A feminist retelling of Fitzgerald? I was SO in. Overall, this was really good. It could have improved in terms of the feminists actually being feminists versus a surface level proclamation. The writing did feel a bit unnatural and a bit like it was trying too hard. Still solid 3.5. I rounded up.

When I started this novel, I couldn't remember why I chose to review it. I usually don't care for the glitz and glam a story with Hollywood stars has. While I liked The Great Gatsby, I'm not a huge F. Scott Fitzgerald fan (I much prefer John Steinbeck). But then the twists and turns of this wild ride started and I was hooked.

I remember when a book about Zelda came out a few years ago and how everyone was going wild over F. Scott Fitzgerald. I didn't get it, but this novel reminds me of that time. And again, I didn't understand the character's obsession with Fitzgerald. If you are a fan, though, you will really love this novel with all its references to Zelda and Fitzgerald and his writing.

It didn't take long for me to get over my aversion to the actor aspect of the story. Partly that is because it wasn't really the Hollywood elite. They are more of an independent film group so there isn't all the gossip and partying and hedonism of previous novels I've read. They are also in New York and not in California and I think the scene in NYC is different than L. A. I actually enjoyed the scenes on the set of them walking through various scenes.

What I truly loved about the novel though was never knowing who to trust. The story is told from Lila's POV mostly and since she is an actress I never quite knew when it was an act. I automatically put her in the unreliable narrator category. Was I right to?

Jonah is another character I wasn't sure if I should trust. In the first act of the book, we get his session notes with Lila. I didn't like the execution of this. His notes are just that notes and so there aren't complete sentences. It was disjointed and difficult to read. I wanted to race through but my brain had trouble with this style and it slowed my reading (evident because I only read a third of the book the first day, but was able to speed through reading the last two-thirds the next day). Thankfully they only occur in the first act. In the second act, we get Lila's diary/journal entries. These were easier to read as they were written more naturally.

I didn't really like Jonah or Lila. The character I liked most was Maggie and I hope she got the cat in the end.

If you are looking for a wild ride, then you need to pick up this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/01/sweet-fury-by-sash-bischoff-review.html

DNF

I could not get into this book. Starting the book where we don't know much about the characters was not a way to hook me so I was not interested in continuing. Got to 10% mark and put it down unfortunately. I wish the author had given a prologue or an introductory chapter so that we could have learned who Lila and Jonah were before being dropped into a conversation between them from the get go.

Thank you to Sim & Schuster for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

At first the story of Lila Crane, Kurt Royall, Jonah Gabriel, & Maggie, his fiancée, did not really grab me. I wasn’t that interested in Lila, Hollywood mega-star and American sweetheart or her uber successful, producer finance, Kurt. Lila was an abused woman, often afraid to voice her true opinion. She was completely controlled by Kurt, for the most part. The other main character, Jonah was dull, and his girlfriend Maggie came across as a desperate woman, putting up with a subpar life for no reason! I didn’t understand, and still don’t understand how this is touted as a “feminist” novel. It was so far from what I consider feminist, I personally cannot quantify it as such.

I am not a true Fitzgerald fan. Although I read and loved “The Great Gatsby”, I have not read any of his other works. Because I am not familiar with “Tender Is The Night” I am sure I was unable to fully appreciate the whole plot!

Eventually the relationship between Lila and successful therapist Jonah intrigued me. I was compelled to discover their story, which was kept a mystery for most of the book. Leading up to the discovery of their past, I kept hoping Jonah would do the right thing, (I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t).

Unfortunately, I found none of the characters to be very likable, except for Maggie. Maybe my lack of bonding with the main characters made the ending so confusing and uninteresting. I could not understand what Ms. Bischoff was trying to accomplish by having Maggie “help” Jonah, in the end. It seems so wildly unbelievable to have her care enough to try and help his situation after all that happened in this book. Other than the ending, and my personal dislike of the main characters, I found the book very well written and engaging. I rounded up to give it 4 stars. Thank you Net Galley, Simon & Schuster Publishing, and Sash Bischoff for this good ARC. Looking forward to reading the next publish from Ms Bischoff.

