Fans of Hiaasen will not be disappointed with his latest book featuring the dumbest group of neo Nazis that Florida has ever seen. I appreciate that all of his female characters are savvy and there were some truly laugh out loud moments. 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was wanting in this type of book. It had that tension that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on in this book. The characters were so well done in this story and worked well in this genre. I had enjoyed previous books from Carl Hiaasen and this was another great concept.

I always like Carl Hiaasen books, but this time the story felt all too possible, so I think that threw me.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen in exchange for an honest review.

In Hiaasen’s newest novel, we are reunited with long-time character Twilly Spree and his new flame Viva Morales. Morales, a new Florida resident, and recently poor from her ex-husband, rents a room in a shared apartment with Dale Figgo, a former Proud Boy who was kicked out of the group for defacing the wrong statue. Figgo, founder of the Strokerz for Liberty, a group of moronic neo-Nazis are trying their hand at fame through political manipulation. Morales lands a job for the Minks Foundation, a seemingly influential, philanthropic group, who she begins to suspect has a darker, seedier side. While Morales digs deeper into the foundation, Twilly infiltrates the Strokerz for Liberty by becoming a key member.

With his wild characters, on point political references, satire and humor, Hiaasen delivers another hit. Fever Beach is a laugh out loud funny, applicable in the current political climate page turner that leaves you wanting more. Hiaasen continues to be one of the most relevant authors of today tackling complex political and environmental issues through humor, story and unforgettable characters.

I haven't read anything by Carl Hiaasen before and I was not prepared for the language, the idiocy, and the politically unethicalness. It isn't my type of book and I didn't enjoy it. The point of it was lost on me. I thank NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC. If you like this type of book you may enjoy it the writing is quality, I am not interested in the subject.

Maybe this wasn't a good choice for my first Carl Hiaasen. Was there a plot? The characters are just cliches. And they have me ick vibes.

I don't think I had ever read a book by Hiaasen so took the opportunity to review this one when it was given. While he has done a great job creating unusual, quirky and dumber than dirt characters, I was soon overcome with all of the foul language and the sex references. I got tiresome of the ongoing political stuff too. Some of the dialogue was snappy and fun but so much of it was just foul language.

I decided there are so many gross people in real life with odd political agendas, I did not want to spend my time reading about fictional ones.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent reflection of the part of the book I read.

Another laugh-out-loud, yet twisted, look at bumbling white supremacists and Florida politics. A stand-alone title, Fever Beach nevertheless has all the now-classic hallmarks of a Hiaasen novel: set in Florida, populated by more than its fair share of Florida M(e)n, with hijinks and idiocy riding shotgun to a heartfelt satire/social commentary.

This funny, satirical novel is about a band of characters that people will recognize-Viva, who is trying to get back on her feet after a disastrous marriage, Twilly Spree, a man trying to live down his inheritance, Dale Figgo, a white supremacist wannabe and his mom, a crooked congressman all come together with Carl Hiassen's magic to make an unwilling community of people trying to make a difference. People who like books about current topics, especially skewed with Hiassen's magical sense of humor are going to love this one, which feels like it was ripped from the headlines or maybe inspired tomorrow's headlines. Super fun read.

When I saw Carl Hiaasen’s name pop up on NetGalley, I did a double take—an adult thriller?! As a middle school teacher, I immediately think of Hoot, which I have multiple copies of on my classroom shelf!

A quick scroll through his Goodreads profile reminded me that I am forever “a day late and a dollar short!” How have I not realized just how prolific Hiaasen is? Clearly, I have so many books to catch up on!

Fever Beach was my first adult novel by Hiaasen, and honestly, it was the perfect introduction. The characters were wild and memorable, the dialogue had me snorting and rolling my eyes (looking at you, Figgo), and the pace never dragged. It was sharp, fast-moving, and full of ridiculous antics in the best way.

A solid four-star read—and now I’ve added yet another author (and a stack of backlist titles) to my TBR!

Thank you NetGalley, Carl Hiaasen, and Knopf for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My mother in law recommended this to me, and it… was not what I expected.

The plot is simple enough. Dale has been rejected from the Proud Boys and other supremacist groups, so he’s decided to found his own, the Strokers for Liberty. His Latina roommate, Viva, doesn’t necessarily approve of his antics, but she believes him to be basically harmless. She quickly becomes embroiled in shady politics and, with the help of her new boytoy Twilly, begins systematically dismantling at least one crooked congressman. This is one hell of a ride with murder, hookers, puppy play, and many other aspects you wouldn’t think you’d find in such a politically charged book.

The characters are all from *very* different backgrounds. You have anything from Viva to Dale to a hired killer to the crooked congressman to the philanthropists who fund said congressman. It makes for a varied cast to say the least.

The writing is lighthearted and entertaining, even with heavier subject matter. It was very easy to read and follow, as long as you can keep up with multi POVs.

I enjoyed this, even if I wouldn’t have normally picked it up. A solid 4⭐️ read.

Art imitates life in “Fever Beach,” which follows a group of misfit rejects from mainstream white supremacist groups, oligarchs, corrupt politicians, and those who want them all to get their comeuppance. There are many laugh out loud moments and many moments that parallel the current US political landscape and had me fantasizing a real life Twilly Spree comes to the rescue.

The story takes place in Florida. It is set in the present but in the shadow of January 6. The villains are comically inept, the heroes many steps ahead of the action. In the final act, the villains self-destruct spectacularly, the heroes step back and let them, which makes it all the more delightful.

I recommend “Fever Beach” to readers with a sense of humor and dismay at the current political climate—it’s a hoot!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

I know Hiaasen books are always frantic and absurd and make you say “WTF” on the regular, but I really struggled with this one, due to the truly loathsome white nationalists. While the satire may be on point, it felt a little too on the nose that we learned so much more about those creeps’ inner workings than about Viva’s. I get why others will enjoy it, but it fell flat for me.

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend. This book was so good.

Hiaasen successfully skewers our current political landscape taking direct aim at white supremacy and political corruption. Our unlikely protagonists make for an interesting match in this completely enjoyable romp. Hiaasen fans will enjoy his usual blend of laugh-out-loud humor and close to the bone truths. If you've never had the pleasure, Fever Beach is a great place to start.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor, and imprint of Knopf, and Netgalley for the digital arc.
Fast moving plot which zips around Florida from the Panhandle to Key West as the Strokers of Liberty unfold a plan to save their version of democracy, and the politicians others with an agenda wheel and deal. The story is populated by local color, food, flora and fauna and the distinctive Hiaason characters who exhibit various levels of common sense and moral integrity. They run the gamut of parents with dysfunctional adult children, flawed characters with good intentions, and immoral characters with bad intentions. Fever Beach is a 2025 favorite.
#FeverBeach

Welcome to Fever Beach, where the humidity is high, the IQs are low, and Carl Hiaasen is in peak Florida Man form. This book is a politically incorrect, sunbaked fever dream packed with dumb criminals, plastic-surgery-addicted billionaires, environmental chaos, and one very determined woman with zero patience for nonsense.

From a Proud Boy reject who can’t even vandalize the right statue to a ragey eco-millionaire named Twilly (yes, really), every page is a parade of WTF moments that somehow make total sense in Hiaasen’s wacky version of the Sunshine State.

It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s Hiaasen. And honestly? I devoured it.

Thank you Carl Hiaasen, Knopf, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#feverbeach #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

It’s been a while since I picked up a Carl Hiaasen novel, and Fever Beach reminded me why that was a mistake. No one skewers Florida—or American absurdity in general—quite like he does. The book opens on a rainy afternoon with Dale Figgo, a man whose name sounds like a typo and whose life is even messier. He picks up a hitchhiker, and from that one seemingly harmless decision, we’re off on a wild ride through a landscape of corruption, extremism, and genuinely hilarious incompetence.

Figgo is one of the most ridiculous characters Hiaasen has ever written—and that’s saying something. He’s a white supremacist who managed to get himself kicked out of the Proud Boys for being too dumb. On January 6, he thought he was vandalizing a Union general’s statue; turns out it was a Confederate. The guy’s a train wreck in flip-flops.

But this isn’t just a story about a Florida Man gone rogue. The heart of the book belongs to Viva Morales, a smart, sharp woman stuck in a bad situation, and Twilly Spree, a rage-prone millionaire who hates polluters and has more money than emotional stability. Their lives collide with Figgo’s in a story that escalates quickly—thanks in no small part to a shady “philanthropic” foundation, a grotesquely ambitious congressman, and a supporting cast of villains that somehow feel both cartoonish and way too real.

The plot spins out in all directions, but never loses its momentum. Hiaasen’s pacing is relentless, his humor dark and biting, and his commentary unmistakably aimed at the present moment. There’s plenty here that feels ripped from the headlines—just filtered through a lens that amplifies the absurdity until you can’t help but laugh, even as you wince.

If you're new to Hiaasen, this might be the best entry point in years. If you’re already a fan, Fever Beach might be his most satisfying book in a long time. It’s outrageous, yes, but also grounded by a kind of moral clarity that gives the satire its edge. Nobody escapes unscathed—least of all the ones who deserve it.

From the publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Another instant classic from Carl Hiaasen—laugh-out-loud funny, tackling the current chaotic and polarized American culture (following in the path of Squeeze Me), with two wonderful Hiaasen heroes

“The afternoon of September first, dishwater-gray and rainy, a man named Dale Figgo picked up a hitchhiker on Gus Grissom Boulevard in Tangelo Shores, Florida. The hitchhiker, who reminded Figgo of Danny DeVito, asked for a lift to the interstate. Figgo said he’d take him there after finishing an errand.”

Thus begins Fever Beach, with an errand that leads—in pure Hiaasen-style—into the depths of Florida at its most Floridian: a sun-soaked bastion of right-wing extremism, white power, greed, and corruption. Figgo, it turns out, is the only hate-monger ever to be kicked out of the Proud Boys for being too dumb and incompetent. On January 6, 2021 he thought he was defacing a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, but he wound up spreading feces all over a statue of James Zacharia George, a Civil War Confederate war leader.

Figgo's already messy life is about to get more complicated, thanks to two formidable adversaries. Viva Morales is a newly transplanted Floridian, a clever woman recently taken to the cleaners by her ex-husband, now working at the Mink Foundation, a supposedly philanthropic organization, and renting a room in Figgo’s apartment because there’s no place else she can afford. Twilly Spree has an anger management problem, especially when it comes to those who deface the environment, and way too many inherited millions of dollars. He's living alone a year after his dog died, two years after he sank a city councilman’s party barge, and three years after his divorce.

Viva and Twilly are plunged into a mystery—involving dark money and darker motives—they are determined to solve, and become entangled in a world populated by some of Hiaasen’s most outrageous characters: Claude and Electra Mink—billionaire philanthropists with way too much plastic surgery and a secret right-wing agenda—and Congressman Clure Boyette—who dreams of being Florida’s (and maybe America’s) most important politician. The only things standing in his way are his love for hookers and young girls, and his total lack of intelligence. We meet Noel Kristianson—a Scandinavian agnostic injured when Figgo thinks he’s a Jewish threat to humanity and runs him over with his car; Jonas Onus—Figgo’s partner in white power idiocy; and many, many more. Hiaasen ties them all together and delivers them to their appropriate fates, in his wildest and most entertaining novel to date.

My Thoughts: Like all of Hiaasen's books, Fever Beach is somewhat off the wall. Up to a point, you can picture things happening. Then, it goes one step beyond. It's funny and it's satire.

My favorite characters were Viva, Twilly, and Moe. Galaxy was interesting- more so when she went on sabbatical. Least favorite characters included Dale Figgo and Jonus Onus. But I don't think we are totally meant to dislike them most of the time. Maybe feel a little sorry for them at times. Another least favorite character is the congressman. If I tell you why I did and didn't like the characters, we'd be into spoilers territory. Suffice it to say that the good guys follow Mae West's quote: "When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad I'm better." The not so good guys had fewer good moments and more just plain stupid ones.

The book moves along at a good pace. It's not all action, but it does all propel the book forward. I did not see everything that happened coming, but that's part of the fun with a Hiaasen book.

I gave the book 5 out of 5 stars. It's well-written. The characters and events are interesting. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy satire and humor with one foot in the political world and the other foot straining to be out of this world. And if you like Hiaasen, don't miss this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions nor my review.

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen was released May 13, 2025 from Knopf.