I'm very glad I had the chance to read this book; it was a lot of fun. In it, we meet Cat, an insta-famous person whose life has been flipped upside down and who has been advised to return to her hometown to escape everything that's happening. Her life is SO different when she moves to Montana to live with her uncle, yet I can't stop laughing while reading about her adventure and the other characters in this novel. The romance was somewhat lacking, but aside from that, I enjoyed the read. I enjoy reading about "redeeming myself," but I also appreciated the message about social media's risks.

actual rating: 3.25 stars

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

this book does suffer from mismarketing, which is too bad, because it isn't all that bad! I would characterise it more as women's fiction than a romantic comedy. this book delves much more into Cat's job in and obsession of social media. she is consumed by it. when we start, her life is very much lived for her, she comes across as deeply insecure and unattached to her surroundings and supposed friends. after her scandal (which, for once, is an actual scandal. I appreciated that the author didn't let her off with an easy mistake) she moves to Montana to live near her uncle and help him with his job of managing a national park. from there it's her coming out of her shell and realising that there is more in life than her phone.

as for the characters I liked them all. mina, especially, that was my girl. I hope Melissa Ferguson someday revisits mina, I will read that in a heartbeat.

as for the romance, it was a nice slow burn, but I wish the author had stretched the end a bit more. I needed more. more information about the aftermath of cat's return to New York, her months alone and readjusting to her old life. I wanted more, which is why I was sad that it was cut short. the book actually felt weakened by the romance at the end. also, you simply cannot call it a romance book but have the romance start up around 75 percent in. that's just not right.

so, in the end, the book didn't give me enough of either romantic fiction or women's fiction. which is a shame, because the potential was there.

I know I can count on Melissa Ferguson to give me a story filled with both clean comedy and romance. Famous for a Living did not disappoint! I LOVE Ferguson's prose, sarcasm, and ability to create endearing, quirky, and relatable characters. This story drew me in from the start, and I quickly devoured the entire book. Ferguson is one author I never miss, and I am confident this book will become a favorite of many.

I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3 /5⭐️

Publication Date: May 16th 2023

Author: Melissa Ferguson

Review: This book was kind of a whirlwind for me. I felt like it was going in a (snobby) direction with the richy richy girl then all of a sudden it switched which I should have figured by the book cover. It did take me some time to really get into it and enjoy it, which did take about half way through the book.
Very slow burn too with major opposite attract vibes.

It’s a fun read and I look forward to reading other books by @our_friendly_farmhouse

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson
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Cat Cranwell is an influencer for a living. She lives in New York in a spacious apartment. One mistake causes her reputation to implode and she is off to Montana to pick up the pieces.
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What I liked:
-I loved the themes in this book. Social media can consume me sometimes and I wonder if I should just quit. I thought this story handled this subject so well and I loved where Cat was at at the end and the rules she made up for herself.
-The romance in this is not front and center, and I thought that was perfect and complimented the discussion on Cat’s influencer status.
-I have always been curious about visiting Montana and am even more excited to go there one day after reading this book. I want to see the views that were talked about in this book, also wouldn’t mind visiting the hot springs!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was really sweet and yet also thought provoking. It’s a good one to add to your TBR 👏🏼👏🏼

What to expect:
Opposites attract
Small Town Romance
Social Media Influencer
Forced Proximity
Cast of Characters

I loved this sweet and funny romance novel. It had a good cast of characters. I enjoyed the slow burn romance with the love interest and I kept waiting for the kissing scene so good! The tension and pining kept growing.

The story follows Cat a social media influencer who looses her credibility. She then has to leave her fabulous New York City life and move across the country to a small town with her uncle who hasn’t been completely upfront with what she’s getting into. She is uncertain about what the future holds and goes through her own personal journey about the life she lives online and the real one.

She has a great friend Serena who helps her navigate the social media mess she’s in. It was refreshing to see someone taking a topic like social media with the distractions and repercussions that having a smartphone and an online presence can bring to a person’s day to day and yet give us a romance story between two people who are complete opposites.

Even though I already know a romance novel is going to have a happy ending it was nerve wrecking thinking about how the story was going to unfold. No SPOILERS but I’m so happy with the ending it was the perfect ending for me.

