REVIEW: Famous in a Small Town by Kylie Scott

In Famous in a Small Town by Kylie Scott, Ani Bennet is pretty sure that every fangirl has had a dream about what they’d do if they met their favorite rock star–or anyone famous, for that matter. But it turns out that reality is far different than fantasies. Because when Garrett Hayes, lead singer and guitarist of the world-famous rock group The Dead Heart, moves in next door, the widower leaves a lot to be desired. Between his broody, frowny ways to his monosyllabic, suspicious answers, Ani isn’t sure they’ll ever find a way to get along.

“But I’m warning you now, if we have sex, we’re cuddling after.”
I groaned. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. I’m not putting out otherwise.”
I tipped my head back and looked at the ceiling. “Fine. Whatever. Undo the dress.”

Even though Ani isn’t making much progress getting Garrett to be friendly or carry on an actual conversation, she is soon covering for him when the media comes trickling into town to sniff out the rock star. Ani is also dragged into Garrett’s personal life when he tries to get out into the world again for the first time since the death of his beloved wife Grace two years before. Without even realizing what’s happening, Ani and Garrett are soon inseparable. The pull between them can’t be ignored, but neither can the things from their past they’re trying to handle individually. It’s when they start to help each other and work as a team that they can see the future that looks so bright before them.

‘What you soon realize going through life is that there’s the smart thing to do and then there’s the other option. What the heart wants. And the heart is a foolish thing.’

A whirlwind, sexy-as-all-get-out rock star romance by the one and only Kylie Scott, Famous in a Small Town had everything from gut-wrenching grief to laugh-out-loud predicaments.

‘Kissing Garrett made my head spin in dizzy circles. Actual sex with the man might just end me.’

I always expect Kylie Scott’s books to bring the heat, make me swoon and get me chuckling, and Famous in a Small Town definitely fit that bill. Garrett and Ani were a nice opposites-attract match of two people who deserved the best in life but who were both struggling with things from their past. Garrett made me smile with his grumbly exterior that hid just how nice of a guy he really was. Scott wrote his feelings on the loss of his wife and his guilt for wanting to move on with such a deft hand that I think readers will be hard pressed to not feel loads of sympathy for the rocker. But once Garrett went for it with Ani? *happy sigh* He was steady and thoughtful while still having that rock star edge–and dirty talkin’ mouth–you’d expect from one of Scott’s heroes.

Now, Ani…boy did I get a kick out of her. She was Garrett’s equal in going after what she wanted and didn’t take any guff off of him. (Or anyone else) Badass, authentically herself, and hilarious more often than not without even trying, Ani was the type of heroine I’d love to hang out with in real life. Yes, she had something traumatic happen about four years prior that sent her fleeing back to her tiny hometown of Wildwood. But Ani was handling it in her own way. Garrett and her best friends had her back throughout her struggles, which I loved. And the quirky locals–who will delight readers!–looked out for Ani too.

QOTD: If a rock star moved into your town for some downtime, do you think you’d help them stay out of the public eye and give them their privacy? Or would you go all fangirl?

Book Info:

Publication: Published April 7th 2022 | by Kylie Scott |

What chance does a small-town girl have with a world-famous rock star?

Two years after his wife’s death, rock star Garrett Hayes hasn’t moved on. But he has moved out of L.A. Where better to escape his past than a small town in the Northern California mountains? If only he could get the townsfolk of Wildwood to leave him the hell alone.

Ani Bennet returned to her hometown for some much-needed serenity. The last thing she needs is a grumpy, too hot for his own good, rich and famous rock star living next door—and rent-free in her brain.

She set her fangirl tendencies aside and deleted his photo off her cell when they became neighbors. But when Garrett asks for help, she can’t say no. The problem is, spending time together is making those fangirl feelings resurface—and bringing them to a whole new level.

What chance does a small-town girl have with world-famous rock star? It’s time for Ani to set her fears aside and find out.