Cat Cranwell is at the top of her game as a social media influencer but suddenly it all crashes and she’s left picking up the pieces of her life. As she recovers at a remote national park that is managed by her uncle, she learns a thing or two about where she went wrong and looks for an opportunity to find her way back. Along the way, she meets Zaiah, who is not a fan of the social media lifestyle that this interesting new person seems to be hung up on. Famous for a Living is a cute and entertaining read about finding balance and determining what’s important in life.

“With my phone. Or technology in general. Do you think I’m’—my lips shift their hold on a couple of bobby pins as I pull one out and use it to pull back another strand of curled hair— ‘obsessed?’ ‘Sweetie, of course you’re obsessed. Everyone in the world is obsessed. It’s a universally accepted fact. We’ve all taken a vote and decided we’re okay with it.’”

When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Desperate to get away from the trolls documenting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park. Montana. And about as far as possible from life as she’s known it.

Cat’s world shifts from the swirling haze of likes and comments to literal blizzards of frostbite temperatures and waist-deep snow. But something curious is also happening in this overwhelming breath of fresh air as she reacquaints with the most honest parts of herself and begins to ask the hard questions. Can Cat love herself with, and without, the world watching?

Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome Park Ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.

This book is like taking a magnifying glass to our obsession with social media, our phones, and the perceived perfection we see every day by influencers. There is a sweet slow burn romance but it takes up very little of the storyline if I’m being honest. I loved Cat’s evolution over the course of the story and, I’ll tell ya, it definitely made me stop and think. Let’s all collectively agree to put our phones down and become one with nature every so often!

The audio of this book was fabulous! I found myself listening more than reading because I loved the narrator so much. There are some very funny characters and characters with a lot of sass and she captured them perfectly.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, Zondervan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC.

OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT!

Melissa Ferguson writes extraordinary romantic comedies! Her latest release, Famous for A Living, is proof positive that, against all odds, opposites attract. Ferguson has created the two characters of Cat Cranwell, a mega influencer, and Ziah, a Montana National Park Ranger, that are as opposite as any two people can be. She has built a spectacular plot around why Cat has relocated from the glitz and glamour world she is accustomed to and is now attempting to blend into the work of the National Park. Ferguson takes readers on a delightful journey that shows the emotional growth in Cat’s life – whether she is ready for it or not! I love Ziah! He is “a man among men” and just what Cat needs even when she does not recognize it.
Ferguson makes her point with readers and gets them thinking about the time they spend on their iPhones, computers, iPads, and social media and the effect this has on every aspect of their real lives. It made me assess my own iPhone/iPad usage and the things I neglect or only partially participate in because I'm reading on my Kindle app, watching a sporting event on the ESPN app, shopping on Amazon, or checking emails.

Já tinha um tempo que eu havia descoberto os livros da Melissa Ferguson, mas ainda não havia tido a chance de lê-los. Até então, pareciam enredos bem leves e gostosos de ler, ainda mais como clean romance, então logo agarrei a oportunidade de leitura para Famous for a Living. O resultado? Pode não ter sido 5 estrelas, mas ainda assim foi um ótimo começo com a autora!

O primeiro capítulo em particular foi o mais complicado para mim, acho, enquanto me inseria no mundo da protagonista em meio a narração dela sobre sua vida sob os holofotes da vida como influenciadora lifestyle. Demorou um pouco para eu me envolver à trama por isso, mas felizmente lá pelo terceiro capítulo eu já estava bem mais imersa na história e conseguindo distinguir melhor os personagens entre si, principalmente junto à protagonista enquanto ela precisa tirar algumas "férias" forçadas após um escândalo de trabalho no qual fora uma das vítimas.

Como primeiro contato com a narrativa de Melissa, gostei da forma leve com que ela transcorre e ao mesmo tempo é direta, sem enrolar muito em descrições ou cenas desnecessárias, ainda que em um momento ou outro isso também tenha feito uma coisa ou outra acontecer rápido demais e ter deixado um ou outro sentimento vago em certas situações, principalmente rumo à resolução do final, diante dos temas abordados até ali. Mas isso não foi suficiente para abalar realmente o livro para mim, inclusive, foi um ponto interessante de se ver na história, a forma como, aos poucos, a autora inseriu uma crítica real e precisa, que começou sútil e mesmo assim foi até que bem firme, sobre nosso uso das tecnologias e eventuais níveis de vício à ela. Mais do que isso até, ela ainda trás um background sério mas realista do que o uso desregulado e irresponsável do celular e afins podem causar na nossa vida, seja fisicamente, mentalmente, financeiramente e além, assim como também àqueles ao nosso redor.

