A famous Instagrammer has her life implode in NYC, and finds herself living in rural Montana. Cat has turned to the only father-figure in her life, her uncle, to escape the spotlight. Her online social skills soon become the park's savior as Cat rebuilds her followers drawing interest from tourists.

Famous for Living is a young women's journey to find her joy without giving up herself. Cat is thoughtful, kind and addicted to the reactions of every post. Slowly, she learns to not be concerned about every "like" and "comment." Cat finally looks-up to see not only what's she's been missing but a man, Zaiah. He's a total sweetheart.

The cabins, snowy mountains, and wildlife make this an amazing setting for a coming of age, romance. Shout out to the secondary cast - Uncle Terry, Cat's BFF Serena, Mina and Kevin.

The author has also shared the positives and negatives of social platforms in meaningful way in this story..

Thank you Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy.

I was excited to read this book based on the cover! However, based on the cover I was expecting more of a rom-com when the book was more of a personal growth journey for the main character. The main character Cat goes from a social media influencer with millions of followers to working at her uncles small National park. The aspect that I did enjoy about the book was the reminder of the dangers of social media can have on a person and sometimes you need to unplug. I wish romance played a larger role in the book. Thank you NetGslley for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

Famous for a Living was quite enjoyable!

This novel was more a story of self discovery than of a romance; I wish it had been marketed differently! As many reviews mention, I was left waiting and hoping for a romance that was not showing itself. It's also safe to say this book was clean (which is fine), but there were also not many moments between the leads that showed any chemistry at all.

On the note of self discovery, I did love how Cat was overcoming phone and social media addiction, as that seems like such a relevant issue nowadays and definitely applicable. Cat made progress while staying true to herself, and I was kept interested in her story!

If you love a camp or cabin setting, the author does a great job transporting you to Kannery National Park. I loved her Uncle Terry and the other workers from the park, they added a lot of the wit and charm to the story.

This book did publish last month and this is a late review, but 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 the eARC!

The first chapter immediately draws you in. It was so fun reading this book. The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Meet Me in the Margins was one of my favorite books of 2022, and I was excited to get the chance to listen to Melissa Ferguson's latest novel, ⁠𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈. I am delighted to say that I absolutely loved it! Once again, Melissa knocked it out of the park! This storyline was so unique and had me hooked from the very beginning. It had me rooting for Cat, Zaiah, Kannery Park, and the sweet cast of characters. The characters are all so charming and lovable. I loved the opposites attract trope, and Cat and Zaiah embodied it perfectly! Cat is the epitome of social media queen, even though she has fallen from grace. Zaiah is her opposite. He is as anti-technology as it gets with his flip phone and a zero-tolerance policy for anything viral. The overuse of cell phones and social media throughout the plot rang true to life. Without being overbearing, it was an excellent eye-opener to how much time we waste scrolling through social media. It highlighted the real-life consequences of cancel culture and how social media can negatively affect our lives. The message was perfectly wrapped up in a hilarious romantic comedy with laugh-out-loud moments and a sweet, feel-good romance. And the ending…Oh, so perfect! I highly recommend this book to my romance-loving friends!

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas Nelson for this ARC!

This was a cute story. An influencer bascially gets cancelled and secludes herself to Montana to get away from the public eye for a little bit. I liked Cat a lot and I appreciate her character growth. All of the others were super likable as well. This was a quick, cute read.

This is a cute book! Cat is a very successful influencer until she gets cancelled due to a business partnership gone wrong. To get a break from the public eye, she heads to Montana where her uncle is a park ranger. Along the way, she discovers herself and falls in love with a local guy. Famous for a Living has a cute plot line, but it also delves into our phone and social media addictions and includes some tips at the end for how to help.

This book just made me happy.

I guess I need to say more so what I like about this book for me is that there is no spice, that it made me laugh out loud, that it had an entertaining group of secondary characters (whether they were the rich and famous or the junior ranger variety), and that it had a sweet romance.

I think that my favorite part is that this book had characters in which life wasn’t always perfect but they made it perfect for them.

The main character, Cat, is a New York Instagram influencer that becomes down on her luck and has goes to work for her Uncle Terry. (The beginning of each chapter has a very fun IG post.)

She becomes the social media director for a very tiny Kannery National Park in Montana.

Cat lives a real different life in Montana. She tries some new activities like the Polar Bear Plunge and even participates in the 10th Annual Skijoring Race (go look that one up). There is also a ranger named Zaiah who is very different and yet also quite similar to Cat.

I enjoyed the energy of this book and honestly everything Melissa writes.

I adored MEET ME IN THE MARGINS last year, so I was super stoked to get a copy of Melissa Ferguson’s newest! FAMOUS FOR A LIVING follows a social media star who has a fall from grace and moves to a mountain town to regain her footing.

🏔️ Montana setting 🙌
📱 There are fun Instagram pictures at the beginning of every chapter, which helps you visualize what Cat is posting for her followers
🌲 I really liked the storyline of Cat trying to help save Kannery National Park and put them on the map
📱The story touches on social media addiction and how to make healthy changes if you are becoming too attached
❤️ Slow-burn romance between Cat and one of the park rangers

FAMOUS FOR A LIVING is a feel good story with characters who have depth and make growth along the way.

