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Famous for a Living: A Novel
She's Insta-famous. He uses a flip phone.
When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Desperate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi documenting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana. About as far as possible from life as she’s known it.
Cat’s world shifts from the swirling haze of likes and comments to literal blizzards of frostbite temperatures and waist-deep snow. In place of negotiating brand deals, she finds herself negotiating at the ledge of a frozen lake with her die-hard Polar Bear Plunge coworkers. Instead of padding through the marble kitchen of her Manhattan loft, she’s sharing a tent-sized cabin with a roommate eager to bond like characters in sitcoms. But something curious is also happening in this overwhelming breath of fresh air as she reacquaints with the most honest parts of herself and begins to ask the hard questions. Can Cat love herself with, and without, the world watching?
Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.
When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Desperate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi documenting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana. About as far as possible from life as she’s known it.
Cat’s world shifts from the swirling haze of likes and comments to literal blizzards of frostbite temperatures and waist-deep snow. In place of negotiating brand deals, she finds herself negotiating at the ledge of a frozen lake with her die-hard Polar Bear Plunge coworkers. Instead of padding through the marble kitchen of her Manhattan loft, she’s sharing a tent-sized cabin with a roommate eager to bond like characters in sitcoms. But something curious is also happening in this overwhelming breath of fresh air as she reacquaints with the most honest parts of herself and begins to ask the hard questions. Can Cat love herself with, and without, the world watching?
Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.
309 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2023
287 people are currently reading
13923 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Ferguson
14books2,276followersBestselling author Melissa Ferguson lives in Tennessee, where she enjoys chasing her children and writing romantic comedies full of humor and heart. Her favorite hobby is taking friends and acquaintances and turning them into characters in her books without their knowledge.
Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at:
Instagram: @our_friendly_farmhouse
TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
Website:
Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at:
Instagram: @our_friendly_farmhouse
TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
Website:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,790 reviews
April 18, 2023
This book is a journey but for me it was not a romantic journey (yes, there is some romance) but more the journey that Cat Cranwell takes while learning what is important in life. Cat Cranwell has millions of followers as an influencer but when an app partnership goes wrong, she loses followers and is shunned by the social medial influencer community. Her uncle Terry offers her a job working at a small national park in Montana and she accepts.
It's not what she was imagining. She will not be living the life of luxury. She is not prepared for the elements; or is she with her coat with a built in heating device, or how much she will come to enjoy her time there. She also doesn't know that she was brought on to try and save the park.
Zaiah Hudson, the rugged, handsome ranger is not a fan of social media. He thinks it is the root of everything that is wrong in this world. He is a nature lover and proud of where he lives. He does his best to show Cat just how beautiful the park is even in the winter.
is more women's fiction or chick-lit than it is romance. Yes, there is romance, but Cat does not get asked out on a date until the 78% mark in the book. For me this was about her learning that there is more to life than being on your phone 24/7. She finds purpose and has fun along the way.
There is some wit and charm in this book. I think calling this a romance is a stretch. Yes, yes, there is romance but for me it occurs so late in the book (which I am not complaining about) that it is more women's fiction in my mind.
I enjoyed how the romance built slowly actually. Opposites do, as they say, attract. There is no insta love in this book, which I am glad for. But I do love how Cat changes and grows in the book. There is also a lesson here about the dangers of social media and being plugged into your phone and NOT knowing what is happening around you. There is some food for thought in this book.
Enjoyable, relevant, cute, thought provoking.
*I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
It's not what she was imagining. She will not be living the life of luxury. She is not prepared for the elements; or is she with her coat with a built in heating device, or how much she will come to enjoy her time there. She also doesn't know that she was brought on to try and save the park.
Zaiah Hudson, the rugged, handsome ranger is not a fan of social media. He thinks it is the root of everything that is wrong in this world. He is a nature lover and proud of where he lives. He does his best to show Cat just how beautiful the park is even in the winter.
is more women's fiction or chick-lit than it is romance. Yes, there is romance, but Cat does not get asked out on a date until the 78% mark in the book. For me this was about her learning that there is more to life than being on your phone 24/7. She finds purpose and has fun along the way.
There is some wit and charm in this book. I think calling this a romance is a stretch. Yes, yes, there is romance but for me it occurs so late in the book (which I am not complaining about) that it is more women's fiction in my mind.
I enjoyed how the romance built slowly actually. Opposites do, as they say, attract. There is no insta love in this book, which I am glad for. But I do love how Cat changes and grows in the book. There is also a lesson here about the dangers of social media and being plugged into your phone and NOT knowing what is happening around you. There is some food for thought in this book.
Enjoyable, relevant, cute, thought provoking.
*I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
May 31, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy.
This was insanely disappointing� I really need authors to stop marketing their books as ‘romance� when the romance is only 20% of the book. Up until 50% the so-called main characters had only had 4 encounters so far and they went on their first date at the 70-something mark. While there were hints about the relationship, there was no chemistry and no development. It felt like they decided to go out out of the blue.
The same thing goes for the characters too, there was no character development and we didn’t learn about their personalities or anything. It felt like we were skipping a few chapters every time and I was constantly confused about whether I forgot to read a couple of chapters or I missed something. The plot really had the potential but this was a very poor execution.
This was insanely disappointing� I really need authors to stop marketing their books as ‘romance� when the romance is only 20% of the book. Up until 50% the so-called main characters had only had 4 encounters so far and they went on their first date at the 70-something mark. While there were hints about the relationship, there was no chemistry and no development. It felt like they decided to go out out of the blue.
The same thing goes for the characters too, there was no character development and we didn’t learn about their personalities or anything. It felt like we were skipping a few chapters every time and I was constantly confused about whether I forgot to read a couple of chapters or I missed something. The plot really had the potential but this was a very poor execution.
October 6, 2023
I try not to hate Famous for a Living. But I just can't. The story is about the heroine who is social media influencer that lost everything. She was forced to leave big city to middle of nowhere. It could be very interesting. Miss Ferguson has the right concept about the story.
