This romantic comedy was surprising because it was lighthearted on one hand, but on the other hand it had a message about the effects of social media on our lives that was thought provoking. I throughly enjoyed this book of Cat, a social media star, finding out what life is really like after she steps away from her phone.

Cat Cranwell in a second of time goes from being famous and loved to famous and hated. Given the opportunity to help her uncle at the Kannery National Park and escape scandal, Cat finds herself in a place she never imagined. The description of Montana in the winter was spot on and had me smiling as Cat is juggling all of her suitcases in her heated parka before she heads into a blizzard. “I can do this. I am a grown woman. I am thirty years old. I have dealt with far more technical things than dragging six suitcases through an airport.” She is used to luxurious penthouses and is quite shocked after a harrowing drive to find her cabin is “ a square house the size of my closet.”

The vulnerability and truthfulness of a painful accident that affected park ranger Zaiah made him a hero in my book. Working through his feelings of his past and his attraction for Cat made him my favorite character. He didn’t push Cat to change, but challenged her by telling her about his experiences.

The secondary characters were delightful and made this story seem like you were part of Cat’s story. Uncle Terry, Mina, and Serena were all supportive and her greatest cheerleaders. Sometimes family doesn’t have to be mom, dad, and siblings. Sometimes it is those who choose to be there for you.

There are questions and a social media usage guidelines from Cat’s perspective at the end of the book that you will want to be sure and read. It made me stop and think. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Melissa Ferguson has produced another gem that delves into the very real world and pitfalls of social influencers. The juxtaposition of New York and Montana punches home the points of conflict that are inherent in Cat Cranwell's chosen lifestyle. As this heartwarming story unfolds we share in the growth of all the characters, and fall in love with a community of people who aid in this process. I highly recommend 'Famous for a Living'.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

3 Stars Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson was a cute found-family romcom. After her business partner is indicted for fraud, social media influencer Catherine “Cat” Cranwell’s world of being famous for a living falls apart. Cat accepts an offer from her beloved Uncle Terry to join him out in Kannery National Park in Montana where he works as a park ranger. Terry needs Cat’s help to turn around their social media and draw more tourists to the small national park. New Yorker Cat isn’t quite cut out for Montana living, but gives it her best shot and befriends the others working in the park—Mina, Peggy, Jax, Kevin, and Zaiah. Cat is attracted to the gruff and grumpy Zaiah, and can’t seem to figure out how he feels about her.

This was a very easy read and I flew through it. I love stories with the found family trope and this one was done perfectly. The HEA was the cherry on top of a cute ending.

I enjoyed this new (upcoming - May 16!) book by @our_friendly_farmhouse!

It takes all the evils and goodness of social media and lumps them into one book about a 30-something influencer, Cat. She’s hit with backlash after her manager indicts her in a scheme to sell user information.

She runs to the mountains of Montana to lay low and find herself while she’s waiting for her life and name to sizzle back in the big city.

I didn’t love it at first but ended up really enjoying it when everything hits the fan and she’s got to work her way out of the mess she’s in.

Thanks to @netgalley @thomasnelson and @our_friendly_farmhouse for the advanced copy.

This book was a lovely romantic book that really hit the topic of social media and how it has a hold on people in a way that can be both detrimental and useful.
I saw a lot of myself in Cat and feel that many other readers will feel the same way. Her connection to Zaiah is intense and slow-building throughout the book and it draws the reader in and keeps them wanting to read more. This is my first introduction to Melissa Ferguson, but I know I will be reading more from her!

A fun light-hearted romance that taps into our current generation of social media addicts. A social media influencer disgraced from society turns to escape in rural Montana with her Uncle Terry but finds a whole lot more while she is there. Cat is used to the hustle and bustle of NYC, but as time goes on, she realizes why people pack up and escape to Montana. The author does a great job describing the vast beauty.

I am typically a huge fan of fast paced thrillers, but love the occasional romcom, and this book did such a great job representing the quintessential romcom that we all love!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out 5/16/23!

This book was a lot of fun! Though mostly lighthearted, the commentary on social media use and abuse was a much needed reminder for me to unplug a bit more. I found myself rooting for Cat and hoping things would turn in her favor.
Ferguson’s descriptions of the town, national park, and daily life made me want to visit Montana (a phrase I never thought I’d say)! Overall, I give the book 4/5 stars—a lighthearted, fun rom-com novel with a strong underlying message to live your real life, not just your online one.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for an ARC. Options expressed in this review are completely my own.

2.5/5 🌟

I requested an ARC for this book from the description and the cover being so cute and after finishing reading this book I feel indifferent.

The main character Cat is a social media content creator based in NYC before she is accused of fraud and is advised to head to her uncles job in a national park in Montana to better her image. Zaiah is a park ranger working at said national park and hates anything to do with social media.

The genre of this book falls under romance but definitely felt more self reflecting from the main character rather than any romance. There was barely any romance until the last 20% of the book and just felt very awkward and forced. I can appreciate the theme of social media and how damaging it can be to an individual and how reliant we are as a society on social media but I just didn’t enjoy the whole book being solely based on this idea. I didn’t really feel the connection between the characters and didn’t see them falling in love it wasn’t really until halfway through the book did they start to become friends and talk.

