Anyone who ever thought that maybe the obviously queer characters on a show should finally make out or confess their love only to be disappointed, this book is for you. If you read fanfic because the Hollywood folks would t give you the storyline you deserved, this is for you.
You will love it! Cannot recommend more highly.

Disappointed because this one sounded really good. Too many people name dropped in the first two chapters, even with the cast of characters, I still had a hard time differentiating. Too much telling, not showing. The writing could have been tightened up a lot. Maybe this would serve better as an audiobook.

This is my second book by this author duo and the second time that they lost me roughly a third into the story. They usually have a strong concept and yet their stories always feel very different from what I've imagined from the summary. I find their writing fastidious to read which is not what I should be saying about a romance. I believe that it's decently written but to me, it doesn't flow well enough for this kind of story.

Another thing that is specific to Big Name Fan is the sheer abundance of plot lines it wants to juggle and it was just too many names. Which one is the producer which one is the writer etc...

I used to be very into fandoms, fanfictions the whole thing. I'm sure the authors were big fans of Rizzoli & Isles and other titles and this is a wish-fulfillment romance for a lot of people. Interestingly it takes the stance that in this specific show, the queerbaiting is intentional and cranked up to the max (therefore fans were never delusional due to the lack of sapphic stories in media). The actresses just couldn't talk about it but were fully aware of their chemistry back then.

Who is the Big Name Fan ? It's obvious from the summary and the book doesn't expect you to be too stupid so they tell you one third in. From there it just drags because the mystery is just not that interesting. I understand wanting to have a lot going on in a romance especially thematically but this just ended up muddling the romance that i lost inerest in.

Thank you Netgallley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Big Name Fan” by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare offers an ambitious mix of romance and mystery all while establishing meta-commentary on fandom culture. The premise is captivating: two former co-stars, Bex and Sam, reunite to host a rewatch podcast of their cult TV show Craven’s Daughter, a series that teased a romance between their characters, Cora and Henri, but never delivered due to network restrictions. As they revisit the show, they delve into the mysterious death of a crew member, uncover secrets hidden in fanfiction, and navigate their own unresolved feelings.

The book’s themes are its strongest asset. It thoughtfully critiques queer-baiting in media and explores the power imbalances and exclusionary practices within Hollywood. The inclusion of fanfiction as a key plot device adds a unique meta layer, highlighting the role of fandom in advocating for representation and exploring the stories that networks refused to tell. The podcast setup provides an engaging framing device, and the characters' conversations about representation and inclusion feel relevant and relatable.

Bex and Sam’s dynamic is compelling, and their chemistry—though understated—adds a subtle layer to the story. The book’s exploration of their shared history, their connection to their fictional counterparts, and the tension between their past and present relationships is intriguing. The initial mystery surrounding the death of a crew member is also engaging, drawing you into the story’s first half.

However, too many subplots were being established all at the same time. The plot juggles the murder mystery, podcast drama, rekindled romance, family issues, and the fanfiction subplot, but none of these elements are developed deeply enough to feel fully satisfying. This overload leads to clunky exposition and dialogue that feels forced, as characters explain things to each other they should already know. The romance between Bex and Sam, while sweet, feels underdeveloped and often overshadowed by the many competing storylines.

The pacing also falters, with the second half of the book losing steam as the story becomes increasingly scattered. The resolution of the murder mystery is a bit predictable but still enjoyable.

Overall, “Big Name Fan” has a fascinating premise and is a story brimming with interesting concepts, especially with the metacommentary. I can’t wait to read more from the authors to see how their writing continues to develop in the future.

The book could have been so good, I mean who do not like to read about hot actresses. However, the number of characters and complicated multiple plots makes it impossible to really follow and enjoy the book. Thus, this is not a book I can recommend.

Listen, I was a Tumblr addict, Rizzoli and Isles (and every other potential sapphic pairing fan), I read fanfiction (A03, I see you) and I even edited fan videos on YouTube, set to Skinny Love by Birdy. This book was MADE. FOR. ME. And dang I really wanted it to be.

I did hate it, but I didn't crave it by the end the way I wanted to. The way I wanted to buy it paperback, hard cover and a special edition. The way I wanted to so badly. Who hasn't dreamed of their favorite almost-TV couples doing a rewatch podcast and falling in love (I'm looking at you Eliza and Alycia from The 100).

