What a great debut! Loved so many things about this. From the mixed media format and the superstar, famous lifestyle to the well thought out and surprising mystery, I can imagine this will be a popular title when it hits shelves!

This is a glitzy, twist-filled thriller that asks: what happens when the world’s biggest pop star is accused of murder? I enjoyed the satirical take on celebrity culture, fan obsession, and the stories we choose to believe.

I don’t even know where to start. I have been wanting to read this book for months and being given the opportunity to read it early had been amazing. I loved the mixed media aspect of the book and that it was faced paced and easy to read. So many twists and turns too. I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. You best believe I have it preordered and I have also bought the sprayed edges from the works!

Sisters Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso have created a fun and creative mystery thriller. It is based on a pop star and a few murders. It is amazing to think how much the media can really make you believe which way to think. Innocent until proven guilty?
Using mixed media in the story was imaginative and truly felt like you were engrossed in the celebrity gossip. I learnt a few things about how artist’s use Easter eggs in their music. I enjoyed the use of Easter eggs and connections to artists like Taylor Swift and The Beatles.
The story starts off super engaging, the middle is a bit slow then lots of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 ⭐️

This book is a wild ride. It tells the story of Naomi, whose sister died of an alleged drug overdose three years before the start of the book. Naomi works for a gossip site and is 'investigating' the arrest of a famous pop star (not Taylor Swift) for murder. This is the jumping off point for this not-very-thrilling thriller. The telling of the story is rather repetitious, with the 'facts' that Naomi finds discovered, told to the reader, told to her editor and then often repeated in an article. Yes, as well as third person story telling there is article, tweets, and other plot devices that some might find cute but I found annoying. There are Easter eggs in the form of highlighted letter - I did not work these out, because I could not be bothered. It still deserves three stars, becasue it was a fun fast read, and the last twist is hilarious, but it could really have done with another round of editing to make it less repetitious.

thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

A debut that seems certain to thrill when released later this month. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
The story is told from the perspective of Naomi Barnes, a journalist with a celebrated celebrity gossip site. She is in the process of investigating a story when her boss asks that she head back to New York as major music star Harlow has been arrested for murder. Though heading back to New York brings up painful memories for Naomi of her sister - a wannabe musician found dead of a suspected drugs overdose a few years earlier - she does as asked. Her investigations start with her pumping former friends and associates for information and, before long, Naomi thinks she’s onto a major story.
No spoilers here but what started as a decent thriller quickly became the kind of story that twisted and turned at every opportunity. Naomi finds herself going down the proverbial rabbit hole as she believes she’s found evidence of something major. As readers we can’t tell if she’s stumbled onto something audacious - every journalist’s dream - or if she’s becoming unhinged with grief.

Harlow Hayes is at the top of her game. She's more famous than Taylor Swift. A megastar. A true success story.

Naomi Barnes is in the mist of grieving her sister, who died suddenly a few years back. She works for C*Leb news as a journalist, and when Harlow Hayes gets arrested for murder, the media is all over it, including Naomi.

This book was written for me and all conspirators globally. Whether it's who replaced Avril Lavigne, were Furbies spying on us, or did aliens build the pyramids, I'm all in. I LOVE a conspiracy.

Add to that TikTok's, Internet sleuths, and secret symbols, I'm in my element.

Then, the sister loss / grief representation - chef's kiss. This is never well portrayed in a thriller, yet they smashed it here.

My only grumble would be that I wish Emily had more closure, but I understand why that decision was made.

Five stars - I had so much fun reading this!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I didn't like the way this book started and thought "here we ago again, another one which will be a chore to read" but actually its is OK, if if a bit far fetched. Handy hint - you don't need to bother reading the comments on the social media posts as they add nothing to the story.

The book could be shorter and brisker paced, there is too much detail of ordinary, irrelevant things, too much telling rather than showing especially at the start, and the word "smirk" is so overused that it becomes jarring but by and large, the plot is good, the twists/surprises, although not hard to guess are quite entertaining but why do people always go investigating in lonely places in dark and inclement weather? .Naomi is rather dense which gives the reader the satisfaction of working things out before Naomi does.

A decent holiday read, entertaining enough and not at all taxing.

This thriller delivers a sensational concept—a global pop star indicted for murder—with flair. The intertwined layers of celebrity veneer, fan obsession, and Naomi’s own family trauma are compelling. The Easter-egg sleuthing gives the story a fun challenge, though if you prefer a streamlined mystery, the early chapters may feel bloated.

Ultimately, the payoff is satisfying, with enough momentum and surprise to make it a strong debut. It would make excellent beach or holiday reading—and it might even lend itself well to a screen adaptation.

What a great debut by the Mancaruso sisters! I was hooked from start to finish!
I liked how this book explores social media and its power to spread rumours, how it engages with and encourages celebrity gossip and allows it to gain momentum. This book is addictive, fast paced, and I couldn’t put it down - I needed to know what came next! It’s a fabulous mix of mystery, adventure and a look behind the curtain into the world of a pop star.
I can’t actually believe this is a debut novel, it was so well written! I loved it!

