The Last Celebrity

by Madeleine Henry

A mysterious vigilante group hunts down celebrities in a ruthless effort to promote equality, in this harrowing thriller by the author of My Favorite Terrible Thing.

In front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, a pop star is kidnapped by a new vigilante group called the Nomen. They leave behind a chilling manifesto leveled against the cult of celebrity, and the names of forty-nine other rising stars about to disappear forever. Bestselling author Fiona Hart is on the list.

One by one, targets vanish without a trace. Fiona can’t shake the feeling that her every move—on a public street or even in the privacy of her own apartment—is being watched. Though the world may be gripped by fear, Fiona refuses to let it destroy her. Then her friend, popular shoe designer Gwen Gordon, goes among the missing. And time is running out for Fiona.

As she unravels the Nomen’s true and twisted motivations, the last celebrity in hiding will risk anything to save herself and those she loves.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2026

About the author

Madeleine Henry is the author of five novels, including Name Not Taken and My Favorite Terrible Thing. Her work has featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Post, and Entertainment Weekly. She lives with her family in New York, where she is at work on her next book. You can find her on Instagram @MadeleineHenryYoga.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published March 10, 2026.

1 star - DNF at 52%

Suspend disbelief, all ye who enter here, because this is a doozy, a decent idea that fails utterly in the execution.

Author Fiona Hart and her best friend Gwen Gordon, (perfect name for a superhero sidekick or girlfriend) are both put on a list of up and coming celebrities who are kidnapped by an anti-fame group called the Nomen (allow me to become famous while protesting fame? Please? Pretty please?). This all happens in ridiculous fashion and, naturally, our plucky heroine escapes along with a horror writer, Cole. Gwen is taken, of course. She’s the girlfriend/sidekick, people, there is no room for her in what is certain to be inst-love one of my least favorite tropes.

And, of course, these two writers decide they can just solve the case of these dozens of missing famous people, since they have absolutely no skills for doing soon and they come up with The Worst Plan Ever (patent pending.). Hey, Nomen? I wouldn’t bother with Fiona and Cole because they are so dumb they are surely going to blow themselves up or get sideswiped by a bus and save you the trouble. Their chance of finding you looks to be about negative 78%. Or, in fact, 100% but I didn’t get that far

Despite Cole ACTUALLY SAYING, “there are professionals out there, with every known tool, whose sole focus is to find that group. You and I are not among them,” these two go off skipping to solve the case and probably get to know each other over several pricey bottles of Pinot, I don’t know.

Since I made it more than halfway through it was clearly hard for me to cut the cord on this one but I’ve been trying to get better about doing that. As I said, in the right hands this might have gone somewhere mildly entertaining, but here it just lands with a flat floop in the mud. And you could see it all happening with the 318 plot holes in the first half. Cannot recommend this at all.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy pub day!! 🥳 This book was wild!! 😳 👏 Thank you @madeleinehenryyoga for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🩷 Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the free audiobook!! 🎧 One of my favorite things about #bookstagram is new to me authors… I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Okay… buckle up babes because this is definitely wild and crazy! 😍 A vigilante group kidnapping celebrities?! 😳 I would say that this sounds crazy… but I mean.. does it?? 🤷‍♀️ At this point… anything is possible with the state of this world. 😬

So when our girl Fiona finds out that SHE is on the list… well as you can imagine she is shocked… surprised.. and terrified.. as she very well should be. 🤫Tick tock Fiona girl.. they are coming for you too. 🫣

I could not put this down because I had NO idea what was going on! What was happening?? What are they doing with these celebrities??? It’s like a horror movie 🍿 that you can’t look away from! No worries.. it wraps up in the end… and all your questions will be answered. 😉

This audiobook gave me anxiety!! I highly recommend grabbing the audiobook too if you can!! We all need that kind of anxiety.😂🤷‍♀️

🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR?

[brewdy_reader]

Thank you so much to the author @madeleinehenryyoga for sending me an early copy of this book ♡

📸 A vigilante group declares celebrities and fame culture the root of all evil, that must be eradicated. What begins as threats and stalking quickly turns sinister when celebrities start being disappeared by the cult.

Main character and minor celebrity Fiona has to piece together the clues before it is too late. Home girl never calls in law enforcement or backup of any kind which did make me squint a few times 😜

However the ending and final twist brings the book full circle in a very clever way that I didn’t guess! Pulse pounding and suspenseful, the final 25% I found especially compelling.

