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Perfectly Famous
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Pretty Revenge—a “gripping tale of subterfuge, betrayal, and retribution” (Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish)—comes the story of a journalist obsessed with finding a crime novelist who disappears after a deadly attack on her beloved daughter.
As a mother and a famous author, Ward DeFleur has it all. She lives in a beautiful estate in picture-perfect Connecticut, along with her teenage daughter, Stevie, where nothing can go wrong. Until, one night, when Stevie is brutally murdered and Ward’s entire world is shattered. Consumed by panic and grief, Ward vows never to put pen to paper again.
Enter Bree Bennett.
Bree is a recently-divorced, former-journalist-cum-housewife, desperate to fill her days with something other than Pilates classes and grocery shopping. So she decides to start writing for the town newspaper. What begins as Bree’s effort to tell Ward’s tragic narrative turns into a fixation with finding her favorite author. Unfortunately, Ward doesn’t want to be found. Even worse, Stevie’s killer is still on the loose…
This harrowing tale of one woman’s infatuation and another woman’s fear is full of explosive surprises, perfect for fans of The Night Olivia Fell and Then She Was Gone.
As a mother and a famous author, Ward DeFleur has it all. She lives in a beautiful estate in picture-perfect Connecticut, along with her teenage daughter, Stevie, where nothing can go wrong. Until, one night, when Stevie is brutally murdered and Ward’s entire world is shattered. Consumed by panic and grief, Ward vows never to put pen to paper again.
Enter Bree Bennett.
Bree is a recently-divorced, former-journalist-cum-housewife, desperate to fill her days with something other than Pilates classes and grocery shopping. So she decides to start writing for the town newspaper. What begins as Bree’s effort to tell Ward’s tragic narrative turns into a fixation with finding her favorite author. Unfortunately, Ward doesn’t want to be found. Even worse, Stevie’s killer is still on the loose…
This harrowing tale of one woman’s infatuation and another woman’s fear is full of explosive surprises, perfect for fans of The Night Olivia Fell and Then She Was Gone.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2020
125 people are currently reading
5725 people want to read
About the author
Emily Liebert
14 books985 followersEmily Liebert is the USA TODAY Bestselling Author of seven books.
PERFECTLY FAMOUS, her newest novel, was released on June 2, 2020. Prior to that, PRETTY REVENGE published on July 2, 2019. Both with Gallery/Simon& Schuster.
Her first narrative non-fiction book, FACEBOOK FAIRYTALES, is available across the globe.
In 2012, Emily wrote her debut novel, YOU KNEW ME WHEN, which published on September 3, 2013. Her second novel, WHEN WE FALL, published on September 2, 2014. THOSE SECRETS WE KEEP, her third novel, released on June 2, 2015, and her fourth novel, SOME WOMEN, came out on April 5, 2016, all with Penguin Random House.
Emily is featured often in the press, by outlets such as: Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson Cooper, FOX News, Good Day New York, The Couch, Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, InStyle, OK!, Nylon, Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s World, WWD, Woman’s Day, The New York Post, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, and The Huffington Post.
She has also served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, appearing on TV and radio stations nationwide.
PERFECTLY FAMOUS, her newest novel, was released on June 2, 2020. Prior to that, PRETTY REVENGE published on July 2, 2019. Both with Gallery/Simon& Schuster.
Her first narrative non-fiction book, FACEBOOK FAIRYTALES, is available across the globe.
In 2012, Emily wrote her debut novel, YOU KNEW ME WHEN, which published on September 3, 2013. Her second novel, WHEN WE FALL, published on September 2, 2014. THOSE SECRETS WE KEEP, her third novel, released on June 2, 2015, and her fourth novel, SOME WOMEN, came out on April 5, 2016, all with Penguin Random House.
Emily is featured often in the press, by outlets such as: Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson Cooper, FOX News, Good Day New York, The Couch, Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, InStyle, OK!, Nylon, Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s World, WWD, Woman’s Day, The New York Post, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, and The Huffington Post.
She has also served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, appearing on TV and radio stations nationwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
August 11, 2020
Perfectly Famous should be renamed as “how you destroy a gripping mystery novel with few unrealistic, nonsense and unbelievably ridiculous pages and one of the worst endings!”
I know the name is too long but that’s how I felt about the last ten percentage of my reading. From the beginning, the high tension mystery development picked my interest. Even though the characters are flawed and I had hard time to empathize with their motivations, I still kept reading because the mystery still hooked me and pacing is also satisfying. But when I reach the last parts I thought somebody pushed the author and took over her seat to finish the ending parts or somebody pulled a real bad prank on us! I feel like the writing style has changed, explanations didn’t fit with my logic. The plot holes got bigger than the holes on my pajama pants.
Let’s look at the plot to get a better understanding of the story’s progression:
Ward De Fleur famous and successful author’s happy life completely changes with big traumatic tragedy. Somebody kills her daughter! And the police don’t have any leads. So she swears not to write one more word after brutal murder of her beloved daughter Stevie.
And now Ward is missing which picks interest of Bree Bennett, divorced, raising her problematic, angsty teenager daughter Chloe, ex-journalist. ( And let’s forget her batshit crazy, extreme sarcastic mother!) Bree wants to achieve something meaningful in her life (Pilates lessons, grocery shopping and dealing with her daughter’s never ending tantrums are not satisfying enough to spend her days)Slowly she gets fixated to find her favorite author but as far as we can see she doesn’t want to be found and Stevie’s killer is still out there. Could the killer also do something to Ward ? Or her disappearance could be connected with her daughter’s murder case?
Actually I still didn’t understand the inner motive and fixation of Bree but mystery kept my interest and I resumed my reading. And when I reach the last parts… You know how it goes for me. I stop here.
First three quarters of the book worked well for me, still picked my interest and I’m giving: 3.5 stars to those parts but ending was so disappointing for my own taste and I’m giving: 2 stars
On average: 2.75 stars rounded up to 3 stars. It was still great, fast pacing, interesting reading till the ending parts. I wish the author could rewrite them with more logical conclusion. I hope it works better for the other readers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this mysterious ARC in exchange my honest review.
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I know the name is too long but that’s how I felt about the last ten percentage of my reading. From the beginning, the high tension mystery development picked my interest. Even though the characters are flawed and I had hard time to empathize with their motivations, I still kept reading because the mystery still hooked me and pacing is also satisfying. But when I reach the last parts I thought somebody pushed the author and took over her seat to finish the ending parts or somebody pulled a real bad prank on us! I feel like the writing style has changed, explanations didn’t fit with my logic. The plot holes got bigger than the holes on my pajama pants.
