Member Reviews
Bestselling author Emily Liebert gives readers another suspenseful, thrilling page turner. She captured me on page 1 and kept me glued to the pages until the final dark, sinister twist. This is the ultimate summer escape, and, if you haven’t checked out any of Emily Liebert’s books in the past, this is the “perfect” time!
Perfectly Famous was a quick read and I have it kept me engaged enough to finish in one sitting. However, this book had a lot of plot holes and some unrealistic events for me to love it. I didn’t think the characters were fully developed and nothing truly happened until after I had read 85% of the book. The ending wasn’t shocking or memorable, I had to go back and refresh my memory on the last character that was mentioned. This one just wasn’t for me.
I just finished this a couple days ago and I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it?
It was a totally fast paced book which I loved! Plus there were a few twists in this one that I absolutely LOVED!
And most of the twists I didn’t even see coming, so that’s always a plus.
HOWEVER. When I was done I kind of sort of wanted to throw the book across the room. But since it was on my kindle, I couldn’t exactly throw it 😂
I feel like I was left with a lot of questions after reading and I wanted more. Not in the good way, where it just makes a great read. More in the way that there were a lot of unanswered questions and I felt like I needed to know more to help with the story.
I kept looking at my percentage and noticed that I was almost done with the book and I kept thinking how was this gonna wrap up because it felt a bit unfinished.
But I will say I liked it more than Pretty Revenge.
It’s a quick read, so if that’s something you’re looking for you should try it! I’m kind of hoping this leads into a sequel.
I'm having a hard time finding words for this review. The reason is that I'm in a mood so this may directly affect how my reading experience went. And we all know moods can dictate sometimes. At the beginning of this read, we are introduced to our leading ladies. The woman who wants to disappear (Ward) and the woman determined to find her (Bree). The back and forth between their POVs kept me interested and for a majority of the book I was curious. I wanted to know what Bree was going to find and why Ward was so bent on being withdrawn from society. Then the ending just kind of blew up and went left and I'm not quite sure how to reconcile it all.
This Lifetime movie goodness read is great fun for entertainment purposes. While I did feel the ending got a bit convoluted and left me with more questions than answers, I do appreciate what it was trying to do. However, it just didn't work for me at this moment in time. I would even put this more on the lighter thriller side of the genre. Pop that popcorn!
Liebert does write in a way that really keeps you moving along with the read. This is my second by her and both times I've had issues with the endings. Despite that, I'll still be picking up her next release and see where I stand after that
Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I wanted to like this book more than I did. I really liked the writing and the lead up to the twist, then it felt as though the twists were abrupt. And then the ending?! Cah-razy which is why I would give this one three and a half stars if I could.
I had not heard of Emily Liebert before reading Perfectly Famous, but I will certainly be looking for her books in the future. Told in alternating voices, this suspense-filled novel grabbed my attention from the beginning and kept me turning the pages right up to the explosive ending. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
How to destroy a good book in a couple of pages. Seriously, this book is practically a tutorial for that very thing. I enjoyed most of this one well enough. Granted, I had questions, plenty of questions. Sometimes a character would do something for no reason, or at least no reason that I could see, or sometimes things were predictable, but still, the story held my interest well enough to keep me reading. The pacing was good, and despite a reliance on coincidence, I kept going. Then I got to the last of the book, I'd say about 90% in, and the whole thing just goes completely off the rails. Now, I'm all for a great twist to make a reader sit up and pay attention, but the last couple of pages wasn't that. Nope, those last couple of pages were more of a completely out of left field, what in the world, did I miss something kind of thing. I even flipped back a couple of times to see if I'd missed something. It's that far out there that I flipped back more than once. So, maybe that was the intention? I really hope there was some big purpose that I'm missing because otherwise, it's just a bad couple of pages tacked on at the end - just a pretty good thriller with a really bad ending.
