Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Thomas Nelson for the gifted e-book ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read if you like: Opposites attract, influencer, scandals, small town

I liked it. It started off making me laugh out loud but shortly after it lost me. I don't consider this to be romance. She barely looks at him until midway through the book. The blurb reads like it will be heavily romantic. It's not. It's more a women's fiction about a woman learning her place in the world after a scandal. There were parts I loved, and some I didn't. The more serious parts were woven in well. I really felt Cat's story. Overall, this was a cute, funny, and light read. I do recommend it.

Melissa Ferguson has written a fun book about influencers and social media. Although this book is advertised as a romantic comedy, this book is more about personal growth than romance. The romance doesn’t really come into the story fully until the second half of the book. But that did not stop me from enjoying this book.

Despite a slow start to the story, Cat became someone you quickly cared about. Life as she knew it changed in the blink of an eye. And a change of scenery was everything she didn’t know she needed. I loved the journey Cat went on discovering who she truly was and the impact social media and her phone had started to have on her. It was great to see Cat understand that she didn’t need to completely change herself, just start to make some changes to her life. Also understanding that her skills could be adapted and help more than just herself.

If you are looking for a light-hearted book with strong character development and a little bit of romance, I am sure you will love this book.

Cat, leaves New York and her social media life to go to a small national park in Montana. Life is much different here in this small town. However, with some new friends, some adjustments and learning, she will help everyone along the way and most importantly learning the impact social media has on her life. This book definitely makes you think about the impact of social media and our phones, it is so crazy to think how addicted we can become. I felt like this book had some hallmark ish vibes to it too. Overall , it was a cute read.

I received this book from netgalley. These are my honest thoughts.

Cat Cranwell is an influencer that has to do a “forced” hiatus from her millions of followers after a deal gone wrong.

We follow her journey while working for her uncle to vamp up his social media sites for a (fictional) National Park and realizing that the lifestyle she had isn’t everything.

This book was marketed as a romance novel. Sadly, this is not really the case and the book is more woman’s fiction and a personal growth type journey.

A few other things didn’t make sense in this story and I kept putting it down.

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

This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and it certainly will not be my last! It was such a cute read, while also being funny (especially on audio) and sweet all at the same time. The perfect book to get me out of my reading slump!

This book was honestly more of a chick lit type book than a romance book. There is a romantic aspect with the main character Cat and park ranger Zaiah. She goes from being a beloved social media influencer with millions of followers to a nobody. After a bad partnership with an app she is shunned by the social media influencer world and loses her followers.
I'm a big fan of the slow burn type romance and this book did not disappoint on that aspect. It was definitely a great book and made you think about the dangers of social media. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I devoured this adorable romcom with timely themes around social media use and the influencer lifestyle. Ferguson brings us another adorable romcom with all the swoony chemistry between the two main characters that we love - and a very relatable, timely message around the downsides of phone use and the new lifestyle influencers of our generation.

Set in both New York City and a fictional National Park in Montana - this delightfully, sweet romance is just the escape into a great story that I needed this weekend. I loved both characters and the depth she gave them with their backstories and lives that they've created despite their childhoods.

I have only read one other book by Melissa Ferguson, but I have ordered several more since reading it and Famous For A Living. The content of the story is not particularly new, but it is sweet, and fun, and uplifting, which is a type of book everyone needs sometimes. I would be hard-pressed to point out anything objectionable in either book I have read by the author. In this one, the instagram influencer lead is grating at times and comes of extremely judgmental and vapid at others. The book presented a formula for getting cancelled and coming back from that cancellation, which rang extremely true with what can be witnessed in everyday life. I appreciated how the book, though ostensibly a fish-out-of-water romance, refused to JUST be that. Kat was in fact, not really too far out of water. Her romantic interest had valid reasons for hating the IG lifestyle.

Famous for a Living is cute and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone!

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

With her millions of followers, Cat Cranwell is adored around the world. But when an app partnership goes very, very wrong, Cat suddenly finds herself shunned from the community that not only fed her soul all these years but paid her bills. When Cat’s closest living relative, Uncle Terry, offers her a position on his staff at a small national park in Montana to get away from the city, Cat hesitantly accepts the opportunity.

What she doesn’t realize is that as the new social media strategist her goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park by boosting the number of visitors. And at least one of her new colleagues—namely, handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson—thinks social media is the root of everything that’s wrong with the world. Written with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson’s signature wit and charm, this romantic comedy of opposites attract is full of hilarious romp and a romance that will melt readers’ hearts.

I've been looking forward to this novel since I read Meet Me in the Margins by this author which I absolutely enjoyed.
I liked the message of Famous for a Living, the challenge to really pay attention to whether we are addicted to our phones, but the writing didn't flow as well for me though. I had to reread a little to make sure I was following what was happening.