What I hate is the self center writing style. Maybe it is because the theme of the story is social media influencer or something that Miss Ferguson trying to connect with generation X or milenial to understand her story.
Well I am not from either generation.
Overall this book has so much potential, but wreck it on writing.
2 stars
What I hate is the self center writing style. Maybe it is because the theme of the story is social media influencer or something that Miss Ferguson trying to connect with generation X or milenial to understand her story.
Well I am not from either generation.
Overall this book has so much potential, but wreck it on writing.
2 stars
January 16, 2023
When I saw this cover, I had to immediately pick it up. I was craving an escape in the national park rom com. Cat Cranwell is a big social media influencer, however, when her business partner is accused of financial crimes, she runs away from the paparazzi by going to the national park in Montanna. Can Cat survive a life outside the penthouse? Of course, there is a love interest who is a grumpy park ranger who hates social media. He even has a flip phone. It definitely reads more like women’s fiction with a side of romance. It also deals with heavy topics,such as the dangers of social media and being dependent/over exposed on it. Overall, this is a cute, lighthearted, wholesome, and a quick read.
Thank you Thomas Nelson-Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Thank you Thomas Nelson-Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
June 2, 2023
My main problem here was that I didn't like the main character. She was SO SHALLOW, every time she'd describe something I'd be like oh no here we go again. I was so tired of all the brands being mentioned from the second time it happened, and it kept happening many times after that.
I was kind of hoping this would be a cute listen, but the writing kept boring me and I felt like not much was going on, especially in the romance department.
I don't know though, if having more romance in would've made this book better, because Cat would still be unlikeable.
There were a few scenes that reminded me of Maggie Moves On, which was an okay book, but Famous for a Living was kind of meh. I don't even have much to say about it, it was that forgettable.
I was kind of hoping this would be a cute listen, but the writing kept boring me and I felt like not much was going on, especially in the romance department.
I don't know though, if having more romance in would've made this book better, because Cat would still be unlikeable.
There were a few scenes that reminded me of Maggie Moves On, which was an okay book, but Famous for a Living was kind of meh. I don't even have much to say about it, it was that forgettable.
May 16, 2023
4.5 loved.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be on two separate campaigns for this amazing book. It was such a pleasant surprise and really wowed my socks off. I had no expectations going in - I didn't remember the summary, hadn't looked at any reviews, and I would recommend you go in as blind as I did. You will LOVE this book because it just makes me so darn happy. If you have the physical copy, the Instagram screen grabs between each chapter are a really great touch. I loved this. The audiobook was so fun. The narrator did an awesome job and the author wrote a really charming, engaging book that had some great lessons. I loved that this book promoted being more present in life (rather than on our phones all the time), appreciating nature and our surroundings and just how much we really have in life. I also loved that the main character was a positive person who was very glass half full (without being annoying). That aspect really made me look at myself and how I'm not good enough at being that person and I should be (more glass half full). I loved all the characters, I loved how much this made me laugh and I loved that this wasn't a romance. It's just my opinion, but it focused more on being the best version of yourself and I think that's more important. It definitely had some romantic parts, but it wasn't the focus and I think that was deftly handled by the author.
If you're still reading, I really hope this post encourages you to pick this book up in whatever format you love. It's that good and well worth your time. I will definitely be reading more of this author!
Thank you to UpLitReads, Booksparks, Libro.fm, Thomas Nelson & the author for the gifted copies for me to provide an honest review.
Review Date: 05/16/2023
Pub Date: 5/16/2023
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be on two separate campaigns for this amazing book. It was such a pleasant surprise and really wowed my socks off. I had no expectations going in - I didn't remember the summary, hadn't looked at any reviews, and I would recommend you go in as blind as I did. You will LOVE this book because it just makes me so darn happy. If you have the physical copy, the Instagram screen grabs between each chapter are a really great touch. I loved this. The audiobook was so fun. The narrator did an awesome job and the author wrote a really charming, engaging book that had some great lessons. I loved that this book promoted being more present in life (rather than on our phones all the time), appreciating nature and our surroundings and just how much we really have in life. I also loved that the main character was a positive person who was very glass half full (without being annoying). That aspect really made me look at myself and how I'm not good enough at being that person and I should be (more glass half full). I loved all the characters, I loved how much this made me laugh and I loved that this wasn't a romance. It's just my opinion, but it focused more on being the best version of yourself and I think that's more important. It definitely had some romantic parts, but it wasn't the focus and I think that was deftly handled by the author.
If you're still reading, I really hope this post encourages you to pick this book up in whatever format you love. It's that good and well worth your time. I will definitely be reading more of this author!
Thank you to UpLitReads, Booksparks, Libro.fm, Thomas Nelson & the author for the gifted copies for me to provide an honest review.
Review Date: 05/16/2023
Pub Date: 5/16/2023
May 29, 2023
I wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. I feel like the concept was great, but I really disliked the execution. The writing felt a little boring, and I didn’t find the romance believable.
June 25, 2023
3.5⭐️. I binged this sweet romcom over the course of an evening and definitely enjoyed it. It is always fun to read about influencers and the influencer life gone awry, and this book really nailed the idea of being famous for…well being famous. I loved the juxtaposition of our two MC’s and how much they each helped the other shape and grow by pushing each other out of their respective comfort zones.
Thank you {partners} TLC Book Tours, Uplit Reads, and Librofm for my gifted copies.
Thank you {partners} TLC Book Tours, Uplit Reads, and Librofm for my gifted copies.
June 15, 2023
2 stars
I love a Hallmark movie romance plot as much as the next person but I require them to be at least a tiny bit original or, you know, accurate. This book was perfectly set up with Cat being a disgraced influencer who moved back to a small town (or into a national park her uncle was the...something of? Head ranger? Overlord?) and a hot mountain man guy who helped her survive her idiotic City girl impulses like improper footwear and driving a convertible Mercedes in the snow. Sounds great, right? Well you would be WRONG.
