The premice was good, but it was a bit overwhelming for my simple brain. The story would gain clarity with choices is narratives and characters

This book has a really interesting premise and was relatively well written, but the problem for me was there was just too much going on and I very quickly found myself confused and having trouble following the story. I think it would have been a lot more successful if the authors had paired down a lot of the “fluff” and then focused on fleshing out what was left.

While I can’t really recommend this book, I will give the authors another shot due to the fact that I enjoyed the writing itself and can definitely see myself being immersed in a different story.

i want to start with the positives. the best part of this book is the dialogue. quick and witty, with just the right amount of flirtation between the two leads. unfortunately, now this brings us to the negatives. the plot dragged and the mystery was too predictable. the guy you think is the bad guy halfway through...is the bad guy. no exciting plot twists or really anything at all to make the story more interesting. the romance felt out of place in the investigation, and didn't even lead to a satisfying conclusion. [SPOILER] the book ends with the leads in a long distance relationship. overall, i was just a little underwhelmed by this one. maybe i just wasn't the right audience.

While I enjoyed this story, I wanted more from it. I never felt immersed into the world or inside the characters feelings. I know this is a mystery novel but I wish there could have been more in the romance subplot, especially since it was a huge focus. I honestly feel like a Craven’s Daughter fan in wanting a more satisfying ending for Bex and Sam than what the epilogue gave us. But overall I’m all here for criticizing queerbaiting in entertainment and a second chance romance.

While I really wanted to like “Big Name Fan” by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare, it didn’t work for me. As a fan of Rizzoli and Isles and growing up watching “queerbaiting” shows, I felt like this book could be right up my alley. I did enjoy the quirky writing and humor, and it felt like a fun insight into the television industry. The side plot of the mystery of what happened to their friend, Jen, felt on and off as the main plot. I wish the book dove into that more or let it go. Additionally, this book isn’t listed as YA and includes adult characters, but the overall feel for me was YA.

I did not realize that these authors also write under the pen name Mae Marvel and wrote “Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous”, which I really enjoyed. I loved “Big Name Fan”. I found this book to be a really interesting mix of mystery novel and romance novel, which is not something I have read before. I am a big reader of both of these genres so I was really excited to read this book. I feel like Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare did a good job of mixing the two together. The book had a really interesting cast of main and supporting characters. I absolutely loved Frankie and Vic. Sometimes when the book was referring to events that happened in the past was a little confusing to separate from the current events going on. I did enjoy reading this book, but overall I think it needed a little more editing to create a story that flowed better. Thanks to Ruthie Knox, Annie Mare, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I hope that this isn’t the last book with Sam, Bex and her sisters and I look forward to reading their next book.

The plot was fun and interesting, it hooked me in. The characters were lovable; Sam and Bex were two wonderful people, the family relationship with Bex's sisters were wonderful. The writing style was quick and easy with a fast-paced romance with some mysterie. The deeper themes brought depth and emotional impact to the read with the themes of family, saphic love and more. The story was original and fun. Some more deep conversation within the story had an emotional impact. I enjoyed the overall read and story with a happy ever after.

I was excited for the premise of this as I am a big fan of Rizzoli & Isles, but it fell flat for me. The characters were boring, the plot was predictable, and the last half of the book was a slog for me to get through. It definitely could’ve used some extra tightening on plot points and more showing versus the mostly telling.

From the very first few chapters, the reunion between our two main characters, Bex and Sam, I was hooked! While I think the first half of the book definitely felt a little stronger than the second half, I still think there was so much to love:
The murder mystery plot
The character backstory
The setting

I found myself rooting for Sam and Bex’s romance but I didn’t find myself enthralled…not enough slow burn, maybe? And I would have loved for the mystery to keep me guessing just a bit more. Overall, this was a fun story with so much potential. It’s definitely worth a read and I would love to see these two authors team up again!

