Thank you to NetGalley and Carl Hiaasen for allowing me to preview this work in exchange for an unbiased opinion.
Strokers for Liberty is a radical, pro-Natzi group formed in Florida to emulate the Proud Boys. They meet in Fever Beach Florida. Dale Figgo is their leader and Joni’s Onus thinks he should be.
Viva Morales is Dale’s tenant and tries to mess with all his escapades as much as she can. She works for the Minks, who are a rich couple that own medical clinics all over Florida. They donate to the Boyette Campaign.
Willy Spree is independently wealthy and likes to get into mischief.
Senator Clure Boyette is up for reelection and is trying to hedge his bets by hiring the Stokers of liberty to ensure it. He is also a sexual deviant who is trying to keep that a secret.
This is the story of how all these people come together, how good prevails and how easily it is for our political system to be manipulated.
I enjoyed the story of how Viva and Twilly’s relationship evolved but really I just kept reading to see what other ridiculous scenarios Dale and Onus got into.
I rate this 3

Fever Beach is my favorite read of 2025 so far. I have read some of Carl Hiaasen’s books for children before, and this is my first adult read and won’t be my last. It is set in and pokes fun of our modern-day insane political climate. Characters are well-developed and the events and plot are great from beginning to end. I hope to see Twilly and Viva again in future novels.

Full review available at:
https://overentertained.wordpress.com/2025/04/18/fever-beach-carl-hiassen-arc-review/

You generally know what you're getting with Carl Hiassen. There isn't going to be a depth of character development with the main characters - they are who they are from beginning to end. You'll get plenty of slices of modern Florida corruption, graft, hustles and grifting. Fever Beach is about both the usual Florida graft and corruption, but also about modern white supremacists and the whole MAGA movement that has enabled them.

There will be the primary antagonist (Dale Figgo), who is usually a few drips short of a full barrel with a harebrained scheme that is comically misguided. There will be the somewhat greedy but maybe just slightly more competent secondary antagonist (Jonas Onus) who will, at least in part, self sabotage the scheme with his own greed. There will be the MMC, an environmentally conscious 'neredowell' who acts as a form of chaos (Tilly). The FMC, plucky and confident and kind of a force of nature. And then there will be a politician who is spectacularly either greedy, corrupt or an idiot (or all three) - often sexually lecherous - who is involved with it all.

And, of course, a thousand smaller characters. All well thought out and often with pint-sized but interesting backstories that make them extremely real.

There will be a plot, such as it is, but it doesn't really matter much. By the end, the bad guys are busted (in one way or another) and the good guys have won...at least for now. But you don't read Hiassen for an intricate and well developed plot. You read Hiassen for the cast of idiots. You read Hiassen for the Florida of it all.

I'd venture to say that "Florida" is basically the central character of any Hiassen novel - heck...I doubt he'd disagree. The state has in the past few decades shown to be absolutely worthy of ridicule and satire and almost nothing in Fever Beach will come as a great shock. He does a good job of showing how the fringes of the modern white supremacist movement are often filled with morons. At one point, one character to another describes the "Strokers for Liberty," the main group of antagonists...a white supremacist group of people who are all rejects from mainstream groups like the Proud Boys as:

“It’s not a brand of dildo. It’s a whole gang of dildos.”

Truer words have rarely been spoken.

Is this Hiassen's best novel. No. Like many Hiassen novels, the plot sorta comes together and falls apart at the end...all at the same time. You never feel that the main characters are ever in any sort of peril or danger. You never feel that the bad guys aren't going to f*ck it all up.

But you're here for the ride. This is laugh-out-loud hilarious and a perfect read for a relaxing weekend. It won't set the world on fire, and there's nothing here as morbidly hilarious as the climax of Squeeze Me. But...I still enjoyed it. 4 solid stars.

In Fever Beach, Carl Hiaasen delivers yet another delightful romp through the eccentric world of Florida, populated by a cast of characters that could only be conjured by the Sunshine State's tumultuous spirit. Hiaasen's knack for crafting wacky, unforgettable figures shines in this novel, ensuring plenty of laughs, even in these contentious times when the absurdities of reality often seem to outstrip fiction.

As always, Hiaasen's humor serves as a necessary balm. Our country's current state of affairs is lamentably reflected throughout the pages, but instead of veering into despair, he skillfully utilizes humor as a coping mechanism. Laughter truly is a powerful tool for navigating the insanity we face today, and Hiaasen wields it masterfully.

