✨✨4.5/5 stars (rounded down to 4) ✨✨
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ava Wilder, and Random House Publishing/Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Some Kind of Famous releases October 28, 2025! 💖🥰

This is officially my favorite Ava Wilder book… raw, emotional, and full of healing 🫶🏻❤️‍🩹

Some Kind of Famous follows Merritt Valentine as she works through pain, trauma, and growth while building a life in Crested Peak, Colorado. Her contractor, Niko, is a quiet, kind soul and is the steady, compassionate presence Merritt didn’t know she needed. Their connection starts off with a strong insta-love vibe (which isn’t usually my favorite), but as the story unfolds, their relationship deepens in such a moving way. They challenge each other to grow, and watching their emotional walls come down felt so real!

I’ll be honest….. Merritt was hard to connect with at first. She’s judgmental, closed off, and makes some frustrating choices. But once we learn her story and see the work she’s doing to better herself, it really hit for me. She’s in therapy, reflecting, taking accountability and that growth made me root for her hard. Her relationship with Sadie was also a standout. It was protective, heartfelt, and brought much needed awareness to real-world issues that often get overlooked in romance.

One of the most painful (and beautiful) parts of this story was how the characters often couldn’t fight for what they wanted, not because they didn’t care, but because of trauma, fear, and outside circumstances. That broke my heart more than any dramatic argument ever could. It was emotional survival and that made everything feel more grounded and honest.

The book also shines in its mental health representation.. it’s thoughtful, reflective, and deeply compassionate. The characters are self-aware, flawed, and trying, which felt incredibly authentic. There’s also strong and affirming LGBTQIA+ representation, woven in naturally without feeling performative or surface-level ♥️

⚠️ Trigger/content warnings include ⚠️: addiction, past death of a parent, parental abandonment/estrangement, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, abortion, predatory relationships, and discussion of a past suicide attempt. TW list is available on the author’s website as well.

If I had one main frustration, it was with some of the side characters, especially Merritt’s sister, Olivia. While she starts to redeem herself by the end, she was emotionally unsupportive during Merritt’s most vulnerable moments, and that left a mark.

That said, this book is full of heart, growth, and painful but powerful hope. I wanted to sob in the last few chapters 😭

You don’t want to miss this one!! 💖

I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you of much to NetGalley, Ava Wilder, and the publisher for this opportunity! Some Kind of Famous will be available for you on October 28th, 2025.

"No relationship is forever. How long does something have to last for it to be meaningful?"

This was the easiest 5 start rating I have given a small town rom-com.
I ADORED THIS BOOK.
The characters are beautiful, emotionally complex and searching for growth and love and meaning. The town is perfection. As someone who lives in Colorado, the description of the town had me craving the mountain air and a cup of coffee while I look at the mountains!
I adore authors that write book about women who are not the traditional romantic, positive, looking for love type of female main characters. This book follows a character that is very very hesitant towards love, acknowledges that she tends to be either obsessed or detached in relationships, and is actively trying to avoid hurting another partner as she heals. And something about the foundation of this character made me fall even deeper in love with her. She is realistic and I see myself in the flaws that are so openly shared with the reader.
On top of a beautifully flawed female main character, the male main character is also damn near perfection. He is viewed as this strong capable part of the community and we quickly learn that he isn't sure that he is needed by others and to make up for that, he takes on burdens to feel wanted.
And then seeing these two interact and open themselves up to love and each other.
AMAZING. FLAWLESS.

This book is the perfect balance of soft and sweet romance with crazy tension and a huge focus on two people healing individually to grow more together. I cannot recommend this book enough if you're a fan of small town romances.

Was so excited for this one as I love this author’s celebrity romances. The CO backdrop and small town were really charming. I didn’t feel as connected with these two characters but I enjoyed the read

This one felt like being wrapped in a flannel blanket with a side of emotional unraveling—and I mean that in the best way.

Some Kind of Famous is soft, introspective, and quietly tender. Merritt’s a burned-out former pop star retreating to a snowy Colorado town after everything publicly falls apart. Niko’s a steady, kind contractor with major golden retriever energy—but the emotionally intelligent kind, not the chaotic kind. Their connection unfolds slowly, like warming your hands around a mug you didn’t realize you needed.

It’s definitely a slow burn—and while I usually want more early tension or banter, I ended up really appreciating how this story made space for healing, softness, and second chances. The mental health rep felt honest, the small-town setting was peak cozy, and the emotional beats hit hard in that quiet, satisfying way.

Not a flashy romance, but one that stays with you. Thoughtful, a little messy - a good comfort read.

Tropes
- Celebrity x Small-town MMC
- Slow Burn
- Black Cat FMC
- Found Family
- Forced proximity
- Trauma recovery
- Emotional intimacy

Why have I never read Ava Wilder before?! Wow this book just completely melted me! I was in love chapter one with these characters.

