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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This audiobook had an interesting structure, in that it was structured like a celebrity memoir. The main character is narcissistic and unlikeable, but I found myself invested in her rise to stardom. The writing was smart and evocative, and I loved how it explored the psychological toll of fame. It focuses on character depth over a big dramatic plot and reminded me of a darker, more literary version of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. If you’re into character-driven stories and don’t mind an unlikeable narrator, this is worth picking up! Please be aware of the CW, including an eating disorder and self-harm.

ARC REVIEW (5/13/25): make me famous by maud ventura 🌟 an addictive, intense novel about the brutal and ferocious road to glory.

this is a character study of a sociopathic woman’s fight to become famous while being adored by the world. all the while, she’s horrible to everyone she works with, is friends with, and dates. I was thoroughly entertained while living inside the mind of cleo, our fmc- as I read 80% of this in one sitting. don’t even get me started on that ending… I’ve never clutched my pearls so quickly.

🎤 some of the celebrity scenes seemed a bit too on-the-nose and overly referential to current pop culture. from cleo claiming that malibu (originally by miley cyrus) was her own, to the music video featuring her shetland sheepdog running through the fields- it just didn't sit right with me. the direct references took me out of the story, even though the novel later addresses them as “inspired by.”

in the blurb, make me famous is pitched for fans of daisy jones and the six… but I disagree 🎵 if you enjoyed litfic stories like honey by isabel bantas or perfume & pain by anna dorn, this is the book for you!

getting famous is one thing. staying famous is another. thank you harper audio for the early copy 🎥 4 stars!

The book was a bit of let down for me, I felt the story was too repititive and lacked the spark of her previous novel. Loved the audio narration though!

A wild trip through the making of a world famous superstar. Great ending! Thank you to the author and publishers for this ARC

A sociopathic and narcissistic French American woman will do whatever it takes to make it as a popstar!

Clèo has dreamed of becoming a famous singer her whole life and is determined to succeed at all costs. Once she achieves her goal, she is determined to stay relevant. From her first vacation alone on a remote island, thirty-three-year-old Clèo details her rise to stardom in a long monologue. But it soon becomes clear she is a bit unhinged. Culminating in a shocking ending, Maud Ventura’s Sophomore novel exposes the secrets of stardom and the price one pays for it.

I did it again…I just couldn’t help myself! I was going to skip this book, but when the audiobook became available on NetGalley and I saw that January LaVoy voiced the narration, I just HAD to read it! Ventura’s first novel, “My Husband” received 5 stars from this reviewer, so I took the gamble.

January LaVoy NEVER disappoints! Thanks to her fabulous narration, I was able to plow through this 352-page monologue. As in “My Husband,” “Make Me Famous” includes an unhinged unreliable narrator and a mic drop ending. While I enjoyed this book, it didn’t work as well for me as her first. I didn’t find Clèo quite as intriguing and unreliable as the nameless wife in “My Husband,” which led to a lack of twists and a bit of predictability in the final scene. However, the ending is mostly satisfying and will appeal to thriller readers.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 5/13/25

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC of Make Me Famous in exchange for an honest review.