The cover art is a macabre scene from a dinner party that I could not look away from. 🍽️

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a binge worthy thriller that was hard to put down! I loved this book’s unique concept and fast pace. I liked following the main character, Fiona, in this story as she worked to figure out the Nomen’s plan and tried avoiding being the next celebrity victim. I found this book to be very interesting and it had some unexpected twists and turns. Overall this was a great, thrilling read.

Read this if you like:

📖 Fast pacing
📖 Unique concepts
📖 Found family

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.

[Amanda Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from page one.

The Last Celebrity is a gripping, immersive novel that kept me on edge the whole time. The story is rich with ideas about celebrities and their influence on society. The Nomen, the group who has set out for a "reckoning" with celebrity culture, were surprisingly philosophical. I found their manifesto really thought-provoking and immediately wanted to talk about it with someone to hear what they thought!

I was really invested in Fiona. The plot twists were unique and scarier than I expected, almost horror lite. Overall, it’s smart, engaging, and a worthwhile ride.

Recommend!

[DeAnn✨deannsreadingriot✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dual read:

🎧 9 hrs | 🗣️Carly Robins | 📕 269 pages

I was hyped when Madeleine Henry reached out to send me an ARC of The Last Celebrity and the cover immediately had me salivating. So stunning.

I was equally as excited about the unique premise. A masked vigilante group called “The Nomen” hunting down celebrities in the name of a more equal society? I was totally on board for that.

It starts off with a bang and the hook is immediate and there was a twist I didn’t see coming that I liked, as well.

I will say though as much as I enjoyed that somewhere along the way, I felt like the tone changed. I kept waiting for that high-intensity thriller energy from the beginning to circle back, but the story slowed down for me when it leaned more into the politics of it all. It felt like it took on a bit more of a dystopian vibe than a traditional thriller I expected, so keep that in mind.

Quick thoughts:
✨The Vibe: If you’re into movies like The Purge, enjoy social commentaries or dystopian shows, you will probably really enjoy this thriller. I could honestly see this being a great TV series or movie.
✨The Pacing: It got a little repetitive for me somewhere along the middle, especially when the focus shifted to the best friend, Gwen.
✨The Audio: I’ve liked this narrator before, but for some reason, this audio didn’t quite click for me. I can’t even put my finger on it but I was glad I had the physical copy to switch back and forth with and enjoyed the physical book.

Overall, I think this is a fun concept. It just wasn’t 100% in my wheelhouse, but the idea is smart and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this book.

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Madeleine writes next and checking out her backlist.

Thank you to Madeleine Henry for the gifted ARC and Brilliance publishing for providing the audiobook.

DeAnn | @deannsreadingriot

#bookreview #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #newreleasebooks #currentreads

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

When an incredibly famous pop star is kidnapped during her own sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, the world paid attention. And when the manifesto came out naming 49 other celebrities as next on their list, Fiona, who is one of the named, also starts paying attention. But, she refuses to let this change her life…until her best friend, Gwen, goes missing.

The group, calling themselves Nomen, is tired of celebrity culture and the rich and famous ruling the world, so they are out to stop it.

The premise of this book was so promising and I was excited to read it. The beginning started off strong but somewhere around 25% it started to fall apart for me. And by the end, I thought we had left the mystery/thriller genre and entered into Christian fiction. Which is fine if you’re into that sort of thing, but I’m not.

The writing style was a little bit stilted and the pacing was off, as well. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I give this book 3 stars for the idea and some of the character development. The narrator was Carly Robins and she did a fine job, probably a 4 out of 5 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the Advanced Listener Copy of The Last Celebrity by Madeleine Henry which is set to be published on March 10, 2026. My opinion is my own.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only cure to seeing the same faces everywhere will be to see them nowhere…

The Nomen is an underground group demanding the government put regulations on fame. Who they are doesn’t really matter - it’s what they’re doing that grabs everyone’s attention. They’re kidnapping the stars and no one or nowhere is safe.

Think Madison Square Garden is safe? They successfully completed a kidnapping in front of the world. Myra Mane has gone missing, but she isn’t the only one because there’s a list of 49 other celebrities who have been marked. And they’re coming for them.

Fiona’s name is on that list but she’s doesn’t even consider herself a celebrity - her life hasn’t changed. None of that matters because she’s on the list.

This was an interesting premise and I did like the book. It had a few anxiety-inducing scenes that I loved, but also had a lot of boring conversations happening between. You know I’m all about that constant action - and while the book didn’t live up to that - it still kept me hooked.

I loved the FMC taking things into her own hands, fighting back in all the ways she knows how. She’s also still grappling with the death of her parents when she was younger. The character building and writing overall were perfection. I did enjoy that ending tho.