This was a fun, quick mystery romance novel. While the mystery itself was easily predictable, it was only slightly less enjoyable a read for it. The humor and the romance more than made up for the okay mystery plot

Anyone who ever thought that maybe the obviously queer characters on a show should finally make out or confess their love only to be disappointed, this book is for you. If you read fanfic because the Hollywood folks would t give you the storyline you deserved, this is for you.
You will love it! Cannot recommend more highly.

Disappointed because this one sounded really good. Too many people name dropped in the first two chapters, even with the cast of characters, I still had a hard time differentiating. Too much telling, not showing. The writing could have been tightened up a lot. Maybe this would serve better as an audiobook.

This is my second book by this author duo and the second time that they lost me roughly a third into the story. They usually have a strong concept and yet their stories always feel very different from what I've imagined from the summary. I find their writing fastidious to read which is not what I should be saying about a romance. I believe that it's decently written but to me, it doesn't flow well enough for this kind of story.

Another thing that is specific to Big Name Fan is the sheer abundance of plot lines it wants to juggle and it was just too many names. Which one is the producer which one is the writer etc...

I used to be very into fandoms, fanfictions the whole thing. I'm sure the authors were big fans of Rizzoli & Isles and other titles and this is a wish-fulfillment romance for a lot of people. Interestingly it takes the stance that in this specific show, the queerbaiting is intentional and cranked up to the max (therefore fans were never delusional due to the lack of sapphic stories in media). The actresses just couldn't talk about it but were fully aware of their chemistry back then.

Who is the Big Name Fan ? It's obvious from the summary and the book doesn't expect you to be too stupid so they tell you one third in. From there it just drags because the mystery is just not that interesting. I understand wanting to have a lot going on in a romance especially thematically but this just ended up muddling the romance that i lost inerest in.

Thank you Netgallley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Big Name Fan” by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare offers an ambitious mix of romance and mystery all while establishing meta-commentary on fandom culture. The premise is captivating: two former co-stars, Bex and Sam, reunite to host a rewatch podcast of their cult TV show Craven’s Daughter, a series that teased a romance between their characters, Cora and Henri, but never delivered due to network restrictions. As they revisit the show, they delve into the mysterious death of a crew member, uncover secrets hidden in fanfiction, and navigate their own unresolved feelings.

The book’s themes are its strongest asset. It thoughtfully critiques queer-baiting in media and explores the power imbalances and exclusionary practices within Hollywood. The inclusion of fanfiction as a key plot device adds a unique meta layer, highlighting the role of fandom in advocating for representation and exploring the stories that networks refused to tell. The podcast setup provides an engaging framing device, and the characters' conversations about representation and inclusion feel relevant and relatable.

Bex and Sam’s dynamic is compelling, and their chemistry—though understated—adds a subtle layer to the story. The book’s exploration of their shared history, their connection to their fictional counterparts, and the tension between their past and present relationships is intriguing. The initial mystery surrounding the death of a crew member is also engaging, drawing you into the story’s first half.

However, too many subplots were being established all at the same time. The plot juggles the murder mystery, podcast drama, rekindled romance, family issues, and the fanfiction subplot, but none of these elements are developed deeply enough to feel fully satisfying. This overload leads to clunky exposition and dialogue that feels forced, as characters explain things to each other they should already know. The romance between Bex and Sam, while sweet, feels underdeveloped and often overshadowed by the many competing storylines.

The pacing also falters, with the second half of the book losing steam as the story becomes increasingly scattered. The resolution of the murder mystery is a bit predictable but still enjoyable.

Overall, “Big Name Fan” has a fascinating premise and is a story brimming with interesting concepts, especially with the metacommentary. I can’t wait to read more from the authors to see how their writing continues to develop in the future.

The book could have been so good, I mean who do not like to read about hot actresses. However, the number of characters and complicated multiple plots makes it impossible to really follow and enjoy the book. Thus, this is not a book I can recommend.

Listen, I was a Tumblr addict, Rizzoli and Isles (and every other potential sapphic pairing fan), I read fanfiction (A03, I see you) and I even edited fan videos on YouTube, set to Skinny Love by Birdy. This book was MADE. FOR. ME. And dang I really wanted it to be.