Let’s look at the plot to get a better understanding of the story’s progression:
Ward De Fleur famous and successful author’s happy life completely changes with big traumatic tragedy. Somebody kills her daughter! And the police don’t have any leads. So she swears not to write one more word after brutal murder of her beloved daughter Stevie.
And now Ward is missing which picks interest of Bree Bennett, divorced, raising her problematic, angsty teenager daughter Chloe, ex-journalist. ( And let’s forget her batshit crazy, extreme sarcastic mother!) Bree wants to achieve something meaningful in her life (Pilates lessons, grocery shopping and dealing with her daughter’s never ending tantrums are not satisfying enough to spend her days)Slowly she gets fixated to find her favorite author but as far as we can see she doesn’t want to be found and Stevie’s killer is still out there. Could the killer also do something to Ward ? Or her disappearance could be connected with her daughter’s murder case?
Actually I still didn’t understand the inner motive and fixation of Bree but mystery kept my interest and I resumed my reading. And when I reach the last parts… You know how it goes for me. I stop here.
First three quarters of the book worked well for me, still picked my interest and I’m giving: 3.5 stars to those parts but ending was so disappointing for my own taste and I’m giving: 2 stars
On average: 2.75 stars rounded up to 3 stars. It was still great, fast pacing, interesting reading till the ending parts. I wish the author could rewrite them with more logical conclusion. I hope it works better for the other readers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this mysterious ARC in exchange my honest review.
blog
June 22, 2020
Well, that was disappointing.
I had planned to rate this book four stars up until the very last page. While the story brought nothing new to the suspense genre, I really enjoyed the characters (especially Bree's mom), and the plot kept me engaged throughout.
But then I read the final paragraphs.
Ummm...what was that about? I'm never a fan of "left-field" twists, but this particular twist went went completely off the field, and up into the nose-bleed section of the stadium. It was so silly, so without logic, and opened up so many plot holes within the story...I'm honestly surprised it made it past the editor.
I had to deduct a star for such a nonsensical conclusion.
I thought this was being published on July 8th, but it appears it's already available on Amazon. 🤷♀️
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my review copy.
I had planned to rate this book four stars up until the very last page. While the story brought nothing new to the suspense genre, I really enjoyed the characters (especially Bree's mom), and the plot kept me engaged throughout.
But then I read the final paragraphs.
Ummm...what was that about? I'm never a fan of "left-field" twists, but this particular twist went went completely off the field, and up into the nose-bleed section of the stadium. It was so silly, so without logic, and opened up so many plot holes within the story...I'm honestly surprised it made it past the editor.
I had to deduct a star for such a nonsensical conclusion.
I thought this was being published on July 8th, but it appears it's already available on Amazon. 🤷♀️
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my review copy.
July 2, 2020
3.5 stars!
Perfectly Famous is about a mother and author named Ward DeFleur who has the perfect life until her daughter is murdered. Bree Bennett, a journalist, sets out to tell Ward’s story; however, Bree becomes obsessed with Ward.
I thought this storyline was completely original and captivating, and it chugs along to an extremely dramatic conclusion. The final twist is one I never saw coming, and I understand the feelings both sides of this one. I appreciated how mother-daughter relationships were explored and enjoyed the ride along the way!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Perfectly Famous is about a mother and author named Ward DeFleur who has the perfect life until her daughter is murdered. Bree Bennett, a journalist, sets out to tell Ward’s story; however, Bree becomes obsessed with Ward.
I thought this storyline was completely original and captivating, and it chugs along to an extremely dramatic conclusion. The final twist is one I never saw coming, and I understand the feelings both sides of this one. I appreciated how mother-daughter relationships were explored and enjoyed the ride along the way!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 24, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 8 Jul 2020
This book has so much potential! In fact it would’ve been an amazing novel if the author had just left the last two pages out. This was a fast pace thriller that at times was a bit predictable but still a very good read, Until the ending. It is so frustrating when a good book turns bad at the end and that’s exactly what happened to this one. Very disappointing indeed
This book has so much potential! In fact it would’ve been an amazing novel if the author had just left the last two pages out. This was a fast pace thriller that at times was a bit predictable but still a very good read, Until the ending. It is so frustrating when a good book turns bad at the end and that’s exactly what happened to this one. Very disappointing indeed
May 27, 2020
This was a four-star read until the very last sentence and then... I do recognize that thriller readers are a tough crowd. I am sure it is difficult for an author to give you that perfect believable twist that doesn’t come completely out of left field. We don’t want books to be predictable, unbelievable, too slow, too fast, we want our characters to be relatable, and yet we want them to be completely bat shit crazy. So I get it, and I really try to approach all my thrillers with an open mind and review them accordingly. Ultimately what I want from a good thriller is to be entertained, kept on the edge of my seat, and lastly surprised. And this book really did do all of that. It was very engaging, it was tense and addictive, and I was definitely shocked by some of the twists and turns. The thing is I think this book went a little too far, had one twist too many. Didn’t make it a bad book, and I don’t regret reading it, but that last sentence just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Ward is a successful author at a signing event when she receives the news that her daughter Stevie is missing. Later we find out that her daughter Stevie was killed and Ward vows never to write another word. Bree has a daughter Chloe that is the same age as Ward’s daughter and this sparks her interest in the case. Ward has gone into hiding and now Bree is determined to find her and rekindle her own journalism career. I didn’t always understand Bree or Ward’s motivation, but I was willing to go with it because I was invested in the story. There were some interesting relationships in this book Bree’s daughter Chloe was not a happy camper. Also we had the treat of meeting Bree’s mom who added some comic relief, the woman was definitely a piece of work. I have to say I am bummed that this book kind of fell apart at the end, because it really was off to a great start.
This book in emojis 📚 ✍🏻 🚇 📰 🌲
*** Big thank you to Gallery Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Ward is a successful author at a signing event when she receives the news that her daughter Stevie is missing. Later we find out that her daughter Stevie was killed and Ward vows never to write another word. Bree has a daughter Chloe that is the same age as Ward’s daughter and this sparks her interest in the case. Ward has gone into hiding and now Bree is determined to find her and rekindle her own journalism career. I didn’t always understand Bree or Ward’s motivation, but I was willing to go with it because I was invested in the story. There were some interesting relationships in this book Bree’s daughter Chloe was not a happy camper. Also we had the treat of meeting Bree’s mom who added some comic relief, the woman was definitely a piece of work. I have to say I am bummed that this book kind of fell apart at the end, because it really was off to a great start.
