Member Reviews
What happens when a social media influencer gets cancelled? She moves from New York to a national park in Montana, as you do.
I loved the description of the park as I am a fan of going to national parks. I did have to suspend belief with a few facts, like the mason jar popularity and visitors to national parks, but I did not find that detracted too much from the story.
This is a super, super, super slow burn. Like the book is nearly over before they go on a date. Again, that didn't bother me too much, but I would have preferred more interaction in the process of that slow burn. The story seemed like the romance aspect was more of an afterthought and that this was much more intended to be a women's fiction book.
But overall, I did enjoy the book.
I received a free copy of Famous for a Living and this review is completely my own.
I thought this sounded like a fun, lighthearted comedy and it was, just not for me.
It is about social media and it's lighthearted for sure.
I just realized I forgot to write my review for this from 2022. I love Melissa Ferguson's books, but this one fell a little short for me. I just couldn't get into the complete opposites of the characters and their lifestyles working together. There was a lot of humor I loved though as always with Melissa's books.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I really wanted to love this book but it was such a miss for me. I was so looking forward to a book revolving around social media and how it affects are lives in today's society. However, Kat was an incredibly unlikeable and unrelateable character for me. She was so self absorbed in herself that it took away from the overall story. I loved the side characters and their passion for the National Forest. Those characters were very well developed and I wanted to know more about them outside of being associated with Kat. Ferguson's writing style flowed well and gave readers a great picture of the story she created.
Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson was a refreshing take on the celebrity trope. I really like the topics it touched and it was very charming too.
I enjoyed this one! The premise was cool and I liked the National Park setting! The side characters were amazing and I loved the found family element. The overall message about social media was great as well. Overall, I really liked it!
This was such a great read by Melissa Ferguson! I loved following Cat's story and rooting for her success and watching her grow. And the author's writing style was so cozy and enjoyable!
This book was just meh for me. I've read some social media influencer based rom coms before and they were cute and fun and the main character usually had some redeeming qualities despite the fact that they were out of touch with reality. However, the execution of this story fell flat for me. Cat felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with her struggles. What kept me intriqued were the supporting characters - I would love to work at a state park with them! The plot was kind of predictable and didn’t offer any surprising twists or turns. While there were some humorous moments, the story felt shallow and left me wanting more substance and character development.
If you're looking for a heartwarming chick lit novel about friendship, slowing down, and finding out what's really important in life, then this book is for you.
It tell the story of super popular influencer Cat Cranwell who winds up getting "Cancelled" after a business deal goes awry. With no where left to turn, she takes the advice of her best friend and leaves NYC for a while until things calm down. Her Uncle Terry (her only and closest family member) is a ranger at Kannery National Park and although park living isn't exactly her thing, she decides to go stay there for a while.
It's cold. And the accomodations aren't quite what she's used to. But it's all she has, so Cat does her best to adapt to her new life.
I really loved Cat as a character. Although she's an influencer with lots of clothes and fancy things, she was actually very down to earth. She wasn't rude to people just because she didn't understand things at Kannery. Instead she did her best to learn and pick up on what she needed to know.
A big part of this story is found family because Cat really fits in well with the other employees and interns at the park. I loved her friendships that she developed along the way, especially with her roommate. And then with Zaiah.
Althought there's romance in this story, it's very slow moving and cute. I loved the way the feelings between Cat and Zaiah developed. It was really cute and made me feel like I was watching a high school romance. Haha.
While researching this book and the author, I saw that Melissa Ferguson has written quite a few other books and I will definitely be adding them to my To Be Read list. Famous for a Living was a really heartwarming and happy story, and it is one I would recommend to my best friend who also loves to read.
Melissa Ferguson’s Famous for a Living delivers a delightful romantic comedy that blends humor, charm, and a touch of adventure. Cat Cranwell, a fallen social media superstar, relocates to the rugged wilderness of Kannery National Park, Montana, where she faces a stark contrast to her former glamorous life. This shift in setting, from the marble kitchens of Manhattan to the frosty expanses of Montana, is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in Cat's journey of self-discovery and resilience. The world-building is meticulous, capturing the beauty and challenges of park life and providing a refreshing backdrop for the story.
While the plot follows the familiar trajectory of many romance novels, with opposites attracting and personal growth at the forefront, it remains enjoyable due to Ferguson's engaging writing and character development. Cat’s transformation from a social media icon to someone who learns to appreciate the simpler, more authentic aspects of life is heartwarming and believable. Her interactions with Zaiah, the rugged park ranger, add a layer of tension and humor, making their eventual romance both predictable and satisfying. Despite its adherence to genre stereotypes, Famous for a Living is a fun, uplifting read that offers a perfect escape into a world where love and laughter triumph over adversity.
I was a bit sceptical at the beginning of this book, but soon became enthralled. Super sweet, super cute slow burn. Well worth the wait. And a nice lesson in checking ones social media/phone use without being too preachy.
Really liked this book ☺️
I really enjoyed this book, but not really for the reasons I expected to love it.
The plot of this book is more representative of the women's fiction genre rather than a romance. Yes, there was romance in the story, but it felt like it took a backseat to Cat learning what is really important in her life.
While it's full of wit and charm, I was disillusioned by the promise of romance in the book. Had I known going in that it would be more of a fiction work, I think my expectations would have changed and I would've enjoyed it more.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Such a fun read! I loved every character and every situation. It felt like a romcom movie, which is great because the pacing is perfect for it! The romance was so enjoyable, I loved it!
Unfortunately, this was not good. I didn’t make it very far and just couldn’t handle the writing. The dialogue was rough.
3*
Although I really liked the idea of this book, it took me a while to get into it. It took me way too long to notice the Instagram posts had dates and should be carefully read, which was almost impossible on my Kindle. However, about halfway through the book it was a captivating read and I really started enjoying the story. It's a little bit cheesy and could've easily been a Christmas Netflix movie, had it been set around Christmas time. I really enjoyed reading the 2nd half of the book.
unfortunately i couldn’t get around to read this book yet… i’ll write a review when i’m able to read this.
The book was an easy and quick read, but it left some to be desired. Didn't hook me very easily, but was a cute story by the end of it. Won't read again, but nothing was wrong with it and I'd recommend it if you want an easy summer read.
My main problem here was that I didn't like the main character. She was SO SHALLOW, every time she'd describe something l'd be like oh no here we go again. I was so tired of all the brands being mentioned from the second time it happened, and it kept happening many times after that.
I was kind of hoping this would be a cute read, but the writing kept boring me and I felt like not much was going on, especially in the romance department.
A cute and heartfelt romcom that deals with the effects of being an online influencer and the backlash that can come with it. I enjoyed the characters and the final outlook on life that came through the resolution. The romance aspect wasn't the main point of the story as much as finding peace with self and finding your place in life that is real and true without the perfection that tends to be displayed on social media. The first person single POV kept the story focused and allows the reader to pay attention to feelings as the plot progresses.
This book had an interesting concept but I felt the characters and their chemistry fell a bit flat. I didn't finish it due to these reasons.