I did not warm to this book immediately, as I don't watch the sort of reality TV shows it is based on. However, as I read on, I became interested in the characters and wanted to find out what happened to them.
Amy is 32 and feels the biological clock ticking. She is in a relationship with Jamie and thinks they will probably get married, but does she really want to marry him? When he tells her they are going away, she assumes he is going to propose, but instead of a tropical beach and a proposal, she ends up ditched by Jamie and on the set of a new reality TV show called The Shelf.
The premise of the show is to turn the women into Keepers - the sort of woman every man wants to marry! Although it appears that those men are relics from the 1950s who want their wives barefoot, pregnant and chained to the kitchen sink...
Challenges are set, friendships evolve, and the four-week experiment continues until one woman is the winner. But do they all win somehow?
A bit of a rant against men at times, but with some redeeming features. Keep it for the beach...

4+
Wow, this book packs a few punches but does so in a witty and clever fashion. Amy Wright is in a relationship with Jamie, she’s 32, feels her clock is ticking, other friends are settling down and so is he her best bet??? Apparently not as he dumped her in the most spectacular and humiliating way by doing so for a new reality television show called The Shelf. There are a number of choice words to describe Jamie but I’ll refrain. Six other women join the show, five of whom are also dumped, the potential winner will get a million pounds for their pains. The show achieves high audience numbers, there’s a live feed of comments from viewers which have few boundaries- so yes, it’s a real self esteem fest. However, the women form a strong bond and are able to rise above the insults and support each other through their ordeal.

This book makes so many valid points and really makes you think. The main one is about acceptance - just be yourself, don’t let anyone else tell you what you should be, be happy in your own skin rather than follow herd mentality or tell you how far and high you can achieve. There’s a strong feminist message as well as a men are from Mars vibe and the men who dumped these amazing women are certainly Martians and most are not worth a second thought. The women are very likeable although there’s one who stirs the pot, I love the strength they gain from an experience they would not have chosen. Amy emerges very reflective with a strong desire to just be and follow her head and heart and all the women leave empowered. The novel parodies (possibly satirises) reality tv with the obsession of the ‘world’ watching and judging or influencing your every move, pout or whatever.. Count me out I’d as soon watch paint dry. The host vacuous Adam is a send up too, he’s so easy to imagine with many of his comments containing more cheese than Cheddar. Some of the ‘guests’ they sent into the women are just beyond ridiculous and made me laugh but sadly I can actually picture that happening! The author makes valid points too about social media and how easy it is to hide behind online anonymity while making poisonous personal comments.

Overall, a really clever book with an excellent message about what matters, about being confident and strong enough to be yourself, about the importance of friendship and not worrying about what others might think. The end is really good and demonstrates how much the women learned and they move on to something bigger and better of their choosing.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the ARC.

On a rare day off, I read this in one sitting. I was finding it hard to get into it, maybe it’s an age thing as I probably had feelings like Amy in my twenties, but now, older and wiser, I would not have tolerated Jamie at all.
As the book progresses, you realise there is a strong message. Body shaming and female self worth are explored throughout.
Reality tv is not really my genre but the book related well to it, funny and wry in equal measure.
The ending was great, and I enjoyed the book once I got into it. I would recommend it and look for further titles by the author.

The Shelf is a fun, easy read that ends with what I feel is a good moral of the story -know your worth and don't fall victim for society's expectations. The novel is targeted to a different (younger? millennial?) market so I will admit I found it slightly confusing at first.

Amy's problem (being dumped by her long-term boyfriend) seemed slightly odd to me. I grew up during the 90s which, whilst not perfect, encouraged young women to be independent and definitely more individualistic than the Instagram obsessed characters in this book.

The ending contains a twist and I am glad I stuck with the book as it contains a positive message that I feel all young women out there should listen to.

Disclosure: I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy of the book. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this. A really quick, funny read but with some strong poignant moments that will speak with every reader. Well thought out characters and a really believable plot, I could really see this on TV! Would definitely recommend.