Lila Crayne is America’s darling. Engaged to esteemed filmmaker, Kurt Royall, they are about to embark on a career changing film, a feminist remake of Fitzgerald’s Tender Is The Night. In the midst of the filming, Lila schedules therapy to deal with issues from her childhood. As therapy progresses, Lila becomes enamored by Jonah, the charming therapist she’s working with. Jonah, too, is willing to do anything for Lila, including putting his own career and life on the line. The more he talks with Lila the more unsettled he becomes. He’s sure that she’s being abused. Is Lila on the up and up or is there more to the story? Will Jonah be able to save her or does he need to save himself? This book started off at a slow pace, but quickly became a riveting read. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Sweet Fury is the debut novel from Sash Bischoff.

"Lily Crane is America's sweetheart. She and her filmaker husband have settled into a NYC apartment to begin filming their adapation of F. Scott Fitgerald's book - Tender is the Night. To prepare for her role, Lily begans work with a therapist - Jonah Gabriel. Soon the trauma of her life begins to unravel - but everyone has secrets."

There are strong Silent Patient vibes in this book. According to the author there are several Fitzgerald easter eggs throughout. I am not well-versed in FSF but if you are you may find them. This is a slow burn - mostly people having conversations. There are some flashbacks that explain why characters are the way they are. Not many likable characters around. Jonah is particularly stalkish and will creep out a lot of readers. There are a handful of red herrings but you will probably see which way the story is going even with the partially vague ending.

Interesting debut from Bischoff.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This whole premise really blew me away! I’m also a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald and really loved learning more about his works and time at Princeton! I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first, with unreliable narrators and not being given the full picture. As details came to life all was clear and I love a good revenge story, especially when set to the tune of classic literature! I would recommend to anyone that likes mysteries, psychological thrillers, and classic book history!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Pretentious Characters and Story


Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
The book opens in a psychologist/psychiatrist office. The doctor is Jonah and the patient is famous actress, Lila Crayne. In the classic novel, She is preparing to play the leading role in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. To prepare for this role, Jonah wants Lila to confront and tackle her personal history of distress and possible depression. The author presents a cast of other characters including other self-absorbed players.

The Fitzgerald book has Dick Rider as the psychiatrist, and the patient is Nicole. She is portrayed as a weaker woman in this version. Lila wants to spin it creating a woman as the more resilient character and the psychiatrist as a hunter.

Why rewrite a classic? It is hard to compete with F. Scott Fitzgerald. If Zelda (Fitzgerald’s wife) was used as a base for woman with a psychological problems, that would be a dangerous outreach. Since I didn’t believe the characters were trustworthy, the adaptation did not seem reliable. It was slow and why would the actor be filming the story? I was not convinced.

The writing itself was solid, it is the plot that that was too far-fetched.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this pre-published books. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you @simonandschuster & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Actress Lila Crayne is engaged to filmmaker Kurt Royall, and they are about to start filming a feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. To prepare for her leading role, Lila works with therapist Jonah Gabriel to confront her past traumas. As she delves into her emotions, her seemingly perfect life begins to fall apart, and Jonah seeks to help her through this turmoil. However, both Lila and Jonah harbor secrets, leading to unexpected revelations about their true selves; and in this book, no one is as they seem!

MY THOUGHTS: This narrative is a SLOW BURN, as it takes awhile to get to the actual suspense element. First, we are introduced (in detail) to the film’s cast, as well as to the foundational plot of Fitzgerald’s novel. Then Lila visits a new therapist, and we learn about Jonah’s life, as well as Lila’s traumatic past.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Lila and Jonah, and incorporates journal entries from Lila, and professional notes from Jonah. There is a large cast of characters, and I found them all to be vain and self-absorbed, which can be off-putting to readers.

The suspense finally intensifies at the 75% mark, then the action moves a little faster. However, I found the conclusion to be unrealistic, and the final pages were written in such a pretentious and vague manner, I had to reread them for clarity. The ending was just bizarre.

Readers who appreciate thought-provoking, twisty, and suspenseful stories that explore the complexities of feminism, identity, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator will find themselves drawn into the dark and mysterious world, where the lines between reality and performance are expertly blurred.

Producer Kurt Royall and actress Lila Crayne make an invincible filmmaking duo. They are regarded as Hollywood's "it couple" and are partners in both life and business. However, Jonah Gabriel, Lila's therapist, is worried about what she tells him about their relationship when she starts therapy as part of her study for a role. But what initially seems to be a simple tale of a poisonous partner is far from it. Because nothing and no one are what they seem in this novel. At first, I found it difficult to get into this one, but after the first twist was revealed, I was captivated! From there, the narrative only got better. Although I don't want to reveal too much about the story, I will say that the surprises were expertly hinted at. The sweet part for me is that even though I recognized one of the big ones coming, the foundation was created so quietly that I felt incredibly smart for figuring it out. The author skillfully switches between viewpoints. Although we are given insights into the minds of several characters, there are sequences that are almost cinematically presented, leaving the reader in the dark about the motivations of all parties. If you’re looking for a feminist thriller with glamorous Hollywood vibes…oh, friend, this one is definitely for you!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster for the book #SweetFury by #SashBiachoff. This book is an adaption of a Firtzgerald classic in which the females version of events. There is plenty of revenge and anger that encompasses the book. Lila and Kurt are hollywoods “it” couple who has set out to make this movie. But everyone has secrets. Will this treat them apart?

This was a strange but interesting book most of the way through, but its twists were a little odd. If you're someone who craves Big Reveals TM this might be more your speed than it was mine, but I was having a perfectly good time with the slow build and where it was telegraphing before all the twists and turns. 

We're following Lila Crayne, America's Sweetheart and favorite actress, as she navigates the lead role in a feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night", a toxic relationship with its director, and her first time in therapy. The story is told through Lila's POV, Jonah (her therapist)'s POV, Lila's diary entries, and Jonah's case files from their sessions. They are both huge Fitzgerald fans, and overall this book is kind of just highbrow Fitzgerald fanfic, so I'm not 100% sure why I took the ARC when I admittedly thought Gatsby was mid and have read none of his other work. Alas. I am a glutton. Anyway, both characters here see their lives through a very Fitzgeraldian lens, and they connect over this and their feelings seem to grow beyond what's appropriate for a therapist/patient dynamic. 

Then sh*t hits the fan and gets weird. 

I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. But again, if you love prosey, twisty, turny, dramatic stories and/or Fitzgerald, this is for you. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wild and suspenseful ride! I really loved the main character in Lila. She was strong but multi-dimensional. The backdrop of the story is New York and movie stardom, both very intriguing plot points. There are lots of difficult subjects addressed but I thought the author handled them with honestly and sensitivity. Overall this book was exciting and quick with lots of interesting twists and turns. I know this was the debut novel by Sash Bischoff and I can't wait to see what comes next from this author! Thanks to Sash Bischoff, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF around 45%
Unfortunately, this just was not for me. Everyone was saying how thrilling this was, but I was very bored the whole time. The writing style is the main reason this wasn't for me. It was difficult for me to immerse myself into the story, because I felt like the writing was too jerky and I kept getting pulled out of the experience.

I enjoyed how the story intertwined Fitzgerald's stories. However, it's not required to know Fitzgerald's works to read this. You may miss subtle hints, but I don't think it'll limit your story experience. Although let's not forget that F. Scott Fitzgerald stole a lot of his "ideas" from his wife, Zelda.

Using F Scott Fitzgerald's TENDER IS THE NIGHT as the guideline for the plot, Sash Bischoff managed to keep the "bones" of Fitzgerald's book while crafting her own masterpiece of literary fiction. Two people who seem to the world to have a perfect marriage and a perfect working relation, take their theatrical skills in hand to retell Tender is the Night in their own words. Lila Crayne is the current Hollywood hot ticket. To her fans, she's perfect and her movies best sellers. Kurt Royall is the man who can bring the film to market. He's considered the best at what he does. Together, they are unstoppable. But no marriage, no partnership is as perfect as theirs seems and small cracks begin to appear.
This book starts slow. Bischoff takes the time to build a rosy picture of a slice of life that seems solid in a world that is full of make believe. The sets are built to show the world only what the couple wants to be seen. Then the first bubble bursts and it's impossible to NOT see how skillfully Hollywood"s glamour can cover many scars, both physical and mental. As the story loses the happily ever after the public wants from them, this couple will make headlines, just not for a movie.

A feminist ode to F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'Tender is the Night', this is the story of Lila and Kurt, the famous Hollywood actor and director duo as they attempt to bring this written creation to the big screen. In an attempt to get into the main character, Lila goes to a therapist to see if she can utilize any past or present trauma to bring more emphasis to her role. That's when things start to get interesting as the author narrates the story from different perspectives, and a plot of revenge rears it's ugly head.

This oozes old world Hollywood glamour, which I love, but the narrative style takes a while to get used to. Once you delve in though, you're hit by twist after twist, some of which you can see coming, and some which you can't which makes the read all the more pleasurable. The fact that the author is an acclaimed theater director makes all the more sense as the realistic nature of the storytelling process unfolds. You don't have to be a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald to love this adaptation of his book that highlights the misogynistic nature of the film industry.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my review!

This checks every box for me when it comes to a good thriller: unreliable narrators, twists and surprises that I didn’t predict, a fast pace, and the most important thing (to any type of novel): solid writing.

I loved the way the author was able to lull me into a false sense of security in Act One. I had just settled in, gotten comfortable, and then when I got to Act Two, the bottom fell out from under me. It was great. While I was interested from the start, this was really what sucked me in and made it hard for me to put it back down.

I also really enjoyed the way the author balanced the therapy session notes in Act One with the diary entries in Act Two. It made for an interesting structure with the swapped POVs and made it even harder to know I could trust.

While this does heavily reference the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, I do not think you need to be well acquainted with his works to enjoy this. I’ve read The Great Gatsby numerous times, but that’s the only of his that I’ve read and I was able to follow everything just fine. The author explains everything that the reader needs to know about Tender is the Night through the characters’ dialogue and the making of the film adaptation.

Speaking of, the descriptions of the filming and rehearsals made me really want this to be a real movie. They were described so clearly that I felt like I was seeing it in my head already and now I want the finished product!

The synopsis says that Bischoff “examines the narratives we tell ourselves, and what happens when we co-opt others into those stories; and she probes the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator and the true meaning of justice.” I think this accurately summarizes what Bischoff accomplishes here; this story poses a lot of interesting and thought-provoking questions that I found myself mulling over for days after I finished the book.

Sweet Fury is very solid thriller and an impressive debut - I highly recommend you check it out!

In SWEET FURY, written by Sash Bischoff, Lila Crayne and her filmmaker fiancée, Kurt Royall, film a feminist adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s TENDER IS THE NIGHT. In preparation for her role, Lila sees therapist Jonah Gabriel to help her deal with her past trauma.

I enjoy reading an epistolary novel, so this book that contains a series of journal entries is a treat to read. While the plot is mostly well-constructed, I wish the chapters were shorter. This book draws me in, and I have to keep reading. I am now interested in reading Fitzgerald’s TENDER IS THE NIGHT. Most of this book is wonderful, but the conclusion is a bit disappointing. Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review and advance reader copy of SWEET FURY.