Harlow Hayes is a singer at the level of Taylor Swift but she has a dark side. Now, she has been arrested for two murders. Journalist Naomi Barnes is determined to solve the crime.

I had a hard time getting into this book despite the promise of an interesting plot. The first half of the book is narrated by Naomi as she looks to uncover the truth about Harlow and the two dead individuals. So much of the first 50% is just Naomi positing what may have happened without being involved in the action at all, just lots of guessing and asking questions. When things shift and began to be told from the POV of both Harlow and Naomi, the action amped up and became more interesting. Though you will have to suspend all hope for a realistic ending--it gets quite wacky! 3 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I enjoyed this book that is a mix of celebrity gossip, drama, and murder. It was hard to get into at first but it got better over time. It’s like solving a mystery throughout which was fun. I really liked the characters as well. I feel like they were developed well.

Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In “Rumoured,” debut authors Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso deliver a twisty, fast-paced crime thriller that blends celebrity culture, social media obsession, and the dark price of fame into a narrative that feels like a mash-up of Gone Girl and a Taylor Swift-themed true crime podcast. It’s bizarre, compulsively readable, and delightfully unhinged in all the right ways.

At the story’s center is Harlow Hayes, a global pop sensation whose star is burning brighter than ever until it suddenly crashes. Arrested for the murder of beloved actor Colton Scott and an unidentified woman, Harlow’s life unravels in real time as the world watches. Taking front-row seats to the unfolding chaos is Naomi Barnes, a journalist for a celebrity gossip site, assigned to report on Harlow’s downfall. But for Naomi, this isn't just another salacious headline; there may be a personal connection to the murders through her own sister’s unsolved death.

The book is structured cleverly, with the bulk of the first half told through Naomi’s perspective as she dives deeper into Harlow’s world. Her investigation, though occasionally relying on unlikely overheard conversations or leaps in logic, pulls you into an obsessive unraveling of connections with some real, some imagined. Naomi's descent is part mystery, part cautionary tale, and part conspiracy-fueled mania. She sees clues everywhere, and the book challenges you to do the same, like finding Easter eggs in song lyrics.

Between chapters, we get news clippings, fan tweets, Reddit threads, and YouTube comments speculating on Harlow’s guilt, possible body doubles, secret messages in her lyrics, and a growing list of bizarre theories. These interstitials give “Rumoured” a modern, meta feel, echoing how celebrity scandals are dissected online today. The commentary is sharp and biting, especially on the way fans search for meaning and myth in pop music à la Swifties with Easter eggs.

Eventually, the story flips, and we start hearing directly from Harlow herself—a choice that adds depth and complicates your perception of her. Is she the diva the tabloids portray? A mastermind? A victim of her own fame? This shift is one of the book’s strongest moves, offering insight into the brutal, isolating reality behind the glittering pop facade.

Yes, the plot veers into implausible territory where some twists involving conspiracy theories, double lives, and suspiciously convenient discoveries require more than a little suspension of disbelief. But here’s the thing: it works. The authors know exactly what kind of story they’re telling, which is a glitzy, over-the-top thriller with just enough truth beneath the surface to feel disturbingly possible.

Critically, “Rumoured” doesn’t just coast on shock value. It dives into meaningful themes: the exploitative machine behind celebrity stardom, the commodification of grief and trauma, and the way social media both idolizes and devours its icons. The emotional arcs, particularly Naomi’s reckoning with her sister’s death, are impactful, even if the writing sometimes lacks subtlety or polish.

Overall, “Rumoured” remains a highly entertaining ride. For fans of juicy celebrity scandals, layered conspiracies, and speculative whodunnits set in the hyper-scrutinized world of fame, this book is a total binge-read.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I found the premise really intriguing, and I liked the way it explored fame, perception, and the gap between public image and reality. The twists kept me engaged, and I enjoyed seeing how the mystery unraveled through the lens of Naomi Barnes. That said, I struggled with parts of the execution. I felt like the pacing was uneven, and some sections dragged while others felt rushed. I also had a hard time fully connecting with Naomi as a narrator—some of her choices didn’t make sense to me, and I wished she had a little more depth.

Still, I found the story compelling overall, and I appreciated how it tackled the darker side of celebrity culture. While it wasn’t my favorite thriller, I think fans of high-stakes mysteries and investigative narratives will find a lot to enjoy.

This was a good book for this type of genre!!! It was fast paced kept me interested thank you for this awesome read and the cover is nice as well loved it

I’m so glad this book was recommended to me because it was such a fun read!!! I also love when the author adds mixed media in the story. The pacing of the secret reveals was pretty perfect. Plus, who doesn’t love a little gossip? (Murder too.)

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

The cover drew me in and I really liked how the book was formatted, it was unique and fun to look at.
The story was well thought out and the pacing was great

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA and Head of Zeus for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Rumoured takes a mystery and makes it utterly engrossing by putting a pop star at its heart, further adding layers to the story by capitalizing on the mysteries that already surround celebrities, especially those who wildly change their career direction and personaes over time.

Starting with the perspective of Naomi, a talented journalist for a celebrity gossip site, we see her go from LA to NYC to cover the shocking arrest of legendary musician Harlow Hayes - recently arrested for killing her ex and a previously unknown woman. As Naomi tries to figure out if she did it she uncovers other crimes broadly linked to Harlow around the time her lyrics and personae turned dark from pop princess. As Naomi nears cracking the case we see Harlow’s duelling perspective start to clearly point to something being wrong, ratcheting up the tension.

There’s an unreal amount of suspending disbelief as we discover what’s really going on, which would benefit from more of a transition to the truth through clues earlier in the book, since it felt like a sharp left turn. I also felt the ending could have been tidier, but this was highly entertaining if you’re willing to let your imagination go with it.

Confession: I requested this book solely based on the cover. This was wild and filled with all the celebrity gossip you could ever want. I loved the multimedia aspect of the book and really appreciate all of the Easter Eggs and the work that went into the format of the book. This did get a little ridiculous but it was an enjoyable fast read. 3.75 juicy stars! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!