Thank you so much to NetGalley, Helly Action, and Bonnier Books for granting me the eARC of The Shelf. I'd heard such brilliant things about it that I was really excited to dive in!

I picked this up in between reading a series, just planning to read a couple of pages to get a feel for it... and I ended up reading the whole thing. I could not put it down at all and just kept thinking, just another couple of pages... one whole book later and this was a definite five star read for me.

When I first started reading it, all I could feel was rage towards Jamie, honestly what a d***. Every time he called her piglet I wanted to throttle him; I was a bit worried that i'd end up raging throughout the whole book so i'm really glad the book moved the plot along very quickly. We get a good basis for Amy and Jamie, their characters and their relationship, before the reality sinks in for Amy that she's just been dumped ... on live TV ... by the man she thought was going to propose. Honestly in that moment my heart broke for Amy, knowing it was coming you couldn't help but read this with one eye closed.

I love that the book didn't let us wallow in that for too long though, I think Acton has really good timing as an author as she moves the plot along swiftly. The pace of this book is really well thought out and you get time to sink into the feelings, but you don't despair.

I love all the other characters (although I was a bit confused initially about who was who) and I loved the dynamics between the women. They all brought something different to the story and none of them felt just one-note, even Flick was layered by the end. The less said about the men the better!! They were all, apart from maybe Jason, awful awful characters and yet they felt realistic. Hattie's ex-boyfriend was the only one who I think that bordered into abusive, and I think the book balanced the dynamics of this well. I could have killed the yoga instructor and the guy who did the quiz!! I like that towards the end the Dr and Sam (I think) acknowledged that actually, this may not have been the best way to do what they wanted with this show.

I feel the book really balanced well the drama of the break-ups and the reality show, with the friendships between the women. They felt real and you could invest in them. And I like that the overall message of the book is about finding the one, but sometimes the one is actually you; you shouldn't ignore the red flags in relationships and if you aren't happy, or feel you are more invested in it than your partner, then maybe it's time to reassess. A book I would highly highly recommend reading!

A satirical, thoroughly enjoyable comment of being on the Shelf! I read it in a single sitting. Amy is 32 years old and feeling the social pressure to get married and have kids. She has made many compromises in her relationship of two years, feeling that this is her last chance to confirm with social norms and settle down. Except that her boyfriend dumps her in spectacular style but putting her on a reality TV show with other dumped girls, called The Shelf. On the show, she must show how she has learned to be a compatible mate.
As a reality TV addict, I loved how the author used that platform for social commentary. Woman are so empowered and accomplished these days, and yet they are still held to different standards to men. Or so it feels, and the pressure is enormous. The book was lovely, lighthearted but also had a deeper more inspiring message. I loved all the characters and the big poke at reality TV series. Highly recommend this multi-messaged romp.

This was a lot of fun. I’m not a fan of reality tv in the slightest, yet I still enjoyed this.

There is nothing new here - and it’s very predictable. Each incident is heavily signposted and it lacks any ‘wow’ moment - but it’s well written enough to be a good way to pass time for a while and be swept away.

A good holiday read.

Whilst I did enjoy The Shelf I didn’t love it. Amy is expecting her boyfriend to whisk her away on a luxury holiday with the hope that he’ll eventually propose. However she ends up being one of six contestants on a show called The Shelf where they’ve been dumped by their partners and are competing to be crowned ‘The Keeper’ and win one million pounds. This book is Love Island meets Big Brother and unfortunately I found it to be somewhat predictable. I also didn’t really like any of the characters. Having said that it is a quick read that I’m sure many will love. Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

When Amy's boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he's about to propose. Instead, she finds herself on The Shelf; a Big Brother-style reality TV show where women are dumped live on air by their partners before taking part in a series of humiliating 'challenges' to teach them how to be the perfect wife/girlfriend. The winner will be crowned 'The Keeper' and take home £1 million.

I feel really conflicted about this book. Amy and the other contestants' relationship situations felt so relatable, and it does raise some interesting points around self-love and acceptance.

However, the front cover led me to believe this was going to be a lighthearted comedy, but I found it more 'cringe' than funny.