Loved this book, it’s cute and an easy read. I have really enjoyed everything about this book.
It’s definitely a great read and I have devoured this in one sitting

The blurb for The Shelf pulled me in immediately, hence the clicking on Request It as soon as I could, and I was quick to download and read it, once I was accepted.
Expecting to be jetting off on an exotic holiday with her hopefully soon-to-be fiance, ends up with our heroine, Amy, finding herself dumped, and on the set of a Big Brother-style reality show, The Shelf.
Cue four weeks of coping with humiliation, forming friendships, and coming to realisations about herself.
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book, initially. Why was this woman putting up with that narcissistic idiot of a boyfriend, Jamie? And when she got dumped, live on telly, why did she stay?
But then, as the story unfolded, I found myself immersed in the whole situation.
I loved Amy, who, as a woman in her thirties, was feeling the pull for the traditional version of where she should be in life; marriage and 2.4 kids, but went on to find a version of herself that worked for her.
The supporting cast of women on the show with her were an eclectic mix of characters. I'd almost have enjoyed a bit more friction between them at times, but equally, I loved how they stood up for each other too.
Anyone else want to slap the show's host, Andy? I really did!
Overall a good read, and quite addictive, once you get into it.
I'd like to see ow a bunch of men would handle the show!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an ARC, in exchange for an honest opinion.

I enjoyed The Shelf very much and had a great time learning more about Amy and the rest of the characters that found themselves in the TV show. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to find the book so interesting but it presented a fresh idea and narrative and I found the main character hilarious.

So yes, it was a very enjoyable book in which some important issues are presented, including sexism and body shaming. There is a powerful messaging behind the reality show and I think its amazing what the author has done there.

Also, the closing line gave me goosebumps!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a book with a message - learn to love yourself and go from there.

A truly relatable story, everyone has at least once felt like they weren't meeting the expectations of their family, friends and/or colleagues.

Amy, feels she should be getting married and having babies just because her friends are.
At the beginning of this book, Amy is convinced her boyfriend of two years will propose to her on holiday,

But, reality is that she's been taken to a tv set and dumped live on TV, then asked to participate in a new reality TV show called The Shelf.

Amy, then decides to stay and continues with the TV show. Other contestants arrive and a variety of challenges are set and met, these are meant to help contestants learn how to be desirable to men.

Each contestant and Amy learn something important whilst filming The Shelf both from each other and the in house therapist.

I found the book enjoyable, as I said, it’s relatable to read about someone who steadily grows emotionally, learning about themselves.

Recommend it.

I adored this book. As a Love Island fan (it’s my guiltiest of pleasures!), the premise absolutely grabbed me and I was not disappointed.

I loved Amy, I’ve been Amy and I’ve had the same realisations that Amy has throughout the book. All of love is a group of friends like she has and I’ll be set for life!

It was great to see each woman grow in a way that suited them, as well as calling out the double standards that so often exist in books.

This is you lighthearted, sort-of feminist read of the summer!

This isn’t my usual kind of book, but I was interested when I read the blurb.

Amy finds herself cast into reality tv- a brand new show called The Shelf. Along with 6 other women, she is competing to win a million pounds.

This book is unashamedly chick lit, with a twist. The absurdity of the premise and the ridiculous tasks the housemates are compelled to complete just highlight some of the issues women around the world are battling each day. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a feminist book, but it certainly raises interesting points in a different way.

I think the author settled into their story well but you have to power through the first chapters to get to the heart of the story. It’s quite waffly and cliched at the start but the writing definitely improves as the book progresses.

Not my usual genre, but a jolly read with more bite than you expect. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I thought it was a good concept, and good commentary on reality tv, but I thought it was a little heavy handed with the feminist message - towards the beginning it felt almost like a parody and the conclusion felt a little too pointed! But I think that's because it sort of fell between genres.

Ridiculous plot

I was looking for a beach-type read, a Jill Mansell or Amanda Prowse or similar, but this was not it. It is indescribably bad and ridiculous in plot and not well written. The whole premise of the story is dodgy (I can’t describe it without revealing part of the plot) which would be acceptable if the characters were not so poorly developed. The author needs to understand more about layering and how to build up characters that you can have empathy with. The prose was bland and I felt nothing – no feel for the characters or belief in the plot. Back to writing school I think.

This was such a fun read and the characters were so real and engaging. Sometimes you don't need or want a heavy piece of literary fiction and that's where this book comes in, fun, light but with real heart.

Move over Love Island there's a new game show in town!

