The Truth About All The Bachelor Nation Books
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"The Bachelor" has entertained reality TV fans since 2002 when Alex Michel handed out the first-ever rose. A year later, "The Bachelorette" was added to the mix, starring "Bachelor" runner-up Trista Rehn, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, spinoffs, such as "Bachelor Pad" and "Bachelor in Paradise," have given contestants more opportunities to stay in the public eye, and, with social media, reality stars have a much bigger platform than they ever did in the early days of the franchise. It's no wonder then that so many stars from Bachelor Nation have gone on to write books about their experiences, and most of the show's leads and/or partners have released books at this point, ranging from juicy memoirs to health books and romantic novels.
We're taking a look at the truth behind some of Bachelor Nation's books and the secrets the authors spilled about the franchise.
Bachelor Nation spills the tea on the franchise
While many contestants on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" have written books about their time on the show, there had never been a definitive tell-all book on the franchise itself until 2018 (via USA Today). "Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure" by Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman revealed the history of "The Bachelor" and its spinoffs, as well as some of their behind-the-scenes secrets.
In one chapter, for example, Kaufman shares how producers manipulate contestants through various methods and even track the women's menstrual cycles to ensure interviews are as emotional as possible, per USA Today. She also discusses how scenes were edited and how people are portrayed a certain way to fit a storyline, even if it's not exactly what they said or did. Of cast member J.J. Lane, Kaufman told the newspaper she met him in person "and he was so cool and normal, and that was the first time where I was like, 'Oh, (expletive), they really are playing with the way that these people are depicted on television.'"
Trista Sutter wrote about being the first-ever Bachelorette
In 2003, ABC aired the first season of "The Bachelorette," starring Trista Rehn (now Sutter), the woman who won viewers' hearts when she was dumped on TV by the first-ever Bachelor, Alex Michel (via Parade). Trista went on to become the "Bachelorette" and met her now-husband, Ryan Sutter — the couple even married in a lavish $4 million televised wedding watched by more than 17.1 million viewers, per Entertainment Weekly. The couple is arguably the franchise's biggest success story, having been married since December 2003. Off-camera, the parents of two went on to live a quiet life in Colorado, although Ryan has been vocal about his health struggles in recent years.
After being asked about the secret to her success, Trista wrote her first book, "Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart," in 2014 (via Metro). The book includes her personal insights on happiness and fulfillment in relationships, family, and self-care. One of her tips includes writing in a daily gratitude journal, even if it's just posting the highlight of your day on Instagram. In an interview with Metro about her book, Trista said she still gets bugged by negative social media comments but that she's very grateful for the unusual way in which she met Ryan. "People think I have a fairytale life because of how I met my husband, our wedding and things like that," she said. "But it's really about the little things."
Sean Lowe penned his tell-all book, For the Right Reasons
Back in 2012, viewers rooted for the nice guy on Emily Maynard's season of "The Bachelorette," but, sadly, Sean Lowe was sent home without a rose. Lowe got his second chance at love when he became the lead during 2013's season of "The Bachelor" and met the love of his life, Catherine Giudici. The couple married in a televised wedding in 2014 and now are the parents of three children, per Us Weekly.
Lowe wrote about his life and experiences on "The Bachelor" in his 2015 memoir, "For the Right Reasons: America's Favorite Bachelor on Faith, Love, Marriage, and Why Nice Guys Finish First" (via Glamour). In the book, Lowe, a devout Christian, shares extensively about his faith and, according to its synopsis, wants "others to benefit from those lessons: good does eventually win, lies will be discovered, and 'nice guys' do ultimately finish first."
In his memoir, the reality star also writes about some behind-the-scenes Bachelor Nation secrets, like how no one eats on dates because it looks (and sounds) bad on camera and that producers choose the order contestants exit the limo based on who they think will do well, per the magazine. Other show gossip includes the fact that his first rose ceremony lasted until 6 a.m. and that "stripes, small checkered patterns, big patterns, and solid white" are all a no-no in terms of the show's dress code, per Bustle.
Colton Underwood writes about his famous virginity in The First Time
Colton Underwood didn't shy away from discussing his personal life on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette," including his virginity (via People). While he didn't win Kufrin's heart, he went on to star in "Bachelor in Paradise" and ultimately became the lead of "The Bachelor" in 2019, where he met Cassie Randolph, per the magazine. While Underwood was open about being a virgin, he told People he became uncomfortable with how much attention was placed on it.
Eventually, the situation moved him to write his 2020 memoir, "The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV," per Us Weekly. In the book, he opens up about the ups and downs he experienced on "The Bachelor" franchise and his own personal life. "I think the whole goal in the book was just to sort of take ownership back of my story," Underwood told the magazine.
As for what he shares in the memoir, Underwood reveals he told fellow "Bachelorette" contestants Jason Tartick and Garrett Yrigoyen about his virginity first, but it later spread throughout the house. He also shares that, by hometown dates, he knew Becca wasn't going to choose him but that he had thought he'd come in third place (he came in fourth). One thing the book leaves out is his sexuality, as Underwood came out as gay in 2021 in a "Good Morning America" interview.