I did really like most of the characters and the camaraderie between them in Montana. So while I did appreciate this one, it just wasn't for me.

I wouldn't say this was a romcom per say. Don't get me wrong, there was a love story but I think it's important to acknowledge that this is more about character development and the realization of what's important in one's life. It was a decent read. I received an ALC of this. Overall, it was okay. Found myself a bit bored because nothing happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC.

I thought this book had great potential, a coming of age story in a world where social media literally takes over peoples lives. Cat Cranwell's character overall just didn't do it for me. I wanted this book to just be a bit more.

When her life crumbles around her, influencer Cat Cranwell runs off to Montana to work in a National Park, complete with a cute park ranger and amazing new coworkers.

It sounds like a grand time and while the book had some great moments and Zaiah is super cute, the book also felt kind of flat. Sure, it makes some good points about social media and how we’re all kind of addicted to it but K wanted more.

I wanted more romance and more shenanigans and more character development. I didn’t hate the story, as a matter of fact I enjoyed some bits quite a lot, but it also lacked something. I think the character arcs could have gone deeper and that we could have heard more from the secondary characters and that the romance (though it had very cute moments) could have been explored a little more.

All in all, it was an okay book and like I said, I really liked some moments and the discussion around social media and influencers was good, but I just didn’t love it and that’s okay. Maybe mountains and park rangers aren’t for me, who’s to say?

🌶️ no explicit scenes, kissing only

Thank you @netgalley and @thomasnelson for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Famous for a Living has many attributes of a romcom, but comes with a deeper meaning woven through it. Influencer Cat Cranwell is facing legal issues due to actions of her partner and decides to escape the news by moving to Montana where her uncle is a head ranger in a national park that needs saving. Cat adjusts to her new world of living in the wilderness, with the help of ranger Zaiah. The opposite attraction trope produces fun banter and adventure.
While Famous for a Living is a romance, I came away from the storyline with a conviction, like Cat, that I spend too much time looking at my phone. Cat's development to love living in the present and not being as concerned with making life look perfect was just as good as her romance storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of Famous for a Living thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, but all opinions are my own.

Goodreads needs to stop labeling everything in Women's Fiction as rom-com.
Cute and Fun, but Unmemorable, this is a coming-of-age story with a dash or romance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Romance, RomCom, Sweet Romance, Clean Romance
Spice Level: Low (kissing & references to previous relationships)
Language: Low-none on swearing
Representation: Disability rep with secondary character, possible ADHD too

I feel like Melissa Ferguson's book are a secret—that every romance lover needs. Her books are so compelling and absorbing to read. The cover threw me off a bit because she arrives in winter—as in so-much-snow-that-the-world-is-white type of winter. I can't even imagine Montana in the winter. It must be close to a Canadian winter—and so, so miserable!

In this one, deals with the negative side of social media and how it can take over your life. While trying to maintain her life, Cat's posts tank. She's being painted as the villain, and she must escape the pressure of New York, her fans, her former business partner, newspapers, stares, and even her best friend who won't leave her alone to quietly curl up into a corner and mourn the loss of everything she's known. On top of everything else, she can tell she's aging. Yikes for an influencer.

Chime the bells (possibly cow bells) for her to land in Montana in the winter, renting a a car that's more luxury than tires that will actually keep her on the road. Thankfully, Cat's uncle sent Zaiah—a man with a broad no-nonsense line running right over his eyes. Yep—he sees nothing other than the beauty of Montana and the wrongness with the world of social media.

When these two meet, there are sparks, but more of the electricity-is-dangerous way than the I-want-to-kiss-you type of reaction. However, Kannery National Park is only a few hundred miles of wilderness, and they can't escape each others' company. I enjoyed the ongoing gaffs of Cat—she really doesn't understand what the wilderness is all about (but she does love to ski). Zaiah is so fun to try to read through Cat's observations. It's just such a joyful read.

This is a fun, light-hearted, sweet romance with kissing.

I'm recommending this book (and this author) to everyone because everybody will find someone to relate to. Seriously, this is one of my favorite authors for romance.

Happy reading to you!

Title: Famous for a Living
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

With her millions of followers, Cat Cranwell is adored around the world. But when an app partnership goes very, very wrong, Cat suddenly finds herself shunned from the community that not only fed her soul all these years but paid her bills. When Cat’s closest living relative, Uncle Terry, offers her a position on his staff at a small national park in Montana to get away from the city, Cat hesitantly accepts the opportunity.

What she doesn’t realize is that as the new social media strategist her goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park by boosting the number of visitors. And at least one of her new colleagues—namely, handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson—thinks social media is the root of everything that’s wrong with the world.