This book, in the year 2023, requires you to believe:
- mason jars were never popular and this influencer made them sell out across the country! I did not suffer through the hipster and Pioneer Woman eras where we made small batch pickles and poured carafes of water into mason jars for this crap.
- a national park needs a City girl influencer to make them popular and boost attendance so they aren't absorbed into Glacier National Park??? ???? In what world would a national park in Montana, you know, where the 10th most visited park is, not also be popular? ???? The least visited parks are in remote parts of Alaska a park in Montana you can easily drive right to would not have these problems. And not having enough visitors wouldn't lead to them being not a national park anymore ???? They are for preservation not making a profit?? And how on earth would more Instagram followers help any of this anyway. Absurd.
- that a side character with a full time job can easily sew 200 intricate custom cozies at a time for the new mason jar trend and not want to throw themselves and their sewing machine into the nearest river from burnout.
But those aren't even the worst parts. Nope. That would be that the entire book is actually a Very Special Episode about the dangers of social media because it will lead you to text while driving, cause a car crash, and go to jail like the male main character's (whose name is Zaiah...) ex girlfriend. So flip phone Zaiah now hates everything to do with social media and how will he and Cat the influencer who is addicted to her phone work this out??? Through the power of love and her leaving her phone at home during a date obviously. And eventually her changing nothing about herself, staying an influencer, and Zaiah getting over his phone trauma I guess.
Oh, and also there is an epilogue baby. Gross.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love a Hallmark movie romance plot as much as the next person but I require them to be at least a tiny bit original or, you know, accurate. This book was perfectly set up with Cat being a disgraced influencer who moved back to a small town (or into a national park her uncle was the...something of? Head ranger? Overlord?) and a hot mountain man guy who helped her survive her idiotic City girl impulses like improper footwear and driving a convertible Mercedes in the snow. Sounds great, right? Well you would be WRONG.
This book, in the year 2023, requires you to believe:
- mason jars were never popular and this influencer made them sell out across the country! I did not suffer through the hipster and Pioneer Woman eras where we made small batch pickles and poured carafes of water into mason jars for this crap.
- a national park needs a City girl influencer to make them popular and boost attendance so they aren't absorbed into Glacier National Park??? ???? In what world would a national park in Montana, you know, where the 10th most visited park is, not also be popular? ???? The least visited parks are in remote parts of Alaska a park in Montana you can easily drive right to would not have these problems. And not having enough visitors wouldn't lead to them being not a national park anymore ???? They are for preservation not making a profit?? And how on earth would more Instagram followers help any of this anyway. Absurd.
- that a side character with a full time job can easily sew 200 intricate custom cozies at a time for the new mason jar trend and not want to throw themselves and their sewing machine into the nearest river from burnout.
But those aren't even the worst parts. Nope. That would be that the entire book is actually a Very Special Episode about the dangers of social media because it will lead you to text while driving, cause a car crash, and go to jail like the male main character's (whose name is Zaiah...) ex girlfriend. So flip phone Zaiah now hates everything to do with social media and how will he and Cat the influencer who is addicted to her phone work this out??? Through the power of love and her leaving her phone at home during a date obviously. And eventually her changing nothing about herself, staying an influencer, and Zaiah getting over his phone trauma I guess.
Oh, and also there is an epilogue baby. Gross.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2023
Cat Cranwell is a famous Instagramer with millions of followers until an app partnership leads her to be “canceled�. Cat had partnered up with a shifty friend, got pressured to sign last minute documents and then it was discovered it wasn’t aboveboard. Many followers and brands dropped and vilified her. Now as the case goes to court her best friend, Serena, encourages Cat to take Uncle Terry’s offer of a job in Montana working for the small Kannery National Park, to get her out of the city and out of the public eye. Uncle Terry is Cat’s closest family member, and beloved father figure and she knows part of the offer is to help Cat get out of the spotlight. But the park does really need her help to get it noticed more so it’s not absorbed into the giant Glacier National Park.
Famous for a Living was very much about Cat’s journey figuring out what’s important in life without trading in her identity. Cat was likeable and thoughtful from the beginning, so it wasn’t like she needed major positive changes, but more that she got swept up by fame and maybe missed the important bits of living, like being in the moment and not concerned with every “like� or with being at the top of popularity. Social media can be really great, but it can also overtake a person’s life, and I thought the story captured the positives and negatives well.
Zaiah, even though he clearly didn’t like social media, wasn’t judgmental and appreciated all Cat could do, but he had a history that made his position make sense. He was an absolute sweetheart and I loved seeing them get close and fall in love.
I loved the setting! The rustic cabins, the snowy mountains, pines, wildlife, and the fun local winter festivals! The cast of secondary characters from Uncle Terry, Cat’s BFF Serena, Mina, to Kevin were quirky and so much fun! I laughed out loud so many times!
Famous for a Living was engaging, low drama, and a just a pure delight! Loved everything about it!
I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version. I really enjoyed Talon David’s performance of both female and male characters! She enhanced an already wonderful story! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed. I recommend either version!
A copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via Netgalley and Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
Famous for a Living was very much about Cat’s journey figuring out what’s important in life without trading in her identity. Cat was likeable and thoughtful from the beginning, so it wasn’t like she needed major positive changes, but more that she got swept up by fame and maybe missed the important bits of living, like being in the moment and not concerned with every “like� or with being at the top of popularity. Social media can be really great, but it can also overtake a person’s life, and I thought the story captured the positives and negatives well.
Zaiah, even though he clearly didn’t like social media, wasn’t judgmental and appreciated all Cat could do, but he had a history that made his position make sense. He was an absolute sweetheart and I loved seeing them get close and fall in love.
