A popstar entangled in a murder.

This book was an easy read that had me engaged. The book was fun but completely unbelievable and unrealistic, even for fiction.
The main character was likable but her personal life and other choices didn't match up with the 'friends' she was close with on either coast.

The social media posts (in the book) the authors created deserve their own shout-out. Those were well thought out and clever.

I'd recommend this to those looking for a quick and entertaining read.

This is CHAOTIC but in the best way! A celebrity gossip reporter ends up going down an investigative journalism rabbit hole while looking into allegations that a famous pop star is a murderer.

This book has mixed media which is so fun but adds to the chaos of the reading experience. We see articles that have been written about the pop star and her ex, a famous actor. There are social media posts and comments, song lyrics, and autopsy reports. Naomi, the journalist, finds Easter eggs in the pop star’s songs and album covers. There are conspiracy theories she looks into.

Seriously so many twists and red herrings. The story was a little slow to start but then I couldn't put it down. Trying to put the clues together before Naomi did.

I will say, I was not satisfied by the ending. I wanted a little more. But overall this is a really fun, fast-paced story!

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest opinion.

This book was so FUN! I enjoyed the swiftie references as well. While it isn't a book I would find myself rereading, it is definitely one I would recommend to my followers.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I went into this book completely blind & did not expect everything I got! It was a great completely unsuspecting plot twist. The story POV was extremely unexpected as well. I genuinely loved it being told from a view besides the accused.

The only drawback with this ARC for me was the story layout. It read more like a draft than a book ready to be published. However, that being said, I would love to re read this once it’s published to follow the complete picture!

I love how the authors brought in real celebrity conspiracy theories as Naomi was researching Harlow's case. This was a cool combo of watching a true crime documentary, celebrity gossip, and reading a twisty thriller! I love all of the articles, social media posts and comments that were used to push the story forward. The book was really fast paced, and I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride with Naomi!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for access to this arc.

3.75 STARS

Honestly, had a great time going down the rabbit hole with the FMC in this book. I was feeling all the angst and anxiety right alongside her while trying to figure out the truth in this murder mystery. Very clever for the authors to weave in easter eggs throughout as well as mixing in the actual articles and social media posts. I'm similar to the FMC when something has my attention and the digging into something can become almost obsessive. So this kept me hooked right until the end and loved the twist. This would be a great option if you are looking to pick up something different and quick! I think we could have done with a little more at the end as it relates to some of her side relationships, but still had fun with this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and The Mancaruso Sisters for the eARC copy and the chance to review!

This is a must read for any celebrity loving true crime obsessed thriller reader. I could not put this book down. This was a perfect thriller because I had nothing figured it out, which I love. This novel mixed the story with news, tweets, reviews, interviews, tabloid stories and more. If you love celebrities, gossip and a good murder mystery this is for you.

Rumoured's format alone pulled me in pulled me in off the jump. The social media posts, blog entries, and articles all fit into the story in a way that worked for me. It felt like the kind of media chaos we experience now in pop culture-centric entertainment, and it added to the pace and tone of everything else happening.

What I liked was how it tapped into modern social media culture. References to blogs, Reddit threads, TikTok conspiracies, celebrity gossip, and how narratives are twisted for public spin were spot on. The world of fake pop stars, influencers, and scandal felt real and messy in a way that made the plot even more engaging.

Niomi, as a main character, was interesting. She’s a journalist chasing down the story behind pop icon Harlow Haye’s arrest. At first, her perspective can feel a little frantic. It reminded me of that anxious energy in Uncut Gems. Once you understand why she’s so personally invested in the case, that energy does make more sense. Her “spidy sense” moments were a little overdone for me at times, but I still enjoyed how the mystery unraveled.

There were a few twists that I did see coming. However, the changes in POV, the time jumps, and the way the conspiracy kept expanding helped keep things fresh. The book dropped hints in the social media posts, character actions, and formatting of the book itself that were fun for wannabe detectives (like me).

The murder part of the plot got a little confusing in terms of order. I had to reread some of that to get a better grasp of how it all fit together, but once it settled, it paid off well. Even if some parts felt a little over the top or unrealistic, it still scratched the itch I had for a fast-paced, layered mystery.

If you’re into pop culture-centered contemporary thrillers with a unique format and a little chaos, I’d definitely recommend Rumoured.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and The Mancaruso Sisters for the ARC!

I am not a Swiftie, so I don't know everything about all her easter eggs she leaves for fans, so I wasn't sure if this book was gonna be for me. I was wrong, I was hooked immediately, I was intrigued by Naomi finding all the clues and putting things together. I did figure out the twist pretty early on in the book, but it was satisfying that I was correct and I couldn't have predicted all the clues that went into it. I loved the book, I thought it was suspenseful, it kept me reading, I enjoyed the subjects being pop stars/celebrities, and that it's love story was more sisterly love.
I did feel like the ending was a little abrupt after all the build up, but maybe that was just me wanting more story.

Interesting take on a murder mystery. We are following the investigation of two murders by a celebrity news reporter. Learning as she does from different sources and wondering about the twists and turns as she discovers new possibilities. I had my suspicions about what Naomi was going to find out and I was right about some things but not all of them. Could not put it down as Naomi figured it all out! It really bothered me when she used her cop friend as a source when he asked her not to, though.

