Famous for a Living
Melissa Ferguson
Narrator: Talon David
Pub Date: May 16, 2023

I love a good opposites attract trope and Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson did not disappoint!

Cat Cranwell, a social media influencer, watchers her life start to unravel amidst a social media scandal. She retreats to Montana, to help her Uncle Terry, her closest living relative, save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park. To help save the park, she has to increase the number of visitors, and what better way to help bring attention to any location than hyping it up on social media?

Cat becomes close with park ranger and co-worker, Zaiah Smith. Cat and Zaiah could not be more opposite: Cat is all about her image, social media, and the number of likes/comments on her posts, while Zaiah is all about living a rugged life and still has a flip phone.

I loved this story and fell in love with ALL the characters. I felt the relationships Cat built in Montana were just what she needed, while never losing her bond with friend and agent, Serena, back at home in NYC. The character quirks really made me fall for everyone in this book!

I also feel like Famous for a Living will leave you questioning some of your own choices and habits and will hopefully inspire you to make healthy changes. I know I find myself constantly checking my social media accounts, and this book really made me see how toxic that can be for my life. I've already seen some healthy changes within my own social media/phone usage since finishing this book.

Overall, this was an adorable and charming story and I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to others looking for a romantic comedy!

The narrator, Talon David, was absolutely perfect! I’ve read this book as an ebook and now I’ve listened to the audiobook, and I felt that Talon fit the role of Cat so well. I really enjoyed the audiobook and feel as though Talon nailed the role!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, Talon David, and Melissa Ferguson for this gifted copy of Famous for a Living.

Posted on Goodreads on April 25, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram (full review) on May 16, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Instagram (mini review) in early May 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 16, 2023
**-will post on designated date

This was cute however I read half of it one day then didn't pick it up until I finished it a week later. I definitely forgot some of what happened which is 100% my own fault but definitely took away from the book.

This was funny and cute, while also being relevant with social media today. I really enjoyed the wilderness aspect and getting the MC out of her comfort zone!

Thanks to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I've read a thousand books just like this one but it was still awesomely adorable! The chemistry between these two was so cute. The main character is a girl who lives in a big city, thrives on social media, and doesn't know how to function without it. Her love interest is a woodsy park ranger with a flip phone. They couldn't be more different yet they are perfect for each other.

The process of them falling for each other was so cutesy. It felt like Zaiah had a little schoolboy crush. He showed his love in the most adorable little ways. It made it so hard not to fall for him. I was giggling and kicking my feet at their every interaction.

I enjoyed this cute little romance. It was a quick and easy read. I would definitely recommend it.

I genuinely do not know how anyone doesn't LOVE this story. No, it isn't a typical romance full of angst but it is so much better!

Famous for a Living follows THE Cat Cranwell. The brands love her, her followers love her and she has pretty much everything she could want. That is before a hasty deal with some, unknown to her, back dealings brings it all crashing down. Now no one will touch her and she faces a HUGE lawsuit. In an attempt to find herself and ride out the lawsuit she takes a job with her uncle to be in charge of social media for the park he works for. Cat finds herself and also love on the journey. It's really beautiful and touches also on just how stuck in our phones a lot of us are without even realizing. I laughed, cheered and cried along Cat's journey.

Talon David's narration really brings this story to life. I highly recommend giving this book a read when it releases in just a few weeks, on May 16th. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to listen to this story in advance.

#FamousForALiving #CatCranwell #MelissaFerguson
#NetGalley #ThomasNelson #ALCReview
#TalonDavid #Audiobook #Mountains #SocialMedia
#SocialMediaInfluencer #PersonalGrowth
#HappyEverAfter

It’s true that this is a love story between Cat and Zaiah, but the true love story is between Cat and herself. This Hallmark-esque story was so precious! I loved the contrast between Cat’s life in NYC and her life in Montana because you could see her come alive.

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.

Famous For A Living was a fun, quick read, and the perfect thing to listen to during a stretch of mindless work. I enjoyed the city-girl-in-the-wilderness trope, and as a lover of national parks, was rooting for Cat to save this little park from getting absorbed by Glacier. I would have liked to see more descriptions of the park and Cat's exploration of it, but I loved the town morale activities like the horse game and polar plunge.

I also would have liked more romance--Cat and Zaiah's relationship was an extremely slow burn, and there is zero steam in this book. Their banter made up for the lack of relationship progression, though.

