CW: death of a spouse, sexual harassment, child abuse (recounted), physical injury, car accident (recounted)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - Fiction for providing me with a free e-ARC.

One minute, Cat Cranwell was going to be the face of the new social media platform that will take over the world. The next, Cat is almost friendless and hiding from the paparazzi after her partner was caught stealing users’ data information and is left to face the lawsuits all alone. At the encouragement of her uncle, she agrees to work at Kannery National Park as their new social media director. When the park is threatened to be absorbed and Cat finds herself getting close to her new co-workers, including ranger Zaiah, Cat has to find herself again out of the spotlight.

While I wasn’t a huge fan of this book, I do think that Famous for a Living is the right book for somebody.

My main issue with the book was Ferguson’s writing style. I don’t know what it is, but it felt like the writing was choppy and off, especially with some of the sentence structure. I first noticed this during Cat and Zaiah’s first meet cute in the city and I felt like it didn’t really flow together. From there, you get instances throughout the book of weird sentence structure, specifically a lot of one sentence paragraphs and an overuse of hyphenated words turned sentences.

Additionally, while the cast of characters were good, there were at times that the characters felt like caricatures. For me, I don’t particularly like books that are exaggerated stereotypes of some character plot device, like the chronically online character or the character that doesn’t use any technology to the point that they might be considered a hermit.

Yet, that’s not to say that there was nothing I liked about this book.

Nevertheless, this book wasn’t for me. I think if you’re looking for a more women’s fiction type of novel that’s set in a National Park and emphasizes the need to unplug, Famous for a Living might be the book for you.

My first novel from this author and I loved the premise of this, but the execution is lacking. The characters are very black and white and not very developed, which you can sort of get away with if it’s a romance, except this isn’t really a romance, it’s more of a journey of self discovery. Except that she doesn’t really grow that much - and there is a lot of heavy lifting done in not many pages at the end and you’re left with some questions about how it’s all going to work out. Not for me - although the descriptions of the park make a visit sound very appealing, if I wasn’t thousands of miles away and I’d didn’t hate the cold and hiking!

I feel bad because this isn't a bad book, I just didn't like it. I really tried but something about it just doesn't work for me. I also think this is more of a women's fiction book than it is a romance.

I received an arc through netgalley.

A Cute Romance With Forced Proximity and Rural, National Park Setting!

At the beginning of this story, I was not sure how well I liked Cat, the female main character, however I was immediately drawn to brooding personality of Zaiah. As Ferguson transports her readers from the streets of NYC to the mountains of Montana, my heart warmed to the story.

The setting totally won me over for this book! I adored the National Park setting, park ranger life and the small town vibes. Ferguson brought the gorgeous scenery to life with her vivid descriptions and I definitely enjoy her writing style. There's a bit of snark and sarcasm to her voice which is fun and entertaining. Her secondary characters are fantastic too and I couldn't help imagining Cat's uncle as Burt Reynolds in a park ranger uniform.

The romance in this story was a definite slow burn, and I wanted so much more, so much faster. Once the heat kicked up, I enjoyed the story much more. There were plenty of smile-inducing moments though that kept me turning the pages and of course, I had to know how things came together.

The balance of life in person and life online was so-so, offering a little bit of personal angst and character growth. I also struggled with Zaiah's name. It really didn't seem to fit his description or personality, but that didn't detract from the story, it was merely a personal preference.

Overall, I miss the heavy romcom feel of Ferguson's first two books with the flirty banter and tension-filled dialogue, something I thought she did really well. This book was good, especially more towards the end when the chemistry picks up, but not a favorite.

Content Note: Clean, PG

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

I liked the relationship between the two main characters and how it developed throughout the story. I would have liked a little more romance or chemistry, however. The story was fun, but the social media influencer angle was a bit slow at times. I liked the scenes that centered around the National Park and learning more about what the park rangers do in their daily work. The development of the story was a bit slow for me. It's definitely very clean and would be a great YA crossover read.

“That’s the thing about the internet. Once it’s out there, it’s there forever.”

Imagine an IG influencer falling from grace in NYC, running to the wilderness of Montana to help her uncle at a national park, and then having to walk through deep snow banks and not get attacked by a mama moose while trying to take a selfie and you have Famous for a Living. And then Melissa Ferguson throws in a grumpy/sunshine aspect which is just perfect.

