When global pop star Harlow Hayes is arrested for the murder of her actor ex-boyfriend and an unidentified woman, the world erupts in speculation. Headlines blaze, fan theories multiple, and an entire online ecosystem begins decoding lyrics, tracking clues, and dissecting the crime. But for entertainment journalist Naomi Barnes, the case is personal. Her sister's recent overdose doesn't seem unrelated - and Naomi's instincts tell her the truth about Harlow is more complicated than the tabloids want it to be.

Told primarily through Naomi's perspective, 'Rumoured' weaves grief, obsession, and ambition into a story that's as much about mourning as it is about myth-making. The inclusion of multimedia elements - Reddit threads, gossip site posts, and lyrical riddles - adds texture to the narrative without feeling gimmicky. It immerses the reader in a world where nothing is sacred and everything is up for public consumption.

The pacing is deliberate, especially in the first half, but it allows space for Naomi's emotional arc to develop. Her voice is sharp and self-aware, but always grounded in pain. When Harlow's own perspective finally emerges, it arrives like a gut punch - quiet, eerie, and devastating in its restraint.

What makes 'Rumoured' stand out isn't just the twisty plot or the buzzy premise - it's the way the novel critiques the machinery of fame, the commodification of trauma, and the razor-thin line between fan worship and voyeurism. This is a thriller for readers who love their suspense layered and literary, with a strong emotional core beneath the spectacle. Recommend for fans of 'The Bling Ring' meets 'Sharp Objects'; music thrillers like 'Daisy Jones & The Six', but darker; stories that interrogate media, grief, and the cult of celebrity.

My first ARC and such a great one to start with. :) I will be honest and say that the cover was the first thing to draw me in to pick this one.

It's the perfect mix of celebrity gossip meets investigative thriller. Plus, if you are a Taylor Swift fan who loves to find "Easter eggs" you are in for a treat with this one! This book is perfect for those of us who love a juicy Twitter thread, TMZ, or those stories we can't get enough of on Tiktok. We get social media posts, cryptic song lyrics, and gossip articles intermixed into the story as well and those include the comment threads that we love and hate to read.

This book follows Naomi, an investigative entertainment journalist for C*Leb News, who travels back to NYC after time away following the tragic loss of her sister. Her boss wants his best journalist to cover the scandal of pop sensation Harlow Hayes following her arrest for murder of her ex boyfriend! Her methods may be unorthodox and at times downright unethical but it's exactly what I was looking for and more. So many twists and turns, you will not want to put it down!

I truly can't wait to read what's next from the Mancaruso Sisters!

Before starting this book I hadn’t heard anything about it, but I loved the cover and the description. I’m so glad I received an ARC of this book, I completely devoured it. The twists and turns, the references to current pop culture, the song lyrics, the changing in point of view, I loved everything about this book. I only wish I could actually hear these fictional songs as I was reading. Highly recommend especially to anyone who loves Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and suspenseful books!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc for my honest review.
3 out of 5 stars/3rd person(Naomi) 1st pov(Harlow)

Harlow Hayes is a megastar. She is thriving. She reminds me of Taylor Swift a lot while reading it. Naomi Barnes is in the mist of grieving her sister, who died suddenly a few years back. She works a journalist, and when Harlow Hayes gets arrested for murder, the media is all over it. Naomi gets assigned to follow this story.

I personally found it hard to connect to Naomi because all I wanted to know is more about Harlow's life. I would have liked to see more of a back and forth between Harlow and Naomi pov sooner.

Props to the twist on the end. I didn't see it coming.

There are two sides to every story. Is Harlow Hayes America’s sweetheart and a pop sensation or is she a cold blooded killer? Told through the viewpoint of Naomi Barnes, a celebrity reporter, the plot thickens as the body count goes up. While going down the rabbit hole, Naomi not only seeks to find out the truth about Harlow but also is forced to confront skeletons in her own closet: specifically the death of her younger sister.

The premise of the story was unique and I really appreciated Naomi as the narrator and her perspective. The plot was fast paced but got to the point of almost being hectic as it got to the ending. I wanted to enjoy the twists, but it started becoming unbelievable the more I read. The ending felt a little too neatly tied up and convenient. While I enjoyed the characters and overall I enjoyed the premise, the execution of the plot left much to be desired in my opinion. While this could be an easy beach read, I wouldn’t set it at the top of your TBR.