This book in emojis 📚 ✍🏻 🚇 📰 🌲
*** Big thank you to Gallery Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 10, 2020
To me, there's nothing more disappointing than when a thriller with tremendous potential veers off course into utter soap opera melodrama. That's what happened with Emily Liebert's upcoming book,
Perfectly Famous
. I was on the edge of my seat for a while, then I started to suspect what I thought would happen, and then...darn it. But is a book that gives you a good ride almost the whole way still worth a read? I think so.
Ward DeFleur is a best-selling author and a household name. Her books have been made into movies and become instant hits. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her 15-stop book tour for her latest release, and although Ward is a little bit nervous, she's determined that nothing is going to go wrong, and the tour will be a surefire success.
And then, the night of her first book signing, something goes very wrong—her teenage daughter, Stevie, is found brutally beaten (she was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house) and ultimately, succumbs to her injuries. Ward is devastated, unable to get past this tragedy, and retreats from the world, cutting off contact with her agent and publisher and everyone else.
Bree attended Ward's book signing the night Stevie was assaulted. Having a hard time dealing with the end of her marriage and her teenage daughter's increasingly hostile attitude, she broke down in tears at the signing and Ward comforted her. Now, as she tries to build a new life for herself, she begins writing for the local newspaper, and decides what she'd like to do is tell Ward's story.
The challenge is, Ward isn't interested in being found. But Bree is resourceful, almost obsessive in her desire to track Ward down. Even as people warn her that Ward may not want her to tell her story, or even try to locate her, Bree feels this is her chance to prove something to herself again. The deeper she digs, the more danger she puts herself in, because Stevie's killer is still out there...and doesn't want Bree in the way.
Liebert really ratchets up the tension through the start of the book. And although some tired subplots threaten to derail the suspense, the story is pretty fascinating and I couldn't put it down...until things started getting tied up and all I wanted was to put the book down. This is the first of Liebert's books I've read so I don't know if this is something that happens often in her books or if this is just a fluke, but I was really disappointed.
NetGalley and Gallery Books provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Perfectly Famous publishes June 2.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Ward DeFleur is a best-selling author and a household name. Her books have been made into movies and become instant hits. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her 15-stop book tour for her latest release, and although Ward is a little bit nervous, she's determined that nothing is going to go wrong, and the tour will be a surefire success.
And then, the night of her first book signing, something goes very wrong—her teenage daughter, Stevie, is found brutally beaten (she was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house) and ultimately, succumbs to her injuries. Ward is devastated, unable to get past this tragedy, and retreats from the world, cutting off contact with her agent and publisher and everyone else.
Bree attended Ward's book signing the night Stevie was assaulted. Having a hard time dealing with the end of her marriage and her teenage daughter's increasingly hostile attitude, she broke down in tears at the signing and Ward comforted her. Now, as she tries to build a new life for herself, she begins writing for the local newspaper, and decides what she'd like to do is tell Ward's story.
The challenge is, Ward isn't interested in being found. But Bree is resourceful, almost obsessive in her desire to track Ward down. Even as people warn her that Ward may not want her to tell her story, or even try to locate her, Bree feels this is her chance to prove something to herself again. The deeper she digs, the more danger she puts herself in, because Stevie's killer is still out there...and doesn't want Bree in the way.
Liebert really ratchets up the tension through the start of the book. And although some tired subplots threaten to derail the suspense, the story is pretty fascinating and I couldn't put it down...until things started getting tied up and all I wanted was to put the book down. This is the first of Liebert's books I've read so I don't know if this is something that happens often in her books or if this is just a fluke, but I was really disappointed.
NetGalley and Gallery Books provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Perfectly Famous publishes June 2.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 3, 2020
3.5 stars...rounded up!
Ward has it all - she is a famous author and has her daughter. Until one night when her daughter is tragically murdered and Ward wants to no longer be out in society. Bree is a housewife turned journalist who becomes engrossed in what happened to Ward and wants to find out what has happened to her. As Bree continues on trying to tell the narrative of a tragic and mysterious disappearance she starts to uncover secrets that have been lurking around the DeFluer family and you'll never guess how it all ends..
I really enjoyed this book up until the ending. It seems like most of us are in a consensus that the ending just didn't really fit with how well the novel was going. It seemed a bit out of left field and a stretch which made the novel's appeal collapse for me. Beyond the ending though, I was constantly intrigued with continuing to read this book so that I knew what happened to Ward and if Bree was going to be able to solve this one through her new-ish journalism career. Overall this one was good, but the ending just didn't sit right with me.
Thank you to Gallery books & Kathleen Carter for my copy of this book!
I walked slowly back to my car, despite the rain. I wanted to savor the fresh adrenaline that was simmering inside me. This is what it must feel like to walk on air, I thought
Ward has it all - she is a famous author and has her daughter. Until one night when her daughter is tragically murdered and Ward wants to no longer be out in society. Bree is a housewife turned journalist who becomes engrossed in what happened to Ward and wants to find out what has happened to her. As Bree continues on trying to tell the narrative of a tragic and mysterious disappearance she starts to uncover secrets that have been lurking around the DeFluer family and you'll never guess how it all ends..
I really enjoyed this book up until the ending. It seems like most of us are in a consensus that the ending just didn't really fit with how well the novel was going. It seemed a bit out of left field and a stretch which made the novel's appeal collapse for me. Beyond the ending though, I was constantly intrigued with continuing to read this book so that I knew what happened to Ward and if Bree was going to be able to solve this one through her new-ish journalism career. Overall this one was good, but the ending just didn't sit right with me.
Thank you to Gallery books & Kathleen Carter for my copy of this book!
June 11, 2020
Man, this book was so...Meh! I thought it was ok, nothing original but relatively well-written, up until the very last few pages and then it just went downhill from there. The final act definitely came across as very 'soap opera' and unrealistic, and I can't imagine how the final draft got past a good editor or publisher, but perhaps i'm in the minority here and some loved it. The plot was intriguing, and while I pretty much had most of the reveals figured out after the first quarter, I still enjoyed the reading experience, so this just ended up disappointing me in the end. I suppose i'm what some may call a thriller/suspense aficionado, and it's become increasingly difficult for a book in this genre to stand out above the dozens I read, but this one definitely stood out, in the wrong way, for me. I'm pretty sure I remember relatively enjoying Liebert's debut novel last year, and I went so far as to purchase this one online, which I wish I had not done. I'm hoping this is just a case of the sophomore slump, and will cautiously look forward to her third novel's publication. You win some, you lose some!
