Escape!

A Novel

De: Stephen Fishbach

Narrado por: Julia Whelan, Imani Jade Powers, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Stephen Fishbach

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.

Everyone gets the story arc they deserve.

Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.

The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.

As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece.

Excellent Characters, Grim Reality

Outstanding debut novel from a two-time Survivor contestant and reality tv expert. Not a peek behind the curtain of reality tv so much as a stare down with the oblivion which awaits us all, and a deep dive into the brass ring that reality competition shows offer to help us escape that fate. And if instead of brass that ring is made of something caustic or carcinogenic, well, hopefully you know what you signed up for.

The performances really delivered on the deeply felt emotion in this story. This author and these narrators made me laugh, dropped my jaw, and, yes, wet my eyes.

If you’re a fan of reality tv or shows like Survivor or Unreal, or have given even a passing thought as to their place in our modern world, this novel is likely for you. Five stars across the board, Stephen Fishbach hit the target on his first go.

superfan review

Amazing!!! You absolutely cooked Stephen, thank you man, only on chapter 5 but im floored by how good this is!

An epic journey through Reality TV Psychology

I devoured this in three days - tandem reading between the physical book and audio. The character development and pacing in this debut are ***chef’s kiss*** The audio recording is a perfect companion to this adventurous book. As a Survivor contestant myself, some of this felt a little bit TOO close to home, like a reminder how close to the edge these productions may be… or not? Then again, that’s the fun of it. Right? ;) Perfect mixture of thriller, psychological and moral questioning. ALL FIVE STARS FOR STEPHEN FISHBACH!

Great Read and Unique Storyline

The story catches your attention right away, especially if you’re into reality television. I love how it gives you a bit of everyone that touches that space: contestants, fans, producers and executives. This book grabbed me instantly because I watch reality shows with production decisions in mind: why is this person casted or is that really what happened out there.

It has some Easter eggs if you’re a fan of SURVIVOR that made me chuckle (and ROAR!), especially if you have listened to the author’s podcast. That said he does a good job of not making the story gimmicky, and it is easy to follow for readers that are not familiar with reality television production.

This later days listeners highly recommends this book.

a dark glimpse into the manipulative world of reality tv

Overall, this book kept me listening and was a page turner. I was invested in the characters who personalized some of the reality tv archetypes. It was darker than I expected, and lacked some of the levity of reality tv that I was expecting.