It's 1993, and Severine is the 17-year-old daughter of a French diplomat in Corsica. She's bored, has no interest in studying for the French college-entrance Bac, or even continuing her education at all. She knows she was born to be a famous film star. Once she gets her nose fixed her path will be clear.

But Severine is kidnapped by a Corsican independence group, which asks for an enormous ransom for her return. The money is slow in coming, and as scared as she is she realizes that she needs to find a way not to be murdered by her captors. She's bright but she is only 17. How can she use her smarts and arrogance to save herself?

Severine is not likable, but it is interesting to watch the wheels in her head turning as she works out what to do. With no moral compass she struggles to decide how to manipulate her situation, even finding admiration for her kidnappers. But she has no depth, which gives the story less bite that most readers would hope for. Bombshell is a debut novel and Darrow Farr shows the kind of promise that would make a second book worth looking at.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't put down this phenomenal book. While it has the high stakes of a thriller, really it's a story about love, power, politics, autonomy and the crucible between teenagerdom and adulthood. The moment where you have to choose who to be, what life you want to live, and realize that your actions have real consequences. I can't wait to read whatever Farr writes next.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but I’m conflicted with what to make of it. The beginning hooked me because it started off with a bang but as it progressed the pace was really slow and inconsistent at times. The story was thought provoking and it exposed me to history and had some good character development but I felt more should have been done for the main character. I didn’t really believe her motives nor understood them. This book was on the lengthier side of 400 pages but I felt with more editing and revision there could’ve been time to develop her character more. Some parts seemed unrealistic to me - from kidnapped victim to murderer in such a short time frame? Overall this was an interesting and entertaining read but the execution didn’t work for me personally. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Bombshell by Darrow Farr delivers a wild, whip-smart twist on the political thriller, centering on Severine, a privileged daughter of power who’s kidnapped but ends up aligning with her captors instead of escaping them.

Bold, manipulative, and intoxicatingly dangerous, Severine doesn’t just survive her ordeal, she detonates it from within, wielding charm and sexuality as weapons sharper than any blade. Her transformation is riveting and the bond she forms with her captor/comrades adds emotional complexity.

The author masterfully reframes the old terrorist trope, peeling back layers of identity and injustice showing us boys with burdens, not bombs. This is a firecracker of a read. The best of Summer 2025 for this reader!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this unapologetic, provocative, and unexpectedly tender book which I read in exchange for this honest review.

This book is fantastic! It's a young, feminist Bel Canto-esque coming of age set in Corsica with notes of Paris, and I cannot believe it's a debut. It is fantastic prose on a line level, but also hyper realistic dialogue that fleshes out the characters so perfectly. Darrow Farr captures the particular recklessness and self-centered view of a teenager entering the dawn of empathy and understanding that accompanies young adulthood. Farr is a huge new talent, and I cannot wait to see what she does next. I've already put the word out to our book club that we need this on our slate because I am desperate to discuss it with someone! Thank you @pameladormanbooks and @vikingbooks for the ARC, this is one of my favorite reads of 2025 and definitely in contention for best book of the year!!

This was salacious! I love that it’s set in the 90s and filled with so much drama. It’s incredibly well crafted and although the main character isn’t super likable it doesn’t detract from the story. The Corsican setting is a dream. I found myself completely captivated by this book.

Is it just me or have debut authors been crushing it this year? I feel like there have been so many fantastic debuts and 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗠𝗕𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟 by Darrow Farr is another to add to that list. Hers is a big story of a Patty Hearst style kidnapping on the island of Corsica in 1993. A small radical group bent on gaining independence for Corsica kidnaps 18-year old Séverine late one night. They have demands, both for money and for concessions. Things don’t go quite as planned for anyone.⁣
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Séverine, at first terrified, quickly befriends her captors and even comes to see some things from their points of view. In fact, she’s soon willingly stepping into the spotlight. Those are the basics of this story, but really there is so much more. Darrow builds a big persona around Séverine, taking her through so much change in a relatively short time. At the same time, she builds crucial relationships between the captors themselves and between Séverine and each of the men, all so young. ⁣
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The story moves in ways both expected and surprising and I really liked that. Though it may seem so, this is not in any way a thriller. Instead it’s a story of growing up, passion, and relationships built around a both thrilling and dangerous time in the characters’ lives. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 is also not a fast story. In fact, the pace was a little uneven, at times moving slowly, requiring patience, but then surging forward with complexities and turns that fully paid off. As such, I don’t think this will be a book for everyone, though I found it quite captivating. I’ll be excited to see what Farr writes next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨⁣
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Thanks to @pameladormanbooks @vikingbooks for an electronic copy.

I thought this would be an entertaining thriller - it was that, but it was also a surprisingly nuanced and provocative look at love, power, and intentions versus outcomes. Really impressed.

This was so much fun that if it was a hundred pages shorter I’d have given it another star! I loved the FMC and how well written she was. Her teenage brattiness paired with her confidence and “maturity” just screamed 18 year old. This was so interesting with the politics and the kidnappers having such a soft personality compared to what you’d think. Then the FMC comes in and everything blows up. Literally.

The Bombshell by Darrow Farr caught me by surprise! This debut novel will hook you immediately. Some have described this book as a thriller but for me it tells of growing up and relationships. While at times it was thrilling and a bit dangerous, I urge you to be ready for the unexpected. This book takes place in Corsica. So grateful for the opportunity to read this book.

The Bombshell focuses on the well to-do daughter of a politician, Severine, who is nearing the end of her schooling and dreams of fame and excitement. She doesn't expect it to come in the form of kidnapping at the hands of extremists on the island of Corsica. While her kidnappers attempt to ransom her back, Severine becomes intrigued by their politics and drawn into their activism.

Inspired by the story of Patty Hearst and set vividly in the 1990s, Darrow Farr has written an evocative, exciting story perfect for planes, beaches, and days stuck on your couch. You won't want to put it down.

Patty Hearst but French? The Bombshell was an entertaining read, albeit lacking in depth. Séverine wasn't the most annoying teenager I've read about, which is good. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

First of all, I am extremely grateful fo the opportunity to read Bombshell in advance!
I have mixed feelings about this one. The first third was amazing with a very well developed sense of urgency and tension.
I was aware of the plot and dynamics switch since it was in the synopsis, I can't complain I wasn't expecting it but it felt way too abrupt and I didn't feel it was convincing enough, for me a lot more prior development was necessary.
Probably my taste contributed too as I enjoy kidnapping and true crime much more than wars and revolution content (in fiction of course). The last few chapters I really liked as well and they redeemed the LA part for me.
Overall, I appreciate something different and unique among my reads and it had plenty of good for an (I think) debut novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The synopsis pulled me in right away and I started reading as soon as I received it. It had a pretty solid pace throughout. I never felt bored or wished things would hurry along. It’s also a reflective story as we get a front row seat to witness Severine change as she’s exposed to a life completely different from her own. I liked all the main characters in the story and thought the character development was excellent. I look forward to reading more from Darrow Farr.

One of my favorite books I've read in a long time. Would recommend for people who liked the book The Girls by Emma Cline. It did an incredibly job of capturing being a teenager and that desire to feel seen and belong, while also educating me about a subject I knew nothing about (Corsica independence)

This was an incredible read. One of my favorites so far this year. I devoured it from start to finish - an absolute treasure of a story!

One of Farr’s greatest talents is humanizing and breathing life into these characters. I truly loved all of them, despite their (I’m assuming purposefully written) problematic behavior. I grew attached to the main four and adored their dynamics with each other: Severine, Bruno, Petru, and Tittu. Lots of drama, political intrigue, action, and a passionate whirlwind romance tied together quite nicely with a humorous prose.

This was one of those books I couldn’t stop thinking about when it ended, which is always a hallmark of a special story to me. I am normally quick to finish a book then promptly move on to the next, but I almost feel as though my next read just won’t live up to this one. I’ll need to stew in it for a few days, lol.

Genuinely so thrilled I was able to read this ARC, and I plan to purchase a physical copy in May! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking Penguin.

Séverine gets unwittingly caught up in the struggle for independence on the island of Corsica. A change from her privileged existence she relishes the chance to be ruthless, driven by youthful idealism. I really liked the author’s fluid prose infused with humor. It’s a funny book with a serious undertone.

Wow. I’m going to be honest when I got done with Chapter 1 I thought this book wasn’t going to be for me.
I felt the main character Severine was too much but as I kept reading it made sense and then I couldn’t put the book down. It all made sense, Severine is too much! I devoured this book. This is a story that stands out from other fiction in the best way. The plot had me hooked, the relationships between the characters was addicting, and I needed to see how it played out.