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.  

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