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Famous Once: A Short Story
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New York Times
bestselling author Jane Green comes an unforgettable tale of redemption and reunion, where the echoes of rock and roll fame and the secrets that came with it lead a mother and daughter back to each other.
Former model Astrid Lane lives a quiet life as a caterer, far from her days as rock star Callum Blake's famous wife. When a retrospective about the 1970s music scene sparks renewed interest in that era, Astrid's estranged daughter Zara reaches out about a podcast discussing her father's career—and a long-buried tragedy that changed their family forever.
After a mysterious break-in at Astrid's cottage, mother and daughter find themselves drawn into an unexpected collaboration. Through a collection of old recordings and shared memories, they begin piecing together a story that's far bigger than their family's past. What they uncover will shake the foundations of rock music history and the powerful people who shaped it.
But amid the investigation, something unexpected blooms. As Astrid and Zara work to unravel decades-old secrets, they find themselves building something they'd both given up the chance to be mother and daughter again, this time on their own terms.
Former model Astrid Lane lives a quiet life as a caterer, far from her days as rock star Callum Blake's famous wife. When a retrospective about the 1970s music scene sparks renewed interest in that era, Astrid's estranged daughter Zara reaches out about a podcast discussing her father's career—and a long-buried tragedy that changed their family forever.
After a mysterious break-in at Astrid's cottage, mother and daughter find themselves drawn into an unexpected collaboration. Through a collection of old recordings and shared memories, they begin piecing together a story that's far bigger than their family's past. What they uncover will shake the foundations of rock music history and the powerful people who shaped it.
But amid the investigation, something unexpected blooms. As Astrid and Zara work to unravel decades-old secrets, they find themselves building something they'd both given up the chance to be mother and daughter again, this time on their own terms.
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Published February 1, 2026
2799 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jane Green
82 books8,787 followersJane Green's twenty first novel, Sister Stardust, is out April 5th 2022.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews
March 1, 2026
This felt more like a summary than a full story. We’re given little bits of important information, but never quite enough to fully sink into it.
I agree with others that this could have been brilliant as a full-length novel. I would have loved to see more of Zara’s childhood, what really pushed her to turn against her famous father, and even more detail about how the murder happened and what led up to it.
Sometimes you just need more depth to make a story truly great. For me, this one needed that extra layer.
I agree with others that this could have been brilliant as a full-length novel. I would have loved to see more of Zara’s childhood, what really pushed her to turn against her famous father, and even more detail about how the murder happened and what led up to it.
Sometimes you just need more depth to make a story truly great. For me, this one needed that extra layer.
January 2, 2026
I can really appreciate a short-story when done well. This had some ingredients but was missing a few to bake the whole cake.
I had to double check to see if it was part of a series - I think it’s too condensed.
The ending was abrupt and a bit of a miss.
I had to double check to see if it was part of a series - I think it’s too condensed.
The ending was abrupt and a bit of a miss.
January 14, 2026
Cliché and corny.
The novella’s misleading description makes it appear like we are going to uncover some startling new insight on this 40 yr old unsolved death of a young girl but in reality this just seemed like a half assed story attempting to rebuild broken families through “tragedy”?
We weren’t given enough to care for Astrid or Zara. I felt like the “burglary” or weird man at Astrid’s door (who also just disappeared with no explanation to the reader, scene just abruptly ended) was sprinkled throughout this story as a poor attempt of dramatic effect but did nothing to help the story. I wanted more from the podcast side to it. There was no mystery for Zara to follow or any break in the case. It was Zara wanting a story for her podcast and her mom being like yep i have the evidence here you go. Didn’t have to twist Astrids arm at all to get it from her.
Not to mention the weird hallmarky ending as if something like this would play out as smoothly as it did and be the sole reason this family reconnects after many years of estrangement?¿ I don’t buy it.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for this copy.
The novella’s misleading description makes it appear like we are going to uncover some startling new insight on this 40 yr old unsolved death of a young girl but in reality this just seemed like a half assed story attempting to rebuild broken families through “tragedy”?
We weren’t given enough to care for Astrid or Zara. I felt like the “burglary” or weird man at Astrid’s door (who also just disappeared with no explanation to the reader, scene just abruptly ended) was sprinkled throughout this story as a poor attempt of dramatic effect but did nothing to help the story. I wanted more from the podcast side to it. There was no mystery for Zara to follow or any break in the case. It was Zara wanting a story for her podcast and her mom being like yep i have the evidence here you go. Didn’t have to twist Astrids arm at all to get it from her.
