I Could Be Famous: Stories

by Sydney Rende

"A terrific fresh, original, and surprising." -George Saunders

For fans of Homesick for Another World and HBO's Girls, a magnetic debut story collection following ten ambitious women and one male superstar as they pursue their desires-however deluded-for more.

A listless woman befriends an influencer at a rooftop party, only to discover her lifestyle is not as glamorous as it seems. A college freshman gives the world's longest blow job to a boy whose name she's forgotten. A fan-favorite reality TV star joins a dating app after an explosive breakup, ready to move on, but finds she's only in control when cameras are rolling. While working in a hot tub showroom, a struggling actress goes method so she can nail an audition for the role of High School Junkie Girlfriend. Threaded throughout these explorations of neuroses and aspirations is one Arlo Banks, a hotshot actor, who faces his own downfall when he's accused of cannibalism.

From the dazzling to the mundane, Rende's brilliant, unnerving, cynical stories hold a mirror to our obsession with how we're perceived and our ache to be adored. Above all else, I Could Be Famous is a love letter to big ambitions and bigger dissatisfactions, belief in ourselves, and the fascination we hold with the idea that we could-somehow, someday-be famous.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Literature, Collections

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun collection of stories! I always land around 3-4 stars for short story collections because some entries always resonate with me more than others — in this case, I liked Rende’s writing a lot, but I don’t know if short stories make the best use of it. They’re still enjoyable reads, but often suffer from an abrupt ending. If you’re a fan of short story collections (I know they can be divisive), this is so unserious and fun.

The darkly comedic tone was akin to Anna Dorn, Ottessa Moshfegh and Halle Butler. Several excerpts made me laugh out loud from the sheer insanity of it all; the way the stories connect is fun, and the pop culture references are camp. Armie Hammer is a lovely muse for this satirical dive into fame and faking it until you make it.

Will I remember all the details of this collection? Probably not. But it does its job of introducing a debut author with undeniable talent and wit — very excited to see what she publishes next! If you’re a fan of weird literary fiction, these are good stories to breeze through. Thank you to Bloomsbury for the early review copy!

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longer I looked at him, the more I wanted to wrap my arms around him. I imagined him resting his chin on my head, his tears gliding down his face and into my hair. There, there I'd say, rubbing his back.*

Social media influencers, bratty celebrities, reality TV stars . . . these are a few of my LEAST FAVORITE things people. And yet, I couldn't stop reading these quirky stories about them. Though many of these characters are at the end of their respective ropes, the author uses dark humor to make their sad tales more palatable. There was not a dud in the bunch.

Whether Rende's next project is more short stories or a novel, I'll be waiting in line to buy it.

* From Home Videos.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the physical ARC.

[erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very confused. I was enthralled from the get-go. Yet when I hit chapter 3, each page began to lose me slowly. i will admit that i have 50 pages to go, and have given up. But I feel absolutely no connection to the main character; all that's kept me here is a mix of curiosity, boredom, and enjoyment for the writing.

[Matt Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection, which offers a thematic take on how regular people relate to fame, which becomes a deeper exploration of how people are enchanted by a fantasy of themselves and the ways it is (foolishly) constructed with influencer culture, service industry/gig work, and relationships.

A few of the stories step away from celebrities and those were probably my favorites (lopsided was a standout to me), but the celebrity ones (a girl steals from the homes while she’s a production assistant on AD videos for ex.) are a lot of fun and at times cringy and hysterical.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable collection of stories orbiting the fame-hungry, type of influencer-obsessed young women desperately treading the murky water of new adulthood.

I'm such a fan of Rende's writing style, each story dumped me into a life that instantly became bright and compelling, I felt like each one could have been fleshed out into a whole novel, that's how enjoyable and present I found them. Often, the stories end a little abruptly and I actually really enjoyed that "oh damn, what?" moment they left me in.

The women (and one enigmatic male heart throb) in these stories find themselves in awkward verging on dangerous situations that are both darkly funny and tinged with the tension of the unpredictable violence of men and whether something truly terrible is going to happen, and if it's worth sacrificing to get a step closer to what they really want.

