Format Read: eARC 

Rating: 3.5 stars

(Full disclosure: This post uses Bookshop.org affiliate links. I received a complimentary review copy of this book via NetGalley.)

Famous for a Living follows Cat, an influencer who faces public backlash and cancellation after a scandal involving a partnership gone awry. To get away from the city and improve her image, she goes to spend some time at the national park where her uncle works as a park ranger. There, she meets the attractive anti-social media ranger, Zaiah, who she can’t help but feel drawn to even though he’s very much her opposite in so many ways. 

I have never read a book where the protagonist was an influencer before, and that is what initially drew me to this book. I enjoyed seeing how Cat navigates the world and her struggles to discover who she is when all the clout has been removed. 

Often, “city girl down on her luck” is a trope that doesn’t work for me, but in this case, it did. Cat hasn’t always been a privileged influencer, and even if she works hard to hide her past, it’s left her with a resiliency that serves her well in her new surroundings. I liked seeing her surprise herself and her new found family with what she’s capable of. 

Speaking of her found family, the side characters in this book are great! I loved seeing Cat get to know her park ranger friends and how each of them has a bit more nuance than she initially expects. 

The romance is a cute grumpy/sunshine-esque vibe, with a bit of a slow burn that I enjoyed. Zaiah and Cat have some adorable banter and chemistry. That said, if you’re looking for spice, this isn’t going to be the book for you. I did also feel that things moved a bit quickly once they admitted their feelings, and that the book in general wrapped up in a neat little bow surprisingly fast. But then, I feel I am always saying that about books these days.

One last thing I want to share, which may be a bit spoiler-ish, so here is your warning to skip this if you don’t want mild spoilers. I really liked how, while the book does grapple with how socia media can be an addiction, Cat didn’t have to give up her influencer career and change in order to find her happy ending. She found a bit more balance, but she kept doing the job she loved and was good at.

Spoiler-ish bit over. 

In all, I really enjoyed Famous for a Living. I recommend it to fans of rom-coms, in particular the grumpy/sunshine trope, and to those who enjoy a story about women who uproot their lives and learn about themselves along the way. Famous for a Living comes out this Tuesday, May 16th.