I was expecting a romance and instead found myself in a storyline geared toward cancel culture. The characters were not ones I could relate to and felt “over the top”. The book was a confusing read for me.

Engaging women's fiction with lighthearted elements, quirky characters and a delightful romantic thread.

I browsed several reviews before writing mine and noticed several disgruntled and disappointed comments, readers mainly complaining this wasn't a romance.

I have to agree... this isn't a romance novel even though the back cover copy leads readers to think it is. This wonderful tale is a bullseye for women's fiction with a sweet romantic subplot.

As a fan of women's fiction, I enjoyed the public rise and fall of Cat Cranwell, her sad family dynamic and her addiction to social media, along with her friendships. Her relationship with BFF Serena in New York rivals the friendships she forms with her new colleagues in backward Montana.

And Zaiah. Though he appears a few times in the beginning, he only shines in the second half of the story.

Because this book is about Cat and her world, which includes feisty friendships, a love-hate tug with the public, and a sweet romance.

I enjoyed Cat's tale, darkness balanced with light, fear with hope, pain with pleasure. And I hope other readers enjoy her journey too.

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

I was hoping for more. I was confused at the beginning. Felt like I picked up the book and flipped to page in the middle and started reading. That’s not a great way to start. And unfortunately, things just did not get better.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher and author for the ARC. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise. ~

I loved Meet Me in the Margins and her newest book was no different.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson is a charming romance story.

I thought this was a light story. It was very entertaining. And definitely put a smile on my face.
The characters were believable, relatable, and the chemistry between them was phenomenal
Ferguson has delivered once again with her amazing characters who I deeply adored.
Her books are always fun and exciting and always has me up late at devouring every single page.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mix New York, a National Park, a fashionista, and a burly bearded lumberjack and you’ll get Famous for a Living. This charming book was an easy read - cute and full of locations that are fun to travel to in your mind. I enjoyed this book as an easy palate cleanser for some of the dreary reads that I’ve been into lately and it perked me right up.
As someone that is a Social Media Strategist, there is so much about the Cat Cranwell character that Melissa Ferguson gets right. Losing yourself in work is something that everyone experiences but when you are your brand or are speaking on behalf of a brand it can be draining and can really mess with your life. All lessons are great to learn in any job - being present and participating in what is going on around you.

This is by far not a spicy romance if that is what you are looking for - this book might not be for you. It’s more about falling in love with yourself and making boundaries. Overall, it gets 4 out of 5 stars for me as I would have loved a little bit more out of the characters in the ending.

I received this book as a NetGalley digital title.

Thank you to the publisher/author and to netgalley for the opportunity to read an arc copy of this and give an honest review in return.

I feel this is not what I expected it to be, I was expecting a cute romance, fish out of water influencer meets gruff outdoorsy love interest and shenanigans ensue. What it actually is, is more of an influencer story and the romance takes more of a backseat.
I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and some of the dialogue was quite funny.
But there was a lot of the book written in a way that I found to be a bit annoying.
Short sentences.
Just like this.
Multiple times on one page.
Multiple.
And it was just a bit too much. If you’re looking for an influencer story that touches on cancel culture, women in their 30s with a touch of romance this is probably for you.

A fantastic book! It has a unique story line and great characters! I also LOVED the setting of Montana and have now put it on my bucket list! An honest look into the life of an influencer in today's world. A definite must read!

To be honest this books just fell kind of flat and was disappointing for me. I felt like the whole situation with Cat was pretty painful and uncomfortable to read about and I felt like there wasn't very much chemistry between the two characters. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I really liked this book! I started off detesting the MC who is obsessed with social media and her life as an influencer, but when she's thrown into country life and becomes a more balanced person, I found I had come to like her. I fear some might find this book "preachy" about technology usage, but since I'm not obsessed, I found it to be just right.
*Bonus points for the author using the correct term 'venemous' when talking about snakes.

Sadly I didn’t love Famous for a Living. I found Serena to be a little too much like a caricature and the story from Zaiah’s past about his former girlfriend to be far fetched. I also found relating social media to drug use in this instance as a stretch.

I really liked the characters in Montana including Zaiah, Peggy, Uncle Terry and Mina. I think more time focused on developing the story and the characters at the National Park would propel this story more. Cat was likeable and the relationship between Cat and Zaiah could have developed more. Also, Cat’s past could have been explained in more depth.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Wow! What an enjoyable book. I really enjoyed this sweet story about the consequences of online life and mountain life. Can I say that I fell in love with Kannery National Park and the gang a little as well?? This book is the perfect sweet read for anyone to enjoy.

2.5 stars

Famous for a Living is the story of Cat Cranwell, a disgraced influencer who—thanks to her park ranger uncle—goes to work at a small National Park in Montana while waiting for the storm of her life to blow over. It was the National Park aspect that first drew me to this book, and I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the mountains and cold northern climate (despite the springtime cover art, the book is set during the winter). I also enjoyed the small town characters who worked at the park and their annual outdoor winter activities/festivals.

