The Real Deal

De: Caitlin Devlin

Narrado por: Eilidh Beaton

Is it harder to keep a secret when the world is watching–or to tell the truth when no-one is listening?

Belle Simon was just 12 years old when she was one of six girls plucked from obscurity to star in reality TV sensation The Real Deal. Under the wing of dazzling star Donna Mayfair, she and the other five girls were meant to become world-famous actresses, singers and dancers.

But at 26, Belle is trying to live anonymously, away from being loved or loathed. The public eye has never fully shut, however, and when a producer offers Belle a big paycheck to join a reunion special for The Real Deal, she finds it hard to say no. If people are going to talk about that shocking final episode anyway, maybe this is an unexpected opportunity.

Everyone watching thinks they know what happened, but only Belle knows what really occurred away from the cameras and outside the editing room. Is she ready to go back and confront her past? And will anyone believe her if she reveals the truth?

©2024 by Caitlin Devlin. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Don't Expect a Thriller

I’ve been struggling to understand why this book has such a relatively low rating. It’s well written, and while I personally don’t care for Eilidh Beaton’s actual voice, her acting itself is excellent.

Looking through reviews, it seems there are a few common complaints. The first of which is the lack of action and payoff at the end. I think some listeners/readers had the expectation of a big twist or reveal, due in part to the way the book’s blurb makes it sound like a mystery or thriller. The Real Deal is neither of those things. Amazon got it right by listing the book under “Literary Fiction: Psychological.”

The Real Deal is an in-depth look at the psychological development of child reality stars through the fictional re-imagining of what we now know went on behind the scenes of Dance Moms, all the way up to the reunion that was filmed only months before The Real Deal was published. The book’s protagonist appears to be based on Maddie Ziegler, while the character of Donna appears to be an amalgamation of Abby Lee Miller and Sia, two adults whose clear favoritism of Ziegler as a child raised significant controversy.

The other main complaint listeners/readers seem to have with the book is that the protagonist isn’t likable. Belle is not at all relatable, but I think that’s the point. Very few people on this planet will have the experience of being a child reality star. While we have plenty of documentation on the impact being on reality TV can have on the mental health of its participants, and there is plenty of documentation as well on how being a child star can affect the emotional growth of an individual, there are only a handful of people who have had the experience of being a child reality star. The Real Deal seeks to examine the sort of person who would succeed as a child reality star, while also attempting to illustrate the complex relationships these children have with the adults in their environment who seek to protect or exploit them.

I personally do recommend this book, but perhaps it’s best enjoyed if you don’t expect a thriller, or for the main character to even be likable. As a psychological profile on an unusual but timely phenomenon in our society, The Real Deal is a very compelling book.

Childhood actors

Belle’s an impressionable young girl who convinces her mother to take her to an audition. Her mother is cautious of the industry not sure shy little Belle is quite ready for the public eye. Her mother believes in her daughter and allows her to follow her dreams.
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Belle meets Donna a woman who mentors young girls. Donna created a docuseries about six young girls where cameras and mics are rolling the entire time. Belle started when she was twelve and finished when she was sixteen. The story eludes to some huge secret that was taken out of context and aired on tv.
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Ten years later a reunion show is coming and Rupert and Fred invited back the six actors. The story unfolds by sharing both the past and the present while slowly unveiling what happened to end the show.
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The Real Deal is a British docuseries that aired from 2009 to 2014. It follows six children placed in an elite performing arts programme under the mentorship and tutelage of actress, singer and dancer Donna Mayfair. Set first in London, England and later in Los Angeles, USA, the show follows the girls as they attend their first auditions, book their first jobs, and build their careers.
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I am not the intended audience for this concept or storyline. I’m struggling to keep my head in the words of the narrator. This is a character driven story in which I have no interest in any of them therefore I’m not following who is who. It reads like a soap opera with petty drama and gossip. It’s drab.
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Caitlin Devlin wrote an underwhelming ending to a long and arduous journey of a young childhood actress who came up thru the ranks with the help and guidance from a woman who adored and loved her. Belle was on a show for five seasons with five other childhood actors. They became famous together. Each girl wore a microphone on them to capture every word. The cameras followed them everywhere.
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I need to give mad props to Eilidh Beaton for performing the entirety of this story in the most professional manner. If it hadn’t been for her voice acting skills I would’ve abandoned this story from the beginning. It was a pleasure listening to Eilidh Beaton become Belle and for her I give five solid stars.

HATED THIS CHARACTER

The main character Belle insisted on getting everything she wanted just to whine and cry about it after she got it. The ending was terribly disappointing. I don't want to say too much but of all the characters in the book Belle, who always played the victim, was the worst villain of them all.