At age 32, Amy is feeling that all to familiar pressure of settling down, getting married and having kids. When Jamie, her boyfriend says he's taking her on a surprise holiday, Amy is sure he's going to pop the question!
But Amy's surprise holiday takes a turn for the worst when Jamie coldly dumps her live on television and leaves her on 'The Shelf'  a game show (think Big Brother crossed with Love Island) that has women competing against each other, to prove they are the perfect catch.

Amy not only has the chance to win a million quid and be crowned 'The Keeper' by the misogynist hit TV show but also has the time to figure out what it is she really wants for her future, *spoiler* Jamie is not included.

Oh this book was a joy to read. It was so entertaining that I had it finished in 2 days! The story was fun, clever and just as entertaining as if I were watching the show itself! The characters were likeable, each different in their own way and a few reminded me of people out here in the real world. Helly Acton has written a blooming good debut with this one! One things for sure it was a true 'Girl Power' book!

Amy suddenly has to prepare herself for a surprise holiday with her boyfriend. He’s even ordered a limo to pick them up. Blindfolded, Amy can barely contain herself for what she thinks is going to be a proposal. However, a dreamy vision of a proposal holiday is soon turned into a nightmare - as Amy realises she has been left alone on a TV set. Jamie has taken her here to dump her. As if a break up isn’t hard enough, Jamie makes sure Amy is as publicly embarrassed as he can.

Amy and five other dumped women soon discover they are on a new reality TV show called ‘The Shelf.’ The goal is to win the program through a series of challenges that prove their compatibility and motherly instincts. By a public vote, one of them will be crowned The Keeper. An inherently sexist premise of course, but I gathered this was the point.


With many parallels to Love Island - The Shelf puts its female contestants through a hard time, with constant rolling social media coverage featuring the public’s opinion of each candidate. Winning the public vote is harder than it seems. Will the women realise they are better off without their exes who had the nerve to dump them on a reality TV show? Each candidate is put through a series of challenges designed to test them - from plastic babies to hosting the perfect tea party.

This is a compelling, re-interpretation of the ‘chick-lit’ genre. Unlike the standard women’s romance novel that results in the leading female character happily in love with her dream man, this novel illustrates the importance of a happy ending that doesn’t have to depend on finding love - but loving yourself.

Amy, the protagonist, has put herself through two years of slog in her relationship with Jamie, endlessly hoping that he would pop the question. She had grown used to his taunts about her body, her neediness and other ‘faults,’ but had placed them to one side in the hope they would get married and have a happy future. Throughout this time, she had lost parts of herself - it takes the entire duration of the novel for her to realise this.

Single over thirty is like an illness that’s too awkward and depressing to talk about.”

Instead of aiming to become the male ideal embodied by ‘The Keeper,’ she decides to portray an important message to women. That you are always enough on your own, and you don’t need anyone else (but especially a man) to complete you. For me, this is where the important, feminist message comes across. In having a character like Amy as the protagonist, the novel really thrusts to the forefront the significance of women being their own person and not succumbing to societal pressures.

Amy is the modern day Bridget Jones with an essential twist, she ditches the yo-yo diets, marriage expectations, and the fairy-tale Mr Darcy, replacing these with a new appreciation of herself and living life the way she wants to. I found this feminist take incredibly refreshing and much needed in this social media driven age, where everything is about women comparing themselves to others. It is so easy to get sucked into the highlight reels of others, that we forget to be ourselves. And this is exactly what the novel is commenting on.

Life on a reality TV show is peppered with the glare of social media all over the contestants, each are judged 24/7 by the timelines fulled by the public. The setting is incredibly similar to Love Island. If I’m honest I found some of the similarities, such as the baby challenge, very cliche, which detracted from the novel’s more poignant message. Although I enjoyed the read, even laughing out loud from some of Amy’s comical one liners, I did find the plot predictable from the start. I think basing it on the parameters of Love Island, meant it was bound to be predictable in some ways.

The show is dominated by old fashioned, male chauvinists who believe women should still be a 1950s housewife, much to most of the contestants dismay.

“Selfish Jackie! Distant Gemma! Bitter Kathy! Desperate Amy! Boring Hattie! And last but not least, Easy Lauren!”

However, having a lead character like Amy is central to this book as it goes against the very grain that the TV show setting creates. Amy does not let herself be lured into society’s pressures on women - but uses the experience to go against this, and against what she previously thought her life should value. This is a part of the book that I really liked. Amy’s strength of character and likability really drives the novel and reveals its best parts and the central message to women.

