I. like most people, was fascinated by Anna Delvey, so I knew a novel loosely based on her would be one I love. This novel is fast paced, has humorous moments and is a bit campy (the ending!!). It was a great read that had me hooked from start to finish.

The Most Famous Girl in the World was a quick-paced and entertaining read, especially if you have been fascinated by Anna Delvey and the lore surrounding her in recent times. The plot picks up quickly and follows Rose, a first generation Iranian journalist in NYC who broke a story about Poppy Hastings, a con-artist socialite, a few years ago. Poppy briefly went to jail for her crimes but has been released as the novel begins, and Rose quickly suspects her of more nefarious crimes (such as murder). As Rose deals with substance abuse and her mental health, she attempts to build a story demonstrating Poppy's guilt.

I enjoyed the pace of the story and loved the supporting characters, particularly Rose's roommate and her two best friends, Steph and Fern. I also enjoyed the representation in the book. But I found some plot points too far fetched, including the ending, which was one last big unexpected twist. (Though that may be intentional as the author has described her own work as campy.)

[Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free ARC!]

The main character, Rose is the narrator of this book. She goes into detail about getting waxed. During her appointment she finds out news that could completely ruin her. This is much like the story of Anna Delvey- the con artist. I did not enjoy the book at all. I would not recommend.

3.5 rounded up

The Most Famous Girl in the World is a hard one to rate. Parts of this book were unexpected, different, campy, and honestly really great! The writing was lovely and most of the dialogue was very witty. I liked the twists and turns that the book took. Definitely didn't see a few things coming.

But, I was hard for me to read what seems to be some very clear mental health issues treated so flippantly, even in a work of fiction. I know we needed her to be unstable / an unreliable narrator but man, her friends were not good friends to her. I also felt like the pacing was a bit off here and this was one of those books where it went back and forth between dragging in some parts, and almost moving too fast in others.

All in all, it was definitely an intriguing, fun story. I would absolutely read a book by Ian Hariri-Kia again.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this free review copy.

I'm not sure why, but I really couldn't get into this book. There was something about the way the character spoke that just put me off quite a bit, and it just seemed vapid.

Like many others, I really loved this book...until the end. I do not want to give spoilers away. But I would like to know if a sequel is coming (Oh I hope so). If you watched Inventing Anna, or followed the Anna Delvey story at all, you will connect with this novel. It definitely has something to say about our society and the power of social media to "create" people.
The novel is fast paced, suspenseful, and I tore through it wanting to know what would happen. I recommend it, and I think it would make a great book club pick. So much to talk about.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

I think i'm learning that satirical books are just not for me. I've tried a few but always struggle and cannot get invested.

Thanks for the digital copy of this one!

This book was so interesting. I loved the writers style and humor that was added. It felt like I was reading a diary of some sort. The pop culture references that were sprinkled throughout were great. So many twists and turns I was not expecting. I enjoyed this book a lot!

I requested this book because of the well written synopsis. I felt like this was very similar and not as original as I thought. I think the writing was well done, and the story progressed well. I wish it would have been more though.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

I made it 38% of the way through this but I can't get any further. The protagonist is beyond annoying, the writing is really cringey, and I just don't care enough about the plot to be able to look past those two giant problems.

This was such a treat! The satire in this book was top notch and turned a critical gaze to how we process celebrity.

Iman’s first book (A Hundred Other Girls) was one of my favorites of 2023 and her sophomore novel is absolute sassy perfection. It’s hilarious, sharp, witty, and so much FUN! If you’re obsessed with grifters or true crime (or just like to read amazing books) then this one’s for you.

Decided to DNF this book. I'm a bit annoyed by the main character and I can't see myself enjoying the rest of this book.

As much as I wanted to get into this (loved following Anna Delvey's story and the feature on Netflix) it felt like this tried to follow it too closely. I absolutely think that someone that was more unfamiliar with the real life story could appreciate this more as it is such an interesting plot and personality to depict. Congrats to the author on this publication!

I loved this book! At first I thought it was just a rift on the Anna delver story but it was so much more. Very entertaining and well written

The story explores the life of a young girl navigating fame and identity in a social media-driven world. Hariri-Kia's writing is engaging, especially her sharp observations about adolescence.

While the premise is fresh and relatable, I found the plot occasionally meandered, making it feel a bit stretched at times. Some character arcs could have used more depth to really bring the story home.

Overall, The Most Famous Girl in the World has its merits and offers a thoughtful look at the complexities of growing up in the spotlight. It’s worth a read, especially if you enjoy stories about self-discovery and the pressures of fame.

Wow. What a wild ride! The ending was mind blowing and the content so relevant to the world we’re living in today. It was gritty yet glamorous, romantic yet sexy, and full of character development.

I’m so impressed… this book was amazing.
The plot, characters, humor, mystery, and banter had me hooked!!! I genuinely could not put this book down. It’s full of twists and is such a fun read!

So, The Most Famous Girl in the World definitely took me on a ride. Rose is such a good main character—she’s interesting and kind of not a good person, and completely obsessed with finding the truth. It took me a little bit to get into the book but once I did, it really pulled me in, and the way it was set up had me excited to see where it would go. Rose meeting the FBI agent and their romantic subplot seemed really well done to me, and I really liked him as a character.

The supporting characters, especially Rose’s friends Steph and Fern, were a huge plus. Steph was sweet and caring, while Fern’s sarcasm had me cracking up. They were really good friends which was surprising because Rose was really not a good friend to them.

And then there’s that ending. It was totally unexpected and did feel a bit much but I think that was the purpose. It does feel like there could be a sequel but I also think this is one of those books that's better left with the open ending.

In the end, The Most Famous Girl in the World is a fresh, engaging look at fame and para-social obsession, with some wild twists thrown in. If you’re up for a read that’s unpredictable, funny, and just a little chaotic, this one’s worth checking out. This did read similarly to Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks, in a good way! If you liked this one, I'd suggest that and vice versa.

it’s no surprise that Anna Delvey but make it murder worked for me okay (shoutout @kayreadwhat for putting this on my radar). I live for a good conwoman story so I was HYPED for this book about a journalist who took down a fake socialite only to create a celebrity out of her. and when her sources end up murdered after Poppy’s release? SIGN ME UP. also the fact that this book came out the same week as Anna Delvey’s debut on Dancing With the Stars is just *chef’s kiss*

this book is campy and fun and kept me at the edge of my seat. despite her flaws, Rose drew me in and had me rooting for her (I gotta stick with my brown girls). at a time where I hadn’t finished a new book in nearly a month and I barely had the attention span for my Gilmore Girls rewatch, this one hooked me. it was a take the audio out on Libby so I didn’t have to put it down, add it to my physical collection so I can reread any time type of book.

for all my fellow Inventing Anna/Dropout/Lies We Tell/Stone Cold Fox/Cover Story fans, this is for you!!!