“Famous people are just more interesting.”
When Almost Famous was released 25 years ago, Penny Lane’s iconic words stuck with me so much that I turned them into a little sign using Microsoft Paint. I hung it on the bulletin board above my desk, fully believing, like the 16-year-old character who uttered the line, that it was true.
While time and experience have taught me that the rest of us are every bit as fascinating as the stars we see on our screens, there’s no denying that the challenges celebrities face are … unique. For all the riches, VIP treatment, and designer duds — and yes, those would all be nice — anyone who has watched an episode of Behind the Music or an E! True Hollywood Story could tell you that there’s a chronic toxicity mingled in. Many of us, at some point in our lives, have dreamed of being famous, but given the opportunity and all that comes with it, how many would take that chance?
When I was writing my debut novel, Far from the A-List, I thought a lot about the side effects of fame. The novel centers on a former child star, Michaela Turner, who desperately wants people to know she is not Daisy Breyer, the character she played on TV. The problem is the rest of the world only wants to see her as a seven year-old in pigtails or a twenty-something in the tabloids. Add in her manipulative stage mother, nonstop public scrutiny, and barrage of questions from strangers about what she’s doing with her life and it’s amazing she’s still standing. (Spoiler alert: At times, she’s barely standing.)
If you love pop culture like I do and find yourself yearning for more stories about the complexities and aftereffects of fame, check out these six novels that need to be in your TBR.
Honey by Isabel Banta
Picture your favorite female pop stars from the late ‘90s/early ‘00s, the ones who shot to fame while simultaneously being told they were too sexy, too promiscuous, too developed. Isabel Banta’s debut about a singing sensation’s meteoric rise brings all the nostalgia of that era while leaving you aching for what the princesses of pop endured.
The Daydreams by Laura Hankin
What happens when four teens achieve stardom on a wholesome TV show, only to have it all torn apart in the scandalous live finale? Laura Hankin’s sharp page-turner alternates between the kids The Daydreams once were and the adults they’ve become. As the book races toward the group’s highly anticipated reunion special, you might just find yourself Googling the stars of your own favorite shows and wondering what kind of drama went on behind the scenes.
Can’t We Be Friends by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight
Did you know that Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe were friends? Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight depict the real-life bond between the First Lady of Song and the Blonde Bombshell at such a human level, it’s easy to forget the protagonists have been part of our cultural fabric for decades. The struggles they face with their industries and the world’s view of them are beautifully rendered in this delicious, delightful, de-lovely novel.
The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi
Remember all those rockumentaries about ‘70s musicians and how they just glossed over the teenaged muses that inspired them? Amy Rossi’s stunning debut gives a voice to those all-too-young girls who were treated as nothing more than objects. This powerful tale of a 15-year-old model taken advantage of by those responsible for protecting her will stay with you long after you read the last page.
Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod
Building relationships while coming to terms with the past can be hard enough. Add in the fast-paced life on the road and you’ve got the kind of drama that makes for an unputdownable read. Xio Axelrod’s The Lillys series follows the lives and loves of an all-female rock band whose long-held secrets and budding romances are put at risk as the group’s success invites scrutiny from the press. Get ready for girl power, swoony moments, and rock ‘n’ roll.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
The aughts were a toxic time for women in the spotlight, and Jennifer Weiner’s latest highlights how the treatment of the titular siblings — one considered the looks, one the talent — causes a spiraling effect on the next two decades of their lives. One part social commentary, one part family drama, this novel will have you thinking about the haunting headlines of the ‘00s and wanting to hug those young girls at the center of them.