While the book starts with Cat being quite vapid, she does experience growth throughout. And, while the story is hinged on the premise of Cat’s content creator job leading to her sudden life change, I didn’t expect the book to be so vehemently preachy against social media use. “Are we meant to know every thought and deed, traumatic event, and triumph of every person in this world?” It asserts that regular social media use is akin to drug addiction. “Social media had changed the region of her brain that controlled emotions, attention, and decision making. Tell me this isn’t about a drug-dependent person.” It was heavy-handed and felt so much like an agenda, that it fully detracted from the story.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this manuscript to review. Before this book’s actual release in May 2023, I hope the copy editing issues and inconsistencies are resolved as well.

📖 Review: Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

Famous for a Living is a sweet and funny romance novel that will have you laughing along with Cat’s antics.

Cat Cranwell is “famous for a living”. She is a sought after social media influencer, and on her thirtieth birthday she is launching a brand new app with her partner, Bobby. Unfortunately, 3 months later, the app is sued with data fraud, and Cat is shunned from her platform. She’s innocent though, and her best friend, Serena, suggests getting off the grid by staying with Cat’s Uncle Terry, at Kannery National Park, in the middle-of-nowhere Montana.

You’ll love Famous for a Living, if you like:
❤️Romance
🏘️Found Family
⭐️Quirky secondary characters (probably my favourite part!)
🌄Beautiful settings
📖Books by Sophie Kinsella

I enjoyed reading this laugh-out-loud novel that addresses the current issue of being addicted to one’s phone through Cat’s internal conflict about why she is an influencer. The story also has some fantastic secondary characters that make for a quirky cast that brighten the frozen Montana tundra and the antics that follow. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with delightful characters and a sweet romance.

Famous for a Living comes out on May 16, and will be a light and charming novel that, despite its wintery setting, will make a perfect beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

In my humble opinion, Ferguson has still not topped The Dating Charade, but this book was super cute! If I didn't before, I definitely want to visit Montana now.

"Famous For A Living" takes a light-hearted look at a rather serious topic - technology addiction. Not having a smart phone until I was 19 or 20 (or a phone at all until I was 18) and not getting social media until I was 19, I was able to enjoy growing up unaddicted to SM and technology and I started out with super strict boundaries so I could own it rather than being owned. In the years since, I've had my ups and downs and know how easy it is to get sucked in. I really appreciate Melissa for tackling this topic and being brave enough to call us all out on our dependence - if not addiction - to phones and social media.

I really liked Cat. Yes, she is a social media influencer who is addicted to her phone, but she wasn't shallow. She was a good friend, she recognized her flaws, & she was willing to try out new things. Mina was super sweet and I think I would like to know her in real life. I grew to like Zaiah and the more open and knowable he got, the more I like him.

There were several moments that had me laughing out loud (one I had to read to my brother) and so many moments that were so sweet!!! Some of my favorites were:

- the moose
- the bonfire
- the cabin dinner with the heat and a super sweet compliment. It was all so cozy and I loved it!

And we can't forget "Mama Bear" Cat. I loved that scene and it was made even better when Mina turned around and gave it right back later that same day! Absolutely brilliant!

The ending was straight out of Hallmark but I like that sort of thing (in small doses, that is) and the epilogue was PERFECTION!!! I would definitely re-read this one. It has moved into second place for best Melissa Ferguson books.

This gem is good food for thought: "Are we meant to know every thought and deed, every traumatic event, and triumph of every person in this world?"

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC, but I sadly did not finish this book! I couldn’t get into it and got to page 100 before I finally gave up.

5 stars

Where Cat Cranwell learns to live her best life.

Watching me start the process of losing those first petals of my youth had been daunting. Terrifying. Until I met Zaiah. And Jax. And Mina. And Kevin. And Peggy. And went to live in a place where people were just too busy living life with the ones they love to worry about such a small thing as skin.

I wasn’t seventeen anymore. I was aging, gracefully albeit, and I was learning to accept it. And for those people who couldn’t, who would leave if I couldn’t meet their impossible standards, then so be it.

"You are without question the best person to cook for."

Initially, I expected this to be a 50% grumpy-sunshine rom-com with lots of witty banter and the rest being Cat's story adjusting in Kannery National Park after a very happening New York lifestyle. Boy was I wrong, in the most pleasant way. This book was Cat's metamorphosis and so fucking warming that I felt wrapped up in a blanket reading it.

Melissa Ferguson did a phenomenal job with the book's characters. Because I didn't only like the MCs but the supporting characters were perfection. Since the first chapter, I loved Serena. She was strong and had a way about her that made me wish to have a Serena in my life. I was a little sad at first to not have more of her in the book, but lo and behold! the author introduced Mina. She was a 180 when compared to Serena but feels like a cosy hug full of fierce loyalty. And I couldn't be happier with it. Mina made everyone's day brighter, including mine.

