It wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad either. It was very YA Taylor Swift fan-fiction to me, which is not necessarily a bad thing but not something I’d pick up if not granted an ARC from NetGalley. I thought the premise was intriguing, I liked that it was written with the pop in’s of newspaper articles and social media posts with comments- I thought that was original and fun. But the twist was predictable to me, I found Naomi a very annoying and obnoxious character whose actions and decisions I found unbelievable and as the main character, I need to relate to or at least like you, for more than 3 stars to be given. If you like poppy YA, this is for you. If you want serious, unpredictable and characters you actually like, maybe not…

Thank you Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso, Bloomsbury USA, Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Oh let me tell you!! This was a fun read for sure! If you like celeb gossip, rabbit holes, easter eggs, music and pop culture this book is for you!

I will not lie I 100% was drawn to this book for the cover and then the synopsis reeled me in. I’m so glad I picked it!

True crime junkies will definitely love this book also as it satisfies that “itch”.

The satire is everything! From start to finish this twisty, yet comical, thriller will suck you in. A fun twist on a more serious genre, this take on pop culture will leave you hungry to read the next page. I couldn’t wait to see how this one would end and predictable was certainly not it.

When I first looked at the Camp NetGalley carousel of titles, both the cover and the description of Rumoured caught my eye.

Naomi Barnes left New York to work in the L.A. office of C*Leb News, a celebrity gossip publication. When Harlow Hayes is arrested on murder charges, Naomi’s editor knows she is the best person to cover the case. She brings knowledge, maturity, and excellent investigative skills to the table. The hitch? Naomi hasn’t been to the East Coast since her sister died two years previously. She agrees to take on the case, hoping it will help her process the unresolved grief over her sister’s death. What she discovers may be more than she bargained for.

The debut novel by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso was a fun, fast read that was a whodunit with a modern celebrity news vibe. Carefully crafted with Easter Eggs throughout the story, Rumoured carries with it a Taylor Swift/Lana Del Rey/Beatles vibe. While a few twists were predictable, the fast pacing and gossipy intrigue kept me turning pages. One of the best features is the inclusion of online reader threads and articles as the story unfolds.

Careful readers may enjoy unraveling a bonus mystery as they piece together additional Easter Eggs in the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Head of Zeus/Aries, and Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own opinions.

Rumoured is a fantastic mystery story that I really enjoyed. A tabloid writer, Faye, is grieving her dead sister when she is sent to New York to write an article on the arrest of a popular singer for the murder of her Hollywood famous boyfriend. The book pulls from many modern day tabloid stories. For example, the popular singer channels Taylor Swift with her popularity, rabid fan base and love for dropping clues in her songs about her personal life. The book reads like a true crime story with tabloids, online chatter and deep dives in Reddit. Mystery stories with strong female leads is my favorite genre and this book did not disappoint. This book takes us through twists and turns but the final reveal really surprised me. It story was excellently written leaving no plot holes like many mystery stories are prone to do. Through the book the author leaves clues (Easter egg) for the reader. I must admit I did not pick up on them but I’m excited to go back and try!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARK. This has been my favorite read this summer!!

4.5 stars (rounded up for anywhere only permitting full stars as it is a high 4.5).

I love a good conspiracy theory ìand a good hunt for an Easter egg. This book was the perfect blend of both mixed into one novel. Full review pending a couple days to digest that wild ride.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy,
.

I love these types of books. This book draws you in
, right away.

I think this books lost the plot about half way through, and I’m quite disappointed in that. It started promising, told in third person, giving an ominous feeling. Naomi is a skilled writer who is sought out for a bizarre celebrity story and tries to unravel it. I thought the perspective of a gossip columnist was an interesting take to a murder mystery. But then, Naomi truly flies off the handle. One mere coincidence to her own sister’s death from years ago pops up and Naomi suddenly grasping at straws trying to form a connection. I get that she needs closure but it just came across as desperate and crazy. Then Harlow’s first person narration comes in at the halfway point too, which felt unnecessary. It would have been more mysterious is her side was kept silent. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. It was a bit too all over the place and it was hard to feel like it was a cohesive story, rather than a fan fiction story.

Have you ever fell down a rabbit hole of craziness about a singer’s lyrics or posts on social media, then this book is for you. This book is a love letter to music and writing. The authors Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso write that as their author note at the start of this book. That is true throughout the book. The lyrics and Easter eggs read are evident of that love of music and writing.