I loved the setting! The rustic cabins, the snowy mountains, pines, wildlife, and the fun local winter festivals! The cast of secondary characters from Uncle Terry, Cat’s BFF Serena, Mina, to Kevin were quirky and so much fun! I laughed out loud so many times!
Famous for a Living was engaging, low drama, and a just a pure delight! Loved everything about it!
I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version. I really enjoyed Talon David’s performance of both female and male characters! She enhanced an already wonderful story! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed. I recommend either version!
A copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via Netgalley and Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2023
Cute!
In Famous for a Living, Catherine (Cat) leaves her beloved New York City behind to temporarily live at Kannery National Park in Montana. She only leaves NYC because her name and livelihood have been linked to scandal.
Talk about a culture shock! From fast paced and crowded to slow paced and isolated. There are the expected chuckles as Cat makes rookie mistakes in the wilds of Montana. Beneath that surface though, she finds time for self reflection of what's really important in her life.
There's a great cast of characters in this novel. And the cover is perfect. I listened to the audio book version of the novel. Nice job by the narrator. While I didn't love this as much as Meet Me in the Margins (also via audio book), Famous for a Living is a fun read with heart and meaning.
My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In Famous for a Living, Catherine (Cat) leaves her beloved New York City behind to temporarily live at Kannery National Park in Montana. She only leaves NYC because her name and livelihood have been linked to scandal.
Talk about a culture shock! From fast paced and crowded to slow paced and isolated. There are the expected chuckles as Cat makes rookie mistakes in the wilds of Montana. Beneath that surface though, she finds time for self reflection of what's really important in her life.
There's a great cast of characters in this novel. And the cover is perfect. I listened to the audio book version of the novel. Nice job by the narrator. While I didn't love this as much as Meet Me in the Margins (also via audio book), Famous for a Living is a fun read with heart and meaning.
My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 23, 2023
A super cute hate to love romance set in a national park. It makes me want to go out west hiking.
May 4, 2023
This had so many great discussions on social media and its addictiveness. I appreciated that Cat wasn’t a caricature of an influencer but rather a genuinely kind person simply needing a better balance with her phone.
After a partnership goes terribly wrong, landing Cat in a scandal, she heads to Kannery National Park in Montana—her uncle offering a position in charge of their social media presence. This was such a calming, beautiful setting, along with its quirky cast of characters, to help push Cat towards living more in the moment.
As Cat helps revamp their advertising (proving there is also a positive, beneficial side to social media), a romance slowly builds with the ruggedly handsome park ranger Zaiah.
For some reason I wasn’t overly invested in their relationship, but I really liked the perspective Zaiah brought to the story. His negative associations with social media (and phone usage in general, really) had a much deeper reasoning than I expected. I loved the message this story leaves you with.
(heat level: kissing only)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
After a partnership goes terribly wrong, landing Cat in a scandal, she heads to Kannery National Park in Montana—her uncle offering a position in charge of their social media presence. This was such a calming, beautiful setting, along with its quirky cast of characters, to help push Cat towards living more in the moment.
As Cat helps revamp their advertising (proving there is also a positive, beneficial side to social media), a romance slowly builds with the ruggedly handsome park ranger Zaiah.
For some reason I wasn’t overly invested in their relationship, but I really liked the perspective Zaiah brought to the story. His negative associations with social media (and phone usage in general, really) had a much deeper reasoning than I expected. I loved the message this story leaves you with.
(heat level: kissing only)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
April 19, 2023
God this had the biggest potential to be an absolute banger but it wasn’t used which completely wrecks me😭
June 30, 2023
I felt secondhand embarrassment for the entirety of this book. The cringe was painful 🫠
November 25, 2023
Fine. Just fine.
If you don’t like plots that center around influencers and their lives, then pass on this.
2.5 stars.
If you don’t like plots that center around influencers and their lives, then pass on this.
2.5 stars.
May 8, 2023
A popular social media influencer with millions of followers, Cat’s life comes to a halt when a partnership leads to being shunned by the very community that made her famous. Disgraced and with a potential court case in her future, Cat takes a job with her Uncle Trry in rural Montana to escape the limelight. Hired as a social media strategist for a small national park, Cat is tasked with saving the small park from being absorbed by a neighboring large park. Cat is forced to reevaluate her life, and her quest for healing comes with a lovable cast of quirky characters, an idyllic setting, and a new colleague she never expected to grow feelings for.
At the start of the story, Cat is addicted to social media and lives in a bubble of Instagram-worthy posts. Her entire life is defined by her influence on social media, and every decision is weighed against how it will help her image and enhance her career. But, as her popularity declines, Cat changes. I love that each chapter of the book begins with an Instagram post by Cat, and through them, you see how her influence changes and how her life does too. Her story is relatable, as she struggles to find balance in her life and make a living out of things she loves while not falling victim to the pressures of her old life. There’s one scene where Cat is standing on a dock and debating whether to take a risk and jump into the frigid water, and it’s such a great metaphor for where she is in life. Taking risks and stepping out of her comfort zone is difficult but a necessary part of her journey.
And then there’s Zaiah, the moody, broody, hunky ranger. He is Cat’s opposite in every way, and yet they complement each other well. Behind his gruff exterior is a thoughtful and kind nature lover. He is also a man who hates social media (for good reason), and he helps Cat find balance. I enjoyed their slow-building and burning romance, and their bickering banter and antagonistic attitudes toward each other are comical, as are their attempts to conceal their true feelings.
The found family aspect in the story is also fabulous, and I love that Cat finds a whole new family in Montana. Her roommate Mina is fantastic, as are the other rangers and park employees. It’s such a different world from the fast-paced city life Cat is used to, and I think being welcomed into this group shows her more about the important things in life � relationships, connections, and more. Serena, Cat’s New York bestie is also a great friend and addition to the story, and I like her evolution throughout the story too. Though she is not a major character, she is deeply and irrevocably influenced by what happened to Cat, and it changes the trajectory of her life as much as Cat’s.