I'd definitely recommend the audiobook and this narrator. The book flew by and I listened all in one day.

Famous for a Living (audiobook ARC) — 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!

I enjoyed listening to the narrator, Talon David, and I think she did an amazing job bringing the story to life. More than once, I forgot I was only listening to one narrator instead of several.

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.

Influencer Cat Cromwell, has her world tipped upside down when she learns that her business partner has been dealing on the shady side. Until her name gets cleared of the scandal. Cat retreats to Montana where her uncle is a park ranger. She is now the social media strategist for the Kannery National Park. Her new goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park. Cat uses her social media influence to encourage more people to visit the park. Along the way ranger Zaiah becomes a love interest for Cat. Famous For a Living is a sweet and entertaining story of self growth, love, friendship, and the wonders of nature. The audiobook was entertaining and well produced.

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

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⭐️

I couldn't stop listening!

Content creator Cat Cranwell is quite simply "famous for a living". On the night of her birthday, she is hosting a party and a product launch in her NYC penthouse. She is on top of the world - until she isn't.

After her business partner lands both of them in serious trouble, the court of public opinion decides Cat is guilty too. Needing to escape, she goes to Cannery National Park to work with her Uncle Terry. Uncle Terry is the head ranger at Cannery National Park in Montana. Cat thinks he is just being kind by giving her a place to hide until she learns that her social media campaign is the last chance the park has. As Cat and her zany coworkers band together to save the park, Cat finds herself falling for Zaiah. Zaiah is a ruggedly handsome, gruff, and kind park ranger. Just one problem - he hates the city and social media and that is her element. And Montana is just temporary...

I loved the characters in this book. One of my favorite relationships in the book was Cat and Mena and how they both helped each other grow. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

Famous for a Living is an enjoyable rom-com with great characters, good writing, and a story that doesn’t take any chances. I liked the story but it was very predictable. If it wasn’t for all of the characters being so likable I might have rated this a little lower. Author Melissa Ferguson knows how to craft a character and develop them into someone you wanna hang out with.

Cat is an influencer who falls from the internet's grace after a financial scandal. She goes to stay with her uncle in Montana. This is where she gets to know Zaiah. Zaiah has a flip phone and doesn't like any form of social media. The exact opposite of Cat.

The main characters Cat and Zaiah are really perfect. Cat is just the right amount of annoying and Zaiah is very charming. I felt I would not like Cat, but she is written so well that I liked her.

If you want a well-written and fun rom-com then look no further than Famous for a Living, just don’t expect too many surprises.

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.

I listened to this on audio and it just FLEW by. The narration was stellar, with subtle changes in her voice for different characters. 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*

I enjoyed Famous for a Living however, I hoped for more. It is a good finding yourself book with a hint of romance. The message is one we could all use in worrying less about online opinions and more about living in the moment. I just found myself waiting for the height of the story, then it was over. For me, this one had a ton of potential but never quite got there. #FamousforaLiving #NetGalley

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson is a charming book that I enjoyed reading.

Rich, city gal's career as an influencer is on the line so she moves to mountains for a change of pace and reset her image.

I did enjoy the characters but I did not really feel a big spark between the two main characters.

This was a wonderful "palette cleanser" after some heavier reads which made me appreciate the story.

A good novel if you are into sweet "romances" where not much "action" takes place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit of a slow burn to start, but once I got a few chapters in I quickly became invested in the delightful cast of quirky characters and was eager to see what shenanigans an uprooted New York influencer would find herself dragged into after being transported to a small mountain town in Montana. The romance was a sweet slow burn with a handsome, brooding, bearded hero who slowly started to see more about our heroine’s true nature instead of the persona she showed to the world online. This also had an interesting insight into the impact of social media for influencers with immense followings online and the mental/physical risks that come with being too attached to social media.

Overall, a fun and light hearted read that connects with a topic that impacts many of us on a daily basis and forces the reader to identify ways to be more mindful of when we choose to be present with those around us and how we interact with others online.

Read this if you love:
🌲 books about social media influencers
🌲 a grumpy, brooding hero
🌲 a heroine trying to find her way after a major setback
🌲 a fun cast of side characters
🌲 National park that needs some TLC
🌲 found family
🌲 prioritizing physical and mental health

Content: brief mention of physical abuse (in the past), mention of car accident that injured a pedestrian, mental health + social media

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this book. The narrator did a great job with this story! All thoughts are my own.

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.