And while this wasn’t one of my favorites, I’ll def be reading this author again.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are enough levels to what is happening here that it's difficult to describe how...there were things that worked in an overall context which were less successful in specific ways? For example: Parts of this are predicated on celebrity not being a meritocracy and thusly having undue influence, but it's also extremely specific about the chosen celebrities all being artists in one way or another. While I can agree that art isn't always consumed soley for the sake of merit, I do feel that is a more common reason for consumption than it is with, say, influencer trends, or politicians, or those who attain notoriety for criminal behavior. There is quite a bit to unpack there before we even get into the mildly ironic and deeply cyclical nature of the plot.

I will say it has given me something to think about, so a whole extra star awarded for that.

[Jessica Delia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Madeline Henry for the ARC of the Last Celebrity audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Where do I start with this one? First of all, it was a good book. I really enjoyed the plotline and the twists were amazing, you never would’ve guessed they were coming.

The execution of the audiobook was what caused it to drop so many stars. The narrator’s voice drained me a bit, it was so monotone. I did feel a lot of the narrative got lost because of this. For the last part, I switched to reading the book rather than listening to it on audio and it made the ending that little bit more better for me.

The characters are well executed. It follows Fiona (The Last Celebrity) and Cole. The romance between these two characters was unexpected but makes sense since they would’ve inevitably bonded through their shared trauma - it does make me wonder if they really are each others happily ever after tho. The story also follows Gwen and Logan. Logan felt so irrelevant to making the story move along that I almost forgot who he was. I do actually think at the start of the book she said that Logan was Gwen’s ex… and they’re having a baby together? Weird family dynamic.

I do think the plot would have benefit from less characters. 50 characters were kidnapped, only 3 of which I actually know the names of… the rest are kinda just there. It would’ve been nice to explore those characters more rather than just throwing the names in and forgetting they exist. The whole way the town is set up is unrealistic to a degree but hey in today’s world it’s really not that far from reality. I can see this novel becoming a possibility in real life… terrifying.

Overall, I enjoyed The Last Celebrity and would recommend it to people, just probably not the audiobook.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Here in contemporary society, everyone seems to be struggling in some way, though for the laypeople among us, it's sometimes harder to identify that struggle we experience in celebrities' lives. By documenting their first class travel adventures, high fashion extravaganzas, and constant displays of extreme wealth, this elite group of folks also shines a light on how much they have and how much others do not. It can be easy for some to focus more on those displays than the many horrors associated with this level of fame, and that hero worship is at the center of the creation of a dangerous cult: Nomen.

This novel centers on the interplay between Nomen and celebrities and the rest of us, and Fiona, a famous author, is the vehicle through which most of this action occurs. She's a likable character - at times too likable to be believable - which makes her an interesting connundrum: a thoughtful and empathetic celebrity. Can such a thing exist? The questions I asked myself while reading were at least as fun as the read itself.

I found myself really rooting for Fiona and growing more attached to some of the other characters throughout, but I also wanted more mystery and thrills overall. I'd be interested in reading more from this author based on this first experience, but I'll definitely hope for a little more in the surprise and twists department in the next one.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little A for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group called the Nomen is railing against celebrity and fame. They created a list of fifty up-and-coming celebrities that they are going to make disappear. The media doesn’t do much about it at first, but then, stars on the list start being taken. Fiona is an author on the list who’s determined to keep herself and her close friend (also on the list) safe from danger.

I wanted to like the story more, but it just didn’t hold my interest. I couldn't care less about fame and celebrities, I don’t follow any of that or watch entertainment shows, so it really was not relevant to me. There was just too much about artists and their work and how important it is for society, etc. And the one big turning point early on in the plot just didn’t seem realistic. The fear for the people on the list seemed too dramatic - it’s not like they were being shot at by snipers and could die at any minute. That’s true terror for your life.

Maybe if there had been more mystery to it, more suspense, then it would have been more captivating. And you know who’s responsible for the crimes, so it’s just about will they be saved or not. They’re not going to die if it’s 50 of the so-called most important/influential celebrities because that would be a horror novel, which this isn’t.

I hope the author returns to her previous style of engaging mysteries, because I enjoyed her previous works. This one just wasn’t the same.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

*paperback ARC

“The only cure to seeing the same faces everywhere will be to see them nowhere.”

“I can’t sleep. I’m in a horror novel.”

Thanks so much to Little A and Madeleine for my ALC of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

Can confirm you’ll immediately be sucked into this one. The 1st few chapters had me totally intrigued.

This book focuses on a group called the 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, they claim they are vigilantes out for retribution….their target!? 𝙲𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙱𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂!!!! With the tumultuous world we live in, this idea isn’t so far fetched.

