Scan barcode
withloveandlights's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie in a book, this is one of the very few I have found. Full of wholesome moments and relevant discussions about social media with no smut in sight.
I agree that the cover does not match the setting of the book. Definitely a winter read!!
I agree that the cover does not match the setting of the book. Definitely a winter read!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Child abuse
lealovesbooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Addiction, and Car accident
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - Fiction for providing me with a free e-ARC.
One minute, Cat Cranwell was going to be the face of the new social media platform that will take over the world. The next, Cat is almost friendless and hiding from the paparazzi after her partner was caught stealing users’ data information and is left to face the lawsuits all alone. At the encouragement of her uncle, she agrees to work at Kannery National Park as their new social media director. When the park is threatened to be absorbed and Cat finds herself getting close to her new co-workers, including ranger Zaiah, Cat has to find herself again out of the spotlight.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of this book, I do think that Famous for a Living is the right book for somebody.
My main issue with the book was Ferguson’s writing style. I don’t know what it is, but it felt like the writing was choppy and off, especially with some of the sentence structure. I first noticed this during Cat and Zaiah’s first meet cute in the city and I felt like it didn’t really flow together. From there, you get instances throughout the book of weird sentence structure, specifically a lot of one sentence paragraphs and an overuse of hyphenated words turned sentences.
Additionally, while the cast of characters were good, there were at times that the characters felt like caricatures. For me, I don’t particularly like books that are exaggerated stereotypes of some character plot device, like the chronically online character or the character that doesn’t use any technology to the point that they might be considered a hermit.
Yet, that’s not to say that there was nothing I liked about this book.
Nevertheless, this book wasn’t for me. I think if you’re looking for a more women’s fiction type of novel that’s set in a National Park and emphasizes the need to unplug, Famous for a Living might be the book for you.
One minute, Cat Cranwell was going to be the face of the new social media platform that will take over the world. The next, Cat is almost friendless and hiding from the paparazzi after her partner was caught stealing users’ data information and is left to face the lawsuits all alone. At the encouragement of her uncle, she agrees to work at Kannery National Park as their new social media director. When the park is threatened to be absorbed and Cat finds herself getting close to her new co-workers, including ranger Zaiah, Cat has to find herself again out of the spotlight.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of this book, I do think that Famous for a Living is the right book for somebody.
My main issue with the book was Ferguson’s writing style. I don’t know what it is, but it felt like the writing was choppy and off, especially with some of the sentence structure. I first noticed this during Cat and Zaiah’s first meet cute in the city and I felt like it didn’t really flow together. From there, you get instances throughout the book of weird sentence structure, specifically a lot of one sentence paragraphs and an overuse of hyphenated words turned sentences.
Additionally, while the cast of characters were good, there were at times that the characters felt like caricatures. For me, I don’t particularly like books that are exaggerated stereotypes of some character plot device, like the chronically online character or the character that doesn’t use any technology to the point that they might be considered a hermit.
Yet, that’s not to say that there was nothing I liked about this book.
Nevertheless, this book wasn’t for me. I think if you’re looking for a more women’s fiction type of novel that’s set in a National Park and emphasizes the need to unplug, Famous for a Living might be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death
saliwali's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, Car accident, and Addiction
Minor: Body shaming, Death, and Emotional abuse
greenherring's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, and Child abuse
peachani's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Almost DNFed after the reveal of why Zaiah hates phones and social media. His reason isn't wrong, but it felt preachy and his reaction to mark was very "noble idiot" to the point of maybe being kinda ableist? I wish Cat's change hadn't been prompted by him. She seemed to be on the way without his input and I think the story would have been stronger if the impetus was all hers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Ableism, and Stalking
bellajune819's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, and Physical abuse
readingbetweenthevines's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I’m so excited to be a part of Booksparks #SRC2023 #BooksAndRec summer reading challenge!
The first book on my list was Famous For A Living by Melissa Ferguson, I went in blind and it was such a lovely surprise!
While not the romance I was expecting, the relationship between Cat and Zaiah was a sweet addition to this lovely story. Famous For A Living follows influencer Cat Cranwell’s fall from grace when her business partners shady dealings come to light.
Seeing Cat come into her own, away from the big city, and away from her influencer lifestyle while living in the Montana wilderness was really sweet, I loved the friendships she developed with her uncles interns and all the fun activities they got up to!
Famous For A Living really made my heart so full, this was my first time reading Melissa Ferguson, and I look forward to reading her backlist!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Minor: Child abuse
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Main takeaway: I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
After reading Meet Me in the Margins by this author last summer and absolutely loving it, I was expecting this one to be another roll-around-on-the-floor-laughing-out-loud read. And while there were comedic moments, it was hard for me to get past the main character, who I found a bit insufferable.
The major point of drama in this book is that the main character, Cat, got “cancelled” for being the partner and face of a large app that had a massive data breach due to her not taking the time to read a contract properly with a lawyer. Were we, the readers, supposed to feel bad for her after her company was responsible for a massive data breach, and then face the consequences of her actions? It was sort of a weird commentary on cancel culture that left me feeling confused and a bit off-put. I feel the same way with the statement on social media, which came off as judgmental of social media addiction, yet also supportive of social media as a pillar of your life? Idk, I honestly felt confused by what the main takeaway should’ve been on this topic.
All that being said, I found that despite the issues I had with this book, I still enjoyed the writing style and felt engaged throughout the book. It’s missing the humour element that Meet Me in the Margins had, but I enjoyed hearing Cat’s inner dialogue. I also didn’t want to put this book down either because I found the description of the setting and small town, remote life in Montana to be so cozily atmospheric, which left me with a bit of a book hangover (which has since been resolved since picking up The Suite Spot by Trish Doller).
I’m honestly struggling with how to rate this book because I liked and disliked it in equal measure. But I do appreciate Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this book.
After reading Meet Me in the Margins by this author last summer and absolutely loving it, I was expecting this one to be another roll-around-on-the-floor-laughing-out-loud read. And while there were comedic moments, it was hard for me to get past the main character, who I found a bit insufferable.
The major point of drama in this book is that the main character, Cat, got “cancelled” for being the partner and face of a large app that had a massive data breach due to her not taking the time to read a contract properly with a lawyer. Were we, the readers, supposed to feel bad for her after her company was responsible for a massive data breach, and then face the consequences of her actions? It was sort of a weird commentary on cancel culture that left me feeling confused and a bit off-put. I feel the same way with the statement on social media, which came off as judgmental of social media addiction, yet also supportive of social media as a pillar of your life? Idk, I honestly felt confused by what the main takeaway should’ve been on this topic.
All that being said, I found that despite the issues I had with this book, I still enjoyed the writing style and felt engaged throughout the book. It’s missing the humour element that Meet Me in the Margins had, but I enjoyed hearing Cat’s inner dialogue. I also didn’t want to put this book down either because I found the description of the setting and small town, remote life in Montana to be so cozily atmospheric, which left me with a bit of a book hangover (which has since been resolved since picking up The Suite Spot by Trish Doller).
I’m honestly struggling with how to rate this book because I liked and disliked it in equal measure. But I do appreciate Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Child abuse, and Grief
More...