An opposites-attract romance, relevant messages, interesting characters, and a fun plot make for an entertaining and enjoyable read. It kind of reminded me of a Hallmark movie in many ways, which isn’t a complaint � I love Hallmark movies and would definitely recommend Famous for a Living to readers who enjoy quick and clean romances or women’s fiction.
Special thanks to Spark Point Studio and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
At the start of the story, Cat is addicted to social media and lives in a bubble of Instagram-worthy posts. Her entire life is defined by her influence on social media, and every decision is weighed against how it will help her image and enhance her career. But, as her popularity declines, Cat changes. I love that each chapter of the book begins with an Instagram post by Cat, and through them, you see how her influence changes and how her life does too. Her story is relatable, as she struggles to find balance in her life and make a living out of things she loves while not falling victim to the pressures of her old life. There’s one scene where Cat is standing on a dock and debating whether to take a risk and jump into the frigid water, and it’s such a great metaphor for where she is in life. Taking risks and stepping out of her comfort zone is difficult but a necessary part of her journey.
And then there’s Zaiah, the moody, broody, hunky ranger. He is Cat’s opposite in every way, and yet they complement each other well. Behind his gruff exterior is a thoughtful and kind nature lover. He is also a man who hates social media (for good reason), and he helps Cat find balance. I enjoyed their slow-building and burning romance, and their bickering banter and antagonistic attitudes toward each other are comical, as are their attempts to conceal their true feelings.
The found family aspect in the story is also fabulous, and I love that Cat finds a whole new family in Montana. Her roommate Mina is fantastic, as are the other rangers and park employees. It’s such a different world from the fast-paced city life Cat is used to, and I think being welcomed into this group shows her more about the important things in life � relationships, connections, and more. Serena, Cat’s New York bestie is also a great friend and addition to the story, and I like her evolution throughout the story too. Though she is not a major character, she is deeply and irrevocably influenced by what happened to Cat, and it changes the trajectory of her life as much as Cat’s.
An opposites-attract romance, relevant messages, interesting characters, and a fun plot make for an entertaining and enjoyable read. It kind of reminded me of a Hallmark movie in many ways, which isn’t a complaint � I love Hallmark movies and would definitely recommend Famous for a Living to readers who enjoy quick and clean romances or women’s fiction.
Special thanks to Spark Point Studio and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
May 20, 2023
I think this was a brilliantly written book and I have not read one like it so fast before! Everything about it, from the morals, the characters, and the settings, was just perfection, and I truly loved the romance - even though it wasn't as prevalent as some others out there. It was just a warm blanket of a book!
March 13, 2023
I received an advanced reader copy of Famous for a Living in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this opportunity
I really wanted to like this book and the story I was promised - a social media influencer who is forced to lay low for a while after a scandal involving her business partner, and who realises there‘s more to life than likes and luxury fashion brands after spending some time in a snowed-in national park - but Famous for a Living sadly didn’t live up to my hopes.
The story starts off by introducing us to Cat during a launch / birthday party at her expensive New York apartment, and I couldn’t stand her from the first moment. I was hoping to be able to relate to her at least a little in terms of being way too dependent on checking my social media during any spare minute, but Cat really seemed completely detached from reality. And there‘s also a “German� character called Kiel which isn’t a remotely German name at all, but well.
Then we also have the pro-gun uncle, the texting while driving through a blizzard, the stubbornness regarding a car that results in an almost dangerous situation, the salt water in a literal lake and the plot holes like Zaiah saying somebody was there to fix the water in the hut, but then Cat has a roommate so clearly that should have been working all along and the hut should have seemed inhabited?
The character that I liked the most was Cat’s adorable roommate Mina who was so genuine and caring.
The plot was rather straightforward but couldn’t keep me hooked, the characters were very stereotypical and not very much developed and the story was more of a work of women’s fiction than a romance, but I imagine that many readers out there will enjoy it more than I did and appreciate Cat’s character arc.
2/5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book and the story I was promised - a social media influencer who is forced to lay low for a while after a scandal involving her business partner, and who realises there‘s more to life than likes and luxury fashion brands after spending some time in a snowed-in national park - but Famous for a Living sadly didn’t live up to my hopes.
The story starts off by introducing us to Cat during a launch / birthday party at her expensive New York apartment, and I couldn’t stand her from the first moment. I was hoping to be able to relate to her at least a little in terms of being way too dependent on checking my social media during any spare minute, but Cat really seemed completely detached from reality. And there‘s also a “German� character called Kiel which isn’t a remotely German name at all, but well.
Then we also have the pro-gun uncle, the texting while driving through a blizzard, the stubbornness regarding a car that results in an almost dangerous situation, the salt water in a literal lake and the plot holes like Zaiah saying somebody was there to fix the water in the hut, but then Cat has a roommate so clearly that should have been working all along and the hut should have seemed inhabited?
The character that I liked the most was Cat’s adorable roommate Mina who was so genuine and caring.
The plot was rather straightforward but couldn’t keep me hooked, the characters were very stereotypical and not very much developed and the story was more of a work of women’s fiction than a romance, but I imagine that many readers out there will enjoy it more than I did and appreciate Cat’s character arc.
2/5 stars.
November 4, 2023
The characters just truly lacked for me. I didn't enjoy or love any of them. Also, no character development. It really just made me disappointed as it's hard to continue on when the characters lack so much. I pushed through, eventually got to the "romance" part. It was okay, but not memorable.
April 18, 2023
The premise of this one is SO IMPORTANT. I honestly think people need to read it just to realize they need to find a balance between online life and real life. The further we get into social media the more important it becomes that more stories help us put our phones down. It’s different from what I’ve read before and I liked the love story part of it too.
🌀ԴDZ
Cat is an influencer for a living. That basically means she lives on her phone say and night. One small incident though and she’s shunned from the community and her career is in shambles. Left with no other options she decides to escape to Montana where her uncle Terry runs a National park staff. She’s sure it’s the end of her but the experience really ends up showing her a new way to be herself.