Com isso tudo, fico feliz de ver que meu primeiro contato com a autora foi tão positivo. Única ressalva talvez tenha sido quanto ao romance, que não é o foco da história, já que ela gira mais em torno da Cat e sua reconstrução pós-escândalo de trabalho, mas que ainda assim eu esperava que me cativasse e fizesse suspirar mais - ainda que isso não queira dizer, também, que foi de todo ruim, só não foi aprofundado ou desenvolvido como eu esperava.. Ainda assim, foi uma boa leitura, e me faz querer ler ainda mais de seus livros agora, e esperar gostar deles tanto quanto de Famous for a Living!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Also, thank you Net
Galley for this!

This is a very cute/sweet story following a social media star whose life turns upside down after a poor business decision. She goes to stay in a small mountain town where her uncle is the local head park ranger. Enter a tall, handsome, cinnamon roll of a park ranger that she met once before. This book made me laugh out loud more than once. I needed a warm and fuzzy read this week and as always I can count on Melissa Ferguson to deliver. Very easy, quick and enjoyable read.

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

There was much to like with this sweet story. I enjoyed the settings (polar dips and hot springs and mountains, oh my!) the Opposites Attract trope, and the insider look at Insta Influencers.

I found the character development a little lacking, and the spice was non-existent, but I’d still add the next in series (I’m looking at you, Serena and Adam) to my TBR.

6.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC.

Cat Cranwell is a relatable character who undergoes learning about herself and growth. While I may not be an influencer or full time content creator, the connection to social media was reflective. I loved the setting of the National Park. The found friendships and camaraderie of the park rangers had me chuckling with their antics and support systems. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

After a scandal with her app ruins social media star Cat Cranwell’s reputation and income, she leaves NYC for Montana. She joins her Uncle Terry at Kannery National Park, with plans to help it attract more tourists. She immediately clashes with colleague Zaire Hudson, who is anti-social media, buts hopes the two will find some common ground.

This book was a fun, quick read with an enjoyable cast of characters. I especially liked Mina, Cat’s energetic and enthusiastic teenage roommate —I thought she brought a lot of sunshine to the story! It’s a sweet, charming book, and overall a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley, UpLit Reads, and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my gifted eARC + physical copy and including me in this book campaign!

Melissa Ferguson does it again! This book is perfect for today. Her relatable characters draw the reader in to a familiar perspective and a somewhat startling reality of too many. Add this to your must read pile for the summer.

I was really excited to receive an arc for this book but sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s not terrible and I can see others really enjoying it but it wasn’t for me.

It’s a fish out of water story about when the (seemingly most) famous influencer in the world looses everything and has to move to the mountains of Montana when her Park Ranger Uncle is able to offer her a job. And, naturally, his coworker is a mega hot, gruff mountain man.

Unfortunately, neither of the main characters and all the side characters really failed to have any kind of emotional impact on me. Especially the MC who is extremely moronic in certain moments. For example: checking and commenting on her Instagram account while driving in a blizzard and taking a selfie close in front of a moose. Now, a theme that’s brought up is about social media addiction and how the character has it but I didn’t feel like the conclusion of that plot was satisfying.

To me the main couple also lacked chemistry. I didn’t have a single butterflies in my stomach moment reading it. And the book was not just closed door…it was completely doorless! As in, the characters never have sex at all!!! All we get is a measly 1 & 1/2 kisses. The first one being described as timid and having a “controlled propriety”(……swoon?🤨) and then what I’m considering a 1/2 kiss (at the grand reunion ending) that was described as “his lips on mine”. That’s basically it. Also, the next sentence is one of the weirdest “sexy” scent descriptions I’ve read. “The air smells of blossoms and pine (…) my morning perfume mixed with a touch of airport coffee on his breath”. We did so not need to know that he had coffee breath 🙄😂.

I have a copy of her previous book that I still plan to read as I’ve heard it’s good. I’ll just go into it expecting it to be lacking on spice.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson is a sweet story with a great message about social media. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of it and I really related to Cat. The opposites attract trope works so well and I was swept up in this story. Zaiah is a worthy love interest. His calmness and personality made him a great book boyfriend. If you are looking for a funny, clean romance, this is a wonderful option.

If you've ever wondered what might happen if a fallen-from-grace influencer celeb moves to a remote location (Montana anyone?) read this book! Famous for a Living is a fun, although slightly predictable slow build rom com full of interesting details. A downside was the negative and not particularly nuanced portrayal of social media which felt like a message being pushed into my face. I recommend for anyone looking for a clean closed door romance who won't mind the heavy handed moral messaging.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙?”