It’s definitely more of a slow burn…although the pacing does get faster from time to time. I’m an adrenaline reader and thought this one was going to be more of a fast paced thriller, so I struggled with my attention span because of the pacing (just a personal preference thing). If you’re a slow burn reader you’ll probably really enjoy this one.

Overall it was a fun concept and I think it would make a cool movie. Perhaps in script form it would give more thriller / suspense vibes.

[Jayla Metzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read and wouldn’t mind seeing it turned into a movie—I’d definitely watch it!
The story kicks off with a shocking kidnapping in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, setting the tone for a tense and gripping thriller. A vigilante group called the Nomen targets celebrities, leaving behind a chilling manifesto and a list of names—including bestselling author Fiona Hart.
As people begin disappearing one by one, the suspense builds fast. Fiona’s growing fear, mixed with her determination to survive, made her easy to root for. When her close friend goes missing, the stakes become even higher, and the story really takes off.
I loved the atmosphere, the constant sense of danger, and the way the mystery slowly unraveled. While a few parts felt predictable, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
If you like thrillers with high stakes, celebrity culture, and nonstop tension, this one is worth picking up!

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A great story! This was a gripping and immersive book that I got hooked from start to finished. The plot twist was unique and scary that made me enjoyed this book more.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to publisher Little A for the incredible ARC.

[Cathryn Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bling Ring, but make it scary.

[Red Bianchi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Despite being very excited about the premise, I am sorry to say that I truly did not like this book. The short version of the reason why is that it simply read like a first draft. In theory, the premise is good, but upon any closer inspection, the book is disjointed and underdeveloped. SPOILERS AHEAD!

The concept of the Nomen, for example, is logically unsound. If the Nomen’s goal is “a shift to talent over fame…" and “a Renaissance for lesser-known creatives” according to chapter 3, then why are they targeting newer or fringe celebrities? Don’t most people get famous because of their talent? Isn’t their talent what draws them into the spotlight? And wouldn’t focusing on talented new individuals make them, in turn, famous?

Here's an itemized list of other things I really did not like...
- Misplaced inner monologues of emotional reflection to try and force a connection between reader and narrator. I didn't like Fiona. She didn't feel relatable. She was too "imperfectly perfect;" like... her only flaws were caring too much and being too selfless. She also had a pseudo-religious view of her dead parents that really didn't sit well with me.
- There are a couple of places where the characters take one piece of evidence and jump to an insanely specific conclusion with no extra evidence leading them to that conclusion. I'll give two examples:
1. When Fiona and Gwen receive the invitations to the dinner, the only information on the invite was where to go, when to go, and what to wear. They received these invitations the day after (?) the Nomen released a list of celebrities that they were actively hunting. Gwen and Fiona were on that list. The invites did not say who was hosting the dinner. And you're telling me that Gwen, Fiona, and Logan ALL agreed that there was no way the invites were from the Nomen trying to round up the targeted celebrities? They were all three just certain that whoever anonymously organized the dinner was just trying to get everyone to make a plan against the Nomen? And not only did those three come to that conclusion and go to the dinner, but EVERY OTHER CELEBRITY ON THE LIST? Girl that does not logically add up. If I knew for a fact I was being hunted, I would not go to some anonymous dinner.
2. When Cole and Fiona realize that the Nomen had shot blanks, they immediately jumped to the conclusion that that means Tony was working with the Nomen and had struck up a deal. If I had discovered blank rounds, my mind would be drawn immediately to the Nomen's intentions; that they shot Tony to stun and not kill. I can see how I might be the dumb one here, but I don't think so.
- the dialogue all seems incredibly unrealistic. pseudo-emotional moments, heavy dramatic pauses, deep discussions about each other's personality traits at random times, etc... it gave me the ick.
- fiona randomly acting like she knows rex intimately? she instantly recognizes him even through the nomen disguise by his voice and body language? girl you've never met him be so for real.
- OKAY I LIKED THIS PART: Cole being the one who wrote Rotator, the founding text of the Nomen, was kind of incredible. well done.
- BUT... when he reveals that to the Nomen and their first reaction is to start fighting each other?? sorry what on God's green earth. Their first reaction should be confusion, maybe laying down arms, maybe even fighting against Rex for deceiving them. but each other? i do not get it.
- the idea that Rex coped with the loss of his parents by hating on famous people also makes no sense. like they didn't get murdered by the famous elite soooo what do you mean.
- lots of little moments where the sentence structure and grammar weren't correct. Example from the last chapter cause that's all I have energy for: "Heading back to my room, the hallway's crowded with police." You're using a gerund phrase to modify the hallway? The hallway is heading back to your room? Huh. Weird.

