| Title | : | The Real Real |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0061720402 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780061720406 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published May 13, 2009 |
Now imagine they've trained them on you.
When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.
As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.
The Real Real Reviews
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There must be other fools out there like me who were conned into buying this book because they vaguely remember liking The Nanny Diaries.
Look. What made The Nanny Diaries so great was that authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus had both been nannies in New York City. They knew their material, they knew the intricate, scandalous, and absurd details of their uber-rich clients' lives, and they were able to write a mildly amusing best-seller. That SHOULD have been it. End of story right there. But for some reason, someone out there is still letting these chicks write books. Why? WHY? (Now do it like Nancy Kerrigan.) WHYYYYYYYYYY?????
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are not teenagers. Nor are they reality TV stars. So why they are writing about teen reality stars is beyond me. And beyond them, clearly. In short, this book reads like being talked AT by an adult's idea of a teenager. Wow. A rambling, senseless, and superficial monologue from an unauthentic sounding teen about reality TV stardom. Sounds like fun, no? From the bad, "I stare into the microwave, waiting for my egg to puff up like a chef's hat," to the downright confusing, "Jase snores like he's gargling furniture," I kept having to re-read entire passages because I was unable to follow the pseudo-adolescent banter. Who knew there would be a book out there that's literally too difficult for me to read because it's written for a level of stupidity that even I can't comprehend?
The most disturbing aspect of this steaming cesspool of vomit on paper is that it's actually marketed to teenagers. Are kids today so truly dumbed down? Aren't they supposed to be forced into submission by reading The Great Gatsby and The Scarlet Letter? Aren't they finding themselves in The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar? Shouldn't they be busy with their first readings of Shakespeare? If not, and they truly are reading things like The Real Real, I'm scared for the future of the entire planet.
Ugh.
SUCKED. For REAL REAL. -
I bought it.
I read it.
I did not like it.
The end. -
Wow, I will never look at reality television the same way again.
The Good: It's just SO creative and unique and just fantastic. The idea is very pop culture-ish, but unlike the really pop culture-ish books, readers will be able to read this book over and over again. Kudos for the authors for writing such an entertaining book!
And the reason it's so entertaining is because Jesse is an awesome main character! Not only is she sassy, she's funny, smart, and just your average teenage girl.
Sure she's made some really stupid choices, but that only makes her that more relatable. Another thing that I adore about her is that, even through all the crap that's been thrown at her, she's still the same down to earth girl that makes me want to be her best friend.
Another character that I loved was Drew. He was just so funny and sweet, and he never acts out of character just because he wants to get his own fan club or something. Another thing, the characters are just so well developed!
Even though I hated some characters, I understood them and I knew where they were coming from. And for the characters that I loved, I cheered them on and though sometimes I wanted to slap them for being such retards, I still really liked them.
One more thing, I came into the book thinking about the characters in a certain way, but when I finished The Real Real, my perspective of them has totally changed. I'll let you decide if it's for the better or worse ;)
Basically, I'd totally become a screaming fan girl for any of them (except Trisha and maybe Caitlyn). But still... FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC characters. They are definitely the real real.
The Bad: These aren't really bad things, but... some chapters that left me going, "What was that?" I've had to re-read things more than two times to get it, and it's not because I'm slow or anything. Also, the transitions to different scenes are kind of confusing. So, as exciting as it gets, read the book slowly. Well, at least in the beginning.
Overall: The Real Real is an unique and insightful book which defies what everyone thinks of reality TV.
Grade: A- -
I couldn't finish this one because I got halfway through and not much had been developed beyond the central premise that reality shows aren't real. This book is only 2 years old. I'm pretty sure "The Hills" was already over then and "The Real Housewives" was already full steam ahead. A lot of people know the reality shows they watch fabricate entire situations and put people together in a cast who aren't really friends or don't even know each other. I kept waiting for this book to either tell me something I didn't know, or take something I am aware of and really do something with it, and it just didn't happen. And the plot threads I did care about, like Jesse and Drew's relationship and Jace, who seemed about to snap at any moment, weren't really going anywhere either. Every time I thought they were, I'd get pages and pages of "let's set up this shot again" drama. We get it! It's fake! Move on to the ramifications of that please. And some character development wouldn't have hurt either. Maybe I'm just not the right person for this book, because I can see other people really enjoying it as a fast, fluffy read. But for me it was far too tedious to just sit back and enjoy it. So I suppose in the end it's the pacing that killed this one for me. I love fun, fluffy stuff, but when it's so slow I can see where the whole thing is kind of coming apart at the seams, I can't enjoy it as easily as I would've otherwise.