April 3, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
3,5 ⭐️
In the words of Elphaba from "Wicked": "Did that really just happen? Have I actually understood?". That's exactly how I felt after the very last sentence. I actually had to go backwards and listen to the last couple of minutes again cause I wasn't sure I had understood right the first time. When all seemed said and done...BAM! there was a last second twist that left me like...wait, WHAT??!! But, was it really necessary? Not at all. In fact it left me with more questions than answers.
With so many domestic noir out there right now you need something to make yours stand out, so I'm all for last minute surprises coming out of left field, but they have to be believable and really bring something to the story and, in this case, I don't think the story needed it.
Right until that point Perfectly Famous was a really entertaining domestic suspense and it made the perfect listen for a couple of road trips. I'm always up for books about writers and this one about an author disappearing after a personal tragedy and another woman's obsession trying to find her was the perfect fit for me.
It was really engaging right from the start and the two different POVs made for a really nice pace. There were several characters acting shady, so there were suspects aplenty, but some red herrings made me change my mind several times.
Despite my misgivings about the final twist it was a highly enjoyable story so I'll definitely be reading/listening to the author's other novels.
3,5 ⭐️
In the words of Elphaba from "Wicked": "Did that really just happen? Have I actually understood?". That's exactly how I felt after the very last sentence. I actually had to go backwards and listen to the last couple of minutes again cause I wasn't sure I had understood right the first time. When all seemed said and done...BAM! there was a last second twist that left me like...wait, WHAT??!! But, was it really necessary? Not at all. In fact it left me with more questions than answers.
With so many domestic noir out there right now you need something to make yours stand out, so I'm all for last minute surprises coming out of left field, but they have to be believable and really bring something to the story and, in this case, I don't think the story needed it.
Right until that point Perfectly Famous was a really entertaining domestic suspense and it made the perfect listen for a couple of road trips. I'm always up for books about writers and this one about an author disappearing after a personal tragedy and another woman's obsession trying to find her was the perfect fit for me.
It was really engaging right from the start and the two different POVs made for a really nice pace. There were several characters acting shady, so there were suspects aplenty, but some red herrings made me change my mind several times.
Despite my misgivings about the final twist it was a highly enjoyable story so I'll definitely be reading/listening to the author's other novels.
May 4, 2020
What do you get when you cross a famous author in hiding, her murdered daughter, and a newly divorced housewife looking for a way to fill her days? A fast-paced whodunit with one whopper of an ending. Emily Liebert takes us on a wild ride in Perfectly Famous, a propulsive thriller starring two sets of mothers and daughters. Find a sunny spot, because this is the perfect summer read.
March 30, 2020
What a bummer. Most of this book was 4- or 5-star good, and then the ending went off the rails into this soap opera-esque disaster. The dialogue abruptly got terrible. She actually wrote the words “And everything faded to black.”
I like twists and turns as much as the next mystery/suspense reader, but I want to think to myself, “Oh, I didn’t see that coming, but I get it. How very clever of the author.” Not, “That makes absolutely no sense in light of everything that came before this.”
Ward DeFleur is a successful novelist on tour for her latest book when the word comes that her only child, 16-year-old Stevie, has been brutalized and is in critical condition. When Stevie dies, Ward goes completely off the grid.
Before that happened, Ward comforted a fan of hers, Bree Bennett, who is going through a hard time, and loses it at the exact moment Ward is signing her latest book.
Months after the disappearance of Ward, Bree is trying to get back into the business of being a journalist, and she wants to find out what happened to Ward. Thus begins an intriguing where-is-she-now mystery.
That devolves inexplicably into a confusing mess.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 2, 2020.
I like twists and turns as much as the next mystery/suspense reader, but I want to think to myself, “Oh, I didn’t see that coming, but I get it. How very clever of the author.” Not, “That makes absolutely no sense in light of everything that came before this.”
Ward DeFleur is a successful novelist on tour for her latest book when the word comes that her only child, 16-year-old Stevie, has been brutalized and is in critical condition. When Stevie dies, Ward goes completely off the grid.
Before that happened, Ward comforted a fan of hers, Bree Bennett, who is going through a hard time, and loses it at the exact moment Ward is signing her latest book.
Months after the disappearance of Ward, Bree is trying to get back into the business of being a journalist, and she wants to find out what happened to Ward. Thus begins an intriguing where-is-she-now mystery.
That devolves inexplicably into a confusing mess.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 2, 2020.
June 5, 2020
My first book by Liebert, Oh but not my last. I flew through this book I could not read fast enough nor turn the pages fast enough. I was blown away by the ending. I can not wait to read more of her books this is a 5 star must read. Plan to spend the afternoon with this one you will not put it down.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
June 18, 2020
It's no secret that I don't read all that many thrillers. And when I do, I usually go for espionage and/or political thrillers rather than psychological thrillers. Hell, I think I may be the only person in the world who hasn't read or watched Gone Girl (despite my having a fat crush on Rosamund Pike). It's not that I don't enjoy them per se, it's just that, in my experience (albeit limited), there's too much downtime spent in the POV character's (or characters') head while nothing gripping or interesting is really happening, which leaves me pretty bored for a good portion of the book. Unfortunately, though I enjoyed the story overall, this one was no different in that respect.
From reading other reviews, I noticed that a lot of people felt like the book started off really good but lost some steam along the way and then ended on a horrible note. I, on the other hand, felt almost exactly opposite. I thought that most of the book was pretty slow, and if I'm being honest, a very poor excuse for a thriller. Honestly, for the better part of the book, I felt like I was reading a family drama since most of the book was spent with Bree as she grappled with the fallout from her recent divorce—transitioning from a housewife, dealing with her troublemaking teenage daughter, getting a job for the first time in ten years, talking to her BFF, going out on dates, and occasionally (emphasis on occasionally) looking into Ward's disappearance.
And while I did feel like the ending did leave something to be desired, I didn't really hate it like other people seemed to. I believe that the final version of the book is nearly 20 pages longer than the advance copy I have, so it's possible that the author changed some things so that the ending doesn't feel as abrupt and somewhat cliffhanger-y in terms of leaving readers to guess at motivations/reasons for what happened on the very last page. But I also really doubt that's the case.
