Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and honestly, I’m still trying to fully articulate how I feel about it. If I had to sum it up, I’d say I enjoyed the journey more than the destination.

The book definitely kept me engaged with its mysterious elements, unreliable characters, and feminist themes. I appreciated how, even though I had a sense that something was off and could easily spot who wasn’t trustworthy, there were still a few twists that caught me off guard. The inclusion of multimedia, like the journal entries, was a fun touch that added depth to the story.

However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the book didn’t quite deliver on its feminist promises. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, and lengthy speeches and drawn-out chapters didn’t help either. By the end, I was left more confused than anything else due to some plot holes, far fetched ideas, and a writing style that I think was intentionally disorienting; I had to read the last chapter twice and still found myself turning to a group chat for clarification, which was a bit frustrating. After reading most of the book without issues, it felt like a letdown to not fully grasp the conclusion.

A friend described this book as a "toxic mess," and honestly, that feels spot-on. Although she seemed to embrace the chaos a little more than I did!

Ultimately, this one was a "like" but not a "love" for me. I doubt it’ll stick with me long-term, but I did enjoy the ride while it lasted.

Sweet Fury follows Lila Cayne, a rising star preparing for a feminist adaptation of Tender Is the Night directed by her fiancé, Kurt Royall. A method actress at heart, Lila dives into therapy to perfect her role. Doing so unravels dark secrets from her past, leading to a suspenseful and emotionally charged journey.

The story alternates between the narration and journal entries, creating tension and challenging readers to question the reliability of both narrators. This structure heightened the tension by revealing incomplete or conflicting truths from each perspective, forcing readers to constantly reassess their understanding of events. Bischoff’s style combines beautiful descriptions with sharp, natural dialogue, bringing out both the glamour and the darker side of the story. There is also a very interesting commentary on feminism throughout the novel, which I believe can be used to foster great dialogue in book clubs.

Overall, Sweet Fury is a captivating read that will keep you engaged from start to finish. While prior knowledge of Fitzgerald’s work isn’t necessary, readers familiar with his themes of ambition, love, and disillusionment may uncover deeper layers of meaning woven into the narrative. The story stands strong on its own merits, with complex characters, a suspenseful plot, and a masterful balance of literary homage and originality. These elements ensure that whether you are a fan of Fitzgerald or not, Sweet Fury offers a richly rewarding experience.

Initially I was uninterested by the blurb of this book. I put off reading it for some time. Once I started though I couldn’t put it down. I was struggling a bit with the writing style of the book and don’t know too much about F Scot Fitzgerald’s work but enjoyed the narrative jumps and timeline jumps. I felt they kept me hooked. I enjoyed the unreliable narrators and almost instantly didn’t know who I could trust. With that said the ending was a let down. They way I was pulled in I was really hoping the ending was going to be explosive and have a finality to it that I just did not get.

✨ The Vibes ✨
The Silent Patient goes Hollywood

📖 Read if…
✨ You like feminist takes on classic novels
✨ The Silent Patient is your favorite thriller
✨ F. Scott Fitzgerald is your favorite classic novelist

Sweet Fury initially caught my eye for two reasons – comparisons to The Silent Patient and the F. Scott Fitzgerald connection. And while I had high hopes for this book, it ultimately left me feeling a little disappointed.

My feelings reading this book were very similar to how I felt while reading The Silent Patient. It took me a hot minute to get invested, but once I hit Part II, I was fully engrossed and until the final pages where the story left me feeling a bit meh. That being said, if you are a super fan of The Silent Patient, you’ll probably love this book as there are some fun twists along the way.

Plot aside, Sweet Fury is a standout in the thriller genre, thanks to the way it references Fitzgerald’s work. The story reads like one of his novels even though it takes place in the present. I was really impressed with how Bischoff was able to balance her own style with the Fitzgerald references. It takes a really talented and creative writer to do something so ambitious and because of that, I’m eager to read her future works.

Sweet Fury is out now. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Sweet Fury” by Sash Bischoff is a compelling debut that masterfully intertwines psychological suspense with literary homage. The narrative centers on Lila Crayne, a celebrated actress preparing for a feminist adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender Is the Night,” directed by her fiancé, Kurt Royall. To delve into her role, Lila engages with therapist Jonah Gabriel, leading to a profound exploration of buried traumas and complex relationships. Bischoff’s rich prose and intricate character development create an immersive experience, keeping readers enthralled as secrets unravel and motivations blur. The novel delves into themes of identity, power dynamics, and the blurred lines between reality and performance, all set against the glamorous yet deceptive backdrop of Hollywood. With its unexpected twists and thought-provoking narrative, “Sweet Fury” is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and literary fiction alike.

If I’m being truthful, I didn’t love Sweet Fury, but it did keep my attention and interest enough that I was committed to finding out how it would end.

Lila Crayne is a famous and successful actress, the seemingly perfect woman in every way. Engaged to wildly successful filmmaker Kurt Royall, Lila and Kurt are about to begin production on a feminist retelling of Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. Due to the nature of the film subjects, Lila begins to see renowned and charming therapist, Jonah, to address past traumas. Of course, therapy brings about unexpected consequences for Lila and life quickly unravels for all in her orbit.

This fell flat for me mainly because it came off slightly pretentious and obvious. I won’t say that I knew exactly what was going to happen, but it seemed to take a path that I expected.

Overall, Sweet Fury has great meaning behind it and does well of explaining the struggles of women in the public setting but lacks the depth I was hoping for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sharing this ARC with me before it’s January release date.

Sweet Fury is the perfect blend of literary fiction and thriller. The prose was absolutely lovely, and for the first half of the novel, it distracted me from some of the issues in the plot. Looking back, the beginning was a little slow and difficult to follow. By the middle of the book, I was invested, and I appreciated that I could not trust any of the narrators. By the end, however, I found myself frustrated with the believability of the novel. There were many aspects that didn't make sense, and the reader just had to go along with things in order to follow the plot. I thought much of the storyline wasn't properly explored or explained so it felt like there were major gaps in the narrative. I really enjoyed the exploration of Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, and I would love to see more authors take on problematic classics and reframe them in a modern and empowering retelling.

Look into content warnings before reading this book due to some gratuitous descriptions of violence and assault.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

I enjoyed this twisty, psychological thriller. It heavily features Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The main characters, Lila and Jonah, have complex backstories and you are left guessing whether or not you can trust them as the mystery unravels.

Alluring characters with a high tension and compelling plot.

This one got me right from the first chapter. I have a horrible confession to make - I didn't really know the original Tender Is the Night so I was a bit worried that this one wouldn't work for me. But right from that first visit to the therapist and then the POV of making the film, I was hooked. You could feel the tension rising off the page. There were so many twists and secrets that I loved slowly untangling them. I found the end to be a delicious surprise - where it was all shocking but very satisfying.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Sweet Fury is a mystery thriller centered on the production of a film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night.

This twisty thriller culminated in an ending that I honestly didn't see coming, and what could anyone want more from a mystery thriller? Bischoff does some rich character work here, and the construction of the narrative -- told in three different parts, and intertwined with transcriptions from interviews and therapy sessions -- kept me on my toes. As someone who's read some Fitzgerald, but not Tender is the Night, it certainly made me want to pick up that book. And while I'm not sure that I would describe the events of the narrative as feminist, I do think the strongest aspect of this book was the ways in which the characters grappled with the misogyny inherent in American culture and exemplified by much of Fitzgerald's work. I won't argue that this book is for every reader -- the characters are artists and academics, and they speak and narrate in an almost haughty way that may read as inaccessible -- but I think for fans of Fitzgerald, or for anyone who enjoys a twisty psychological read, this is an excellent pick.

This book was a doozy! I was immediately hooked into the world of Lila and Kurt. The three MCs are all so flawed and well written. It was so enjoyable to try to figure out what everyone’s motives were and what their endgame was. As I haven’t read Tender is the Night, I can’t really make comparisons, but the F. Scott Fitzgerald references are throughout the story.

Loved this one!!! What a twisty, weird, fun ride. Every single narrator is unreliable, which makes for a truly wild reading experience. I seriously didn't know who to root for, who the good guys and bad guys were, or what was going to happen on the next page. I'm honestly still not sure, which I love, because a book that stays with me is a book that I'll treasure forever.

This one left me wanting to like the characters but I just couldn’t find it. It’s a story filled with opulence and secrets. It just left me feeling …. Like ick.

Thanks for the early read NetGalley

Actually closer to 3 1/2 stars, but not close enough to round up...

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think this book would have been better had I known more about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his books. Like almost everyone, I read Gatsby in high school. That's it.

This book is supposed to be an homage to Gatsby, centering around a cast of actors and director retelling Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, with the woman being the hero in the end.

I was engaged through much of the book. It was pretty easy to guess what was going to happen, though.

Was not a fan of the ending at all. So much more could have been done with it and it was kind of a let down.

When a beloved actress is cast in a feminist adaptation of a Fitzgerald classic, she finds herself the victim in a deadly game of revenge in which everyone, on screen and off, is playing a part.

Sweet Fury started as a difficult read for me, perhaps because I was distracted sitting in a crowded airport and then on a cross country flight. I found myself frequently rereading sections until I got caught up in the story and then did not want to put it down to deplane.
Vibes of Hollywood, movies and movie stars all were featured prominently. For some reason I found myself comparing Lila to some actresses of the past and present, wondering if there life behind the scenes is satisfying. Having not read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work since high school I found myself wishing I had read them prior to Sweet Fury as I probably would have been more proficient at “reading between the lines”.
This read is hard for me to categorize - thriller, drama, character driven, screenplay…all those and more. It was a total surprise to me.
Many thanks to Sash Bischoff, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this unique read. Three and a half stars.

I have to admit, I’ve never actually fully read anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald, so I probably wasn’t the intended audience for this one, but it was decent enough. Seeing that I’m not familiar with the books this was inspired by, I didn’t know what to expect, but it didn’t really give me what I wanted until the very end. I feel like it could have been a bit shorter? Again, since I’m not familiar with the original, maybe I’m way off, so just take my thoughts with a grain of salt or two 😂

This one is a bit of a puzzle for me. The premise is fairly straightforward—-a retelling of Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald, slanted to a feminist viewpoint via a movie. Lila Crayne is the star and her fiance’ Kurt Royall is the director. In preparation for her role, Lila begins working with a charming and credentialed psychotherapist, Jonah Gabriel, to process and move past her remembered (and forgotten) traumas.

There are an unbelievable number of twists and turns in the book, to the extent that I was never completely sure of what was the real thread and what was a sham. Lila and Jonah both have secrets to protect, and one of the two appears to have the upper hand. There are other characters as well, and those mix things up too.

The book held my attention, but I found the ending confusing and, honestly, I didn’t believe it matched the rest of the book.

I’m amazed that this is a debut effort. 3.5 stars rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was quite impressed with Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff. I was drawn into the story very quickly, and though I'm not a huge Fitzgerald aficionado, detailed knowledge of his work wasn't necessary to appreciate the narrative surrounding his novels, especially Tender Is The Night. Bischoff did a great job of first creating identification with a character and then shifting the perspective. Soon, I was seeing pretty much everyone as unreliable, and this leant to the power of the story. The psychological twists picked up as the story moved on, and the different modes of narration (e.g., psychiatrist notes, straight narration, diary) helped to build the suspense. The writing was good, stylized and descriptive in a way that worked for the connections to FSF. Though this isn't a classic thriller, I've decided to use Sweet Fury for our store's thriller bookclub in an upcoming month, and I think it'll be a great vehicle for discussion!

I did not finish this book at the 30% mark. I did not like the characters and did not care about the plot at this point in the book. The writing was good and I'm sure that there will be many readers who love this book. Unfortunately, this was just not for me.