Thanks for the ARC but I simply have to be a hater for this one. Okay, I am done with this book. Goodbye.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually shy away from books about that have celebrities as main characters. However The Last Celebrity by Madeleine Henry caught my eye because the main-character celebrity is an author, and one thing I will almost always cave on is an author. I also found the premise of celebrities being targeted as a whole by a vigilante group simply for being famous.

I was tugged into the tale immediately, with Fiona receiving anonymous mail from this vigilante group, the Nomen. And then, like the waves in the oceans her books contain, I was swept along as the riptide carried me through the rest of the book with incredible force. It pulled me through her truly becoming aware of the threat, time spent in hiding, and her friend's kidnapping. It didn't let me go for a moment.

One of the characters in the story describes Fiona as incredible and says there's no one else like her. I agree with this sentiment. She possesses the inner strength of a hero, the kindness of an angel, and the gentleness of a mother. Yet, she didn't just magically become this way. She's lived through some very tough times and used them to make herself better instead of bitter. I liked Fiona. I related to her. The other characters in the book are just fine, but Fiona is most definitely the star.

The author chose to use first-person narration from Fiona's perspective for the most part. This really allows the reader to experience what Fiona is going through. By using a conversational tone with Fiona's direct thoughts she's created an intimate connection with the reader. And that connection, along with vivid imagery, infuses the story with a tension that is palpable and an urgent need to see how Fiona and the others arrive at the conclusion. Her writing has truly managed to heighten both suspense and empathy, which isn't a task easily done. Kudos to Ms. Henry.

Without giving a spoiler, I will say that there was an element of the tale that was unnecessary. I didn't really hurt the story, and even added some texture. It was just something that stretched the limits of believability and realism. I personally enjoyed it and suspect others will too, though, so that's all I will say about that.

I was so upset that this past week was a busy one for my family and me because this is the kind of thriller that I could've devoured in a day. And instead I had to drag it out for a week. *Insert whine and crying emoji here* The premise was new enough to me to grasp my interest, there was a healthy propulsion of tension, and a likeable main character. Read this if you enjoy Freida McFadden and/or Alice Feeney or just enjoy a fun thriller.

Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓—A thrilling read centered around a relatable main character, making it a great pick for fans of suspenseful stories!

Let's Discuss:
What elements do you think make a celebrity-themed story engaging, and how do you feel about the portrayal of vigilante justice in fiction?

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚The Last Celebrity
✍🏻Madeleine Henry
Blurb:
A mysterious vigilante group hunts down celebrities in a ruthless effort to promote equality, in this harrowing thriller by the author of My Favorite Terrible Thing.

In front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, a pop star is kidnapped by a new vigilante group called the Nomen. They leave behind a chilling manifesto leveled against the cult of celebrity, and the names of forty-nine other rising stars about to disappear forever. Bestselling author Fiona Hart is on the list.

One by one, targets vanish without a trace. Fiona can’t shake the feeling that her every move—on a public street or even in the privacy of her own apartment—is being watched. Though the world may be gripped by fear, Fiona refuses to let it destroy her. Then her friend, popular shoe designer Gwen Gordon, goes among the missing. And time is running out for Fiona.

As she unravels the Nomen’s true and twisted motivations, the last celebrity in hiding will risk anything to save herself and those she loves.
My Thoughts:
The Last Celebrity is an intense read! I was hooked the tale immediately, with Fiona receiving anonymous mail from this vigilante group, the Nomen. And then, like the waves in the oceans her books contain, I was swept along as the riptide carried me through the rest of the book with incredible force. It pulled me through her truly becoming aware of the threat, time spent in hiding, and her friend's kidnapping. It didn't let me go for a moment.

One of the characters in the story describes Fiona as incredible and says there's no one else like her. I agree with this sentiment. She possesses the inner strength of a hero, the kindness of an angel, and the gentleness of a mother. Yet, she didn't just magically become this way. She's lived through some very tough times and used them to make herself better instead of bitter. I liked Fiona. I related to her. The other characters in the book are just fine, but Fiona is most definitely the star, When an incredibly famous pop star is kidnapped during her own sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, the world paid attention. And when the manifesto came out naming 49 other celebrities as next on their list, Fiona, who is one of the named, also starts paying attention. But, she refuses to let this change her life…until her best friend, Gwen, goes missing.I really enjoyed this read and wouldn’t mind seeing it turned into a movie. One by one, targets vanish without a trace. Then her friend popular show designer Gwen Gordon, goes amount the missing And time is running out for Fiona
Thanks NetGalley, Little A and Author Madeleine Henry for the complimentary copy of "The Last Celebrity" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LittleA
#MadeleineHenry
#TheLastCelebrity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 EARLY BANGER ALERT 📚

