Jennifer Young
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Alice Chen's Reality Check
by Kara Loo & Jennifer Young
Coming June 3, 2025
PRE-ORDER OUR BOOK:
​Quirk Books | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble |
Books A Million | Hudson Booksellers | Powell's | Walmart |
Target ​| Linden Tree Books (Los Altos) | Books Inc. | Kepler's
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​In this sizzling rom-com perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties and One to Watch, a reality show contestant must fake date her rival . . . while solving a murder mystery on set.
Alice Chen doesn’t believe in true love, but she does believe in cold, hard cash. Buckling under the weight of student debt and her mother’s medical bills, Alice will do anything to make bank–even star on Dawn Tay’s Inferno, the hot new reality TV show designed to push couples to their breaking point. The show is Alice’s chance to sip cocktails on the beach and win a cash prize of a million dollars. But when her fiancé cheats on her with another contestant, Alice is faced with a choice: go home in defeat or fake date the other newly single contestant—who just so happens to be her high school rival and sworn nemesis, Daniel Cho.
But all’s fair in love and reality TV, and Alice isn’t the only one who will do whatever it takes to win. When a dead body turns up, Alice and Daniel are faced with uncovering the secrets of the cast and crew to catch the killer–all while playing the loving couple on camera. As the show spirals out of control, Alice must crack the case and confront her true feelings if she wants to make it out alive...​
Read an exclusive excerpt on Cosmopolitan!
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PRAISE FOR ALICE CHEN'S REALITY CHECK
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“Fake dating + reality TV drama + murder mystery = an absolutely addictive read. The sizzling chemistry between Alice and Daniel, the very real and personal stakes for Alice, and the danger lurking beneath the surface in the island paradise setting make this one heck of a page-turner. I loved this book!”
—MIA P. MANANSALA, award-winning author of Arsenic and Adobo
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“This rom-com mystery will keep readers guessing until the very end. It’s the perfect read for reality TV fans.”
—JULIE TIEU, author of The Girl Most Likely To
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“Fun, fast-paced, and immersive, Alice Chen’s Reality Check is packed with big laughs, major drama, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. This is a laugh-out-loud rom-com murder mystery that reality TV fans will devour!”
—LAUREN KUNG JESSEN, author of Yin Yang Love Song
“Sweet, sexy, funny, intriguing—Alice Chen’s Reality Check is a bona fide winner. It’s a pleasure ride with a twisty mystery, a wry sense of humor, and an utterly charming romance.”
—STEPH CHA, award-winning author of Your House Will Pay
“The perfect equation for a sizzling story: mystery + drama + romance. Haven’t had this much fun since my Academic Decathlon days!”
—JENNIFER J. CHOW, Agatha Award–nominated author of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
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Hello, I'm Jennifer!
Jennifer Young is a writer and storyteller with over a decade of experience crafting unforgettable characters, swoon-worthy romances, and twisty, high-stakes plots. Her debut novel, Alice Chen’s Reality Check, co-authored with Kara Loo, hits shelves on June 3, 2025 from Quirk Books. In this sizzling romantic comedy set on a tropical island, a reality show contestant must fake-date her high school rival—while solving a murder! Pre-order wherever books are sold.
Before transitioning to fiction full-time, Jennifer spent over a decade leading creative teams in the mobile games industry. She began her writing career at Electronic Arts, contributing to hit titles like Surviving High School, Cause of Death, and Claire Hart: Soul Searcher. She later joined Pixelberry Studios, where she worked on fan-favorite games like High School Story and Hollywood U, and helped shape the interactive story app Choices: Stories You Play. Over her 11 years at Pixelberry, Jennifer rose from Studio Manager to Studio Director, eventually serving as Senior Director, Creative and a member of the studio’s management team.
She holds a B.A. in Public Health and Education from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Urban Education and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco.
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When she’s not writing, Jennifer is balancing the magic and mayhem of neurodivergent family life in the Bay Area. Her perfect evening involves a cozy mystery, a crossword puzzle (love Puzzmo!), a D&D session with friends, and a baking video playing softly in the background.
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For updates on what Jennifer's up to, follow her at:
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Jennifer Young often writes with her co-author and friend, Kara Loo. If you you want to see what Kara and Jennifer are working on, visit us at:
www.karaandjenniferwrite.com
