Loved this book. Loved the narrator’s voice, she was so raw and honest. I felt the audiobook narrator did a good job portraying that.

I have no complaints about this book. I will be reading more from this author.

Cléo was perfectly unlikable in the best possible way. A true narcissist through and through, and what a ride it was to be trapped in her head. Maud Ventura does a phenomenal job crafting a character who is both infuriating and fascinating, making it impossible to look away. I enjoyed every bit of the toxic introspection, the ego, the chaos, and that ending had my jaw on the floor!

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Maud Ventura returns with a cheeky and absorbing sophomore novel that is equally funny and cruel. Gretchen Schmid’s translation is perfectly nuanced and Maud’s attention to detail is chef’s kiss. Most importantly, the conclusion is breathtaking and everything that I hoped for (especially after My Husband iykyk). I highly recommend Make Me Famous, the audiobook narration is superb.

I’m not going to lie, the first 100 pages or so I didn’t see the vision. But I really shouldn’t have question the mastermind that is Maud Ventura. I was a fan of her first novel and will continue to be a fan after this one.

Cleo is the girl we love to hate. She’s absolutely a control freak and will do anything to gain fame, but most importantly to keep it. I love an unhinged woman doing unhinged things.

The narrator was absolutely fantastic and I’m so glad that I picked the audiobook version. It was so binge worthy I ended up listening to it in one sitting.

Thanks as always NetGalley for the arc!

Long live literary crash outs!!! Long live books about women being absolutely unhinged!!! This one was brimming with passion, nastiness, obsession, and madness, and the lines between all of those blurred in the best, most chaotic way.

This is a story about a woman doing whatever it takes to get, and stay, famous. Cleo is sociopathic, narcissistic, cold-hearted, and completely deranged—and I loved every second of it. I was screaming, cringing, gasping, and even swooning (at some parts). And that ending??? Maud Ventura didn’t close the story… she slammed it shut, and I was left reeling! (in the best way!)

If you’re a fan of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, or maybe even Yellowface, you’ll probably love this too. It’s biting, dark, and hypnotic. HOWEVER! I’m knocking off a star because the 10–30% section felt a little repetitive and stagnant. The buildup to fame had me feeling like I was stuck on a roundabout. But once we got through that? The story took OFFFF!

⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings before diving in—there are several intense scenes involving self-harm that I wasn’t aware of going in. ⚠️

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

the narrator to the audio was so good! She made me enjoy it even the book even more. I did give the audio an extra star for that. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

5/5 — Clever, Cutting, and Completely Addictive

Make Me Famous was everything I hoped for and more! Cleo is one of those complex, messy characters I couldn’t look away from—even when I wanted to. Being inside her head was such a ride, and Maud Ventura captures that inner spiral so brilliantly it made me both wince and cheer.

Ventura’s writing is razor-sharp and darkly funny, with just the right amount of bite. If you loved My Husband, this is a no-brainer—you’ll devour it. I binged this in two sittings (or should I say listenings?), and the audiobook was absolutely stellar. The narration added even more nuance to Cleo’s unraveling and made the entire experience feel voyeuristic in the best way.

This is the kind of literary fiction I’m always searching for: tightly focused on one character, morally murky, a little unhinged, and beautifully written. Make Me Famous gets it exactly right.

Highly recommend for fans of character-driven fiction, flawed narrators, and anyone who enjoys watching a trainwreck in slow motion—especially when it’s this deliciously well done.

I had heard this compared to Daisy Jones so I was intrigued but it was far from that book and a faulty comparison. I didn’t like the main character at all and I feel like, quite literally, some things in this story got lost in translation. I found it disconnected and I just kind of wanted it to be over by the end. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Thank you HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC of Make Me Famous by Maud Ventura. Narrated by January LaVoy, who is absolutely phenomenal in anything she narrates! Publishing May 13th.

Cleo is a bat shit crazy narcissist who is obsessed with becoming famous. If you like books with a as*hole MC you’ll hate then this one’s for you. Do yourself a favour and please don’t skip the epilogue - you can thank me later lol
Overall I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to check out My Husband by the same author.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio Arc copy of this book. I loved it. Five stars. The main character is so bitchy, full of herself, and , she doesn't like people. I loved it.

I was so excited to read this book after DEVOURING My Husband earlier this year. Maud Ventura sure knows how to write an absolute freaking psychopath, and I’m here for it. This take on the rise-to-fame novel is distinctly her own in style and voice, and especially considering it is a work in translation, I love how strongly that voice comes through. If you enjoyed My Husband, there’s a strong chance you’ll like this too. I think some will say it is too similar, while others will appreciate it for being exactly what they expected and hoped for, which is more of what we got in her first novel. Another great audiobook performance from January LaVoy - her delivery of some of these lines left me gasping. I love a memorable dedication page and this one is *chef’s kiss* 🐥

STRONG content warning for self harm!

Fascinating view of fame; I was truly hooked, and found myself thinking about this long after I was done. Maud Ventura is one of my favorite discoveries of the last few years. This was fabulous - just dark and twisted enough. I both listened to and read this book, and enjoyed both formats. Still reeling from that ending weeks later.

𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝘣𝘺 @maudventura_ 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘺 @gl_schmid 💋 𝙿𝚄𝙱 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝟻/𝟷𝟹

Writing-wise, totally what I wanted & expected from Maud. The more translated lit I read the more I notice nuances in source languages—this is a beautiful example of seamlessly translated French lit. The snide (& HILARIOUS) remarks, teetering on the cusp of its Overton Window, transitions from one mindset to another coming on so subtly it’s jarring (in a good way). Ahh I just love Maud’s writing. Reminiscent of a French Anna Dorn 🤌🏼

The ending though... AGH I’m torn. I’ll leave it at that for spoiler’s sake.

Specific to audio—well no, I first want to applaud Maud for the strength of her writing. Sometimes when a character has this sort of tone, audio enhances the vibes bc you can hear the attitude & pettiness in their voice—MAKE ME FAMOUS didn’t need it. @januarylavoy does a fantastic job, I’m not negating that! As to be expected w her stellar & SO varied backlist (GOOD DIRT, HOME IS WHERE THE BODIES ARE, THE 24TH HOUR). MAKE ME FAMOUS is just one of the few novels that doesn’t need propping up by its audio.

MY HUSBAND (the novel, lol) has a special place in my heart being the first translated lit that truly fooled me enough I was under the impression its source language was English—I kid you not it was on my Translated Fiction shelf for months before I realized 😅

Thank you times a bizillion to @harperviabooks for this stunning final copy & @poppykinglipstick lipstick 💄 I am 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 to have been able to read early (w/o having to fight my son for my kindle the entire time). I cried when I opened this, & crying with red lipstick on felt v strange. But for the record, it did stay put 💋

{PS I do notttt take myself as seriously as this pic—according to my husband—might imply. But how can I get such a 🔥 gift & not give it some time to shine 🤭}

Just an insufferable protagonist that is overinflated and thinks she is the best musician. I read this authors fist novel which I loved. This just did not resonate with me. I did an immersive read and the narrator did a great job. I will sure give this author another try. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read.
3 star

I loved My Husband by Maud Ventura, so I was thrilled to get my mitts on an ARC of Make Me Famous and it did not disappoint.

Wow! This was such an entertaining deep dive into the mind of a truly appalling character. Ventura does an incredible job crafting a protagonist who's as fascinating as she is repulsive. I love how unapologetically exposed her worst traits are; there's something both horrifying and irresistible about watching her unravel. It is a smart, compelling, read that leaves you squirming in the best way.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my opinion.

I enjoyed “My Husband” by Maud Ventura and was happy to read her newest book. I rate it 3.5 stars because while the writing is sharp and the pacing good, I just couldn’t find myself too invested in the silly, narcissistic, megalomaniac main character, Cléo. Her foibles and machinations as she forced her way to infamy were definitely memorable. The last half felt pretty long and meandering and what an ending! I was not expecting that.

January LaVoy totally nails the narration of the audiobook, with that same excellent quality she narrates all books I have read with her featured.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, that was unhinged AF—in the best way possible. Cleo, the main character, is completely unlikable, borderline delusional, and honestly kind of exhausting… but I couldn’t stop reading. There’s something so gripping about the way the story unravels. It’s messy, chaotic, and addictive. I found myself constantly wondering where it was all going, and needing to know how it would end. The ending wasn’t what I expected at all, but it totally fit the unhinged vibe of the book.


The narrator does a superb job at capturing Cleo’s character.

I loved listening to this. It told the story of the rise of Cleo as she became famous and what her life was like when she became a famous singer. This book peeled back the curtain and gave us an inside look at what is like being a famous person. While some of it is nice and fun- money and free stuff. Some of it is not- the grueling work schedule and paparazzi. Cleo was not a very likeable character but I just found her and the story so entertaining. If you like celebrities, the entertainment industry, and fun stories pick up this book.

In Make Me Famous, Maud Ventura crafts a dark, compelling portrait of a woman consumed by her desire for fame. The novel follows Cléo Louvent, a 33-year-old global pop star, as she retreats to a remote island to escape the pressures of celebrity and confront her past. Told through Cléo’s introspective and often chilling voice, the story peels back the glamorous veneer of stardom to reveal the manipulative ambition, emotional toll, and isolation that often accompany success.

Ventura’s writing is sharp and immersive, blending psychological depth with biting social commentary. As Cléo rewrites her own narrative, readers are left to question the cost of becoming famous—and whether it was worth it. A provocative and timely novel, Make Me Famous is a fascinating exploration of identity, power, and the dark side of fame.

The way I screamed when I saw Maud Ventura had a new book coming out. Her debut novel My Husband quickly made it to my favorites shelf so her latest Make Me Famous was a quick add to my TBR!

Meet your narrator Cléo who shares with the reader an unfiltered inner monologue on her obsession and rise/fall to fame. The reader will find her narcissistic and unlikeable which Maud writes well. The ending was just as much of a jaw dropper as her first was! I enjoy a celeb vibe and this one read like Cléo’s memoir which really worked for me. I did start out reading this on my ereader and then switched to the audio which I thought was really well done narrated by January LaVoy and highly recommend!

Thank you Harper Via and Harper Audio
Releases 5/13

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