28 Faux Celebrity Fiction and Influencer Books About the Famous Life

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

Don’t let the cover fool you! This story definitely needs to be on our winter books list. It’s all about an influencer embroiled in scandal who agrees to help her uncle revitalize visitor interest in the national park he runs or else it will be shut down.

Given that she lands in the middle of a snowstorm, ends up battling the elements, participates in winter games, and meets a burly forest ranger, this romance screams fireside reading.

It’s fun for our list of books about influencers too!

People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd *Katie Recommends

Emmy aka @the_mamabare is the hottest momfluenster around. With over a million followers, Emmy has everything, including her two children that she uses to her advantage to gain followers.

While her husband Dan doesn’t love what Emmy does for work, there is no doubt it pays the bills while he works on his second novel. Unfortunately, there is someone that doesn’t believe Emmy deserves her success, and she is determined that Emmy lose everything she has lost.

This influencer book definitely kept me guessing, and it is 100% a love to hate the main character situation. Either way, I think this book was fantastic and definitely made me think twice about “influencers” I follow and what I believe from them.

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez *Katie Recommends

This was my favorite book in this series by the fabulous Abby Jimenez! Adrian, Vanessa, Grace, and their entire cast of characters won my heart over immediately and left me in tears.

Vanessa is a YouTube star whose sarcasm was a true gem and had me laughing throughout the entire story. Well….until she had me crying! This is such a fun influencer book.

Followers by Megan Angelo *Katie Recommends

This book covers Orla and Floss in 2016 and also follows Marlow in 2051. The time periods are incredibly different, and technology has changed in massive ways.

While Orla and Floss are living it up as influencers in 2016, Marlow is living her life 100% on screen in 2051. Every second of her day except for bathroom breaks and doctor’s appointments are on screen for the world to see and her life is run by the production company.

I went into this one pretty blind and I’m glad I did so I didn’t want to give too much away! Think of the Truman show. That is Marlow’s life. Meanwhile, Floss is basically the girl that just came back from being on the bachelor and is selling you skinny tea.

This book was so great but also incredibly scary. I think this book did a great job showing the good and not-so-good sides of the digital world, and I truly enjoyed it. Its definitely one of the more thought-provoking influencer books.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai *Katie Recommends

Jia, a beauty influencer, is so excited to finally meet the man she has been talking to. Until she introduces herself and he acts like he has no idea who she is.

Dev is incredibly confused when Jia finally tells him that they have been talking and falling for each other for months. Jia is mortified when she realizes she has been catfished, and even more so when she starts to fall for the real man.

I completely fell for both Jia and Dev, as well as the cast of characters in their lives! They were so real and just genuinely great characters!

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner *Katie Recommends

Daphne and Drue had a very “mean girls” high school friendship. Drue had it all, and Daphne loved being in her friend group, except for when Drue pushed her to the outside. After a night out, Daphne decides this friendship is not a good one for her.

Six years later, Due tracks Daphne down, with a huge request. To be her maid of honor. Daphne gives in, but when a tragedy strikes the night before the wedding, Daphne isn’t sure what to do.

I thought the look at social media and influencers (Daphne is one) was very timely and fascinating. I also enjoyed that Weiner dove into some difficult topics such as body image, expectations of women, and especially social media and the trolls that can live there.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

January 2020 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Such a Fun Age is a remarkable debut contemporary fiction from Philadelphia native Kiley Reid. This novel made me think and question the role our environment plays in who we are and who we become. ⁣ I love how the author addresses racism without drilling it in. 

Rather, she shows what it looks like from the overt to the subtle. The book focuses on the relationship between an African -American woman who is a nanny and her employer who is a white woman.

This influencer book about friendship is different than the other books on this list because the friendship is so one-sided. There is so much to discuss which makes it a perfect book for book clubs.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

This is a Jane Austen retelling featuring a Southern home decor influencer! Told by both the second wife and through the diary entries of the first, this domestic thriller is perfect for year-round reading.

Kirsten was shocked, Jackie guessed a lot of it, but we Both enjoyed it a great deal. Who would have thought that so many influencer books would be thrillers?

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier *Katie Recommends

This was a different take on the podcaster idea that I feel has been popular recently. I really liked that the podcaster was the missing person, and a fan was the one doing the investigating this time.

While I did have a pretty good idea of who the “bad guy” was, this book still kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. I’m loving the podcaster books trend.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin *Katie Recommends

After the first season of her true-crime podcast, and setting an innocent man free, Rachel is quickly the newest sensation! She has gone to lengths to keep her identity a secret, but on her way to the trial for the newest season, Rachel finds a note under the windshield of her car.

Hannah is convinced her sister didn’t just drown but was murdered 25 years ago. While investigating for the new season, the letters keep showing up. Can Rachel help solve a new crime and an old one this time?

This one had me flipping pages trying to figure out what happened. I loved the podcast element of the story, and Rachel was such a badass throughout the book.

The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

I picked up The Ex-Talk because I wanted to read a romance by a Jewish author. I loved that this one featured a biracial, interfaith couple.

The concept was cute – two radio show hosts fake a relationship to try to get ratings. Except they are pretending they already dated and broke up… which eventually leads to them actually dating. It was a cute, easy read.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto’s story about a months-long hostage situation was lovely. It was so interesting to see the relationship between the hostages and their captures develop.

One of the main people is a famous Opera singer and the reason everyone was at the venue on the night of the capture. The movie adaptation was great too.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

Cormoran Strike is a private investigator on the verge of failure when a client walks through the door with an amazing story.  

He is the brother of the recently deceased Lulu Landry, a famous supermodel. Refusing to believe his sister’s death was a suicide, he wants Cormoran to prove she was murdered.  

If I am honest, I would have read this book no matter what because of who wrote it.  However, I kept reading the series because I love it.  The last book was close to 700 pages so, there was no way I was reading that if I wasn’t totally invested in these characters. 

Rowling has a way of starting small, introducing you to characters, and sucking you in.  Cormoran Strike is the exact opposite of Chief Inspector Gamache.  He is flawed and cranky but, you will love him just the same.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

I adored this romance. Nora is a mother of two kids who writes romance novels for television. When her husband leaves her, she writes it into a script that is being made into a movie.

Enter a handsome movie star who asks if he can pay her to stay at her house. He needs to get away from the scene. The romance that takes place is sweet and doesn’t follow the usual formula.

I loved reading this book. It was hard to put down.

Winterland: A Novel by Rae Meadows

I’ve always been a firm lover of the Olympics, so I was eager to read this historical fiction book set in the 70s and 80s Soviet Union about an Olympic gymnast.

Having read a few books about gymnasts in the past, I was prepared for Anya’s ill-treatment at the hands of her coaches and trainers. I found the added elements of Russian communist life to be fascinating and helpful in creating a reason for her drive to be a legend. It’s on our list of books set in winter too!

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

I just adored this book.  It was such a sweet and light pick from this list of romance books. When Evvie’s husband dies unexpectedly in a car crash, she is still staying in her house a year later.  Everyone in her small town thinks that she is overcome with grief but in actuality, it is guilt. 

Dean is a retired major league baseball pitcher who woke up one day and was unable to throw the ball over the plate.   When he moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie’s house the two become friends and agree to never talk about baseball or the dead husband. 

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

May 2023 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

This book was a doozy in the most thought-provoking way. The story is about the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the reality tv show that pits prisoners against each other in gladiator-type fights to the death.

Thurwar and Staxxx are stars of the show, brutally killing anyone they come up against, but as Thurwar gets ready to win her freedom after 3 years on TV, the creatures of the show throw many hurdles in her path.

Why We Love This Book: This searing look at racism and classism feels highly relevant to today’s world when a show like this could easily exist in some states. The reality TV book was so unique. Even days later I can’t stop thinking about the all-stars, the protesters fighting for their rights, and the stunning conclusion. I’ve been thinking about it all year, so it was an easy pick for the best books of 2023 pick!
Find This Book In Dystopian Novels / Read with Jenna Book Club

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London *Katie Recommends

Bea is a well-known plus-size fashion blogger, but quickly becomes more well known when she calls out everyone’s favorite tv show “Main squeeze” for having no diversity in the size of their cast members.

She has recently had her heart broken by her long-time best friend, so when the show reached out to her to be the next Main Squeeze, she is hesitant but ultimately decides to take the risk. This is just for her career though, she will NOT fall in love with any of these men.

This reality tv book was just so much fun and if you are a Bachelor fan, you should definitely read it!! This one could have gone in the influencer books section too.

The Chicken Sisters by K.J. Dell’ Antonia

This was an enjoyable family drama based around two sisters competing in a fictional reality tv food competition. As the competition turns to tricks and sabotaging, the sisters’ war with each other turns ugly.

Family secrets just keep getting exposed and the hijinx get better and better. This was the perfect light read to end 2020 with. I’m in love with the reality tv books trend.

For more Reese Witherspoon Book Club Picks (ranked) check out this post.

The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren

This one is for all you Chip and Joanna Gaines fans.⁣  Imagine if behind-the-scenes a beloved TV decorating couple actually hated each other’s guts.

Then imagine that they have decided to put out a book about their marriage and are heading out on tour. How to keep the trouble in paradise under wraps? Bring along a longtime female assistant and a new handsome quasi-assistant to monitor the situation.

Let’s just hope the assistants can stay out of each other’s pants long enough to keep their bosses out of trouble.⁣ This is one of my favorite reality tv books like Fix Her Up.