I also thought the side-characters could have been better developed. With the exception of Amy and maybe Jackie and Flick (who had distinctive personalities), I had trouble remembering who everyone was.

Aside from the above, it is a unique and thought-provoking read, and I would recommend other people give it a go and make their own minds up.

It would also be really interesting to see this book adapted for TV - I actually think the story would work well as a dark comedy or drama (think "Black Mirror")!

As a lover of reality TV and this style of fiction, I was intrigued to read Helly Acton’s novel The Shelf (ebook out now). Amy Wright thinks she’s going to be proposed to by her boyfriend of 2 years, Jamie, but instead he dumps her on brand new TV show ‘The Shelf’, leaving her there to compete with six other women to be crowned ‘The Keeper’. It’s a cross between Love Island and Big Brother, and having a reality competition told in book form (minus The Hunger Games, I guess) is a concept I hadn’t really come across before.
The book starts well, a really solid premise promising strong feminist morals and a fun adventure. It is most definitely fun, and is engrossing to begin with, but after a while it grows stagnant. Some parts are a slog to read (such as whenever the show’s presenter is on the TV) There appears to be little growth in some the characters (at least in what they say – so many things are repeated), and any growth in the main character is quite predictable, which is both a shame and also okay – it makes for a good and empowered ending.
Something I wish has been explored more was the whole dynamic of being on reality TV. Jackie is the only black contestant (that I was made aware of) and was interestingly often at the bottom of the public vote. I wish this has been explored more – clearly her race was a factor in why she was at the bottom. It would have been so interesting if Acton had made more of a statement on reality TV as a whole, rather than just ‘we don’t need men!’.
Overall, this is a fun summer read with a strong premise. If you adore reality TV, then this can fill that Love Island-shaped hole, but don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.

This was a really fun premise and an easy read ideal for a holiday or a relaxing break. It was a little slow in places, but overall I enjoyed it a lot!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amy is a 32 year old freelancer, who has been with her boyfriend Jamie for two years. She’s feeling the pressure of not being married with children like a lot of her friends, but she’s pretty sure Jamie is planning to pop the question on their imminent holiday. However, when it’s time to leave for their holiday, Amy is whisked away to tv studio, only to find that Jamie has brutally dumped her on national television, and arranged for her to participate in a new reality show called The Shelf, where contestants compete to be crowned The Keeper. She decides to stay and compete, while trying to deal with being dumped and figure what she wants from life. Will she ever find someone else? Was Jamie The One?

I really enjoyed this! It’s a fairly easy fast read, but most of the characters were good although I did find a couple of them to be stereotypes of particular ‘types’ of women. However, on the whole, I thought this was a really interesting premise, and I honestly wouldn’t be shocked to see it on tv soon - it’s a small step away from Love Island, or Your Face or Mine?. Some of the characters were well written though - Jamie in particular rang very true, as someone you would love to hate. I thought it was very finely tuned, demonstrating just how easy it is to overlook small issues that should ring alarm bells, which end up building into relationship-ending problems.

I would definitely recommend this, a good beach read but with a bit more heart and depth than you might expect, and with a good overall message.

This outrageously fun premise deals with the see me/see everything mentality of our media crazed world and the your happily ever after only comes with marriage/kids 'school of thought', something that has been drilled into our brains since childhood.

Even though the reality game is certainly sexist (there are moments that I wanted to shout at the book), what is admirable is the message of womanpower, that shines through the contestants and the way they deal with this crazy, often humiliating situation.

This delightful narrative is bursting with humor, uplifting in showing us the beauty of loving yourself, and despite the hard truths the protagonist is faced with, full of contagious optimism. The contestants are instantly likeable and so relatable. They are all so different, and there are views you might not agree with, but they all show the need to be accepted for who they are.

A feel-good hilarious book, with lessons in life and the power of being yourself, that have nothing to do with people's opinions and everything to do with taking care of you.

Amy Wright is in a relationship with Jamie and has been for two years. She thinks she should be wanting marriage and children, and believes Jamie is taking her on holiday to propose.

But, this could not be further from the truth. Instead she is blindfolded and taken to a secret location. Which turns out to be the set of a new reality show - The Shelf. Bewildered and confused she is called to the Chat Room where a live feed of Jamie is played in - he dumps her on live TV.

