This Valentine’s day, get some romantic advice from the real experts – people who didn’t win a reality dating show (but we’re sure they learned some universally applicable tips). Here are the Top 5 Dating Advice Books written by Bachelor, Bachelorette, or Bachelor in Paradise leads or cast members according to Goodreads reviews. [Updated November 2021]
5. Nobody’s Perfect
by Helene Eksterowicz, Gwen Gioia
The Bachelor Season 2 (Aaron Buerge)
”Helene and Gwen, who met on the set of “The Bachelor,” now offer a sassy and irreverent guide to help women deal with every clueless type of man.”
Is it any good?
Nobody’s Perfect is rated 2.80 on Goodreads, which is lower than average for books written by Bachelor Nation cast members. Here is the only review:
- 3 Star: “Funny, for a quick read. The two authors have masters degrees in psychology, which proves why clinical psychologists need a doctorate, lol. Good read nonetheless.”
Who’s it for? Optimists who love a project.
Find it on Amazon
4. The Man Code: A Woman’s Guide to Cracking the Tough Guy
By David Good
The Bachelorette Season 5 (Jillian Harris)
Bachelor Pad Season 1 (Winner)
”With The Man Code, Bachelor Pad winner and Bachelorette fan favorite David Good empowers women by helping them decipher the unspoken rules that govern masculinity. In his book, Good explains the difference between a Man Code man and a bad boy. He reveals what men like him value, and lists the stumbling blocks they most often experience on the road to love. He also details why he feels the Man Code is a precious set of values increasingly absent from our society. Manliness, he writes, is at a crossroads in our culture.”
Is it any good?
The Man Code is rated 3.0 on Goodreads, which is lower than average for books written by Bachelor Nation cast members. There are no reviews.
Who’s it for? People who’d like to craft themselves into Bachelor Pad winner David Good’s ideal woman, presumably in order to pull off some Gone Girl-style shenanigans
Find it on Amazon
3. Don’t Be That Girl: A Guide to Finding the Confident, Rational Girl Within
By Travis Stork and Leah Furman
The Bachelor Season 8 (Lead)
”The handsome and charismatic doctor who starred in The Bachelor: Paris combines his personal and professional expertise in a fun, practical, and prescriptive guide to help women eliminate the types of behavior that sabotage their relationships.”
Is it any good?
Don’t Be That Girl is rated 3.09 on Goodreads, which is lower than average for books written by Bachelor Nation cast members. These are our favorite high & low reviews:
- 5 Star: “I loved this book. I have highlighted each chapter and am now passing it out to each “that girl” friend. I literally have a friend that falls EXACTLY into every category. I love his blunt and unapologetic tone (while still managing to be a nice guy). I find him credible since he is oh-so-handsome and has dated so many women.”
- 1 Star: “I want to punch this man in the head.”
Who’s it for? People looking to give a joke gift to a friend or a “joke” gift to a frenemy.
Find it on Bookshop.org
Find it on Amazon
2. Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling
By Jen Schefft
The Bachelor Season 3 (Andrew Firestone)
”Let’s be honest. No woman really wants to be alone for the rest of her life. But does being alone mean you’re doomed to be miserable forever? Definitely not! And does being single have to equal lonely? No way! You can have the best time of your life when you’re single, but you wouldn’t know that from our relationship obsessed society, where celebrity magazines devote the majority of their content to who’s dating whom and the wedding industry is a $100-billion business.”
Is it any good?
Better Single Than Sorry is rated 3.59 on Goodreads, which is higher than average for books written by Bachelor Nation cast members. These are our favorite high & low reviews:
- 5 Star: “Seriously, this book has completely changed my mind about relationships. It is worth reading”
- 1 Star: “A high-five for women–that could be told in just a paragraph. If you need a pick-me-up, read the introduction only.”
Who’s it for? Singles who need a strong counter-narrative to the things their relatives say this time of year.
Find it on Bookshop.org
Find it on Amazon
1. Making the Love You Want
By Mike Johnson
The Bachelorette Season 15 (Hannah Brown)
”Making the Love You Want” is a guide to leveling up our lives from the inside out, through the practice of self-love. Sharing his personal journey and courageous truths, Bachelor Nation and social media luminary Mike Johnson provides tools to springboard our lives—to reflect on and rewrite the stories that have been holding us back.”
Is it any good?
Making the Love You Want is rated 4.39 on Goodreads, which is higher than average for books written by Bachelor Nation cast members. These are our favorite high & low reviews:
- 5 Star: “Loved this short, but poignant read on loving yourself. Knowing who wrote it made me enjoy it more since I could hear him reading it to me and I could feel his energy. Perfect book for the start of a better year!”
- 1 Star: “Made some good points but very rambling and didn’t tell a coherent narrative.”
Who’s it for? People looking to be inspired by a Bachelor contestant, but with fewer Christian overtones.
Find it on Amazon
