If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a famous actor, Born For This might make you pause and reconsider. This stunning and thought-provoking novel tells the story of Harley Carmichael-Roth, a young woman born into privilege but still chasing the one thing that’s eluded her—a successful acting career. When she’s cast to play her estranged, Oscar-nominated aunt Rachael Carmichael in a biopic, Harley finds herself stepping into far more than just a role.

This was my first read by Caitlin Devlin, and I was instantly drawn in by the dual timeline and dual POV narrative structure. It’s the kind of storytelling that pulls you in gradually, revealing truths layer by layer. As Harley gets to know the aunt she’s never met, what starts out as a golden opportunity soon becomes a tangled web of secrets, painful family history, and the darker side of fame.

Devlin doesn’t shy away from portraying the movie industry’s glitz and glamour, but also its toxicity, moral compromises, and the emotional cost of chasing celebrity. Both Harley and Rachael are deeply flawed—ambitious, self-absorbed, and at times unlikeable—but their complexity is what makes their stories feel so real.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, performed brilliantly by Fiona Hardingham and Candice Moll. Their voices brought Harley and Rachael to life in a way that enhanced the story’s emotional depth. The pacing, tone, and distinction between the two characters were spot-on. If you’re an audiobook fan, this one’s well worth adding to your list.

Final Thoughts:

Born For This is a compelling look at fame, family, and the price we pay for chasing dreams. It’s addictive, emotional, and laced with just the right amount of mystery.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

To be honest, I really wanted to enjoy this more.
It started off well and the characters were unlikeable but intriguing.
A book with two timelines, I definitely enjoyed one more than the other.

The conversation around nepotism in the acting industry was peppered throughout and gave good insight to both sides.

However, I found my attention waning past the half way mark.

I will congratulate it on not going for the easy twist and the direction I thought it was heading in! However the execution left it lacking for me and I almost wish it had gone the easier route.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
3/5 ⭐️

Loved this book! It gave vibes like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but was still very much its own story. It kept me gripped the entire time and I did NOT expect that ending!! When I think back to this book, I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

Born For This is a story of an aspiring actress Harley. Her aunt happens to be a famous actress but they are estranged. She doesn't know why. When an opportunity comes about for a movie about her aunt, Harley reaches out to her aunt and over time, learns more about her and hard show biz lessons. And is her aunt really her mom?!?!

Born This Way by Caitlin Devlin is a family drama, coming of age women's fiction that easily grabbed my attention and because I'm nosey I just couldn't get enough.

Fiona Hardingham and Candice Moll do a fantastic job of narrating this book. Both voices are easy to identify which is Harley and which is Rachael. Both voice actresses add the perfect voice to the character and add to the captivation of the story.

If you like wealthy, bratty, messy women with a smidge of suspense this is the perfect novel for you. I ate it up and loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to arc this audiobook.

Loved the narrators! Harley plans on gently manipulating her famous aunt Rachel to get herself a starring role in her biopic. The book explores the journeys to fame of both women and the family dynamics that join them. While Harley comes from money and connection, her aunt Rachel had a more independent rise to fame and their different backgrounds mirror the divide in the two sides of their family tree. It was a pretty standard Hollywood story featuring betrayal, love affairs, trickery, and art but this felt so long and despite all the exposition, the betrayal at the end didn't feel very significant or surprising.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Born for This by Caitlin Devlin (Narrated by Fiona Hardingham & Candice Moll) was a fast read about a famous aunt (Rachael) and her wants-to-be-famous niece (Harley), whom she’s never met. The story alternates between their POVs and two timelines (Rachael from her diary as she’s becoming famous and Harley from present day).

I have to say I thought I knew just where the story was going and was enjoying it and then there were some unexpected moments that made the entire book stronger and even more interesting. There are some themes (eg nepotism, the ugly side of film) but it’s not an “issues” book.

The narrators were excellent and made the listening experience that much more enjoyable for me. Strongly recommend.

3.5/5. I enjoyed the audiobook of this story. Rachel's parts were interesting. Her dynamic with her sister made this fictional celebrity story stand out from the countless comps I have been reading recently. Harley's storyline was less interesting, but one thing I really appreciated was that other characters would call Harley out when she was in the wrong.