Everything considered, this was a decent book but a poor thriller. The only two people that you even really suspect of being the bad guy both turn out to be bad, and the one twist/shocker doesn't even contribute to the plot all that much, in my opinion. If you're looking for a quick, entertaining beach read, go ahead and pick it up, but if you're looking for a serious psychological thriller, I'd give this one a pass.
From reading other reviews, I noticed that a lot of people felt like the book started off really good but lost some steam along the way and then ended on a horrible note. I, on the other hand, felt almost exactly opposite. I thought that most of the book was pretty slow, and if I'm being honest, a very poor excuse for a thriller. Honestly, for the better part of the book, I felt like I was reading a family drama since most of the book was spent with Bree as she grappled with the fallout from her recent divorce—transitioning from a housewife, dealing with her troublemaking teenage daughter, getting a job for the first time in ten years, talking to her BFF, going out on dates, and occasionally (emphasis on occasionally) looking into Ward's disappearance.
And while I did feel like the ending did leave something to be desired, I didn't really hate it like other people seemed to. I believe that the final version of the book is nearly 20 pages longer than the advance copy I have, so it's possible that the author changed some things so that the ending doesn't feel as abrupt and somewhat cliffhanger-y in terms of leaving readers to guess at motivations/reasons for what happened on the very last page. But I also really doubt that's the case.
Everything considered, this was a decent book but a poor thriller. The only two people that you even really suspect of being the bad guy both turn out to be bad, and the one twist/shocker doesn't even contribute to the plot all that much, in my opinion. If you're looking for a quick, entertaining beach read, go ahead and pick it up, but if you're looking for a serious psychological thriller, I'd give this one a pass.
March 17, 2020
When I finished reading this book last night, I cursed.
Not delicate, ladylike cursing. More like foul, throw-the-book-at-the-wall cursing. Because, seriously.
For 90% of the book, I was with it. It was a solid thriller with an interesting mystery. Sure, I figured out that someone was quite villainous pretty early, but hey, I was still enjoying the read. And, yes, occasionally I wanted on of our main characters to act with a little more logic. But still…enjoying it.
But somehow, the author managed to simply destroy the book in the last 10% or so.
We have a follow up to a rather dramatic scene that is…weird and wrong and a simply different voice and tone from the rest of the book. I started reading that scene. Stopped for a moment in complete confusion and then finished it, shaking my head. It was bad, but not book destroying…yet.
Until we get to the last couple of pages of the book. This…this is a masterclass in how to destroy a book in a couple of pages. What happens is silly, ridiculous and so far out of left field and it simply makes no sense at all. It was awful.
I’m reading/reviewing this in March and the book is out in June. For God’s sake, there’s still time!
I was going to give this one star (it got that bad), but to be fair I did enjoy most of the rest of the book. 2 stars, but it can still be saved. Just delete that part…please?
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
Not delicate, ladylike cursing. More like foul, throw-the-book-at-the-wall cursing. Because, seriously.
For 90% of the book, I was with it. It was a solid thriller with an interesting mystery. Sure, I figured out that someone was quite villainous pretty early, but hey, I was still enjoying the read. And, yes, occasionally I wanted on of our main characters to act with a little more logic. But still…enjoying it.
But somehow, the author managed to simply destroy the book in the last 10% or so.
We have a follow up to a rather dramatic scene that is…weird and wrong and a simply different voice and tone from the rest of the book. I started reading that scene. Stopped for a moment in complete confusion and then finished it, shaking my head. It was bad, but not book destroying…yet.
Until we get to the last couple of pages of the book. This…this is a masterclass in how to destroy a book in a couple of pages. What happens is silly, ridiculous and so far out of left field and it simply makes no sense at all. It was awful.
I’m reading/reviewing this in March and the book is out in June. For God’s sake, there’s still time!
I was going to give this one star (it got that bad), but to be fair I did enjoy most of the rest of the book. 2 stars, but it can still be saved. Just delete that part…please?
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
February 3, 2020
Much more than a clever whodunit, Perfectly Famous is a subtle and lyrical acclamation of relationships, especially the challenging one between mothers and daughters. Irresistible and intriguing, it smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension that delicately unwinds to a final, profoundly shocking outcome. A captivating story that’s richly evocative, with characters you won’t soon forget. Perfectly Famous is a must read for fans of domestic drama.
Want to read
March 1, 2020Giveaway win!
June 2, 2020
Bored? Nothing else to do?
What possessed Bree to go on an obsessive, dangerous hunt for her favorite author so she could write her life's story for her?
Bree is divorced and hasn't worked for years. She wants to start back at her journalist job, but it turns into something much more.
Ward DeFleur is an author who writes crime fiction and has an actual nightmare happen to her. Her daughter is brutally murdered on the night of a book signing. Ward leaves the book signing with fans waiting in line when she hears about her daughter and doesn't fulfill her contractual obligation to the publisher because she disappears and hides from everyone.
Will Bree find Ward and at what expense? As her search continued for the author, a text message warning her to stop what she is doing frightened her, but she kept on. Who could have sent that text and what did it mean?
Meanwhile, Ward was still hiding but still not feeling comfortable especially when her old boyfriend made a comment about being at her book signing the night her daughter was murdered.
Many questions arise, and which characters are keeping secrets?
Will Bree find Ward, and will they find Stevie's killer?
There are multiple possible suspects, but I’m guessing you won't figure it out.
The ending twists were definitely a surprise. 4/5
This book was given to me by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What possessed Bree to go on an obsessive, dangerous hunt for her favorite author so she could write her life's story for her?
Bree is divorced and hasn't worked for years. She wants to start back at her journalist job, but it turns into something much more.
Ward DeFleur is an author who writes crime fiction and has an actual nightmare happen to her. Her daughter is brutally murdered on the night of a book signing. Ward leaves the book signing with fans waiting in line when she hears about her daughter and doesn't fulfill her contractual obligation to the publisher because she disappears and hides from everyone.
Will Bree find Ward and at what expense? As her search continued for the author, a text message warning her to stop what she is doing frightened her, but she kept on. Who could have sent that text and what did it mean?
Meanwhile, Ward was still hiding but still not feeling comfortable especially when her old boyfriend made a comment about being at her book signing the night her daughter was murdered.
Many questions arise, and which characters are keeping secrets?
Will Bree find Ward, and will they find Stevie's killer?
There are multiple possible suspects, but I’m guessing you won't figure it out.
The ending twists were definitely a surprise. 4/5
This book was given to me by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2020
“No one-they think-deserves to shine forever, to eclipse all the others who are just as worthy of recognition.”
