Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book was described as a feminist read but, after reading it, I'm not sure if I agree fully. I understand what Acton is trying to do by interrogating the stereotypes of how women are expected to be 'marriage material' but it comes across as quite cliched and the characters are very cipher-like. The overall message is positive - you are enough without a man and you shouldn't settle or compromise what you want just to be in a relationship - but I couldn't completely get on with the writing and I felt the entire premise of the TV show made me very uncomfortable. Having said that, I can totally see it happening... a book with its heart in the right place.

This was a really fun read which got me thinking about the various conflicts and contradictions we have to negotiate as women in contemporary society.
Using the idea of a "self-help" reality show for women straight after being dumped by their partners was a really interesting medium through which the author explores feminism, gender and relationships.
At first, I found the use of third-person a bit jarring for some reason and I think that Amy would have been a great narrator but the writing gets stronger as the book progresses.
The group of women in the book who have to share the house and go through the tasks together were strong, funny, uplifting, beautiful and fleshed out really well. From Jackie and her relationship with her Dad, to Kathy and her going through the grief of her marriage ending after decades, the women are portrayed in a real and believable way.
I think that Flick's journey was the most interesting and I found myself wanting to know how her story ends as well as the mystery to be revealed around her partner as I read on.
An enjoyable read and I particularly liked the lack of cattiness between the "contestants" as well as the constant push back against the producers and show format and content by them. This made the hoops they had to jump through (or not) for the show understandably more bearable.

I really enjoyed this one. I started off feeling raging my angry at the show premise and the people behind it, but loved the women in it and the friendships and the take-home message! :-)

This book surprised me immediately. I had expected a twee women’s fiction full of metaphors and relationship drama and instead found myself tuning into each chapter as if ‘The Shelf’ actually was the newest reality TV series. I really appreciated how quickly the book gets into the narrative and as a twenty-something female, the themes of the novel (sexism, feminism and modern media) definitely resonate.

Although Amy’s character does seem like a prime stereotype for this kind of story, I’m glad we see a variety of women portrayed alongside her, each with their own interesting background and perspective. It’s a fun read and overall, I hugely enjoyed it.

The only negative I could give is how often I wanted to reach into the book and do something indiscernible to a male character, however I feel this is exactly the reaction Acton may have been hoping for!

I went into this book thinking it was romance and i stayed for the show. I loved reading about all the girls on the shelf and how they changed the entire show to prove their point. This was a great read! It was very love island-y/big brother and i would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.
On starting to read this book I thought I wasn't going to like it as I'm not a fan of most reality shows.
However, as I continued to read I became gripped by the storyline. The message if the book is to believe in yourself and be proud if who you are.
I would recommend this book.

A funny, feminist and all-too-relatable novel about our obsession with coupling up, settling down and the battle we all have with accepting ourselves, The Shelf introduces the freshest new voice in women's fiction.

Ever feel like you're losing a race you never signed up for?

Everyone in Amy's life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she's falling behind.

So, when her long-term boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he's going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when, instead, she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is brutally dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned 'The Keeper'.

While inside the house, will Amy learn that there are worse things than being 'left on the shelf'?

Wow is all I can say to this book! For somebody of my age who was in the ideal tv viewing age for the first ever series of Big Brother I completely bought the concept of this book and loved it straight from the start.

Amy was the perfect main character for this book. She learns and teaches others including the reader that what other people think of you doesn't matter, it's what you think of yourself that does. She ends up in the Big Brother house with various types of females, and learns about all of them and their different ways. The presenter of the show was someone I could totally believe in, struck me as an Olly Murs type?!

Without giving too much away I also loved the very ending of this book, not at all what I was expecting!

I will be heartily recommending this book to others, most definitely a 5-star review from me!

Missing out on Love Island this year, this book was the perfect fit for the reality TV whole in my life! The Shelf was charming, funny and definitely easy to read.

Amy, and a group of other women, are all dumped and signed up for a reality TV show, The Shelf, by their exes. Over the course of the show, and book, the women learn what it is men supposedly really want...

Hilarious, refreshing & original!

This novel is like a breath of fresh air, its real, authentic, and relatable. Acton perfectly captures friendship the strength, the support, and the way it anchors you.

Individually the contestants aren't perfect they are flawed, they are insecure and they all have their struggles, but together they are a force to be reckoned with and are all lovable. I felt the women had very distinctive voices and all stood out from each other.

I loved the empowerment in is novel, learn to love yourself, follow your head and your heart to do what makes you happy. Yes, the message at its core about finding 'the one' but never ignore those red flags and know the sometimes 'the one' is you. Be confident. Be strong. Be you.

