I couldn't put this book down! I loved every second of it. Fergusons writing is unlike any other and I honestly can't wait to read more of her books. the characters are well fleshed out and I never wanted it to end.

I have read a couple of the author’s other books, Meet Me In the Margins and Cul-de-Sac Wars. This is by far my favorite. The growth Cat shows in the book is believable and relatable as is the subject matter. I love that the author used the novel to bring light to a very real problem. I have seen bits and pieces of myself in characters before but I have not connected with an issue the way I have with this book. I have never thought about my own actions and made a plan to change them. Thank you.

Another cute rom com with a unique plot! Love the way Melissa Ferguson weaves interesting locations and information into her stories. You walk away with a smile and knowing about new things. The romance always adds to the story. Ferguson has become one of my favorites. Definitely woth the read. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and author for me to read. The opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved Meet Me in the Margins last year, so I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of this one!

Cat Cranwell is a social media influencer who escapes to Montana after her business partner (and therefore her) is accused of financial crimes. Her uncle tells her she can come out and get away from the online critics while her lawyer works to prove her innocence. While in Montana, she works with her uncle to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed by Glacier National Park.

Zaiah, Uncle Terry’s coworker, picks up Cat from the airport. They clash at first, but eventually learn to lower their walls with each other.

The cast of characters here are so much fun. There are so many fun and quirky people in this small town.

As Cat’s lawyer works to prove her innocence, she starts to fall for this small mountain town in Montana. She’s torn though. She can’t have her career in this small town. Will she choose this sweet town & its lovable characters, or will she pursue her career as it was before?

This story is more focused on Cat’s use of social media & her addiction to it than it is the romance/love story. The love story read more like a novella, even though it’s 300+ pages, because the focus is on Cat’s personal development. I would have loved more interactions between Cat and Zaiah. I want to love him, but I needed to see/read more of him.

Famous for a Living is also clean, which is a huge positive! Nothing to skip over or skim past here!

While I liked this one, I didn’t love it as much as Meet Me in the Margins. I wanted more of Cat & Zaiah’s story. I think this would’ve pulled me in to the story more to see their connection build.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc) and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to pick this book up when it’s released in May 2023!

Light and cozy winter read that touches on a series topic, social media addiction. Overall the read was slower than I liked, but I’m really glad I finished it! It started to pick up for me halfway through the book and then I couldn’t put it down. I loved following along on the National Park rivalry, the slow building opposites attract romance between Cat and Zaiah, and the cozy small town vibes. This book highlighted the good and bad impacts social media has on our society. It was a reality check to put down my phone and embrace the slower pace of living. The book also highlights how social media can be an impactful marketing tool for small businesses and discovering new places to explore!

The book is set in a small Montana town in the winter! I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a cute, cozy, and snowy read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an arc copy of this book with the expectation from the publishers for an honest review. That being said, at first I wasn't sure I was going to like the book at all. I was a bit put off by what I guess I would call "social media arrogance" of Cat Cranwell. I thought all the media hype in the story was too much (as a confession, I do use and enjoy social media but not to generate an income). But once Cat went to Wyoming I started to enjoy how things were playing out in her life. I ended up really enjoying the story and was glad I finished it! I actually found lessons that could be learned and that balance could be achieved as a result of reading this story. Thank you Melissa.

This was a bit of a slow burn to start, but once I got a few chapters in I quickly became invested in the delightful cast of quirky characters and was eager to see what shenanigans an uprooted New York influencer would find herself dragged into after being transported to a small mountain town in Montana. The romance was a sweet slow burn with a handsome, brooding, bearded hero who slowly started to see more about our heroine’s true nature instead of the persona she showed to the world online. This also had an interesting insight into the impact of social media for influencers with immense followings online and the mental/physical risks that come with being too attached to social media.

Overall, a fun and light hearted read that connects with a topic that impacts many of us on a daily basis and forces the reader to identify ways to be more mindful of when we choose to be present with those around us and how we interact with others online.

Read this if you love:
🌲 books about social media influencers
🌲 a grumpy, brooding hero
🌲 a heroine trying to find her way after a major setback
🌲 a fun cast of side characters
🌲 National park that needs some TLC
🌲 found family
🌲 prioritizing physical and mental health

Content: brief mention of physical abuse (in the past), mention of car accident that injured a pedestrian, mental health + social media

4.25 ⭐️

Originally, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book as I’m not really into reading about big-time social media influencers. However, I’m happy to say this story ended up being a pleasant surprise!