Holy cow! Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. There’s nothing “perfect” about being famous. I know the reviews are mixed on this book but I enjoyed it despite the obvious lack of strong character development. It’s not your typical mystery thriller which I believe contributes to the mixed reviews. It is not a “thriller” but more of a suspenseful mystery. Once I reframed my perspective I was able to enjoy the book.
Bree Bennett and her friend Maggie attend a book signing for the renowned author, Ward DeFleur for her latest book, “Mysterious Stranger”. Coincidentally, there are several “mysterious strangers” who enter their lives.
The story alternates narrators mostly between Ward and Bree. It provides the scenario in which their two lives become tangled. When Ward receives an urgent message regarding her 15 year old daughter missing, she immediately cancels the rest of her book tour. She’s a single working mother doing very well as an author living in m affluent Connecticut gated community. Her daughter, Stevie, has always been her priority so when discovers that she went missing from Lily’s house she becomes frantic to find her daughter. Unable to cope with the loss and all the publicity Ward goes into hiding.
About 6 months later, Bree is still trying to find her new “normal” after her divorce from Jeremy. With her 16 year old daughter Chloe becoming rebellious she is at her wits end. She happens upon a news article reminding her of the tragedy with Ward DeFleur and how she and Maggie happened to be at the book signing the night Stevie went missing. Bree feels a connection with Ward since the book signing and being a single mother of a teen.
In order to get her life on track she applies for a job with the Fairfield Chronicle. While she is working on a temporary basis, she begins fascinated with Ward DeFleur and her mysterious disappearance. Needless to say, Bree enters reporter mode and begins to investigate this as a possible story to relaunch her writing career.
Things become messy and dangerous for Bree as she goes snooping into the history of Ward DeFleur whose real name is Laura Whitney. Bree’s mother provides comedic relief with her sassy self centered comments. People are not always who you think they are and often naïveté does not serve Bree well. Again, like most of the other reviews, just as it seems to be resolving most of the questions, the book ends with the most provocation sentence. Trust me even if you read the sentence you wouldn’t understand unless you read the entire book. And then, you ask why?!!
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an unbiased review.
Holy cow! Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. There’s nothing “perfect” about being famous. I know the reviews are mixed on this book but I enjoyed it despite the obvious lack of strong character development. It’s not your typical mystery thriller which I believe contributes to the mixed reviews. It is not a “thriller” but more of a suspenseful mystery. Once I reframed my perspective I was able to enjoy the book.
Bree Bennett and her friend Maggie attend a book signing for the renowned author, Ward DeFleur for her latest book, “Mysterious Stranger”. Coincidentally, there are several “mysterious strangers” who enter their lives.
The story alternates narrators mostly between Ward and Bree. It provides the scenario in which their two lives become tangled. When Ward receives an urgent message regarding her 15 year old daughter missing, she immediately cancels the rest of her book tour. She’s a single working mother doing very well as an author living in m affluent Connecticut gated community. Her daughter, Stevie, has always been her priority so when discovers that she went missing from Lily’s house she becomes frantic to find her daughter. Unable to cope with the loss and all the publicity Ward goes into hiding.
About 6 months later, Bree is still trying to find her new “normal” after her divorce from Jeremy. With her 16 year old daughter Chloe becoming rebellious she is at her wits end. She happens upon a news article reminding her of the tragedy with Ward DeFleur and how she and Maggie happened to be at the book signing the night Stevie went missing. Bree feels a connection with Ward since the book signing and being a single mother of a teen.
In order to get her life on track she applies for a job with the Fairfield Chronicle. While she is working on a temporary basis, she begins fascinated with Ward DeFleur and her mysterious disappearance. Needless to say, Bree enters reporter mode and begins to investigate this as a possible story to relaunch her writing career.
Things become messy and dangerous for Bree as she goes snooping into the history of Ward DeFleur whose real name is Laura Whitney. Bree’s mother provides comedic relief with her sassy self centered comments. People are not always who you think they are and often naïveté does not serve Bree well. Again, like most of the other reviews, just as it seems to be resolving most of the questions, the book ends with the most provocation sentence. Trust me even if you read the sentence you wouldn’t understand unless you read the entire book. And then, you ask why?!!
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 2, 2021
This is a gripping thriller about a famous author who goes into hiding after her life is ripped apart by a horrific murder, the journalist who becomes obsessed by finding her -- and the killer who is still on the loose.
March 16, 2020
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of PERFECTLY FAMOUS by Emily Liebertz in exchange for my honest review.***
Holy plot twist, Batman.
I thought I knew the bad guy from early on in PERFECTLY FAMOUS. Emily Liebertz seamless writing had me breezing through chapters, engaged with both narrators.
Ward/Laura’s palpable grief had me rooting for her to be able to return to some semblance of life, a new normal with more manageable mourning. I didn’t blame her for isolating. I loved Bree and her uncomplicated divorce, though neither parented their daughter effectively. For being an amateur investigative journalist, she lacked curiosity and fact checking over things she shouldn’t. She couldn’t set a boundary if her life depended on it. Still, something about her made me hope she’d be heroic.
Liebertz created so many plausible twists and turns that I hadn’t imagined. The action didn’t stop until the very last sentence. I now what to read everything she’s written.
Domestic mystery and thriller lovers will enjoy PERFECTLY FAMOUS.
October 6, 2020
I liked this book initially. It was a fairly fast read (big typeface, lots of space) and good pacing to start. It was even fairly complicated as far as mysteries go. Unlike some popular stories that have endings that skip a lot of details (and thus aren't plausible) to get to the end. This one did a good job of laying the groundwork. We have more than one bad guy with motivation to create the problem. However, one of my main problems was with the characters, I found them a bit flat and superficial. Frankly, I did like Bree (one of two narrators) at the beginning, however, she seemed to less and less likable to me as she explored her "needs" following a divorce . Additionally, I did not care one iota for how she did her sleuthing, breaking the law made me dislike her even more. I know I sound harsh, I know I have high standards for characters. I realize that and state why I don't find this as engaging as I think most readers will. So, I'm sorry if I sound to demanding, if that isn't a problem for your reads, you will probably really enjoy this.
There were several mysteries that are uncovered, which was very solid as a storyline (cudos). However, I did see the biggest mystery coming (bummer), so that was the key reveal and it fell a bit flat. The ending was masterful and ironic (however, I also saw the big reveal coming (not the exact detail) as well so again, it was a hollow victory) plus it was a bit beyond the realm for me. The red herrings were pretty well done and there were quite a few misdirections. My main problem is that Ms. Liebert pushed past the point of believable in my book. Those readers that don't spend much time reading a lot of mysteries may truly enjoy it.