4/5
Ten years since her singing career crashed rather spectacularly and two years since leaving behind a failed romantic relationship, Merritt Valentine is still in Crested Peak, the small Colorado town where her twin sister has elected to set down roots. Now with a baby on the way, her sister gives her ample notice that she will need to find another place to live so they can make room. Luckily, Merritt has a property she purchased not long after her arrival in town, however it needs quite a bit of renovating before she will be able to move in on a permanent basis. But getting things up to code will require her to engage the services of one Nikolaos Petrakis, local contractor, jack of all trades, and the man whom Merritt is hopelessly infatuated. I don’t think I’ve fully been captivated by a romance novel as quickly as I did with Some Kind of Famous. Maybe it’s just the setting, and the company of such wonderful characters but I quickly fell in with this on the most extreme level and it’s safe to say the rest of the novel carried it through. What’s so endearing about Some Kind of Famous is the extent it is emphasized that our two main characters are works in progress—two people still figuring life out but scared to reach for love with two hands when things aren't perfect. Fear of the past is a big theme for Ava Wilder, and it imbues an immense pressure on both Niko and Merritt as they pursue a romance. Some Kind of Famous is about finding ourselves after setbacks and not closing ourselves off to connection just because we're scared of trying again. The ups and downs are vast, but this is an exquisite addition to the celebrity romance space. Prepare to fall as hopelessly in love with this one as I did.

This review will appear in full in my "Summer Romance Reads" blog series in late July - early August

This was a good book, I really enjoyed the small town. The story was so much fun and I loved that these people got to together eventually. I love the honestly these characters gave you. How we also got past book characters also. Thanks for letting me read this book

I originally struggled with the third person POV, but the writing was engaging enough that I got used to it after a few chapters. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the storyline. I loved the characters, and the character development was well done. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

This is a very cute read!! So much growth happens, nico is a great MMC, I loved this story! Small town romance, friends to lovers, major growth. Really enjoyed this story!!

I don't have anything too big to say about this one. I've been reading a lot of romance novels with this same general trope, and this one doesn't stick out there too crazy. I had a good time, and that's all I'm ever looking for.

Short synopsis: After a career ending meltdown, former teen pop princess has been laying low in small town Crested Peak CO. She hires a handyman to fix up her old house, and sparks quickly fly.

My thoughts: I adore the way Ava can write a celebrity, that makes them feel like they are just like me… and Merritt was no different. I love how beautifully flawed her characters are, and watching them learn about themselves and grow.

There were a could things towards the end that felt unnecessary and compared to me. And I would have loved more time with Nico’s family in Greece. I did LOVE the cameos from characters of previous books, and there was a great “full circle” moment with Merritt and another rising popstar.

All in all, great writing that kept me wanting to turn the pages!

Read if you love:
* Celebrity romance
* Small town
* Greece
* Complicated family dynamics
* Character growth
* Storms and power outages

Thank you Ballantine for the review copy! I’ve been a huge fan of Ava Wilder’s earlier romances and always recommend them—but How to Fake It in Hollywood and Will They or Won’t They had a spark and emotional lift that I found missing here. While the writing is still strong and the premise held promise, this one felt heavier in tone without the payoff of emotional depth or connection. I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Merritt and Nico—there was intrigue, sure, but not the kind of spark that pulls you in early and doesn’t let go. I have devoured Wilder's past two books but here I felt myself putting the book down and not rushing to get back to it, not really invested in the build up or tension that was unfolding

Merritt felt distant, even from inside her own head, and Nico, while likable, seemed underdeveloped and a bit out of place. Still, Wilder is a talented writer, and fans who are open to a more introspective, slow-paced story may find something here to enjoy.

A small town romance full of steam and sexiness! It was very emotional, romantic and the main characters have you rooting for them the whole way through! Love a famous person-normal person trope - a perfect read for the fall!

Ava Wilder's writing is mesmerizing. This book had me hooked early on with her writing, the witty banter, well-developed characters, and ever developing plot. The appearances by Nora/Gray/Ethan were absolute perfection. This book was well paced and I couldn't put it down.
I do think the trigger warnings should be published in the book, not just the website.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC! Having enjoyed Ava’s previous two celebrity romances, I was excited to dive into her latest release.

While I appreciated her earlier works, this one didn’t quite hit the same mark for me. There were a couple of factors at play: I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, and the romance felt overly rushed. While I respect the book’s focus on mental health, it did feel like Merritt’s personal struggles took center stage, leaving the romance feeling secondary. Additionally, I found Merritt's sister's behavior toward her to be rather off-putting, which impacted my enjoyment.

As for Nikos, he’s undeniably kind, but at times, his overly “nice” demeanor made him feel somewhat dull, lacking the depth I typically look for in a romantic lead.

As a Colorado fan, I did appreciate the small-town setting, which added a cozy vibe to the story. However, despite these positive elements, I found myself a bit disengaged and ultimately bored with the book. This was disappointing since I thoroughly enjoyed Ava’s previous works.