Pretty darn good! I just finished Perfectly Famous by Emily Liebert and must say I really liked the premise of the book. There were basically two writers in the story. What more could a book nerd want. Right? It held my interest and kept me entertained. This book is classified as suspense and psychological fiction. There were a few twists and turns along the way to keep me engrossed.
The book went back and forth between the two main characters. I learned pretty quick to pay attention to the heading of the chapters. That is how you know which character you are reading about in the beginning. Once I got into the book, it wasn't a problem.
I took a peek at her other books and it looks like this is the second book for her in this genre. If you like suspense, you will probably like this book. It was an easy story to read and a great way to pass the time. This was my first book by this author and I will be keeping an eye on her in the future.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
I went back and forth on a rating for this book. It was easy reading which I appreciate and the storyline kept me interested and wanting to find out how it all ended. Well, the ending was a little far fetched in my opinion. It was like it was an afterthought. The cover is beautiful which is a big plus.
I would definitely like to read more books by this author. While this wasn’t in my top 5 books of 2020, it was an enjoyable read ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Emily Liebert for the chance to read and review Perfectly Famous.
Ward Defleur seems to have it all. She’s a bestselling author whose books double in sales with each one she writes. She makes a good living (famous even) and has a beautiful daughter. Until one night at a book signing when her world changes with a phone call.
Bree is also a mother of a girl the same age. And like Ward she is also a writer—although not nearly as famous. When Ward’s family suffers a tragedy and she disappears, Bree is determined to find her, and in her search unearths secrets that she didn’t expect.
Overall I enjoyed this book and following Ward and Bree as they struggle with loss, parenthood, friendship and careers. Both women were incredibly relatable (except the famous part!). I also liked how the book wrapped up—except for the last two pages (which other reviewers have also identified). Not that the ending was unexpected, but it felt a bit sudden and out of place. But otherwise it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to Emily Liebert, Gallery Books and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A chance encounter connects journalist Bree Bennett with author Ward DeFleur. On paper, the two woman have a lot in common; both have 16 year old daughters, live in the same town and both of them write for a living. The well-defined, complex characters and the fast-paced plot drew me into the story immediately.
Emily Liebert tells the story of bestselling author Ward DeFleur and Journalist Bree Bennet from the first person viewpoint by alternating chapters. I enjoyed this narrative choice because I was able to understand each characters feelings and motivations. This technique also heightened both the tension and the mystery elements in this page turner. Ward DeFleur is a bestselling author who vanishes after her daughter is kidnapped and dies. Ward disappears without a trace. Bree feels a connection with Ward and decides to tell Ward’s story.
The author creates outstanding female characters in this book. Loved Bree’s relationship with her mom and best friend Maggie. Bree’s mom is hilarious. She cares for Bree by trying to fix her up on dates with her friend’s sons. And she advises Bree to update her Facebook page with a photo with makeup. A subtle way of saying Bree needs to step up her image to find her next husband. Maggie is Bree’s true north friend-they share everything. Maggie is a psychologist and understands Bree’s need to move on emotionally. The push pull relationship between teenage Chloe and Bree was spot on. I understood Bree’s desire to reinvent herself after her divorce. She’s no longer someone’s wife; and her cookie baking and carpool days are behind her.
I figured out who was out to get Ward early on in the novel and I was patiently waiting for Bree to put the puzzle pieces together. I was invested in Bree’s desire to find Ward and to tell her story. The mystery of Ward’s disappearance held my interest—how can someone disappear in this age of the internet and social media?
In my opinion, the last few chapters seamed rushed and didn’t resonate with the feel of the book. I felt that the conclusion was more dramatic than suspenseful. The last page came out of nowhere and I have had a hard time believing the resolution.
Would I read another book by this author? Yes, I would. I enjoyed the fast paced suspenseful storyline and thought the characters of Bree, Maggie and Chloe and Ward were complex yet, very relatable.