Weighing all the positives and negatives, it was more than a 3 but not close to 4 Stars. Again, I realize it may very well be a case of "it's not you, it's me". So, unless my concerns are typical of what you value, you may really like this one.
Ms. Liebert is a talented writer and I may consider reading other books, if the characters are more appealing.
There were several mysteries that are uncovered, which was very solid as a storyline (cudos). However, I did see the biggest mystery coming (bummer), so that was the key reveal and it fell a bit flat. The ending was masterful and ironic (however, I also saw the big reveal coming (not the exact detail) as well so again, it was a hollow victory) plus it was a bit beyond the realm for me. The red herrings were pretty well done and there were quite a few misdirections. My main problem is that Ms. Liebert pushed past the point of believable in my book. Those readers that don't spend much time reading a lot of mysteries may truly enjoy it.
Weighing all the positives and negatives, it was more than a 3 but not close to 4 Stars. Again, I realize it may very well be a case of "it's not you, it's me". So, unless my concerns are typical of what you value, you may really like this one.
Ms. Liebert is a talented writer and I may consider reading other books, if the characters are more appealing.
July 11, 2020
Perfectly Famous by Emily Liebert was a book that I was really looking forward to after hearing so much about it. I have seen such mixed reviews for this! I listed to this one on audio and binged it a day. A clever and original story it hooked me right in. For me, there was a bit too much of the love lives and I did pick who the bad guy was early on. But in saying that I really enjoyed it.
Word DeFleur is a writer who has sold millions of books around the world. She seems to have a perfect until one night, while at the launch of her new book, he only daughter Stevie disappears and it murdered. Bree Bennett, a recently divorces journalist wants to tell Word's story, but first she has to find her. We hear the stories of both women's lives through their eyes. The ending was shocking and really came out of nowhere and I can see that this has divided readers.
Word DeFleur is a writer who has sold millions of books around the world. She seems to have a perfect until one night, while at the launch of her new book, he only daughter Stevie disappears and it murdered. Bree Bennett, a recently divorces journalist wants to tell Word's story, but first she has to find her. We hear the stories of both women's lives through their eyes. The ending was shocking and really came out of nowhere and I can see that this has divided readers.
May 6, 2020
Perfectly Famous grabbed my attention right away. The first chapter sucked me in and I was enjoying the glorious ride of a good suspense novel until the ending happened. I went from rating this book with 4 stars to sliding down to only 2 stars at the end. I am still trying to figure out what happened and why the author decided to make the finale so...shocking, but yet not really exploring why this ending should be the best fit for the story. It did not make sense to me why some of the things happened and what motivated the characters to act certain way. So with a heavy heart, because I really enjoyed most of this book, I have to rate it with only 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 2, 2020
Great read! Here is what I had to say about it:
Perfectly Famous is a killer summer read! When a back-to-work journalist investigates the sudden disappearance of a famous author, suspects emerge from every corner of both women’s lives. Spot-on characters and clever plotting drive this latest thriller by Emily Liebert to a deliciously unexpected ending!
Put it on your shelf so you don't miss out!
Perfectly Famous is a killer summer read! When a back-to-work journalist investigates the sudden disappearance of a famous author, suspects emerge from every corner of both women’s lives. Spot-on characters and clever plotting drive this latest thriller by Emily Liebert to a deliciously unexpected ending!
Put it on your shelf so you don't miss out!
July 21, 2020
Perfectly Famous is my second time reading a book by Emily Liebert and it was just as enjoyable as the first! I was really surprised at how often I laughed during this book, and I loved the banter between Bree, her daughter Chloe, and her friend Maggie. I listened to the audiobook and that may have been another reason I was laughing so hard. Tavia Gilbert and Natalie Naudus did a great job voicing Ward and Bree, and they use the full range of their voices as well as plenty of inflection to create the desired effects for each situation the characters are in. I highly recommend the audio just because the narrators were so talented even if they were a bit overwhelming for me at times.
Perfectly Famous is full of short chapters and the pacing is very quick. I also really liked the fact that the book switched back and forth between Bree and Ward since it helped build the suspense for me. Now let’s talk about that ending! I know a lot of people were unhappy with it and I can see why, I loved everything up until the last few pages when I was thrown for a loop and didn't really like it. I thought one part was a tiny bit predictable, but I didn't completely see the end coming and I really don't know how I feel about it.
Perfectly Famous did also branch out into the unbelievable side of things, so if you don't like that don't read this. But overall I loved this fast-paced, HILARIOUS, thriller and I would recommend to fans of this author and people who enjoy controversial endings. I love Liebert's writing style and since this is book seven for her I am really looking forward to reading the rest of her backlist now.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
Perfectly Famous is full of short chapters and the pacing is very quick. I also really liked the fact that the book switched back and forth between Bree and Ward since it helped build the suspense for me. Now let’s talk about that ending! I know a lot of people were unhappy with it and I can see why, I loved everything up until the last few pages when I was thrown for a loop and didn't really like it. I thought one part was a tiny bit predictable, but I didn't completely see the end coming and I really don't know how I feel about it.
Perfectly Famous did also branch out into the unbelievable side of things, so if you don't like that don't read this. But overall I loved this fast-paced, HILARIOUS, thriller and I would recommend to fans of this author and people who enjoy controversial endings. I love Liebert's writing style and since this is book seven for her I am really looking forward to reading the rest of her backlist now.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
December 24, 2020
❐ Overall Rating 2¾ | Narration 4
❐ Narrated by Tavia Gilbert & Natalie Naudus
❐ Mystery/Thriller
❐ Famous Author hiding from the world
❐ After the death of her daughter
I really liked Pretty Revenge by this Author...I was absorbed from the start with it. The words just flowed. This one not so much...It started out decently but sort of fell apart for me near the middle...not terribly so...and if the ending hadn’t happened the way it did; I might have rated somewhere around three and a half to four stars, even. But that ending...and when I say ending, I’m talking about the last 10 seconds or so of the book (I had to rewind it and make sure I heard it right), it totally blew the whole story for me. Basically, I don’t get why she did that...it made no sense…. Apparently, I’m not the only one who felt this way, either.
