Rumoured is the debut novel by sisters Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso. It’s one of our favourite reads of the year so far. It’s one you will not be able to put down.
Harlow Hayes: the pop star.
I’m a global sensation adored by millions, and my star only seems to keep rising.
The icon.
My fans say I speak directly to them through my music, that I know who they are. How else could I write such visceral, personal lyrics? They love me, and I love them right back.
The murderer.
Then, at the height of my fame, I was arrested on suspicion of murder.
The world thinks they know who I am.
But they have no idea.
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Told from the perspective of Naomi Barnes, an investigative journalist with a personal interest in the case
Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso is equal parts glitzy celebrity drama, media commentary, and a sharply plotted murder mystery; this book is pure pop-noir perfection.
At the shimmering centre of the story is Harlow Hayes — pop sensation, cultural icon, and the internet’s favourite obsession. She’s a global superstar with the kind of fame that borders on myth. Her lyrics echo through stadiums and bedrooms alike, piercing hearts with their raw, emotional truth. She’s got the range of Folklore, the swagger of Reputation, and the relentless reinvention of 1989 – but when she’s arrested for murder, the question isn’t just “Did she do it?” — it’s “Who is Harlow Hayes?”
Naomi Barnes: a tenacious investigative journalist who knows better than anyone that truth doesn’t trend, and fame is just another kind of costume. Is the one tasked with finding out the truth. Naomi’s voice grounds the novel with journalistic grit and emotional vulnerability. Her perspective adds layers of complexity as she peels back the glittering façade of Harlow’s world and exposes the shadows underneath, revealing how they affect her own life.
What makes Rumoured so riveting is its whip-smart duality. It’s simultaneously a love letter and an exposé: to celebrity, to the spotlight, to being the favourite one minute and public enemy #1 the next. The novel masterfully explores the idea that perception is everything and that everyone has their version of the truth.
The Mancaruso sisters have a well-documented love for anagrams — and they’ve sprinkled them like glitter throughout the story. Whether it’s a name, a lyric, or a seemingly throwaway detail, every letter might hold a secret. It adds a layer of delicious puzzle-box fun that’ll have you rereading pages with fresh eyes and gasping when connections click into place. It’s literary Easter egg hunting at its finest — clever, playful, and totally addictive.
They also weave in biting but very real commentary about media sensationalism, fan culture, and the often predatory machine that feeds on fame. They understand the emotional ecosystem of pop music – how lyrics become lifelines, how fans project and protect their idols.
It’s also a compulsively readable thriller. Unexpected, clever, and emotionally devastating. The murder mystery will keep you turning the pages; it’s the emotional honesty that lingers. Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso have crafted something truly special.
Rumoured asks big questions: Who gets to write the narrative? How do we grieve the versions of ourselves the world demands we become? And what happens when the music stops?
You can get a copy here!
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