This book took me by surprise and had me sucked in for the entire ride! Pop star Harlow Hayes has been arrested for murder. Naomi is a news reporter working for C*Leb news, and she's taken a special interest in this case. This book is filled with all the celebrity gossip and conspiracy theories you will need to keep you engaged from start to end. Reading this book made me feel like I was down a real-life rabbit hole of the internet trying to decode a real-life celebrity scandal. With interviews, tiktok doomscrolling, and research, this story will take you on your own investigator journey. So many twists and turns that will leave you never know what is coming next!

This was fun but ultimately not my cup of tea. I didn’t vibe with the writing style at all. I will give them credit for using song lyrics to sprinkle clues throughout the story, though.

Rumoured was a really fun read. It was like a puzzle in book form. I really enjoyed the conspiracy angle. Tying in the Beatles and their lore was really interesting. I loved that the lyrics throughout were sort of a puzzle to figure out. I started to get a little annoyed by the articles and social media posts that were included. Didn't necessarily love the parallels to Taylor Swift. That just feels sort of done at this point. I thought that the story did feel a little too long and in places, especially in the first half or so, you can really feel it too.
Overall for a mystery this is completely over the top. You definitely have to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy the story. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The last 30% is by far the best of the book. It's super fast paced and finally getting to watch everything unfold in such an orchestrated way is really satisfying. An enjoyable mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I didn’t care for Naomi but I guess that’s expected.

Loved all the twist!! !!

Loved the conspiracy theory aspect.

About 3.5 stars.

An original thriller with a concept I don't recall reading about before. Full of celebrity gossip, rumors, and scandal. It had potential, but it wasn't one I particularly enjoyed. It was too slow for me. It didn't really get interesting until the last 20%. I didn't enjoy how it was laid out. It included an EXCESSIVE amount of music lyrics, internet articles, and interviews. The hidden Easter eggs were a little fun. All the conspiracy theories were interesting, especially the Beatles ones. I'd recommend if you're looking for a different kind of thriller with a Taylor Swift type scandal.

Rumoured is a drama-filled thrilled perfect for fans of pop culture gossip! The beginning can feel a little bit scattered because there is so much going on but I loved the last half of the book! I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

"The last word is mine, I finished the game."

Wow, this was a lot to unpack. One of the coolest things is how we get taken along on a journey of sleuthing as a journalist. The articles and comments within the book that document Harlowe, Colton...etc throughout the years, along with people sharing their opinions  shows how we are in an age of how our moves are always being watched by someone.

I loved The Beatles' reference and how it adds a layer into the story.. The authors give us our own little Easter eggs as icing on the cake. If you're a fan of mystery and a mood reader, this book is definitely for you!

📕 Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ 📕

Title: Rumoured
Author: Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso
Publisher: Head of Zeus-an Aries Book
Format: 📖
Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date: 10/7/2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC and for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Do you love celebrity news? Gobble up gossip about singing artist? Then this book is for you. I couldn’t stop thinking of TMZ and Deuxmoi when reading this book. The premise is that Naomi Barnes is an investigative journalist for a celebrity gossip columnist and gets called in to work on a breaking case for a famous singer Harlow Hayes, who is accused of murder. You will follow along with her as she unearths clue to figure out if Harlow is a murder or if something else is amiss… I also kept comparing this to if Taylor Swift had been accused of murders!

I won’t give too many more details as there are some crazy twists and turns but by 50% I couldn’t put the book down.

QOTD: Do you follow celebrity gossip? What celebrity are you most interested in knowing more about?!

#gossip #ARCreview #debutauthor #Rumoured

When I looked at this book, the synopsis sounded good, but it was the title and the cover that grabbed my attention and let me tell you, when I was finished, this book ranked as one of my top 5 reads of 2025 thus far! Rumored by the Mancaruso sisters has it all!

