Thanks to HarperAudio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For as long as she can remember, Cleo has wanted to be world-famous. She doesn't really care about much else - certainly not other people, and about her parents only marginally. She is definitely the main character in her story, and everyone else is treated like the lesser mortals she recognizes them to be. At the same time, Cleo suffers from scathing self-doubt, and wonders if she will ever become famous, despite her good singing voice and mastery of guitar and piano. She attempts songwriting but is terrible at it; only her obsessive desire for fame keeps pushing her. Eventually, she leaves France for New York City, where she lives with roommates, one, a young scion to a huge fortune who doesn't have to work (but does), and an aspiring actress, who is beautiful but poor. Cleo feels comfortable with the rich roommate, but feels a combination of rivalry/desire regarding the actress.

Cleo seems to be pretty much a sociopath: she seems to feel mostly disinterest towards her fellow humans, unless they can provide something to her, such as sex, attention, time, advice ... anyone who doesn't have something to offer is met with antipathy at best, and likely sneering derision. A less self-aware MC would be tough to conjure. There are brief flashes of emotion that seem sincere from her, but they are small, and possibly self-serving.

After suffering through this thoroughly unlikeable character, switching between her "island vacation," in which she has to fend for herself, cook her own food, sleep in utter darkness; and her gradual climb to fame and world domination, envy-inducing relationship, etc., we then come to the ending, which reminded me a bit of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. In other words, the ending did not work for me, and it strains the boundaries of credulity. I'm still not entirely sure that I understand it - but it certainly didn't make me like the book any better.

Make Me Famous is a fast-paced and emotional ride that dives into the highs and lows of chasing fame. I really admired the main character’s perseverance—she stuck to her goals no matter what, and it eventually paid off. Watching her rise was both inspiring and addictive.

I also appreciated how she kept in touch with her friends, even as her life started to change. But as the fame started getting to her, we see a shift. She begins the story believing that being kind will take her further… but over time, that kindness fades. Her behavior turns colder and more self-centered, which felt realistic. At first I was confused on why this was in the thriller section but the end had a shock I wasn’t prepared for.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook early! Not only was the book really good, but the narrator had me giggling and rolling my eyes many, many times just because her voice was realistic.
This book is said to be for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and at some points in the novel, yes I agree. However, I don't think that the readers of TJR are the same readers for this novel. The tone is darker and almost haunting compared with TJR. That's not to say that this story isn't as captivating, because holy moly, it was addictive. I will say, I would've liked to hear a TW for self-harm because it did make my skin crawl a bit. That being said, it did add to the enormity and darkness of the FMC's headspace.
That ending? That ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC!

The cover art of Make Me Famous really drew me in and when I saw that January LaVoy was the narrator, I knew I needed to listen to it. January really has a way of sucking you into a story. Her inflection is always spot on and makes you feel the emotions. The character voices differ just enough to be able to tell the difference without sounding forced.

Cleo, an international popstar, is a French American woman that we meet at the age of 32. She's telling us the story of her rise to fame, but she's been telling the story for so long, she doesn't even know what is real any longer. She twists the truth to make a better story.

Let me tell you - Cleo is NOT a likeable character! She's narcissistic, bordering on sociopathic. She mistreats just about everyone in her path and it's downright infuriating. And I'm not going to lie... I almost gave up on the book because I wasn't sure where Maud Ventura was going with it. Trust the process and the author. She knew what she was doing. I definitely plan on getting the physical book because I feel like I missed some things and I look forward to reading it.

TW light self harm

3.5

I love a book that delves into the minds of deeply flawed people, and this one delivers.

Cléo, a French-American, had a childhood dream to become a musical superstar. We follow along as her star rises, and she achieves the super stardom she dreamed of.

We are privy to the world of fame and celebrity, Cléo’s inner thoughts, the hubris and entitlement, following through to the dramatic and shocking ending (that I had to rewind and listen to twice!) of a completely entitled narcissist.

Don’t miss the translator’s note at the end. It’s a compelling look into the art of language and translation.

I appreciated all the nods to real life celebrities, literature, and music. But I prefer an unhinged housewife, as in MY HUSBAND, than an unhinged celebrity. Celebrity lifestyles hold little interest to me.

Still, the author excels at bringing unhinged characters to life, and I look forward to her next book.

January LaVoy narrated the audiobook, and she was fantastic, as always.

* I received a digital audiobook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Make Me Famous, the sophomore novel by French author Maud Ventura, follows the story of Cléo, a young French-American woman who has a beautiful voice and the drive to become a pop star. She’s smart, ambitious, and beautiful — and is also a raging narcissist and bully.