The cold and wild nature of the park helps her realize she doesn’t have to be glued to her phone and not everything will be picture perfect. With the help of a handsome co-worker, Zaiah, Cat starts to realize what’s truly important in her life.
Even when she returns to the city and to being famous for a living she still gives herself boundaries and sticks to them.
🌀ԴDZ
Cat is an influencer for a living. That basically means she lives on her phone say and night. One small incident though and she’s shunned from the community and her career is in shambles. Left with no other options she decides to escape to Montana where her uncle Terry runs a National park staff. She’s sure it’s the end of her but the experience really ends up showing her a new way to be herself.
The cold and wild nature of the park helps her realize she doesn’t have to be glued to her phone and not everything will be picture perfect. With the help of a handsome co-worker, Zaiah, Cat starts to realize what’s truly important in her life.
Even when she returns to the city and to being famous for a living she still gives herself boundaries and sticks to them.
May 18, 2024
Just needed a quick romance interlude. The book delivered alright on that front, but I just can't connect well with influencer/content creator characters, I know that now without a doubt.
May 23, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Melissa Ferguson for providing me with a free audiobook in return for an honest review.
Cat Cranwell is a popular influencer who shares her lifestyle with her millions of followers. She started posting her life online when she was a mere teenager but this has moved her out to New York and allows her to live in a safe and secure penthouse. When a collaboration goes terribly wrong, she makes the decision to stay with her uncle, Terry, in Montana working as the social media manager for Kannery National Park. Her goal is to boost the park's social media platforms and get the park more visitors all before going back to her life in the city.
This book was extremely light hearted and fluffy. I feel like there wasn't much of a romance aspect to this book but more of finding one's self. It was quite enjoyable and I enjoyed every second that I listened to this audiobook. I do have a few issues with the characters though. The male love interest was dry. Dessert type of dry. I feel like the author tried to go for a grumpy type of character but ended up with a grouch. The rest I enjoyed! Even though some of the chapters were long, I listened to this audiobook while cooking or doing work and I didn't see the seconds go by.
I would absolutely love if this became a series! I vote for Mina's book to be next and would really enjoy Kevin and Jack's as well because this would make such a cute little found family series.
Cat Cranwell is a popular influencer who shares her lifestyle with her millions of followers. She started posting her life online when she was a mere teenager but this has moved her out to New York and allows her to live in a safe and secure penthouse. When a collaboration goes terribly wrong, she makes the decision to stay with her uncle, Terry, in Montana working as the social media manager for Kannery National Park. Her goal is to boost the park's social media platforms and get the park more visitors all before going back to her life in the city.
This book was extremely light hearted and fluffy. I feel like there wasn't much of a romance aspect to this book but more of finding one's self. It was quite enjoyable and I enjoyed every second that I listened to this audiobook. I do have a few issues with the characters though. The male love interest was dry. Dessert type of dry. I feel like the author tried to go for a grumpy type of character but ended up with a grouch. The rest I enjoyed! Even though some of the chapters were long, I listened to this audiobook while cooking or doing work and I didn't see the seconds go by.
I would absolutely love if this became a series! I vote for Mina's book to be next and would really enjoy Kevin and Jack's as well because this would make such a cute little found family series.
December 21, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
As a work of literary fiction about a 30 year old phone-addicted woman discovering the life and its charms outside of social media, this book sort of holds up. As a romance... not so much.
Famous for a Living follows social media influencer Cat Cranwell who, after a partnership goes terribly wrong, moves to work for her uncle in Kannery national park. There she is expected to save the park by managing its social media pages and along the way, she falls for the rugged ranger Zaiah, who couldn't be opposed to her line of work and lifestyle more.
The good: the worldbuilding. I enjoyed the setting of this book, the small town life traditions and tidbits (tho they drink surprisingly large amounts of coffee and at odd hours), and especially the Parks and Recreation-esque crew of the national park. The whole picture really came together beautifully to save this book. The author also obviously has an established, clear voice and style which I'm sure her readers enjoy.
Me? Not as much.
There's a lot of this.
This.
Short sentences.
On their own.
In a paragraph.
That would all be fine and dandy had they been used for emphasis every once in a while to drive a point home. Instead, they were everywhere, making Cat sound extremely overdramatic and constantly interrupting the flow of the story.
There were also descriptions-written-in-long-hyphenated-sequences-like-this in amounts that made me wonder if they were placeholders for future edits. Not bad writing necessarily, but seems lazy after a while.
In two spots there are 15 minute scoldings happening, from Cat to Mina and from Mina to Cat. Where there could be meaningful, character building dialogue, there is none, and instead both are just described as 'lecturing' and end having left no impact.
The romance? To be honest, by the 50% mark I completely forgot Zaiah was supposed to be a love interest. I was fully invested in the rest of the plot going on and he was simply part of the cast, his defining characteristics being that he's handsome and hates phones. There was no chemistry and frankly, I didn't mind. They could've just ended as friends for all I care and Cat's character development would've been story enough.
And that was alright. The social media commentary was a bit preachy and her backstory begged for more but in the end it was satisfying enough.
If you can overlook these issues or even better, if they're non-issues to you, you'll find this a delightful story of a woman finding new meaning in a beautiful setting, but not much for the romance part of romcom.
As a work of literary fiction about a 30 year old phone-addicted woman discovering the life and its charms outside of social media, this book sort of holds up. As a romance... not so much.
Famous for a Living follows social media influencer Cat Cranwell who, after a partnership goes terribly wrong, moves to work for her uncle in Kannery national park. There she is expected to save the park by managing its social media pages and along the way, she falls for the rugged ranger Zaiah, who couldn't be opposed to her line of work and lifestyle more.
