The Thomas Nelson logo was throughout the entire book and chopped up the story so much that I couldn't get into the story. I might just need to come back to review this one once I can read the physical copy.

Unfortunately, this one just didn't quite work for me. I could not get into the writing style and I didn't feel enough chemistry between the characters to be fully immersed in the romance. However, this book has gotten so many wonderful, glowing reviews from other readers so I'm sure it will be the perfect read for many!

I ADORED this book. Which totally surprised me since the romance was such a small part of the plot. It was more about Cat overcoming her social media fall and helping out at her uncle’s small town national park.

I loved the secondary characters, I loved the setting, I loved the humor and the dialogue between Cat and Zaiah, I loved the underlying message of how dangerous social media can be.

If you’re looking for a quick, easy read, then I highly recommend this one! I started and finished over a weekend, and it will put a smile on your face 🥰

BOOK REVIEW - Famous for a Living - Melissa Ferguson - 5/5 Stars

THE STORY
I have a new-to-me author to share with you all! Famous for a Living is the first book by Melissa Ferguson I've read but it won't be the last! The story follows Cat Cranwel, who is one of those characters that you don't necessarily like from the start but as you get to know here and watch her character change and grow, I hope you'll come to love her as much as I do! The quirky side characters were like something from a sitcom and so lovable. And Zaiah *sigh* he's one of those men that single readers wish were real....

THE ROMANCE
This story combined some of my favourite tropes - Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract and a little bit of Enemies-to-Lovers with a nice slow burn romance. It's one of those books that even though you really want that first kiss, the build up and getting-to-know-each-other is so sweet that you don't mind the wait.

THE TRUTHS
I loved how this story took the middle ground on technology and social media, pointing out both its flaws and its benefits in such a thoughtful way. It is a refreshing reminder to live your whole life to the fullest, rather than spending all your time trying to capture the perfect moment. God blessed us with so much; family, partners, friends, experiences and material possessions, and He wants to see us enjoy them all. By all means share about your blessings with others through social media but just don't let your life become social media. Unplug and enjoy when you can!

The depth of the book surprised me. I think that the relevance of being glued to your phone and giving in to the pull of social media and the competitive/comparative pressure it creates resonated with me.

The book follows a famous social media influencer and her ultimate fall from
grace after a business deal goes wrong and damages her standing as an influencer. Even though her life is falling apart, she meets a down to earth love interest that shows her life is much more than an online persona.

I think the story is sweet, it highlights some real issues with social media and emphasizes that sometimes simple, honest things can make you happier and healthier than straining yourself mentally and emotionally to maintain a public image. However, the romance was a slow burn (very very slow) and while it seems integral to her life changing, it doesn’t take off until so much later in the book that it loses a bit of it’s luster.

I think if you go into the book not expecting a romance and end up with a women’s fiction then it makes sense. The book is advertised as a romance but the romance is such a sliver of the book that it doesn’t feel like it’s really a part of the story. Regardless it’s a cute and thought provoking book!

I began the audio and had to put it down due to the narrator. I will try again at another time with the ebook. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this book!! It started off a bit slow for me, but once Cat really started to warm up to life at Kannery and the folks there, I didn’t want to put it down. One thing that I love about Melissa Ferguson’s books is that her characters always have depth. Both MCs in this book are no different. Cat and Zaiah both appeared to be one way to most, but they each have a backstory that built them. And the growth that both of these characters experienced was so lovely to read. Already can’t wait for her next book!

4/5 stars.

Ferguson succeeds again with this amusing, entertaining read. She absolutely nails the life of a social-media influencer (the good and the bad); I'll admit I almost set it aside because it got _so_ real and hit close to home at times. But, I was really glad I persisted; the story picked up about a third of the way in and had some zingers and insight I think anyone with a smartphone and/or social-media account could benefit from--in a good way. Sure, I could easily toot my own horn and talk about how I've turned off 90% of my app notifications, but that means nothing ;)--I still check "the socials" more than I need to, and we know that can have all sorts of ramifications!

