Alice Chen’s Reality Check

Childhood rivals reunite under unusual circumstances in this cute but bumpy debut romance from Loo and Young. Alice Chen is desperate for a way to pay for her mother’s cancer treatment on her meager math teacher’s salary. When her “charmed golden retriever” of a fiancé, Chase, signs them up for a couples reality game show, she can’t ignore the chance to win the million-dollar prize. Upon arriving on set, she’s horrified to see her handsome high school nemesis, Daniel Cho, who has entered the competition alongside his model girlfriend. As the cameras roll, the chemistry between Alice and Daniel becomes apparent to everyone except Alice, who’s reluctant to admit her attraction. Things take an abrupt turn when dangerous accidents begin occurring on set, culminating in the discovery of a dead body. Alice and Daniel investigate, and eventually they come to trust and deeply rely on each other. The book is at its best when it focuses on the protagonists’ budding connection. Less well developed are the whodunit plot and reality TV shenanigans. The result is a bit of a jumble. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (June)