If you're into celebrity gossip and conspiracy theories, this will be right up your alley. I liked the mixed media throughout this novel, it helped with the pacing and makes the reader feel as though they have the inside scoop. I wasn't the biggest fan of Naomi as a character but I could absolutely relate to her spiral as someone who has been known to fall down a conspiracy rabbit hole and appreciated when the authors allowed her emotions to come out. I did predict the ending but it was interesting to see how the authors chose to get us there.

Thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Mancaruso Sisters have written one of the best books I've ever read! I couldn't put it down and stayed up to finish all 400 plus pages in one sitting. Please keep writing . You two definitely have a gift

I received this arc from Netgalley, never heard of the authors but description sounded intriguing. I started it not expecting much but really got into it. The authors style of writing kept me engaged, the who dun it factor was awesome. There was so much in the book that I was unaware of, such as the Easter eggs and conspiracy theories I had no knowledge of. Very good book, I enjoyed it, i will look up the Mancaruso Sisters book list

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
We follow Noami a reporter for Celebrity news. Noami goes to New York to investigate the murder of Colton Scott (golden boy actor) and Harlow Hayes (supposed murderer)
I really enjoyed all the Easter eggs and conspiracy theories. An overall fun read. I will say this book would be better as a physical copy to be able to go back and forth to find the “Easter eggs”. Congrats to the authors on a debut novel.

Wow, this is a seriously wild ride! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, there was another crazy twist I couldn’t have anticipated. I am appalled (and in slight disbelief, if we’re being honest) about how it all wrapped up.

If you enjoy puzzles, easter eggs, off the wall conspiracy theories, and - of course - celebrity drama, this one is for you! The main character, Harlow Hayes, is HEAVILY based on Taylor Swift, and she enjoys creating little games and secret messages for her “Hazies.” Turns out, the Mancaruso’s love leaving them for their readers as well. You’ll have a great time trying to locate all the little clues and easter eggs they’ve hidden throughout the story. I also really enjoyed learning about the real life conspiracies surrounding certain celebrities. I was unaware of some of them, and I am so intrigued to dig deeper on my own.

I thought the mixed media writing style was really fun. The authors included news articles, interviews, social media posts and comments, Naomi’s notes, Harlow’s song lyrics, etc. to make the readers feel as though they were in the midst of seeing a real scandal unfold. It was really engaging!

I did have a bit of trouble getting into the story at the beginning, and the first half was sort of slow going for me. I think that it’s a personal problem, because I’ve seen a lot of other reviewers saying that it grabbed their attention right away and they couldn’t put it down. For me, I think it came down to likability of the characters. I wasn’t initially a fan of Naomi, and felt a little icky about the TMZ style “investigative reporting” she was doing. However, the more she uncovered about the case, the more invested I became.

Overall, this is a fun read, and anyone who loves celebrity gossip, pop culture, conspiracy theories and easter egg hunting is going to have a good time with it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and the Mancaruso sisters for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my review!

Wow, this was a really fun read! The Mancaruso sisters should write more books for sure!
This thriller centers around Naomi a writer for a gossip magazine. She is mourning the death of her sister, Faye, an aspiring singer, from a drug overdose.
Some unbelievable news comes in that Harlow Hayes, a Taylor Swift type of superstar, has been arrested for murder! Naomi immediately begins investigating. The more she finds out the more questions she has. She gets deeper and deeper into the mystery and finds out that things are rarely as simple as they seem.
There are lots of hints (Easter Eggs) through out this book including in song lyrics and social media comments. There are also references to the “Paul is dead” conspiracy theory for Beatles fans! What a fun and quick summer mystery/thriller.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury and. NetGalley for the ARC!!

This isn't my typical type of story, but I quickly found myself sucked right in. Harlow Hayes is basically a Taylor Swift-type celebrity, adored by millions, with legions of superfans worldwide. Then seemingly out of nowhere, she's arrested. Not for a DUI or drugs, or the usual celebrity mistakes, but for murder. Naomi is a journalist in her mid-twenties who is mildly interested at first but finds herself drawn into the world of everything Harlow as she investigates the crime. She quickly becomes obsessed and finds more questions than answers as the case unfolds. Scandals and secrets abound as Naomi pushes on, determined to uncover how Harlow went from a sweet ingenue to a violent criminal.

The book is a perfect beach read that's fun and entertaining and doesn't make you think too hard. The authors are delighted with themselves and their inclusion of musical easter eggs, and make sure you know that the story is filled with them. Honestly, I didn't come across any, but I wasn't looking. That's not my thing, and I wasn't going to spend forever poring over each chapter for a possible reference to...what exactly? A real celebrity album? A fake one from the story? Maybe the author's generation just discovered the Beatles' Paul is Dead conspiracy, but older readers aren't surprised by any of that. The plot relied too much on buying into those theories and not in a satirical way.

You really have to suspend your disbelief on this one, especially with the ending. Naomi's character is quite selfish, keeping the secrets she learned after everything she went through emotionally when she met with the families of victims. Her loyalty should have been to the truth, not to herself.

If you love Gillian Flynn then read this book! I couldn't wait to find out what the world thought they knew but didn't!

The story unfolds through the POV of a journalist and mixed with news/tabloid articles—it felt so current and realistic, like how we’d actually dig for info today. The format was super fresh, fast-paced (which I loved!), and that twist? Wooow.

What I liked: A fast paced thriller about a gossip columnist who investigates and obsesses over a mega pop star who might be a serial killer, with a crazy plot twist.

What I disliked: The reader must suspend disbelief for the mountain of conspiracy elements.