Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted

Two teens compete to win a reality show in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, but the producers frame them as rivals-to-lovers, in this hilarious YA romance-perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Emma Lord. Winning is Seyoon Shin's middle name. Okay, it's not, but she is a winner-despite what her critical dad says. Dean Parker, on the other hand, isn't beating anyone to the finish line. His strengths are more brain, less brawn. When a wilderness game show with an eccentric host and a cult following announces a reboot, they both jump at the chance to win the prize. Seyoon's competitiveness fuels a fire in Dean he's never felt before, and his hunger to prove himself rivals hers. To get to the finals, they realize they need each other. Seyoon and Dean form an alliance, which the opportunistic producers are quick to frame as romantic. The rivals-to-lovers angle is good for views and intimidating the competition, but their chemistry is just for show . . . right? As the lines blur between friendship and romance, reality and reality TV, Seyoon and Dean can't ignore that the finale is fast approaching-and that only one of them can win.

Sujin Witherspoon is a Korean American author, artist, and lover of words she can't pronounce. Her first novel, Bingsu for Two, was an Indie Bestseller in the Pacific Northwest. She earned her degree in English from the University of Washington and now spends her time writing, exploring Seattle, and going on very slow hikes. Find her online at sujinwitherspoon.com