Bachelor Nation

Hits that sweet spot in the middle of gossipy and scholarly - not so analytical/dry that it wasn't fun to read, but not so trashy that you feel ashamed for reading it (or not really ashamed, but embarrassed, whatever). Kaufman clearly loves the show and knows it inside out, while still clearly seeing its Problematic nature. Her sources are great - a lot of former contestants went on the record, and she managed to get a copy of the (27-page!!) contract everyone has to sign to be on the show, among other things. I didn't really think the book needed the “Why I Watch” mini-essays by celebrities who are fans, though; if I'm reading this book, I'm probably enough of a fan that I don't need to know why Diablo Cody or Allison Williams watch in order to justify it to myself. They weren't badly written and they didn't take up too much of the book, I just didn't think they were all that relevant. If you watch The Bachelor or are interested in the sociology of reality TV (or both), I definitely recommend this.