My Love Island obsession hit me out of nowhere. I’d never been interested in reality dating shows before, but when everyone started buzzing about this season’s contestants’ fashion and mental health struggles, I decided to give it a try. Before I knew it, I was watching every night and even voting for my favorite couples.

When season seven ended a few weeks ago, I’ll admit I felt lost. My lively group chat (where we’d excitedly message “I got a text!”) went silent, and suddenly I had an extra hour to fill before bed.

Looking for a fix, I wandered into my local bookstore and discovered Aisling Rawle’s debut novel, The Compound. The story is set in a near-future reality TV show with dystopian undertones. While war might be raging outside the desert oasis where the show takes place, inside, nine women (including our protagonist, Lily) and eight men compete for brand deals, survival, and maybe even love.

“I watched a lot of Love Island before writing The Compound,” Rawle admits. “What fascinated me was the gender dynamics and how contestants played into their roles. I wanted to take those Love Island concepts and twist them into something darker. I also loved exploring influencer culture—making the contestants question what was real and what was just for a sponsorship.”

Fans of reality TV will recognize familiar themes—like the classic Bachelor question, “Are you here for the right reasons?”—along with the usual couplings, challenges, and morning debriefs. “With Lily, I wanted to challenge the ‘dumb blonde’ stereotype often judged on these shows,” Rawle explains. “I wanted readers inside her head, questioning their own assumptions.” The book also delivers classic reality TV archetypes: a bombshell, villains, and plenty of frenemies.

Unlike me, Rawle wasn’t hooked on season seven. “I don’t watch much reality TV these days—it can be stressful,” she says. “If I do, it’s something cozy like The Great British Bake Off.” Maybe her next book should be called The Tent.

The Compound
$29 at BOOKSHOP