2.25

Setting: Los Angeles
Rep: multiple queer and poc protagonists

I didn't gel with this one unfortunately. I thought Abel was immensely unbelievable as an acting prodigy who was plucked out of obscurity in the UK to work on a huge show in LA. He was awkward and bumbling and didn't have any charisma. I felt there were too many characters and I ended up not actually caring what happened.

2.25/5 stars! Big oof! This story needed editing and pairing down and simplifying to an extreme level. The concept of a YA mystery where a boy investigates his brother's death was cool. But the story went everywhere but pet dragons. It felt like the author enjoys watching camp rock on repeat and didn't know how to translate that into their own story.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Loved this - from a talented YA writer who clearly has his finger on the pulse of what teens are into!

My first Benjamin Dean book. It won't be my last. This was a little bizarre and I felt like I just had to roll with the ending, but it was also one of those books that I had to keep going, I was compelled to keep turning the pages. Every time I thought I'd found a break to pause, a new twist was thrown at us.

I'm really getting to my YA and Middle grade reads, so I can see myself reading more like this.

Benjamin Dean has become a popular author amongst my students. He writes Young Adult to a high standard.

This book was another solid read, if a little predictable at times.

I would buy this book for our Library though as I think it would be well received.

In “How to Die Famous”, rising TV star Abel Miller steps into the glittering world of Hollywood. Abel, a multiracial Black teen, joins the cast of Sunset High in 2024. His brother, Adam, died under strange circumstances during the previous attempt at the show. Abel’s investigation leads him to connect with his co-stars, each guarding their own secrets. As the tension escalates, the toxic underbelly of celebrity culture is exposed, revealing the exploitation of children in show business. The alternating first-person narration between Abel and white co-star Ella Winter adds depth to this twisty murder mystery. The novel effectively critiques the toxicity of celebrity while exploring bonds of friendship and brotherhood.

I enjoyed How to Die Famous, which is the first book I’ve read by Benjamin Dean. It reminded me of shows like Gossip Girl and 90210, if they were set around a blockbuster franchise and featured a bit more peril and murder.

The writing was really addictive and the characters all stood out through the different POV chapters, never merging or sounding too similar, which I find can happen sometimes. Their friendships and relationships seemed authentic and realistic, and I was rooting for them all.

I liked the murder mystery aspect of this book, particularly the flashbacks that gave more insight into the past and what exactly had transpired. Centring the main plot around a group of actors on set allowed for so much drama and escapism, not to mention all the salacious gossip the tabloids inevitably concoct. It was a great insight into the world of showbiz and entertainment, and the darker parts of it that go on behind the scenes.

How to Die Famous was a surprising read for me, and I’m really glad I gave it a go. I’m sure it’ll appeal to anyone who likes books similar to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and One Of Us Is Lying, and I’m already looking forward to picking up more titles from Benjamin Dean.

3.5/5.

Ben is becoming an absolute powerhouse within UKYA and he has well and truly become an auto buy author for me now. This was well written, fun and very addictive. Bravo!

I tend to have a 50% hit rate when it comes to books about fictional fame and fictional famous people and I am happy to report that Benjamin Dean did not disappoint me.
This is my third book by this author and if I had to choose a favourite, How To Die Famous would take the crown (despite The King Is Dead might have a more fitting... title. Okay, I'll stop).
I was engaged from page one to the end, and I was enamoured with the characters, which were at the same time extremely annoying and extremely charming. Like most real people are, to be fair.
There was a relationship in here which had me screaming Lacy by Olivia Rodrigo from the top of my lungs, and I have to thank the author for doing this for me, even if the book came out way before the song did. I don't care.
I cannot wait to see what Benjamin Dean has in store for us next, I surely hope to read more YA thrillers from him, because it's one of my favourite genres and I am tired of reading straight white stories in it.
Let's go queers, let's go

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the second novel of Deans that I have read and I think I prefer it. It was a fun, queer, fast paced YA thriller with multiple POVs. Just a few things I really enjoy in a book. I liked the concept of this, it gives you an insight to how dark Hollywood can be. Especially how dangerous someone with power can be. As much as I enjoyed this I found that it was trying to do too many things at once and the characters I found to be a little bit annoying. Overall, I liked it.

This is one of those case when the YA category could be considered useless. This is a twisty and well plotted thriller with sharp observation about the show business and its dark side.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

i deeply regret not signing up to the king is dead tour because this was SOOOoo GOOD!!! everything i looove in a young adult mystery - drama, lies, gossip, fame, and (queer👀) love. ⠀
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this was actually insane with so many twists i couldn’t guess - and what on EARTH 🌎 was that ending ben?!?! fucks sake i hope there’s a sequel. ⠀
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seriously- once again another YA thriller to occupy the gap AGGGTM left in my soul but this one is QUEER 😌🌈🏳️‍🌈!? are you sold yet?

Thank you for the early copy to view.
Thank you for the early copy to view.
One of my favourite reads of the year.

Benjamin Dead aka the greatest YA author. so far everything i’ve read has been a hit and i knew this would be the same. i absolutely LOVED this <33

This one wasn’t for me and ended up being a DNF. I’m sure it would appeal to some but I don’t think I ‘got’ the things/people that were being referenced/parodied. Just felt like a bit of a mess of ideas and I didn’t grasp onto any part of it.

I really enjoyed The King is Dead and was looking forward to reading this new one from Benjamin Dean. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to read it before it was archived due to other commitments that took up my time. I’ll be buying a copy though for sure!

This was a fun book with some really great characters. However, it was fairly clear from the start where it was going, and was too predictable for my taste!

Benjamin Dean is so good at capturing the right moment and perfect tone for a book. Whether it is writing about an LGBT families, losing a loved parent, or something a bit more thriller-ish for his YA readers, he nails it each time. I loved How to Die Famous (though I am far from the target audience!) - sharp, fast paced, contemporary, just excellent. Highly recommended

I enjoyed this book. The ot was good and the ending was really good. Similar to others in tge same genre. Good representation.

Loved this so much read it in one sitting love the twists so much wow they kept on coming haha and the epilogue had me sitting in stunned silence