Will ‘The Bachelor’ ever meet its final rose? Two books analyze the franchise

TORONTO The reality dating series “The Bachelor” hit its 16th anniversary on Sunday and, despite a rocky past year and poor track record of diversity and lasting love connections, its rose petals show no signs of wilting.

Last summer production was halted on “Bachelor in Paradise” to investigate unspecified allegations of possible misconduct on the set in Mexico. After an internal investigation, producer Warner Bros. said it found no evidence of that.

Then on the recently wrapped season of “The Bachelor,” fans were shocked when star Arie Luyendyk Jr. proposed to Becca Kufrin but later called it off and became engaged to runner-up Lauren Burnham. Kufrin is now the star of the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette.”

Ratings on the last season were down from previous years until the dramatic finale turned that around.

Authors of two new “Bachelor”-related books say that’s par for the course on a franchise that is a master at enduring.

“They just deliver us new drama and we’re right there tuning in,” says Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles-based author of the new book “Bachelor Nation,” which gives a behind-thescenes look at the show.

“I’m wary of counting them out because they seem to be able to always find a way to lure us back.”

Suzannah Showler, who analyzes society's relationship with “The Bachelor” in her new book “Most Dramatic Ever,” quips it might “be with us forever.”

“There have been moments where I’ve been like, ‘This is when the shark-jump happens,’” says Showler, who was born in Ottawa.

“And every time they manage to pull something out or find some way to pivot the experience or tweak the experience where I’m like, ‘Nope, this show will actually never die. This is the last thing we’re going to see before the lights go out and the apocalypse comes.’”

Both Kaufman and Showler say the Canadians who've been on the franchise, including Jillian Harris and Kaitlyn Bristowe, are among their favourite contestants.