A couple of weeks ago I received an email offering me a copy of Reality Rehab for review. With Big Brother and Love Island all over the TV at the moment, this humorous novel about reality TV stars seemed quite apt so I thought I would give it a go!
This is one of those fun, funny summer reads that ticks all the boxes. Written by the former producer of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, this book pokes fun at celebrities, in particular the current trend for reality TV. According to the press release, it draws on the author’s real life experience – so it makes for interesting reading, trying to figure out exactly which parts are based on experience!
This is the story of Gloria Grayson, former soap royalty who has fallen on harder times, piling on a few pounds after splitting from her husband. Against her better judgement, she agrees to enter the next season of “Reality Rehab” a popular show where celebrities battling addictions enter a country house to be cured of their ailments by a celebrity psychologist. Along with her overweight dog, Gloria enters the Reality Rehab house alongside a random group of D-listers with strange addictions.
What I found interesting about this book is that the protagonist is not really very likeable. She’s quite vacuous and irritating to be honest – but I still found it a great read! The book is a funny, tongue-in-cheek look at what makes celebrity status these days, and the lengths to which some people will go to be “famous” – as well as the celebrity world in general. It made me chuckle more than once!
I will say I was disappointed by the ending. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who’s not read it, so won’t go into detail! That said, the ending was still well written and was really in keeping with the rest of the book.
That said, it’s a book about people who are obsessed by celebrity, in a reality TV show – so perhaps the ending is in keeping with that theme!
This is far from the most high brow book I’ve ever read, but it did get me thinking about the world of celebrity we live in. On this year’s Big Brother I think about 7 of the original contestants had already been on TV in one way or another, and we now seem to have hundreds of “celebrities” who are famous for… not a fat lot! As I think is mentioned in the book, soon we’ll have more celebrities than actual people if things continue in this way!
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a light, funny read over the summer.
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