13 books to read if you love Bravo

Ensemble casts, big drama, luxury, and white collar crime... plus some non-fiction

If you’re an avid Bravo fan like I am, you are probably feeling like you have a pretty full plate right now.

If I’m keeping a correct count, there are currently three Housewives seasons airing, two of which I’m feeling personally quite invested in.

Why The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is the best show on television right now

There’s also the recent news about Vanderpump Rules, which (as the cool kids say) I’m currently holding space for.

It’s a lot to manage.

(I hope this goes without saying, but I’m obviously kidding. There are *real* problems in the world. It’s nice to acknowledge those and also be able to joke about the additional “stress” being wrought on your life thanks to your favorite cable network and/or streaming platform.)

Add that to the final end-of-the-year work push, holiday preparation, and our actual stresses… we’ve gotta decompress.

In an effort to bridge the gap between my own interests and to help you take a much-needed deep exhale, I’ve compiled a reading list for Bravo fans.

As you’ll find while scrolling, I did what I could to keep things spicy and interesting (à la our favorite Bravolebrities) by mixing genres and vibes, and I’m confident there’s something here for every fan, whether you lean RHOSLC, Southern Charm, or somewhere in between.

Might I also suggest any of these titles as the ideal gift for the other Bravo lovers in your life? Just a thought!

1. The Goddess Effect by Sheila Yasmin Marikar: One of the things I love most about Bravo (and that I imagine you might, too) is the way it opens a window into the most bizarre, high-end trends, niche interests, and sub cultures. The Goddess Effect is a bit of a satire of allllllll of those things. I can imagine the (now retired/former) cast of Vanderpump Rules getting sucked into exactly the cult fitness class that main character Anita discovers when she moves to L.A. at the beginning of the book.

2. The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta: For Bravo fans, the joy of being a viewer is about more than just the shows themselves, but about the commentary around them. Are the relationship we see on-screen genuine or PR plans? What about the break-ups? What motivates Housewives to expose their entire lives for the scrutiny of millions? In The View Was Exhausting, two stars use each other to benefit their respective public profiles… but it’s deeper than that, too.

3. Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft: Much like the enviable jewels we see on many of our favorite Bravolebrities, it was the gorgeous cover of this one that drew me right in. Inside, it gets juicy, with an ambitious woman, a well-plotted con, and a wealthy man who becomes the sole focus of scrappy protagonist Bea. We all know the Bravo stars who have been ruthless in the pursuit of cold hard cash. I won’t name names.

4. Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks: For every Housewife who takes pride in their status as a lady of leisure there’s another Housewife who relishes in being a hashtag girlboss. Under the Influence pokes a little fun at that culture, bringing protagonist Harper into the inner circle of a self-help personality named Charlotte Green. It has yummy Devil Wears Prada Vibe, but more than that, it forces us to consider questions of privilege, access, and celebrity. I can think of a few Bravo stars who could learn something from picking it up.

5. Search by Michelle Huneven: Tonally, Search is a big departure from most of these recommendations, but it’s also one of my all-time favorites—and if you love Bravo for the reasons I love Bravo, I think you’re going to dig it, too. The title of the novel refers to a Southern California Unitarian Universalist church’s search for a new minister. Main character Dana has been brought into the search process somewhat unwittingly and serves as the audience’s proxy for the bizarre behaviors of the other congregants on the committee. It’s the ultimate in people-watching, paired with sharp writing and humor.