The book Rumored is about a journalist Naomi Barns who is investigating a murder case of two people. Specifically she is investigating a singer & songwriter who is accused of murder. The singer and songwriter Harlow Hayes who in my opinion is similar to Taylor Swift, however, she does exist in the book’s universe so she’s not a replica. That’s just my opinion. Harlow is arrested for the murder of two people, her ex-boyfriend and an unknown woman. The boyfriend is Colton Scott a stereotypical golden boy movie star actor whom Harlow has an up and down off and on-again relationship with. The unknown woman gets revealed and is known as a smaller artist who tried to make it big in the music world.

While it wasn’t her first choice to take on the investigation & story, she jumps at it because she feels that her sister’s ghost would haunt her if she didn’t do the investigation or story justice. Naomi and her sister Faye Barns were immensely close. Having a mother who was a struggling artist who never made it big forced them together. Their mother gave them love for each other and music. Faye was a huge fan of Harlow before her death, so Naomi felt a sense of responsibility to find out the truth of everything. Mainly she needed to find out if Harlow was guilty of murder.

The twists and turns of the book kept me on the edge of my seat. While I did suspect a twist, I was pretty surprised to be right. I won’t say what it is, because that would ruin the story, so I’ll just share my thoughts and feelings really quick about the book.

The story as a whole was well written and thought out. The story pacing was great. The characters were not stereotypical and felt real. The love between sisters was evident and as a sister I felt represented. Granted I am a younger sister I take after Naomi more rather than Faye, but I can be feisty as Faye. The Easter eggs are pretty great. I might reread and find more Easter eggs that the authors wrote throughout the book. The message of a love letter to music and writing was felt throughout and well done. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. Be sure to grab it when it comes out in October from either your local library or bookstore.

Interesting idea with many plot holes and a Paul is dead story line that requires a mighty suspension of belief. Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus books for an advanced copy for a honest review.

I loved the mix of celebrity gossip and “true crime” in Rumoured. The behind-the-scenes Hollywood drama kept things juicy.

While Naomi was investigating Harlow’s murder accusation, lines got crossed and too many similarities to her sister’s disappearance aligned with other crimes that came to light, which added a darker, more emotional edge. Naomi’s unraveling felt so real—I was constantly questioning what was true right along with her… and feeling her loneliness and grief.

A compelling, fast-paced read with just the right amount of psychological tension.

Thank you Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso, Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for the ebook to review.

Okay, Rumoured was a total ride—and I was all in. The drama, the conspiracies, the pop culture layers? Chef’s kiss. It felt like scrolling through a juicy online thread you just can’t stop reading. I loved how the story was told through podcasts, articles, DMs, Reddit-style posts—it made everything feel current and immersive. Naomi, the journalist piecing it all together, had me shouting “girl, what are you doing?!” more than once, but I couldn’t stop rooting for her.

And those twists? Wild. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another secret dropped. Some parts felt a little messy by the end, but honestly, I didn’t care—I was way too invested. This one’s for you if you love stories that blur the line between fame and obsession, truth and clickbait. It gave me drama, it gave me heart, and it gave me so much to scream-text my friends about.

Rumoured by The Mancaruso Sisters is a perfect summer thriller. It’s packed with twists and turns, and I especially enjoyed the clever pop culture references throughout. While the beginning was a bit slow, the pace picked up quickly and kept me hooked. The unique writing style—blending news articles, social media posts, Wikipedia entries, and more—made it feel immersive and fresh.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus - an Aries Book for letting me read this ARC.

A fun, twisty summer thriller! This one kept me guessing as it pulled tropes from several real-life inspirations. I won’t spoil anything, but if you’re a big pop culture person, the references can’t be missed.

Overall, I thought this book was a fun read if a little slow to get going. Naomi is a solid main character and you find yourself rooting for her even when she’s making terrible choices. This book is entirely an “I support women’s rights and especially their wrongs” book and I love that.

So this one started out a bit slow for me and it was a little hard to keep up with the writing style as it’s written with social media posts and news articles while mixing in the storyline.

However, once Naomi Barnes starts digging into the story she is supposed to be covering, I could not put the book down! Wow! I really enjoyed the rest of the story!