Overall this story is brimming with laugh-out-loud moments and a few heart-wrenching ones there is never a dull moment. It's a must-read!

A huge thanks to Clare Kelly & Bonnier Books for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. If you're a fan of Lindsey Kelk, Lucy Diamond or Beth O'Leary, you'll absolutely love this, Amy Wright is a 32 year old in a very one sided relationship with a self centred gentleman who are on very different paths; she wants marriage and kids, he's given her a key to his place but told her to ask for permission before turning up....Amy thinks they're going on a wonderful holiday adventure together where he is ABSOLUTELY going to propose.. but in a crazy plot twist, she finds herself dumped by him (quite literally) onto a reality tv show.

Think big brother meets love island, but with some chauvinistic anti feminist challenges which seek to teach a woman that she should be back in the kitchen, breeding children and doing everything to keep her husband happy, at the expense of herself. What absolutely made this book for me is the characters, what an amazing group of women. Feminist, head strong, funny, a laugh a minute, but the therapy sessions pulled on my heart strings - I'm sure many can relate to the topics discussed in the chat room. Some moments I was half laughing and half crying.

It's a show that is designed to make a woman conform to 1950s housewife standards, but what actually happens is rebellion, sisterhood, and the learning that they are each their own soul mate and need to live life on their terms. I loved this book and will absolutely be recommending to all of my friends and followers.

Thank you so much to the lovely people at Bonnier Books and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This isn't the usual sort of book I would pick but I requested it on a whim because the blurb sounded interesting.

Amy is 32 years old, her boyfriend Jamie is alright but since she's being "left behind" as all her friends are getting married and having babies she's willing to settle down with him. When he books a surprise holiday she's excited because she thinks he's going to propose. In reality he's dumping her on tv and entering her in a big brother style show where she and other ladies who have just been dumped live in a house together and complete tasks to become better at relationships and "the keeper".

The writing is fast paced and easy to read, the different characters are believable and likeable. It's a good concept and satire of these types of shows and how they can be damaging to people and the sexism that can exist where women can be seen as objects for men to rate. Although it does have a strong message, it doesn't lose any enjoyability. I found much of the book funny and laughed out loud at some of the statements/situations.

Before I had even finished it, I was recommending it to people and I think I will probably buy a couple of copies for my friends birthdays because I think they'll really enjoy it. Brilliant!

(Shared on Goodreads but I can't find a link)

Mixed feelings about this one; I actively avoid 'reality' tv, but if that's your thing then you'll love The Shelf.

Amy feels all her friends have left her behind; while they are settled with children she is still living the single life but with a key to her boyfriend's flat. Surely that's a sign that he's ready to settle down and, as the date of their holiday approaches, Amy convinces herself that he's about to pop the question - surely? How wrong could she be?

I really struggled with the idea of this one to begin with, failing to understand why Amy just didn't turn tail and run (as I would have, at speed!) but as I got to know the characters I began to relax and enjoy the story. With a good mix of characters, this is definitely one for the women to enjoy - and show how much more we can all do for ourselves! It is a book for all the feminists to relish and I nodded my head so often I'm surprised it hasn't come loose! It's a good read, despite the fact that this kind of tv show becoming 'must not miss' viewing says an awful lot about current society. I shuddered at the very thought of it, but overall - and in a strange kind of way - it was enjoyable. For me, this is a four star read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

💔The shelf- Helly Acton 💔

Oh. My. Goodness. This needs to be a thing, get on to ITV producers right now. This book is Love island meets big brother meets dinner date and I’m all for it!

I devoured this absolute gem of a book. It was lovely to read an all women empowering book for a change. I loved that this book had underlying feminism roots and I just love that all these women (who were ‘shelved’ in their relationships) were on their own individual journeys (and boy were they different) to find themselves. I don’t have a bad thing to say about this book only why isn’t it on my tv already, it’s the best idea for a show I have ever read.

This book is out in July and trust me you gotta put it on your TBR now!

I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I just love how uplifting it was so it’s 5 stars from me. I truly recommend.

I received an ARC of this book via Bonnier Books UK (Zaffre) and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description

Everyone in Amy’s life seems to be getting married (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she’s falling behind.

So, when her boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday to a mystery destination, she thinks this is it – he’s going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned ‘The Keeper’. Will Amy’s time on the show make her realise there are worse things in life than being left on the shelf?

