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Verdict: A clean, closed-door 2025 Hollywood romance: a sober former wild child, set up with a heartthrob for her image, falls for his fame-averse sister. Readers praise the realistic take on tabloids and recovery, but most say the chemistry fizzles after a strong start and the back-and-forth drags.
Best for: Readers who want a sweet, no-spice celebrity romance with a recovery storyline.
Heat level: Kisses only
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.0/5 — a 3.30 Goodreads average across 88 ratings, 3.04 on StoryGraph from 13 reviews, and 4.1 stars across 45 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Publicity relationship, celebrity/non-celebrity, falling for his sister, will they/won’t they, sobriety and recovery.
The Fame Game is Ronica Black’s 2025 contemporary lesbian romance from Bold Strokes Books. Luna Kirkman has been in the limelight since she was six; after a long stint in rehab she is back on her feet, nearing forty, and her management wants her to settle down.
It holds a 3.30 average across 88 Goodreads ratings, with 40% of them four or five stars, 3.04 on StoryGraph from 13 reviews, and 4.1 stars across 45 Amazon ratings.
What Is The Fame Game About?
Luna’s manager sets her up with fellow actor and heartthrob Beau Paget. He has the looks and reputation her image needs — but it’s his sister she’s interested in.
Chloe Paget hates everything about Hollywood and is less than thrilled her brother is dating its most notorious wild child. As she tries to warn Beau off, she finds there’s much more to Luna than her image.
What Works in This Book
- Tabloid realism: Several readers single out the portrayal of paparazzi culture and image management.
- Recovery: Readers appreciate Luna’s sobriety and growth toward healthier relationships.
- Early chemistry: Even mixed reviews say the first part sparkles.
- Clean read: Readers who avoid spice welcome a kisses-only romance.
Book Synopsis
A star’s manager arranges a publicity romance — and the star falls for her date’s sister.
Can a woman who hates Hollywood love one of its most famous faces?
My Review
The premise is fun and the Hollywood machinery feels real: the pressure to maintain a public narrative, the way reputations are manipulated, and the daily work of staying sober under a microscope.
But readers repeatedly describe a tale of two halves. After a promising opening, the tension fades, the couple go round in circles between wanting each other and not coping, and character development stalls. One found Beau grating, and another found the ending rushed. One reader objected to the shaming of sex workers.
My honest note: Enjoy the first act; temper expectations after.
| Element | In The Fame Game |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Luna Kirkman (actress in recovery) & Chloe Paget (event planner, Beau’s sister) |
| Core tropes | Publicity relationship, celebrity/non-celebrity, will they/won’t they |
| Setting | Hollywood |
| Heat level | Kisses only |
| Length | 240 pages (paperback) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Alcoholism and recovery, homophobia, a car accident |
How Spicy Is The Fame Game?
It isn’t — readers rate it sweet, just kissing.
StoryGraph readers flag alcoholism, homophobia and a car accident.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a clean Hollywood romance. It is on our celebrity lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you need sustained chemistry or hate repetitive push and pull.
In short: Strong premise, fading spark.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 12% five stars, 28% four, 39% three, 14% two and 4% one. Amazon ratings run warmer than Goodreads.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Tabloid realism first. Second, recovery. Third, yearning. Fourth, no spice.
What readers argue about and complain about: Fizzling chemistry, above everything. Second, repetitive conflict. Third, Beau.
The comparison worth making first: Like They Do in the Movies, another celebrity/non-celebrity romance on our list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Fame Game a fake dating romance?
Sort of. Luna’s manager sets her up in a publicity relationship with actor Beau Paget, but the romance is with his sister, Chloe.
How spicy is The Fame Game?
Not at all. Readers describe it as sweet with kissing only, and one was pleased to find a romance with zero smut.
Does The Fame Game have a happy ending?
Yes — one reader calls it an HEA after much heartache, though one reader found the ending rushed and wanted an epilogue.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes, from Tantor Media, narrated by Fiona Valen; one listener praised her voice.
Is The Fame Game on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99.
If You Loved The Fame Game, Read These Next
Try Guarding Evelyn or Like They Do in the Movies. Browse our celebrity list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
The Fame Game sets out to be a sweet romance about fame, recovery and falling for the wrong Paget, and its Hollywood detail convinces. What holds it back is a romance that stalls midway. A light pick for clean-romance readers. Check The Fame Game on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, The Fame Game ranks as a fair celebrity pick — clean, uneven.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ 3.30 average across 88 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 40% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.04 on StoryGraph from 13 reviews
- ✓ 4.1 stars across 45 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 2.7/5
- ✓ Strong start
- ✓ Fading tension
- ✓ Push and pull
- ✓ HEA
Characters ★★★☆☆ 2.8/5
- ✓ Sober Luna
- ✓ Fame-averse Chloe
- ✓ Annoying Beau
- ✓ Bland for some
Writing ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Tabloid realism
- ✓ Predictable
- ✓ Repetitive second half
- ✓ Easy read
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Recovery
- ✓ Heartache
- ✓ Lighthearted
- ✓ Low tingle
Heat Level ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5
- ✓ Kisses only
- ✓ Zero smut
- ✓ Sweet
- ✓ Closed door
Ending ★★★☆☆ 2.8/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Rushed
- ✓ No epilogue
- ✓ Beau thread open
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 2.6/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Audiobook
- ✓ 240 pages
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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