Naomi Barnes dreamed of being an investigative journalist. After the death of her sister, she left the east coast behind and found herself working as a reporter for C*Leb News in LA. When word breaks that world famous pop star Harlow Hayes has been murdered, Naomi finds herself on a red eye to New York. With very few details emerging, Naomi starts working her contacts to dig up all the juicy dirt. As the story begins to unfold in the media, Naomi continues to follow the clues that take her on a journey that hits a little too close to home.

There are so many things I would like to say but I fear that saying too much will give things away and this is a book that does not deserve to be spoiled. It deserves to be read and devoured for all the dark chaos that it is!!

The writing was impeccable as was the formatting. The tabloid clips make the reader feel like they are wrapped up in the scandal and the characters are so richly developed. Everything from the players, the music, the scandal…..it is all so vivid and alive on the pages. I read this book in one sitting, and I mean I literally stayed up all night until it was finished!

Drama, scandal, wit…This book was so smartly written. With the feel of present-day society, complete with the social media vibe, celebrity allure, conspiracy theories, internet sleuths and ties to pop culture, this book is relevant, fun, dark and filled with all kinds of plot twists. This book should be on everyone’s reading list!

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury, Head of Zeus – An Aries Book and Camp Net Galley for the arc of this book and for getting it on my radar. Such a fabulous read!

Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso is a clever mystery.

Entertainment Reporter Naomi Barnes is assigned to cover the shocking arrest pop star Harlow Hayes. Returning to NYC from LA brings up painful memories of her sister Faye’s death. While digging up information about Harlow, Naomi goes down an internet rabbit hole that leads her to a stunning conclusion.

Naomi is a talented writer but she soon becomes quite obsessed with Harlow. Her quest for answers leads to unexpected suspicions and conspiracy theories. When she loses her objectivity, Naomi explores every plausible theory she uncovers. Will anyone believe Noami her investigation unearths a shocking discovery?

Rumoured is an intriguing mystery that requires suspension of disbelief to fully enjoy. Naomi is a smart woman but some of her decisions are questionable. She is also somewhat irritating and out of control at times. The storyline is interesting and takes unanticipated twists and turns. Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso brings their debut mystery to a shocking conclusion.

#NetGalleyBootCamp

This was a fun one! Fast-paced and celebrity-focused, this was an enjoyable read!

I particularly enjoyed the addition of all the different media elements: news articles, social media posts, song lyrics. They helped the story feel more immersive and kept up the quick pacing! As a fellow Swiftie, the references and Easter Eggs were a fun element!

However, I did see the main twist coming from pretty early on. It’s a good one but I love being jaw-dropped shocked! That said, I would read more by this sister duo of authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the eARC!

An iconic popstar involved in a murder mystery, scandal, chaotic, drama and secrets - this book was a wild and very entertaining ride! There are so many Easter eggs along the way and a must read for people that love reading about celebrities and tabloid culture.

Naomi, an entertainment reporter, relocated to Los Angeles after her sister’s passing a few years ago. Now, she’s returning to New York City to cover a story about the recent arrest of celebrity Harlow Hayes for murder. As a Hollywood reporter, Naomi operates more like a detective, meticulously piecing together the released information and acquiring her own leads. She’s not afraid to resort to questionable methods to uncover the truth behind this intriguing case.

I thoroughly enjoyed the social media posts, interviews, and lyrics interspersed throughout the book. The pace was fast-paced, making it an engaging read. If you’re a fan of celebrity gossip, conspiracy theories, and mysteries, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Rumored by The Mancaruso Sisters is a twisty thriller that I enjoyed.

The twist was really different. The plot was not well executed, though and it went in so many different directions, I felt confused.

It was a good read but not the best.

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 3/5 ⭐️

Rumoured by Kelly Mancaruso and Kristina Mancaruso is a mystery following Naomi a celebrity journalist as she covers a murder and possible arrest of a famous pop star.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

There was a lot I liked about this book. I enjoyed the way it added in the lyrics of the songs, the research pages Naomi was viewing, and other articles that were apart of the story. I think it gave it a fresh feel.

I did have a hard time following along in the first half though as it seemed to bounce around a lot and didn’t really seem to have a stable plot line and was a little slow. However, once it picked up and I could grasp the story I was definitely interested.

Interesting plot twist and I enjoyed how it wrapped up. I think some things could have been described a little better as some parts did seem rushed towards the end.
Overall an interesting read!