Webnovel Review: Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show Was Actually–?! by Yan Baibai

Title: Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show Was Actually–?!
Author: Yan Baibai
Chapters: 225 chapters + 13 extras
Publication: 2018
Summary from Novel Updates:

Wu Jin, as a trainee from a certain entertainment company, had a peerless, stunning face. He was qualified to debut as a lead performer even if he just sat there and did nothing.

After signing up for a certain talent show, the shining path to stardom beckoned to him––

Wu Jin: Hold on, why is this show different from what we agreed on? Wasn’t it supposed to be about jumping around, dancing, and singing songs? Why do you have to send me out into the wilderness…

Program Producer: You’re a once-in-a-century high appearance value competitor! We’re relying on you to save the program’s ratings!

Wu Jin: … I seem to be on the wrong show. Wait a minute, this isn’t an idol show, it’s a fighting survival reality show ahhh!!

Ten months later, the little cutie who had been thrown into the show––

Turned into a human weapon.

Powering up through various instances, slight entertainment circle elements.

Extremely overpowered gong x little cutie who grows to become an overpowered shou.

5 STARS - I LOVED IT

MY REVIEW: 

This was such an entertaining, hilarious, and informative book! The elimination rounds were varied and interesting, especially beginning with the tarot card round. I didn't expect to learn so much about the eras leading up to the evolution of dinosaurs or about the drama and politics about major players during during King Louis XIV - King Louis XVI's reign in France.  

Wu Jin and Wei Shi definitely made the book better. I loved their relationship and how they grew together. Wu Jin's enthusiasm, fighting spirit, and sheer awe at Wei Shi at the beginning was super cute and hilarious. Wei Shi's laidback and hands-off but doting behavior was also super cute and hilarious. I love the POV shifts that go from action! fighting! gunshots! to taking the rabbit out for a walk and getting rid of pests along the way lmao.

The side characters were also great. I loved the White Moonlight family. The overprotective Zoe, the level-headed Wen Lin, and the all-brawns, no brain Caesar made their interactions so fun during the competition. 

Caesar alone was such a fun character. He had that goofy, muscle-headed older bro type that got along with similar people like a house on fire. The best quote that described him was from his captain: Caesar was a single-celled creature, wasn’t he? What was his girlfriend thinking? Dating an amoeba? lmaooo

In between all of the elimination rounds that can start tiring you out, there's actually plot! And it's so good! All of the foreshadowing came out, and the plot twist was so good! The extras also tied up a lot of loose ends and were pretty fluffy, which I really enjoyed.