Not to mention the weird hallmarky ending as if something like this would play out as smoothly as it did and be the sole reason this family reconnects after many years of estrangement?¿ I don’t buy it.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for this copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Otros
English - Español
Famous Once explores the less glamorous side of fame and the fleeting nature of public recognition.
The story follows Astrid who, after tasting success, discovers that external validation can be just as addictive as it is destructive. As media attention grows, so do the pressures, questionable choices, and personal consequences that are rarely visible from the outside.
With a fast-paced narrative and moments of emotional rawness, the book reflects on identity, ego, and the true cost of wanting to be seen and remembered.
Famous Once does not romanticize fame, it dissects it, showing how quickly it can lift you up and drop you just as hard.
It’s a thought-provoking read that invites readers to question whether being famous, even for a moment, is really worth everything that gets lost along the way.
----
Famous Once explora el lado menos glamuroso de la fama y lo efímero del reconocimiento público.
La historia sigue a Astrid quién, tras probar el sabor del éxito, descubre que la validación externa puede ser tan adictiva como destructiva. A medida que la atención mediática crece, también lo hacen las presiones, las decisiones cuestionables y las consecuencias personales que nadie suele ver desde afuera.
Con una narrativa ágil y momentos de crudeza emocional, el libro reflexiona sobre la identidad, el ego y el precio real de querer ser visto y recordado. Famous Once no idealiza la fama: la disecciona, mostrando cómo puede elevarte rápidamente y dejarte caer con la misma fuerza.
Es una lectura que invita a preguntarse si ser famoso, aunque sea una sola vez, realmente vale todo lo que se pierde en el camino.
Famous Once explores the less glamorous side of fame and the fleeting nature of public recognition.
The story follows Astrid who, after tasting success, discovers that external validation can be just as addictive as it is destructive. As media attention grows, so do the pressures, questionable choices, and personal consequences that are rarely visible from the outside.
With a fast-paced narrative and moments of emotional rawness, the book reflects on identity, ego, and the true cost of wanting to be seen and remembered.
Famous Once does not romanticize fame, it dissects it, showing how quickly it can lift you up and drop you just as hard.
It’s a thought-provoking read that invites readers to question whether being famous, even for a moment, is really worth everything that gets lost along the way.
----
Famous Once explora el lado menos glamuroso de la fama y lo efímero del reconocimiento público.
La historia sigue a Astrid quién, tras probar el sabor del éxito, descubre que la validación externa puede ser tan adictiva como destructiva. A medida que la atención mediática crece, también lo hacen las presiones, las decisiones cuestionables y las consecuencias personales que nadie suele ver desde afuera.
Con una narrativa ágil y momentos de crudeza emocional, el libro reflexiona sobre la identidad, el ego y el precio real de querer ser visto y recordado. Famous Once no idealiza la fama: la disecciona, mostrando cómo puede elevarte rápidamente y dejarte caer con la misma fuerza.
Es una lectura que invita a preguntarse si ser famoso, aunque sea una sola vez, realmente vale todo lo que se pierde en el camino.
Review of advance copy
This would have been an incredible full length novel.
March 17, 2026
i wish this was longer, it gives off daisy jones vibes in a way
January 1, 2026
A quick read which attempts to condense 50 years in 50 pages. Astrid is rather vapid and now struggling. Her ex has lived the rock star life, apparently unscathed. Her daughter’s investigation into long forgotten tape recordings her father sent to her mother transform their lives. The ending tidily wraps up everything and long grudges and hurts are poof, magically eviscerated. I found the ending a bit trite and convenient, but then it is fiction.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for the copy.
Thanks Amazon First Reads for the copy.
January 1, 2026
Amazon First Reads - don’t realize it was a short story but even at that…a story empty of any emotion and felt like a high school writing competition where they likely would have been graded a C. No effort but at least proper grammar.
