This was an interesting book….more of what I’d consider a popcorn thriller with some really wild twists & turns. The lyrical Easter eggs throughout were a fun addition & something unique to this book. I’m a huge Swiftie and this reminded me of so many things Taylor related. It was a good book but I will say it was executed a little awkwardly. I’m not sure if it’s because it was written by 2 authors or not. All in all I did enjoy it. It was a unique read for sure.

I loved this! This follows pop star Harlow Hayes, who is accused of two separate murderers with lots of similarities. This was so twisty and fun. I loved how it was mixed with media, transcripts, and social media posts.

𝚁𝚞𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 by The Mancaruso Sisters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I swallowed hard, not wanting to imagine what she’d think of me if she knew the truth. “Well, I’m a big believer in the phrase ‘The truth will set you free.’” She shrugged. “So take from that what you will.”

This book captivated me from the very beginning… the deeper Naomi dove into the Harlow Hayes investigation, the more hooked I became. I wouldn’t say I fell in love with the characters or that they were really relatable… but I was definitely invested in their stories. The Mancaruso Sisters did an amazing job of keeping me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where the next piece of the puzzle fits.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the Mixed Media…. This book incorporated
* Social Media Posts
* Comments
* Tabloid Articles
* Song Lyrics
* Reporter Notes
* Text Messages
* Video/Interview Transcripts
* Magazine Articles
* Detailed murder board
* Etc.

Publication Day = Oct 7, 2025

#rumoured #comingsoon #bookreview #booksandhappy #netgalley #arc #giftedcopy #themancarusosisters #thriller #fameandfortune #mixedmedia #thriller

Rumoured, the debut novel of the Mancaruso sisters, is the perfect read for those who are drawn to celebrity gossip and thrillers. When pop star Harlow Hayes is charged with a double murder, celebrity gossip writer, Naomi Barnes is assigned to the story. In order to investigate the story, Naomi must face returning to the East Coast and the painful memory of losing her younger sister Faye. As Naomi delves deeper into the case she begins to make revelations that change her perspective of life as she has known it.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and the use of first person narration, song lyrics, magazine articles, and online comment sections to tell the story. The authors took a lot of time to weave the mystery together and even added Easter eggs throughout the pages. I was able to guess a few of the twists, but still found it to be entertaining. The ending felt a little rushed to me and made it hard to continue to suspend reality in order to accept some of the more unrealistic plot points. I look forward to seeing what this writing team comes up with next. This was a well written and creative popcorn thriller.

I am obsessed with this book!! This one hooked me from the very beginning, and my intrigue only grew the more I read. When pop star Harlow Hayes is arrested for murder, celebrity journalist Naomi returns to New York to cover the case for her company.

I absolutely loved going down the rabbit hole of Harlow Hayes. The inclusion of social media posts, news articles, interview transcripts, song lyrics, etc. was absolutely brilliant and allowed me to be right in the thick of investigating alongside Naomi. She’s such a relatable character, and her internet sleuthing discoveries really highlight today’s parasocial relationships found online. All in all, this is a great read! Definitely recommend!!

This book was so good that I read it in one day. A celebrity reporter is writing about a celeb accused of murder. Throughout the story, there were social media posts and news stories that added to the storyline and allowed the reader to feel like they were inside the story as a character. The characters are relatable. I enjoy how the main character maps out everything and provides an insight into her thoughts. I felt like I was standing right there trying to solve everything.

3.75✨ A fallen pop icon. A murder trial. A reporter chasing the truth. Rumoured had me hooked from the start. This was a fast, bingeable read with some solid twists that kept me curious until the end. While a few moments stretched believability (and I had to suspend some judgment), the story still delivered on entertainment and suspense.

If you're into pop culture scandals and true crime energy, this one’s worth picking up!

Ok I honestly almost DNF this book. About halfway through I thought I had it all figured out and was getting a bit bored. However, I powered through and I’m so glad I did. I did not see that big twist coming! I could have done without some of the graphic details, but overall I ended up enjoying this book and I’m glad I stuck with it!