Famous for a Living was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it didn’t disappoint! Cat’s journey was such a beautiful one and the message behind it is so important. I think this is a book that all social media influencers can learn a lot from in a positive way!

The beginning of this book reminded me so much of the beginning of Into the Wild by KA Tucker. City girl heroine goes to small town in the middle of nowhere and is met by the broody, indifferent hero. Cat and Zaiah (like Isaiah without the I) were complete opposites and I absolutely loved this dynamic. It created the best banter and delicious tension and it made the build up to their first kiss 🔥🔥🔥. The romance that follows is so so sweet.

The secondary characters in this story were top notch. From bossy Serena to mother hen Mina, I was cracking up at the antics. You also can’t help but fall in love with the small town charm of Kannery National Park and the rest of the staff. I loved Cat’s relationship with her Uncle Terry! And one of my favorite parts is when Cat and Zaiah learn each other’s backstories and finally understand the people they’ve become. The Instagram posts at the beginning of each chapter were a fun addition to the story. I can’t recommend this sweet, small town romcom enough!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

Cat Cranwell is a famous social media influencer, and when an app partnership goes south, she finds herself cancelled. To get out of the city spotlight and help rebuild her image, she accepts an offer from her uncle to run the social media page for a small national park in Montana. Tasked with helping save the park from being absorbed into a larger park nearby, Cat finds herself experiencing more than she bargained for.

This was a light, fun read that was more of a coming-of-age story with a little light romance sprinkled in. I adored the banter between Zaiah and Cat and enjoyed Cat’s quirky roommate too. This would be a great read for a summer camping adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Melissa Ferguson for an advance copy.

I love me a story about someone in a crisis fleeing the big city to find themselves in a small town so I had high expectations for this. While it wasn’t a 5 star or favourite read it was definitely the fun, sweet and breezy escape that I needed. Ferguson's writing was witty and engaging, with well-drawn characters that are relatable and likable. Cat is a messy protagonist, but relatably so. It was a lot of fun getting to witness a ‘girl boss’ at the top of her game go through this fall from grace. There’s a lot to be said about the hustle culture and scarcity mindsets social media produces so it was interesting to read about her having to recalibrate and shift away from the spoils and privileges she’d grown accustomed to. Her quirks and insecurities felt very authentic to me as a chronic perfectionist and people pleaser. Ferguson’s portrayal of the anxiety that comes with the cost of ‘performing’ perfection online felt incredibly raw and relatable. The message of stepping away from one’s phone is one that I’m relating quite a lot right now.

I think the biggest sell for me is the backdrop against the beautiful national parks of Montana. I mean we must have all had a fantasy about running away from life and hiding out in nature, right? It was a lot of fun getting to see Cat adapt as she’s quite literally forced to ‘touch grass.’ I loved the small-town feel of the story and getting to know the locals. I love myself a chosen family storyline! Cat’s relationship with her uncle was lovely and I only wish we’d gotten to see a bit more of her spending time with him as well as Zaiah and just goofing about the park in general.

Zaiah was a great MMC. I really appreciated the friendship he and Cat formed initially, and it was a lot of fun seeing them blossom into something more. I think the way the relationship panned out was done well. Zaiah really balances out Cat’s chaos and really helped her grow. Though it was a bit slow I think it was perfectly paced for this story, and it meant Cat’s transformation wasn’t completely reliant on him but rather her own journey that was merely enhanced and encouraged by his presence. Broody at first, Zaiah turned out to be a lovely, warm, and thoughtful love interest with baggage that was quite unexpected but felt very authentic. The tension at the beginning of the book made a lot more sense and I liked that they were both able to grow from their respective issues throughout the story. The banter, playful personality and hidden vulnerabilities added depth to his character. The supporting cast of characters at the park was equally endearing, making the story feel like a lovely ensemble tale.

Overall, "Famous for a Living" is a fun and charming novel with a surprisingly deep message sure to give the reader an occasional giggle and perhaps even a bit of pondering to do. With its engaging plot, likable characters, and witty dialogue, it's a perfect pick for anyone looking a quick, wholesome and feel-good read.

The book does read slightly more women's fiction or contemporary than I was expecting based on the cover and synopsis. It was really marketed as a rom-com but it had a bit of a lighter touch on the romance, which I didn’t mind at all. I think it made it all the sweeter but I can see how this would be misleading for many readers.

