From the novel’s outset, Lyla is aware that reality television focuses on constructing a narrative rather than recording occurrences in a straightforward way, and her knowledge that the competition footage will be unfairly edited influences her interactions with Nico and her fellow contestants. The theme of trust and twisting reality to suit an agenda takes on a different valence after the storm, as Conor attempts to consolidate control over the others, only for Lyla and the others to realize that they must engage in similar tactics to have any hope of returning home.

Lyla’s early conversations with Nico underscore their awareness that reality television often traffics in tropes. Nico is reluctant to tell Lyla that the show’s producer has crudely described her as “girl next door fuckable” (20), and he also deliberately conceals the fact that the competition structure will require him to partner with other women. This lie of omission implies that his ambition easily overrides his commitment to honesty when he stands to benefit from the deception. Similarly, Dan has no qualms about concealing his own sexual orientation for the sake of his career. At other junctures, Lyla becomes increasingly concerned with how her own behavior might be edited, and as a result, she forces herself to mask her anger with a veneer of calm and tries to avoid being perceived or portrayed as a “diva bitch” (88).