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This book totally rocked! I’ve read a couple of books where the storyline centered on characters starring in a reality tv show, but none of them comes close to this. The Real Real has it all! Great characters, hilarious dialogue, low-key romance that takes a backseat to the main plot, and a magnificent storyline that gives the reader a fly-on-the-wall inside view of the obtrusive side of filming reality tv, the aftermath of false publicity, the media frenzy, fans and haters. This was a fun read and one that is definitely going on my Favorites shelf.
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Why did I reread this? I was looking for an easy read, and I have a vague recollection that I liked it the first time I read it years and years ago. This was not the YA read I was craving. The premise sounds sort of interesting, a group of high school seniors are selected by a popular network (XTV) to be the basis for a new reality show. As someone who loved watching the drama of Laguna Beach and The Hills, this book could have been a hit, but I just didn't care about any of the characters, and there was no suspense at all.
There is drinking, an incidence of child abuse, the occasional f-bombs by teens and adults, and the objectification of teen-aged girls. Also, (spoiler) predatory behaviour by an adult. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
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Wat een rotboek. Het was dodelijk saai en sommige stukken waren niet te volgen. Ook waren de gesprekken erg onrealistisch. Waarom is dit zelfs maar uitgegeven, laat staan vertaald?
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tw: use of word r*tarded, sexual assault, targeted bullying and harassment, underage drinking
I'm not quite sure these authors are for me. The first two books I have read by them are from the Nanny Diaries. I enjoyed the first one but I wasn't super keen on the second one. The Nanny Diaries were silly so I was hoping this one would be a bit more serious.
It wasn't. It wasn't as serious as it could have been. It could have really showed the ugly side of reality TV. In ways it did with the bullying Jesse faced but I wanted more. I wanted more of the backstage back stabbing and everything that comes with reality TV.
I also wasn't the biggest fan of the writing. It was very high school esque. There was always so much going on. There were so many side characters. It was all just too much at one time. I'm old, man. I can't keep up with the times or teenagers anymore.
Speaking of characters, I liked Jesse. She was real and acted like every teenager does. She overacted to things that didn't need to be overreacted too. She had troubles with friendships and made dumb mistakes. While I didn't like the writing, I liked Jesse hence why the book got 3 (three) stars instead of 2 (two).
Overall, this wasn't great but it was a quick and easy to read book. If you are looking for a book between heavy reads and need something light, then this is the book for you. -
XTV, a popular television network has decided to film a reality TV series about teenagers living in Hampton Beach, NY. Jesse, our "hero", is chosen (much to her surprise, and many others) as one of the 6 teens that the show will be shadowing. Everything begins to spiral out of control, though, as the producers begin to stage more and more intricate plot lines to amp up the interest.
Three stars because I really couldn't put this down, I just had to know what was going to happen to Jesse and crew next! It didn't get more stars because I was really disappointed in the ending. Jesse spent most of the book being a great character that you could relate with and understand, even when she did some really bone-headed things. This book made you think - oh my, all those POOR reality TV stars. They're humans with feelings just like me! Then in the end
*SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!*
She gives in to the man and sells herself out for college tuition to an NYU. It's supposed to be a big deal because shes the first in her family to go college, so she sells her soul to the devil so she can keep the dream alive, but seriously, you don't have to go to NYU. There are plenty of good schools out there that a girl can afford by taking out school loans, so give me a break. I guess my problem with this is the fact that Jesse spends the entire novel preaching about being from a working class family and how things like designer clothes, and popularity, and all the fun in the sun that rich people have is just so unrealistic, and she'd never stoop to that level, unless forced to by sadistic producers, yet she agrees to stoop to that level again in order to go to NYU and have another year filled with designer clothes, popularity and rich people fun. What a hypocrite! urgh, rant over now! -
Do you enjoy the Real Housewives of whatever town they want to feature? Do you enjoy MTV and all that nuttiness from those old shows like The Real World or Road Rules where those people are insta-celebs and you never get rid of them?
