Review: Famous For a Living by Melissa Ferguson

 

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

Publication Date: April 25th 2023 by Thomas Nelson

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 7hrs 49min

Narrator: Talon David

Source: Publisher & Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

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!

4 Suns

Book Description:

From Park Avenue to the Parks Department—the world’s most beloved social media star is about to get a rude awakening.

With her millions of followers, Cat Cranwell is adored around the world. But when an app partnership goes very, very wrong, Cat suddenly finds herself shunned from the community that not only fed her soul all these years but paid her bills. When Cat’s closest living relative, Uncle Terry, offers her a position on his staff at a small national park in Montana to get away from the city, Cat hesitantly accepts the opportunity.

What she doesn’t realize is that as the new social media strategist her goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park by boosting the number of visitors. And at least one of her new colleagues—namely, handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson—thinks social media is the root of everything that’s wrong with the world. Written with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson’s signature wit and charm, this romantic comedy of opposites attract is full of hilarious romp and a romance that will melt readers’ hearts.