Catching up with Twilly Spree was a particular highlight of the book. With all his quirks and charm, his character felt like a familiar friend. The intricate web of each character's journey led to deeply satisfying resolutions, proving once again that Hiaasen knows just how to tie up loose ends while still leaving readers chuckling.

Another win for Hiaasen! If only reality could take a page from his book and stop being stranger than fiction, perhaps we'd all feel less bewildered. If you're looking for a funny escape that reflects the bizarre world around us, Fever Beach is the perfect choice.

Carl Hiaasen’s new novel, Fever Beach, is in his trademark style of satire with humor. He delves into Florida’s political and social norm’s while being so on the mark of today’s climate. I can see who these characters are in real life! The story line follows an inept right wing nut case. He becomes involved in a few crazy schemes with some wild people, good and bad. It was interesting and kept me somewhat engaged. Must admit this is not my typical read and not sure if I would recommend it. Just didn’t grab me fully enough.

3.75 stars

Sometimes I just need an over-the-top, insane, Florida craziness escape and Carl Hiaasen always provides a great one.

Generally his main characters are a man or woman who has made some bad choices meeting up with someone who has righteous anger about what greed is doing to Florida's natural world. The peripheral characters are low-life, room temp IQ bumblers who provide some sad but comic relief and come to a bad end.

This one in particular features Florida political weirdness which Hiaasen knows only too well after his years as a political reporter and columnist. Greed and right wing whack jobs, corrupt legislators, and bribery abound. A life-like female love doll and an ill-thought out group of child construction workers (including one future sociopath) add laughs. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately this book is not for me. I picked it up from a suggested for me email, but I sadly only made it about 10% through before DNFing this. Im not a fan of the writing style nor the characters. Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

DNF. I have enjoyed many of Hiassen's books but I'm not ready for him to wax comedic about bumbling white supremecists.

I could not get more than a few pages into this book. Something about it made me feel extremely uncomfortable while reading, and I had to put it down and walk away.

I have enjoyed his previous books and loved the Apple TV adaptation of Bad Monkey, and I wanted to like it, but it was too over-the-top and preachy. 😞

This was just not my kind of book. The humor fell flat for me and I couldn't get into the story. The characters were really odd in a way I couldn't get behind.

The first thing you notice in Fever Beach is the range of interesting characters. We meet Dale Figgo, described as "too dumb to be dangerous", his tenant Viva who works for Claude and Electra Mink, an odd, philanthropic old couple that fund medical buildings just to get their names on the buildings, a morally bankrupt republican congressman, the strangely named Twilly Spree and rhyming Jonas Onus. The characters are on a collision course filled with odd interactions.

I have never read a Carl Hiaasen book, and the blurb on Fever Beach drew me in. Teaming with colorful characters, each slightly stranger than the last, the book takes aim at the state of Florida, right wing extremism, January 6 and more. While this novel was a bit out of my comfort zone, I found it relatively interesting as long as I was able to suspend my need for realistic portrayals. Fever Beach is a wacky skewering of where we are in the US politically and morally. I gave it a shot but it really wasn't my kind of book. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I know Carl Hiaasen is a best-selling author with a big following, but this is the first book of his that I've read. If his other books are as good as Fever Beach, I'll read many more. Filled with quirky characters and outlandish situations, this book sucked me into the world of white power, crooked politicians, and those fighting back.

Dale Figgo was washed out of the Proud Boys after his foolish actions on January 6, 2021, which made him a laughingstock in the white power movement. Determined to start his own white power group, he recruits other like-minded individuals in Florida. Wealthy right-wig philanthropists Claude and Electra Mink finance Figgo's group's first mission: helping reelect corrupt Congressman Clure Boyette. The group is infiltrated by Twilly Spree, a man who, comfortably well-off, makes it his mission to right wrongs and stop corruption. Twilly is aided by Figgo's roommate, Viva Morales, who works for the Minks. Together, the pair attempt to "monkey wrench" the plans of the white power group, the congressman, and the wealthy couple. What transpires is a romp through today's political climate with almost every stereotype represented.

I loved the humor, the writing, and especially the characters. The issues at the novel's heart are serious, but Hiaasen's light touch makes them palatable. This is a satirical look at many of today's problems, told with wit and a magnifying glass. It is both funny and thought-provoking. 4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 13, 2025.