Overall, I agree with other reviewers—the authors tried to juggle a little too much. Between the murder mystery, the podcast, the fanfiction threads, Bex and Sam’s romance, and the various character backstories, it felt a bit overcrowded. While each element was compelling on its own, none of them got quite enough time to fully shine, which made some moments feel rushed or anticlimactic. There were also a few clunky moments and bits of dialogue that came off a little awkward, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.

Even with its flaws, though, this was a fun and engaging read. The mystery kept me hooked, the Hollywood commentary felt sharp, and the sapphic second-chance romance was such a lovely bonus. If you enjoy queer romances, fandom culture, and murder mysteries, this book still has plenty to offer!

*3.5

The book is cute but I was expecting something more. The mystery is really poor and not well written, but the romance is so good! I love a good second chance romance and Bexley and Sam are so good together I can’t! I was really invested in their relationship, but the mystery just not feel good.

Thank you Netgalley and the published for the arc.

This novel was very interesting. The plot was surprisingly original and creative and wove together a lot of different elements. It wasn’t quite what I expected going in, but that isn’t a bad thing. The writing was well done and I liked the characters. It didn’t quite have that “special something” that would put it up at 5-stars for me, however it was still a solid novel and I would recommend it to someone looking for a novel in this genre.

I really liked how the novel directly addressed and used the world of fanfiction and fandom as a major plot element. Someone working on a show, secretly being a major fanfic writer who is privy to behind the scenes information, that may include hints to a murder, being discussed and investigated in real life by TV detectives? This was awesome. At one point there were several layers of ongoing plotlines woven together that were very satisfying to follow and witness them interact.

There was some excellent commentary on queerbaiting and other bad practices that television and movies tend to employ, as well as the toxic nature of working in these industries. It got slightly preachy at one point, but honestly its something that needs to be discussed more and is a real problem so the novel gets a free pass on that one.

On the downside I found that some elements fell short. There were a few reveals that seemed to come too easily such that they were a bit anticlimactic. The romance was also a bit lighter than I expected, but that might be my fault for expecting more. I liked the romance plotline, but it was secondary to the mystery and action of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

The premise of this book really appealed to me. Two actresses are reunited on a rewatch podcast. Their characters were detectives on a TV show who had a lot of chemistry but the network never allowed them to get together. Through the podcast they try to solve the mystery of what happened to one of the crew members who died during the run of the show, figure out which show insider was writing fanfiction, and see if sparks can finally fly between Bex and Sam alongside their characters Cora and Henri.

I think the authors bit off a bit more than they could chew with this story. There are so many characters, complicated backstories, the stories within the fanfic, stories within the plot of the show, the romance between Bex and Sam, Bex’s sister’s stories, and so on. Because there was so much going on it felt like a lot of the narrative was communicated with awkward info dumps and characters talking in odd ways to deliver exposition that they realistically wouldn’t have to spell out to one another. Because there was so much going on, all the different parts of the story ended up feeling underexplored or anticlimactic.

The plot about the actresses playing these characters and really wanting them to get together romantically but not being allowed to by the network was interesting to follow. The conversations about representation and how upsetting it can be to be queerbaited for years by a show were very relatable. I also appreciated the parts about them pushing back against the way things have always been in Hollywood to fight for safer and more inclusive environments.

All of the different parts of the plot were individually interesting, they just never felt fully developed since so many other things were happening at the same time. I feel like if the authors focused on one part of this story then I would’ve enjoyed it way more. Overall this was a fine read. I enjoy queer Hollywood romances, murder mysteries, fanfiction, and metacommentary. But this didn’t completely deliver.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in February. It's a solid nice queer romantic murder mystery. The mystery bit got me hooked but the intrapersonal relationships material could use a polishing. It's very chaotic and hard to follow.

DnF about 48% in
I wanted to like this. As a HUGE Rizzoli and Isles girly I really wanted to enjoy this, but I just could not get into it. The characters didn't feel believable and I found them incredibly unlikable. I just didn't really care how anything resolved for them. I think maybe I clung too much on queer rizzoli and Isles and I wished I was reading that instead, honestly. The writing style is good, it's clear that the characters were well thought out and consistent they just failed to come to life for me at all.

I was drawn to this book by its intriguing premise—a mix of mystery, romance, and meta-fanfiction about two former co-stars reconnecting during a podcast rewatch of their cult TV show. The idea had so much potential, but ultimately, the execution fell short for me.

There was simply too much going on: the mystery of Jen’s death, the podcast and fanfiction meta-plot, the rekindled romance, and family drama. None of these elements were given enough depth or development to feel fully satisfying, and by the second half, my interest started to wane. The story felt scattered, making it hard to focus on any one thread.

