Celebrity in the Time of Covid: Fandom and the Influence of Pandemic Messaging: by Christina S Beck, McFarland, Jefferson, 2022, 192 pp., US$39.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-4766-8492-5.

The book review discusses "Celebrity in the Time of Covid: Fandom and the Influence of Pandemic Messaging" by Christina S. Beck. The book explores how celebrities from various fields became involved in understanding and combating the Covid pandemic. It focuses on the US but acknowledges the need for comparative analyses in different national contexts. The book examines the role of fandom in relation to celebrity health narratives during the pandemic and analyzes the polarizing effect of Covid on celebrities and their fans. The review highlights the book's valuable analyses of how celebrities engaged with fandom and the temporary flourishing of fandom for "medical heroes" during the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]