Reel vs Real (PAPERBACK)

Every morning, Ana scrolls through Nicole and Jen's picture-perfect Instagram posts while her girlfriend Dani watches with concern—until fate brings the influencer couple and the working-class pair together during a catering job that exposes the painful reality behind the filtered façade. When a near-drowning forces Nicole to confront the emptiness of her curated life, both couples must make impossible choices about love, authenticity, and what it means to truly live. In a world obsessed with perception, sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply being real.

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Pages : 156
ISBN : 9614622000211
Weight : 160g
Dimensions : 127 x 9 x 203 mm

In the glittering world of Instagram, Nicole and Jen curate the perfect relationship—designer outfits, sunset poses, and meticulously arranged breakfasts that never get eaten. Their 800,000 followers see only filtered bliss, never the mounting debt, resentment, and emptiness behind the camera.
Meanwhile, nursing assistant Ana scrolls through their feed during exhausting night shifts, envying their seemingly perfect life while her girlfriend Dani watches with concern. What would it be like to wake up in that Calabasas mansion instead of their cramped apartment with the perpetually broken coffee maker?
When fate brings these couples together at a luxury Texas ranch, the façade begins to crack. As Ana witnesses the painful reality behind Nicole and Jen's picture-perfect posts, she starts questioning what truly matters. And when a near-drowning forces Nicole to confront the hollowness of her curated existence, both couples face impossible choices about love, authenticity, and what it means to truly live.
Set against the contrasting backdrops of social media perfection and working-class reality, "Reel vs. Real" explores the price of performance and the radical power of choosing genuine connection in a world obsessed with perception. Sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply being real.

- Appearances vs. Reality
- Dual Perspective
- Rich/Poor
- Redemption
- Found Family
- Near-Death Experience
- Slow Burn
- "Grass is Always Greener"

# Chapter One

The thing about watching other people's perfect lives is that it makes your own feel impossibly small. While Nicole and Jen posted their sunrise yoga to eight hundred thousand followers, Ana changed Mrs. Rodriguez's catheter. Lately, she'd become obsessed with their Instagram feed, their beautifully curated 'morning routines' a constant assault on her senses. Each post felt like a tiny, venomous dart aimed at her soul.

"You're thinking about those internet girls again, aren't you?" Mrs. Rodriguez said, her voice thin and sharp. The old woman, a resident here longer than Ana had been alive, knew her well.

"Just working, Mrs. R.," Ana said, securing the catheter, her mind already drifting back to her phone. Five years of wiping, cleaning, and changing had turned even the most personal care into just another task to check off. She doubted Nicole and Jen, with their manicured hands and designer clothes, had ever encountered such things.

Her phone buzzed again, and she surrendered. Another post: Nicole and Jen, lounging in silk pajamas with green smoothies, looking loved-up in the morning light. "Rise and shine with my love #morningroutine #couplegoals #blessed ✨," the caption chirped.

Ana checked her watch: 6:30 AM. Day shift would be coming in soon. While Nicole and Jen were starting their serene morning routine, all Ana could think about was crawling into bed. At least she'd get to say good morning to Dani before she left for her shift at Garcia's.

The kitchen, a cramped corner defined by a scarred countertop in their studio, was a cluttered mess of bills and takeout containers. But the sight of Dani, still half-asleep, warm and inviting in their bed, was a balm that no Instagram post could ever replicate.

"What time is it?" Dani mumbled, her voice thick with sleep, a husky undertone that still made Ana weak in the knees.

"Early enough that the roaches are having a fiesta," Ana said. She tossed her scrubs into the overflowing laundry basket. The building's washing machines were, as usual, out of order. "Had to cover Jenny's shift again. Third time this month."

Another buzz, impossible to resist. This time, it was a picture of Nicole and Jen, locked in a morning kiss, their bedroom bathed in sunlight, fresh flowers artfully arranged, matching mugs in hand. "Every morning I fall in love all over again. #morningritual #authenticlove 💕."

Dani pushed herself up, the quilt pooling around her waist, revealing a faded Selena Gomez T-shirt. "Put that away and come here," she said, patting the space beside her. "We only have twenty minutes before I have to head to work."

"Mmm… I need a quick shower. I smell like disinfectant and the twilight years." But Ana was already moving toward the bed, drawn to the warmth radiating from Dani.

"You smell like hard work and dedication," Dani said, pulling her down for a kiss. Her lips were soft, warm from sleep, and Ana melted into her touch.

A loud bang from the upstairs neighbor shattered the moment—a daily reminder of the building's less-than-soundproof construction. Dani broke the kiss, chuckling. "Mrs. Hernandez's morning Zumba?"

"Or she's finally done in Mr. Hernandez," Ana said, reluctantly pulling away. "I'll make us coffee."

"Thanks, baby." Dani grinned as she stretched. "The perks of having a girlfriend working night shifts."

Ana rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. "Just a couple of early birds, you and me."

"Nah, girl. Early birds get the worm. We get the commute. But I'll take it as long as I get to see your beautiful face every morning."

Ana felt the familiar, sweet ache in her chest. Exhaustion tugged at her, but the knowledge that they'd finally achieved their own little place made it all worthwhile. She couldn't imagine wanting anything else.

She filled the kettle, the water sputtering as it heated on the ancient hotplate. The muffled sounds of the neighbor's TV, the drone of the morning news, bled through the thin walls.

While she waited, she picked up her phone again, thumbing past shift reminders and overdue bills to open Instagram. The app sprang to life, filled with perfect smiles, artfully arranged meals, and sun-drenched selfies.