America's first Black Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, delivers some hot takes in her memoir
On Nick Viall's season of "The Bachelor," America met Rachel Lindsay, a Texas attorney who quickly became a fan favorite. While she didn't end up with Viall, Lindsay became the first Black lead of "The Bachelorette" in 2017, where she met her now-husband, Bryan Abasolo (via Yahoo!). In 2022, Lindsay released her first book, "Miss Me With That: Hot Takes, Helpful Tidbits, and a Few Hard Truths," a collection of essays discussing her family, career, love life, political engagement, mental health, and "Bachelor" franchise experiences, per the media outlet.
In the book, she touches on being the first woman of color to lead the show. She told Yahoo! she felt "it was enough for the show to just check the box of having their first Black lead" rather than fully make her comfortable. She also touches on the "Extra" interview with former host Chris Harrison, during which Harrison made controversial comments about race and cancel culture. "I really did experience a lot of ... post-traumatic stress because the fallout is something that I never could have predicted," she told Yahoo!, adding that she received death threats, causing her to distance herself from the franchise.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Emily Maynard Johnson wrote about her failed attempts to find love
Single mom Emily Maynard became America's sweetheart when she said yes to Brad Womack's proposal on his second season of "The Bachelor." After their relationship went south, she became the "Bachelorette," but, sadly, her engagement to Jef Holm also ended in heartbreak. Fortunately, the reality star later found love with husband Tyler Johnson, and the pair are now parents to five children, including Maynard Johnson's daughter, Ricki, from a previous relationship, per People.
Maynard Johnson shared her journey in her 2016 memoir, "I Said Yes: My Story of Heartbreak, Redemption, and True Love" (via Bustle). Some of the secrets she spills in the book include how she never went on "The Bachelorette" intending to get engaged and that she later regretted accepting a proposal. "I truly did want to meet my husband, not necessarily get engaged but find someone who I could, one day, see the possibility of marrying," she writes.
The former Bachelorette also shares that group dates are excruciatingly long, starting around 9 a.m. and not ending until midnight, per Bustle. Although fans would never guess from her multiple runs on the show, surprisingly, Maynard Johnson admits that producers had to convince her to appear on both "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," because she was skeptical about whether to get involved.
Chris Harrison and Prince Lorenzo Borghese both penned romantic novels
While most of Bachelor Nation has chosen the memoir/tell-all style book, two men involved in the franchise have branched out from the norm and released romantic novels instead. Former host Chris Harrison released his first novel, "The Perfect Letter," in 2016 (via Bustle). Centered on a book editor who seemingly has it all, the novel tells the story of what happens when she revisits letters to a lost love. The book even became the subject of a group date on "The Bachelor," during which former contestant Ashley Iaconetti read a racy passage out loud. "I feel dirty! I need a shower!" one contestant exclaims, and social media posts echoed the sentiments about the seemingly straight-laced host, per Bustle.
Harrison told NPR that the book was "really an extension of what I already do on 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette,'" adding that the book had "all the trappings that have obviously made 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette' a huge franchise for over a decade."
Another Bachelor Nation romance writer is Prince Lorenzo Borghese, who starred as the lead of "The Bachelor" in 2006 (via The New York Times). Borghese, whose family descend from Italian nobility, penned a historical romance in 2010 called "The Princess of Nowhere." The novel, which was called "a thrilling romance with a Napoleonic backdrop" by Publisher's Weekly, chronicles his ancestor, Prince Camilo Borghese, who was married to Napoleon's sister, Pauline Bonaparte.
Hannah Brown gets candid on fantasy suites in God Bless This Mess
Hannah Brown's southern charm and sassy personality won fans over during Colton Underwood's season of "The Bachelor." She went on to become the lead of "The Bachelorette" in 2019, and, although her relationship with Jed Wyatt didn't work out, we'll always have the infamous windmill fantasy suite.
After her time on "The Bachelorette" ended, Brown released a book called "God Bless This Mess," sharing some juicy revelations about her Bachelor Nation days, including the windmill date with Peter Weber (via Us Weekly). In the book, Brown writes that, although she accepted Wyatt's proposal, she thought "the sex wasn't as good as it was with Peter" (via Page Six). Us Weekly also shared that Brown realized on the first night that her husband probably wasn't in the room. Us Weekly also shared her revelation that Brown still had feelings for runner-ups Weber and Tyler Cameron soon after the show wrapped up filming, which caused fights with her then-fiancé.
Bachelor villain Courtney Robertson 'didn't come here to make friends'
Bachelor Nation loves a good villain, and on Ben Flajnik's season of "The Bachelor," the girl everyone in the house hated actually got the final rose in the end (via Us Weekly). Courtney Robertson was unapologetic about going after her man during the 2012 season (much to the chagrin of the other contestants), but her plan worked, with the two getting engaged on the show's finale. Their engagement didn't even last a year, but Robertson spills the tea on Flajnik and her celebrity dating life in "I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain" (via BuzzFeed).