This was the slow-burn of all slow-burns.
The whole “we-can’t-be-together-because-this-would-never-work” trope is so common in romance novels, but this felt different. Merritt’s struggles with her mental health, finding her footing, and communicating effectively with others were so damn frustrating but so relatable. I’ve also never read a romance novel where the FMC and MMC have such in-depth inner conversation. We really get to see inside their heads, how and why they form their thoughts, etc. Hers and Niko’s dynamic was also pretty well-balanced as he was generally very easy-going and understanding of Merritt’s struggles.
You know what I struggled with? Olivia’s damn attitude for almost the entire book. Until pretty much the very end, Olivia seems to always be riding Merritt’s ass about everything, and it was starting to get a bit tired. Eventually, the two sisters have a real, honest conversation and we get to see Olivia’s perspective which helps us to understand her *a little bit*.
I love a small town romance, and, while this didn’t necessarily disappoint, I found myself wanting more fleshed-out side characters and a deeper established connection with the people and the town.
Overall, this was such a deep and meaningful read. A well-fought for HEA. Would definitely recommend.

Ava Wilder’s books have become must reads for me and this is no different! Ugh Niko and Merritt! So heartbreaking and beautiful! Loved their story and how they worked through their issues!

Also, so fun to catch up with Ethan and Grey and learn a little more about Nora.

I wanted more time with Niko and Merritt and their small town!

Can’t wait for whatever else Ava has coming including this release! I look forward to the audio of this one!

I really enjoyed this romance book. Niko and Merritt were an intriguing couple. This was definitely a slow burn but I liked the depth to both of them. I seriously disliked Merritt’s sister, Olivia though. She was so obnoxious.

Ava Wilder has quickly become an auto-read author for me! I just love how she writes chemistry, tension, longing between her characters, how she focuses on messy, complex people who slowly open themselves up to love, happiness, and belonging, how she balances the swoon-worthy with the emotional. And of course, there’s no celebrity romance quite like her books! Her latest, SOME KIND OF FAMOUS, is no different.

The story follows Merritt Valentine, who was once a famed singer-songwriter, and has since escaped to the small, idyllic town of Crested Peak, Colorado, where she lives with her sister Olivia and stays far from the public eye, hoping to heal the pain years in the spotlight have caused her. Life in Crested Peak would be perfect if not for Merritt’s annoying crush on the local contractor and handyman, Nikolaos (Niko) Petrakis. Merritt and Niko couldn’t be more different, and their mutual friends believe that any kind of relationship between them would surely end in disaster. But what will happen when Merritt needs help fixing up a house…and the two of them spark an undeniable connection?

The sparks between Merritt and Niko practically flew off the page! I especially liked their awkward meet-cute scene and all of the moments when they were first spending time together and clearly crushing on each other, but trying so hard not to show it. I also enjoyed how, just like in Wilder’s previous book, WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY, this story follows a more reserved, prickly FMC and a more outgoing, openhearted MMC. I love that kind of dynamic in a romance, and thought it was overall super well-done here! Speaking of her other books, it was also nice to see what some of those characters were up to, like Grey, Ethan, and Nora, as they all made appearances in this one.

That being said, while I was so excited to read SOME KIND OF FAMOUS (and still enjoyed it a lot!), there were a couple of things that stopped it from being a perfect 5-star read for me:
- Trying not to be too spoilery here, but there was a particular third-act romance trope that I don’t love, suddenly introduced.
- Like some other reviewers, I was not a huge fan of Merritt’s twin sister Olivia. I do think closer to the end of the book, we got to see more of her side of things, and how some of what happened to Merritt growing up/how Merritt’s fame in general affected her. That being said, it felt like that came slightly too late in the story and the resolution between them felt a little bit rushed.
- In general, the ending felt kind of rushed to me? It wasn’t handled badly, but most of the book feels like more of a slow burn, while the last 10-15ish percent felt really fast-paced, so that contrast stood out.

Still, I’d recommend SOME KIND OF FAMOUS! While I think WTOWT is still my ultimate fave Ava Wilder book (loved Lilah and Shane!), I really liked this one, and think fans of her writing, and anyone who loves a small-town or celebrity romance, will feel the same way. I’ll miss Wilder’s celebrity romances (this is apparently her last one), but am super interested to see what she writes next! Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for the ARC.

A slow burn that pays off—emotional, angsty, and authentic.

Ava Wilder has quickly become one of my favorite Bookstagram discoveries, and this book only cements that status. The cover is absolutely stunning—one of those you’d want to display face-out on your shelves.

I’ll admit, the pacing in the beginning was a bit slow for me. I struggled to connect with either Merritt or Niko during the first quarter. Merritt’s past struggles were evident, but by the time the story begins, she’s already on the road to recovery. Niko, meanwhile, is the town favorite—charming and well-liked, which made him a bit hard to read at first.

But then, something clicked. Ava Wilder has this way of slowly drawing you in until you’re fully invested. The angst and emotional tension between Merritt and Niko felt real. They both carry a lot of baggage, but the chemistry and connection between them is undeniable—and yes, the spice delivered. 😉

One of my favorite touches was the Nora callout. It was a sweet, subtle nod to previous characters that didn’t feel like fan service—it made sense for the story and worked beautifully.

Merritt’s trip to LA? Absolute chef’s kiss. For reasons I won’t spoil, it hit in all the right emotional ways.

The portrayal of mental health—particularly anxiety and self-doubt—felt authentic and deeply respectful. Ava doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of living with those struggles, but she also highlights the strength in fighting through them.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Ava Wilder, and Ballantine for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5