How to die famous
By Benjamin Dean
Published by Simon & Schuster Ltd

This YA thriller about the pitfalls of instant fame in the TV arena is an absolute page turner! Brought to us by the award-winning author Benjamin Dean, we are introduced to the four main characters and a suspicious death to investigate. But all is not as it first seems. As the characters unveil themselves and their involvement within the industry is peeled back, layer by layer, each one has their own demons to keep under wraps.

When Abel Miller’s brother dies, he is determined to find the real answer - this was no accident. So juggling his Hollywood role & answering to a journalist on speed dial, Abel makes it his mission to expose the TV industry and make them pay as revenge for his brother’s murder.

This deliciously dark and addictive YA thriller follows the lives of the young, rich and famous through relationships, loves lost alongside struggles to stay alive.
Who are these actors beneath their scripts?
Why does everyone have something to hide?
What will become of these four teenage heart throbs?
Who will be next to die?

With thanks to Dean’s previous career as a celebrity journalist, we get the inside and outside story, up close and personal! Glamour and glitz, sit side by side with dark and daring, secrecy and scandal - read on for a fabulous showbiz ‘guess who’ with many a twist and turn! Nothing is as it seems on the surface,; congratulations Dean.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.

#Netgalley

‘How to die famous’ really appealed to my love of YA thrillers and although it took me a little bit of time to really get into the story, once I was in I was hooked. The main plotline is a remake of a teen TV show, one that now has cult status thanks to its supposed curse. All of the young cast members have their own secrets, but Abel we find out off the bat has history with the show. He has been picked from obscurity to be a new star but his focus is to uncover the truth behind his brother’s ‘accidental’ death.
The pacing was well done and I found it hard to stop reading with each twist and turn. I appreciated how each character felt well rounded on their own before slotting into the teenage friendship dynamic of the main four. The style in which Dean writes felt very on trend and had a similar feeling to works like ‘One of us is lying’ in that I am sure this will be adapted for Netflix soon, but it still felt fresh and original. I enjoyed Dean’s take on the dark side of the entertainment industry and how the way we live our lives on social media can be manipulated and misshaped for consumption. I really enjoyed Dean’s writing style and loved the upbuild in pace and revelations towards the end of the novel. Great addition for anyone who loves a well written and entertaining teen thriller.

How to Die Famous is a YA thriller novel about the lives of four young celebrities involved with the reboot of a popular show which is believed to be cursed due to its actors encountering disasters over the years. We meet four main characters, Abel, Lucky, Ryan, and Ella, whose POV we explore throughout the novel as the clues for the reveal at the start of the book all start to add up. However, the reveal seems to have more to it and we find this out as we read further into the novel, leading up to the events at the end. The plot twists were absolutely amazing and had me shocked at every turn, as every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, something else happened and changed my perception. There is a bonus end reveal which I definitely wasn’t expecting, and I am hoping it leads to more because it’s a fantastic cliffhanger! I don’t frequently read thrillers but I have loved Benjamin Dean’s other books and knew I would love this one too. I’m glad I got the chance to read this and would definitely recommend it!

5/5⭐️ How to Die Famous was a book I absolutely devoured! This queer mystery was suspenseful and engaging and had you constantly guessing. I loved the characters and was rooting for them all the way through; the side of romance was perfect and there were many moments that had me giggling. I also appreciated how the author included some of the characters dealing with grief and how they supported each other, it was heartwarming to read.

This book follows the viewpoint of each of the court protagonists: Abel, Lucky, Ella and Ryan, and having the story told from each of their POVS really made everything come together. They are all to star in the supposedly cursed show called Sunset High and as they embark on this journey they learnt there’s more to the curse than just myth. Murder seems to follow the production company, Omnificent and after his brother suffers an “accidental” death whilst working for the company, Abel sets out to find the truth.

Each revelation had me shocked especially the ending, I didn’t want to stop reading. This story of secrets, lies and murder will keep you hooked from the very first line until the end

A twisty and inclusive YA thriller with all the glitz, glamour, and scandals! Lifting the curtain on the hidden world of big production companies and their media darlings, contrasting what we see on the outside (and what sets social media on fire) with what's really going on. Really enjoyed that! I mean who doesn't love a good scandal or two?

Abel Miller is on his way to Hollywood, having landed one of the lead roles in a major teen blockbuster series, Sunset High. This is the third reboot of the series which has been cancelled before due to a curse that seems to plague the series. Now, as Able heads to begin filming, not only will he be acting, but he will also be surreptitiously reporting back to Hannah Wilkes at the Daily Eye newspaper for he is determined to expose Omnificent, the film company behind Sunset High, and their treatment of its staff. After meeting Lucky, Ryan and Ella, his co-stars, Abel quickly realises that the beneath the surface of the glamour and glitz of acting, there is a very different, much darker world; one that can be deadly.
Having read and loved Benjamin's MG books (Me, My Dad & The End Of The Rainbow (review here), and The Secret Sunshine Project (review here)), and devoured Benjamin's first YA novel The King Is Dead (review here) on a sunbed last July, I was rather giddy when I saw his upcoming YA, How To Die Famous, on NetGalley. I downloaded it immediately, knowing that a train journey to London would be the perfect opportunity to get lost in the Hollywood hills.

