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Everyone that watches The Bachelor franchise shows knows there is more to the story than the cameras show. Many contestants from the shows have written books revealing the juicy details the editors cut out. From Colton Underwood and Amanda Stanton to Emily Maynard and Trista Sutter, they let you behind the curtain and share their experiences on the show and their lives so far.
Discover 12 of the best The Bachelor nation books written by contestants about their experiences on the shows and a few honorable mentions:
I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson; $18
Even though she was the winner of season 16 of The Bachelor, she also was the villain of the show. In this book, she talks about her rocky road to happily ever after and the trials of being on a reality show.
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The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV by Colton Underwood; $16
Colton Underwood has been on what seems like all the Bachelor shows from his season of The Bachelor to Bachelor in Paradise. This tell-all book lets Underwood talk about his experiences on the show from being dumped by Becca on The Bachelorette to his relationship with Cassie since his season wrapped.
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I Said Yes: My Story of Heartbreak, Redemption, and True Love by Emily Maynard Johnson; $6
Even though she was on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, she has been unlucky in love. From her experience with Arie Luyendyk, who later had his season of The Bachelor, Jef Holm, and Brad Womack, she was done with all these men. She decided to commit herself to religion and tells it all in this book.
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For the Right Reasons: America’s Favorite Bachelor on Faith, Love, Marriage, and Why Nice Guys Finish First by Sean Lowe; $9
The “virgin Bachelor” was a finalist in Emily Maynard’s season of The Bachelorette but didn’t make the cut in the end. In this book, he talks about his upbringing in a Texas Baptist home and how his “nice guy” image might have been his downfall.
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My Reality by Melissa Rycroft; $20
Melissa Rycroft has had a life filled with shocking television moments. From being proposed to by The Bachelor Jason Mesnick and then being dumped by him only a few weeks later she has now gone on to star on Dancing with the Stars and Good Morning America. Rycroft shares her whirlwind redemption story in this book.
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Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart by Trista Sutter; $8
As a contestant on the very first season of The Bachelor and then the first Bachelorette, Trista Sutter was the first guinea pig in this now gigantic franchise. She brought hope to people when she married Ryan Sutter on national TV showing people this show worked. Her grateful attitude brings this book to life and is a great walk down memory lane for nostalgic fans.
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It’s Not Okay: Turning Heartbreak into Happily Never After by Andi Dorfman; $14
As The Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman got engaged on national TV and realized she had only known her fiancée for two months. In this book, she chronicles how it all fell apart and the inner workings of the Bachelor Nation.
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Single State of Mind by Andi Dorfman; $14
Just a year later, Andi Dorfman published single girls tell-all book about how she is surviving and thriving in the dating world. This book covers her finding an apartment to seeing her ex get engaged on TV to someone else and so much more.
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Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling by Jen Schefft; $13
Jen Schefft shocked audiences not only by getting a proposal from The Bachelor and breaking it off but also for turning down two proposals during her season of The Bachelorette. Even though people were stunned, she knows herself and that committing to someone who she isn’t 100% sure about is worse than being single. If you’re looking for a solo guide to dating, this is your book.
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What a Difference a Year Makes: How Life’s Unexpected Setbacks Can Lead to Unexpected Joy by Robert Guiney; $10
Robert Guiney, also known as “Bachelor Bob”, couldn’t have expected what the next year would bring after his season of The Bachelor. From amazing opportunities to horrible messes, Guiney tells it all in this book about his life after the show.
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Now Accepting Roses: Finding Myself While Searching for the One . . . and Other Lessons I Learned from “The Bachelor” by Amanda Stanton; $18
Divorced, single mother, Amanda Stanton was hesitant to join season 20 of The Bachelor, not only because she had been on a dating break for a while, but because her mother had sent in her application. Since her time on The Bachelor and getting engaged on Bachelor in Paradise she is revealing everything in this tell-all book to catch fans up on her life so far.
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Honorable Mentions
Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure by Amy Kaufman; $25
Journalist Amy Kaufman has been gathering all the behind the scenes interviews with producers, contestants, and fans to give readers the scoop on The Bachelor franchise. Get all the fun secrets of your favorite show in this comprehensive book.
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You’re Not That Great: (but neither is anyone else) by Elan Gale; $7
As a producer on The Bachelor franchise shows, Elan Gale knows a thing or two about people. In this self-help book, Gale wants you to forget about positivity and embrace your inner negativity and utilize it for yourself. If you’re looking for a book that is filled with inspirational quotes, this isn’t for you.
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The Perfect Letter: A Novel by Chris Harrison; $12
The beloved host of all The Bachelor franchise shows has penned his book. However, unlike all the books before, this one is a novel. Nothing about his life will be revealed in this book, but if you are looking for a dramatic romance book pulling from his experiences of love and heartbreak on the show.
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The Date Night Cookbook: 25 Easy-to-Cook Menus for the Busy Couple by Meredith Phillips
As The Bachelorette, Meredith Phillips knows a thing or two about dates. In this cookbook, she displays 25 different three-course meals for couples to try on a date night in. Instead of going out, try out one of these tried and tested meals approved by the dating queen herself.
BUY IT NOW: Amazon