reading again, as there is so much to grasp between the words written on the page. I highly recommend this book whether you're a lover of young adult fiction, a fan of reality TV, or simply looking for a unique book to read. You won't be disappointed! 

Purchase Something Real on Amazon or Book Depository.  

The links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Signing | A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel

I've been a fan of Bravo reality shows for a long time now. My favorite is the Real Housewives of New York, followed by its spin-off series Bethenny Ever After (formerly Bethenny Getting Married). Last night after work I headed over to the Barnes and Noble at Union Square to meet Bethenny Frankel and have her sign her newest book A Place of Yes. I got there around 4:00PM, with the book signing scheduled for 7:00PM. I am so glad I got there so early! Not only did I get second row seats at the event, but if I showed up even an hour later I probably wouldn't have been able to sit! The place was absolutely packed. Bethenny tweeted later that 900 people showed up! Thankfully I didn't have to wait long at all to get my book signed after hearing her speak. 

Bethenny's book signing was a bit different than JWOWW's. Before she got to signing the books, she talked a bit about it, and held a short Q&A with the audience. Wondering if she's just as hilarious in person as she is on the show? Well, she definitely is! Here's a video clip I took of her speaking about living a parallel life to Chris Brown:

Bethenny also seemed to be a really nice person that cared so much about her fans. She almost cried when one of the fans in the audience told her it was her upbeat personality and lifestyle that helped him through cancer, and she teared up when reading the dedication page of her book out loud (which was also to her fans). I'll admit, when she was on the Real Housewives, I was not really much of a Bethenny fan. Once she had her own show, however, I couldn't get enough of her. She's always funny, and now I know how much she truly cares about her fans. Even though I was one of the first people to get her book signed last night, Bethenny greeted me with a huge smile and seemed like she truly was happy to meet me. Here are a few other pictures I took:

I didn't even have to zoom in to get a great shot!

She is a human barbie doll! Tiny waist, and check out those shoes!

Of course, her signature in my book.

I'll end this entry with a fun fact: David Yontef, who was on the Bravo show Millionaire Matchmaker, was sitting right behind me at the event.


This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own.