It's a statement to Melissa Ferguson’s writing abilities that she made me like—and even root for—a social media star, because I’m not a fan of social media or the social media obsessed. Like, at all. I spent the first third or so of the book low-key annoyed because of all the fuss about likes and follows and what other people think (Okay. The truth is that annoyed me throughout the entire book, but Cat eventually let go of that nonsense a bit.). Despite the wintry weather, I enjoyed the setting quite a bit, and the national park itself greatly intrigued me (I like to hike.). In the end, I enjoyed Cat learning how to live and enjoy a real life—instead of one filled with fakeness.

Melissa Ferguson is a bestselling author Famous for a Living is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

Title: Famous for a Living
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 16, 2023

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies of this book from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Witty • Lighthearted • Cautionary

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell falls from her penthouse perch. Des­perate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park.

Cat’s world shifts from the swirling haze of likes and comments to lit­eral blizzards of frostbite temperatures and waist-deep snow. In place of negotiating brand deals, she finds herself negotiating at the ledge of a frozen lake with her die-hard Polar Bear Plunge coworkers. Instead of padding through the marble kitchen of her Manhattan loft, she’s sharing a tent-sized cabin with a roommate eager to bond like characters in sitcoms. 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.

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

💭 T H O U G H T S

I was drawn to Famous for a Living partly because of the cover, and partly because the small town/national park setting piqued my interest, so I was excited to receive an ARC to read ahead of its upcoming release. I think it's important to preface this review with the fact that the cover itself is quite deceiving. The majority of this book takes place during the winter months with snow and bitter cold temperatures, whereas the cover gives a much more summery vibe. This seems like an odd marketing choice. But I guess it worked...

What I like:
• an endearing supporting cast. I actually liked some of the side characters more than Cat and Zaiah, especially Cat's uncle and roommate Mina.
• the small town/national park setting. I absolutely gravitate towards small town settings, and with so much beautiful scenery I loved this one even more.
• the humour. I literally laughed out loud several times, which is rare.

What I didn't like:
• the romance. It took a back seat, not really blossoming until the last third, making it more a story about a woman finding herself than anything else. If it has been marketed as that than maybe I'd have enjoyed it more.
• the social media aspect. A little superficial at times, some of the corniness left me rolling my eyes. I just don't jive well with the social media/influencer type of character that comes across as shallow.
• the ending. Everything got wrapped up with a nice little bow all too quickly. The romance felt rushed, and it just felt unrealistic.

While certainly a timely novel contrasting the positive and negatives sides of social media, I am not a huge fan of the social media aspect in books and there were quite a few plot holes that I found myself just not caring. The audio, narrated by Talon David, is decent but nothing to write home about. Overall, it just didn't leave any lasting impressions on me, and I have a feeling I'll quickly forget the storyline and characters.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• lovers of the opposites attract trope
• fans of closed door romance
• Hallmark movie enthusiasts

⚠️ CW: car accident, social media addiction

Cat Cranwell has millions of followers on social media. When public opinion turns on her after a partnership gone wrong, she retreats from NYC to the small national park her uncle runs in rural Montana. The job Uncle Terry offers her running their social media pages is more important than she initially realized – it might be the only chance to keep their park from being incorporated into the much larger Glacier National Park. One of her new coworkers, Zaiah, is ruggedly handsome and a genuinely good person, but he thinks social media is a major problem in today’s world. Can Cat save the park, and will she and Zaiah find common ground despit their differences?

This book is definitely more about self-growth and the dangers of social media than it is a romance. Talon David did a nice job with the narration of this audiobook. I absolutely adored Melissa Ferguson’s <i>Meet Me in the Margins</i>, and while I liked this one, it was nowhere at the level of MMitM for me. There were many funny moments throughout this book, though. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for something light, but know that it is more women’s fiction than romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

From Park Avenue to Parks department, social media star, Cat's life changes in a moment. After a partnership goes wrong, Cat moves to her uncle's small-town park in Montana. With the help of her skills, she helps revamp & attracting tourists to the park with the help of a few quirky colleagues & a very handsome but judgmental, Zaiah.

This was such a wholesome book that I can't stop thinking about it. There's something about Melissa's writing that brings out both vulnerability & humor in the story.

Cat & Zaiah's banter was amazing, especially the airport pickup scene. I just loved them together; very subtle, soft, and romantic.

The side characters were whole, another level of quirky. I loved Mina so much & honestly would give anything to have her own book. And not to forget Uncle Terry, that man was too pure for this world & I loved his & Cat's relationship.

PS The graphics of the insta posts at the beginning of each chapter stole my heart completely.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cat’s life is been on display for far too long and now is ruining for a bad decision. Can she rewrite her life and learn to live her life in a small mountain town with friends and family, without her phone and her social life and finally find happiness and love? A journey to self discovery and a reflection about social media and it danger to people’s life in more than one way. The audiobook is great, Talon Davis does an amazing job with Melissa’s words.