Neither do I...(okay, so I watched Real World and Road Rules back in the day)...which is why I LOVED this book. It's all of that, but behind the scenes. Ish.
This is the (Not-in-a-million-years) true story of six Hampton kids picked to star in XTV's new reality show, highlighting the spoiled masses who grow up in the Hamptons--Nico, Jase, Rick, Melanie...Jesse-with-no-I and Drew. Okay, so Jesse and Drew are just normal, trying to make their way int he screwed up world of high school, kids who got lumped into the rich and spoiled world of this faux reality XTV is making.
I always knew those reality shows were scripted!
And for Jesse, who's crushing on Drew, the faux of this reality of this show is just the beginning of the chaos to follow--It's tough trying to survive in the world of Doritos and Gucci.
This book was better than any reality show out there. Better than those stupid gossip mags. Better than just a typical rom-com/teen romance/teen drama book out there. It was so much fun to read Jesse and hang out in that crazy world these past few days. And the drama lasted up until the last few pages when...well, I won't say anything more than I was happy with that ending!
Definitely Recommend. And while this book wasn't tagged as YA on Amazon, I feel it's great as YA or even NA.
*A JANU-RANDOM BOOK* - Just reading what appeals this month. Starting off the month/year with a total winner. -
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
The writing duo that brought us THE NANNY DIARIES have ventured out into the young adult genre. And the two have written a hit.
Jesse goes through the motions of the interview that all the students at her high school have to sit through. The hot TV channel XTV wants to film a documentary of life in a typical high school. XTV wants to select a core group of students to be the focus of the documentary real-life series.
Jesse knows that the A-list crowd including Nico, Jase, and their gang are the sure picks. So when XTV comes knocking on Jesse's door, no one is more stunned than she is. And when the $40,000 scholarship check is waved in front of her parents, they quickly agree to let Jesse sign on.
Little does anyone in their small town realize how quickly things will get out of control. Everything that Jesse considers important is thrust aside by XTV under the guise of filming. Jesse loses her best friend. Her parents no longer know what to believe. She gets yelled at and called obscene names.
When a photo spread in OK hints that Jesse may have done more with Jase then she is letting on, it's the last straw. She's lost her chance at the one boy she was truly interested in, and she'll do anything she can to just graduate and get out of there.
THE REAL REAL is the perfect book for a summer read. You can easily get lost in the fancy world that Jesse is paraded around in. THE REAL REAL shows what can happen when what you think you want turns out to be a total nightmare and reminds you what your real priorities should be. -
I am going to tell you all a secret. I am addicted to a certain reality show that features men and women who keep the bronzer making people in business. The Real Real gives a peak into what the lives of these so called "reality TV" stars might be like. Jesse is a character who has her life turned upside down by the TV industry. Her and her parents are drawn in by the money that will allow her to go to college and they are basically "owned" by the TV station until her contract is up. During this time she makes questionable decisions, but she is a teen who is thrust into these manipulative situations. Through the authors' writing it was amazing to see how quickly and without provocation people who both know and don't know these teens turn on them. I really enjoyed this book and it made me at least, kind of feel sorry for people of celebrity.
The only thing that I found questionable, or just thought didn't jive was the reaction of Jesse's best friend when she doesn't make the show and Jesse does. Maybe I hold people to a higher standard, but when your best friend in the world gets the chance to pay for college you don't hate them for their good fortune. The other thing is the lack of her parent's involvement. They seemed close at the beginning of the book, but they sort of drop off until the ...crap hits the fan. There is a letter/message that the mom writes to Jesse that I just couldn't believe. I am a huge defendant of Jesse and felt so sorry for her. I absolutely loved this book. -
I really didn't know what to expect from this because on one hand I LOVED Dedication by Emma and Nicola though on the other I disliked The Nanny Diaries. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised with The Real Real which never lacked in drama or romance; two of my favorite themes.