It turns out Robertson was pretty self-aware about her behavior on the show, writing, "I'm not going to lie. I was a bitch to some of the girls in the house," via BuzzFeed. In terms of Flajnik, they had multiple sex sessions while taping (even on camera in the ocean!), but the honeymoon ended pretty quickly. And, once they were finally off camera, Flajnik didn't want to be alone with her. They also watched "Finding Nemo," and she was turned off when he recited all the lines. The former model also shares how she dated actors Adrian Grenier and Jesse Metcalfe (via BuzzFeed), sharing some intimate details about their bedroom antics. "The only backlash I got was from Ben himself," Robertson told Us Weekly, adding that he emailed her several times.
Dr. Travis Stork has published several self-help and health books
When Dr. Travis Stork was busy working ER shifts, the last thing he imagined was that he'd get discovered by "The Bachelor" producers, but that's how this doctor ended up on our TV screens in 2006. Although Stork wasn't successful in love, the show certainly boosted his career. He went on to host the talk show "The Doctors," although Stork told Fox News that he never imagined a TV career after his stint as the Bachelor. The TV star told Fox that, after the show, he "went back to practicing medicine and then that's when Dr. Phil and his son Jay McGraw called."
While Stork didn't go the tell-all book route like most of Bachelor Nation, he's released several health and wellness titles. His first book, "Don't Be That Girl," focuses on dating advice for women, while his second title, "The Doctor is In: A 7-Step Prescription for Optimal Wellness," moved into the health advice space. Stork told CBN that the book's goal is to keep people out of the ER using tips to take control of their health. He also released a cookbook in 2013, called "The Doctor's Diet," featuring healthy recipes, and, in 2018, the TV host wrote "The Lose Your Belly Diet," per Fox News. Stork told the media outlet that his book isn't just focused on losing fat to look good but on how to promote good gut health as a whole.
Bachelorette Andi Dorfman wrote two books about her experiences on the show
Andi Dorfman is probably best remembered in Bachelor Nation for turning Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis' catchphrase, "It's okay," back on him as she snapped back, "It's not okay!" It's no surprise that, after her stint as "The Bachelorette," she released a book called "It's Not Okay: Turning Heartbreak Into Happily Ever After" (via USA Today).
In the book, she shares that Josh Murray, whom she accepted a proposal from on "The Bachelorette," had jealousy issues and would get upset if she didn't share a "Man Crush Monday" post about him or if she followed another guy on social media. "I think the disappointment that I felt in myself as a woman, that was hard to not only write but to reread," Dorfman told USA Today. Dorfman also goes into detail about sleeping with runner-up Nick Viall on "The Bachelorette" and his infamous reaction on the "After the Final Rose Special."
The book hit The New York Times bestseller list, leading her to release a second book in 2018 called "Single State of Mind," discussing her dating life and adventures in New York City (via The Washington Post).
Ben Higgins gets deep in Alone in Plain Sight
When Ben Higgins had his heart broken on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season of "The Bachelorette," the fan favorite became a clear choice for the lead of "The Bachelor" in 2016. He had the fairytale engagement to Lauren Bushnell, and they even landed a spinoff show (via E!). It seemed like Higgins was the perfect Midwestern guy living out the American dream. But, sadly, his relationship with Bushnell didn't last, and, in 2021, he released a book called "Alone in Plain Sight" that shattered some of the assumptions people made about him over the years, per E!.
One of them includes the fact he had been addicted to painkillers before his days on "The Bachelor" and suffered from depression due to it, ultimately turning to God to get through the experience. Per E!, he also shares how he stayed in the background on "The Bachelorette" until a producer forced him out of his shell. "I explained to him why I didn't feel worthy of being loved and how I didn't think anyone would really like me if they got to know the real me," Higgins writes, admitting that the four-hour-long conversation was an enormous weight off his shoulders and set him on the path to finding love.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Tyler C. jumped on The Bachelor book bandwagon in 2021
Tyler Cameron, also known as "Tyler C," quickly became a Bachelor Nation favorite when he starred in Hannah Brown's season of "The Bachelorette" in 2019, and, although he wasn't chosen by Brown, he shot to social media fame and briefly dated model Gigi Hadid, per Glamour. Cameron continued to be a frequent face in Bachelor Nation, especially when his best friend, Matt James, took the lead role on "The Bachelor" in 2020 (via E!).
The reality star spills some tea on his season in his 2021 book, "You Deserve Better: What Life Has Taught Me About Love, Relationships, and Becoming Your Best Self," per the media outlet. In the book, he admits he didn't sleep with Brown in the fantasy suite and also shares the romantic speech he'd prepared to propose to her on "The Bachelorette" finale, even though he never got to give it. Cameron also reveals his struggles with anxiety and being in the public eye. "I didn't have anxiety until after I was famous," he writes, adding, "There are days I spend struggling with massive internal battles."
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.