To me, there's nothing more disappointing than when a thriller with tremendous potential veers off course into utter soap opera melodrama. That's what happened with Emily Liebert's upcoming book, Perfectly Famous. I was on the edge of my seat for a while, then I started to suspect what I thought would happen, and then...darn it. But is a book that gives you a good ride almost the whole way still worth a read? I think so.

Ward DeFleur is a best-selling author and a household name. Her books have been made into movies and become instant hits. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her 15-stop book tour for her latest release, and although Ward is a little bit nervous, she's determined that nothing is going to go wrong, and the tour will be a surefire success.

And then, the night of her first book signing, something goes very wrong—her teenage daughter, Stevie, is found brutally beaten (she was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house) and ultimately, succumbs to her injuries. Ward is devastated, unable to get past this tragedy, and retreats from the world, cutting off contact with her agent and publisher and everyone else.

Bree attended Ward's book signing the night Stevie was assaulted. Having a hard time dealing with the end of her marriage and her teenage daughter's increasingly hostile attitude, she broke down in tears at the signing and Ward comforted her. Now, as she tries to build a new life for herself, she begins writing for the local newspaper, and decides what she'd like to do is tell Ward's story.

The challenge is, Ward isn't interested in being found. But Bree is resourceful, almost obsessive in her desire to track Ward down. Even as people warn her that Ward may not want her to tell her story, or even try to locate her, Bree feels this is her chance to prove something to herself again. The deeper she digs, the more danger she puts herself in, because Stevie's killer is still out there...and doesn't want Bree in the way.

Liebert really ratchets up the tension through the start of the book. And although some tired subplots threaten to derail the suspense, the story is pretty fascinating and I couldn't put it down...until things started getting tied up and all I wanted was to put the book down. This is the first of Liebert's books I've read so I don't know if this is something that happens often in her books or if this is just a fluke, but I was really disappointed.

NetGalley and Gallery Books provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Perfectly Famous publishes June 2.

I liked this book, but for me, it just didn't have that thrill. At times, it just seemed to drag. I loved her other books, but I just didn't get into this one.

I enjoyed this book. Somewhat of a mystery (which is different than other Emily Liebert books I've read), but also had some humor thrown in. I immediately was drawn into the story and did not want to put it down. However, the ending was a little too crazy for me. Maybe it was rushed? Either way, it went a little off the rails. I did still enjoy 99% of it, so would recommend. Just not my favorite of this authors.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was light and easy to read, which considering the times, was refreshing. That being said, some of the plot development didn't make a whole lot of sense. It was easy to tell who the "bad guy' was, but the "twist" with the daughter being alive didn't seem to make a ton of sense and I don't think there was enough back story as to why or how that all came to be. If anyone's daughter deserved to be angry in this, it was Stevie versus Chloe...

I also really did not see value in the fake funeral scene at the end; it didn't fit in the book at all to me. The ending did not seem to fit the book, which had really great bones but got unnecessarily dramatic in tone.

I liked Liebert's last novel better than this, but I would still check out her future work. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a twosted, wonderful read. I literally could not put this one down. I appreciated the author's humor- in a book labeled as a mystery/thriller, it was a welcome surprise that parts of the books were genuinely funny. I liked that this book literally kept me guessing- Was Stevie really dead? Who is Christopher? Is Alex who he says he is? Is Evan? There were twists up to the last page, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to future titles by this author.

OMG did NOT expect that ending!!!!!!!!! I love Emily Liebert's previous books but this one is different from all of them in my opinion. I have always categorized her books as "chick lit" but this seems like her first foray into thriller and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The emotional up & downs and twists in this book will keep you hooked until the last page!!!!!!!! I devoured this book!!!!!!!! Trust me, you will love this book and regret it if you don't read it. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for my honest review

What a bummer. Most of this book was 4- or 5-star good, and then the ending went off the rails into this soap opera-esque disaster. The dialogue abruptly got terrible. She actually wrote the words “And everything faded to black.”

I like twists and turns as much as the next mystery/suspense reader, but I want to think to myself, “Oh, I didn’t see that coming, but I get it. How very clever of the author.” Not, “That makes absolutely no sense in light of everything that came before this.”

