A review by paytonovels
Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Some Kind of Famous

Ava Wilder has yet to fail me with absolute bangers that make me laugh, cry, and also gasp in shock and horror at the audacity of some people. 

This was so raw and messy and heartbreakingly tender. Niko is so willing to stand back and let Merritt find her way forward, and his utter lack of judgment (in spite of the [quite frankly, alarming] way that he has been warned off her) gives her the space to do so in a way that doesn’t send her running. 

Merritt is volatile and intense - because even when she’s not, she faces a continuous level of scrutiny from nearly everyone in her life that keeps her from allowing herself to be vulnerable. Mistakes (or the expectation of them) are met with such harsh pushback that she falters at the idea of even putting herself in a position where she could make them. 

And then there’s Niko - capable and patient and kind, who allows Merritt to be both sharp and vulnerable and doesn’t approach either with anything but acceptance. They see each other as whole people with whole lives, without allowing their pasts to color who they are trying to be now. 

Also like 68% of the side characters are varying degrees of awful (from “sometimes way too mean” to “this man should be in jail”) so the fact that they are not awful to each other is such a breath of fresh air! Imagine a healthy relationship flourishing despite everyone’s gnarly behavior 10/10