The Book of Essie

The Book of Essie
by Meghan MacLean Weir 

Essie has grown up with her life on camera, she is the youngest child on a hit reality television show, Six for Hicks.  Her father is an evangelical preacher and her family is quite wealthy from the success of their reality show.

Essie is only 17 when she finds out she is pregnant.  Her mother, Celia, finds out and is soon looking at options- what option is best to keep their image and reality show going.  Celia seems much more concerned with that than concerned about her daughter.  They discuss abortion (which the family has been quite vocal about being against), pass the child off as Celia's, or find someone to quickly marry Essie off too.  Soon a fake romance is being formed for the media of Essie and Roake, a senior at her high school.

This novel rotates chapters between Essie, Roake and Liberty (a reporter that helps Essie.)  I found each of their stories interesting.  I thought Essie might come across as snobbish since she was rich, but there was more to her than what she was pretending to be for the camera.  I wasn't surprised when Roake agrees to go with the nutty scheme.  His family is poor, in debt, and this marriage would make their money problems go away.  And Liberty was a reporter that actually seemed to care.  

This book made me think of the Duggers and their 19 Kids and Couting because of the larger religious family having a television show.  Or the Kardashians Kris Jenner, who they call the momanger. The mom, Celia, in this book made me think of her.