Calling all Elder Millennials! Remember the early days of reality TV — and the crash-and-burn lovefest that was Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey’s Newlyweds?
In case you’ve forgotten, Honeymoon Stage is here to remind you of the highs, the lows, and all the craziness we just loved to hate.
What’s Honeymoon Stage about?
Cassidy Baum is about to get married on the set of a reality TV show. Even though she doesn’t really like reality TV. Aaaaand, even though she’s not quite sure she can trust her fiancé, Gabe.
Maybe she’s just jaded by all her years working in Hollywood. Particularly, by the time spent working on Honeymoon Stage, a reality show that showed her nothing is ever what it seems, on and off the camera.
The lies, scandals, rumors, and suspicions generated by the TV show follow Cassidy all the way to the altar. They make her question everything about those around her, even her relationship with Gabe. If she doesn’t figure out what really happened behind-the-scenes, this almost-newlywed couple might not make it to the honeymoon stage at all.
What I loved about Honeymoon Stage
If you were a teenager or young adult in the early aughts, this is the book for you. The majority of Honeymoon Stage takes place in the early 2000s, when Cassie first started working on the ill-fated TV show and started dating Gabe.
Author Margaux Eliot packs so much Y2K-era nostalgia into her little gem of a novel. Readers will be transported back to the age that pre-dates text messages: a time of AIM and “away messages” being the height of what’s cool, and actually having to call someone to ask them out on a date. There was even mention of “renting a video.” (R.I.P. Blockbuster. Renting a movie on Netflix still isn’t quite as exciting on a Friday night.)
The novel also references all the movies, bands, and TV shows that shaped this time period. If you ever watched (and were low-key obsessed with) MTV’s infamous Newlyweds reality TV show, so much of Honeymoon Stage is going to feel familiar. Eliot does a great job of drawing upon the real-life show, from playful antics to explosive arguments that were plastered all over the media back in the day.
What I didn’t love about Honeymoon Stage
I honestly could have done without the entire 2007 narrative in Honeymoon Stage. I really loved reading about Cassidy’s past, which takes place in the earlier aughts. It was fun seeing how she tried to break into the Hollwood scene, how she discovered the truth behind “reality TV,” and watching her navigate her own complicated romance. The 2007 narrative begins and ends the novel, and everytime I started to read about Cassidy’s impending nuptials, I kind of rolled my eyes.
Another thing I didn’t like? There’s a scandal on the set of Honeymoon Stage that adds an unexpected level of drama, but I wish it wasn’t quite so pivotal to Cassidy’s story. There are already a lot of obstacles in the way of Cassidy’s happiness. I don’t think Eliot needed to add another one. Rehashing that storyline got old for me quickly, and the way Eliot wrapped it all up was lackluster at best.
Should you read Honeymoon Stage?
Despite the fact that I didn’t like some elements of Honeymoon Stage, I still think this is a great read. It’s fun, it’s gossipy, and it’s even a little bit thriller-y. Eliot plunges you into the dog-eat-dog world of Hollywood. I really loved the behind-the-scenes moments when I got to see what goes into being a Production Assistant.
If you’re a fan of easy, zippy fiction like The Royal We and The Heir Affair, or anything by Mary Kay Andrews, you’ll probably enjoy Honeymoon Stage.
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Check back in for the book-inspired recipe: Not-So-Spicy Kung Pao Chicken.
Although I received a complimentary advance copy of Honeymoon Stage from Kaye Publicity, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
I remember being a total devotee to Rock of Love back when I was in grad school, lol. If you like reality TV books, check out “One to Watch” by Kate Stayman-London and “If the Shoe Fits” by Julie Murphy.
My roommates used to love watching Rock of Love! I don’t think I ever watched that one, though. My current reality TV guilty pleasure is 90 Day Fiance. I’ve watched every season and every iteration of that show that’s been on. LOL. Thanks for the recs on the books! I will check them out. 🙂
Oh girl, did you also watch Bus Of Love? I drew the line when they started a new series that was about Bret Michaels and his partner, whom he’s been with for decades! The dude is basically married, went on like three or four different dating reality shows, and wound up with the lady he’s basically married to. SO WEIRD.
I didn’t know there was a Bus of Love! Crazy that he ended up with the same person in the end. Like a real-life version of that Pina Colada song where they both end up answering each other’s personal ads, hahaha.
OMG, that’s so funny; I didn’t even think of that. Yes, it was basically a tour bus for bands, except he took all these potential girlfriends on the trip with him.