My thoughts

Though I’m only 22, my social media (at least the non blog related social media) is full of people settling down, getting engaged and starting (or adding to) a family and – as much as I try not to be bothered by it – I can’t help but feel like I’m behind everyone. The main character of Helly Acton’s The Shelf feels the same and then – just as she thinks she might be heading down the aisle – things take a strange, but entertaining turn.

Even though they are incredibly problematic, and I’d much rather watch something on Disney+, there’s no denying that reality TV is an interesting form of escapism. The reality TV format made an equally interesting premise for a book, in the form of a Big Brother-Love Island hybrid show called – what do you reckon ? – The Shelf! Amy starts the book thinking her boyfriend, Jamie (I couldn’t get over the fact their names rhymed), will ask her the Big Question but – as the show goes on – the book asks important questions about gender, relationships and what makes the perfect partner.

I’m glad that the book wasn’t just focused on the reality TV aspect. Though there were tasks, dramas and traditional reality TV cliches throughout, Amy and the other female character’s time on the show opens up very real debates and questions that were funny but they definitely had me a bit angry at times.

The book doesn’t just follow Amy but five other women who are exciting, captivating and all carrying their own baggage. I liked that Acton didn’t just make several other carbon copies of Amy – each character had their quirks, their flaws and their own voices which was refreshing to read.

Though I enjoyed the book, I felt like my interest waned towards the end. The ending wasn’t unexpected (I definitely had a feeling it’d end in a similar way), but I just didn’t feel as satisfied as I thought I would.

Even so, The Shelf is an enjoyable, easy read – perfect if we get a summer holiday this year (I’m crossing my fingers!).

The Shelf will be published on 9th July 2020.

I LOVED this debut. So incredibly smart, funny, feminist and totally full of stuff I could see myself saying! It was a super quick read that for me is the only book that has tackled the Love Island/reality love show trend in a genuinely successful way.

Totally an author to add to my 'must-read' list!

Blooming loved this book, exactly what I needed.
This is the story of Amy as she is expecting certain things from her relationship, only to get the complete opposite and end up on a reality TV show called The Shelf along with some other newly single ladies.
The way the author deliberately makes the show cringy and sexist was brilliant and it only highlighted how amazing the other characters were as each one helped in some way to make Amy a better person (not that she was bad before, just lost).
The feminist values running through this were fabulous and I love the positive messages that came through.
Let's not get me started on how much I hated Jamie & Adam the host...
I could have kept on reading about these characters for more than the 380 page we got and I am already wondering if we can have some spin offs???

I really enjoyed this book. Amy feels that she is being left behind in the marriage and baby stakes, so when her boyfriend Jamie announces that they are going on a mystery holiday, she is convinced that he is going to pop the question. However, instead, she finds herself a contestant on a Big Brother type reality show, 'The Shelf'. Jamie dumps her in front of the audience, and she and her fellow contestants have to go through various challenges in order to make them more 'relationship friendly'!! I loved all the characters and the way they developed during the course of the book. This a great story about self belief and having the self confidence to do your own thing. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

When I first started reading, my first thought was 'oh god another sexist rom-com'. I then realised this has to be a satire for the incredible amount of sexism.

As a satire, this book did very well to comment on the issues surrounding reality TV and how it affects the well being of the contestants. I'm a huge fan of Love Island, but this book really made me think if my enjoyment, along with millions of others, of the show is worth the cruel and disgusting treatment contestants go through. I would argue not. Obviously they benefit too, the contestants of The Shelf certainly benefited, but at the expense of their dignity and privacy.

The Shelf focused on the affects of reality TV on seven women, Amy, the protagonist, was pretty bland as a main character, but perhaps this was on brand for her TV persona as 'boring' Amy (and am I falling into a trap by calling her bland?). Although I appreciated the comments on sexism in the reality TV industry, I found a lot of it very hard to stomach, especially the comments and actions of the staff and host of The Shelf. It really pushed the boundaries of 'too much' for me.
The reason I've given this book three stars, is because the book seemed to being really pushing a connection with the protagonist and the other contestants, and I just couldn't emotionally connect with any of them.

Overall, this book is definitely necessary now, in an age where we (me included) excuse subtle sexism and other bigotries so we can enjoy trashy TV without guilt.

32-year-old Amy thinks she’s happy in her relationship with her long-term partner Jamie, so happy in fact she believes he’s about to whisk her away on a lavish holiday and finally pop the question. Jamie, however, has very different ideas, his surprise for Amy is taking her to the set of a new reality TV show The Shelf. There, he unceremoniously dumps her leaving Amy confused and heartbroken. Amy then discovers there is 1 million pounds on the line if she wins the show, offering her the chance to fulfil her dream of traveling and starting her own blog. She throws caution to the wind and decides to stick the show out. She then finds herself living with 6 other dumped ladies and competing in tasks in order to be declared ‘the keeper’, the perfect women that men would want to marry.

