Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book but was expecting a romance, and there wasn't much of that in this novel. It's a nice story, aimed, I believe, at 20 to 30 something readers. I'm a bit older, so while the wholesomeness (is that a word) of this book was what I enjoyed the most, I think it would be a more meaningful book for younger readers,

That said, the book is well-written, the characters are interesting and I wanted to know more about them. While I didn't get a real 'zing' of chemistry from Cat and Zaiah's interactions, it was the other relationships I really enjoyed.

A 3 star read for me.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson
Pub Date 16 May 2023
3.5⭐

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook at the same time.

This is a cute story.
I think I would have rated this book higher if it was rather marketed as womens fiction since there was no romance or not enough to be classified as such which kind of disappointed me.
That being said it was it was fast paced, with characters that are very likable.
it kind of reminds me of a hallmark movie. N oh the place has really beautiful scenery.

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—namely, handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson—thinks social media is the root of everything that’s wrong with the world

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

I can now say I am officially a fan of Melissa Ferguson! This book had everything I could have wanted in a romantic comedy and I already know I'm going to need a physical copy so I can reread this one later. If you liked The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon, you will really enjoy this one.

If you can't get behind social media influencers, Brawny-esque men in flannel, or quirky small town living, this book may be a pass for you. But if you can get behind all three of those, you'll find an endearing read with wonderful characters you can't help but root for. I loved Zaiah immediately, despite him being a man of very few words. His chemistry with Cat was just SO GOOD! I mean, if you want a romance in a national park, this is it!

All that being said, I do wish they dove a bit more into Cat's past with her family. There are mentions of domestic abuse, but you kind of get left feeling like her past was just briefly mentioned. I think we could have really understood her relationship with her uncle (and aunt that passed) if we had more back ground. Also, this book had zero spice. I'm talking, they only kiss about 3 times and that's it. Now, I really didn't care because the story was so cute, but I want to give a heads up to those who are thinking of reading this one and like a little more spice to their books.

Despite a couple hold ups mentioned above, I'm still giving this one 5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this one and it may be my favorite romance I've read this year (so far)!

Famous for a Living is the first book I have read by Melissa Ferguson. This book was enjoyable and refreshing to listen to throughout the day. This is more of a contemporary fiction book with a splash of romance. It was entertaining seeing how Cat manages the pro and cons of social media for her career and helping her uncle. I did like the Montana nature settings and the activities that happened there. Overall this book was cute.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, for my gifted copies.

Cat Cranwell, an influencer, falls from her social media pedestal she had been perched upon for so many years. Trying to remain out of the spotlight and let things die down, she travels to Montana to help her Uncle Terry. His current post at Kannery National Park is on the line. If visitors don't start showing an interest in this park, Uncle Terry could lose the post he has been at for his whole adult life. Cat in Montana is definitely a fish out of water. How will she survive this cold?! New York is cold but nothing compared to the cold of the wilderness. For someone who prides herself on survival, Cat quickly learns her survival skills would only get her out of the city limits and not past that. And of course, Zaiah, a park ranger working with Uncle Terry can't help but to get on Cat's nerves from day one. Who is this guy?! Zaiah has her convinced she will never make it here.
I am doing a terrible job of describing Famous For A Living by Melissa Ferguson. This book has it all; Drama, definitely some great comedy, and as if no story is completely without, a love story to boot! This book was written for a Hallmark screen! All the elements that we ladies have come to adore from the Hallmark channel are wrapped up here in this cute, adorable story! I will definitely be recommending Famous For A Living to all my book loving friends and will be looking for other works by Melissa Ferguson! (Did I just find a new author that I love?!) Special thanks to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The only negative thing I have to say is the e-book format that had "Thomas Nelson Fiction" with their logo on almost every page of my e-book. It was definitely a distraction but I still loved the story! I will not put that against the story itself; that seems more like a publishing/ format problem than something to put against the author. 5 stars for me! #HallmarkAreYouListening? #FamousforaLiving #NetGalley

Famous for a Living (eARC) — 3 ⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 16th

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: “From Park Avenue to the Parks Department — the world’s most beloved social media star is about to get a rude awakening.”

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: I was pleasantly surprised by the turns this book took along with the underlying message, and the characters were likable. Overall, it was a sweet, lighthearted story with elements of friendship, romance, and self growth.