Ward DeFleur is a successful novelist on tour for her latest book when the word comes that her only child, 16-year-old Stevie, has been brutalized and is in critical condition. When Stevie dies, Ward goes completely off the grid.

Before that happened, Ward comforted a fan of hers, Bree Bennett, who is going through a hard time, and loses it at the exact moment Ward is signing her latest book.

Months after the disappearance of Ward, Bree is trying to get back into the business of being a journalist, and she wants to find out what happened to Ward. Thus begins an intriguing where-is-she-now mystery.

That devolves inexplicably into a confusing mess.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 2, 2020.

While I've been a fan of Ms. Liebert's previous work, I just couldn't seem to get into Perfectly Famous. The premise seemed really good but it just didn't come together. I found it a little confusing at times. I did manage to finish this book, however, and I will focus on the positives because there definitely were some high points!

As I mentioned previously, I liked the premise of this story. After a violent attack on her daughter, Stevie, crime novelist Ward DeFleur disappears. Hell bent on finding the story in all of this, journalist Bree Bennett becomes obsessed. Even more, Stevie's killer has not been caught. The killer is on the loose..

That sounds so good! It just fell a little flat. There were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming, however, and that I appreciated. I also found the characters to have unique and compelling voices.

If you are really into psychological thrillers, I would recommend trying this out. In addition, Liebert's prior novel Pretty Revenge was excellent. If you haven't read that yet, it's definitely worth checking out.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down! Bree is a relatable busy body and tries her best to help Ward. The way the characters relate together, makes this a one of a kind book with a delightful twist!

Perfectly Famous was a little bit slow for me. I know, however, it's a book that will find an appreciative home to many readers though. It took a bit too long to get to the "mean and bones" of the story due to all the back story. And it was hard to be sympathetic to Ward DeFleur and Bree came off as too eager. Still, it kept me reading and that's the point. Should be an easy pick for the beach crowd during the summer!

This was, legitimately, one of the silliest books I've read in my not entirely young life. First of all: NOTHING happens until exactly 87% of the way through. Trust me, by then, you will not care. It went off the rails entirely a chaper or two later, and the conclusion made me feel an innate desire to...wash.

I've never read anything by Emily Liebert before and after slogging through Perfectly Famous, I won't.
One of the most important things to me for a character to be believable is truthful motivation. The main character of Bree had none for me. I hate spoilers so I won't tell you why I think she didn't other than to say she didn't come off as believable in any aspect of her characterization/motivation/life choices..

Also, the last page and a half of this book didn't seem to belong to the rest of the story. Unless there's a part II coming, I don't understand what happened - again there was no motivation mentioned anywhere in the entire book about why this character would do what was done on the last page.

I usually don't ever write a review for a book if I can't give it at least a 3 rating. Unfortunately, this book was a total 1 for me and I felt compelled to post the review because I actually wonder if this was the ending the author intended or there was a mistake somewhere in the editing/printing process that needs to be brought to the author and or publisher's attention.

Sorry Netgalley but this one was a fail.

It started really good, I was convinced I was reading some four starred, well-written mystery but when I read the ending, I felt like I hit my head to an invisible wall! It hurt like hell!

Perfectly Famous should be renamed as “how you destroy a gripping mystery novel with few unrealistic, nonsense and unbelievably ridiculous pages and one of the worst endings!”

I know the name is too long but that’s how I felt about the last ten percentage of my reading. From the beginning, the high tension mystery development picked my interest. Even though the characters are flawed and I had hard time to empathize with their motivations, I still kept reading because the mystery still hooked me and pacing is also satisfying. But when I reach the last parts I thought somebody pushed the author and took over her seat to finish the ending parts or somebody pulled a real bad prank on us! I feel like the writing style has changed, explanations didn’t fit with my logic. The plot holes got bigger than the holes on my pajama pants.

Let’s look at the plot to get a better understanding of the story’s progression:
Ward De Fleur famous and successful author’s happy life completely changes with big traumatic tragedy. Somebody kills her daughter! And the police don’t have any leads. So she swears not to write one more word after brutal murder of her beloved daughter Stevie.