The good: the worldbuilding. I enjoyed the setting of this book, the small town life traditions and tidbits (tho they drink surprisingly large amounts of coffee and at odd hours), and especially the Parks and Recreation-esque crew of the national park. The whole picture really came together beautifully to save this book. The author also obviously has an established, clear voice and style which I'm sure her readers enjoy.
Me? Not as much.
There's a lot of this.
This.
Short sentences.
On their own.
In a paragraph.
That would all be fine and dandy had they been used for emphasis every once in a while to drive a point home. Instead, they were everywhere, making Cat sound extremely overdramatic and constantly interrupting the flow of the story.
There were also descriptions-written-in-long-hyphenated-sequences-like-this in amounts that made me wonder if they were placeholders for future edits. Not bad writing necessarily, but seems lazy after a while.
In two spots there are 15 minute scoldings happening, from Cat to Mina and from Mina to Cat. Where there could be meaningful, character building dialogue, there is none, and instead both are just described as 'lecturing' and end having left no impact.
The romance? To be honest, by the 50% mark I completely forgot Zaiah was supposed to be a love interest. I was fully invested in the rest of the plot going on and he was simply part of the cast, his defining characteristics being that he's handsome and hates phones. There was no chemistry and frankly, I didn't mind. They could've just ended as friends for all I care and Cat's character development would've been story enough.
And that was alright. The social media commentary was a bit preachy and her backstory begged for more but in the end it was satisfying enough.
If you can overlook these issues or even better, if they're non-issues to you, you'll find this a delightful story of a woman finding new meaning in a beautiful setting, but not much for the romance part of romcom.
July 6, 2023
3.5/5 stars
The premise of this story I was ALL about! Influencers, National parks, opposites attract. But it didn’t hit the spot quite like I was hoping.
The pacing felt off to me. And the romance didn’t seem realistic or flushed out. The characters barely interacted, and when they did it was a lot of assumed thoughts on “what his look meant� on Cat’s part since it was all her POV. And Z’s reason for disliking phones & social media MADE SEEENNSSEE. So it felt weird that he’d throw those all away for a girl who was literally famous for a living�
Zaiah was a GREAT ranger! He was a caring character who actively listened and cared about people. (Quietly)
I loved watching Cat realize what social media had become to her, and seeing her grow from the terrible circumstances she was in.
THE SIDE CHARACTERS MADE THIS BOOK!!! I loved the little found family!!! They were a blast!!
I did enjoy the story overall! Just wish it had had more romance, or just more talking or dates between the main characters�
The premise of this story I was ALL about! Influencers, National parks, opposites attract. But it didn’t hit the spot quite like I was hoping.
The pacing felt off to me. And the romance didn’t seem realistic or flushed out. The characters barely interacted, and when they did it was a lot of assumed thoughts on “what his look meant� on Cat’s part since it was all her POV. And Z’s reason for disliking phones & social media MADE SEEENNSSEE. So it felt weird that he’d throw those all away for a girl who was literally famous for a living�
Zaiah was a GREAT ranger! He was a caring character who actively listened and cared about people. (Quietly)
I loved watching Cat realize what social media had become to her, and seeing her grow from the terrible circumstances she was in.
THE SIDE CHARACTERS MADE THIS BOOK!!! I loved the little found family!!! They were a blast!!
I did enjoy the story overall! Just wish it had had more romance, or just more talking or dates between the main characters�
October 6, 2023
This was such a fun opposites attract romance between a disgraced influencer who escapes to rural Montana to lick her wounds and finds a new appreciation for the beauty of the natural, disconnected world. I liked this characters a lot and the setting!
Cat was an especially relatable character as someone who posts a lot on IG. Her struggle to find balance and the dangers of getting too obsessed with followers and likes really came across in this book, particularly in light of what happened to Zaiah's ex.
Great on audio narrated by Talon David and recommended for fans of books like Chick magnet by Emma Barry or the upcoming debut You, with a view by Jessica Joyce. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: kissing only
Cat was an especially relatable character as someone who posts a lot on IG. Her struggle to find balance and the dangers of getting too obsessed with followers and likes really came across in this book, particularly in light of what happened to Zaiah's ex.
Great on audio narrated by Talon David and recommended for fans of books like Chick magnet by Emma Barry or the upcoming debut You, with a view by Jessica Joyce. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: kissing only
July 21, 2023
FAMOUS FOR A LIVING
By Melissa Ferguson
Famous For a Living is about Cat Cranwell a million follower influencer shunned by the social media community after an app has gone wrong, making an escape to Montana to let this all die down. This is an absolutely charming story that warmed my heart. I really enjoyed this cozy story with one of the best character arc I have read recently.
With topics that are current and relevant, the themes in this story is sure to wow many readers.
By Melissa Ferguson
Famous For a Living is about Cat Cranwell a million follower influencer shunned by the social media community after an app has gone wrong, making an escape to Montana to let this all die down. This is an absolutely charming story that warmed my heart. I really enjoyed this cozy story with one of the best character arc I have read recently.
With topics that are current and relevant, the themes in this story is sure to wow many readers.
April 27, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I reeaalllyyy enjoyed this book and I am sooo glad that I did 😍 It was a great mix of cute and funny, while also building relationships and discussing some hard yet important topics.
In the story, we follow Cat who is a 30 year old Instagram influencer. She's on her way to huge success when she gets into some legal trouble because of her manager and is now being cancelled by everyone on the Internet. To take a mental health break from all this, her uncle Terry invites her to Kannery National Park, Montana, where he works. Here, she's tasked with social media responsibilities of the park and gets to meet the amazing crew and the grumpy brooding mmc - Zaiah.
"We're rangers Cat. You may have had some good security in the city. But here? Here you've got a team who's got your back."
I really enjoyed reading about the park and the crew there...Mina is sooo precious to me and the Cat's relationship grew with her, Jacks, Kevin and everyone else at the park was just so sweet.