Want to read
January 3, 2026*January 2026 Amazon Prime First Read
February 24, 2026
Genre: Novella/1970s Music/ Mother-Daughter Relationship
Publisher: Amazon’s Original Stories
Pub. Date: Feb. 1, 2026
The novella explores family estrangement, addiction, and the power dynamics within the music industry. The story flashes between the 1970s rock scene and the present. Protagonist Astrid, an ex-model, is dealing with the resurfacing of her tumultuous past with her ex-husband, a famous rock star. Think: Rod Stewart and his first wife, Alana, Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, and Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall. The women were the first wives of famous rock stars in the 1970s. I enjoyed this novella, especially since I am at an age when I remember these celebrity marriages. If you are not, you still can enjoy the narrative that heavily focuses on a mother-daughter reconciliation and the consequences of fame and addiction. I found this short to be good as is. Still, I was hoping for a longer version because the author captures those years and times so well, with strong character depth and nostalgia.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
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https://www.amazon.com/
Publisher: Amazon’s Original Stories
Pub. Date: Feb. 1, 2026
The novella explores family estrangement, addiction, and the power dynamics within the music industry. The story flashes between the 1970s rock scene and the present. Protagonist Astrid, an ex-model, is dealing with the resurfacing of her tumultuous past with her ex-husband, a famous rock star. Think: Rod Stewart and his first wife, Alana, Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, and Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall. The women were the first wives of famous rock stars in the 1970s. I enjoyed this novella, especially since I am at an age when I remember these celebrity marriages. If you are not, you still can enjoy the narrative that heavily focuses on a mother-daughter reconciliation and the consequences of fame and addiction. I found this short to be good as is. Still, I was hoping for a longer version because the author captures those years and times so well, with strong character depth and nostalgia.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://www.amazon.com/
February 11, 2026
‘From New York Times bestselling author Jane Green comes an unforgettable tale of redemption and reunion, where the echoes of rock and roll fame and the secrets that came with it lead a mother and daughter back to each other.’
I'm sorry, but this may have been the corniest, most frivolous and uninteresting short I've ever read in my life.
Thanks to AOS for the opportunity. I am always grateful.
I'm sorry, but this may have been the corniest, most frivolous and uninteresting short I've ever read in my life.
Thanks to AOS for the opportunity. I am always grateful.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Famous Once is a short novella, and unfortunately it really feels like one. I liked the core idea and what the story could have been, but it reads as if a full novel has been cut down too aggressively.
We get a beginning, an ending, and a few scattered moments from the middle but very little in between. There is no real depth, no structure, and almost no explanation. Important events are only hinted at, and the reader is left to connect all the dots on their own.
This story had potential, but it needed space to breathe. I honestly believe it would have worked much better if the author had saved this idea and written a full length novel instead. As it is now, it feels unfinished and emotionally thin.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this novella. All opinions are my own.
We get a beginning, an ending, and a few scattered moments from the middle but very little in between. There is no real depth, no structure, and almost no explanation. Important events are only hinted at, and the reader is left to connect all the dots on their own.
This story had potential, but it needed space to breathe. I honestly believe it would have worked much better if the author had saved this idea and written a full length novel instead. As it is now, it feels unfinished and emotionally thin.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this novella. All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2026
3.5
Nothing remarkable. I enjoyed it without it resonting much. I'm pretty sure I'll not recall too much about it down the line. But it's neatly written and delivers a reasonably satisfying story.
Nothing remarkable. I enjoyed it without it resonting much. I'm pretty sure I'll not recall too much about it down the line. But it's neatly written and delivers a reasonably satisfying story.
January 10, 2026
January 2026 Amazon prime first read. Cute short story.
Review of advance copy
I think this story would have benefitted from a longer form. It is a nice story about a mother and daughter rekindling their relationship after many years. We know why they were distant and why they get back together but it just seems too easy. The most exciting part was also just glossed over.
January 26, 2026
really disappointed with this one. I read books by this author back in high school and I devoured them. I didn't feel the same way with this novella.
February 20, 2026
Famous Once is a short story by best-selling British journalist and author, Jane Green. Once a famous model, Astrid Lane now makes a living catering for parties from her home on Latchkey Farm. When Zara, the daughter she adores but hardly ever hears from, sends a link to a podcast, she tries to listen, but finds anything from her youth depressing.
But Zara is insistent: the mystery of the death by drowning of Lily Morehouse, forty years ago, needs to be solved. And when she discovers that Astrid has the tapes, a sort of spoken diary her father, rock star Callum Blake made then, she knows they will contain the answer. Finding it also seems to be a path to reconnection with Zara. A moving little mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.
But Zara is insistent: the mystery of the death by drowning of Lily Morehouse, forty years ago, needs to be solved. And when she discovers that Astrid has the tapes, a sort of spoken diary her father, rock star Callum Blake made then, she knows they will contain the answer. Finding it also seems to be a path to reconnection with Zara. A moving little mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.
February 9, 2026
This story was too perfect for me. I love stories about celebrities, even though I know most of the time famous people are money-obsessed and morally corrupt. I'm still fascinated by their lives, so I'm not sure what that says about me lol.
This goes back and forth in time from the Early to mid 1970s during the height of rock n roll. The protagonist's ex-husband is a famous rock legend who made me think he's a cross between Bowie and Jagger. They are long divorced once the story starts, but we learn more secrets about the past as the story progresses. This is more about the mother-daughter relationship coming back stronger, and I think it would appeal to fans of women's fiction and historical fiction who like these kinds of themes.