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Perfectly Famous" by Emily Liebert, Gallery Books, June 2, 2020
Emily Liebert, author of "Perfectly Famous" has written an intense, suspenseful, captivating, thrilling mystery. The Genres for this novel are thriller, mystery, and suspense. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The story takes place mostly in an affluent area in Connecticut. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, and motivated.
Ward DeFleur is a famous author that lives in Connecticut. While she is at a book signing for her newest book, she gets a call that her daughter Stevie has disappeared. Ward goes into hiding and stops writing after her daughter's attack and murder.
Bree Bennett is recently divorced and had been at the book signing the night that Ward DeFleur was there. Bree has a daughter Stevie's age, that is starting to act out. Bree is now starting a career in journalism. Bree becomes obsessed with finding out where Ward is. There is danger and the daughter's killer hasn't been found. Bree is also entering the new world of dating.
There are twists and turns, betrayals, danger, threats, and murder. This is an edgy, suspenseful, and thought-provoking novel. The ending is OMG!!!......... I highly recommend this novel!
I’m an Emily Liebert fan but this just did not click for me. The plot kind of dragged and I felt no real connection to any of the characters. I did not feel like they had much depth and their actions didn’t make sense at times. The pace did pick up towards the end, but overall, this was just so-so.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books and Emily Liebert for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When famous novelist Ward de Fleur is at a book signing one night at the start of a new tour, her teenage daughter goes missing, and is later found brutally attacked. Unfortunately she doesn't make it, and Ward's life is changed forever. Now, months later, Ward has disappeared. Recently divorced reporter, Bree, who is dealing with problems with her own teenage daughter remembers meeting Ward that night at her book signing, and becomes obsessed with finding her so that she can be the one to tell her story.
I was very intrigued in the first three quarters of this novel. There are strong unique, female characters who are learning to be independent after major life changes. Enter some suspicious males and the plot thickens! I couldn't wait to see how everyone was connected and felt that there was going to be more levels to the story. I was definitely interested and was wondering- How are Bree and Ward connected? Why does Bree's daughter have against her?
In the last quarter of the book, things got weird! I'm not sure what happened but it didn't match the earlier suspenseful, mysterious tone of the book. Everything wraps up very fast, nothing was very unexpected, and it was almost corny and cliche. Without any further back story or the intricate plot I was expecting, some earlier events no longer seemed plausible to me. This soap opera ending really didn't do the writing justice!
Please remember that this is just my opinion, and you may love this one! I did enjoy the first part of the book so I may give this author's work another chance!
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Perfectly Famous was an amazing thriller that kept me guessing until the last page. Emily Liebert wrote an intriguing story that blew me away. I thought the premise of the story was so chilling yet realistic.
Ward DeFleur is a famous author who is on top of her game. When she is at one of her stops on her book tour, she gets news that her daughter is missing. News breaks that her daughter was murdered in a horrible accident. After her tragic loss, Ward escapes where no one can find her.
Bree Bennett is going through a divorce and is feeling lost in her life. She is a former journalist and is thinking about going back to work. She met Ward at the signing on that tragic night. Ward was so kind to her and know Bree wants to help her write a story about her experience. But she has to find her. Bree is persistent and isn't afraid to push the limits to find Ward. That tenacity gets her into trouble most times.
I loved this book in its entirety. The plot, characters, and suspense were perfect. I can admit that there were times that I got chills because of the well-written scenes.
I give Perfectly Famous 5 stars. This is one of my favorite thriller reads of the year. I loved the suspense and bold writing. Emily Liebert nailed it with this book. The ending was unexpected and eery. It is a must-read!