Saying that Cléo is unlikeable is a huge understatement, which will turn many readers off, but I found her awfulness entertaining. (A quote from the great April Ludgate from Parks & Rec kept coming to mind: “She’s the worst person I’ve ever met. I want to travel the world with her.”) Ventura doesn’t write her as a two-dimension villain either; while her terribleness never wavers, she also struggles with perfectionism and the lack of privacy and control that comes with stardom.

I did, however, have some issues with the book. It needed tighter editing and to move forward at a little faster clip. I felt a little bogged down by the lack of momentum in the middle. Also, the ending felt unearned and a little silly.

Overall, I enjoyed Make Me Famous well enough, but I think it suffered from comparison to her first novel, My Husband, which I adored. My Husband had a freshness and boldness that Make Me Famous lacked. I am still a Maud Ventura fan, and I will eagerly await her next book.

This was not my favorite. The lead character was obnoxious at times. I liked the premise but it just was not my favorite.

Oh my God! What a perfect ending! Had me screaming in my car in the Trader Joe’s parking lot… 😂 You should definite get the audio version for the full experience - the accents, the tone - all of the evil really comes through! Highly recommended!

4.5 star book for me! Maud Ventura's 'Make Me Famous' is an intense novel that takes you on a captivating journey into the relentless pursuit of fame.I listened to this book via audiobook and I had a truly fun time immersing myself in Cléo's mind and world.

After reading Ventura's first book 'My Husband' I was eagerly awaiting the release of her sophomore novel. This book did not disappoint! 'Make me Famous' is just as brilliant and twisty as her first!

This novel delves deep into the psyche of Cléo, a French-American academic's daughter with an unwavering childhood dream: becoming a global superstar. The narrative skillfully charts her improbable rise, defying expectations to achieve immense wealth, countless awards, and a life of luxury. It's a fascinating look at the sheer will and sacrifice required to reach the pinnacle of celebrity.

But as the synopsis hints, the real meat of the story lies in what happens when Cléo, now thirty-three, finally takes a break. On a remote island, away from the constant glare of the spotlight, she's forced to confront her past and the unraveling that began just six months prior. This introspective period is where Ventura's writing truly shines, offering an intoxicatingly deep dive into Cléo's complicated mind. We're taken on a whirlwind tour spanning New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and the South Pacific, experiencing the dazzling highs and the isolating lows of her extraordinary life.

If you're looking for a novel that explores the ferocious road to glory and the psychological toll of celebrity, How to Become a Celebrity is a must-read (or listen!). It's a compelling and often uncomfortable examination of ambition, identity, and the price of fame.

I am all about these books about unhinged women told from their POV and The Husband was one of the books that turned me on to this genre. Make Me Famous had the same level of unhinged, but it wasn't all there. Maybe I was expecting more of an ending? Maybe it was lacking some excitement? It was just missing something to make it really stand out. Still a huge fan of Maud Ventura, just not a huge fan of this one.

I had high hopes for this one after loving My Husband, but unfortunately Make Me Famous didn’t quite live up to expectations. It’s a little better than mid—clever in moments, but it didn’t fully click for me. Still, I’m glad I gave it a shot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If you’ve ever wanted to spend nine and a half hours in the head of a crazy French narcissist (maybe psychopath), this one is for you. This was kooky crazy, and I ended up kind of loving it?? Any author than can make you agree and sympathize with a narcissist in one sentence and then going back to being disgusted in the next is a very talented author. I found the audiobook narration to be extremely compelling and as perverse as the main character was, I could not stop listening. She really built to a dramatic conclusion and man, was it a big one. Also, if you are interested in translated works (which you should be), the translators note at the end was one of the most interesting and compelling descriptions of language and translation ever. If you love a crazy woman, our girl Cleo may be the right kind of crazy for you


Thank you to Harper audio and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Maud Ventura does it again.

We follow our protagonist through her rise to fame. She always knew she was going to be famous, it was just a matter of how she was going to get there. Now that she has fame, fortune, everything should could have dreamed of, she takes a vacation to a remote island to have some time alone and recounts her climb to the top.

I absolutely loved this book. It may even top My Husband for me, Maud Ventura's debut novel. The protagonist was absolutely insufferable and I was eating it up. If you like reading the inner thoughts of an unhinged narcissist, this one is definitely for you. 10/10

The narrator was absolutely wonderful. She really brought the character of Cleo to life and I would love to hear more from her

Maud Ventura is back, and this time she's offering us "Make Me Famous" after I devoured her first book, "My Husband." Both books are about an utterly unhinged, narcissistic French woman recounting her story in the first person, and both even have this "mic drop" final scene. You know I'm a sucker for a dramatic finish.