Stand out stories for me were "Nothing Special," about a woman who befriends a glossy influencer only to balk at her real life intimacies; "Smart Girl," an actually hilarious account of a college student having an existential crisis during the world's longest blow job; "Monsters," a reality tv star realizes she might not be the person she thinks she is after a failed love triangle ruins her life; "Party Favors," about a wedding photographer who moonlights as a camgirl and what happens when she's recognized at a wedding; "Home Videos," an assistant to a cinematographer who films one of those inside celebrity homes type of shows gets caught stealing strange things onsite, "Lopsided," what happens when a woman who just got a kidney transplant from her boyfriend decides she wants to break up with him.

I think this would have been a five star collection for me if the interconnected short stories about the male movie star Arlo Banks weren't included. I found them off putting in a different way and not really cohesive with the rest. They were the least interesting of the stories for sure.

[Abby (herliterarylife) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to Bloomsbury for the gifted ARC! Review to come.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alas, not much to get excited about here.

This semi-interconnected collection mostly focuses on celebrity-adjacent types in contemporary LA, which doesn’t do much for me. The writing is better than the content, but isn’t enough to rescue it.

The first two stories (Nothing Special and The Hole in Your Heart Is Mine) and the last story (High School Junkie Girlfriend) are probably the best of the collection.

Part of the problem is that the narrator of each story is in theory a different person, but they all sound exactly the same. Perhaps the idea is that they’re all facets of the same woman, but mostly it just feels like Rende used the exact same personality and perspective over and over, making all the stories run unmemorably together.

The writing tells me Rende has potential, but the material needs work.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Colin Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rushed through this one, so take my words with a grain of salt. That said, I did not enjoy this book very much. I think it’s largely a matter of personal taste, as I have no taste for books that are so unapologetically current in their premises. I can’t deny the basis of these stories, that we live in a fame obsessed society, where social media drives our desires, so I can see why some would want to read this. The trouble is, I’ve seen these sorts of disaffected yet acutely aware narrators before in other works, to much better effect. This book exists firmly in a post Moshfegh literary world. Even the cover, with its classical painting overlaid with colorful block text, is indicative of what the publisher wants this book to be, who they want to read it. There were certainly moments in some of these stories that made me pause appreciatively, but, overall, this collection failed to capture my interest. I am curious to see what others say when the book comes out in January. Maybe other readers will love it. Ah well.

[Haylee Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm…how to rate an anthology that had some stories that absolutely captivated me, some stories that were interconnected, and some stories that I couldn’t understand the meaning and purpose of (if there even was one)? I was HOOKED at the beginning of this collection, but the middle and end fell apart unfortunately. I found it weird that the only recurring character was a male celebrity when I thought the stories would be centered around women, and I’m still confused on whether or not this male celebrity IS a cannibal. What’s his issue? Anyway…I’m disappointed, but it wasn’t all bad.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A lot can happen in a year. I could become a whole new person. I could be famous by then.”

[Tyler Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this sharp collection. “The Hole in Your Heart Is Mine” was a clear standout for me, but many left me wanting more in exactly the way a good short story should.

Throughout, Rende explores themes of intimacy and distance, desire and self-invention — people circling one another, misreading signals, or trying on versions of themselves that don’t quite fit.

Reading this was a reminder of how much I love short stories when they’re done well. I somehow drifted away from the form last year, and this felt like a return. More short fiction for me in 2026!

[Theresa Pankey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a DNF after reading four of the short stories. The first was promising and the author has some clever moments but a series of pointless, abrupt-ending chapters and I’m done. I don’t mind ambiguity but it reads like the author has no idea how to end any of them. The theme is inconsistent and it left me with the feeling that I was reading outlines or first drafts. Disappointing but I hope this author finds their voice in a better format in the future.

[Lilly Dowty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting, and I did find myself unable to put it down. The through-line is interesting and I could definitely see it expanding, but the other stories kept me interested enough to not worry about it. A few of the stories felt a bit too similar to each other, but otherwise they were enjoyable reads (even though most of these characters are not likable).