Honestly, I have rather mixed feelings about this thriller... this is my second experience with Liebert's writing, and I must say that while I enjoyed this one more than the relationship-based plot of her earlier novel, this just fell a bit short of what I hoped for... But, I really did enjoy certain aspects of it! I liked the publishing world premise - Ward is a successful author, but on the first night of her thirteenth book tour, tragedy strikes. Six months later, the other narrator, Bree, a recent divorcee, getting back into the journalism world, decides to focus on writing Ward's story amidst getting back into the dating scene and dealing with her own troubled teenage daughter. The pacing here is definitely quick (well aside from all the elaborate detail on the menus for Bree;s dates! Don't read this hungry!) and I read this in just about one sitting. I especially enjoyed the lifelike quality of the detail - particularly in Bree;s dealings with her mother and her best friend, Maggie. Unfortunately, the plot itself is rather predictable and the final scenes are just a bit too much over the top for me. There may have been some eye-rolling... but, it was a fun read overall and it certainly kept my attention. I can see this being a great book to read on a plane ride or a vacation when those are allowed to happen again!
Today I'm going to look at Perfectly Famous written by Emily Liebert. I received an eARC of the title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Its release date is July 8th 2020, so please enjoy it once it's out. If you like reading about writers, and big plot twists this one is for you.
Perfectly Famous opens with the reader meeting Ward DeFleur, a famous author who has anxiety about being in front of people, like at a book signing. As she's about to wrap up the first signing on her most recent book tour, she notices her assistant isn't around, and then finds out she's been on the phone because people are trying to reach Ward to notify her that her daughter was abducted and murdered. The tour is over, and Ward will never write again.
One of the fans that attended the book signing, is Bree Bennett. At the time of the book signing she and her then husband had recently decided to divorce, and Ward consoled her. As we move further into the story they have separated, and are beginning to figure out how to co-parent from two households, and Bree is trying to re-enter the workforce as a journalist at a local paper.
Bree pitches the idea that she is going to find Ward and bring her out of hiding as her big break through story. It's a bit of a hard sell, but her editor goes for it and Bree begins heavily researching Ward's past. Finding Ward's brother, and maybe falling for him a bit a long the way. As she goes deeper into the story it becomes apparent that Stevie's murderer is still out there, and searching for Ward is not the safest idea.
All the while Bree is trying to deal with the life changes her divorce is bringing to her life, including dating, raising her daughter, and psychologically adjusting. While I haven't experienced these life stages, I thought Liebert handled them well. However, I found Bree a bit too self-centered for my liking, and I often found myself annoyed with her. Ward is a whole other story, but I don't want to divulge too much leading into one of the many plot twists of the book. It was still an enjoyable read even though I couldn't relate to the characters.
Happy reading :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emily Liebert for the opportunity to read and review her latest read. 3.5 stars - the plot seemed a bit implausible but it was still an enjoyable read.
Wade is a famous crime novelist. On the first night of her book tour, her daughter disappears and is found murdered. Wade is obviously devastated and disappears from public - no one knows where she is. At that same book tour stop, Bree finds herself sobbing in Wade's arms while dealing with her recent divorce and issues with her daughter. When Bree decides to go back to work and accepts a job with her local newspaper, she becomes fixated on finding Wade and possibly writing a series of articles and a book about her. But Wade's daughter's killer has never been found - will Bree's obsession put her and her daughter in peril as well?
I had a hard time understanding Bree's obsession with Wade to the extent that she took it and was conflicted about the ending as well. But overall, it was still a good, enjoyable read!
Wow! This book had me up late into the night the to finish it. It was a good mystery with several twists. The ending was quite shocking! I highly recommend this one.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.
Woah did this story suck me in quickly!! Famous author, Ward DeFleur, has had more success than she could have ever dreamed. While at her book signing, she discovers that her daughter his missing and she has a gut feeling that something is terribly wrong. She then goes missing and no one knows where Ward is hiding. 6 months later, Bree Bennett is recently divorced, hated by her teenage daughter, and just accepted a job as a journalist. As a Fan of Ward’s novels, she takes it upon herself to discover what happened with Ward and her daughter.
This story was absolutely fantastic! My only complaint is how quickly it ended! I strongly urge you to pick this novel up.