Great Jones - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read and Listen for Free
Prime Reading
This title is also available to read and listen for free with Prime. Learn More
OR
$1.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

J. Courtney Sullivan
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Model Home: A Short Story Kindle Edition

by J. Courtney Sullivan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.3 out of 5 stars 937 ratings

Not happy? No problem. Fake it. From New York Times bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan comes a sharp-witted short story about the reality of reality TV.

Judging by the popularity of her home-makeover show, Katie has it all: a sweet-natured husband, Damian, as her cohost; adorable tween daughters; a designer mansion; and a just-folks appeal that has made the happy couple home-renovation royalty. Out of the spotlight, it’s a different story. Katie’s marriage is disintegrating, her spoiled daughters despise her, and her money can’t do anything to repair her personal problems—or her professional ones. With a contract up for renewal and Damian ready to bail after one last holiday special, Katie can kiss her artificial world goodbye too. But if there’s one thing a pro like Katie knows how to do, it’s negotiate.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    39 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Amazon Original Stories
  4. Publication date
    October 28, 2021
  5. File size
    4.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Courtney Sullivan is the New York Times bestselling author of Friends and Strangers; Saints for All Occasions, named one of the ten best books of the year by the Washington Post and a New York Times Critic’s Pick; The Engagements, soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon; Maine, a Time magazine Best Book of the Year and a Washington Post Notable Book; and Commencement. A Massachusetts native, Courtney lives in the Boston area.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09DKM9FTV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Original Stories (October 28, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 39 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.3 out of 5 stars 937 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
J. Courtney Sullivan

J. Courtney Sullivan

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

J. Courtney Sullivan is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Commencement, Maine, The Engagements, and Saints For All Occasions. Her fifth novel, Friends and Strangers, will be published in June 2020.

Maine was named a Best Book of the Year by Time magazine, and a Washington Post Notable Book for 2011. The Engagements was one of People Magazine’s Top Ten Books of 2013 and an Irish Times Best Book of the Year. It is soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon and distributed by Fox 2000, and it will be translated into 17 languages. Saints For All Occasions was named one of the ten best books of the year by the Washington Post, a New York Times Critic’s Pick for 2017, and a New England Book Award nominee.

Courtney’s writing has also appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Chicago Tribune, New York magazine, Elle, Glamour, Allure, Real Simple, and O: The Oprah Magazine, among many others. She is a co-editor, with Courtney Martin, of the essay anthology Click: When We Knew We Were Feminists. In 2017, she wrote the forewords to new editions of two of her favorite children’s books: Anne of Green Gables and Little Women.

A Massachusetts native, Courtney now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

3.3 out of 5 stars
937 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and relatable. They praise the writing quality as well-crafted, with a suitable narration that matches the tone of the book. The story provides an interesting perspective on reality TV and its portrayal as fake.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Short storyWriting qualityRelatability
10 customers mention "Short story"7 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the short story. They find it fun and cute, with a couple who owns a home renovation show.

"I loved this snarky short story looking behind the scenes of a scripted home renovation show and it’s holiday special. Very fun !" Read more

"This is a short story about a couple who goes from rags to riches by becoming hosts of a home makeover show.. *SPOILER*The wife becomes obsessed..." Read more

"...I finished it only because it was short and hoped there would be someone to like by the end." Read more

"A short story about a couple who have their own home renovation show...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find the narration to be relatable, with a perfect tone matching the book's writing style. The author does not misspell words, mix tenses, or forget grammar. Overall, customers praise the writing skills of the author and will look for more of her work.

"...Narrater was fantastic." Read more

"...She doesn't misspell words, mix tenses, or forget there's such a thing as grammar...." Read more

"...This author has skills and I will be seeking out more of her work. I recommend reading." Read more

"...Narration perfectly matched the tone of the book." Read more

4 customers mention "Relatability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book relatable and well-written. They appreciate the interesting take on reality TV and its portrayal as fake.

"Perfect example why I hate reality TV. Main character, whose name I can't remember, is just self-serving and vacuous...." Read more

"This is an interesting take on how fake reality TV can be and how much it bleeds into personal lives." Read more

"...Very relatable and well-written. I loved it!" Read more

"A home reality based story..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Thomas G. Cummings
    3.0 out of 5 stars A home reality based story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A couple has gone from bankrupt to hosting a home renovation show based in the Midwest. While all appears rosy on the outside in the background they are falling apart. A bit of an odd ending.
    Helpful
     Report
  • J. v. Kirchbach
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great short story !
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this snarky short story looking behind the scenes of a scripted home renovation show and it’s holiday special. Very fun !
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, vascillated between sympathy and loathing.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Perfect example why I hate reality TV. Main character, whose name I can't remember, is just self-serving and vacuous.

    Narrater was fantastic.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Angela Raspberry
    2.0 out of 5 stars Depressing
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is a short story about a couple who goes from rags to riches by becoming hosts of a home makeover show.. *SPOILER*The wife becomes obsessed with success and material gain but the husband wants out. It does not end well but luckily I read it in 15 minutes so I didn’t waste too much of my life.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • SusanCz
    3.0 out of 5 stars Luckily it is a short story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I didn't find anyone likable in this in this puff piece to selfishness. The only thing I can give Ms. Sullivan 5 stars on is impeccable technical writing. She doesn't misspell words, mix tenses, or forget there's such a thing as grammar. I finished it only because it was short and hoped there would be someone to like by the end.
    22 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Happy Cappy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, quick read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fun and quick read with a very unlikeable yet likeable main character. She is very awful, self-centered and insecure but she still draws you into her world in a short amount of time which makes her more likeable than she should be. This author has skills and I will be seeking out more of her work. I recommend reading.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • dmcerasale
    1.0 out of 5 stars Sad and Cranky
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I don’t get this. Not a short story. I suppose the rest of it would wrap up the story. Not cool.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Firefox J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Haven't read a book like this before, with familia
    l ups and downs close to mine. It is sort of like looking in a mirror.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Natasha
    4.0 out of 5 stars .
    Reviewed in India on November 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What happens when you are a social media star and use your family for content. None of the characters were particularly likable but this is reality of reality shows
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report