The very first thing that sold me was the setting. I have big love for Montana and Glacier National Park in particular. So naturally the rivalry between the national parks (Kannery & Glacier) was comical, and I’m even willing to admit that the Kannery team totally stole my heart—Jax, Peggy, Zaiah, Mina, Kevin, and Uncle Terry. It’s a very found family dynamic & I loved it!

I liked Cat as a main character. Many parts of her lifestyle weren’t relatable but many of her core fears were. Plus, her best friend Selena was sassy with her “don’t mess with my best friend” vibes.

The romance between Cat & Zaiah fell a little short for me. It’s very much an opposites attract situation where the big city girl meets country guy—hallmarkish but not in a bad way. I really appreciated that it wasn’t a romance centred on physical attraction, but everything wrapped up rather quickly in the epilogue where I would have liked to have seen more in depth evidence of Cat & Zaiah’s compatibility on screen.

For those curious, there was no faith content and reads like a clean contemporary romance. However, it does provide an honest & probing insight into media consumption & addiction. How plugged-in is too plugged-in? What are we letting validate us? Definitely made me stop and think.

All in all, a cute & fun read with food for thought!



*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I really tried with this one. I picked it up at least four times and I couldn’t get into the story. When I read the plot line I was so sure it would be something I loved (sort of a Hook, Line, and Sinker-esque trope) but it fell flat for me. Maybe it’s the season of life I’m in, but unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I felt like the themes — dangers of social media, mental health — were caricatures of serious issues, and as others have mentioned the romance was lacking. I will try this author again because I liked her writing but sadly this one wasn’t for me.

Cat Cranwell’s life revolves around her phone and pretending not to age. When the Club app with her new business partner turns into a lawsuit several months later, her best friend Serena sends her to Montana to work with her uncle at Kannery Park to help beef up their social media presence. When she learns the park may be absorbed into Glacier if they can’t up their visitor numbers - meaning her uncle and new friends would all be out of jobs - she’s determined to use whatever resources she still has to keep that from happening.

I’m not a fan of social media influencers as protagonists so it took me a bit to get into the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed Cat’s transformation once she’d left NYC. And it’s a sweet, heartwarming romance.

I have read all of Melissa Ferguson’s books, with the exception of Meet Me In The Margins (on my tbr list), and can attest that she only gets better as time goes on. Famous for a Living is without a doubt the best book she has ever written. It is a sweet, clean romance that tackles the subject of social media head on.

Cat, a social media darling, has managed to turn her life into a successful business; until one wrong move lands her in hot water. Forced to take a step back from the spotlight she takes a job with her uncle. Working in a state park was never part of the plan, but neither was falling for the park ranger.

Ferguson does a terrific job writing a romance amongst a call to action. She highlights the pros and cons social media has to offer in the 21st century; while asking the reader to take an introspective look at their relationship with technology. She managed to convict without placing judgement, which is a hard thing to do. As a result, I want to take more time to enjoy the people, places and things around me without the distraction of my phone. Since “you gotta get off your phone” in order to realize “real life is happening”.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun, but also thought provoking story.
It gives a look at the dangers of technology and social media.
Fun characters and a beautiful setting.
As a well-known social media influencer, Cat Cranwall thinks she has it all.
Then the unthinkable happens and she falls from public favor.
She goes to live way out in the wilds of Montana, close to Glacier National Park.
There she learns some lessons about what really matters in life.
Like I already mentioned, the author uses this beautiful story to show us the dangers and pitfalls of being addicted to social media.
I found this story well worth the read.
It was fun and funny, but also thought provoking.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I typically enjoy a 'one of us is famous' rom-com and so I did enjoy this although it was a little too anti-social media for me. I don't mind criticisms of the actions of social media companies or the way it dominates our lives but to villianize a person for just using social media annoys me a little bit.

Overall, a very standard rom-com.

3.5 ⭐️

In Famous for a Living, Cat Cranwell is an influencer who gets temporarily “cancelled” due to her unintended (although careless) involvement in a scandal. She escapes to rural Montana to work for her uncle at Kannery National Park and try to improve its struggling marketing efforts. Along the way, she learns how to live more “off the grid”—although not completely because she remains preoccupied with salvaging her reputation and attracting more guests to the park with a more prominent social media presence. She also meets a man, though I wouldn’t say that the book depicts their falling in love because their relationship development is more of a side plot.

The Montana setting was hands down the best part of the book, followed by the cute and quirky ensemble of supporting characters. Montana is one of my favorite states, and the appeal of small town living amongst the gorgeous mountainous scenery was evident. The National Park’s traditions were also cute and fun.

