Make Me Famous

In the smashing sophomore novel from Ventura (My Husband), an amoral singer reflects on her tortured past and trouble with stardom. Raised in Paris by intellectual parents, Cleo Louvent knew at four years old that she wanted to be “as famous as Celine Dion.” Now, at 33, she’s determined to take a break from the endless demands of life as a worldwide pop sensation, so she sequesters herself on an exclusive island retreat in the South Pacific to work on her fourth album. Alone at last, Cleo ruminates on her early determination to be successful and adored like her female idols and remembers how she self-harmed when she felt she deserved punishment for her failures. After her TikTok video of a Billy Joel cover went viral several years earlier, she seized the moment, sending her songs to managers and producers and hanging out in trendy clubs. Taking measure of her determination to stay on top of the charts no matter the cost, she reflects, “Extreme notoriety unleashed in me a beast, merciless and cruel.... Fame is a war trophy, and no one is ever ready to give it up.” Cleo’s voice is bracing and undeniable, and Ventura pulls it all together with a shocking and deeply satisfying ending. This is unforgettable. Agent: Marleen Seegers, 2 Seas Agency. (May)