This book immediately appealed to me when I read the synopsis and saw our main character would be appearing on a Big Brother style reality show. I am a self-confused reality TV fan, having watched every series of Big Brother from when it started to the final series in 2018. I had a moment of realisation a week or so ago when I realised that nearly all the shows on my backed-up SKY box are some form of reality show. I, however, have never read a book with a reality show concept so I thought it could be very interesting.

From the first meeting with our main character Amy I immediately liked her and felt for her. She is in a relationship with Jamie who we find out rather quickly is a pretty shocking person and not very nice to her. As a reader we also know it’s likely no proposal is coming, and my heart was hurting for her. She is then very quickly thrust into the TV show The Shelf. I wondered why she would stay and take part after being dumped but there is a hefty cash prize on offer and Amy is aware it may be good for her to stay and help with the process of getting over Jamie.

We are introduced to a whole host of fellow contestants. When I read books where lots of characters are introduced at once I always make notes to remember who is who. I did find in this book though that all the characters were quite distinct and individual in their own ways which meant I felt I knew them really well really quickly. All the girls had their own reasons for staying and for most of them their experience on the show, no matter how long they were part of it led to them becoming a stronger version of themselves.

The show itself is pretty awful, awful in the sense that it is completely sexist and some of the tasks the ladies have to do to show they are ‘a keeper’ are pretty horrid. However, I found myself questioning if this show was real would I watch it? And the answer is yes, I would. I found myself completely invested in the show, I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know the outcome of the tasks and who would be evicted. I feel Helly really captured the essence of reality TV in that the story evoked feelings of investment from me, it felt very plausible and real.

One thing I loved about this story was the relationships and friendships that develop between the women. I found myself questioning at the start how I would feel if I was in Amy’s position and I think being in the house with a group of fellow dumped women would be quite appealing as they would know exactly what your going through. As mentioned, all the ladies come to the show under different circumstances, but I loved the bond they immediately shared. They then spent their time building each other up and supporting each other which I loved. I think the friendships formed were fantastic and I felt this tapped into a side of reality TV shows that aren’t always well know. Shows like the one portrayed in this book often get bad wrap, but I have watched so many shows where the biggest thing contestants take from them are new friendships. This was definitely my favourite part of the story.

All the girls go on their own journeys and I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome for everyone of them. I didn’t feel any of them changed who they were because of their time on the show but rather they remembered something’s about themselves that life and relationships had taken out of them. I loved seeing how this group of women who didn’t know each other at the start of the month were instrumental in building each other confidence. They all became so important to each other as a result. The end for me was just spot on and I would love to catch up with Amy one day. As I write this, I am already wondering what she is up to!

This was the first book I read by this author and I would be keen to read more in the future. I found this book so uplifting and funny and just wanted I needed. I loved that it had the reality TV element and showed the good side of them, not just the bad. I thought all the characters were great, particularly Amy. I enjoyed watching her journey and would like to leave this review with a quote from her that totally tapped into how 25 year felt a few years back. “I’m thinking I want to have it all. But I know that having it all is impossible. I want to settle down, but I also want to travel. I want children, but I also want my freedom. The truth is when I see babies, I don’t feel broody, I feel anxious. They’re like anchors. But I shouldn’t feel like that at my age, should I? how can I want a home and want to sleep in a tent on the edge of a ravine? Its like I’m two Amy’s” I felt this summed up Amy’s character and I identified so much with this. I really hope other readers pick up this book and see a little of Amy in themselves because she was s pretty great character.

Thank you to Netgalley, Helly Acton and Bonnier Zaffre for my arc of The Shelf in exchange for an honest review. 
Synopsis Amy Wright thinks she's got it all worked out. When boyfriend Jamie plans to whisk her away on an exotic holiday and starts acting shifty, she's certain he's planning on proposing. So nobody's more surprised than her when she finds her self at the end of an impromptu dumping on new reality tv show The Shelf. Stuck in a house big brother style with 5 other women what will Amy learn from her experience on The Shelf?
I really enjoyed this light hearted, fun, feminist read. Amy and the other girls all had great and different personality traits, that really shone through and showed how individual women are. I thought the feminist perspective was done really well to with the comments and systems in place that lets face it are common place and brushed under the carpet I think The Shelf highlighted this and gave it the 'shock' value. Really excellent book I would highly recommend.