There also really wasn’t any character development besides the main character leaving her phone at home during a date. We barely get to know the characters personally besides a few facts that are sprinkled throughout the book. I just didn’t feel any emotions reading this book, I didn’t start to fall in love with the characters and their story I just couldn’t connect with the book.

ARC - thanks, NetGalley!

Would give a 3.5 if that was allowed on GRs

Talk about a slowwwww burn. I really wish some details/events were cut down and we sped up/got more details on Cat and Zaiah’s relationship because it came to be randomly? The big “confession” was a little bit of a stretch, too. Epilogue was SUPER cute and I wish that was incorporated more into the main story.

Fame and Fortune
Cat Cranwell is famous for a living. That is, until disaster strikes. She and her business partner Bobby Braswell are launching Club, a new social media app. Bobby promises it will soon outdo Instagram and Facebook.

The extravagant celebration party is held on Cat’s 30th birthday, in her newly acquired posh Manhattan apartment. As it’s about to begin, her woodsy park ranger Uncle Terry and his assistant ranger Zaiah turn up at the door. Just as her best friend Selena sets off a calamity with the caterer. In the middle of Bobby urgently trying to convince her to sign an international contract written in several different languages.

Fast Paced
Yes, Melissa Ferguson really knows how to move a story along at a breakneck pace. The whole story is written in first person. At first, I felt uncomfortable in Cat’s skin, as she’s not much like me. But when she was compelled to leave the city and take refuge in the mountains of Montana with her uncle, I began to feel there might be hope for her.

Will Cat be able to remain famous for a living? Or will she even want to? I won’t spoil the story by telling you. There are a few twists and turns. I had to go back and re-read the beginning before writing this review. The first time I skimmed and missed the details that launched Cat into dire straits. You have to read slowly enough to take in everything going on in those first few paragraphs because it’s all important in the story.

This is the second book by Melissa Ferguson that I’ve read. I recommend it to readers who like a fast pace with humor and some underlying serious thought. Thanks to Net Galley for providing me the ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.

This book was cute and I loved the cover!!!!

The flip phone cracked me up and I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the main characters.

Famous for a Living feels very reflective of our obsession with technology and social media. It follows Cat Cranwell, social media influencer after issues with a new app go awry and forces her to move out to Montana. It's a cute story, that reinforces slowing down and getting away from the pictures, the filters and remembering that social media is just a tool. It's such a small representation of your life and this novel is a reminder to live in the moment.

Rating: 3.75/5

Cat Cranwell overcame a very rough childhood to become a household name and millionaire influencer, but when she signs on to a big deal with the wrong guy, she finds herself in legal and PR trouble. Her best option is to escape to the mountains of Montana where her uncle is the head of a national park in danger of closing. Can her social media savvy change the parks fate and save the jobs of her uncle and her new friends? Will she also find love and a life away from her phone? We shall see!

Famous for a Living is a fun romance. Cat Cranwell is an influencer living in NYC who suddenly is accused of wrongdoing when an app with which she has a partnership goes awry. She escapes to the small national park where her Uncle Terry is the head ranger. Cat adjusts to rural life and evolves as a character— making her more likeable. All of the supporting characters are delightful.

This is another great book by Melissa Ferguson. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The bond between the rather grumpy boy and the MC inside the novel is adorable! Even though the romance is only a brief bite, I could sense the tension between Cat and Zaiah from the moment they first met. It was a charming read with a cozy atmosphere but too slowburn and unfortunately it doesn’t covers everything between the lovers at the end of story.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Author Melissa Ferguson's small-town romance novel Famous For a Living centers on hard-working Zaiah Smith and social media influencer Catherine Cranwell.

I was promised romance, but I only received around 8% of it, and even that portion did not feel romantic. I waited for Cat and Zaiah to express their feelings during the entire time because there was some tension between them. And although this was described as a "slow burn, friends to lovers" story, there weren't any "lovers" in this; instead, they merely felt like they were incredibly close friends the whole time, even when they finally got "together."

Though, I will admit that there were some enjoyable and heartwarming moments in this book. After all, despite the fact that Cat and Zaiah were polar opposites, they still managed to find a place in each other's life.

Overall, this novel was adorable to read, but it might have been so much better if the two main characters had acknowledged and pursued their feelings for one another much earlier.

*Thank you to Thomas Nelson--FICTION, and to the author, Melissa Ferguson, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

This was the PERFECT small town romance!! The idea of the famous woman vs small town man is a big favourite of mine, and this book absolutely killed it! Gave me It Happened One Summer vibes and I was very much there for it!! The characters were loveable and the character development was amazing to read!

this book was totally fine! it was cute. i wanted a bit more of the love story and less of the social media addition and mc growth angle - i felt like we were missing a bit of the story that was promised by the blurb and cover, and i wish i got more of it! this is my first book of melissa's, so i can't compare to any previous works.

I have only read one other book by Melissa Ferguson and know that I need to read more! I love the way she tells a story. What a cute one!

A thrilling fantasy. I was hooked from the beginning. So glad I had the chance to read this and love this!