I Could Be Famous by Sydney Rende; 2026. Hardcover.

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 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.