REVIEW: Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder

In Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder, Merritt Valentine has had some of the biggest successes and failures imaginable in her career as a singer-songwriter. After accolades, adoration, and awards, she left Hollywood behind ten years ago and has spent that time battling her demons while becoming the person she truly wants to be. The last two years she’s been in gorgeous Crested Peak, Colorado–a ski mecca where her sister lives. Merritt is almost ready to move into her own home. A house she bought on a whim but can’t regret thanks to the scenic mountain views and its quirky charm. But it needs work. And that’s where the problem lies. That means Merritt will have to hire local handyman, Nikolaos “Niko” Petrakis, to update the house. Unfortunately, she has a big crush on him. Something that usually spells disaster if her past record is anything to go by. But there’s something about Niko that not only entices her, but it also makes him completely unforgettable.

‘Of course, Merritt’s brilliant plan to distract herself from Niko failed to take into account the Niko Is Literally Everywhere factor.’

Niko has lived in Crested Peak for about eight years and loves everything about the town and its locals. He’s done his fair share of dating–mostly tourists–but after his last relationship blew up a couple of years ago, he’s not even entertained the thought of anything serious. Until he meets Merritt. She’s standoffish, and generally tries to avoid him, but it does nothing to make Niko write her off. Even other locals warning him about getting too close to her can’t stop his heart pounding when he sees her. Agreeing to work on her beautiful house was a no-brainer. And a chance to spend more time with Merritt. Niko enjoys every moment and every nugget of new info he gets about the musician. Before long, though, what started off as a fun flirtation, a possible casual fling, feels a whole lot like something serious. And with his future up in the air, he’s not really sure how to keep them both from getting their heart broken.

‘He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like this–that exhilaration of being with someone new, someone he was this crazy about, every moment a new discovery.’

An introspective, slow burn romance set in a small mountainous Colorado town, SOME KIND OF FAMOUS reminded me how much Ava Wilder’s deeply emotional books always seem to resonate.

‘Of all the surprises of the evening, this one felt the most profound: the idea that Niko–hunky, kindhearted, universally beloved Niko–might, deep down, be just as lonely as she was.’

CW: View Spoiler »Addiction, personality disorder/PTSD, childhood abandonment, parental death (historical), infidelity, suicide attempt (historical), pregnancy loss/abortion « Hide Spoiler

SOME KIND OF FAMOUS was a mix of passionate romance that slowly built over time and the sometimes cringeworthy, sometimes inspiring personal growth of both main characters. Written as a dual POV, former singer-songwriter Merritt and Greek handyman Niko made quite the couple. They appeared to be opposites in most respects. But once they took time to truly get to know each other, they had more in common than they thought. Some of it was their creativity, albeit in different mediums (music vs. art). Although some things were on the more somber side, particularly about individual issues and losses from their past.

Even though there were definitely some darker themes that came up, Wilder made sure there were laughs, healthy discussions, mentions of therapy, and spoke of the subjects in a way that showed the gritty parts but also the healing while Merritt and Niko overcame it all. They both made some blunders. And there were times where I honestly wanted to talk some sense into Merritt. But I think she and Niko were actually good for each other. He was thoughtful and a man of few words. When he did give his thoughts on a matter, though, Niko usually came out with something so insightful and profound that Merritt would be stunned in awe.

Merritt herself was an extremely talented musician, songwriter, and vocalist. But the pressures of Hollywood got to her over time. I won’t spoil the rest of her story. It’s a doozy with many layers, much of which will break your heart. And while Merritt’s own personal demons were slowly getting under control, her family was another matter altogether. Staying in Crested Peak with her sister was complicated. I will admit I never really warmed up completely to Olivia due to a few decisions she made and how she came across as judgmental of Merritt, but it did seem like a genuine way she would react given how different the siblings were. It certainly made for some interesting, tension-filled scenes. But it all ended well between everyone involved.

QOTD: Would you go up to a celebrity you’re a fan of and speak with them if they were staying in your town? Or would you give them space?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: October 28th, 2025 | Dell |

In this steamy and emotional small-town romance, a disgraced ex-musician and a local handyman try to resist their growing attraction for each other—until a house renovation forces them together—from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood and Will They or Won’t They

“Real, raw, and deeply romantic.”—Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Dream On, Ramona Riley

It’s been a decade since Merritt Valentine’s height as a celebrated singer-songwriter . . . and her subsequent career-ending mental breakdown. In the following years, she’s abandoned the glitz of Los Angeles to move in with her sister, Olivia, in the sleepy Colorado ski town of Crested Peak, hoping to heal her lingering emotional wounds somewhere out of the spotlight.

Life in Crested Peak would be uncomplicated if not for Merritt’s inconvenient crush on the local contractor and handyman, Nikolaos Petrakis. Niko is disarmingly handsome and too kind-hearted to ever be right for the complex and prickly Merritt. Though tempting, a fling with Niko would only invite the kind of drama Merritt has vowed to leave behind.

After his last heartbreak, Niko is done dating his fellow townies. Still, he can’t shake his fascination with the brilliant Merritt, even as he heeds their mutual friends’ warnings to steer clear of her chaos. But when Merritt needs help fixing up a house of her own, Niko is glad to be the only man for the job.

As the two spend more time together, their mutual attraction sparking a deeper connection than either one expects, they’re forced to confront the idea that they may have underestimated each other—and themselves.