Famous by Blake Crouch is a darkly humorous and gripping story with a truly standout premise. The opening few chapters hooked me with a great premise and delivering intrigue and excitement. However, despite this strong start, the ending was a bit abrupt, leaving the story feeling an incomplete. While the ending is not what I had hoped for, the story is captivating.
Meet Lance. Thirty-eight years old. Works a meaningless job. Still lives above his parents’ garage. By all accounts, a world-class loser. Save for one glaring exception: He has a million-dollar face.
Lance has been mistaken eighty-seven times for the Oscar-winning movie star James Jansen, and for the last ten years, he’s saved his money and studied Jansen’s films, his moves, his idiosyncrasies—even the way he speaks. Now, after an unceremonious termination from his job, Lance has decided that the time has come to go after his dream of truly becoming Jansen.
From New York’s avant-garde, off-off Broadway scene to the glitter of Los Angeles, Lance embarks on a journey toward becoming James Jansen that will take him closer to the star than even he had dreamed—and to darker lengths than he could’ve possibly imagined.
Famous is one of New York Times bestseller Blake Crouch’s earlier novels, originally self published in 2010, now set to get a new release this coming September. The new edition is in preparation for the upcoming film adaptation from A24, starring Zac Efron in the dual roles of actor James Jensen and his lookalike fan, Lance Dunkquist.
Crouch has become a must-read author for me over the years, so with such a strong premise that immediately pulled me in opening up, Famous was a no-brainer. The novel tackles fame, identity, and mental health in outstanding ways. However, while the story builds strong momentum, it’s the ending that left much to desire. The close of the book almost felt abrupt, as though the final chapter was missing, leaving with a unsatisfied sense of closure. Despite this, the book remained engaging throughout and had me quickly turning the pages.
At its core, Famous is a genre-blending and darkly humorous thriller that captured my attention with unexpected twists and a provocative examination of society’s obsession with fame. The story grapples with deep, complex topics which gave it a memorable edge. That said, it’s still the conclusion that held me back. Thankfully, this is one of Crouch’s earlier works, and his track record of exceptional writing since then is undeniable.
With director Jody Hill and screenwriter Chad Hodge adapting Famous for the big screen, there’s hope they can take Blake Crouch’s original premise and bring it to life with full potential. Definitely recommend reading the new edition before heading to the theaters to see A24’s take.
Famous hits bookstores everywhere on September 23, 2025 from Ballantine Books. The audiobook is available for pre-order at Libro.fm!