Such a fun read. Had lots of great music industry references. Make we really wonder if something like this has happened before.

Harlow Hayes seems to have it all—fame, success, beauty, and a seemingly perfect life as a global pop sensation. But the glamorous facade crumbles when she’s arrested for not just one, but two murders. The media frenzy explodes, and at the center of it is Naomi, a top reporter for C*Leb News, who’s determined to get the exclusive scoop. As Naomi digs deeper into Harlow’s case—visiting old haunts from her own past and confronting personal tragedy—she starts to unravel not just the mystery surrounding Harlow, but the dark thoughts plaguing her own mind. As the lines between truth and illusion blur, Naomi must ask herself: Is Harlow truly guilty, or is there something even more sinister Naomi is afraid to uncover?

Rumoured by The Mancaruso Sisters is instantly captivating. From the first page, I was pulled into a glittering world of stardom, obsession, and scandal. Harlow’s arrest kicks off a whirlwind of drama, and Naomi’s journey to uncover the truth is filled with suspense, twists, and emotionally layered moments. The integration of real-life celebrities and pop culture references made the story feel strikingly authentic, as though it could unfold in today’s headlines.

The plot is sensational in the best way. The pacing is strong and consistent, giving just enough information to keep readers hooked while still delivering unexpected turns. The characters are particularly impressive—they evolve with the story, slowly revealing flaws and dualities that make them feel real and relatable. Watching their personas shift from surface-level charm to something more complicated and human was one of the story’s most compelling elements.

The only aspect that pulled me out of the experience at times was the narrative structure. Shifts in tense and perspective occasionally felt disjointed, likely due to the collaborative writing style. While this didn’t ruin the story, it did create minor moments of confusion and disrupted the otherwise strong narrative flow.

Rumoured is a thrilling, character-driven mystery wrapped in the glossy yet gritty world of fame and media. With its smart use of pop culture, gripping plot, and emotionally complex characters, this book is a standout for readers who enjoy fictional crime, thrillers, suspense, celebrity intrigue, and murder mysteries that keep you guessing until the end. An advance reader copy of Rumoured was provided by NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus, and authors Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion in any way. Rumoured is scheduled to be published on October 7, 2025.

Thank you so much for letting me read an advanced copy! I really enjoyed this book!! I was interested from the start just by looking at the cover and then the description. Harlow Hayes is a pop star like the ones we know and love but I also really enjoyed that she exists in the same world as them. Naomi is a likable character that you’re rooting for to crack the case. The twists and turns of the book keep you guessing but when it all comes together you get the big ah ha moment you were hoping for! I’d recommend this for my students to read as it’s not too dark and the pop culture keeps it relatable. Thanks again!

This is a really good 5 star read! It’s the story of a pop star at the height of her career that gets caught up in multiple murder accusations and the drama that ensues… It’s messy, but so, so good! Told from the point of view of an investigative reporter, I loved the narrative mixed with articles and posts as the reporter does her research. 5 stars!!

Rumoured is a story that reminds me of a modern day version of Face Off with Taylor Swift, and I LOVE the movie Face Off!
I enjoyed the depth the authors took with the character of Harlow and the creation of the track lists and albums. The Easter eggs hidden throughout gave me the Taylor vibe.
A very unique story and a suspenseful, thrill up until the very end!
Thank you NetGalley. All comments and opinions are mine.

Oh, my gosh! What an incredible story! I did have to read a few chapters to get into the story, but it was worth the continued read through.

One of my favorite things about this novel is the unique storytelling that is portrayed to readers by blended a journalist’s perspective with article, interviews, and social media posts. In doing so, the reader has a chance to feel like they are involved in the story.

Now, the question that I sometimes wonder about is the relevance of references in the story. For example, Taylor Swift and COVID are both brought up in the book. How will the current topics of today portrayed in this story hold out years afterward? Is that a something the authors have considered?

