You know that moment when a book looks like it could’ve been pulled straight from a gossip blog—and then it actually reads like one? That’s Rumoured. Between the paparazzi snapshots, secret messages, and social media sleuthing, this book blends tabloid energy with thriller structure in a way that feels almost too real. The cover caught my eye, the concept kept me reading, and the story? Let’s just say it earned its place in my “get hyped” category. Now, let’s talk aesthetic, execution, and why I think you’ll binge this one like your favorite scandal podcast.

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The Cover

Loving the vibes on the cover of Rumoured by The Mancaruso Sisters! Black and white photography with pops of vivid color is so apt for a story about a pop icon. The concert with raving fans reflected in the figures sunglasses kicks the whole design up a notch. Fantastic idea, but there could have been more attention paid to integrating the illustrative and photographic elements to make the graphic more seamless. The sunglasses in particular look laid on top of the image, whereas the selective coloring of the woman’s lips is more believable; however, there is even a bit of a mess with the outline there. Awesome idea, mid execution.

Interior

The interior of the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) was messy, but since this is a pre-release galley copy, I assume that formatting and typographic errors will be fixed before this is released to the public. There are lots of little formatting items that will be important to the effective delivery of this novel as an ebook, because so much is meant to replicate online news articles, social media posts, texts, and handwritten notes.

Did the design affect whether I bought the book?

Yes. The cover for Rumoured stood out among the choices while perusing NetGalley for my next potential ARC read. I’m so glad that it did, because it knocked my socks off!

The Mancaruso Sisters, Kelly & Kristina, develop characters without the reader even realizing it’s happening. The plot is built on the people in the story, but information about who they are comes at the reader from so many different directions that you feel like you are piecing together the who right alongside the what, why, and how. Without needing a whole lot of description, it’s easy to feel like you know the characters. That is, there is a great deal of complexity introduced without having to go too deeply into any given person’s backstory.

In Rumoured, there was an interesting juxtaposition of show and tell happening within the writing style. At first, I was critical of the approach, but as the story went along, I started to believe that the voice of the narrator (most of the book is written in third person) was giving information much in the same way as the information coming from articles– the facts with little exposition. I think this added to the experience of following Naomi’s story because it mirrored her writing. 

Midway through Rumoured, a first-person point of view was introduced out of sync with the main narrative timeline. This was very effective in building suspense on two fronts while providing both needed perspective to create empathy, and to showcase a connection between the pop star and the journalist characters while unveiling various plot-driving clues.

Murder, obviously.

The dirty underbelly of celebrity and how that intersects with those tangential to it. Professional ethics. The secrets that are kept, information suppressed.

Obsession. Rumoured shines a light on the way that the public often gets very involved with the celebrities that they love or hate. But also looks at how easily a person can get sucked into the social media black hole and lose some perspective. Conspiracy theories. The inability to separate the public persona from the real person.

Family. Rumoured looks at family through multiple lenses but dives deeply into how families feel bonded together and how they show that bond. How are they there for each other? Is it in small ways – loaning a car, making you take home leftovers– or in large ways – using money and influence to cover up your misdeeds? Where is the line? Would you cross it? How can circumstances alter your moral and ethical code? Fairly deep stuff for a thriller.

The storyline in Rumoured is expertly plotted. The inclusion of easter eggs within the story but also woven into the fabric of the book itself pulled me in in a way that I started to feel a little like Naomi as she pulled at threads to uncover even more delicious intrigue.

The faux social media posts and articles rang true to life.

I am amazed at the length that The Mancaruso Sisters went to in creating all of the song lyrics, album art, media, and social that play into this storyline. Everything felt like it was plucked out of some alternate reality. There was a great mix of faux material and real-world references that made the experience immersive.

I read Rumoured in one sitting. At one point, I stopped and took note of myself. Heart pounding, starting to sweat, yes, I was, in fact, thrilled by this thriller. I rarely re-read books, but as I finished this one, I was nearly instantly thinking about reading it again to see if the author left more clues that I didn’t pick up on.

Of note, I suspected one of the major plot reveals as early as chapter 3, and confirmed it in my notes as early as chapter 11. However, this did not deter my reading experience at all. In fact, I was left with enough doubt that I continued to try to find foreshadowing to support my theory (as one does.)

The Mancasruso Sisters sprinkled easter eggs throughout the book. Each time I noticed one I was so delighted. So, when you read Rumoured, pay attention.

If you ever doom scroll, get caught up in a social media frenzy, follow celebrity gossip, or entertain conspiracy theories, this book should be on your TBR. Hankering for Gossip Girl Vibes with a Jack Ryan heartbeat? Run, don’t walk, to get your copy of Rumoured. 

*Release Date: Oct 07 2025*

Dislike social media black holes? Murder mysteries not your bag? Steer clear.

Rumoured is not a spicy book, but there are some potentially triggering mentions of sexual assault, drug overdose, murder, and some threatening situations.

Would you protect a loved one if they were guilty of a serious crime? Let’s talk in the comments.

May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.

Happy Reading!