Another plus is that the book was clean—the romance was pure, and there was no foul language.

I should have known that I might have mixed feelings about this book due to my intense distaste for social media influencers. Although the book did attempt to address the pitfalls of social media obsession, it kind of felt forced and incomplete considering she went right back to it with a few slight changes in her habits and boundaries. The conflict at the end just felt bizarre and abrupt, as though everything Cat “learned” hasn’t actually taught her anything. Cat’s behaviors bothered me throughout the book and were not redeemed enough, in my opinion.

I absolutely loved Melissa Ferguson’s precious novel, Meet Me in the Margins, because I thought it was such a sweet and unique romance. The romance in this book, unfortunately, felt bland.

In terms of writing style, I really liked it for the most part. It’s easy to read and lighthearted/fun. There were maybe a few too many short sentences (as in, only a few words that don’t actually form a complete sentence but are just added for emphasis), and sometimes the passage of time between chapters was odd or unclear.

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

I keep going to dive into this book and getting terribly distracted. I will get to this soon and update my review. Thanks so much. P

This was a really captivating read, it reminded me a lot of "Funny You Should Ask", and if you enjoy celebrity romances, you should definitely check it out!

I absolutely loved Melissa Ferguson’s last book, Meet Me in the Margins (my favorite romance of 2022!) and was excited to get this ARC of her 2023 release. Famous for a Living is a sweet romance that deals with a heavy and timely topic - our society’s addiction to social media. Cat is a successful social media influencer who has a spectacular fall from grace and flees to her uncle’s remote home at a national park in Montana to recharge and remember what is important in life. She grows to love the slow pace of small town living and her quirky fellow co-workers, especially the stoic and handsome park ranger, Zaiah.

I loved so many things about this book - the realistic found family of the park rangers, especially her adorable roommate, the spectacular landscape descriptions, and the slow burn of the romance with Zaiah. He is truly the perfect man - strong yet sensitive, principled yet caring. Who wouldn’t fall for him?

The setting was perfect, especially since I had visited Montana several years ago and could mentally picture the breathtaking vistas and snowy peaks myself. I am similar to Cat, not a huge fan of roughing it, so I understood her reluctance at the beginning of her time there. I love how she grew as a character, from a shallow, vapid influencer always looking for her next “like” to a thoughtful, caring team player.

The ending fed into my general feelings about social media, how insidious it is and how it is negatively affecting our young people in particular. I wish every “influencer” could read this book and realize how much of life they are missing when they are glued to their phones. The storyline with Zaiah and Hannah hit very close to home as a mom of teens, the anxiety over “likes,” the constant checking of stats, etc. It’s all too much for kids, teens, and adults, and I hope through books like this, we can take back control of our digital lives.

I loved the characters so much that I wanted to learn even more about them, especially Uncle Terry and his special relationship with Cat. There was discussion of Cat’s terrible time growing up and how it still affected her, and I would have loved even more (What about Cat’s mother and Zaiah’s father? Where did he get that unusual name?). They were just such a fun group with great camaraderie and laugh out loud interactions, I could have read another 300 pages about them!

Overall it was a big win for me! A sweet romance that packed a moral punch in the best way possible! I’ll definitely be recommending this as a romance to read in 2023!

Typos noted for publisher:
Wrong name for Zaiah at 20% - after car rental, he’s called Eli

Wrong use of word “peak” (should be pique) at 31% (discussion of her coat)

Different spellings of the word “clingy” throughout

This book was definitely more women’s fiction/chick lit than romance (which is what I went in expecting) but I still found it quite enjoyable. I loved the whole Kannery & Montana aspect of the story, and almost all the main characters were likeable and written well, especially Cat.

I felt myself going back and forth on how the author approached the social media “addiction” aspect. The line about how we shouldn’t know this much about every single random person stood out. But at the same time it came from the perspective of Cat whose entire job and personality revolves around social media, rather than your average worker with a traditional 9-5 who only uses social media in their downtime.

My biggest gripe would be the ending being extremely rushed, which unfortunately just so happened to coincide with most of the romance plot line too.

This felt like a lecture from my mom wrapped in a book that was barely a romance. While I like the elements of going to Montana and appreciating and working at a national park, the social media/phone obsession bit was so preachy. Also it barely had a romance until the last thirty pages

It was a quick read! I loved the premise of this book and had high hopes. Unfortunately, it just didn’t pull me in. I love a good slow burn relationship, but the chemistry/dating did not start until about 80% into the book. The HEA ending was quick but swoon worthy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but opinions are all mine.