While the beginning was a bit too slow for my taste, as soon as Part II labeled "The Reels" started up it went by quite fast from then on.
I really liked Jesse's character. She was smart, nice, and had some funny lines. Plus, I loved how she wasn't the typical "rich and snotty" girl you see associated with most reality shows, instead she was some who cared about her grades and friends. The same with Drew and Melanie. Nico, Trisha, and Jase, on the other hand, where not people I was found of. Since they were constantly fighting for fame and fortunate, never realizing how there actions could hurt their cast mates
One of the most rewarding qualities of this was the plot. It was interesting to think how you would feel if you were staring in the first ever reality TV show. Plus, it showed you an inside look on that topic, one that made you never ever want to be part of one of those shows. Lastly, it sometimes provided a twist or turn that changed everything, ones that you didn't always see coming.
Overall, The Real Real is a fast read that I suggest for a day at the beach or pool. I look forward to seeing what Emma and Nicola have coming up next in the YA market.
Grade: B-/ C+ -
You can find more reviews
@BloodyBookaholic
With comedy that is sharp as a dagger this novel brings us to the other side of reality T.V. A side you wouldn't have really expected. The things that happen behind the lensses will leave you with your mouth opened, and at certain times, if not all the time, you will want to hit the director where the sun don't shine.
The Real Real is a very funny and engaging novel. I read it non stop and still wanted more by the end. Though not really intense, the novel has it's moments. It's fun, it's light, but at the base of the novel it holds a truth that will change your perspective when you are watching reality T.V.
Not only that, but Emma and Nicola really know how to take the masks off of issues and put them right on the open. First Nanny Diaries, a novel about how rich people often ignore and don't raise their children, now The Real Real, a novel where nothing is what it seems and where sometimes in order to survive you have to sacrifice what is most dear to you.
For the rest of the review, yes there is more, visit us @
Bloody Bookaholic: The Real Real Complete Review -
Ugh. I didn't know that teen fiction could have so much foul language and drunken flings. I'm not sure why I even bothered finishing this book. I kept hoping it would end well, but it didn't. It's written by the same women who wrote Nanny Diaries.
The storyline is about a group of high school students who are picked to be on a reality tv show about living in the Hamptons. Jessie is just a typical teen who works as a waitress but is chosen to be on the show and forced to play friends with the rest of the cast who are the wealthy popular kids. Her life is turned upside down as her real friends stop talking to her and the producers do some creative editing which makes her look terrible.
Even without all the *F* words sprinkled throughout and the multitude of horrible decisions made when the 17 year-olds are drunk, the ending was pathetic since she obviously learned nothing from the experience and *spoiler* signed up for a second season. I might rename this one "Real Real Dumb." -
While this book wasn't bad it took me awhile to get through it. It was a great idea and I can't imagine what it would be like to constantly have cameras around while having to pretend to be friends with a bunch of people you don't care for. Jesse's best friend's reaction to her getting on the show was a bit of a turn off but other than that everything else goes pretty much as expected and you know who Jesse is going to end up with in the end. Jesse's parents were a surprise though. The way they reacted to the stress Jesse was under and the publicity she gets after the show airs seems really selfish. It was like they thought the money was more important than Jesse's happiness and then they seemed to always think the worst of Jesse despite there not being any past reasons to do so. Still this is probably a good insight into what some of these cast members of shows like The Real World go through.
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After the phenomenal success with Nanny Diaries these two ladies has a bit of a sophomore slump. But it's over. The last two books I have read by them have hit it out of the park. They have a way of allowing you to see the inside of celebrity which makes you remember that people are at the heart.
Jesse is just a regular girl. When reality scouts show up at her Hampton High school for a version of The Hills & Gossip Girl combined. She assumes the popular kids will get picked. And they are. But to her surprise so is she.
Jesse is always a reluctant participant - and without giving too much away Jessie soon learns the cost of participation is way more then she bargained for.