[Sahil Javed · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was quite entertaining. some of the stories were bizarre, certain scenes were weird as fuck, but overall it was entertaining. each of the stories had a certain addictive quality that made me want to keep reading

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m very much target audience for this, I had fun

[Guinevere DelaMare · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook)

[Megan O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! A fantastic collection of short stories full of messy people with big dreams and weird vibes, couldn’t be more entertaining

[Kathleen Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were a fun, fresh time: slightly skin-crawling but extremely addictive, like a high school junkie girlfriend! Armie Hammer would think, wait is this fucking play about us?

[Julia Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun short stories and perfect for small dose reading. All were fun and celebrity/Hollywood adjacent/themed so I loved. Kind of read like nonfiction essays but they were made up so all a little absurd. Highly rec

[Sam Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these stories shine, usually the ones that get a little absurd with it. A lot of stories end with the main character “wanting to cry,” which is a little unfulfilling.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Libro.fm for an Advanced Listener's Copy! I enjoyed these clever, often funny, but also sometimes sad, contemporary stories.

[Mallan Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely witty and fun to read. Sydney Rende is so talented!!!

[Kindall Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking to break your social media addiction, this collection of short stories is it! At times NSFW, but always sharply insightful, hysterically funny, these quirky but richly human characters are begging for a Netflix treatment. She could be famous, indeed.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

“Money. Fame. The high you get when a group of strangers screams your name with tears in their eyes. The ability to strut around L.A. like you really belong there (most people don’t), like you landed in the exact right spot.”

The quote above describes the characters that some of the stories in this enjoyable debut collection center around. In some cases they’re famous; in others, they’re infamous; and in others they’re either fame-adjacent or wanting to be famous. (The irony is not lost on me that I’m discussing this book on social media for my followers.)

There are 11 stories in this collection. The characters always made me a little bit nervous, wondering what disaster they might cause. But I really enjoyed nearly all of them.

Some of my favorite stories include: “Nothing Special,” about a young woman who becomes friends with a popular influencer yet realizes the life she covets isn’t all that great; “High School Junkie Girlfriend,” in which an aspiring young actress aims for authenticity before her audition for the role of said girlfriend; “The Actor Naked,” which deals with the ways the relationship between an actor and his assistant changes when she sees him naked; and “Monsters,” about a reality TV star who just wants to be loved, but can’t seem to pull it together when she’s not on camera.

I really was impressed with Sydney Rende’s storytelling abilities. All of the stories felt complete and I felt totally immersed in the mini-universes she created. Not all of the characters are sympathetic but they were all fascinating.

Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[Castille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read short-story collections, because often only a few of the stories grab me and the rest feel like filler. But with I Could Be Famous, I found myself engaged with almost all of the eleven stories. What I appreciated most was how they connect — not just thematically, but through recurring characters and shared motifs — giving the collection the cohesion and emotional heft of a novel, told in vignettes.

Rende gives us a sharp and often darkly comedic look at fame-obsessed culture: across the stories we meet people chasing clout, attention, illusions of glamour. The collection doesn’t glamorize fame, but instead shows the reality; celebrities yearn for 'normality', while 'normal' people yearn for celebrity. The stories explore desire, identity, the longing to be seen, and the toll of aspiring to something bigger, all while critiquing a hyper-visible, hyper-performative culture.

My favorite story was “The Hole in Your Heart Is Mine” — it struck the perfect balance of psychological tension, tragedy, and dark humor. I could easily see it adapted into a short film or psychological thriller with some bite.

I Could Be Famous doesn’t romanticize fame— it deconstructs it. For readers who appreciate wry, provocative short fiction, willing to confront the contradictions of fame and longing, this collection hits hard. It’s not cozy, but it’s compelling, and worth the read.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Little, Brown Group UK.

I was certain I was going to DNF this. I found the stories kind of slow and, despite the synopsis, was disappointed that not every story was connected to Arlo Banks. Some don't even mention him at all, which was interesting. But then yesterday I was on a plane and decided to see if things picked up. You're reading my review, so I think you can guess where this is going.

I'm not a big short story reader, but there was a lot that I liked in here. I never felt like any of the stories over-stayed their welcome, so to speak. Rende's writing is sharp and honest and she paints this underlying theme of ambition of fame with fascinating light and shadow. It towed the line between actually exploring a complex topic and being edgy for edgy's sake. There is no denying that Rende is a good writer. But for me, I came out of it with the emotional equivalent of that three star rating up there. These were not stories that made me feel any particular way. A lot of them I read and went 'okay cool' and moved on. They were strong enough for me to finish the book but not so much as to leave a lasting impression.

What I do agree on is that if you loved the TV show 'Girls', you will love this book.

'I Could Be Famous' will be available from 13th January.

[Erin Crane]

Made it past halfway, so I’ll consider it read, but I don’t know what to rate it. A reviewer said the writing is good, the content is meh, and I agree. The earlier stories were better, but I don’t know if I just think that because they were first. Part of the problem is the samey-ness. Similarly, Trick stuck out to me, but maybe because the protagonist is a man - who is also the man that many of the other stories feature or mention - so it’s just unique in the collection.

I have had this problem before with collections of weird girl short stories. Those stories have a certain detached tone, and the weird girls are usually young, disillusioned, off-kilter. I like it, but when it’s in a short story collection it means you get essentially the same character over and over. It would make more sense to approach this as connected stories about the same woman.

These stories aren’t really *doing* anything for me. I read them and would be like 🤷‍♀️ at the end. But I do like the prose, so I wish Rende pushed it further. That doesn’t even have to mean wackier stuff happens. But I need more of a point, more observations, more humor. Something! I’d try more from Rende in the future to see if her writing becomes more for me.

[Lauren D'Souza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story collections so rarely hit the mark for me for two main reasons: (1) a lack of a full plot arc or (2) placing an abrupt ending on a story that doesn’t really have an ending because you can get away with it in this form. This book sadly fell victim to both of those tropes - I felt like these were random little vignettes that ended so abruptly it almost seemed like an unfinished thought.

What really frustrated me was that the narrators/main characters in these stories could have all been the same person - the narrative voice, the backgrounds, and the situations they're in were all so similar that I had trouble distinguishing one story from the next. The writing was strong enough, and I felt like I knew so many of these characters in the fame- and social-media obsessed young women who want but feel insecure about sex and have a vaguely disaffected youth attitude towards their lives - it's all very Ottessa Moshfegh. Sometimes that genre really resonates with me, and other times I just get annoyed at these narrators and their first-world problems; this definitely fell into the latter category for me.

[Jamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Could Be Famous is a collection of short stories centred on young people whose primary ambition is visibility: to be known, recognised, and above all famous. Sydney Rende sketches a world of social media feeds, fleeting relationships and distracted lives, presenting these stories as snapshots of contemporary desire.

The book has been praised as “terrific, fresh, original and surprising” and described as a “love letter to big ambitions and bigger distractions”. Unfortunately, for me it achieves the opposite. Rather than offering insight or critique, the stories often feel thin and airless, reinforcing the emptiness of the goal they depict. The obsession with being famous is treated as a given rather than interrogated, and the emotional range rarely extends beyond self-absorption and ennui.

There is competence here, and occasional sharp observation, but too often the collection simply demonstrates the increasing vacuousness of ambition untethered from anything more substantial. I finished the book feeling not illuminated, but rather dispirited. A depressing read.

[Amyiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2-Review to come.
11 short stories of young adults looking for more and figuring out what they have/don't have.

Both the novella format and short story format, if done right, leave you thinking about the characters and wanting or imagining more. With nearly all of these, I was pulled into the stories wanting to know more. Several of them had me laughing at the sometimes irreverent, dark humor and situations, others you are on the ride of where they are going. All of them have a theme of young unfulfilled changing relationships. Some of them are fame adjacent and overlap with one child star now actor. All are engaging and interesting.

I don't usually read short story compilations but do sometimes read anthologies of usually 3 or 4 novellas. With those I actually will review each story but with 11 shorts that doesn't work as well. I loved quite a few of these and liked all of them, even with characters that are sometime unlikable, you are still hoping for them to find themselves and what they are looking for. I read through all of these with easy and enjoyment as they caught my attention with both the stories and characters.