My Reality

I don't watch the "Bachelor" so i only know who Melissa is from "DWTS." I wasn't a huge fan of her during either of the "DWTS" editions she was on, but she seemed like a nice enough person. So, out of curiosity, I picked up her book in my library and read it.

Well, for one thing, if you're looking for anything deep or any advice, forget it. She doesn't have anything like that to offer you. Instead, I found myself sort of disturbed when I was reading this by how needy and superficial she came across.

Basically, here's what happened. She dated this guy, Tye, who wasn't interested in committing to her, so he broke it off. She remained obsessed with him, pretty much stalking him. Then, she went on the "Bachelor," got dumped on TV, and then got a spot on "DWTS." How convenient that, once she starts getting all this attention, THEN all of a sudden he comes along and wants her back. She gets third place on "DWTS" and then, wham! bam! by the end of that year she and Tye are married.
Also how convenient that she gets married and engaged so quickly, and all before the guy who broke up with her on TV had his own wedding Coincidence? I think not. That whole thing was done far too quickly, probably to keep her name relevant.

She also comes off as a total hypocrite, criticizing how the guy from the "Bachelor" Jason and Molly (his now-wife) put their relationship to the test on national TV. Um, you were on the same show as them, and you were doing the same thing, sweetheart! Plus, now that you and your husband have your own TV show that just makes you sound like even more of a hypocrite.

Melissa comes off as someone who cannot handle any kind of rejection, and she seems like she has no idea how to function without a man in her life.

But it's not only her who comes off badly in this book. She makes her husband husband, Tye, sound like a complete opportunist. I dated a guy all through college who was exactly like she makes Tye sound. He broke up with me, and then a few months later wanted to get back with me once he found out I'd scored a better job than he had. THEN, all of a sudden, he wanted back in a relationship. (Unlike Melissa, though, I was not obsessed with him and I instead told him to go away and to lose my number.)

I really hope Melissa isn't raising her daughter to believe that this kind of behavior is acceptable-stalking and "capturing" the guy of your dreams, and I truly hope both she and Ty are more mature in real life than they sound in this book.

I picked this book at from the library because it was...well, just sitting there while I was checking out and I thought, "Why not?" I watch "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" shows on and off and have even had a friend on "The Bachelorette" so I'll admit it can be good TV --- a guilty pleasure. So, I was familiar with Melissa as I watched the season she was on. This book ----- blows. Not sure whose idea it was to give this girl a book contract but it is BORING, pointless and I felt like I was reading a Teen People magazine article. Oh wait, those articles at least give somewhat decent advice, whereas this book gives none. I don't think it's okay for women to chase after men who have no interest in them and then write a tell-all book when they "capture" the guy of their dreams. Bad message for women!! I agree with previous reviews that her now-husband sounds like a jerk or was truly not into her (flash over to "He's Just Not That Into You") until she got her 15 minutes in Hollywood. I think it's pathetic and sad that she went back to Tye after his non-chalant, uncaring ways. Really...just such a poor read... I had thought Melissa was a nice reality TV person, but this book shows her to be simple, sexist and kind of plain ol' sad when it comes to being with men.

I really like Melissa! I already liked her before reading her book. She comes across as someone you could be best friends with. She's relatable and honest. If you are a Melissa fan or just want to get to know her a little better I would highly recommend her book! It's one that I could re-read.

Not the best story, kind of a pity party..

In My Reality, Melissa Rycroft's story starts with her at the break-up of a relationship that immediately preceded her appearance on The Bachelor, and concludes with her as a very happy contented wife, mother and TV personality. The growth curve she covers is exceedingly steep, but I suppose that isn't what makes this book stand out since memoirs of people who live flat or mild lives aren't typically published in hardcover. What makes Melissa's memoir so special is the truthfulness of the telling, the emotional truthfulness particularly.

It is a struggle, even for the greatest authors (see Hemingway) to capture the emotion of the person in a narrative. Even harder to have it, not the author's, come through on the printed page. That's just as true in autobiography as it is in fiction. Even when an author is telling her own story, it's a story that's necessarily being told from the perspective of someone older, more mature and aware of what lies ahead. So it is a challenge not to mix or otherwise dilute the emotional truth of the person in the narrative with that of the older, wiser author. Melissa doesn't appear to have had any trouble meeting that challenge. Throughout her story, the voice one hears is the voice of the person in the moment, not of an author looking back. When she writes of her break up with her boyfriend or her being dumped on national television by the Bachelor, it's clear we're hearing the voice of the girl she was then. The fears, the anxieties the craziness, they all come through without the least bit of dampening cynicism that a lesser author would have included. It is the same with the telling of every other milestone, heartbreak etc. I can't say that Melissa is a great author, because in order to be great, one must be able to repeat greatness. I can however say, that Melissa was a great author when she wrote this book.

For those who aren't so interested in the story of a woman's heartbreaks and triumphs (well written as it is), but are interested only in the insights of a reality TV insider, there's reason for them too to purchase My Reality. Melissa provides very astute analysis of the emotional brutality of reality TV in Chapter 12 and a well written conclusion of her coming to terms with same at Chapter 16.

the book was 'used' but it was so new obviously someone bought it and never touched it. Good book look forward to an update of her life

I read this book in one sitting because it had me so captivated. First, if you are expecting this to be a story all about the Bachelor or bashing Jason it's not. Its more about Ty and their relationship. I felt for her when she was going through their breakup. She was very relatable and genuine. She didn't try to paint a pretty picture of herself - she told the story how it was. I thought she did an excellent job. I would recommend this for anyone who has ever had their heart broken. You will laugh with her and cry with her and hopefully learn something from her. I really appreciated how open she was. I hope she keeps writing.

Great book

This was a really good book. I liked that Melissa was just honest about the way her and Ty's relationship came about even though she did sound crazy at times lol.... But it is REALITY so that's what I wanted to read.. Write another one Melissa

I really liked the book because was a fast read and so true to life. This could really happen to any girl out there that is trying to find that "One" guy and not only did she find it, but it brought her so much more.