This was a fun read. Just another way to view of what it might be like; to be a celebrity. -
Why did I read this? I was looking for an easy read, and I have a vague recollection that I liked The Nanny Diaries, which was written by these same authors. I also enjoy good teen fiction. Ugh. This was not teen fiction that works for adults, not this adult, anyway. The premise sounded interesting--a group of high schoolers is selected by a popular network to be the basis for a new reality show--but we never got to know the characters beyond their shallow appearances. I just didn't care about any of them, and there was no suspense.
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Definitely not as good as The Nanny Diaries. Definitely not as bad as Citizen Girl. But overall - blah. And I was surprised to feel that way, as a not-so-secret lover of reality TV. I thought reading a book about a girl who gets picked to be on a Laguna-Beach-like-TV-show would be right up my alley. But, I just didn't connect with, or really even care for, any of the characters. Blah.
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I bought this book after reading good reviews about it...I have it for almost two months now but I can't find the strength to finish it...It was as if the characters were trying so hard to be teens...super boring. Half the time I was like..."huh? where did that scene come from?" the seemingly busy plot of the book made it disconnected and very unreal.
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Well, the idea of the book was ok i guess, but i really couldn't understand or communicate with the characters.. jesse she seems like a good girl but she is complaining about everything around her .. and i still don't understand what happened with Kaitelen ?? it was a light weekend read .
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"The Real Real" is a Real Fun Read (Sorry). Basically it is the story of a group of high-schoolers whose Senior Year gets hijacked when they are selected to be in a reality television show. What I especially liked was the ending - Jesse finds a way to take back the power and, while she has to readjust her dreams and goals, the alternative path is a pretty good one. This is the best ending of a book that I have read in a long time.
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Một tác phẩm để giải trí với vài phút twist. Mình không nhớ quá nhiều thứ trong nồi lẩu thập cẩm của Emma McLaughlin tuy nhiên có lẽ đó là phong cách Mỹ, phóng khoáng và khá drama đúng như cuốn sách mang lại.
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If you liked Lauren Conrad's books, you will love this book. Very cute. Listened to in one day. I love Emma McLaughlin's other books, too.
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Not a terrible YA. Not spectacular but not bad.
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I loved this on audio!
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I couldn’t get into it. May check out again
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I recently finished L.A. Candy and the Fame Game and I was looking for a new book or series about reality shows and people participating in said shows. And I found this book. Let's just start with that this book isn't for everyone. Some might be off-put by the book. There is some bad language, there is drunken teenagers, there is some hooking up/hints of sex. But other than that, it is a great book.
It wasn't always that great though, there were enough parts where I was shaking my head. Where I was wondering things. But in the end I just had to give the book 5 stars, because even with some things wrong, I still enjoyed myself immensely and it was a fun psychological thing to see how our main character went from silent and mousy to cheating and drunk and then back to trying to find normalcy. There was a lot of fun drama and silly romantic stuff. There are even various love triangles. (Normally I don't like those, but they are well done in this book.) Jase has 3 girls pining for him (yes, I would also count her as she still went for him). Drew has 2 girls pining for him. Then we have Melanie and Rick who were pretty much the odd ones out. It was all a bit silly, but it brought lots of comedy.
Our main character was quite boring in the beginning, and I was worried she would stay like this for a long time. Luckily, the reality show brought another side out of her. One that I didn't entirely expect.
I didn't always like our main character. She made bad choices, she went to the wrong people when things went wrong (seriously, having (almost) sex with someone because the boy of your dream doesn't like you/acts like a bad guy is a bad thing). I also didn't think she was that kind of girl. I thought she had pretty big morals, but it seems when everything goes wrong she dives in the arms of a guy.
But I also saw a girl underneath all that. A girl that actually wants to be good, wants to get out of all the reality crap, just wants her life back. A girl who, even when they were on vacation, was studying for her tests. A girl who would do anything to get stuff to be normal again.