Sadly this fell a little flat for me. The story follows a journalist of an online celeb news outlet who returns to New York to cover a high profile murder case, where a beloved singer stands accused of murder. I clocked the twist in the first third of the book and found Naomi, the journalist, pretty much insufferable… Even though this book wasn’t my cup of tea in the end, I read it in basically two sittings as the prose was easy to digest, but I’m afraid the ”thrill” of a thriller was missing for me — but as someone who reads a lot of thrillers I’m thinking this is more of a me thing.

While this book wasn’t for me, anyone who likes contemporary books about celebrities having their pretty lives unfurled to the public and showing the ugliness under the covers, and who perhaps is just getting introduced to thrillers might just find their next binge read in this book!

Investigative journalist Naomi Barnes working for C*LEB magazine, gets a gets a juicy assignment when a famous pop star is accused of murder. Following down the story and it's many entangled threads, Naomi finds some interesting leads and the story gets personal as she puts her reputation on the line for her findings. The story is well crafted and has several twists and an ah ha moment I thought I was so smart to figure out, only to have it revealed moments later. The ending was good but I imagined it going another way, but still over all brilliantly done!

Rumoured is a twisting fun thriller mystery with coded easter eggs that the authors left throughout the text that I might need to go back and figure out, as at the time of reading I just needed to devour the story. There are also easter eggs, lore and conspiracy theory as part of the plot that help the main character unravel the full story and it was such a fun part of the story. I will definitely read more from this sister duo.

Rumoured by the Mancarous Sisters is a novel about two sisters , one of whom works for a celebrity magazine. Naomi, the magazine employee, is researching what happened to a movie star and who caused his death. In the process of researching for this magazine article many secrets are uncovered. This novel has many twists and turns in it and keeps the reader interested until the very last page! Thank you to Aries publisher, the Mancaruso Sisters and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#CampNetGalleyFiction#MancarusoSisters#mysteryNovel

3.5⭐️ I found this book to be a thoroughly entertaining and cleverly structured read. Presented in the form of a celebrity blog, the narrative format added a layer of authenticity and immediacy that really set it apart. The author does an excellent job weaving in gossip, scandal, and suspense to create a story that feels both current and immersive.

The central mystery was well-paced and kept me guessing throughout. Each revelation was timed effectively, building tension without ever feeling forced. It’s the kind of story that invites you to keep reading just one more chapter.

When Naomi is sent back to New York to cover the story of pop star Harrlow Hayes being arrested for not one but two murder she gets more than she bargained for.

Harlow is accused of killing her ex boyfriend, heart throb Colton Scott, and of Jade a rising pop start herself a few years back. As Naomi digs deeper she starts to find similarities in Jade’s life that matched her sister Faye’s life and death. Naomi starts to believe that maybe Harlow had something to do with her sister’s Faye’s death as well.

Things begin to unravel when Harlow is released, Naomi doesn’t accept that the pop start is innocent. Can Naomi uncover the truth, is Harlow a killer pop star ? Can she find the truth before someone else is killed?

Thank you Bloomsbury & Netgalley
Publication date: October 7th, 2025

3.5 stars

This is absolutely perfect for someone who loves celebrity conspiracy theories. The book hooked me from the beginning with celebrity-on-trial and the pop culture vibes. This book is full of fun easter eggs and conspiracy theories.

Pop star Harlow Hayes is accused of murder and arrested. Our protagonist, Naomi Barnes is a gossip columnist turned into investigative journalist who tries to cover the story thinking that it is going to be like all the other gossip pieces she has ever written only to get personally interested into finding the truth by decoding the pop star’s latest album lyrics. (Taylor Swift coded lyrics style - I am here for it )

It was fun looking for secret messages, easter eggs through the book - I was actually able to predict the ending but that doesn't mean it wasn’t a GASP worthy moment!

I found it really interesting though it felt like the buildup was longer, slow and the end was rushed. Also, I missed that some of the characters did not get the closure they deserved.

Trigger warnings: loss of family member, mentions of se*ual assault, death by burning