The Last Celebrity By Madeleine Henry
Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Publisher: Little A

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to author Madeleine Henry for reaching out to offer me an early #gifted copy of the book, and to NetGalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

From the very start, author Madeleine Henry brought an intensity to her upcoming thriller, The Last Celebrity, that made it absolutely unputdownable. With her brilliant writing style, Henry crafted an immediate tension that grabbed me by the hand, held on with a bone-crushing grip, and refused to let go.

This harrowing read comes at you with some serious locked room vibes. Though it's a thriller, there were aspects to it that felt very much like a horror. The pacing of the storyline was unrelentingly terrifying, and my heart pounded with the fear of what would come on the next page. I thought this was a brilliantly unique premise, so well-written that it's easy to picture it as a big-screen adaptation.

A mysterious vigilante group is hunting down celebrities in a ruthless effort to promote equality. They managed to kidnap a mega pop-star in the middle of her concert at Madison Square Garden, and now they've released a list of famous people they're coming for next. And our FMC, author Fiona Hart, is on that list. One by one, targets vanish without a trace, and Fiona can’t shake the feeling that her every move is being watched. Can Fiona unravel this group's twisted motivations while she remains the last celebrity in hiding?

The fact that the world is basically a dumpster fire right now made this story all-the-more frightening, because the terror this book evokes seems entirely plausible, unfortunately. Were there moments where I had to suspend my disbelief? Yup. Did it work perfectly for the storyline? Also yup. I literally could not read this book fast enough, because the tension continued to ratchet up page-after-page, and I was dying to know what would happen next!

The Last Celebrity will grip you from page one -- and you will not be putting it down till you've read the last words of this wildly suspenseful ride. You can grab an e-ARC on NetGalley now - and you simply MUST read this one when it publishes on March 10th!

#TheLastCelebrity #MadeleineHenry #LittleA #fivestarreads #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #influencerculture #booklover #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first time in a long time that I stuck with a book to the end, even though I didn't like it.

The Last Celebrity kicks off with the kidnapping of a rising pop starlet and a manifesto of a radical group called the Nomen, who resented celebrity and stan culture and sought to rid society of it at all costs. Their strategy? Kidnap other public figures with increasing notoriety, including our main character, Fiona.

Now, on its face, the premise was interesting. As a matter of fact, I was listening to the audiobook and was invested from the very beginning. But as the story continued, I noticed a few things that were either stupid or didn't make much sense to me. Some of these included:

1. Where were the police in all of this? At no point did we see the police and/or the feds approach the intended victims when the hit list dropped. However, this leads me to number 2.
2. Why did Fiona and Cole only call 911 when someone was injured? There were a couple of opportunities for the leads to call the police and get those maniacs tf outta here, but they chose not to.
3. The motivation behind the Nomen was dumb. Okay, you hate stan culture, and according to you, celebrities take up too much space in the public conscience. So? If you don't like it, don't pay attention to it. All this did was make the leader look like a talentless flop, bitter that his own career didn't take off like the hostages'. It was incredibly stupid, and it took away from the book.
4. I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that everyone was so gullible that everyone received some random dinner party invite in the mail and decided to go, knowing good and damn well someone was targeting them for kidnapping. I refuse to believe 49 people were that dumb. Nope, not buying it.
5. The Nomen were essentially running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, and I did not find them to be remotely threatening at all. There's no way in hell that the police, had stupid Fiona and Cole called them, couldn't have wrapped this nonsense up in 2 chapters.

Overall: Interesting plot line that needed better execution. Too much nonsensical activity going on, leading to the story falling apart incredibly quickly. 2 stars.

[Jennifer Kleut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most unique thrillers I've read in a long time, with a completely fresh premise that would also make a great movie.

Fiona Hart is a successful author - not mega-super-famous like TJR but successful enough that her books sell plenty of copies, get great reviews, and her oceanic fantasy series, The Redfins, is now a TV show. But most of the time, Fiona can walk the streets of her Manhattan neighborhood without being recognized.

This book reminded me so much of the TV show Mr. Robot in that, all of a sudden, one day, a group of vigilantes decide they've had enough of the world being run by "the famous elite," and they decide to rebel. They say they're tired of seeing the same 50 or so faces blasted all over TV and social media everyday, with society worshipping them like gods. They issue a public manifesto: if things don't change, they will take matters into their own hands and rid the world of celebrities.