However, I felt like the ending was rushed, and I didn’t see as much character development as I’d hoped. Plus, I would classify this book as more of a women’s fiction story with a side a romance than your typical rom-com, which is what I was expecting. While this book wasn’t my favorite, it seems like a lot of readers are really liking this one!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
🏃‍♀️ Fast Paced
😠 “Who Did This to You” Trope
🧠 Mental Health Rep
🏞️ National Park Setting
👥 Well Developed Supporting Characters
💗 Contemporary Romance
🥾 Adventurous
🔐 Closed Door Romance

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
📱You have an unhealthy relationship with your phone
🐻 You’re scared of lions, tigers, and bears… and snakes too
🧥 You’d buy a heated coat when facing the cold
🐻‍❄️ You’ve participated in a polar plunge
☕️ You’d do anything for a good cup of coffee

𝐓𝐖: car accident, body dysmorphia

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for providing me an eARC copy along with an audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had a little trouble really liking this book because I wanted it to be a romance, and there just wasn't a lot of romance in the story. I just felt like I really didn't care too much about the characters. Can I just say that I am also a bit out of touch with social media influencers, so I may have had a bit of trouble really relating to Cat. There is an appropriate message about the dangers of social media, but I guess that's not what I was really looking for.

This was such a sweet book. Cat and Zaiah while seemingly complete opposites share more in common then they thought. The premise behind the book that sometimes we really do need to disconnect from our phones and find our way back to nature really hit hard. Absolutely loved the social media posts included at the beginning of chapters and officially pining for the outdoors.🤩

This was a cute, cautionary tale of what may happen if you live on social media and if you don’t read contracts before signing them. I found the beginning fun and interesting, as Cat adjusts to life outside of NYC, but never really felt that this was a romance, despite her eventually finding love. My biggest issue with this story was the whole rant about how social media could ruin your life. It felt out of place if it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek and made me roll my eyes a few times. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and find it’s perfect for a vacation read or when you need to unplug.

I want to start this review off by saying that I think Famous for a Living had the potential to be a fine book and maybe it is, it just didn't work for me. I was expecting something completely different than what I got.

I was expecting a humorous rom-com, and this was the complete opposite of that. It definitely was more women's fiction than romance even though it is being marketed and promoted as a romance.

There wasn't one big thing that made this book not work for me. I can't really place anything that really ruined it for me, I just didn't find it enjoyable.

After finishing, I read some reviews and it seems like many people share the option that this book is incredibly mid. I have seen some more positive reviews as well - I guess it just depends on the person and if this type of book is typically your thing.

Cat is an influencer in NYC- it is her job to be famous.
When someone takes advantage of her good will, crashes her entire world, and disappears, Cat has no choice but to take the one job being offered to her-- running social media for her uncle and his team of rangers at a small national forest in Montana.
Zaiah is one of the head rangers at the park and is frustrated by the antics of this girl and the lack of knowledge she shows in taking videos and pictures in dangerous situations and underestimating how dangerous the outdoors can be, especially in winter.
As Cat finds her footing in Montana and finds friendships with those around her, and Zaiah starts to see beyond the phone and into the Cat that is willing to do anything for her new friends, friendship is not the feeling that is unveiled.

Melissa Ferguson is really good at taking a story that seems like a light fluffy romance read and adding a level of depth that makes the characters fully realized. The characters are enjoyable in their stories with moments you laugh with them, cringe for them, and mostly cheer for them. Her books never disappoint.

#arc
#netgalley
#famousforaliving

This was more Cat learning to get off her phone and live life rather than romance. She only got asked out like 70% through the book. It was cute but I felt like this was more of a women’s fiction or chick flick rather than a romance but I still enjoyed it just not what I expected!

First off how gorgeous is this cover ?⁣
⁣
I went back and forth reading and listening to the audio of this and really enjoyed the narration.⁣
⁣
This book wasn’t quite the romance I was expecting but the romance is certainly there and it’s real and honest which I loved. ⁣
⁣
I felt like this was more of a journey to self love. Cat is a social media influencer used to all things rich and amazing but always feels like a shell of herself. Her life implodes and she has to flee NY to get away from the drama. ⁣
She goes to Alaska to work at the National Park her uncle is the ranger at and realizes just how much time she’s spent on her phone, in the mirror and taking photos and not really truly living life.⁣
She meets individuals who have grown up used to the mountains and wildlife with minimal to no social media and has an eye opening experience for her life, while also falling for Zaiah the rugged handsome ranger who’s been in Alaska since he was 18, and while he’s quiet and broody he is always looking out for Cat.⁣
This was a sweet lighthearted story and I liked it. ⁣
3.5/4⭐️

This was a sweet, big city girl who has fallen and returns to her hometown from a lifetime ago and makes big changes and finds love along the way.

It was written well and the story was good. And I did really like Cat. I was expecting her to be a little more…bratty than she was, which was GREAT. Since she was a content creator who has been cancelled, and is now living in rural Montana, I was expecting more a fight. And I was more than happy not see it!

With that said I would have liked a LITTLE more tension. It was missing something that I can’t quite figure out. And it was seemingly marketed as a romance and it really didn’t feel like one to me. Cat’s story was great, but the romance only took place in the last 20% - except for a few heated glances and touches between Zaiah and Cat!