I did hate it, but I didn't crave it by the end the way I wanted to. The way I wanted to buy it paperback, hard cover and a special edition. The way I wanted to so badly. Who hasn't dreamed of their favorite almost-TV couples doing a rewatch podcast and falling in love (I'm looking at you Eliza and Alycia from The 100).

Overall, I agree with other reviewers—the authors tried to juggle a little too much. Between the murder mystery, the podcast, the fanfiction threads, Bex and Sam’s romance, and the various character backstories, it felt a bit overcrowded. While each element was compelling on its own, none of them got quite enough time to fully shine, which made some moments feel rushed or anticlimactic. There were also a few clunky moments and bits of dialogue that came off a little awkward, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.

Even with its flaws, though, this was a fun and engaging read. The mystery kept me hooked, the Hollywood commentary felt sharp, and the sapphic second-chance romance was such a lovely bonus. If you enjoy queer romances, fandom culture, and murder mysteries, this book still has plenty to offer!

*3.5

The book is cute but I was expecting something more. The mystery is really poor and not well written, but the romance is so good! I love a good second chance romance and Bexley and Sam are so good together I can’t! I was really invested in their relationship, but the mystery just not feel good.

Thank you Netgalley and the published for the arc.

This novel was very interesting. The plot was surprisingly original and creative and wove together a lot of different elements. It wasn’t quite what I expected going in, but that isn’t a bad thing. The writing was well done and I liked the characters. It didn’t quite have that “special something” that would put it up at 5-stars for me, however it was still a solid novel and I would recommend it to someone looking for a novel in this genre.

I really liked how the novel directly addressed and used the world of fanfiction and fandom as a major plot element. Someone working on a show, secretly being a major fanfic writer who is privy to behind the scenes information, that may include hints to a murder, being discussed and investigated in real life by TV detectives? This was awesome. At one point there were several layers of ongoing plotlines woven together that were very satisfying to follow and witness them interact.

There was some excellent commentary on queerbaiting and other bad practices that television and movies tend to employ, as well as the toxic nature of working in these industries. It got slightly preachy at one point, but honestly its something that needs to be discussed more and is a real problem so the novel gets a free pass on that one.

On the downside I found that some elements fell short. There were a few reveals that seemed to come too easily such that they were a bit anticlimactic. The romance was also a bit lighter than I expected, but that might be my fault for expecting more. I liked the romance plotline, but it was secondary to the mystery and action of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

The premise of this book really appealed to me. Two actresses are reunited on a rewatch podcast. Their characters were detectives on a TV show who had a lot of chemistry but the network never allowed them to get together. Through the podcast they try to solve the mystery of what happened to one of the crew members who died during the run of the show, figure out which show insider was writing fanfiction, and see if sparks can finally fly between Bex and Sam alongside their characters Cora and Henri.

I think the authors bit off a bit more than they could chew with this story. There are so many characters, complicated backstories, the stories within the fanfic, stories within the plot of the show, the romance between Bex and Sam, Bex’s sister’s stories, and so on. Because there was so much going on it felt like a lot of the narrative was communicated with awkward info dumps and characters talking in odd ways to deliver exposition that they realistically wouldn’t have to spell out to one another. Because there was so much going on, all the different parts of the story ended up feeling underexplored or anticlimactic.

The plot about the actresses playing these characters and really wanting them to get together romantically but not being allowed to by the network was interesting to follow. The conversations about representation and how upsetting it can be to be queerbaited for years by a show were very relatable. I also appreciated the parts about them pushing back against the way things have always been in Hollywood to fight for safer and more inclusive environments.

All of the different parts of the plot were individually interesting, they just never felt fully developed since so many other things were happening at the same time. I feel like if the authors focused on one part of this story then I would’ve enjoyed it way more. Overall this was a fine read. I enjoy queer Hollywood romances, murder mysteries, fanfiction, and metacommentary. But this didn’t completely deliver.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in February. It's a solid nice queer romantic murder mystery. The mystery bit got me hooked but the intrapersonal relationships material could use a polishing. It's very chaotic and hard to follow.