I loved that at the beginning of each chapter was a picture of an Instagram post and that there was real talk about issues like mental health surrounding influencers. I flew through this book because the writing was really captivating and kept drawing me back in.

Rating:
4.25 stars

Read if you like:
Sweet romances
Grumpy/sunshine
National Park settings
IG posts at the beginning of chapters

I am happy to write a review for Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson. This is a delightful romantic comedy that will have readers laughing out loud while also tugging at their heartstrings.

Melissa Ferguson has created an irresistible story that is both funny and heartwarming. The characters are well-drawn, and readers will find themselves rooting for Cat and Zaiah as they navigate their differences and the challenges they face. The book is also filled with hilarious moments that will keep readers laughing throughout.

What I love most about Famous for a Living is how it deals with important themes such as self-love and acceptance. Cat's journey to rediscover herself and find love beyond the realm of social media is both empowering and inspiring.

Overall, Famous for a Living is a five-star read that I would highly recommend to fans of romantic comedies. Melissa Ferguson has once again delivered a top-notch story that will leave readers with a smile on their face.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this book.

Cute story, good for easy reading. Very light and it has it's cute moments. I wasn't drawn into the book or absorbed by the story, but I didn't hate it.
Good for a day of reading at the beach.

If this wasn’t the the most delightfully entertaining read, I don’t know what is!

I’m a sucker for books set in small towns and close communities. Especially when the MC is reluctant to end up there. Zaiah and Cat were opposites in every sense of the word. But that’s what made this book oh good! I loved getting to know the real Cat behind the influencer Cat. Her fierce loyalty to her family and her growth throughout the story won me over! And can we talk about amazing side characters?! Serena, Uncle Terry, Mina. . . Oh my goodness, I fell in love with them all

Thank you for my copy to review

A sweet and lighthearted read that truly makes you stop a minute and think about how you’re spending your time, and what you’re valuing most.

I loved all of the characters in this book (except Bobby, woof). They were all so incredibly like-able in their own ways, and the picture of true friendship was truly painted throughout the entire book.

Zaiah stole my heart with his grumpy but incredibly thoughtful and kind soul. I loved that he and Cat could learn from each other and expand their horizons and dream bigger than they had done alone.

A sweet, easy read that will have you wanting to head to the mountains and start baking sourdough bread in your cabin.

I wouldn’t classify this one as a romance. There’s some romance in it, sure, but it’s more about our protagonist, Cat, finding herself and discovering life outside social media. I feel like it’s been hyped as a rom com and some people will be disappointed by how long it takes for ANY romance to occur. But it is a cute story, even without being a rom com. Cat herself was a great MC. I was worried that she was going to be portrayed as snobby and vapid (that seems to be common with this type of character unfortunately), but she was strong and funny and kind. I liked Zaiah as well. Even as against social media as he was, he was never awful to Cat or went out of his way to make her feel lesser than for interests that were different than his. Mina was absolutely adorable and hilarious. I did like how social media wasn’t made out to be something to give up completely, but to be looked at and used in a more productive and helpful way. I will say, I didn’t really get hooked into this story. It was a cute and fun read, but I never found myself tearing through the pages. I do think that this one will appeal to a lot of readers though, looking for a light, entertaining story. It definitely makes me want to visit some national parks! And how cute is that cover?

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars
This was a great book which is about Cat who is a famous influencer that begins to lose followers after a mishap and moved to Montana to help her uncle's wilderness site. I thought this was a cute book and I enjoyed how layback the story was. It was a very quick and calming read that you don't have to stress over too much. I do have to say that this book is misplaced as romance as there is a very tiny bit of romance and mostly focuses on self-development. The author nailed the overall message in the book and the setting was well explained. I do have to say that with the fast pacing, there weren't many memorable or cute scenes. There were too many scene skips that I wish it lasted a bit longer on a certain scene. I did enjoy the story of the characters and how they came to be in the book.

The main character is Cat and I really enjoyed her story. She has grown to be a big influencer and once going to Montana, she realizes that her NYC lifestyle is not working out in the woods. I loved her development and seeing her make pure friends who support her. There were many side characters in this book and I really loved Cat's roommate who was such a sweetheart. I do wish there were more heart-to-heart moments with the MC and SC for the development part of the book. As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that I was disappointed with the romance as it's categorized as adult romance. Wasn't expecting smut but wanted to see more chemistry between the characters and the tension. We only get one kiss which was the last chapter.