❐ Narrated by Tavia Gilbert & Natalie Naudus
❐ Mystery/Thriller
❐ Famous Author hiding from the world
❐ After the death of her daughter
I really liked Pretty Revenge by this Author...I was absorbed from the start with it. The words just flowed. This one not so much...It started out decently but sort of fell apart for me near the middle...not terribly so...and if the ending hadn’t happened the way it did; I might have rated somewhere around three and a half to four stars, even. But that ending...and when I say ending, I’m talking about the last 10 seconds or so of the book (I had to rewind it and make sure I heard it right), it totally blew the whole story for me. Basically, I don’t get why she did that...it made no sense…. Apparently, I’m not the only one who felt this way, either.
May 17, 2020
Even though I've only read a few of Emily Liebert's novels so far, I really enjoy her writing style. She has me engaged right away and then I can't stop turning the pages to see what will happen next. Her characters are genuine and relatable. This is definitely the case with her latest novel, Perfectly Famous.
I liked hearing both Ward and Bree's perspectives in first person, even though I was sometimes so caught up with one character that I became confused initially when they switched, even when it was clearly indicated at the beginning of the chapter. They were both sympathetic characters who I worried about whenever I had to take a short break from reading. The premise of this novel was interesting and the plot twists and turns kept me guessing from one chapter to the next. Sometimes I was right and then sometimes I was way off. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery though. Bree's mom always stressed me out, but it was amusing to read her conversations with Bree.
A funny coincidence in this novel is that one of the minor characters has the same first and last name as one of my relatives. What are the odds?!?
Perfectly Famous had a strong thriller aspect while also bordering on women's romantic fiction. I hope there will be a sequel because this novel really needs one.
Movie casting suggestions:
Bree: Amy Smart
Ward: Lauren Stamile
Chloe: Rachelle Henry
Scott: Geoff Stults
Evan: Oliver Hudson
Alex: Alexander Skarsgård
Maggie: Alanna Ubach
I liked hearing both Ward and Bree's perspectives in first person, even though I was sometimes so caught up with one character that I became confused initially when they switched, even when it was clearly indicated at the beginning of the chapter. They were both sympathetic characters who I worried about whenever I had to take a short break from reading. The premise of this novel was interesting and the plot twists and turns kept me guessing from one chapter to the next. Sometimes I was right and then sometimes I was way off. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery though. Bree's mom always stressed me out, but it was amusing to read her conversations with Bree.
A funny coincidence in this novel is that one of the minor characters has the same first and last name as one of my relatives. What are the odds?!?
Perfectly Famous had a strong thriller aspect while also bordering on women's romantic fiction. I hope there will be a sequel because this novel really needs one.
Movie casting suggestions:
Bree: Amy Smart
Ward: Lauren Stamile
Chloe: Rachelle Henry
Scott: Geoff Stults
Evan: Oliver Hudson
Alex: Alexander Skarsgård
Maggie: Alanna Ubach
May 30, 2020
All throughout my reading of this book I thought it was a regular 3-star read. A bit soap-opera-ish like her previous book, but still a light mystery. I didn't like the Bree character at ALL. Stalker much? She had no compelling reason for pursuing Ward to the extent she did. And I agree with Maggie toward the end--Bree's daughter Chloe was spiraling out of control and instead of hunkering down to make sure her daughter was ok, Bree gallivants here and there trying to find Ward. Plus she was seriously way too trusting.
All of that made it solidly three-star. A decently fluffy mystery. And then Liebert had to throw in that ending out of left field. I mean SERIOUSLY it wasn't needed and was just beyond bizarre.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
All of that made it solidly three-star. A decently fluffy mystery. And then Liebert had to throw in that ending out of left field. I mean SERIOUSLY it wasn't needed and was just beyond bizarre.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
Perfectly Famous
By Emily Liebert
What a fun thriller read that hooked me until the very end with a twist I never saw coming at all. The story is about Ward DeFleur a famous writer in Connecticut whose perfectly famous life comes to a screeching halt when her teenage daughter Stevie was brutally murdered. Ward went into seclusion and never wrote again.
Bree Bennett an ex-journalist turned housewife raising her teenage daughter Chloe starts to obsess over her favorite author gets into the mix of this thrilling story. oh and the killer is still out there murder unsolved.
I thought the writing was amazing and really kept a great pace. The killer ending threw me for a loop but overall this was a highly enjoyable read that you will be able to read in an afternoon.
By Emily Liebert
What a fun thriller read that hooked me until the very end with a twist I never saw coming at all. The story is about Ward DeFleur a famous writer in Connecticut whose perfectly famous life comes to a screeching halt when her teenage daughter Stevie was brutally murdered. Ward went into seclusion and never wrote again.
Bree Bennett an ex-journalist turned housewife raising her teenage daughter Chloe starts to obsess over her favorite author gets into the mix of this thrilling story. oh and the killer is still out there murder unsolved.
I thought the writing was amazing and really kept a great pace. The killer ending threw me for a loop but overall this was a highly enjoyable read that you will be able to read in an afternoon.
May 28, 2020
On the night that famous author Ward DeFleur's daughter disappears, she winds up at the police station answering questions about the possibility of obsessed fans while her daughter is out there somewhere, needing help. She falls apart when discovering her beautiful daughter has been murdered.
A year later, Bree Bennett tries to research more about Ward and the tragedy that occurred the night that she felt lucky enough to meet the famous author. She wants to write about what happened to Stevie, Ward's teenage daughter but can' t seem to figure out where she disappeared to.
Told from two different perspectives (Ward and Bree) the novel is about the mystery of what happens to Stevie and the danger that the ladies are in because the murder has never been found or captured.
Overall the first half of the book is good, with interesting characters. The last part of the book just did not do it for me. I wanted to rate three stars, but the beginning was written so well and I am very hopeful that the last chapter will be resolved with a sequel or a rewrite would be in order. I can't say more without risking spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Emily Liebert, and Gallery Books for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
A year later, Bree Bennett tries to research more about Ward and the tragedy that occurred the night that she felt lucky enough to meet the famous author. She wants to write about what happened to Stevie, Ward's teenage daughter but can' t seem to figure out where she disappeared to.
Told from two different perspectives (Ward and Bree) the novel is about the mystery of what happens to Stevie and the danger that the ladies are in because the murder has never been found or captured.
Overall the first half of the book is good, with interesting characters. The last part of the book just did not do it for me. I wanted to rate three stars, but the beginning was written so well and I am very hopeful that the last chapter will be resolved with a sequel or a rewrite would be in order. I can't say more without risking spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Emily Liebert, and Gallery Books for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
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