Definitely recommend this book and can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelf!

4,5 stars rounded up to 5
Famous For A Living checks all of my boxes for a feel-good book, with its slow to grow romance, beautiful natural setting, wit, and lessons learned. I simply loved this book, with its shift of setting leading to personal growth for the female lead.

Cat Cranwell at the peak of fame as an influencer based in New York City, surrounding by cameras, influential people, famous brands, and continuously attached to her phone. Scandal suddenly erupts when her business partner is accused of crime. She heads to the most unlikely of settings for a break, the isolated yet stunning Kannery National Park in Montana. Her new circle of people, Park Ranger Zaiah, her uncle Terry, and tiny-cabin roommate, Mina, have quite different priorities and lifestyles.

Scene after scene unfolded amid adventure, splendid scenery, and introspection as Cat gains fresh perspectives on her values and goals. I was all in for Cat's story, told with Ferguson's engaging style of writing.

Thank you, Net Galley and Thomas Nelson, for an advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson is such a fun and easy read. I love how current this story is especially with social media and the influencers. It’s centered around Cat’s journey in a totally new place, well outside of her comfort zone. She is an addict to her phone and social media. There is a grumpy male lead, a bit of a small town feel, a beautiful setting, and very lovable characters, too. I really enjoyed this book!

🌲Pub Day🌲

📗Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson
🗓️Pub date: May 16, 2023 (out today!)

✏️Blurb:
“From Park Avenue to the Parks Department - the world's most beloved social media star is about to get a rude awakening. With her millions of followers, Cat Cranwell is adored around the world. But when an app partnership goes very, very wrong, Cat suddenly finds herself shunned from the community that not only fed her soul all these years but paid her bills. When Cat's closest living relative, Uncle Terry, offers her a position on his staff at a small national park in Montana to get away from the city, Cat hesitantly accepts the opportunity. What she doesn't realize is that as the new social media strategist her goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park by boosting the number of visitors. And at least one of her new colleagues-namelv handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson-thinks social media is the root of everything that's wrong with the world.
Written with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson's signature wit and charm, this romantic comedy of opposites attract is full of hilarious romp and a romance that will melt readers' hearts.”

🌲Mini Review:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Overall, I thought it was a cute story. I could tell from the beginning that it wasn’t going to be as romance focused as I like, but more about Cat and her journey. I just felt like when it came to the romance aspect, there wasn’t much chemistry with Cat and Zaiah so it wasn’t very believable for me. I think maybe getting Zaiah’s POV could’ve been helpful with this.

I did enjoy Cat’s journey and really seeing her grow and develop. To see her grow outside of who she was as an influencer was one of the best parts of the story.

I would consider this more of a journey of self discovery, rather then a romance.

Thank you @uplitreads for the #gifted copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟 3/5 stars

Famous For a Living is a cute fish-out-of-water story about a disgraced social media star forced to work at a national park in Montana. She falls for a hot ranger and may find herself along the way.

I love this storyline and it is a very charming read. However, I wanted a bit more from the romance. It had the potential for a fun opposites attract romcom, but the chemistry wasn’t quite there for me. Overall, this was an entertaining read that leans more toward contemporary fiction (vs. romcom).

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read. This book has the right amount of descriptive language that keeps it interesting and appealing.
I have read every book by the author, the tone and rhythm she sets always lends itself to a delightful read. Great characters help as well as interesting settings.
Likeable main characters, endearing supporting characters, delightful banter. A strong cast.
A romance that is witty is a winner. This book is a definite winner.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
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What a fun and easy read!

I really enjoyed Cat’s story and I appreciate the discussion of a serious problem, which is a phone and social media addiction. I liked Cat as a character and her interactions with others. I would have definitely expected more romance but it was still cute!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book by Melissa Ferguson, and I was pleased that I really liked how she built this story! We’re introduced to Cat in her old life, which serves as a great contrast to her new life in the rugged mountains working for the park service. Time is spent showing that she is out of her element but Ferguson spends a lot of the novel showing the reader, through Cat’s eyes, the wonders of this area. I think we all feel the need to reach for our phones and check email and social media, so it was easy to relate to Cat and her addiction to the adrenaline she received with each like and comment. I thought her recovery and setting rules for that side of her life was so interesting! We all read about the dangers of social media and how it affects children, and in this novel the impression was made that it affects more than just kids and adults need to make changes too. I loved that.