"Make Me Famous" landed at a 3-star for me. Don't get me wrong, Ventura can definitely write these obsessive characters. Cléo, this French/American pop star, is OBSESSED with fame – and herself, of course. The book is pretty much her long monologue from some private island where she's recovering and supposedly writing her next album. And while the whole rise-and-fall-in-the-music-biz thing is there, I just wasn't as captivated by the celebrity world. It sort of felt like a self-indulgent memoir, and to be honest, that's just not really my thing.

January LaVoy narrated the audiobook, and she was, as ever, fantastic. She did such a good job bringing Cléo's over-the-top personality to life that it certainly made the 352-page monologue more tolerable. Despite her fine narration, however, Cléo just wasn't as appealing to me as the unnamed wife in "My Husband". I didn't find her as untrustworthy or as intriguing, so the ending felt almost predictable in spite of the attempted shock value.

Ventura definitely has a knack for bringing these fixated characters to life, and there are some pleasant nods to real-life celebrities sprinkled throughout that I kind of appreciated as a little puzzle. But Cléo at times felt more like a cartoon, and her self-aware narcissism at times felt a little too on-the-nose, taking away from the effect.

If you're more interested in the darker aspects of passionate relationships and the psychology of obsession along those lines, you'll probably like "My Husband" better. If glamour and sleaze of the world of fame and the narcissism that comes with it are more your thing, then "Make Me Famous" might be your cup of tea. Personally, I'll be sure to watch for Ventura's next book, fingers crossed for another plunge into delectably unhinged domesticity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for gifting me a ALC of Make Me Famous by Maud Ventura. In exchange I offer my honest review.

I was thrilled to receive an early audio copy of Maud Ventura’s newest novel having read and LOVED her first novel, My Husband. Make Me Famous was soooooo good. Very similar in style, prose and bold wit we are introduced to Cleo, a young Parisian on the cusp of musical stardom. Cleo has CRAVED fame since her earliest memories, determined and assured Fame is her destiny. Her parents, more academics than a list celebrities don’t really understand Cleo’s drive for stardom yet they support her aspirations as she slowly makes a name for herself. This novel, told entirely from Cleo’s point of view is expertly delivered by audio reader January LeVoy.. I was CONSUMED by Cleo’s antics and musings and DEVOURED this audio in one listen! I absolutely recommend picking up a copy today. It’s sizzling fun!

I love this author's work so much!! Mrs.Maud is able to write such unreliable narrators with heart, and honestly makes you fee for them and their unhinged ways. As always, perfect writing and substance to make you forget you are even reading. Need to get a physical copy asap!!

One thing I really liked about this book was that it gives you an inside view into what it’s like to be a celebrity — including a lot of logistical things that I had never thought of. I will call that part of this novel a “process story” and that, to me, was the most interesting. I absolutely did love the ending and was not expecting it. The main character is completely grating and while I get that is the point of the novel, it would’ve been good to give us at least one character we really, really liked and cared about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this amazing ARC!

4.5 ⭐️. This book was absolutely phenomenal. Mixing the tone from “My Husband” with the cutthroat world of fame and celebrity was a perfect fusion. Listening to Cleo tell her story and casually and rationally talk about all the unhinged and horrible ways she treated people to get to the top, people she back stabbed, and just the experiences of a character with a level of hubris that I’ve rarely experienced. The audiobook enhancing this even more with the wonder narrators ability to nonchalantly say all these things like she’s just telling you about her day. It was a great listening experience and wonderful book.

i loved My Husband so i was really excited for this release! i think if you go into it expecting Daisy Jones and the Six, you’re gonna be disappointed. to me it read more like Yellow Face. i loved to hate cleo, how can someone be so seemingly self-aware yet so delusional? probably will be an unpopular opinion but i loved the ending!! the whole book i was wanting more of her life on the actual beach, but by the end i was pleasantly satisfied.

Maud Ventura’s debut My Husband was phenomenal, but Make Me Famous is on another level—sharp, stylish, and absolutely unforgettable.

This book dives into the mind of Cléo, a world-famous pop star on a solo retreat to work on her next album. But instead of peace and quiet, we get a front-row seat to her unfiltered, obsessive inner monologue—and it’s glorious. Narcissistic, self-aware, and spiraling in the most delicious way, Cléo is a character you won’t be able to stop thinking about.

I listened to the audiobook, brilliantly narrated by January LaVoy, and it brought a whole new layer of intensity and glamour to the story. Her performance was magnetic—every word felt like it came straight from Cléo’s lips, making the experience feel even more immersive.

Ventura’s writing is clever and biting, with moments that made me laugh out loud, pause to take it all in, or want to scribble down a perfectly worded line. I can’t wait to get a physical copy just to highlight my favorite quotes.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @HarperAudio for the advanced listening copy! I’m officially a Maud Ventura fangirl for life.