I just don’t think this book was for me, I really struggled to continue reading it. I got about 16 chapters in and gave up. I did look up other reviews to see if it got better towards the end and it sounds like it does but I just couldn’t. The pacing felt really slow for me.
I super appreciate NetGalley and the authors and publishers for the eARC though! This could be the best book for someone Else!

Murder + pop culture icon + investigator with baggage = Rumoured. Honestly, the novel drew me in with its twist on reality - what happens if a famous musician and American icon is accused of murder? And what if the investigation of that alleged crime opens Pandora's box?

Harlow Hayes has been accused of murder, and Naomi's boss has her covering the story. Naomi returns to NYC to investigate the allegations against Harlowe and is torn between painful memories of the past and the urgency of uncovering the present mystery.

Smartly written with a sharp perspective on the desire to be famous, what is sacrificed for fame, and the people who abuse that power, Rumoured is a mystery that reflects this modern American power of public perspective and how that shapes a narrative.

I really like how the authors use the artist's thematic shifts and lyrics to imply that a sinister secret was being revealed as Easter Eggs in her music. Many musicians explore different genres and style, and I appreciate how this was built into the story as a piece of the puzzle showing what is going on in the private life of the musician.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for this ARC!

This book felt like diving headfirst into the juiciest celebrity gossip thread on Twitter—except with murder, mystery, and pop-star drama that gave me total Swiftie Easter egg vibes. Told through lyrics, articles, and narrative, it felt like peeling back layers of a concept album where every track has a secret meaning. I’ll be honest, the first half dragged a bit for me and I almost tapped out, but I’m glad I didn’t—the last third pulled everything together in a way that felt so worth it.

If you love music, pop culture, and the thrill of decoding hidden clues (like you’re on the ultimate Easter egg hunt à la Taylor Swift), this one’s going to be a hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Investigative journalist for celebrity gossip, Naomi Barnes is assigned a juicy story…Pop star Harlow Hayes has been arrested for murder! Get the latest here as the story unfolds!

Told through narrative, lyrics, research/news articles, this unique blend provides various perspectives to the unfolding story as well as pieces of the background. I almost DNFd but thankfully kept going and ended up enjoying the last third of the book! The wrap up and conclusion brought together everything that I struggled with in the beginning. So yay for not calling it quits!

I think this will hit really well with music lovers and there is definitely the Easter Egg hunt that will either help you solve the mystery or drive you crazy trying to figure it out!

Thank you to the author, Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso, Publisher Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.

The synopsis of this book sucked me in as Swiftie but I went in not looking for the Easter eggs so I could see if my guess was correct and boy was I way off!

At first the POV of Naomi drove me a little mad and her constant talk of her sister felt like a lot but… it all made sense eventually!

I thoroughly enjoyed the articles and interviews throughout the book but wished that we didn’t also get Naomi’s thoughts immediately after reading them.

The sudden change of POVs was *chefs kiss* and gave voice to the one who deserved it and was a perfect choice!

This book could have been 5 stars if the ending wasn’t so quick! I wanted the guilty parties to face more scrutiny which I’ll leave at that to save spoilers! I also wanted a stronger reaction from Naomi in the end!

Amazing first book from the Mancaruso Sisters and cannot wait to see what you write next!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

4/5 stars!

Rumored was such a binge-worthy read! The Mancaruso Sisters pulled me right into the glitzy, chaotic world of pop-star drama, rumors, and secrets, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I loved the mix of scandal, suspense, and behind-the-scenes music industry vibes. The rumors, the murder mystery, the tension and it all felt like scrolling through a juicy celebrity thread that you just have to keep up with. The added sprinkle of song lyrics as clues was such a clever touch, and it kept me guessing the whole way through.

The main character made some messy choices, but honestly, that only added to the drama and fun of it. I didn’t always know if I wanted to root for her or side-eye her, but that’s exactly what kept me hooked.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, pop-star scandal thriller with a touch of glitz and grit, this one is it. Perfect for fans of drama, secrets, and bingeable reads.

Wait a minute!!! This was so much fun.
It got me out of a reading slump and I’m sooo appreciative 👏🏻👏🏻

I had a blast reading this! As a Swiftie i diiiid love searching for clues!

If you’re in the mood for a fun and funky thriller about a pop star with some twists and turns, this one’s for you!!

This was amazing, full of twists and turns and kept me guessing! An entertainment reporter assigned to follow the case where a famous pop star singer is arrested for murder, what the reporter doesn’t know is that it’s the beginning of a life changing journey!

I highly recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley for the gifted ARC!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. Rumoured by The Mancaruso Sisters was a mysterious story with gripping characters and a twisted plot! Great read for someone who enjoys the dark side of social media, fame, attention, and the dark underbelly of how visibility exploits vulnerabilities.

Rumoured is a fast-paced, celebrity-driven thriller that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the darker side of fame. The novel follows Naomi Barnes, an investigative journalist with a personal connection to the case, as she delves into the arrest of pop sensation Harlow Hayes, who stands accused of murder. The story unfolds through Naomi's perspective, providing readers with an insider's view of the media frenzy and the complexities of celebrity culture.