What can I say about Zaiah. He was the bearded mountain warrior who won over Cat with his quiet persistence and won over this readers heart too. He was definitely a part of this story and he was a big reason for the changes Cat made in her life, but he was also not a character that drew attention. He was quiet, calm, and kind of subtle in his affection for Cat. I liked how his past was a big part of the story, but it was her need to make a change that overcame any conflict in the story. This romance really made me think and then it made me feel. Which is the reverse of how I usually feel when reading a romance.

If you like to laugh, smile, and get an adrenaline rush over silly mountain activities, this is the novel for you! If you like a quiet hero and charming heroine, than again, this is the novel for you! I turned the last page while smiling and that’s the best feeling when you’ve finished a book. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

Famous for a Living is a fun, quirky, feel-good, humorous contemporary novel I thoroughly enjoyed reading! The story hit all the right spots, including a surprisingly impactful message about savoring the moment rather than looking at it through a phone screen to capture for social media. Melissa Ferguson did a great job with each character arc. Zaiah was the perfect romantic interest, and Cat’s personal growth was inspiring. I loved their meet-cute and how their relationship developed from misunderstanding to mutual respect. While romcoms aren’t typically known to include transformative life lessons, Famous for a Living left me pondering my attachment to my phone and social media. In a world where most things are only a tap away, it’s challenging to disconnect, but Cat’s journey into the wilderness provided a valuable lesson I hope to hold onto. Perhaps it’s time to plan my own mountain getaway ;)

Fans of The Cul-de-Sac War and Meet Me in the Margins will undoubtedly enjoy Melissa Ferguson’s latest release. I believe it’s her best writing to date!

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own*

2⭐️

It’s not that I disliked the book, I actually found it entertaining once I was about halfway through it. I think what it desperately lacked – and subsequently what it desperately needed – was originality. The city to country bumpkin trope is tired, and what’s more was the narrative of all women are addicted to social media.

My review might sound harsh, but it felt more of a setback for and a sad way to represent young women who engage in social media. Maybe what Melissa Ferguson was attempting to do was comment on social media itself, however this felt more of an attack on social media of users I.e, young women, and impressionable youth (despite the main character’s redeeming qualities). Perhaps exploring more of Cat’s background, her relationship with her Uncle, and her entire family dynamic could give the story more nuance.

This was such a fun, enjoyable read! I didn’t exactly connect with Cat as her life and self worth seemed to revolve around posting and getting those likes and comments, but as more was revealed about her throughout the book, she really grew on me. Zaiah was quite the swoony outdoorsy hero, and I loved his grumpy “man of few words” vibe from the start, much like Cat’s Uncle Terry. More importantly, I liked who the two characters were when they were together, and their band of merry men gave some laugh out loud moments. The icing on the cake was the epilogue…I’ll just leave it at that, but don’t skip it! The audiobook read by Talon David was impeccable and I highly recommend. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and was not obligated to leave a positive review.

This book was so good! It's well written and was a joy to read. It's a sweet romance that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a book you don't want to miss!
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another hit by Melissa Ferguson! I haven’t read a book by her that I didn’t love.

Opposites attract, slow burn, comedy…what’s not to love?

The formatting of this book on kindle was challenging but when I kept it within the netgalley app I was able to see that the chapters began with the cutest drawings/insta posts that match the chapter. I liked it.

This book was a great “falling and re-rising” of an influential/influencer personality. The connection formed between our main characters is well paced out and you’ll really like them.

Actual rating; 4,5

I received this book from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion

I adored this book. The writing style was easy and quick but not in a bad way

Need to admit that the romance wasn’t really there until it happened. Not really a slow burn that is really present in the book, but very cute any way

I liked cat, she really shows what it is like to be a influencer and addicted to your phone all the time. It did make me realize some things. So this book also has a important message and I think it was necessary.