They call themselves "The Nomen," which is Latin for "No Name," and wear all-white clothes with masks that have only two black dots for eyes and a big U for a smile.

One day, they kidnap one of the world's most famous pop stars in the middle of her concert in Madison Square Garden, and broadcast a hit list of 50 celebrities who they vow to take and punish as a message to all - fame is dead. Fiona's face is one of the 50.

In quick succession, two more celebrities from the list are kidnapped over the next few days - one of them being Fiona's best friend, shoe designer Gwen, who just found out she is pregnant. Fiona is determined to find her, save her, and take down The Nomen, whatever the cost.

This book was equal parts thought-provoking and heart-pounding, exploring themes like fame, found family, kindness, sacrifice, and public image, in between frightening action scenes.

I can easily see something like this happening in real life, and it's terrifying! When you don't know who to trust, the only person you can trust is yourself. The Nomen are everywhere and everyone, from your dry cleaner, to the police.

I highly recommend!

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️s rounded up- The premise of this sounded incredible—a pop star is abducted mid-concert at MSG and a manifesto surfaces condemning celebrity culture, a vigilante group targeting the rich and famous, a public list of names counting down to their disappearance? That’s the kind of high-concept thriller setup I can’t resist. And for the first quarter or so, it really works.

The premise is sharp, unsettling, and original— a society obsessed with fame forced to confront its idols being picked off one by one. There’s a strong undercurrent of commentary about wealth and influence that gives the story weight beyond the kidnappings themselves. The paranoia Fiona feels — being watched, tracked, hunted — is one of the more effective elements, and I appreciated how personal the stakes became once Gwen vanished.

Where it lost me was in the execution. As the plot unfolds, the tension starts to falter under the weight of some implausible choices and convenient turns. Fiona and her counterpart taking matters into their own hands had potential, but their investigative arc often felt more impulsive than strategic, which diluted the suspense instead of heightening it. I found myself questioning logistics more than fearing for the characters which is never a great sign in a thriller. I hate having to think about things so hard that it takes me out of the story.

The pacing also shifts in unexpected ways. What begins as a dark, media-fueled cat-and-mouse story gradually leans into heavier moral messaging, and by the final stretch the tone feels noticeably different from the opening chapters. The ending wraps up quickly, with resolutions that felt way more tidy than earned.

That said, I can’t deny the idea itself is compelling. A thriller interrogating fame culture and public worship of celebrities is timely and thought-provoking. There are glimpses of strong character work, and the opening act genuinely had me turning pages. Overall, this was an excellent concept with uneven delivery. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t regret reading it either, and I think this will find its right audience upon release!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for this eARC!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE LAST CELEBRITY
BY: MADELEINE HENRY

This was not a good fit for me at all. I love Literary Fiction so I was looking forward to reading this even though it is so unlike the character driven so well known for this genre I didn't find the depth that is also associated that I enjoy. This was about a vigilante group known as the Nomen who this starts off with a bang when a singer is abducted right in the middle of a sold out performance. They are able to pull off an amazing objective as highly successful as that by disabling the security cameras covered in all White from head to toe, but they are cowards who leave a manifesto with their targets being successful famous that states they are planning on forty-nine more since this had a famous author named Fiona Hart who is not just a popular author, but a pretty resourceful investigator who after receiving a strange package she starts

As she searches the picture of herself is found and she starts at first trying to locate her friend Gwen Gordon that is a famous shoe designer who she is surprised that she was sent to her friend's voicemail which she starts calling every ten minutes trying to not worry but Gwen isn't answering her phone.
This is one I found not a good fit for me, and I like this author, since I found this took me a lot longer even though it is fast paced it took me a lot longer to finish this since I hoped I would have given this three stars, but it might work for you if you find this less over the top than I did. I have enjoyed this author in the past, and look forward to whatever she writes next.

Publication Date: March 10, 2026

Thank you to Net Galley, Madeleine Henry, and Little A for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#TheLastCelebrity #MadeleineHenry #LittleA #NetGalley

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Little A and Brilliance Publishing for a complimentary arc and alc of the Last Celebrity. All opinions expressed are my own.*

I had a good feeling about this one before I jumped into it, and it still superseded my expectations. I was craving a suspense story to inhale in a day or two, and inhale it I did.

If you want a binge worthy thriller with a unique concept and a fast pace, this might just be the one. It is immersive, and addictive, with a bit of a horror vibe to it, which made it even more gripping. The only warning I’d wanna give someone about this, is make sure you don’t fall off your chair while reading because the Last Celebrity will have you on the edge from start to finish.
With the high stakes, I became really invested in the characters and their survival, and the standout concept gave me a very refreshing reading experience. The only thing I’d want more off, would’ve been more twists to actually shock me, even though I enjoyed the ones I saw coming too.