There is something about books set in small towns that gets me every time. Maybe it's the sense of togetherness and undying support. And even though I didn't realise it till later in this book, but it was all in the book. And most importantly, the message of the book does not only apply to influencers, but the whole generation. It was an eye-opener and healing at the same time and I feel so good after reading it all.

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

I enjoyed this one! Melissa Ferguson knows how to write a fun rom-com that also has a good message within the pages. I love that her rom-coms are not only funny but they also have depth to them.

It did take me a little while to get into this one mostly because I didn’t particularly like the main character in the beginning. That being said, Cat had great character development and I really enjoyed watching her grow throughout the story. I ended up really liking her character! As for Zaiah, he was great! I really liked the “mountain man”. He was perfect for Cat!
I also loved the fun group of side characters— Mina, Jax, Kevin, Uncle Terry, and Peggy. I especially liked Mina. She would be the best friend. And she was hilarious. 😂

I loved the outdoorsy, snowy setting of the book! It was definitely one of the main highlights of the book for me. It’s perfect to read during winter when it’s snowing since the book is set during the winter months and the MC is freezing 95% of the time. It was also just cozy because the characters are living in cabins.

One of the things I really liked about this book is how Melissa Ferguson addressed how addiction to our phones and social media can affect us negatively. I think this topic is so important. Reading about Cat’s struggle with disconnecting from her phone was definitely a reality check for me. It made me seriously think about how often I grab for my phone out of habit when bored, stressed, etc. and how that could be affecting me.
I also wanted to say I appreciate how clean this book is!

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this story! It was just a fun rom-com that made me laugh but also had depth to it. It felt like a really quick read so it’s perfect for when you want something fun and quick to read on the weekend. I think you’ll especially like this one if you enjoy stories with main characters who are famous and characters who have to try things out of their comfort zone.

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

🌲 I am a proud Melissa Ferguson fan and will read any and every thing she writes. I'd read her newspaper articles or jokes written on a napkin. 😂
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🌲 Needless to say, I was excited when I received this e-book from @netgalley and @thomasnelson to read and review!
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🌲 This story definitely has a message, and it's far from discreet. I do think that tech overuse/addiction is a very prevalent and important topic, but it did come off as heavy handed and a little preachy to me. I wouldn't say that there's anything that I disagreed with though.
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🌲 This one also felt quite choppy to me at times - there were several times I had to go back and re-read a section because I either didn't know who was talking, where they were, or just didn't know what was going on. Perhaps that was edited post Net Galley, but that was definitely distracting.
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🌲 The relationships in this one were my fave. I was rooting for the city girl and the mountain man (in fact, I wish they'd been together more!), I loved the bond that Cat formed with Mina, and of course, her quiet, but fiercely loyal and doting uncle. I loved them all and felt like most of their banter and interaction was genuine!
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🌲 One thing that I did NOT realize is the amount of money that an influencer can make through the deals that brands will offer them. 😱 I guess I've just been sheltered here in my tiny space that I had no clue they could make 5 digits with just one brand. So it makes this concept of social media addiction more complicated - it's literally their main source of income. I feel like there's a lot there to discuss, and in that sense, this would make an excellent book club pick!
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🌲 There is no objectionable content in this book or any of her others, and I love her for that 😍 If you enjoy Melissa Ferguson's other books, this one will likely feel a little different, but that's ok! Meet Me in The Margins felt different too and I absolutely adored it!!

I enjoy pretty much everything Melissa Ferguson writes, and I love that her stories have strong female main characters that work through struggles and find a nice guy along the way. HEAs are just fun to read.

Cat Cranwell was actually kinda annoying to me at first, which is perfect to set her up for the struggles and changes she endures. I didn’t relate much to her vast social media present and the need to survive off that type of lifestyle- I can see how this WOULD be very appealing and interesting to many readers though. I did love that she went to a small national park where she had to run social media (much like many social media managers instead of the tons of followers she has) for the park in order to save it for her Uncle Terry. Love that storyline!

While there she is taught to stop being THAT phone absorbed person SO MANY times. I loved it. It reminded me so often of people dancing around in tiktok dances rather than experiencing life in a park (my small digression though).

My favorite scene was the Moose and her babies…I just loved it, hahaha IYKYK!

Of course while at the park, Zaiah, a ranger who interestingly enough is from NYC originally, keeps putting Cat in her place, causing her to rethink her perspective and what is important in life.

Light, quick read, you will enjoy this if you’ve enjoyed her other novels.

2.7 Read
I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't the book for me. I adored her last release and went in with such high hopes. There were a few hilarious moments of this book, but overall I disliked the main character so much I almost put the book down. She does change near the end, but I felt that it was still very superficial.