When Sabine Zhang is picked for Hotel California, a teen reality show with an all-Asian cast, she jumps at the opportunity. As one of few Asians at her high school in the Midwest, she’s always felt as if she was playing a side character in someone else’s story. But on this show, she’ll finally have a chance to step into the spotlight.
All Yoona Bae wants is to get away. The girls at church think she’s mean, her mom thinks she’s a troublemaker, and she’s tired of fighting against her unearned bad reputation. So when she’s invited to appear on Hotel California, Yoona sees it as an opportunity to chill out, make some friends, maybe even get a tan.
But life on the show isn’t all sunshine and self-actualization. The producers want drama at all costs, even if it means pitting Sabine and Yoona against each other. With the season finale looming, can the girls figure out a peaceful way forward, before they lose control of their own narratives?
Ok, I admit it; I'm the freak who doesn't really like 'reality TV'. I'll watch Celebrity Bake Off if I see it, because it's funny watching competent actors and comedians panic when faced with a choux pastry, and because I love the way they help each other out; but I don't go looking for it and I don't watch other shows. Largely because of what we see here; you can't trust any of them.
Sabine loves the show because it's calm and chill, but when Definitely Not Netflix pick it up they want drama and intrigue, so they force it into the storylines by picking and choosing their camera angles and reaction shots. Plus they seemed to be actively rooting against the contestants; I noticed that in the (extremely racist) Olympics competition they gave the chopsticks contest to the girl who wasn't much good at chopsticks and the taste test to the girl from the tiny town without many food options. Let's not even mention the blackmail during Mafia!
I liked the writing, it was light and easy to read without glossing over the racism and the things the kids had suffered over the years. Also, the main characters did not end up in a relationship! (Uh, spoiler.) They became close and supportive friends, but not a relationship, which is so rare I feel like I need to point it out.
The characters were great and I'm really looking forward to seeing what Andrew does next - he had such a fantastic touch with this one, whatever he is next bound to be wonderful. I can't wait.
I'm Not Here To Make Friends publishes on the 18th of July, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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