Cat is an endearing MC, and Zaiah proves pretty darn swoonworthy. Several side characters do their best to steal the show, and they very nearly do! (I also wouldn't mind visiting Kannery National Park now ... but might go for Peggy's "condo in the city" versus one of the rustic cabins. Ahem.)

I wouldn't label this Christian fiction, per se; clean fiction, absolutely--but faith isn't mentioned at all over the course of the book. That surprised me a bit as it's a Thomas Nelson publication, but I think TN is branching out itself. So, if you happen to pick it up based on publisher, just go in knowing there's no faith element included!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This a fun read, but I didn’t feel like this was a romance. There was romance but very little and more towards the end of the book. It was more of a chick-lit book about Cat’s journey and self-discovery. I did enjoy it! I loved seeing Cat, a NYC girl, adapt to her new setting in the mountains in Montana, and there was a great cast of quirky characters. It was charming read that shed light on the toxicity of social media and the dangers of being way too dependent on it. I recommend this one to those that enjoy reading about influencers and books about self - disovery.

This book was cute, but predictable and just left me wanting a little more. I enjoyed the characters but don't feel like we got to know any of them super well. Overall it was a fun read and perfect for summer.

First I want to say thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC.

This book is the reason I wish Goodreads had half star ratings. I don’t want to rate this a three or a four. It’s somewhere in between. I really liked it, but there were some parts that kept me from fully enjoying it. I loved all the side characters. They each had so much personality that was overflowing on the pages. Following Cat on her journey of social media fame and the ups and downs it brings with life felt realistic. I think the author did a wonderful job at portraying the addiction to technology we see today. I loved the romance between Cat and Zaiah. However that’s where the book started to fall for me. I needed more. The relationship felt rushed, where the first 80% of the book focused mainly on the social media aspect. The last 20% was when all the romance occurred. If you like a slow burn then this book is definitely for you. I enjoyed it, just wanted more time with the relationship.

Cat’s influencer career has blown up and she escapes to a small national park in Montana where her uncle is a Ranger. While there she goes on a journey to put down her phone, embrace imperfections, and notice the real world around her.
The romance doesn’t really pick up until the last quarter of the book, so I consider this to be women’s fiction with a bit of romance rather than a romcom. Which is fine, unless you are expecting chemistry, conversation, dates, and getting-to-know you between the female and male leads. There just isn’t much of it. We do get a tiny glimpse into a past tragedy for each of them, and I wish these plot points had been developed further. I think exploring these episodes in their history would develop the characters more fully.
Once again, the supporting cast does an amazing job of rounding out the setting and storyline. I loved Cat’s friends, family, and coworkers. Each was unique, and their foibles and banter were spot on. I loved the setting and descriptions of the natural beauty and wildlife in the park. I even enjoyed the social media aspects of the story. The author did a great job touching on pros and cons of using our phones and apps on a daily basis. Although, I can see how this could come off as preachy to some readers. This issue can be a hot button and it’s hard to pull off in a novel. Kudos to the author for even trying!
All in all, this was a quick, fun, easy, very clean read with super cute Instagram post drawings at the beginning each chapter. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC and physical book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A very nice slow burn that introduces us to two people who are really opposites who support each other unconditionally (although at first it doesn't seem like it).

I love slow burn books and I loved this one because the relationship developed slowly and I also liked that not everything is focused on romance, but also on the growth of the protagonist who comes from a very bad period in her personal and professional life. .

It is interesting what he presents about social networks and how he manages them. It is not something that one is unaware of (situations like this have already been heard many times or one has come to experience them, not to the extreme, but if you are on the networks or follow artists you are internalized on the subject), and this means that one can empathize more with the protagonist because it is something that really happens and we have it closer.

At times it seemed rushed but it is not something that has prevented the book from being enjoyed.

A light read, which deep down invites us to reflect and a beautiful slow burn. And many funny scenes!

