Reality Bites

Reality Bites is the fifteenth book in the Summer Camp Secrets series.

UK blurb
"Camp Lakeview is full of attention seekers! Not only do Tori and Natalie talk about their famous friends all the time, but if Chelsea relives her 'near-death experience' one more time, I think I'll scream. What does a girl have to do to get noticed around here?"

Gaby's tired of being upstaged by her bunkmates. So when the campers get to watch a new reality TV series, she has a brainwave. She'll pick the contestant who's least likely to win and claim he's her brother. And like magic, suddenly everyone's her best friend. The only thing that could possibly go wrong would be if he won...

U.S. blurb
"Camp Lakeview is full of attention hogs!

''Tori and Natalie talk about their famous friends all the time, Grace is acting like missing the beginning of camp was a death sentence, and if Chelsea shrieks 'Flashback!' one more time, I think I might scream. What does a girl have to do to get noticed around here?"''

Gaby is tired of hearing about Chelsea's so-called brush with death. Now it's time for Gaby to get some love. When Dr. Steve announces that the campers will be watching the new reality show Survival Camp, Gaby has a brainstorm: She picks the boy who's least likely to win and claim he's her brother! And like magic, Gaby is suddenly everyone's new best friend. The only thing that could possibly go wrong would be if the kid won. But he won't... she knows he won't... he can't... can he?

Plot
Gaby becomes increasingly fed up of Chelsea's tales from the previous book. Deciding to be nice, she encourages her bunk to take part in a swim relay: two teams swim individually from the dock to the raft and back, tagging the next teammate. Chelsea's team wins and Gaby becomes upset. On the way to the bunk, she stubs her toe and appreciates the attention the other girls are giving her, until Belle opens the door to reveal Grace, who returned early from summer school. Gaby sulks at being ignored again.

During lunch, Grace becomes upset over learning that Gaby got her favourite role in the camp play, Guys and Dolls, knowing that she missed the auditions. She tries to participate in their conversation but is ignored as the other girls claim "we're not cliquey". As she missed the first two weeks of camp, Grace is slotted in the newspaper elective and is paired with Spence. The pair accidentally interrupt the play rehearsal by laughing and Grace singing. She is accused by her bunk of flirting with him, despite Chelsea and Priya crushing on him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Steve sets up for the whole camp to watch a teen survival program, Survival Camp, in the camp auditorium. Gaby creates a lie, making her bunkmates think she has connections to the show. Grace tries to deny the flirting rumours by talking very little to Spence, although it backfires while she helps him with choosing art entries. Gaby claims Jake, one of the contestants, is her brother to earn more attention.

Spence invites Grace to the social in front of Chelsea, Priya and Gaby. They later explain to Grace that he will flirt with anyone regardless. She tells them that he likes her before sitting with him and his bunk. Jake manages to get through to the final four of Survival Camp, causing Gaby to think of a plan. She talks to Grace about Spence. Jake goes on to win the competition, setting Gaby's plan in motion: to trick her bunk into thinking she's flying to Australia and run away from Lakeview.

After the girls say goodbye to Gaby, Grace helps Spence clean up the newspaper cabin before the social. She explains to him why she was late and he tells her the truth: Jake has two younger siblings, one of whom is his sister. Grace figures that Gaby was lying all along. Gaby treks alone through the woods and finds herself on the side of a road.

In Dr. Steve's office, Grace explains the Jake situation. Dr. Steve scolds the bunk for not telling and prevents them from attending the social unless they find Gaby. Grace goes with Belle, Priya and Chelsea through the woods, finding a luggage tag with Gaby's name. Gaby hitches a ride with Charisma, who, while chatting, drives her back to Lakeview and scolds her for hitch hiking with a total stranger.

In Dr. Steve's office, Gaby expresses her dislike of her bunkmates while Dr. Steve explains the lie to her parents. Grace, Belle, Priya and Chelsea return to the bunk, to find everyone, including Gaby and Dr. Steve, who explains her multiple punishments. At the social, Grace finds Spence with a group of girls and she receives a kiss on the cheek from him. She and Gaby dance while Priya and Chelsea go off to console Spence.

Characters
In order of appearance:
 * Chelsea
 * Gaby Parsons
 * Valerie Williams
 * Tori Ann
 * Brynn Collins
 * Priya Shah
 * Natalie Goode
 * Alex Kim
 * Jenna Bloom
 * Candace Brown
 * Alyssa
 * Belle Hogan
 * Grace Matthews
 * Clarissa
 * Dana
 * Spence
 * Dr. Steve
 * Charisma

Trivia

 * Both UK and U.S. blurbs mention Tori and Natalie talk about their famous friends, but the book itself doesn't show it.
 * The book's description on Amazon slightly spoils the plot.