The Mancaruso sisters craft a narrative that is both engaging and reflective, exploring themes of media manipulation, the pressures of stardom, and the blurred lines between public personas and private realities. The dual focus on Naomi's investigation and Harlow's celebrity world creates a rich, layered narrative that keeps readers intrigued.

However, while the book offers a compelling premise, some readers may find the pacing uneven, with certain sections feeling slower than others. Additionally, the twists, though well-executed, may not be as surprising to those well-versed in the genre.

Overall, Rumoured is a captivating read for fans of celebrity thrillers and those interested in the intersection of fame and media. While it may not offer groundbreaking revelations, it provides an entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of modern celebrity culture.

Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso is a fun and fresh idea for thriller lovers everywhere. It is a story full of intrigue and elements of a good old fashioned mystery. Harlow is a sensational pop star and lives in the spotlight. But as popularity grows, secrets tend to spill out. There is a murder, but of whom? Who did it? The reader is asked to help Naomi figure out the answers to these questions. As
an investigative journalist, Naomi must delve into the star struck and seedy world of Harlow. Her fame, stardom, and the cost of having such a life. There are many twists and turns, along with a somewhat surprise ending. A must read!

I didn't enjoy this book. One thing I enjoyed was the mixed media. The ending was too far-fetched. Multiple perspectives from the beginning would've been better because Naomi's voice didn't move quickly at all. I was annoyed by the beat-you-over-the-head parallels to Taylor Swift. They gave Harlow the same career trajectory and relationship with the media and song titles that related to Swift songs, and if I read the phrase easter eggs one more time, I was going to scream. Hints throughout the book are a staple of thrillers and mysteries, so frequent readers of the genres expect them to be there, which is why it felt like more of a Swift grab. The concept of a pop star turned murderer is really interesting, but it would have been more interesting if Harlow were actually her own character.

Rumoured had an interesting premise and I was excited to dive in. The writing is easy to follow and the pacing kept me turning pages, so it definitely wasn’t hard to get through. It still didn’t completely click for me. I liked certain moments, but the characters felt a little surface-level and some plot points either wrapped up too quickly or didn’t get the attention I was hoping for. I kept waiting for a twist or something big to really grab me, but it never quite landed. Overall, it was a decent read, just not one that’s going to stick with me long term. Worth a try if you’re into lighter suspense, enjoy some Taylor Swift coded easter eggs and want something quick to pick up.

Thank you to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in advance of it’s release.

Oh my goodness. This book had me so invested and hooked from the first chapter. I felt like I was reading a true crime documentary. I loved watching true crime docs, especially about a celebrity.

I loved Naomi’s tenacity throughout this whole thing. She could have left this all behind so many times especially when she kept seeing similarities to her sister’s death, but she didn’t.

The whole plot was so realistic, the social media and all the articles, it makes you forget as you’re reading it that it is fiction. The way the story progressed was perfect and the whole time I would try to guess and think I had it figured out and of course I never do, which is exactly how I like it!

I will most definitely be looking for more from this author.

Just wow! This book was definitely a mystery and thriller. So many Easter eggs to follow. I did not guess the ending with all the craziness that was happening. What an amazing debut novel for The Mancaruso Sisters. Congrats!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review Rumoured. I absolutely loved the book.

Let’s be honest as a society we tend to be a little celebrity obsessed. We eat up the news stories and share the rumors about famous people as soon as we hear them. This book uses news articles, social media posts, and fan comments as well as telling the story with multiple POVs to tell a completely original story that keeps you guessing. Now let’s get into it.

My first thought when I finished this book was WTF… when I tell you I had no idea what was going on in this book until the last 25% I’m not exaggerating at all. The mystery, the secrets, and the reveal of the meaning all of the eater eggs was perfection. The suspense sucked me in so much I was getting anxious at the end of the book. This book started pretty slow but then the pace took off and didn’t slow down. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected when I first started reading.

If you love puzzles, Easter eggs, celebrity gossip and conspiracy theories boy do I have the book for you!
What I thought was just going to be a standard true crime-esque mystery thriller turned into so much more

This was so much fun. A fantastic debut and I will for sure be following the authors for whatever they do next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This one just wasn’t for me. While I was intrigued by the concept, pop superstar at the center of dark rumors, the execution fell flat. The writing style felt overly juvenile, the inserted lyrics pulled me out of the story instead of enhancing it, and the “big twist” was predictable long before the reveal.

I can see how Rumoured might land better with readers who are fans of celebrity-driven thrillers or enjoy a campier, more satirical take on fame. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the target audience, and the story never fully grabbed me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! The suspense was well done. I couldn't see any of the twists coming. I also loved that we got to read the articles and posts that were mentioned in the story.

Thank you, Netgalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book, for the advanced reader copy! This is the best summer thriller of 2025! Naomi Barnes is in the midst of grieving her sister when Harlow Hayes gets arrested for her murder. Naomi decides to completely forget everything else in her life and dig into Harlow.