She is then told by the producers that her and the other contestants will compete in a series of challenges to see who emerges as the winner - the one who proves they're marriage material. Amy is unimpressed, but with a million pound prize for the winner, and with nothing left to return to on the outside world, she decides to stay.

The other women are hilarious, supportive, kind and generous, and it is these fabulous women as well as the therapy sessions Amy attends that teach her what she needed to learn all along. That she is happier being single than staying with a man like Jamie who only made her miserable, and only ever thought about himself.

I was so engaged with all the female characters, and the writing was brilliant. I was shouting at Amy to realise what a complete douchebag Jamie is. I loved the female solidarity, and the complexity of each woman as we are shown more of their back stories.

Absolutely giving this book five stars, love love loved it!!!!!

I found this an interesting concept for a book and enjoyed the story. A new TV show was promoted and it was like a cross between Big Brother and Love Island! Amy finds herself on the show and begins a journey of self discovery to regain her self confidence and follow her dream.
The characters were engaging and believable and the story kept you interested. Some of the chapters were a bit predictable but it was an easy read with humorous moments.

Absolutely loved this feminist, fun, romp of a book. Such a brilliant concept and so well executed - Amy thinks her boyfriend is going to propose but instead he dumps her on telly and she winds up on a game show (like big brother) for women to learn how to be a perfect girlfriend. Except it doesn't quite work out like that.

Couldn't put this book down and would definitely read another by this author.

Amy thinks that her boyfriend Jamie is about to propose to her but instead finds herself in Big Brother style reality show The Shelf. It's a place where men abandon their girlfriends as a way to break up with them and they compete live on air to prove who is deemed 'The Keeper'. This was a pretty light and quick read and a really interesting unusual concept. It's not quite laugh-out-loud hilarious but it is fun and would make for a very pleasant holiday read!

If you are looking for a hilarious and fun read this is for you. It was so different to what I've read before & I loved the concept of the book with the nod to how reality TV has such a huge part in society. A great read from a brilliant writer

This book is funny, heartwarming and uplifting. At the beginning I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go but I am beyond pleased with where it went, especially the ending. The language, dialogue and narration style were all perfect.

A wonderful journey, in which I felt connected to all the characters.

I was dubious as to whether I would like this book or not but glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a great read. It was a relatable book for today’s society and about having to fit into social norms etc. The writing style was interesting and once I got used to it was an enjoyable read. Definitely worth a read but stick with it!

I really wasn’t sure about this book to begin with as it isn’t like my usual type I’d read but I really wanted to see what happened! I’m glad I did as I enjoyed it in the end.

The Shelf has a really interesting concept, picking up on current popular culture trends around dating reality television, feminism, and influencer culture. As someone who enjoys some reality television, I didn’t hesitate to request this when it came up - it sounded like it would be right up my street. And it should have been. Unfortunately, the execution fell a bit flat. The book lacks depth. There is not enough time to really care for the characters, and they are all one dimensional - both inside and outside of the house. The author’s viewpoints and attempts to set out a message were also far too obvious. I felt like I was being doused in didactic messaging about feminism and the dangers of bad relationships and influencer culture. It could have been much more subtle but still had the same impact. I made myself finish the book because I hoped the challenges or messages would be more insightful as the book progressed, but it stayed at a surface level throughout. Disappointing for me personally, but I think it could be a good book for someone else (particularly BIG fans of Love Island) so have rated accordingly.

Amy thinks her boyfriend Jamie is going to pop the question on a secret holiday he has planned. Instead he dumps her live on a new reality TV show called The Shelf.

She is placed in a house (think Big Brother) along with 5 other women, Jackie, Gemma, Hattie, Lauren and Flick where they have to do tasks and get lessons on how to be “a keeper” with the winner taking away the million pound prize.

All the characters were a mix of different ages and backgrounds and all relatable. It’s a funny feminist read about friendship and self development with a really good ending!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

Very modern storyline based on a big brother reality show concept. I liked Amy, clearly she’s destined for a great relationship yet it seems so familiar what many people put up with in a relationship. Whilst it was fun the tone shows the reader growth of character.

Easy reading, light hearted female holiday book.,