I listened to this book and really enjoyed it! The narrator was fantastic!

I feel like Cat’s character was done so well. But Zaiah was my favorite. At first I thought he was just someone who didn’t like social media and all that comes with it just because. When you find out his reasons and I liked how it opened Cat’s eyes too.

All of the characters at the state park were so fun! I loved their connection and how it felt like you really got to know them all and their personalities.

I thought the end was going to make me sad for a little bit (don’t go, Cat!) but love that the best friend came through and helped create a HEA.

Cat's fall from grace as a social media influencer was swift after a deal gone bad (listen to your advisors please!). Because of her situation her BFF convinces her to sublet her apartment (to the BFF, grateful that didn't turn out to be a shady deal) and go stay with her uncle at Kannery National Park and take on a job there.

Cat ends up finding her self at Kannery National Park, she does things she thinks she can't/shouldn't do (a ropes course, hiking, etc) and realizes how much she likes that side of herself. She still misses the social media influencer side and the book is about Cat finding herself and revamping her own social media image to hit the new niche that she ends up loving.

Famous for a Living wouldn't be complete without the cute and slightly grumpy ranger Zaiah. Zaiah wants nothing to do with social media, and has some legitimate complaints about it,. But Zaiah and Cat are still attracted to one another and the opposites attract trope works very well here.

This is the second book that I have read recently which addressed the downfalls of social media and i loved it. Sure there is some romance but that is not the mission of the story. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was cute and I loved the nature aspect. The only part that I didn’t necessarily love is how much of a slow burn it was. They have a cute relationship and I loved how it developed but it was definitely slow. I also liked how both of them had to grow together.

After her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, influencer Cat Cranwell needs somewhere to lay low. She accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him at Kannery National Park, Montana - about as off the grid as you can get. What she didn’t expect was to fall for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger who hates everything related to social media - quite possibly, her included.

I loved the characters in the park office and the beautiful setting of this book! I especially loved the older adult characters(as I tend to!).

The journey of saving the park from being absorbed by the more popular park in the area was heartwarming - their efforts were like a love letter to nature, and helped Cat become more comfortable in the wilderness and away from the internet.

I appreciated how this book dealt with the addiction to being connected at all times, and letting go of the constant need to check your phone in favour of seeing the world around you. I didn’t love that Zaiah’s reasons for hating phones and social media was what changed Cat’s perspective so quickly, because I think she was getting there on her own.

Overall, this was pretty enjoyable!

Melissa Ferguson's "Famous for a Living" is a delightful and heartwarming novel that takes readers on a charming journey of self-discovery. The story follows Cat Cranwell, an influencer who loses it all after an app partnership goes wrong. Her uncle Terry offers her a job working as a social media strategist for a small national park in Montana and she accepts.

Enter Zaiah Hudson, the rugged park ranger who stays far away from social media. you know what happens next! This book is more about the discovery and and growth that Cat experiences than the romance, but it is still really nice and will leave you smiling.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC - Famous for a Living is out now!

This was such a fun and easy read! Loved the unique plot and the characters. Highly recommend this one to romcom lovers

When scandal causes social media influencer Cat Cranwell to lose all her influence, she takes refuge in her uncle’s world in the wilds of Kannery National Park in Montana. Not only must she face blizzards, beyond rustic accommodations, and a polar plunge, Cat must learn to live IRL. To further complicate her situation, there’s Zaiah—the handsome ranger who despises social media and all that Cat’s lifestyle stands for. Will she wilt without the dopamine hits of all those likes and shares, or will she find the courage to finally be herself?

This cautionary tale is told with imagination and humor. A fun summer read!

This title is a breath of fresh air! With a little bit of romance packed in with an important life journey, it hits all the right spots. Cat is a social media star but when her work partner is accused of financial crimes, she escapes to a national park in Montana. What we all dream of doing!
Will Cat be able to handle this life without luxuries?

This was fine. It was cute but not outstanding. It never held my full attention- I almost DNF’d but thought maybe it would get better.

**I only will not add to my classroom library because this is an adult novel and not entirely appropriate for teens**

THANK YOU @netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for this digital ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

There was a lot to enjoy here - the reliability of Cat's influencer lifestyle, the friendships and "found family" trope, as well as the overall sense of adventure you have while reading.

I think if this book hadn't been marketed as a romance I would've enjoyed it a lot more. As it was, I was expecting romance and got women's fiction "find yourself" with a romance back burner.

Cat and Zaiah's romance was minimal. They didn't even kiss until almost 90%. This was a SLOWWWWW burn, but ultimately the chemistry wasn't there. Then, the last 10% was a last-ditch effort to showcase the grand gesture, swoony effect many other romcoms have, but it ultimately fell short.

If this was a women's fiction, bordering social commentary, incredibly funny novel with amazing female friendships that also comments on influencer culture, social media, and how phones are changing us, this would've been perfect. Honestly, the romance killed it for me, particularly because I was looking for it.

Also - don't let the cover fool you as I did. This book is set in winter.