I was switching between the book and the audio, and normally I’d always pick the written version over audio, but Carly Robins narration was so easy to follow, smooth and immersive in its own right that I ended up re-listening to the whole thing right after I finished the story while painting.
Before the Last Celebrity, I hadn’t read anything from Madeleine Henry, but that’s a mistake I’ll rectify as soon as possible. If you haven’t either, then I’d recommend you to fix that too.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I also had high hopes for this book and was also a bit disappointed with it.

The premise of this sounded like so much and I was so excited to read this. But I didn't find it as fascinating and gripping as it should've/could've been.

This follows a group of people (like an organization) who hate the idea of celebrity as a whole, so they have gathered a list of them (more up and coming than already super duper established) to take care of. If ya know what I mean. You follow the people on the list and kind of the whole situation.

I wanted a lot more suspense to this. I wanted it to be a thrilling thriller. But this story just sort of happened. It read as a bit monotone. Maybe it would come across better in a different format, like a movie. When I first read the premise of this book, my mind when to a celebrity version of Ready or Not or something like that.

I have heard great things about this author, so I will be reading some of her other stuff because I'm guessing that this book not hitting was a fluke.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[HiFaeJen · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️✨ 2.5 Stars

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy.

The Last Celebrity is one of those reminders that not every book is for everybody — and unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

The premise had potential, but the execution felt confined inside the world of bad reality TV in a way that never quite elevated beyond it. Instead of building layered suspense, the storyline felt thin, and I kept waiting for it to dig deeper than the surface drama.

The audiobook narration was genuinely strong — engaging, polished, and honestly the highlight of the experience. But even a great narrator couldn’t fully save the story from itself.

As for the twist… it wasn’t exactly twisty. I saw it coming from about thirteen miles away, which took much of the tension out of what should have been a big reveal moment.

I always want to love the books I pick up, but that’s just not realistic. Sometimes a story simply doesn’t click, and this one and I just didn’t jive. I know it will absolutely work for some readers — especially those who enjoy reality-TV-style drama — but it missed the mark for me.

[RoosBookReviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, an interesting idea that died from a thousand paper cuts. The book was so wholly unbelievable that I hate- read most of it.
First, despite saying that all celebrities are being taken, only 50 are and they are minor celebrities at best. Authors of one of two books, a few reality stars- you get the gist. Then the people on the list are called to a party with an anonymous note and for some reason they all go? Our main character and her love interest escape (and nobody follows them for some reason?) and then of course fall in insta-love. They also manage to find the place that this group has been hiding, despite all the resources of the FBI not being able to do so, and continually put themselves in harms way -while being actively injured- that everyone is being kept in. Then- surprise! the love interest actually wrote the book this group is based on and kept it to himself until almost the end of the story. And also everyone innocent lives happily ever after and bad guys go to jail.

thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this book.

[Rose 🥀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Final Celebrity by Madeline Henry in exchange for an honest review.
This is a thriller that discusses celebrities and the ethics of fame. A vigilante group publicly announces a list of 50 celebrities that will be kidnapped - anything else is unknown - in a protest against unregulated fame and celebrities. One by one they are picked off until only our main character and one other is left on the list. Although the choice in these 50 celebrities was intriguing, as they weren’t all A-listers - middle class writers, shoemakers ect. They must be connected in some way, but how? I had fun trying to figure this out.
This story introduces a cult, slowly revealing more information as the characters find web forums discussing the insider knowledge.
The story was fast paced and entertaining and I enjoyed myself. I think we could have gone further with the messaging as it felt like more of a plot point than a deeper meaning. Overall I’d recommend this to thriller fans.

[Edens Book Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Celebrity drops you into a world where fame becomes a dangerous liability, and the tension of being watched, followed, and hunted shadows everything.

What I loved most is how boldly it explores the shifting nature of visibility-how public attention rises, reshapes, and sometimes fractures under pressure. The author makes you think about the expectations tied to fame…those placed on the people in the spotlight, and the ones the spotlight reflects back. She simply cracks open the tension between admiration and intrusion.

The concept drew me in right away and kept the pages moving. Even though some emotional beats didn’t click for me, I truly appreciated how bold, inventive, and timely this story is. It’s a premise designed to spark conversation, and I know it will connect deeply with a lot of readers. A thriller with attitude and a distinct take on fame’s undercurrent…it makes for a compelling read.