From the very beginning, you know that this is going to be a book full of drama with the prologue ending with the sentence 'One of us is dead.' It gives the reader a sense of anticipation and suspense from the very beginning and this carries through the entire book. Far from the glitz and glamour of the film industry, How To Die Famous shines a spotlight on the darker, controlling side of the film industry which made me shudder on many occasions. I know that the book was based on Benjamin's time as a celebrity reporter and is fictional but it did make me wonder how much of this goes on behind the scenes of the film industry; it's a life that many young people aspire to yet one that the book quickly shows readers isn't all that it seems. When you can't leave your hotel without being mobbed by paparazzi; when you can't be yourself and have to live the life you are instructed to, and when you aren't given the time to grieve, all in the name of building audience excitement for the show, it makes you realise that the glitzy outward appearance hides a much darker side; one that is showcased chillingly in this book.

The four main characters are very different from each other and I liked the four person perspective of the narrative. Lucky has recently lost his mother and is finding it difficult to come to terms with this, which results in him backing bad choices, especially in terms of drink. Ryan is a young black actor who is only too aware that this life could end at any moment, and Ella is the girl Omnificent want to be their new leading lady - on the surface she has everything anybody could possibly want but there is much behind the scenes that is making her miserable. Then there is Ryan, the young English actor heading towards his big break, but why is he determined to expose the world he is about to enter?

How To Die Famous is a deliciously thrilling book full of twists, stalkers, curses and suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. In fact, not only did I read it on the train without pausing, but I also found myself reading it on the tube in London and even whilst at dinner as the book was compelling and utterly unputdownable.

Publishing on the 20th July, How To Die Famous is the perfect summer YA read and I predict that it will be seen around many a poolside this summer.

3.75 ⭐️
If you liked a good girl’s guide to murder, you’re bound to like this book.
Abel miller joining the world of celebrities to uncover their dirty little secrets, only to find it’s much deeper than he could’ve thought. What more could you ask for? Inclusive characters, LGBT+ representation, and an all round really enjoyable story.

The only reason I didn’t rate this higher was the multiple POV’s, although relevant to the story, didn’t seem to allow much room to understand each character. I think it would’ve been much better to be in the head of 1 or 2 of the characters rather than trying to do all 4, I don’t think the inner monologue of Ryan and Lucky added much to the story that you couldn’t get from the perspectives of other characters.
Also the hope waters story line at the end seemed unnecessary other than to set up a second book, but I’m still excited for a second book to explore that further!

I’m definitely thinking of buying the physical copy to put on my shelf when it comes out!

an easy read by a new author for me, it a behind the scenes glance of the rich and famous and all the drama you see on screen also happens off screen!
lots of twists and turns

I was extremely grateful to be given an arc of this book from @simonandschuster

I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘how to die famous’. The book follows Abel, as he joins the set of ‘Sunset High’, a tv show which is labelled cursed due to various incidents affecting both staff and cast members. Abel joins with the intentions of taking down Omnificent (the show’s production company), however, he soon realises that this won’t be an easy job.

This book definitely took me by surprise- I wasn’t expecting to be as instantly hooked as I was and I loved the LGBTQ+ representation. The relationships between characters felt very realistic; I could definitely picture them existing as a real friend group. The twists and turns were also unpredictable and left me wanting to ignore real life just to find out what happens next.

I really hope this becomes a series as I really want to know what’s next for these characters.

With HOW TO DIE FAMOUS, Benjamin Dean delivers another pacy, hard-to-put down thriller that delves into the pressures put on those in public view,

This is a book all about how Hollywood, production companies, and the culture of celebrity gossip manipulates stories and invades privacy in order to sell media. It also explores how companies treat people like rubbish and discard them when they are no longer profitable - or begin to stand up for themselves.

It's sharp and uncompromising about how it portrays the effect this has on young actors and their mental health. Benjamin Dean is clearly drawing on his years as a celebrity reporter to make both the tangled lives that result from the pressure and the way it's all reported feel so painfully familiar. There's no dignity in it, from either the press or the production companies, no sense that these people are people to these bodies.

The book is mainly told from the perspectives of the four teen actors at the front of the show, revealing their different experiences and pressures. It's really good at humanising them so you can see why they might act as they are, see the different sides of the story. Plus you're rooting for these actors who are being pitted against each other in order for the production company to maintain power to come together to take it down.

Here and there, there are chapters from other characters' perspectives. These are when the events are being narrated to the main characters, in order to make the events more emotionally impactful, rather than being filtered through the listener's ears. It gives the chapters an imediacy.