“I am my own keeper…Be your own keeper. Each and every one of you.”

Above all, I admire this book because it’s message is an imperative one that puts contemporary feminism at the forefront of the social media, digital age. Amy goes through a journey of self discovery and realises she doesn’t need a man to make her happy. The societal pressures on getting married and having children is a false one, which can distract women from being their best selves. This ideal is often glamorized in the romance genre - I am very thankful this book did the opposite.

This book is different to anything I usually read but it certainly ticked a lot of boxes. It made me laugh out loud, I loved the main character, and appreciated the important message it conveys to women about self love. However, it didn’t blow me away, because I found the plot quite predictable and cliche. The ending was also disappointing and I was left wanting to know more. That said, I definitely enjoyed reading this book and was drawn in by the initial strange events when Amy realises she is not, in fact, going on a dreamy romantic holiday.

The Shelf is a book full of passion and originality. It's extremely topical and relevant, shining a light on how much we rely on social media and compare ourselves to those around us. It's a story about discovering who you are and remaining true to yourself.

‘The Shelf’ is a fast-paced, hilarious book about six women who have been broken up with by their boyfriends/husbands on a reality TV show. The six women are then thrust into taking part in this ‘Big Brother’ style TV show where they must win over the public and be voted ‘The Keeper’ in order to win one million pounds.

Although the main character of this book, Amy, is the sole focus of the book, we are also introduced to six other women, Jackie, Gemma, Flick, Hattie, Kathy and Lauren. Each one of these characters was completely different from each other and I felt like I got to know them all individually. I really loved the friendships that these women found with each other throughout the course of the book.

‘The Shelf’ is a fun read but also touches on a lot of deeper subjects throughout. This book shines a light on how women can be whatever they want to be, whether that’s a DJ, a lawyer, a nurse or a full-time mother and how women should not be judged for the choices that they make. The main topic of this book is how to acknowledge what makes a healthy and unhealthy relationship, as many of the women in the book were gaslighted or humiliated by their partners but felt like they had to stay with them. I loved seeing Amy notice how her unhealthy relationship with Jamie affected her and watching her being able to grow and become her own person again, whilst also being able to love herself for who she is, rather than because someone else loved her.

I flew through this book in one day as it was so addictive and I could not put it down. I absolutely loved this book and I already want to reread it again.

Amy Wright is very excited, her boyfriend Jamie is taking her away but won't tell her where they are going and she suspects he is about to propose.
Imagine her shock when he actually takes her to a TV studio and dumps her on the set of a new reality show - The Shelf
Amy finds herself in a house with 5 other dumped women. Jackie, Lauren, Hattie, Gemma and Kathy, all very different women but with one thing in common. They have all been unexpectedly dumped live on air and are now on The Shelf.
The premise of the program is to show the women where they went wrong and how they can come out of this as better potential wives and mothers and be better prepared for future relationships.
The women all know the idea is totally sexist but are willing to go along in the hope of winning the £1million prize.
How will they cope being cooped up with each other for 4 weeks and with the strange and sometimes humiliating tasks they are set. Will they turn on each other or work together to bring out the best in each other.
I loved this, it’s original, funny and inspiring. To me a good book will have you rooting for at least one character and getting angry or feeling happy on their behalf and this book did exactly that.

When Amy's long term boyfriend Jamie tells her they're going away, Amy thinks he's finally going to pop the question and can't help but imagine how her life is going to play out. No matter that Jamie seems to be more in love with his start-up company, Headspace, and himself, than Amy. When they set off on their surprise trip, the journey is shorter than Amy expects, and when Jamie kisses her and leaves her - well, you can imagine how confused Amy is feeling...it turns out that there is no surprise destination or proposal, Jamie has set Amy up on a new reality show called The Shelf, where he surprisingly dumps her on tv, and she has to decide whether to cut her loses and leave, or stay on and possibly win £1,000,000.

The Shelf was a refreshing and fun read - I really liked Amy, she really came across as her character is described - the ultimate girl next door. She was kind and fun and friendly, and a delight to read. Her fellow housemates were all fantastic, especially Gemma, an instagram influencer whose family see more of the top of her head than her face these days. The story flowed well and kept me interested, and it was great to see how Amy and the others realised that maybe things weren't quite as perfect as they may have thought...

I'd definitely recommend The Shelf as a cute and quick summer read!