And now Ward is missing which picks interest of Bree Bennett, divorced, raising her problematic, angsty teenager daughter Chloe, ex-journalist. ( And let’s forget her batshit crazy, extreme sarcastic mother!) Bree wants to achieve something meaningful in her life (Pilates lessons, grocery shopping and dealing with her daughter’s never ending tantrums are not satisfying enough to spend her days)Slowly she gets fixated to find her favorite author but as far as we can see she doesn’t want to be found and Stevie’s killer is still out there.
Could the killer also do something to Ward ? Or her disappearance could be connected with her daughter’s murder case?

Actually I still didn’t understand the inner motive and fixation of Bree but mystery kept my interest and I resumed my reading. And when I reach the last parts… You know how it goes for me. I stop here.

First three quarters of the book worked well for me, still picked my interest and I’m giving: 3.5 stars to those parts but ending was so disappointing for my own taste and I’m giving: 2 stars

On average: 2.75 stars rounded up to 3 stars. It was still great, fast pacing, interesting reading till the ending parts. I wish the author could rewrite them with more logical conclusion. I hope it works better for the other readers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this mysterious ARC in exchange my honest review.

A great read, and a book that once got start, you have that desire to keep reading to see what’s going to happen next. Relatable to anyone that has a child, and the depths that one would go to in order to find them....not a super scary thriller, but special and intense in a good way

If you adore Liebert's books like I do, you will enjoy this latest novel! It alternates between best-selling novelist, Ward and Bree, a single mother and former journalist who takes an interest in Ward after Ward's life is destroyed when her young daughter goes missing. There are plenty of plot twists and surprises as we see Bree attempting to navigate dating again after her divorce, her trying to parent her unruly, rebellious teen daughter, and co-parenting with her ex-husband. On the other hand, Ward has gone into seclusion and is off the grid. That's all you need to know. And that ending! Better be a sequel!

This is my first book by Emily Liebert and I really enjoyed it. I will look for her other books. There are a few far fetched things in this book that make it a bit unrealistic. Also, a few things need to be more clear like why Chloe's such a pissed off, rebellious teen. It seems more than a divorced parent kind of thing.

This is a quick read. I think I finished it in a couple of sittings. The book does have likable characters where they should be, humorous people like Bree's mom and boss, and the villains. I like the fact that the Bree and her divorced husband get along and not swiping at each other. I don't want to say much about this book because you think you have the book figured out but maybe you don't really know what is going to happen.. There are unexpected twists and the end is surprise.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. . #netgally # EmilyLiebert #PerfectlyFamous

I enjoyed this book. While not quite as “chilling” as I like, it was a fun read. I kinda had to wonder at the beginning if the protagonist was a little obsessed with the author she sought. And, in truth, I think she was but, hey, this IS fiction. I do recommend this book & the twisty end. You MAY get a glimpse of how you think this book will end but I doubt you’ll be right😊

Such a perfect book...until the ending! Pacing and suspense were maintained throughout and kept me reading “just one more chapter”. Bree, a recent divorcee, becomes fixated on finding a favorite author, Ward, who has gone missing since the death of her teenage daughter. Love the story told from the two main characters perspectives. Some things seemed to be a stretch (looking for Ward) and others seemed so stereotypical (Chloe’s behavior after the divorce). Appreciated the fact that she had romantic options after her divorce. Some twists were pretty predictable throughout but a very enjoyable read. Many thanks to Emily Lieberman, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an ARC of this engaging book.

While bestselling novelist Ward is signing books on tour her daughter is attacked. The attacker is never found and Ward goes into hiding. Bree is a recently divorced mother of a teenage daughter, and just happened to meet Ward at that signing. Bree becomes obsessed with writing a true crime newspaper series, and maybe novel, about Ward and throws herself into trying to track her down.

Perfectly Famous is a slow burn novel told from both Bree and Wards perspective. There is a lot going on, and when you think you've reached the conclusion there's a final twist. I have a feeling that twist will be polarizing.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

OMG this was SOME story. I never understood what people mean when they say they couldn't put a book down. Well, now I know, I was glued to every page. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend,