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She Died Famous
A gripping psychological thriller about iconic superstar, Kelly Trozzo, and her suspected killer, the author she commissioned to pen her shocking Hollywood memoir. A Star is Born meets Gone Girl, in this dark and twisted love story with an unforgettable conclusion. The headline “Hollywood Superstar Kelly Trozzo Found Dead.” With no suspect in custody, authorities turn their attention to best-selling author Kaleb Reed, whose obsessive relationship with the star has been followed by social media and tabloids alike. In his online confession, Reed claims that his relationship with Trozzo began with a tweet, an unexpected endorsement from the pop star herself. Almost overnight, Reed’s novel garners national attention, and the reclusive writer is thrust into the spotlight. But according to Reed, the endorsement came with a price. In the days that follow, Reed is invited to Trozzo’s Los Angeles mansion, where he is solicited to write her memoir. Lured by her physical appeal and charisma, Reed delves further and further into Trozzo’s fantasy world, ensnared by a twisted story of betrayal and vengeance. On the night of Trozzo’s death, Reed finally discovers his true role in this story, as well as the pop star’s alternative ending to his famous novel—one that leads to his arrest. Set in Hollywood, She Died Famous is an innovative thriller that exposes the dark side of fame and obsession in today’s digital landscape. The story’s shocking twists and unreliable narrator will have every reader Who killed Kelly Trozzo?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
132 people are currently reading
8144 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Rutkin
9 books216 followersAuthor and Creative Ritualist. Follow my newsletter The Creative Ritual on Substack. https://creativeritual.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
July 11, 2022
Kyle Rutkin came up with a genius plot idea but sadly the execution left me wanting a hell of a lot more.
Two words to describe this book: Disorienting and tedious.
So we have a lot of alcohol and drugs. Like bucket loads. We have a cast of unreliable narrators that all seem to suffer mental illness. We have a story within a story being told only adding to the confusion. We also have Greek mythology making appearances through out. Hence, disorienting. Every chapter is like an LSD trip of epic proportions but this wasn't a good trip folks. Nope, not at all. And it went on forever. Every chapter is the same fucking thing. Our two main narrators: Kelly Trozzo the famous singer and Kaleb Reed the author she hires to write her biography and they both have their heads stuck so far up their own selfish asses that I'm surprised they can even walk upright. I mean if I could tell two people to shut the fuck up it would be these two. The both of them are just wretched human beings.
Actually every single character in this book is horrible, horrible, horrible. And what about Kelly's fans the KTroops? Y'all are a little frightening to us sane people. No one and I mean NO ONE should ever follow and obsess over a celebrity like this.
I'll admit I had to skim through some of the drug addled scenes and Kaleb's nightmare visions because who gives a shit, right? Not me. Still though I fought my way to the end even though I couldn't have cared less who killed Kelly because good riddance as far as I'm concerned and guess what: The ending sucked! 2 stars for a genius idea (this could have been great!) and for compelling me to the end even though I hated it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Two words to describe this book: Disorienting and tedious.
So we have a lot of alcohol and drugs. Like bucket loads. We have a cast of unreliable narrators that all seem to suffer mental illness. We have a story within a story being told only adding to the confusion. We also have Greek mythology making appearances through out. Hence, disorienting. Every chapter is like an LSD trip of epic proportions but this wasn't a good trip folks. Nope, not at all. And it went on forever. Every chapter is the same fucking thing. Our two main narrators: Kelly Trozzo the famous singer and Kaleb Reed the author she hires to write her biography and they both have their heads stuck so far up their own selfish asses that I'm surprised they can even walk upright. I mean if I could tell two people to shut the fuck up it would be these two. The both of them are just wretched human beings.
Actually every single character in this book is horrible, horrible, horrible. And what about Kelly's fans the KTroops? Y'all are a little frightening to us sane people. No one and I mean NO ONE should ever follow and obsess over a celebrity like this.
I'll admit I had to skim through some of the drug addled scenes and Kaleb's nightmare visions because who gives a shit, right? Not me. Still though I fought my way to the end even though I couldn't have cared less who killed Kelly because good riddance as far as I'm concerned and guess what: The ending sucked! 2 stars for a genius idea (this could have been great!) and for compelling me to the end even though I hated it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 23, 2020
Here is what you need to know about She Died Famous.
1. Gorked out narrators
2. Drugs
3. Liquor
4. More drugs
5. Greek mythology
6. More liquor
7. Nightmares
8. Oh hey...more drugs and liquor
9. Endless song lyrics
...and...
10. Loathsome characters everywhere
It was tedious, friends. It's a shame that such a promising plot deteriorated into such gibberish.
Not recommended to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
1.5 stars rounded up...for the potential.
1. Gorked out narrators
2. Drugs
3. Liquor
4. More drugs
5. Greek mythology
6. More liquor
7. Nightmares
8. Oh hey...more drugs and liquor
9. Endless song lyrics
...and...
10. Loathsome characters everywhere
It was tedious, friends. It's a shame that such a promising plot deteriorated into such gibberish.
Not recommended to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
1.5 stars rounded up...for the potential.
April 29, 2020
As soon as I finished, I started re-reading the book all over again. Yes, it was that good!
I started this book when Britt @geronimoreads encouraged me in a sprint reading session. Once I started, I became fully engrossed, and could not stop turning the pages. I devoured this amazing psychological thriller in one sitting. Being an Angeleno myself, I love reading books set in Los Angeles. I also enjoy dark Hollywood glam, and stories about the twisted lives of the rich and famous!
The book was set in a very unique format, with newspaper headlines and clippings, interviews, and blog posts. The writing was amazing, and had a wonderful pacing that moved the story well, and made for a very entertaining and exciting read.
The story begins days leading to the murder of Kelly Trozzo, a Hollywood Superstar, and how the friendship between author Kaleb Reed and Kelly started. Kelly sought out Kaleb by tweeting about his book to reel Kaleb in to write her memoir. Kelly’s tweet on how she loved the book made Kaleb an overnight sensation and a best-selling author.
The characters were quite intriguing, and Kyle Rutkin writes each of them well. Even those small parts are so thoughtfully written with such detail that it reads like it should be in the big screen.
If you enjoyed reading Daisy Jones and the Six, The Silent Patient and My Lovely Wife, you would absolutely love this read.
I started this book when Britt @geronimoreads encouraged me in a sprint reading session. Once I started, I became fully engrossed, and could not stop turning the pages. I devoured this amazing psychological thriller in one sitting. Being an Angeleno myself, I love reading books set in Los Angeles. I also enjoy dark Hollywood glam, and stories about the twisted lives of the rich and famous!
The book was set in a very unique format, with newspaper headlines and clippings, interviews, and blog posts. The writing was amazing, and had a wonderful pacing that moved the story well, and made for a very entertaining and exciting read.
The story begins days leading to the murder of Kelly Trozzo, a Hollywood Superstar, and how the friendship between author Kaleb Reed and Kelly started. Kelly sought out Kaleb by tweeting about his book to reel Kaleb in to write her memoir. Kelly’s tweet on how she loved the book made Kaleb an overnight sensation and a best-selling author.
The characters were quite intriguing, and Kyle Rutkin writes each of them well. Even those small parts are so thoughtfully written with such detail that it reads like it should be in the big screen.
If you enjoyed reading Daisy Jones and the Six, The Silent Patient and My Lovely Wife, you would absolutely love this read.
April 30, 2020
Wowza!
It is very rare that I can't conceive what's to come in a book.
At the very least I usually have an inkling mere pages before it's revealed.
"Without sacrifice, their love and affection were just empty words."
Kyle Rutkin surprised the hell out of me with this one!!!
Right down to the end.
I will follow you into any dark abyss you decide to write Sir.
Much love to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for my DRC.
It is very rare that I can't conceive what's to come in a book.
At the very least I usually have an inkling mere pages before it's revealed.
"Without sacrifice, their love and affection were just empty words."
Kyle Rutkin surprised the hell out of me with this one!!!
Right down to the end.
I will follow you into any dark abyss you decide to write Sir.
Much love to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for my DRC.
August 7, 2019
✨REVIEW✨
First of all I would like to give a huge thank you to the author himself, Kyle Rutkin, for sending me a free signed copy of “She Died Famous” to review.
Let me start by saying I absolutely loved this book. It is dark, edgy, and completely captivating. It is a story of not only betrayal and vengeance, but one of obsession, darkness, and the price you pay for fame. It is also a story of handling your inner demons and how every single one of us are dealing with our own wounds. The story itself kept me guessing all the way until the end because I spent the entire book having no idea who killed Kelly Trozzo. This was so fantastic because so many books can be predictable. “She Died Famous” was anything but!
The format of the book is new and so perfect for the digital age we live in. The book is written in a combination of blog posts, news articles, and interviews with various characters. This led to a fast paced and fun to read plot. I loved hearing from so many different characters throughout.
Overall I would recommend this to readers who love mystery, suspense, unreliable narrators, and books that give you an inside look at what it means to live your life in the spotlight. 5/5 ⭐️ from me! Bravo Rutkin!
First of all I would like to give a huge thank you to the author himself, Kyle Rutkin, for sending me a free signed copy of “She Died Famous” to review.
Let me start by saying I absolutely loved this book. It is dark, edgy, and completely captivating. It is a story of not only betrayal and vengeance, but one of obsession, darkness, and the price you pay for fame. It is also a story of handling your inner demons and how every single one of us are dealing with our own wounds. The story itself kept me guessing all the way until the end because I spent the entire book having no idea who killed Kelly Trozzo. This was so fantastic because so many books can be predictable. “She Died Famous” was anything but!
The format of the book is new and so perfect for the digital age we live in. The book is written in a combination of blog posts, news articles, and interviews with various characters. This led to a fast paced and fun to read plot. I loved hearing from so many different characters throughout.
Overall I would recommend this to readers who love mystery, suspense, unreliable narrators, and books that give you an inside look at what it means to live your life in the spotlight. 5/5 ⭐️ from me! Bravo Rutkin!
August 21, 2019
Huge thanks to Kyle for sending me a copy of this insanely beautifully written novel for me and some friends of mine that all just happened to follow the KTROOPS, leaving in utter love with Kelly Trozzo and Kaleb. Psychological thrillers are my favorite kind and this one may just be the best one I’ve read in a very long time!!
When I first got this book I flipped through the pages and noticed that there were actual headlines from magazines and news articles added into the book, and for me as a reader, it made things very interesting and extremely realistic!!
It'a fast pace book because there is seriously no reason to put it down. You will find yourself reading it straight through (yes, it was that addicting)!
Each character is so unique. I truly cannot believe how easily Kyle let the characters flow on paper. This story with its dynamic between, Kelly the singer/actress and Kaleb the nobody author, and her assistant Jez and BFF Lizzy all who would basically be nothing without Kelly, made this novel whole. Each character played a very important role in this book and it was literally like watching it on television.
*There are some erotic scenes in here that I totally didn’t see coming, but absolutely loved.
They worked 100%!
I recommend this book to readers of any kind. You don’t have to be a thriller lover to enjoy or read this book. It’s an amazing, powerful and extremely fascinating read. It has some interviews in it as well, which was nice to enjoy reading after going back in fourth with Kaleb’s blog.
Brilliantly written. A visualization like you were watching it unfold before you.
When I first got this book I flipped through the pages and noticed that there were actual headlines from magazines and news articles added into the book, and for me as a reader, it made things very interesting and extremely realistic!!
It'a fast pace book because there is seriously no reason to put it down. You will find yourself reading it straight through (yes, it was that addicting)!
Each character is so unique. I truly cannot believe how easily Kyle let the characters flow on paper. This story with its dynamic between, Kelly the singer/actress and Kaleb the nobody author, and her assistant Jez and BFF Lizzy all who would basically be nothing without Kelly, made this novel whole. Each character played a very important role in this book and it was literally like watching it on television.
*There are some erotic scenes in here that I totally didn’t see coming, but absolutely loved.
They worked 100%!
I recommend this book to readers of any kind. You don’t have to be a thriller lover to enjoy or read this book. It’s an amazing, powerful and extremely fascinating read. It has some interviews in it as well, which was nice to enjoy reading after going back in fourth with Kaleb’s blog.
Brilliantly written. A visualization like you were watching it unfold before you.
September 3, 2019
"This is Hollywood. Your princess is cunning. Price Charming is evil. Dragons, demons, and darkness are hidden in us all. There are no bluebirds, no fairy godmothers. No shortage of monsters. We must save ourselves."
4.5⭐
I loved She Died Famous! This was such an entertaining read for me. It was full of drama, and the format used was so perfect for the story that was being told.
I liked the characters in this book, and I was so interested in finding out who the murderer was. It's always interesting when you know who was killed, and then have to work your way back to find out what happened.
Originally, I had given this book 5⭐, but after thinking more about it, it's now 4.5⭐. I adored this story, but the ending was unclear and confusing. I've spoken with two other reviewers, and read the last few pages more than once, and I'm still not entirely certain about what happens. However, this doesn't change my love for She Died Famous.
The writing in this book is gorgeous, and I was fully captivated the entire time I was reading. I had so much fun with this book, and I hope Kyle Rutkin continues to write suspense books!
4.5⭐
I loved She Died Famous! This was such an entertaining read for me. It was full of drama, and the format used was so perfect for the story that was being told.
I liked the characters in this book, and I was so interested in finding out who the murderer was. It's always interesting when you know who was killed, and then have to work your way back to find out what happened.
Originally, I had given this book 5⭐, but after thinking more about it, it's now 4.5⭐. I adored this story, but the ending was unclear and confusing. I've spoken with two other reviewers, and read the last few pages more than once, and I'm still not entirely certain about what happens. However, this doesn't change my love for She Died Famous.
The writing in this book is gorgeous, and I was fully captivated the entire time I was reading. I had so much fun with this book, and I hope Kyle Rutkin continues to write suspense books!
September 18, 2019
She Died Famous by Kyle Rutkin
This story, whoa talk about DARK & DAMANGED...
The book is written in a combination of blogs, news headlines, and t.v. interviews. And I loved this layout for the book, kept it going at nice fast pace.
The characters were deep and disturbed starting with Kelly the actress & singer, Kaleb the addicted and possibly insane author, Jez Kelly's assistant and Kelly's bestfriend Lizzy all of who had very important roles in telling this story. All who would be nothing's without Kelly.
This was a dark, intriguing, erotic story of obsession, addiction, demons that live deep within the characters. You will have to read the book to find out who killed Kelly Trozzo.
Thank you to the author Kyle Rutkin - Author for gifting me this book for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story, whoa talk about DARK & DAMANGED...
The book is written in a combination of blogs, news headlines, and t.v. interviews. And I loved this layout for the book, kept it going at nice fast pace.
The characters were deep and disturbed starting with Kelly the actress & singer, Kaleb the addicted and possibly insane author, Jez Kelly's assistant and Kelly's bestfriend Lizzy all of who had very important roles in telling this story. All who would be nothing's without Kelly.
This was a dark, intriguing, erotic story of obsession, addiction, demons that live deep within the characters. You will have to read the book to find out who killed Kelly Trozzo.
Thank you to the author Kyle Rutkin - Author for gifting me this book for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 18, 2020
I love the title!
I was enamored with this book before even turning the first page. It came to me tied in a black ribbon and signed by the author. There were two special bookmarks and a faux news article with the coordinating theme of the novel.
Lots of stars for a great presentation, however I couldn’t justify all five.
A series of news articles, blogs, and press releases are compiled to tell a complete story. Similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, the format works because of the main character’s celebrity status.
Unlike Daisy Jones, it’s a psychological thriller and a dark one at that.
Props to the author for a creative approach, but this was a challenging read for me. Collectively, the dream-like drug scenes, unreliable narrators, and collated media pieces made it difficult to discern the vital details shaping the plot. Maybe that was the intent but it was a little much.
In a positive note, there’s a lot to like if the set up is something you can work with.
I was enamored with this book before even turning the first page. It came to me tied in a black ribbon and signed by the author. There were two special bookmarks and a faux news article with the coordinating theme of the novel.
Lots of stars for a great presentation, however I couldn’t justify all five.
A series of news articles, blogs, and press releases are compiled to tell a complete story. Similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, the format works because of the main character’s celebrity status.
Unlike Daisy Jones, it’s a psychological thriller and a dark one at that.
Props to the author for a creative approach, but this was a challenging read for me. Collectively, the dream-like drug scenes, unreliable narrators, and collated media pieces made it difficult to discern the vital details shaping the plot. Maybe that was the intent but it was a little much.
In a positive note, there’s a lot to like if the set up is something you can work with.
August 30, 2019
I absolutely love this story. I flew threw it in two sittings and that was only because I was in the middle of travelling and had to stop, otherwise I may have read it all at once. The first thing that drew me in was the format of the story. We get to see this story through past journal entries, TMZ articles, interviews, etc. The way we go from format to format is just one more factor that makes this book so addictive and readable. I will definitely be reading more from this author and I highly recommend this to any thriller fan! 5 stars!!
November 25, 2019
This book and I definitely did not mesh well. We were a terrible match and I regret asking for the ARC. I had to abandon it at %55. I don't care about self-absorbed, shallow personalities that love to drink and snort coke and have major rage issues. It is not what I enjoy reading and I am sorry to give such a bad review.
July 29, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!!
I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Parts of it definitely deserved 4 stars, but the ending was no better than 3.
This book is getting compared to "A Star is Born," which I've never seen but can see the comparison, and Gone Girl. Because of that comparison, I was expecting a big twist, because Gone Girl had one of the best and most memorable twists I've ever read. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in that aspect. In reality, I can't think of a single similarity between the two books, not one reason comes to mind to compare them, other than perhaps publicity. A better comparison would be Daisy Jones & The Six, for both the storytelling, part of which is in interviews, as well as the superstar lifestyle and drug use. Another good comparison would be Verity, although Colleen Hoover did it better. Although the storyline is not the same, there are a lot of similarities, including an unreliable narrator who is an author hired to write a book for someone else. The writing style also reminded me of Cara Hunter, with blog posts, interviews, TV shows, book excerpts and other unique storytelling methods other than just paragraphs like most books.
I did just compare this book to three books I gave 5 stars to (and couldn't compare it to another 5 star book). But sadly, despite all of that, I can't really rave over this book. It DID have a lot going for it. Great characters that stay with you and feel real, and a really good storyline that I overall enjoyed. But the ENDING just completely fell apart. It set up this big mystery to be solved - who really killed Kelly Trozzo, and how does it all connect to the "fictional" story written by Kaleb Reed that was really based on his dark past - but the ending was so anticlimactic and confusing. There was no twist, no big reveal. I was left feeling like "what just happened?" Maybe an epilogue or something would have made it better.
So yea, I actually did really like this book. I'd say for sure 3.5, but almost 4 if the ending had been better. It really had a lot of promise, and I think Kyle Rutkin is actually a really good author. I'd definitely be interested in reading his next book.
I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Parts of it definitely deserved 4 stars, but the ending was no better than 3.
This book is getting compared to "A Star is Born," which I've never seen but can see the comparison, and Gone Girl. Because of that comparison, I was expecting a big twist, because Gone Girl had one of the best and most memorable twists I've ever read. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in that aspect. In reality, I can't think of a single similarity between the two books, not one reason comes to mind to compare them, other than perhaps publicity. A better comparison would be Daisy Jones & The Six, for both the storytelling, part of which is in interviews, as well as the superstar lifestyle and drug use. Another good comparison would be Verity, although Colleen Hoover did it better. Although the storyline is not the same, there are a lot of similarities, including an unreliable narrator who is an author hired to write a book for someone else. The writing style also reminded me of Cara Hunter, with blog posts, interviews, TV shows, book excerpts and other unique storytelling methods other than just paragraphs like most books.
I did just compare this book to three books I gave 5 stars to (and couldn't compare it to another 5 star book). But sadly, despite all of that, I can't really rave over this book. It DID have a lot going for it. Great characters that stay with you and feel real, and a really good storyline that I overall enjoyed. But the ENDING just completely fell apart. It set up this big mystery to be solved - who really killed Kelly Trozzo, and how does it all connect to the "fictional" story written by Kaleb Reed that was really based on his dark past - but the ending was so anticlimactic and confusing. There was no twist, no big reveal. I was left feeling like "what just happened?" Maybe an epilogue or something would have made it better.
So yea, I actually did really like this book. I'd say for sure 3.5, but almost 4 if the ending had been better. It really had a lot of promise, and I think Kyle Rutkin is actually a really good author. I'd definitely be interested in reading his next book.
February 3, 2020
Updated my rating to a 3.
Thank you to Kyle Rutkin for sending me She Died Famous to read and review!
.
Picture this! I am reading this book, I get spooked so I go around my house and close all the blinds and turn off the AC (because it was making a weird noise). I sit back down and start reading and the window blind flies open. 😰😰😧😧
.
Just about peed my pants! 😆
.
She Died Famous follows Kaleb Reed and Kelly Trozzo. Kelly Trozzo was a famous pop star who is found dead in her home with the primary subject being Kaleb, an author commissioned to write her memoir. In the days that follow, the reader is taken on a wild ride to figure out who exactly killed Kelly. Was it Kaleb? Was it someone else? You will have to read to find out.
.
This story is DARK! It is filled with demons and obsession and will not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Some parts were actually hard to read because it was so realistic and you could feel the characters falling apart.
.
I really liked how the story was told. You learn pieces of information through online blog posts by Kaleb, interviews with Kelly, interviews with Kelly's friends and news articles. This was a really cool format. I really felt like I was listening to a news article or an interview.
.
I also could not figure out the plot, which is big for me as I read a ton of thrillers. I think this is because of the way the story is told. You get tiny pieces of the jigsaw puzzle as you read that makes it impossible to figure out. The characters were well developed as you learn more about what makes them who they are through the jigsaw puzzle 🧩🧩🧩
Where the story fell from a 4 or 5 to a 3 was due to purely my enjoyment. While I liked how the story was told, the characters were really dark and messed up. No one was likable at all. This doesn't always affect a story for me, but this one went a little too messed up for me. Definitely toxic. I also am really bad with speculative elements and this has one.
🖤 If you are a fan of You by Caroline Kepnes and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn then I think you would enjoy this! It gave me those vibes big time! 🖤
.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Kyle Rutkin for sending me She Died Famous to read and review!
.
Picture this! I am reading this book, I get spooked so I go around my house and close all the blinds and turn off the AC (because it was making a weird noise). I sit back down and start reading and the window blind flies open. 😰😰😧😧
.
Just about peed my pants! 😆
.
She Died Famous follows Kaleb Reed and Kelly Trozzo. Kelly Trozzo was a famous pop star who is found dead in her home with the primary subject being Kaleb, an author commissioned to write her memoir. In the days that follow, the reader is taken on a wild ride to figure out who exactly killed Kelly. Was it Kaleb? Was it someone else? You will have to read to find out.
.
This story is DARK! It is filled with demons and obsession and will not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Some parts were actually hard to read because it was so realistic and you could feel the characters falling apart.
.
I really liked how the story was told. You learn pieces of information through online blog posts by Kaleb, interviews with Kelly, interviews with Kelly's friends and news articles. This was a really cool format. I really felt like I was listening to a news article or an interview.
.
I also could not figure out the plot, which is big for me as I read a ton of thrillers. I think this is because of the way the story is told. You get tiny pieces of the jigsaw puzzle as you read that makes it impossible to figure out. The characters were well developed as you learn more about what makes them who they are through the jigsaw puzzle 🧩🧩🧩
Where the story fell from a 4 or 5 to a 3 was due to purely my enjoyment. While I liked how the story was told, the characters were really dark and messed up. No one was likable at all. This doesn't always affect a story for me, but this one went a little too messed up for me. Definitely toxic. I also am really bad with speculative elements and this has one.
🖤 If you are a fan of You by Caroline Kepnes and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn then I think you would enjoy this! It gave me those vibes big time! 🖤
.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐
October 29, 2019
So two quick things....
1. What the heck happened at the end?
2. How obsessed is Rutkin with Miley Cyrus?
Honestly, I've been painting this little picture in my head of Kyle Rutkin staying up late into night with cold coffee rings surrounding his computer obsessively googling Miley. Like I wish I could get my hands on his internet search history because I would keel over with joy I'm sure. I don't know why I find this scenario so entertaining but I really do. But joking aside, I really picked up on some Best of Both Worlds vibes in this book with just a dash of Britney.
If you are a tabloid junky or a celebrity gossip, this is going to be the book for you.
There were a few things that I did enjoy about the novel. This story reads like a trashy tabloid. Rutkin took an interesting and fun approach that let us into the story little by little. In that way, I found the story was hard to put down. Another element that I enjoyed was the inside view to a celebrity's life. Viewers or common people mostly see what celebrities want us to see. We see poses, perfection and a fantastical life. But this story is a reminder that the beautiful and rich are still people. Mental illness, addiction and trauma don't discriminate.
Back to question 1. I want to discuss the ending. I love an unreliable narrator. Any day give me a narrator that I can't trust, I am here for it. But....don't give me a last line that has me scratching my damn head. This is not some great literature where the ending can be internalized and viewed subjectively. This is a purposefully trashy novel that really has no business leaving on a line like that. Come on, Rutkin!
Okay, I did a little research on that last line. It appears that Rutkin answered a question on Goodreads indicating that there will be a sequel. My feelings on this are ambiguous. I don't really think this needs another installment but I won't judge a book without the cover....
There are a few points I'd like to briefly discuss. Not only does this story have a Miley Cyrus vibe it has a Caroline Knepnes You vibe. Like our narrator and Joe Goldberg could be the best of friends. They are almost hard to differentiate even down to the writing/reading interest. I'd be curious if Rutkin has ever dabbled in Kepnes books or television series. I'm thinking he has.
This is Hollywood. Your princess is coming. Prince charming is evil. Dragons, demons, and darkness are hidden in us all.
Thriller writers are talented and crazy. They put these enticing lines about the mystery that has yet to unfold that makes you squeal with delight. They add these menacing lines about the big secret that has you dying to get to the reveal. The author carefully crafts these tempting lines that leave the readers thinking "oh shit" what is going to pop off. Then you finish the book. And you find yourself feeling a little played. You were lead astray. The build was better than the break.
And that is why I am rating this book with 3.5 stars rounding down to 3.
Thank you NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for a copy of She Died Famous. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to check out the second installment.
1. What the heck happened at the end?
2. How obsessed is Rutkin with Miley Cyrus?
Honestly, I've been painting this little picture in my head of Kyle Rutkin staying up late into night with cold coffee rings surrounding his computer obsessively googling Miley. Like I wish I could get my hands on his internet search history because I would keel over with joy I'm sure. I don't know why I find this scenario so entertaining but I really do. But joking aside, I really picked up on some Best of Both Worlds vibes in this book with just a dash of Britney.
If you are a tabloid junky or a celebrity gossip, this is going to be the book for you.
There were a few things that I did enjoy about the novel. This story reads like a trashy tabloid. Rutkin took an interesting and fun approach that let us into the story little by little. In that way, I found the story was hard to put down. Another element that I enjoyed was the inside view to a celebrity's life. Viewers or common people mostly see what celebrities want us to see. We see poses, perfection and a fantastical life. But this story is a reminder that the beautiful and rich are still people. Mental illness, addiction and trauma don't discriminate.
Back to question 1. I want to discuss the ending. I love an unreliable narrator. Any day give me a narrator that I can't trust, I am here for it. But....don't give me a last line that has me scratching my damn head. This is not some great literature where the ending can be internalized and viewed subjectively. This is a purposefully trashy novel that really has no business leaving on a line like that. Come on, Rutkin!
Okay, I did a little research on that last line. It appears that Rutkin answered a question on Goodreads indicating that there will be a sequel. My feelings on this are ambiguous. I don't really think this needs another installment but I won't judge a book without the cover....
There are a few points I'd like to briefly discuss. Not only does this story have a Miley Cyrus vibe it has a Caroline Knepnes You vibe. Like our narrator and Joe Goldberg could be the best of friends. They are almost hard to differentiate even down to the writing/reading interest. I'd be curious if Rutkin has ever dabbled in Kepnes books or television series. I'm thinking he has.
This is Hollywood. Your princess is coming. Prince charming is evil. Dragons, demons, and darkness are hidden in us all.
Thriller writers are talented and crazy. They put these enticing lines about the mystery that has yet to unfold that makes you squeal with delight. They add these menacing lines about the big secret that has you dying to get to the reveal. The author carefully crafts these tempting lines that leave the readers thinking "oh shit" what is going to pop off. Then you finish the book. And you find yourself feeling a little played. You were lead astray. The build was better than the break.
And that is why I am rating this book with 3.5 stars rounding down to 3.
Thank you NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for a copy of She Died Famous. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to check out the second installment.
November 15, 2019
I am legitimately torn in what I think on this read. I liked the unique format in which this book was written. We have Kaleb, the author, number one suspect in Kelly's murder, telling his side through blog posts. Interviews and press releases for the rest. Is Kaleb insane? Because the drugs are DEFINITELY getting the best of him so as a reader I was utterly confused on what was happening with him throughout the entire ride. Kelly manipulates, but as a young star - who really are her friends and when she can get away with anything, why not GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.
There seemed to be a bit of repetition throughout the read and I felt I was going through the highs and lows of all the drug abuse along with these vapid characters. I will say that the repetitive nature did escalate showing how little by little they were getting in deeper - trying to find whatever it is that they were *really* focused on, while wearing their masks. I'm also a bit confused with the ending. And maybe that's the whole point. A crazy journey culminating in a less than crystal clear finish?
I'm left wondering if I somehow got a contact buzz from Kaleb, Kelly and all her friends. Something definitely seeped into my skin. I'm equally impressed with this debut but also thinking maybe this might not be *quite* the read for me... yet, I can't exactly pinpoint exactly why.
Suspense lovers should definitely give this book a whirl and fans of books like Night Film I think will appreciate the format.
There seemed to be a bit of repetition throughout the read and I felt I was going through the highs and lows of all the drug abuse along with these vapid characters. I will say that the repetitive nature did escalate showing how little by little they were getting in deeper - trying to find whatever it is that they were *really* focused on, while wearing their masks. I'm also a bit confused with the ending. And maybe that's the whole point. A crazy journey culminating in a less than crystal clear finish?
I'm left wondering if I somehow got a contact buzz from Kaleb, Kelly and all her friends. Something definitely seeped into my skin. I'm equally impressed with this debut but also thinking maybe this might not be *quite* the read for me... yet, I can't exactly pinpoint exactly why.
Suspense lovers should definitely give this book a whirl and fans of books like Night Film I think will appreciate the format.
August 12, 2019
“Set in Hollywood, She Died Famous is an innovative thriller that exposes the dark side of fame and obsession in today’s digital landscape. The story’s shocking twists and unreliable narrator will have every reader asking: Who killed Kelly Trozzo?” -@Kyle Rutkin
This story is a dark tale about sex, drugs, demons, fame, obsession and murder. It is told in a few different viewpoints: an interview Kelly gave before her death, an interview from Lizzy (her bff) and Jez (her obsessive assistant) after Kelly died, Kaleb’s memories from 4 years ago and Kaleb’s online blog in real time. It sounds hectic but the book actually flows really well so there’s no confusion when reading.
What I liked most about this book were three things:
1. Loved the description of Kelly’s concerts! Loud, Energetic and Fun! It gave a big insight on who Kelly was as a person.
2. Idk how Kyle was able to write Lizzy and Jez’s polar opposite perspectives but he did a great job! It takes skill to be able to have both characters recall one event but have two completely different versions of it and you still can’t tell who’s right.
3. Kyle mentioned on his insta that he had to mentally go through a dark phase to bring these characters to life and it really showed. To be able to write about fame and the drug usage the way he did, was incredible. He shows an insight on what it’s like battling with your internal demons while trying to find something good to hold onto in order to get better.
This story is a dark tale about sex, drugs, demons, fame, obsession and murder. It is told in a few different viewpoints: an interview Kelly gave before her death, an interview from Lizzy (her bff) and Jez (her obsessive assistant) after Kelly died, Kaleb’s memories from 4 years ago and Kaleb’s online blog in real time. It sounds hectic but the book actually flows really well so there’s no confusion when reading.
What I liked most about this book were three things:
1. Loved the description of Kelly’s concerts! Loud, Energetic and Fun! It gave a big insight on who Kelly was as a person.
2. Idk how Kyle was able to write Lizzy and Jez’s polar opposite perspectives but he did a great job! It takes skill to be able to have both characters recall one event but have two completely different versions of it and you still can’t tell who’s right.
3. Kyle mentioned on his insta that he had to mentally go through a dark phase to bring these characters to life and it really showed. To be able to write about fame and the drug usage the way he did, was incredible. He shows an insight on what it’s like battling with your internal demons while trying to find something good to hold onto in order to get better.
September 16, 2019
All I can say or think right now is, WOW! I’m obsessed with this book, these characters, everything. This story was completely captivating. Thrilling, erotic, and mysterious, the author did an amazing job of capturing the multiple storylines and tying everything together into one tantalizing package. This is the story of an author with a sordid past who meets a child-star infatuated with his book. She enlists her followers to read his tail of love and with her help, he suddenly becomes famous. As a way to thank her, she recruits him to pen her own autobiography and requests he live with her for 6 months in her “castle”. The two are quickly drawn together through a shared love of drugs, childhood trauma and demons. She promises he’ll fall in love with her and he has unrelenting desire to save her from herself. I read this book in one day and could not put it down. When it was over, I wanted more. This was an incredible journey into the dark side of stardom and is written in such a unique way, you won’t want it to end! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2019
Gripping from the beginning, I found myself not wanting to put this book down so I could find out how each of the different characters' stories played out and who ultimately killed Kelly. I loved how the book overlapped multiple storylines and yet everything was held together by the narrative of the inner darkness and demons that live in each of us and the terrifyingly fascinating ways they decide to show up in our lives. This story speaks to the human condition as a whole, and is brought to life in a thriller that could have easily been any of the lives of the pop stars we know and love today. I had been looking forward to this book for awhile and it did not disappoint!
March 5, 2020
2.5 Stars
I loved the premise, and the mixed methods of storytelling but I found it easy to walk away from. I struggled to finish, and I’m still not entirely sure what happened.
Also, the personification of his demons through “Bob” didn’t work for me. I skimmed through those passages just to finish the book.
Perhaps there was something pertinent in there that I missed —something that would’ve brought the whole story together— but I’m not curious enough to find out.
I loved the premise, and the mixed methods of storytelling but I found it easy to walk away from. I struggled to finish, and I’m still not entirely sure what happened.
Also, the personification of his demons through “Bob” didn’t work for me. I skimmed through those passages just to finish the book.
Perhaps there was something pertinent in there that I missed —something that would’ve brought the whole story together— but I’m not curious enough to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2019
A Thrilling Thriller!
Wow! This author has matured by leaps and bounds!! The writing is so vivid I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Glitz and glamour has a dark, seedy underbelly. The twists and turns, the truth and the lies, the love and the hate. It’s all there for the reader to sift through. Do I hear sequel? Movie? What a wild ride!
Wow! This author has matured by leaps and bounds!! The writing is so vivid I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Glitz and glamour has a dark, seedy underbelly. The twists and turns, the truth and the lies, the love and the hate. It’s all there for the reader to sift through. Do I hear sequel? Movie? What a wild ride!
August 14, 2019
“The monster had retreated, but it would return. Each time, it struck harder. We shoved it deeper into our souls. Suppressed it. Covered it. Hid. Dulled. We pretended that we would never have to face that dark entity again. The root of our pain and destruction. If we wanted it to end—one day, we would have to look. We would have to face the worst fears inside our hearts. These trapped shadows. This energy that fights and claws to get out. This living, breathing thing that has taken residency inside us. This broken world created it. We buried it. Only light and love and God can destroy it.” —from She Died Famous
“Have you ever read a story that lingers far after the final page?” -Kelly Trozzo, She Died Famous
That’s the effect this book had on me. The writing in this novel was so beautifully dark and real that it sticks with you, lingers. A story all about the ugly truths that can come from love and addiction and fame, mental illness and abuse, the transience of life and death, @kmrutkin brought it all to life. It was like a psychological thriller version of Daisy Jones & The Six that made friends with Fight Club. The main characters, Kelly Trozzo and Kaleb Reed, both have dark secrets from their pasts and monsters digging their claws into them whose grips they can’t escape. The book is told through blog excerpts from Kaleb, newspaper articles, interviews, and celebrity gossip websites. I appreciated the writing styles that Rutkin chose to use because when dealing with multiple unreliable narrators, it can sometimes give you just enough different pieces of the puzzle to put it together yourself, and keep things interesting. You can feel the struggles and pain that these characters are going through pouring out of this book, and it was very powerful. I think that Kyle Rutkin really has a talent with orchestrating his words into something epic, and I can’t wait to see more from him—because this is only the beginning. *drops mic 🎤 “Where Is My Mind” by The Pixies plays in background* .
“Have you ever read a story that lingers far after the final page?” -Kelly Trozzo, She Died Famous
That’s the effect this book had on me. The writing in this novel was so beautifully dark and real that it sticks with you, lingers. A story all about the ugly truths that can come from love and addiction and fame, mental illness and abuse, the transience of life and death, @kmrutkin brought it all to life. It was like a psychological thriller version of Daisy Jones & The Six that made friends with Fight Club. The main characters, Kelly Trozzo and Kaleb Reed, both have dark secrets from their pasts and monsters digging their claws into them whose grips they can’t escape. The book is told through blog excerpts from Kaleb, newspaper articles, interviews, and celebrity gossip websites. I appreciated the writing styles that Rutkin chose to use because when dealing with multiple unreliable narrators, it can sometimes give you just enough different pieces of the puzzle to put it together yourself, and keep things interesting. You can feel the struggles and pain that these characters are going through pouring out of this book, and it was very powerful. I think that Kyle Rutkin really has a talent with orchestrating his words into something epic, and I can’t wait to see more from him—because this is only the beginning. *drops mic 🎤 “Where Is My Mind” by The Pixies plays in background* .
August 16, 2019
Some of the other reviews mention that this book lingers, and it does. For me, that’s the mark of a successful book, and this one made me think, reflect inward, and feel varying levels of empathy, disgust and curiosity. This book isn’t shallow as it may seem, and it’s about a lot more than a dead Hollywood star.
This book takes us down the rabbit hole into several characters who are unreliable, self-absorbed, damaged and at times delusional. But while these types of characters often feel vapid and lifeless, such as the leads in most Bret Easton Ellis novels, there was a mystery and depth about these people—a sort of sadness at the fact that they are so utterly influenced by fame that they cannot navigate clearly through the world. The story acts as a microcosm where everyone is either famous, trying to be famous, or famous by proxy. “Regular” people don’t really have a place at all aside from the adoring Kelly Trozzo fans, referred to as KTTroops or soldiers, only referenced for their undying love and worship of Trozzo—a tidbit we should all take a moment to digest.
The book is very suspenseful and an entertaining read, but it is certainly not light-hearted. The narrator and main murder suspect, Kaleb Reed, refuses to let go of his dark past and intensely focuses his unstable mind on “protecting” women. While this is a familiar trope, the author uses Kaleb’s character to showcase the dangerous combination of his toxic masculinity with a true mental illness. Meanwhile, mega-star Kelly Trozzo is so confused by her own identity that she lives in a complete fantasy world, desperate for love and attention but going about it in a way that leaves her misunderstood by everyone, including herself.
Toward the end of the book, I found myself less concerned with finding out who killed who, and more wrapped up in the characters’ bizarre self-images. It almost doesn’t even matter who killed Kelly Trozzo. They all did. We all did.
This book takes us down the rabbit hole into several characters who are unreliable, self-absorbed, damaged and at times delusional. But while these types of characters often feel vapid and lifeless, such as the leads in most Bret Easton Ellis novels, there was a mystery and depth about these people—a sort of sadness at the fact that they are so utterly influenced by fame that they cannot navigate clearly through the world. The story acts as a microcosm where everyone is either famous, trying to be famous, or famous by proxy. “Regular” people don’t really have a place at all aside from the adoring Kelly Trozzo fans, referred to as KTTroops or soldiers, only referenced for their undying love and worship of Trozzo—a tidbit we should all take a moment to digest.
The book is very suspenseful and an entertaining read, but it is certainly not light-hearted. The narrator and main murder suspect, Kaleb Reed, refuses to let go of his dark past and intensely focuses his unstable mind on “protecting” women. While this is a familiar trope, the author uses Kaleb’s character to showcase the dangerous combination of his toxic masculinity with a true mental illness. Meanwhile, mega-star Kelly Trozzo is so confused by her own identity that she lives in a complete fantasy world, desperate for love and attention but going about it in a way that leaves her misunderstood by everyone, including herself.
Toward the end of the book, I found myself less concerned with finding out who killed who, and more wrapped up in the characters’ bizarre self-images. It almost doesn’t even matter who killed Kelly Trozzo. They all did. We all did.
August 12, 2019
This was almost a five star read for me!! A big thank you to the author, Kyle Rutkin for sending me a copy of his book and for being so kind.
Things I loved:
The writing: The writing was amazing. I was constantly turning pages and found myself only putting down the book when necessary. When I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book. I just had to know who killed Kelly Trozzo and why.
The Format: The story was told in blog posts, interviews and news articles. The writer kept me very much more engaged by formatting the book this way. I want to say it made the story and the characters more real to me in a way.
The Characters: The characters in this book were definitely flawed and realistic. Their flaws didn’t make me dislike them and sometimes that is hard to do.
Every character was very distinct and I could picture exactly who they were in my mind.
I wish I could sit here and go through every character individually but I don’t want to risk any spoilers for the book.
The End: I still continue to think about this book and it’s ending even though I’ve moved on to other books on my tbr.
I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and have friends already wanting to read my copy. This copy will be staying on my shelf and I will be purchasing another copy to pass around.
I look forward to anything Kyle Rutkin publishes in the future. If he writes it, I will read it.
Things I loved:
The writing: The writing was amazing. I was constantly turning pages and found myself only putting down the book when necessary. When I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book. I just had to know who killed Kelly Trozzo and why.
The Format: The story was told in blog posts, interviews and news articles. The writer kept me very much more engaged by formatting the book this way. I want to say it made the story and the characters more real to me in a way.
The Characters: The characters in this book were definitely flawed and realistic. Their flaws didn’t make me dislike them and sometimes that is hard to do.
Every character was very distinct and I could picture exactly who they were in my mind.
I wish I could sit here and go through every character individually but I don’t want to risk any spoilers for the book.
The End: I still continue to think about this book and it’s ending even though I’ve moved on to other books on my tbr.
I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and have friends already wanting to read my copy. This copy will be staying on my shelf and I will be purchasing another copy to pass around.
I look forward to anything Kyle Rutkin publishes in the future. If he writes it, I will read it.
August 24, 2019
*Thank you so much to Kyle for sending me a copy to read a review*
Kelly Trozzo is a well know, famous actress and she’s dead. Stabbed on her front driveway along with her manager, Barry Monroe, and the finger is pointing at best selling author Kaleb Reed. Kaleb was in the midst of writing Kelly’s memoir and the last to see her. As Kaleb hides out, he decides to blog his story and how he came to be about in Kelly’s life. How a celebrity world full of sex and drugs and Hollywood gossip can bring your world crashing down.
This book was definitely attention grabbing from the very first page. It’s Gone Girl meets ID Channels True Crime. The book even has articles as if you’re reading the newspaper itself. The style of writing definitely begged for your attention and made it page turning and unputdownable! I loved the characters and how each overlapped to tell a story. It built a great climax to find out who killed Kelly. It’s dark and has this emotion of empathy mixed with human nature of hunger. I also didn’t see that ending coming, and I like those kind of books where I left utterly speechless. For a first debut, I definitely see a great future for Kyle’s books. I can’t wait to read his next one. If you like psychology thrillers I seriously highly recommend this one!
Kelly Trozzo is a well know, famous actress and she’s dead. Stabbed on her front driveway along with her manager, Barry Monroe, and the finger is pointing at best selling author Kaleb Reed. Kaleb was in the midst of writing Kelly’s memoir and the last to see her. As Kaleb hides out, he decides to blog his story and how he came to be about in Kelly’s life. How a celebrity world full of sex and drugs and Hollywood gossip can bring your world crashing down.
This book was definitely attention grabbing from the very first page. It’s Gone Girl meets ID Channels True Crime. The book even has articles as if you’re reading the newspaper itself. The style of writing definitely begged for your attention and made it page turning and unputdownable! I loved the characters and how each overlapped to tell a story. It built a great climax to find out who killed Kelly. It’s dark and has this emotion of empathy mixed with human nature of hunger. I also didn’t see that ending coming, and I like those kind of books where I left utterly speechless. For a first debut, I definitely see a great future for Kyle’s books. I can’t wait to read his next one. If you like psychology thrillers I seriously highly recommend this one!
January 6, 2022
You know those thrillers that you just don't want to put down? This was one of those.
Author Kaleb Reed is a quiet writer who enjoys staying out of the spotlight. But, that isn't an option for him after superstar Kelly Trozzo starts blowing up her social media obsessing over Kaleb's novel. His book becomes a huge hit almost instantly, forcing Kaleb out of his comfortable shadows and into the focus of Kelly's numerous fans. When Kelly is found dead outside of her Hollywood mansion, Kaleb becomes the prime suspect. The two had been working on Kelly's memoir together, but what actually happened? Who killed Kelly Trozzo?
The formatting of this book really captivated my attention and kept me interested. It shows Kaleb's point of view from his blog, has tabloid articles and interview formatting. A lot of people are comparing She Died Famous to Daisy Jones and The Six, but I think She Died Famous is better.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my interest for the entire book, it was dark, twisty and I can't wait to see what Kyle Rutkin comes up with next!
Author Kaleb Reed is a quiet writer who enjoys staying out of the spotlight. But, that isn't an option for him after superstar Kelly Trozzo starts blowing up her social media obsessing over Kaleb's novel. His book becomes a huge hit almost instantly, forcing Kaleb out of his comfortable shadows and into the focus of Kelly's numerous fans. When Kelly is found dead outside of her Hollywood mansion, Kaleb becomes the prime suspect. The two had been working on Kelly's memoir together, but what actually happened? Who killed Kelly Trozzo?
The formatting of this book really captivated my attention and kept me interested. It shows Kaleb's point of view from his blog, has tabloid articles and interview formatting. A lot of people are comparing She Died Famous to Daisy Jones and The Six, but I think She Died Famous is better.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my interest for the entire book, it was dark, twisty and I can't wait to see what Kyle Rutkin comes up with next!
July 31, 2019
The story unfolds using blog posts, police interview transcripts, news articles and an interview with the victim instead of a straight narrative. You’re constantly wondering who’s lying, who’s guilty, what’s real and what’s not and of course what’s going to happen next. I do wish the book within the book was available to read.
July 20, 2019
A great psychological thriller written in a format unlike any other book I’ve read. You will be captivated from the beginning and the last page will still leave you wondering!
August 17, 2019
It was a good read.
February 20, 2020
You can read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 5 Stars
I picked up an ARC of She Died Famous a couple months ago, mainly because the title and cover had intrigued me. But I was on a fantasy kick so I didn’t pick this book up for a while and it came back across my radar last week when looking for books for Top 5 Saturday’s topic, unreliable narrators. (Check out last week’s Top 5 Saturday post here!) Something about this book just drew me to it. I don’t know what I really expected, but what I got was a raw, and twisted read that kept me on the edge of my seat. She Died Famous is one of those books that I know will stick with me for a long time. I could relate to each character in the story even if I couldn’t relate to celebrity life I could relate to the humanity in each of the characters.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like She Died Famous. It was so dark, gritty and authentic. It was really twisted and full of sick, flawed characters. But there was truth in this story. There was love in this book, even if it was a dark and messy love. The story took you into the mind of a stalker who had mental illness and a drug addiction and made you understand him and even empathize with him. I was able to relate to these incredibly flawed characters while they battled their darkest demons. Kelly, Kaleb and Sara battled abuse, trauma, loss, mental illness and drug addiction. While this novel was quite the thriller and filled with suspense it was also a story about human suffering. She Died Famous really got into my head and I don’t think that I will forget it anytime soon.
Kyle Rutkin did a fantastic job of creating a celebrity character that felt larger than life and he also made a fantastic choice to write in first person from Kaleb’s perspective. Through his obsession I started to feel obsessed with Kelly myself. Through Kyle Rutkin’s writing his characters shined so bright, but they also cast giant shadows that they drowned themselves in. She Died Famous is probably one of the best portrayals of drug addiction and mental illness that I’ve ever read. This book is dark, but it is fantastic.
I really loved the way that the story is told. Through interviews, news articles, blog posts and flashbacks the reader is told the events leading up to Kelly’s death. Reading the story as it was told in this way made me feel like a fan following the story of Kelly’s death. Each character’s perspective couldn’t be trusted. Some of the characters were mentally ill or suffered from drug addiction, viewed the same event drastically different from one another and some of the characters just flat out lied. It made the story so interesting because the whole time I was trying to find the truth underneath it all and I desperately wanted to know what happened. The suspense was built up so well and the climax of the book hit hard.
Honestly, I don’t think I will ever read anything quite like this book again. She Died Famous is truly a work of art that captured pain, love and hope in the most twisted way possible. If you enjoy gritty books, suspenseful thrillers or psychological stories I beg you to give this book a shot. You will not be disappointed.
Review: 5 Stars
I picked up an ARC of She Died Famous a couple months ago, mainly because the title and cover had intrigued me. But I was on a fantasy kick so I didn’t pick this book up for a while and it came back across my radar last week when looking for books for Top 5 Saturday’s topic, unreliable narrators. (Check out last week’s Top 5 Saturday post here!) Something about this book just drew me to it. I don’t know what I really expected, but what I got was a raw, and twisted read that kept me on the edge of my seat. She Died Famous is one of those books that I know will stick with me for a long time. I could relate to each character in the story even if I couldn’t relate to celebrity life I could relate to the humanity in each of the characters.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like She Died Famous. It was so dark, gritty and authentic. It was really twisted and full of sick, flawed characters. But there was truth in this story. There was love in this book, even if it was a dark and messy love. The story took you into the mind of a stalker who had mental illness and a drug addiction and made you understand him and even empathize with him. I was able to relate to these incredibly flawed characters while they battled their darkest demons. Kelly, Kaleb and Sara battled abuse, trauma, loss, mental illness and drug addiction. While this novel was quite the thriller and filled with suspense it was also a story about human suffering. She Died Famous really got into my head and I don’t think that I will forget it anytime soon.
Kyle Rutkin did a fantastic job of creating a celebrity character that felt larger than life and he also made a fantastic choice to write in first person from Kaleb’s perspective. Through his obsession I started to feel obsessed with Kelly myself. Through Kyle Rutkin’s writing his characters shined so bright, but they also cast giant shadows that they drowned themselves in. She Died Famous is probably one of the best portrayals of drug addiction and mental illness that I’ve ever read. This book is dark, but it is fantastic.
I really loved the way that the story is told. Through interviews, news articles, blog posts and flashbacks the reader is told the events leading up to Kelly’s death. Reading the story as it was told in this way made me feel like a fan following the story of Kelly’s death. Each character’s perspective couldn’t be trusted. Some of the characters were mentally ill or suffered from drug addiction, viewed the same event drastically different from one another and some of the characters just flat out lied. It made the story so interesting because the whole time I was trying to find the truth underneath it all and I desperately wanted to know what happened. The suspense was built up so well and the climax of the book hit hard.
Honestly, I don’t think I will ever read anything quite like this book again. She Died Famous is truly a work of art that captured pain, love and hope in the most twisted way possible. If you enjoy gritty books, suspenseful thrillers or psychological stories I beg you to give this book a shot. You will not be disappointed.
August 7, 2019
I’d like to extend a massive thank you to Kyle Rutkin for sending me a copy of She Died Famous!
She Died Famous is a story of drugs, sex, and murder set in famed Hollywood zip codes. Kelly Trozzo, one of the biggest celebrities around, was found dead outside her Los Angeles mansion alongside her manager, Barry Monroe. Through blog posts of our main suspect, author Kaleb Reed, past interview scripts with Trozzo, and interrogation answers from two of her friends, Kyle Rutkin takes us down the dangerous path of inner monsters, dark confessions, and personal struggles. This is not a story to be taken lightly and it’s definitely not an uplifting read. However, it is an amazing book that I will forever recommend to fellow readers.
The entire novel is formatted as blog posts, flashbacks, and interviews. As a reader, I felt like I was getting an exclusive first look at the days, and years, leading up to the murder of a Hollywood Princess. Rutkin once compared the story’s characteristics to those of Miley Cyrus, Halsey, and Lady Gaga. He wasn’t messing around. I may have a biased viewpoint, as a long-time fan, but Kelly felt like a fictional version of Miley when she had her big comeback, ultimately shedding her teen princess reputation. She found herself and came back better than ever. Except that didn’t last long for Trozzo. Kaleb Reed appeared and inner monsters became more evil than ever, twisting the reader’s theories a dozen different ways.
Plot twists and reveals were approached at a rate that left me wondering why we were even questioning “Who Killed Kelly Trozzo?”. We knew who killed her. We’re literally reading his confession as he writes it. Suddenly the reveals started to overwhelm me. I had to stop and try to process what was happening at a few points. Readers were given the most unexpected answers to a seemingly simple crime.
There were moments where I started to fade, my interest and intrigue disappearing. I just wanted the killer to confess, to get it over with, it was obvious it was him. He was just dragging it out. Then…BAM! Everything changed. The story ended. We knew who it was. Each victim and their occupying murderer.
The unexpected ending left me stunned and emotional for quite awhile after closing the book. Figuring out whether I grasped the true crimes each character, especially our prime suspect, committed was a task unexpected. Honestly, I’m still unsure as to whether my understanding is correct. I’m 90% confident in knowing “Who Killed Kelly Trozzo?”. Usually sudden (and non cliff-hanging) endings would take the rating down a star, but Kyle Rutkin managed to create a lingering finale worthy of the full stars I’d have given prior to the sudden conclusion.
If someone seeing this review is considering reading She Died Famous, this is me telling you to go for it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
She Died Famous is a story of drugs, sex, and murder set in famed Hollywood zip codes. Kelly Trozzo, one of the biggest celebrities around, was found dead outside her Los Angeles mansion alongside her manager, Barry Monroe. Through blog posts of our main suspect, author Kaleb Reed, past interview scripts with Trozzo, and interrogation answers from two of her friends, Kyle Rutkin takes us down the dangerous path of inner monsters, dark confessions, and personal struggles. This is not a story to be taken lightly and it’s definitely not an uplifting read. However, it is an amazing book that I will forever recommend to fellow readers.
The entire novel is formatted as blog posts, flashbacks, and interviews. As a reader, I felt like I was getting an exclusive first look at the days, and years, leading up to the murder of a Hollywood Princess. Rutkin once compared the story’s characteristics to those of Miley Cyrus, Halsey, and Lady Gaga. He wasn’t messing around. I may have a biased viewpoint, as a long-time fan, but Kelly felt like a fictional version of Miley when she had her big comeback, ultimately shedding her teen princess reputation. She found herself and came back better than ever. Except that didn’t last long for Trozzo. Kaleb Reed appeared and inner monsters became more evil than ever, twisting the reader’s theories a dozen different ways.
Plot twists and reveals were approached at a rate that left me wondering why we were even questioning “Who Killed Kelly Trozzo?”. We knew who killed her. We’re literally reading his confession as he writes it. Suddenly the reveals started to overwhelm me. I had to stop and try to process what was happening at a few points. Readers were given the most unexpected answers to a seemingly simple crime.
There were moments where I started to fade, my interest and intrigue disappearing. I just wanted the killer to confess, to get it over with, it was obvious it was him. He was just dragging it out. Then…BAM! Everything changed. The story ended. We knew who it was. Each victim and their occupying murderer.
The unexpected ending left me stunned and emotional for quite awhile after closing the book. Figuring out whether I grasped the true crimes each character, especially our prime suspect, committed was a task unexpected. Honestly, I’m still unsure as to whether my understanding is correct. I’m 90% confident in knowing “Who Killed Kelly Trozzo?”. Usually sudden (and non cliff-hanging) endings would take the rating down a star, but Kyle Rutkin managed to create a lingering finale worthy of the full stars I’d have given prior to the sudden conclusion.
If someone seeing this review is considering reading She Died Famous, this is me telling you to go for it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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