While I enjoyed the characters—Bex and Sam had a great dynamic—their love story didn’t quite capture my heart. It felt overshadowed by everything else happening in the book. The mystery itself was also disappointing; the murderer was an obvious suspect early on, leaving no real twist or suspense.

That said, the book does touch on some important themes, like queer-baiting in media, which added an interesting layer to the story. While it wasn’t as compelling as I’d hoped, it’s still worth checking out for fans of meta-fiction and TV nostalgia.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was a cute story and I loved the characters. I had to take off two stars, however, for one reason - the talking. There was. So. Much. Talking. To the point where entire pages were on characters monologue. I get it’s a book about a TV show and a podcast and all that jazz, but a big part or writing is show, don’t tell. So many of the dialogues needed spacing showing how the characters were talking. That, or they could’ve been internal monologues instead. Overall, great read.
Thank you the NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I honestly loved this book. This is a mystery that has you on the edge of your seat while exploring the gender imbalance and hushed whispers of sexuality in Hollywood with a really lovely sapphic second chance romance. There was a lot going on at once, and sometimes it was hard to follow after picking it up again, but the story was fun and exciting and the romance aspect was an added plus.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC! :)

I had such a good time reading this book.
I loved the characters. They were simple but not flat. I loved seeing the main character finally step up, take a stand, for her and her close one. The love interest is amazing, fierce and strong. I wish we learn a bit more about her. I was rooting for our main couple all the way through the book.
This book was like reading a fanfiction. You take whatever series your enjoying and you can transfer it here.
This book reunites the intrigues of the glamour and secrets of LA with the detective podcasts. And it was really fun to read. Like I said, it felt like reading a fanfiction.
I do wish some plot points had more time. But it was amazing and I definitely would recommend it.

This is a silly, mysterious, romantic delight. For Supernatural fans and Buffy fans and people whose favorite ships never got their happy endings. In some areas, it's a bit cheesy, and there's so much exposition in the first chapter it may turn someone off of it, but it's the kind of popcorn read that is absolutely worth taking a little bit to finish in one sitting.

A finish-in-one-sitting kind of book that does justice to the fandoms and fans it is written for.

This was more mystery than romance, so if you love mystery than I think you'll love it, but if you're going to read it for romance, you may be disappointed. It had great writing and good characters, but just keep in mind if you want more mystery or more romance when you decide to read it.

I have some mixed feelings about this one. I really liked the premise of the book, and the inclusion of fanfiction and mystery elements brought a unique dimension to the story. I found myself very drawn in to the first half of the book by the mystery and enjoyed discovering clues with the characters as they came.

Somewhere in the second half, however, my interest in the book started to drop off a bit. There was just too much going on for me to keep my focus on the clues, the podcast, the romance, the family drama. It was a bit too all over the place.

However, I really appreciated the level of detail and back story put into the characters, the studio, Craven's Daughter, etc. I think if the book had been more focused on just one plotline or goal, such as the murder mystery, the romance, the Big Name Fan, or the revival of the Henri and Cora romance, it would have been a more satisfying read.

In terms of the romance, I liked Sam and Bex's chemistry, but I didn't feel overwhelmed with excitement for their love story's development. I also wasn't as invested in it as I feel I should've been for a book centering around a queer romantic TV show and romance fanfics. The few Henri and Cora romance moments actually appealed more to me than Sam and Bex's.

Overall, this book has some pretty cool elements like the podcast and fanfiction, a sapphic romance, and a murder mystery to be solved. However, with so much going on it is easy to be overwhelmed! 3.6/5 stars rounded up.

This was a bit slow to start and I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading. However I decided to persevere and am very pleased I did. The story gives some insight into the making of a TV series and how fans react to it. I do read fanfic myself so found this quite interesting. One fanfic writer has a big following. The big name fan. No one knows who it is. Bex and Sam decide to try and find out who it is. This discovery leads them to question the death of a friend during the filming of the last series of the show. The story is of a second chance romance between Bex and Sam and their investigation into their friend's death.

I found this book to be a really interesting mix of mystery novel and romance novel, which is not something I have read before. I am a big reader of both of these genres so I was really excited to get an ARC of this book. I feel like Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare did a good job of mixing the two together. I found the book had a really interesting cast of main and supporting characters. Sometimes when the book was referring to events that happened in the past was a little confusing to separate from the current events going on. I did enjoy reading this book, but overall I think it needed a little more editing to create a story that flowed better.