Wonderful story! The writer is very talented; this is my first story and I enjoyed it. This isn’t just the basic story you read for fun, it depicts our reality.
“Here we are. In the middle of ab-so-lutely nowhere. I clasp my carry-on and stare at what Uncle Terry described over the phone as my “cozy cabin.”
This, though. Whatever this was, was not cozy. Or even, a cabin. I look at the single cutout window that’s smaller than they use at prisons. A hole in the floorboards of the porch is so big it threatens to swallow my foot whole. Not really a tiny home. Not a shack. More like, if the three little pigs went into business but were hurried because the bank was getting tetchy about the building deadline for the construction loan and a wolf was on their tail, this would be a very realistic end result. A square house of logs the size of my closet. I tilt my head. No. This had to be smaller. I inhale. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. Because no matter what, even if it were two sticks propped up against a tree, there is no way I will do anything after this whole road experience except look at this structure as if it were exactly what I am expecting. And I’m just thrilled with it. Just. Positively. Thrilled. In fact, I’m going to smile now.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.

I really enjoy Melissa Ferguson's clean romantic fiction and this book did not disappoint. When scandal breaks for social media influencer Cat Cranwell, she accepts her park ranger uncle's offer to go work with him (as a social media strategist of course) at Kannery National Park. Cat is way outside of her comfort zone in all the snow and rustic conditions. Park Ranger Zaiah is very much against social media, but naturally ends up being the one to show Cat the ropes in regards to park living. A cute, funny book filled with lots of banter and wonderful characters.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cat Cranwell was a famous social media lifestyle influencer living the high life and showing her millions of followers what they need in order to be in the know. Unfortunately, she collaborated with an unscrupulous business partner and now she has been scorned and canceled by her followers and the general public. She fled to Kannery National Park, Montana at the invitation of her park ranger uncle in order to clear her head and provide the park with needed assistance in her area of expertise, social media engagement and promotion. There she met Zaiah, an intriguing and extremely low tech (think flip phone) park ranger who fascinated her. I loved their opposites-attract relationship which both made me think about the issues they dealt with and also made me laugh out loud on occasion. I was challenged in a gentle way to consider the benefits as well as the pitfalls of using the technology we now have access to through our phones, tablets, computers, and smart phones and to avoid becoming addicted to it. It would be a fantastic book club pick as it would generate lots of conversation. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

My first Melissa Ferguson book was The Dating Charade. I liked it, but I wanted more. So much of the story was devoted to things aside from the romance. That caused me to avoid some of her next releases. I prefer books to be relationship focused. The description of Meet Me in the Margins pulled me in and I decided to read it. And well, I loved it. I did have the same complaint--that I wished more of the story focused on the romance--but the subject of writing, editing, and publishing was so dear to me that I didn't mind as much as I normally might have. Famous for a Living was really good. I devoured it, but when I look back I can see that this book also could have used a little more romance.

Cat is a social media influencer. Every moment of her life is curated for her next photo, video, and post. She thinks about her next caption and post more than her friends and family. Her business partner screws her over and drags her name through the mud. Of course, her followers and pretty much everyone online turn on her. She leaves the city to help her uncle as social media manager for the small national park where he is the head park ranger.

Zaiah is a park ranger and he hates all things technology. He has a flip phone and shows open disgust for Cat's profession. It's only when he sees the good she's able to do with helping Mina, a park coworker, and the park itself does he sway his opinion, and even then only slightly. See, Zaiah has a past with influencers that didn't end well. He appreciates Cat as a person but sees that she's addicted to social media and her phone which worries him.

I didn't exactly feel like Melissa Ferguson was preaching the woes of social media and phone addictions to the reader, but it came close. This is an interesting and relevant topic in today's society. It's something to consider at least.

I read Famous for a Living in two days right before Christmas, which is kind of amazing with 3 kids 7 and under. Looking back the relationship feels like it could have been further developed and I wouldn't have minded more romance. The bigger story of social media and phone addictions made the story feel relevant and even dare I say important. Famous for a Living gets 4 Stars. Have you read Famous for a Living? What did you think? Let me know!

May 15, 2023
Thank you Uplit Reads and Melissa Ferguson for my complimentary copy of Famous for a Living. Thank you to Libro.fm for my complimentary audiobook.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book ! I paired the physical book with the audio. Talon David do a wonderful job with the character voices.

I was pulled into the drama from the first page. I would say this is a life journey with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.

I appreciated the hard look into the world of social media and how it has taken over our lives. The tips at the end of the book are very helpful. I have made a few changes to my phone habits since finishing this book.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
Opposites attract
Forced proximity
Found family
Life lessons