We also have various other characters. We got Jase (Stereotypical player who will screw with any girl), Melanie (not sure what to think of her, she was pretty boring and I didn't get why she was added to the show), Nico (Girl that everyone liked, and who had some good moments, but also a lot of bad ones, but she picked herself up at the ending), Drew (Urgh, disliked him soooo much. He was a nice guy at the beginning, but with the reality show I just disliked him. I know he had to do a lot of these things, but couldn't he have thought for himself for a bit too?), Rick (No clue, he wasn't around that much), Trisha (Urgh, stereotypical popular girl who doesn't care about relationships and the word taken and who would do anything to get on the show) and lastly, Caitlyn. And here begins my rant. I disliked Caitlyn. Or let me clarify. I liked her in the beginning, and then she didn't get what she wanted and she went all boohoo and angry on her best friend who really tried her best to get her on the show. And yes, our main character tried. She tried so hard, but all she got was no. And all we got was a sad Caitlyn who couldn't handle it. Like with a few other characters, she redeems herself, but I really disliked her. Instead of being there for her friend and trying to support her, she went full hate mode. :\ Nice friend you are.... No.
I really loved the ending. It was a bit sick (due to what happened there), but I always had my suspicions about that character. I always thought there was something shady about them. And I was right! I loved how the main character and one of the side-characters kicked ass and got what they wanted. Girl power!
The last pages were really sweet and they made me so happy. Though I didn't entirely like one of the characters, I still was happy they got this ending.
What I want now though is a sequel. There is enough material, and with this ending, there is a mountain of possibilities. I know I would buy it if it ever happens. :)
All in all, this book is one I would recommend.
Review first posted at
http://twirlingbookprincess.com/ -
When XTV (a fictionalized MTV) comes to Jesse's high school to shoot their first-ever teenage reality show about living in the Hamptons (The Real Hamptons Beach), Jesse is uninterested, knowing the show will be -- of course -- a spotlight on the popular, uber-wealthy students. She's surprised when the producers want her to be one of the main cast, but with a hefty scholarship attached to the show, the Georgetown-bound senior can't pass it up. Unfortunately, being a part of the show means being filmed all day, every day. It also means being forced to hang out with the super-popular Nico and Melanie instead of her best friend. It doesn't take long for the show to overtake her life as the producers stage scenes and pull the puppet strings of their casts lives; it might make for riveting television, but living it sucks. Soon, it's hard for Jesse to tell what's real and what's not as weekends end up as planned scenes and a date with her crush ends up being completely staged by the show's producers. And if Jesse's "life" was hard to manage during shooting, it gets complicated in a whole new way when the show actually airs. Suddenly everyone has an opinion (most not-so-nice) about her and her parents think she has a secret life she hasn't told them about, all because of a few edited-beyond-recognition episodes.
Wallflower-turned-famous stories are always a bit hit and miss with me, but The Real Real was definitely a hit. The storyline plays off of the reality show scenes we've seen again and again -- the short conversation that, thanks to a fitting soundtrack, seems so important, or the rivaling groups that seem to be fighting over absolutely nothing -- while giving a "behind the scenes" story that's so much more complicated and interesting than the one on screen. Jesse is intelligent and mostly level-headed, but it's her humor and go-with-the-flow attitude that makes her so relatable. Sure, the show isn't exactly her idea and she does think about quitting early on, but despite this she doesn't spend her time whining about how unfair everything is, even as the show seems to be ruining all the good things in her life. Instead, she takes control of the few things she can control and views her fellow cast members as allies instead of enemies. Though some of the characters here are fairly stereotypical, they're interesting and entertaining stereotypes. This book earnestly touches on a few themes: friendship and personal responsibility among them, but it never lingers too long on these themes.
This book is funny as it simultaneously mocks and shows a real affection for reality television shows. I reached the end of the book hoping there would be a sequel; I think originally this was the start of a planned series but I can't find any information on the next book, which is a shame as the ending works so much better as the first in a series than it does as a stand-alone. Despite the lack-of-closure in the form of a second book, The Real Real is one of the best wallflower-turned-famous books I've read. Just like its protagonist, the novel is funny and smart, great for those of us who like to watch reality television and those who like to make fun of it.