Thanks NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A relevant, clean, and inspirational story with a fun setting and look into influencer culture. I enjoyed it and felt like it was a fun read! Had a feel of opposites attract and small-town romance. Definitely more focused on character growth than the romance but I still really enjoyed it.

My only critiques are:
- this is published by Thomas Nelson but it had no faith elements in the story at all. I was disappointed in that. I get that it’s teaching an inspirational message about handling social media, but this could’ve easily been published by a standard non-Christian publisher. I am expecting a little bit more “Christian content” from this publisher. It was nice to have a clean romance with no language, but outside of that there were no faith elements. Other books I’ve read from TN have been more faith-based than this but still not overtly faith based.
-I don’t feel like this cover accurately represents the book. Most of the story took place in cold months, and if Montana is anything like where I live in the winter, nothing is green until May at the earliest. The cover makes this look like a summer romance and I think it would’ve been more accurately done if the cover has been winter themed, but I also know this is coming out in May so maybe that was part of the reason for the cover. I just feel it was misleading to me when so much of the story was centered around how cold it was-even until the end.

Overall, an enjoyable new release and I would put this in the inspirational/women’s fiction category. I enjoyed it just as much as this author’s other books I’ve read.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this book!

Famous for a Living is a great opposites attract romance. The two romantic leads really teach one another about both themselves and their points of views. I think if you are looking for a fun new romance book to read, then this would definitely be a good choice.

This one was a laugh out loud, romantic comedy of opposites attract. It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I was about halfway through I couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed this one and especially loved the instagram posts before each chapter!

Thank you to @thomasnelson for my copy!! This book is out now! Famous for a Living by @our_friendly_farmhouse Melissa Ferguson follows mega influencer Cat who goes from A list to Z list when she is framed for embezzling money. She retreats to the mountains of Montana where her beloved uncle lives as a Park Ranger for Kannery National Park.

This city girl in the cold mountains has a lot to learn with lots of laughs sprinkled throughout. But Cat sees past the frigid ice and snow to find a new family who doesn’t care about Likes and Comments and just values her, no strings attached.

This was more Womens Fiction than romance so I was hoping for a liiiiitle more in that area but was still a great read. Cat’s love interest was really swoony and had such great depth. I loved Ferguson’s sometimes brutal look at our obsession with social media and how it can rule our lives in big and small ways. I enjoy her books and fans will love this newest one too.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This was a hilarious sweet swoon worthy read. The book follows Cat who is insta famous but has a fall from grace when her partner is accused of a crime. She goes to Kannery National Park, Montana. with her uncle to run away from it. There she discovers her self, meets quirky characters in the form of a roommate and of course falls for the one that doesn't care for social media. This is a clean book with the sweetest romance , lovable characters and overall theme about self discovery ,love and family.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I admit, I don't have much interest in "influencers, so the main character of Cat took me a little while to warm up to due to that role. However, once her life spirals and she moves to where her Uncle lives in Montana my feelings shifted. She comes across a cast of quirky characters and a sweet romance with Zaiah who is a park ranger and her opposite when it comes to social media and big city living. There is a deeper story for both of them and it gives a new viewpoint and a better understanding of the characters and their actions. I enjoyed watching Cat discover who she really was and what was truly important to her. This is low on angst, a little predictable, but still manages to make you smile. Lovely ending!

3. 5 stars

Thank you @uplitreads, @librofm, and @thomasnelson for my gifted copies! This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the narration!⁣
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Cat Cranwell’s whole life falls apart when a partnership goes wrong. Her uncle invites her to come work with him and manage the social media for their small national park in Montana, a far cry from her typical Manhattan. Their staff is small but very enthusiastic about their work and it was interesting to see Cat learn more about the park and her band of colleagues. I loved the enemies to friends with Zaiah. This is definitely a closed door book, but the chemistry between Cat and Zaiah was so palpable for me. I liked how Zaiah helped to change Cat’s perspective on social media usage. It definitely made me think. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the park and its beauty! It made me wish it was real and I could visit!⁣
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I can’t wait to read more from Melissa Ferguson!