I loved the sweet family she was able to find! Mina was my favorite honestly. Serena was also amazing. She was such a champion for Cat! I wish we could have seen more of Cat and her Uncle Terry together. And I loved how hard she worked to help this little town keep their national park!

Of course Zaiah was wonderful. I wish we had seen more of them two of them together. The whole story was more focused on Cat’s journey than theirs. But the ending was sweet, and then the epilogue was even sweeter.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here all my own.

Cute and enjoyable. I enjoyed the concept, the characters, and the character's arc. Sometimes the description felt a bit much for a romcom, slowing the pace, but overall I enjoyed this story.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an arc of this book, all thoughts are my own. Originally I was drawn in by the cover and the setting of a National Park, and overall I had a fun time with this book. The drawbacks to this book for me were that it was a little confusing to why Cat got cancelled in the beginning, the plot was really blotchy at times, and the romance was really rushed at the end. I think the author was mixed up between adding everything she wanted into this book and still making it short- if she spread it out a bit and made it even 30-50 pages longer it would’ve done wonders. Despite this, I still flew through this book. Mina was my absolute favorite character in this book- she was so adorable and I wish she was real so we could be friends. I think this book is perfect if you are into fast paced romance books in nature, plus the cover is absolutely stunning.

I was excited about this book because it seemed like a light, fun romance. Unfortunately, I had to DNF around 20%. I just couldn’t get into the story. I found the FMC unlikeable, and a tad unrealistic. As someone who has lived & worked in NYC, it seemed like some of the writing about the city was done from an assumptive standpoint rather than from experience or research. The writing wasn’t flowing for me and I found the story just a little too predictable. Plus, from reading some other early reviews, it seems that most wouldn’t categorize this book as a romance, which is what I was looking forward to.

Sometimes you just need an easy breezy romcom to get you through a day of chores, and this was it for me. While definitely light on the rom and heavy on the com, I seriously enjoyed the book. Temper your expectations though - it should absolutely be marketed as a contemporary or women's fiction.

Watching Cat's fall from fame was fascinating, especially as she learns to change her spoiled ways. Having all of this set against the lush backdrop of Montana was delightful, especially considering the focus on national parks. As a content creator myself, the dialogue about putting your phone down and just enjoying your life as it is.... It hit me right in the feels. Some areas could've been fleshed out more - like seeing how Cat's antics were helping the park or her relationship with Zaiah - but it's overall just a super cute book.

*Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to Uplit Reads for a gifted copy*

1.5 stars.

I am all for a well-written "sweet" romance, but I almost did not finish "Famous for a Living" multiple times because, well, it is *not* well-written. This book is so painfully boring that I could not wait for it to be over so I could delete it off my NetGalley app. It's as if Melissa Ferguson saw "Schitt's Creek" and thought, "I can make this!," but instead of making something charming and redemptive and cute and flawless, she made it ten times worse by making it drab and effortful and dull and devoid of joy or charisma. I did not care one iota about any of the characters in this story. I found Cat to be absolutely insufferable as a main character. She's a spoiled, rich influencer who is deeply insecure about herself and her life, and it feels more than disingenuous. I, for one, am glad she got humbled by her life experiences. Seems like she needed it (regardless of how the story ends). Zaiah doesn't feel like an actual person, but rather a caricature of the "old man yells at cloud" Simpsons meme (but not in a super-sexy-grumpy way that successful romance novels use this trope). The two of them have zero chemistry, and at one point, I forgot that they were supposed to be love interests. I didn't even buy them as friends. The commentary on social media's pervasiveness in our society is hackneyed at best. The reason for Zaiah's social media aversion enters the story at the 11th hour, and it comes off as sanctimonious, preachy, and sort of ridiculous?? Everyone should know the dangers of texting and driving by now! How many news stories do you have to read before it sinks in?! Or, is it only once it affected him directly that he started caring?! Why do people need to know someone who is suffering in order to empathize with them?! I did enjoy Talon David's audiobook narration, though.

Melissa Ferguson NEEDS to STOP categorizing her novels as "romance" books because they aren't romantic in the slightest! This book is boring, shallow, and devoid of humor or chemistry.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Melissa Ferguson is a new-to-me author, and I just adored this book! While billed as a rom-com, the romance and the comedy are on the lighter side and clean. The story is so much more about coming of age, friendship, and finding your true self in your 30s. The characters were so relatable and just lovely. The Montana nature descriptions and town life were supporting characters of their own (who doesn't just love a moose family?). The chapter Insta headings/pics were on point and complemented the story. The social media addiction theme is one most of us can relate to, and the commentary promoted introspection and maybe even some personal changes. I will definitely be checking out Melissa Ferguson's other books!

Thank you to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.