This book drew me in with the front cover and it intrigued me with the overall headline. However, I found the story very slow to get going expecting to hear more from Harlow Hayes in the story opposed to the central character Naomi the journalist.

I didn’t feel the book really picked up until three quarters through and felt it to be quite drawn out. That said I enjoyed the ending but felt disappointed with the premise of the book once read. I would like to thank netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

First, thank you Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC!

This is another trope I often like in thrillers - fame and celebrities. Also, the cover simply caught my interest, and with those two things, I was curious enough to give the book a try and start reading.

What can I say - I am glad I got what I expected. We follow Naomi, a journalist who is interested in the case of Harlow Hayes, who they say is guilty of murdering someone. The story is fast-paced and twisty. Also the use of mixed media was surely a plus for me. Very well done, I felt really entertained and while guessing all the time what could have happened, I surely have not been able to see that end coming!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Rumoured is such a fun, fast-paced thriller with a dark, glittery edge. Think Gone Girl meets pop stardom—with a murder mystery twist that keeps you guessing. The story follows Naomi, a journalist digging into the downfall of a global pop icon, and it’s packed with secrets, scandal, and just the right amount of drama.

If you love celebrity gossip, unreliable narrators, and thrillers that read like a Netflix binge, Rumoured is definitely worth picking up.

I loved this book. It was so twisted and suspenseful. I loved the author’s writing style and the format book has been written in. This was such an engaging read. It pulled me in right away and didn’t let me go until the end. Characters play an essential role in this book and looks can be deceiving so pay attention to each character.

So, there is a murder case and the mystery is twisted. Characters are harbouring secrets and nothing is how it seems to be. The truth was so shocking and twists were unpredictable. This is a kind of book where you think you have figured it all out but then the twists shook you. If you like books with secrets, twisted truths, and twists, you are going to love this book.

Thanks to the Publisher

Thank you to NetGalley for my arc of this book!

The description of this novel was so intriguing, but unfortunately it failed to live up to expectations. I kept waiting to feel a connection to any of the characters but struggled throughout. *hints of slight spoilers ahead*

The main character, Naomi, has no personality aside from mourning her sister and being a (morally questionable) journalist. I feel like occasional attempts were made to make her seem ‘better’ than standard celebrity gossip journalists, but it failed to land every time. She claimed to be righteous but acted terribly. Her level of obsession and unhinged behaviour felt like it devolved far too quickly to be believable. The way she acts towards a brand new love interest (actually just someone she’s using) is insane and entirely unrealistic when this doesn’t end the romance.

I guessed the big plot twist very, very early on. I’m all for hints towards the answers but I don’t feel these were masked by the authors very well. The authors seemed to have no faith in their readers to make connections, everything was explained too thoroughly.

One thing I did enjoy, however, was the use of forms of media between chapters. The use of news articles, tweets and comment sections really worked with the concept.

This book did not need to be as long as it was. I think if it hadn’t been a NetGalley read I may not have finished it.

A perfect read for fans, like myself, of celebrity and showbiz gossip and news, it’s my guilty pleasure. I really enjoyed the different perspectives of this book, from the gossip columns to Naomi and Harlow’s viewpoint. It spins a perfect web of deceit, lies and pure entertainment. I really enjoyed the ending it was just twisty and brilliant. A clever play on celebrity culture and questioning the difference between reality and what image is chosen to be portrayed to us.

3.5 ⭐️

This was an engaging read with a fresh take on drama and secrets. I liked the fast pace and the way the tension built throughout the story.

That said, some characters didn’t quite feel fully developed, and a few plot points could have been clearer. Still, it’s a solid, entertaining read for anyone into contemporary suspense.

I’ve read books written by two collaborators before and for me, it doesn’t usually work. This, however, is definitely interesting and it seems to work!

The story is set in the world of show business. We get to enjoy the tenacity of the protagonist, a reporter investigating the weird goings ons with a global superstar. And we get to witness her descent into paranoia and desperation to find answers.
The first part of the book does get a little tiring with the same suppositions being repeated regularly. But the story really picks up in the second half with lots of action and drama.

The authors state they’ve laid lots of Easter eggs throughout the book and while I spotted some, I’m afraid I just wasn’t smart enough to figure them out!
But it was certainly a hoot to hunt and attempt to solve them while enjoying the story.

I enjoyed this one immensely. It’s a fun one. Defo worth a read.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

“Rumoured” is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that masterfully blurs the line between celebrity and scandal. Told through the sharp lens of investigative journalist Naomi Barnes, the story unravels the dark truth behind pop icon Harlow Hayes’s arrest. With layered characters, shocking twists, and a timely exploration of fame, it’s a page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end. A must-read for fans of psychological suspense.

This was an entertaining read packed full of Easter Eggs, twists and turns. It felt vibrant and fresh with its exploration of celebrity culture, fandom and obsession, but the ending slightly let it down for me.