Fever Beach is a novel that engages the reader in the way one would expect from a book written by Carl Hiaasen.
Twilly Spree, an independently wealthy beach bum and do-gooder, is one half of the protagonist duo, paired with Viva Morales. Viva is rebuilding her life after moving to Florida to work for an elderly couple’s foundation. Add in the usual mix of quirky characters that typify a Hiaasen story, and Fever Beach—the location where a group of right-wing misfits convene—becomes the setting for an entertaining romp.
As with many novels written during today’s politically charged climate, the author makes no effort to conceal his leanings, yet still manages to create a cast of characters the reader truly cares about.
With a fast-moving plot and plenty of laughs, Fever Beach is a worthwhile read that brings some much-needed humor to our times.

——————-
Fever Beach is a novel that engages the reader in ways that one anticipates with a book written by Carl Hiaasen.
Twilly Spree an independently wealthy beach bum do-gooder is one half of the protagonist couple, along with Viva Morales. She is picking up her life, having moved to Florida, to work for an elderly couple’s foundation. Add the usual mix of characters that typifies a Hiaasan story, Fever Beach - the location where a group of right wing misfits meet - is an entertaining romp.
As with many novels written during the current political climate, the author does not hide onto which side he leans, while adeptly creating a cast of characters that the reader cares about.
With a plot that moves, and laughs a-plenty, Fever Beach is a worthwhile read that helps bring needed humor to our times.

Fever Beach is another of the Carl Hiaasen “over the top,” wild novels of intrigue and political satire. If you have read Hiaasen before, you will know what to expect – funny, biting characters and plot, all set in South Florida. So yes, there are idiot Florida men and corrupt politicians. There are crooked millionaires trying to destroy the fragile environment and heroes who plot endlessly to stop it all.
In Fever Beach we meet Dale Figgo, an idiot, right-wing Floridian who is setting up a Proud Boy-type group of misfits. Our hero, Twilly Spree, infiltrates the group to wreak havoc on their white power plans. Figgo also has a newly transplanted Floridian, and clever woman, Viva Morales renting from him. Viva works for a crooked millionaire couple set on destroying as much of the environment as their money will allow, as long as they can make money in the process.
When Twilly and Viva find each other, the mystery begins. How to best stop Figgo, the millionaire couple, and a few corrupt politicians along the way. There is a serial killer, a pissed off Scandinavian, Figgo’s aggravated mother, and a host of other fun and unique characters to help the story move along.
Hiaasen is a life-long Floridian who does his best to poke fun at the impossible mess that Florida politics and reality indeed is. Some passages are laugh out loud. The satisfaction the reader gets from seeing justice prevail (especially in Florida) is priceless in this day and age. Haissen has written almost 30 books with the same theme, so you know he knows what he is talking about.
Sure, it is a one-joke book – Florida is full of corruption but that corruption is bound to fail due to the incompetency of the crooks and extremists. But it is a good one-joke! And the plot is actually quite complex and interesting to witness unfold. I read Hiaasen every now and then to cheer up at the idea that right-wing environmental destruction and political corruption will not win in the end. Luckily for us, at least in Florida, idiots are easily defeated in Hiaasen's world.
My rating: 4 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Fever Beach will be published on May 13, 2025.

Now I know what all the hype is about! I’ve heard about this author but had never before read any of his work. I had no idea what I was missing. This book was amazing. Well written with quirky characters nd snappy dialogue, it grabbed my interest from the first page and kept me reading long past when I should have been sleep. While the subject matter was serious, it was presented in a semi-humorous exaggerated manner. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work. He has a new fan.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

It always takes me a while to get into a satire. It took me about a third of this book before I could get past some of the strangely exaggerated details inherent to the genre, and I was nearly halfway when I realized I had accepted the ridiculous things (this was the skin graft). The tone of the writing in the scene where the lawyer observes the car crash reminded me of other satires I've read. I enjoyed how all the different plot threads from the beginning were expertly picked up and tied together neatly by the ending. I had not read any Hiaasen works before this one, but I've been aware of him for a long, long time, since I grew up in Florida. I would read another after this. Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC.

I can always count on Carl Hiaasen to deliver an outrageous and amusing read. A creative plot, witty dialogue and interesting characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #FeverBeach

Another amusing little romp from Hiassen. A fast paced plot, interesting characters, and excellent dialogue. The plot wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste, but otherwise I quite enjoyed this.

Always humorous and usually outrageous, Carl Hiaasen’s books certainly entertain. Fever Beach may be his best yet! Laugh aloud funny, the antics of his characters are brazen from start to finish, especially Figgo in this new story. A fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the opportunity to read this ARC.