It is also a twisty thriller to find out exactly what happened to Abel's brother and the other people who have been tangled with the production company's attempts to launch this show over the years. It's a mystery to keep you guessing - and then wondering how they're going to take those responsible down.

This was a really excellent read - I found it a bit slow going at first, but once the main story got underway it went from strength to strength. The twists just kept on coming, right until the last page! The writing style struck me as more pre-teen than young adult in the beginning, but seemed to mature alongside the story itself.

Overall, a cleverly plotted slow-burn thriller with a very satisfying ending!

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

Very much enjoyed this! Loved how gay it was and the characters were brilliant. Favourite character was Ryan - she’s one of those characters who you just think ‘yeah, sure’. Love Benjamin Dean’s books and would recommend this to anyone who asked me!

How To Die Famous is a book you will read in one sitting. It's deliciously scandalous. It keeps you on your toes and is a wild and unpredictable ride behind the scenes of the celebrity world we all love to read about. Benjamin Dean draws on his knowledge from his time as a celebrity journalist to create a jaw-dropping and addictive read.

Just finished this after reading this in one afternoon and I have to say I enjoyed it more as it went on! When reading a book about a tv show, you expect the book to be mainly centred around the events of the show but I didn't feel that with this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the different characters and all their back stories and was so glad that Abel got the justice his brother deserved. I also found the twists in the last 100 pages or so incredibly gripping and enjoyable, especially the epilogue! That ending!!! I don't know if I love or hated that it ended on such a cliffhanger. Probably my favourite Benjamin Dean book yet so I recommend if you've enjoyed his other books!

How to Die Famous was a very enjoyable read, and I predict enormous success for this one. It follows a group of young actors, who are starring in the remake of a cult show about a group of high school students.

But there is more than meets the eye to each member of this foursome.

Lucky Tate has recently lost his mother, and is drowning in grief - not that the sinister entertainment corporation funding the show cares, as long as he delivers on his star quality onscreen.

Ella is the up-and-coming new starlet, whose bright smile and wholesome good looks hide the miserable home life that lies behind the facade of her success, driven as it is by a toxic, ambitious mother and weighed down by the longing for her absent father.

As a young black woman, Ryan is fully aware of the attitudes that are stacked against her, despite the considerable success that she has already achieved, and the amount of money that she's earned for the studio.

With no family support, things are already hard enough for Ryan without the very public humiliation of Lucky and Ella's new (fake?) relationship, since Lucky was her actual boyfriend until recently. And then there is the apparent stalker that she has been receiving anonymous messages from!

Finally, we have Abel, the new kid on the block, who's different from the others in more ways than one. He has a secret motive for being on the show that is completely unrelated to any career goals...

The book delivers some excellent twists, if a little far fetched at times. But it is such a pleasure to read that you will forgive the writer that minor sin. This was a solid 4 star read for me. Readers will breeze through the book before they know it!

What can I say about this book… what a journey! I fell in love with Abel’s character so quickly and I was on his side the whole way through.

The twists, the turns, so many reveals it felt like a scream movie and that is a compliment!

My only downside was the multiple POVs we were introduced to the back story of four main characters and only one of their storied was wrapped up nicely, Abel’s, I wish we’d have heard how Ella and Ryan felt at the end.

How do you find out what really happened to your brother when it involves the secrecy of all that Hollywood offers? Well you gain a part in the machine that he worked for and gain trust and hope to expose it all. But along the way how much do you expose of the ones you grow to care about and how much danger are you actually in?

Oooo this one had me hooked from the get go!! Fast paced, well written & wonderful storyline! Such a great YA thriller I was pleasantly surprised by this! Suspenseful & gripping !

I love a YA thriller. I like how fast paced they are, and the twists and turns. This one had a dramatic start, I’ll give it that, but I did immediately know not to take it at face value.

I do think out of the four POVs we get, Abel’s was my favourite. Probably because he gets the most air time and by the end, only his story really feels neatly wrapped up. The rest…not so much, but I guess that’s because the author intends to write a sequel. Whether it really needs one…well, that remains to be seen. Currently I, not quite convinced and wish everything could have just been wrapped up.

Are some of the plot lines a bit convoluted? Yes, but that’s not uncommon in these books I feel. I’m interested in the sequel but I worry it might fall a bit short.

I give this 3.5 rounded up to 4 since despite the flaws I noticed, the writing and length meant I devoured it in a day.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Abel is the latest addition to the line up for a reboot of Sunset High, a Hollywood blockbuster series but he has a secret: he is also there to find out more about the death of his older brother who was an assistant for the show. As we find out more about the three other stars of the show, we realise that everyone has a burden to carry and secrets to conceal.
This mystery thriller is full of suspense and twists and turns, revelations about the past and about private lives lived out on a public stage. The glamour of fame seems poor compensation for the loss of privacy and identity as the entertainment world's machinery forces Abel, Ryan, Lucky and Ella to "follow the narrative" and lose themselves in the process.
An entertaining read which kept me guessing to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.