This goes back and forth in time from the Early to mid 1970s during the height of rock n roll. The protagonist's ex-husband is a famous rock legend who made me think he's a cross between Bowie and Jagger. They are long divorced once the story starts, but we learn more secrets about the past as the story progresses. This is more about the mother-daughter relationship coming back stronger, and I think it would appeal to fans of women's fiction and historical fiction who like these kinds of themes.
February 12, 2026
This would’ve been great if it was a full length book but they just tried packing too much into less than 50 pages
March 20, 2026
3.5 stars
January 11, 2026
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for providing me with this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm really loving reading novellas. While I love full length books, sometimes I'm just looking for a short story to consume. This hit that spot.
This is my first title from Jane Green. I'll need to look into her other titles to see if there is anything I might be interested in reading.
I enjoyed this story. For me, the characters were not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. While it's a novella, I know it's possible to grow characters in such a setting. I had a hard time connecting with them. The relationship between Zara and Astrid was nice. It would have been nice to get a bit of what Zara got from her famous father, Callum.
The plot overall was nice. I can see this as a longer story. It had the recipe of a story that could be great but fell short for me. A lot of background was glossed over and it caused me to not understand the story and characters as much as I think I could have if there had been a bit of a deeper dive into all of it.
I did enjoy the writing and can see where I might enjoy longer stories from this author. I will have to look into her more to see what else she has written and if those stories are something I want to consume.
Writing a short story that is complete is definitely not an easy task. While I enjoyed this enough, it just didn't feel complete to me.
I'm really loving reading novellas. While I love full length books, sometimes I'm just looking for a short story to consume. This hit that spot.
This is my first title from Jane Green. I'll need to look into her other titles to see if there is anything I might be interested in reading.
I enjoyed this story. For me, the characters were not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. While it's a novella, I know it's possible to grow characters in such a setting. I had a hard time connecting with them. The relationship between Zara and Astrid was nice. It would have been nice to get a bit of what Zara got from her famous father, Callum.
The plot overall was nice. I can see this as a longer story. It had the recipe of a story that could be great but fell short for me. A lot of background was glossed over and it caused me to not understand the story and characters as much as I think I could have if there had been a bit of a deeper dive into all of it.
I did enjoy the writing and can see where I might enjoy longer stories from this author. I will have to look into her more to see what else she has written and if those stories are something I want to consume.
Writing a short story that is complete is definitely not an easy task. While I enjoyed this enough, it just didn't feel complete to me.
Read
January 8, 2026Full review to follow after release date.
Review of advance copy
This is an Amazon first read, and Im hoping it's an appetizer for a full novel. I love Jane Green, and the premise for the story is a reasonable one, but the ending is so quick that very little is resolved in my mind.
Its a great story of a rock star and model marrying and having a child in the 70s. Maybe I wanted to like this because I just finished Elvis and me on Netflix?
Either way, this has all the ingredients for a great story, it just needs more..........
Its a great story of a rock star and model marrying and having a child in the 70s. Maybe I wanted to like this because I just finished Elvis and me on Netflix?
Either way, this has all the ingredients for a great story, it just needs more..........
February 3, 2026
A bit perfunctory
It’s probably a testament to Jane Green’s writing skills that I wanted to know more about these characters in this short novella. More a series of vignettes than a narrative, it is framed as the reminiscences of a 70s supermodel, fifty years later, and her rock star husband. A little glimpse at the glamour of days gone by. But I would have liked more story.
It’s probably a testament to Jane Green’s writing skills that I wanted to know more about these characters in this short novella. More a series of vignettes than a narrative, it is framed as the reminiscences of a 70s supermodel, fifty years later, and her rock star husband. A little glimpse at the glamour of days gone by. But I would have liked more story.
March 3, 2026
3.5⭐️ This short story covers so much ground it almost felt like an outline to a book. It’s a bit hard to rate a short story but for only 50 pages the author had me flying through it and wishing it had been a full book to really dive into the various story elements.
I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 3, 2026
3.75 rounded up. Writing a short story that feels complete is a difficult task, especially if you are trying to incorporate 50 years into 50 pages. This would have been great as a novella. Overall, I enjoyed seeing the success of Zara no matter whose negativity affected.
February 2, 2026
The concept and story of this could’ve been great but I just don’t think it worked as a short story. It left me wanting so much more. It didn’t give enough time to get invested and really know and care about the characters. Still an interesting story though!
Review of advance copy
A nice short read, perhaps too short to pack any real emotional punch, but I enjoyed it all the same.
January 3, 2026
I would love to read a full story of this
January 7, 2026
This was a fast short story. I wish it was a novel
Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews