Sun, snogging and scandal: These cheeky books have the same vibe as Love Island

Guys, Love Island is officially done, and while I don’t know how I’m going to carry on without my daily dose of drama, these similar books will certainly help the grieving process.

For a book to meet the conditions needed for a Love Island-style romance, it must conform to at least one of the following points: Sun, kissing, romance, reality TV, drama, scandal, enemies to lovers, or fun challenges that leave hearts racing and viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike Love Island, some diversity, body representation, and thorough background checks are also required.

Bookmark at the ready, here’s what I’ve found.

Coach Sully by Sloane St. James

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So this one is a little like if Maya Jama suddenly fell for one of the Love Islanders. Following Kendra Ames, a young, driven producer, Coach Sully sees her attempt to recruit a former hockey player for a reality TV show. The issue is, he’s much more interested in pursuing her than any of the other women.

The Reality Of It All by Allison Speka

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In The Reality Of It All by Allison Speka, our main character, Calla, sees herself being signed up to a dating show without her knowledge. Here she meets Eli, a washed-up actor with a notoriously bad reputation.

“Unfortunately for Calla, Eli might just be the perfect candidate to break her already fragile heart,” the official description reads.

This book is for those of you who like a controversial king on Love Island.

Name Your Price by Holly James

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A woman gets locked in a house with her toxic ex-boyfriend to win a million dollars… each! Need I say more?

With four and a half stars on Goodreads, Name Your Price is a gripping novel about second-chance love, bubbling sexual tension, and, unlike Love Island, a happy ending.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle

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The Compound is like if Love Island had a baby with Survivor, with a dash of I’m A Celeb thrown in for good measure. Promising a plot that “will linger in your mind long after the game ends”, The Compound follows “bored and beautiful” Lily as she is thrown on an island with a group of other reality TV contestants. Sparks ignite, tempers rise, and soon enough, they’re struggling to tell the difference between “desire and desperation.”

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

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Love Island might not like gay people, but books certainly do. The Charm Offensive is a male-male romance reminiscent of the iconic Red, White & Royal Blue. Again, this one is about a show’s producer falling for one of the contestants, this time a disgraced tech wunderkind called Charlie Winshaw.

It takes poor Charlie a while to catch the brimming attraction, but soon enough, he realises he has a deeper connection with producer Dev Deshpande than with any of the women on the show.

Taking the Heat by Kate J. Squires

Credit: Amazon

For those of you looking for something spicier in your life, after all, this year’s Love Island was as spicy as ever, I offer Taking the Heat by Kate J. Squires. Essentially, a barista falls in love with a woman who is taking part in a dating show, so he signs up to! Creepy? Or a match made in reality TV heaven? You decide.

The Wicked Games series by Jessica Clare

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Enemies to lovers? Check! Brooding male lead? Check! Almost too much spice? Also check!

With three books in the series, The Wicked Games is a trilogy of reality TV madness. Set on a secluded island, Abby Lewis just hates the fact that she is deeply attracted to “sexy, delicious and arrogant Dean Woodall.”

Each book follows a different reality TV concept, so you’re sure to stay engaged. Just please don’t read this around grandparents, work colleagues, or basically anyone. The Wicked Games is best read behind a closed door and away from prying eyes.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

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One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London is about a plus-size fashion blogger called Bea Schumacher, who signs up for reality TV when producers seek to increase the diversity of their show. She has a very firm stance on not falling in love, so guess what happens… she falls head over heels!

The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore

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Struggling author Jacqueline Matthis finds herself on a reality TV dating show in the hopes of reviving her career with a little bit of romance. Unfortunately, the producer she had earlier slept with seems to have it out for her, and Jacqueline receives the dreaded “villain edit.”

We’ve seen the so-called villain edit dozens of times on Love Island, but unlike the Megs and Helenas of the world, Jacqueline is actually redeemable.

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