This story was good. I loved the idea of gossip news and celeb drama. Just overall, I got a little bored. But it was a fun story.

“To love someone unconditionally can be a dangerous thing. For yourself. And for others.”

4.5 stars! The writing style in this wild and crazy mystery is is both fun and relevant, using television transcripts, text threads, song lyrics, and social media comment sections to help tell the story.

The set up took a bit of time and I was almost like whereee is the story? But then holy hell once it got going I could not put it down! I did not see the twists coming and although far fetched and totally unbelievable to me I am quite certain that, in Hollywood, this level of sinister shit exists. Crazy.

“This level of fame is a prison in itself.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for the complimentary ARC for Camp Netgalley.

Naomi Barnes is a journalist for C*Leb news and she has just found her biggest story yet. International pop star Harlow Hayes has been arrested for murder, but no one knows who the victim is. Naomi must travel back to New York City in order to investigate what's really going on with the case. The city reminds her of her sister, Faye, who tragically died right as she was making a name for herself in the music industry. As Naomi investigates further, she begins to find connections between Faye, Harlow, and other industry professionals, leading her to believe that there are darker things lurking under the surface.

This will be a good read for people who enjoy conspiracy theories about musicians. There are Easter eggs in this book, both in the text itself as well as in Harlow's music, and there are a lot of references to popular conspiracy theories. I think this book just took a level of suspension of disbelief that I couldn't quite muster up. Naomi was doing a lot of investigating online and in person, even including a classic murder board, but it felt like the connections she made between her sister and Harlow were completely baseless. There was no real evidence to believe they had anything to do with each other for the majority of the time that Naomi was investigating the case. I felt like Naomi just sounded unhinged for most of the second half of the book and her decisions were very questionable. The book was at least fast paced, so it had that going for it. People who enjoy reading about conspiracy theories or pop stars or both might want to check this one out.

This book is between three and four stars for me, so I rounded up for this review. While I had some issues with the book, I thought overall it was an entertaining read and I'm glad I had the chance to read it!

As an avid swiftie and purveyor of celebrity gossip, my mind was running wild with theories as I read this. One of my theories did turn out to be true, but I don't think that means this is necessarily a predictable book. I think that means I spend too much time online. Some of the things I enjoyed were how dark some parts of it were, and how the authors weren't afraid to "go there" (so to speak) when it came to certain events. It was very readable and I got through it much faster than I thought I would. It was fun writing out all of my theories to see if I could guess it right, and I love that the authors even included their own easter eggs sprinkled throughout. I think if you are a fan of celebrity gossip and crime thrillers (I'm thinking along the lines of Megan Miranda) you would enjoy this book.

My biggest complaint is with the ending. It felt rushed. We were finally getting answers and it seemed like some things were resolved, but there was still a lot that needed to be dealt with; then it was suddenly over. Not everything was explained. Trying really hard not to spoil anything, but the ending definitely left me wanting more. In fact, I think if there was a sequel that could explore some of the fallout of the events of this book that might change my opinion on the ending.

I also had an issue with one of the male characters. I am again trying to not spoil anything, but I felt that this particular character was unnecessary and I did not enjoy his involvement in the book.

All that being said, I thought this book was a fun, twisty, wild ride from start to finish. I would definitely read more from these authors in the future!

I gotta say, this was such a fun read. The cover is what drew me in at first, but once I read the description, I knew I had to read it.. As someone who got to experience the One Direction era in its prime and was big into learning as much as I could about them on the internet (shoutout to late nights going down YouTube rabbit holes and the 1D Twitter Fam), and LOVES a murder mystery… I was definitely the audience for this book!

I enjoyed the blend of crazy fan conspiracies (remember MR. X from the 1D days??), potential serial killer, celebrity drama, and dark Hollywood vibes.

The main character definitely made some frustrating choices and got on my nerves a bit, but I still found myself rooting for her as she tried to figure everything out. I also liked that we got multiple POVs as I feel it added more layers to the story and kept things moving at the right time. It was a wild ride, and the twists were entertaining.

My one criticism is that I do feel that some of the articles or lyrics included were either too long or not as necessary to the story and felt like they could have just been blurbs as sometimes I lost interest, but that was just a me thing!

Thank you Bloomsbury USA, The Mancaruso Sisters, and Camp NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!