The banter between Cat and Zaiah was great too. There were so many moments where I had a smile pasted on my face and my heart was warming up because of all the feels this book was giving me.
I loved Cat's character and how she grew to be even better.
This book makes you sit back and reflect on a lot things too, like the insecurity that comes with aging... Cat has been an influencer since she was about 15. And now, at the age of 30, as she looks at the younger influencers, her insecurity about her skin, her crow's feet around the eyes, it just increases... The book also talks about how social media can have positive and negative impact in a person's life and ways in which you can use it without being addicted to it... It talks about how everything you see on the Internet is mostly crafted to look perfect so, you can't believe everything you see.
It just had so much to give and I loved the book for that.
I think if you read this book as a general fiction rather than considering it as a pure romance, you'll enjoy it more ❤️
I reeaalllyyy enjoyed this book and I am sooo glad that I did 😍 It was a great mix of cute and funny, while also building relationships and discussing some hard yet important topics.
In the story, we follow Cat who is a 30 year old Instagram influencer. She's on her way to huge success when she gets into some legal trouble because of her manager and is now being cancelled by everyone on the Internet. To take a mental health break from all this, her uncle Terry invites her to Kannery National Park, Montana, where he works. Here, she's tasked with social media responsibilities of the park and gets to meet the amazing crew and the grumpy brooding mmc - Zaiah.
"We're rangers Cat. You may have had some good security in the city. But here? Here you've got a team who's got your back."
I really enjoyed reading about the park and the crew there...Mina is sooo precious to me and the Cat's relationship grew with her, Jacks, Kevin and everyone else at the park was just so sweet.
The banter between Cat and Zaiah was great too. There were so many moments where I had a smile pasted on my face and my heart was warming up because of all the feels this book was giving me.
I loved Cat's character and how she grew to be even better.
This book makes you sit back and reflect on a lot things too, like the insecurity that comes with aging... Cat has been an influencer since she was about 15. And now, at the age of 30, as she looks at the younger influencers, her insecurity about her skin, her crow's feet around the eyes, it just increases... The book also talks about how social media can have positive and negative impact in a person's life and ways in which you can use it without being addicted to it... It talks about how everything you see on the Internet is mostly crafted to look perfect so, you can't believe everything you see.
It just had so much to give and I loved the book for that.
I think if you read this book as a general fiction rather than considering it as a pure romance, you'll enjoy it more ❤️
May 30, 2023
Famous for a Living was a cute and clean romcom. It was definitely a fish out of water story, however, not in a slapstick sort of way. There were funny moments and quite a few heartfelt ones, as well.
As the book began, Cat was not a person that I could identify with at all. She was very superficial, addicted to her phone, and completely attached to anything related to fashion and fame. But, as she relocated out to Montana and connected with her uncle’s team of park rangers, lived more of a simplified life, and began to see the value in more authentic relationships, she became someone that I liked. It was interesting to see her transformation, as she still remained herself, yet a deeper version of herself.
I really liked seeing her connect with Zaiah. There was more to him and his backstory than met the eye. For that matter, Cat her her own hard backstory that helped make her the person she was. I appreciated the way he and Cat grew to care for each other and especially loved the last couple of chapters of this book, as well as the sweet epilogue.
I listened to the audio book version of this story and thought that the narrator did a very good job. She captured the emotions and voice for reading this romcom very well. Although this book is published by a Christian publisher, it is simply a clean read and I did not notice a faith element in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
As the book began, Cat was not a person that I could identify with at all. She was very superficial, addicted to her phone, and completely attached to anything related to fashion and fame. But, as she relocated out to Montana and connected with her uncle’s team of park rangers, lived more of a simplified life, and began to see the value in more authentic relationships, she became someone that I liked. It was interesting to see her transformation, as she still remained herself, yet a deeper version of herself.
I really liked seeing her connect with Zaiah. There was more to him and his backstory than met the eye. For that matter, Cat her her own hard backstory that helped make her the person she was. I appreciated the way he and Cat grew to care for each other and especially loved the last couple of chapters of this book, as well as the sweet epilogue.
I listened to the audio book version of this story and thought that the narrator did a very good job. She captured the emotions and voice for reading this romcom very well. Although this book is published by a Christian publisher, it is simply a clean read and I did not notice a faith element in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
November 27, 2022
I did request an ARC of this book without knowing that I had already read another book by the author and that I immensely disliked it. I wish I could say that this book was far better, but no, I disliked it nearly as much as Meet Me in the Margins.
Here are some of my thoughts:
- This is not a romance. The heroine does end up in a relationship, but there’s no buildup or chemistry to speak of. It doesn’t help that the hero is about as charismatic as a wet towel. Which, by the way, the heroine doesn’t mind. She still put him on a pedestal.
- I wasn’t a fan of the heroine.
- I didn’t like the writing style.
- The social media criticism came across as preachy. I’m not saying that the criticism of our obsession with our phones isn’t valid, but this wasn’t a good way to address the issue.
- There’s one really dumb scene where the heroine’s uncle screams about having the right to carry a gun. I haven’t figured out wether it was meant to be comedic, but I didn’t need to read that.
Overall this wasn’t a book I enjoyed and I personally wouldn’t recommend it.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
Here are some of my thoughts:
- This is not a romance. The heroine does end up in a relationship, but there’s no buildup or chemistry to speak of. It doesn’t help that the hero is about as charismatic as a wet towel. Which, by the way, the heroine doesn’t mind. She still put him on a pedestal.
- I wasn’t a fan of the heroine.
- I didn’t like the writing style.
- The social media criticism came across as preachy. I’m not saying that the criticism of our obsession with our phones isn’t valid, but this wasn’t a good way to address the issue.
- There’s one really dumb scene where the heroine’s uncle screams about having the right to carry a gun. I haven’t figured out wether it was meant to be comedic, but I didn’t need to read that.
Overall this wasn’t a book I enjoyed and I personally wouldn’t recommend it.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
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