The ending was good but again very fast-paced. I did enjoy the story as there was a message and meaning behind it but I also wish it went along with the summary posted and the romance part of it. As I did have some minor issues with the book, it was overall greatly written as I know many would love this calm story. I do recommend this read if you like influencer style of stories with grumpy x sunshine tropes.

This was a sweet fish-out-of-water romance. It was reminiscent of Alexis Rose and Mutt from Schitt's Creek; that's who I was picturing throughout the story. I liked the social media meets a national park plot; I also enjoyed the change of our main character.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

When I saw the description and the cover, I thought this is exactly what I need at the moment. Insta-famous influencer getting cancelled, escaping into small city in Montana, to rethink her life. She meets a local park ranger and it clicks.

Looks good in description, however in my opinion the book is wrongly advertised as a rom-com. There is not much romance per se, it’s moving slowly and becomes boring after a while. There is quite strong character development, but nothing extraordinary.

Cat is a very famous influencer. Her lifestyle way over the top but she was rich and the money kept rolling in. Until she got pulled into a scandal and she could possibly change it all. Enter, her beloved uncle, who is the administrator for a small national park in Montana. Cat goes there to lower her profile, and to try to enhance the web presence and interest in the park. The park is in crisis, as is Cat. She's woefully unprepared for the rugged park, including the cold, the snow, and the animals. She befriends her young roommate and the other staff at the park. She's intrigued by Zaiah, a good looking, knowledgeable, capable ranger, but he's awfully uptight and cautious.

This is a fun story that gives you a taste of a national park and the surrounding area in the winter - the beauty, the silence, the danger. It also has a message about our dependence on media. The love story isn't prominent and entirely clean, but the developing relationships are touching. I enjoyed the book and I'd recommend it for teens and above.

This is my honest review.

When influences Cat's world falls apart, her best friend convinces her to lie low. Cat ends up in a rural national park, where she meets Zaiah. She learns some lessons about herself that we could all learn from too.

I will start off this book was not for me. I am from an older generation so I am sure this may be perfect for a younger generation. The book is told in a first person point of view. I felt that Cat came off as snobby, full of herself and annoying, its like she really could not see beyond herself. I like Mina she was my favorite character out of everyone. She seemed so down to earth and wanted to be everyone's friend, she just really wanted to see the best in everyone. Serena was a fun one as well she was more opposite to Mina, she was more in your face and she was not about to let any one get away with anything she called it like she saw it. Overall this book was kept clean so would be suitable for all readers.

Cat Cranston has experienced a traumatic free fall in her career. She went from being the "it" girl to being a pariah. Desperate to get away from her imploding life, Cat escapes to Montana where her Uncle Terry has offered her a job working for the local Park Department there. Cat views it as a temporary break from her world in the hope that things will die down and she can soon reclaim her social media status. What she doesn't count on is falling in love with the area and the people there.

The story is a lovely blend of romance, self-discovery and found family. It also touches on some serious topics such as abuse, social media addiction and more. Overall, it is a heartwarming read that really makes you think about how focused we all are on social media sometimes. It made me, personally, realize that sometimes it's better to live the moment than to be so concerned with trying to "capture it."

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio was well done with narration that pulled me into the story so well that I was immersed completely. It felt like a production at times and I feel that most people will find this a good way to enjoy this story. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for both the ARC and early audiobook copy. I voluntarily chose to review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

Famous for a Living is light hearted, entertaining and a quick enjoyable read- it could totally be on the Hallmark Channel. I appreciated the underlying message regarding social media and being connected to our devices 24/7.

Thanks to Melissa Ferguson, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the gifted eARC.

I read Melissa Ferguson’s last book - Meet Me in the Margins - and adored it. Between that and this adorable cover, I knew I needed to read this one.

Short Synopsis:
Cat is a social media darling. She’s made a living off her instagram and sponsorships from it. Until one day, everything changes and she moves to work for her Uncle Terry at a park.

My Thoughts:
The book is filled with lovable characters. Small town romances aren’t typically my favorite, but this one is cute. I loved the nature life and the romance that bloomed between Cat and Zaiah.

Read if You Like:
📷 Books about influencers
📷 Small town romances
📷 Clean romances
📷 Opposites attract
📷 Slow burns