Emily Maynard Johnson's new book I Said Yes

Do you watch The Bachelor? I was dedicated to watching both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette up until a couple of years ago. I'm not really sure why I slacked off, I think mostly because the episodes were just getting so. long. Now I prefer to read hilarious recaps of the episodes (Taylor's are my current favorite) and catch up on the latest drama while in the grocery store checkout line. Anyway, one of my favorite women from Bachelor nation is Emily Maynard. She's sweet, Southern, and has amazing style. Emily's new book I Said Yes comes out next week, and, because I do love a good behind-the-scenes story, I jumped at the chance to read and review it before it hits stores.

To be honest, the main reason I wanted to read this book was indeed to hear any insider info about being on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. It seems like a ridiculous way for a sane person to truly believe they're going to find love, and Emily seems so normal! So I wanted to read more about her reasons for doing the show, how she got engaged (and un-engaged) on the show twice, and how she finally ended up really happy with a husband and a new baby. 

Emily's involvement with The Bachelor doesn't even appear until about 80ish pages into the book. I could have done without all of the background info on her family and growing up years. There was a good amount of detail about the season of The Bachelor, which I loved reading. (Including details on how filthy the Bachelor mansion gets; Emily writes that during one rose ceremony she sees "a hot dog, no bun, on the floor wrapped in a tangled heap of long hair". If that doesn't make you want to sign up for the show, I don't know what will!) There were fewer details about her season of The Bachelorette, but she frequently acknowledges the enormous amount of pressure to feel and act a certain way. The show's atmosphere made it easy to believe that she really was falling for the guys (Brad and Jef). I did really appreciate her honesty in that the seemingly romantic scenes are actually really unromantic with all of the producers, camera crew, etc. crowding around. I was not surprised to hear how much of the conversation is prompted by the producers.

There's only one chapter about her relationship with her now-husband Tyler, so in that sense the book seems to end a little abruptly. Overall it was an interesting read, and if you're a Bachelor fan I would say it's worth picking up.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers. All opinions are 100% my own.