If you enjoy wacky characters and tongue-in-cheek satire and did not vote for our current president, you will likely enjoy this roller coaster of a story featuring not-very-smart white supremacists that tick every stereotype, greedy developers, corrupt politicians, and two clever heroes who anticipate and thwart the evil activities of the others, along with a wide variety of supporting characters. The plot goes in numerous unexpected directions, stoked by Hiaasen's imagination as well as current events.

Carl Hiaasen's books are always a good time, and this one was that and more. Timely themes wrapped in satirical humor and amped up stereotypes. Florida setting - check. Eco warrior anti-hero - check. Corrupt politician - check. Seedy in general - check. Everyone gets what they deserve - check. Very satisfying.

It's been awhile since I've read Hiaasen, and this book reminds me that I really enjoy his work.

ARC received from Knopt via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Carl Hiaasen's "Fever Beach" is a delightful, fast-paced novel that captures the quirky, chaotic charm readers have come to expect from his work. Set against the vivid backdrop of Florida’s sun-soaked coastlines, the book brims with biting satire, colorful characters, and a plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Hiaasen’s signature wit shines through in his portrayal of environmental issues woven seamlessly into the narrative. The characters are eccentric yet relatable, each adding depth and humor to the unfolding drama. His knack for blending crime, comedy, and social commentary is on full display, making "Fever Beach" a refreshing read.

Once again Carl Hiaasen has returned to Florida and come up with a hilarious tale of bumbling idiots, sleazy politicians, shady characters and those caught up in their shenanigans. With a story which could come from today's headlines, it's a very funny romp which lampoons various segments of American society.

When a sleazy Congressman hires an idiotic white supremacist to help him win re-election, you just know things aren't going to work out as planned. I don't want to expand too much as that would spoil things for those who haven't read the book, but I will say this is not for those who are easily offended: this book has quite a bit of "adult-oriented" content and is definitely slanted in one direction politically.

Classic Hiaasen which is sure to make you laugh!

Hiaasen returns with another hilarious satire of Florida with a new Floridian Vera Morales, renting a room from a former Proud Boy, Dale who’s started his own organization Strokerz for Liberty, funded by a congressman and philanthropist couple that she works for. Vera and her boyfriend investigate the shady business dealings, corrupt developers and politicians and incompetent fools. Can’t wait to see this come to life on screen. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Carl Hiassen does it again! Hilarity, stupidity, and all round good deeds make Fever Beach a must read for all. So many shenanigans and characters who get their just desserts in the end! What a delightfully fun read in this depressed state of the country.

My thanks to NetGalley and Borzoi Books/Alfred A. Knopf/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Fever Beach" in exchange for an honest review.

What can I possibly say about a Carl Hiaasen book that hasn't already been said by thousands upon thousands of reviewers?

You'll laugh out loud to yourself. To the point of tears. A lot. A whole lot. All through the book.

(And how many books these days promise that reaction for readers but rarely achieve it.?)

We're back of course, in the author's favorite stomping ground, Florida. Where the steamy weather serves to incubate and hatch a host of crazies......some corrupt, some stupid some just plain out of their minds and some of them a combination of all three of those conditions.

A recipe for all manner of hilarious disasters? Oh, you bet.

A recipe for readers continually shaking into hopeless laughter while turning the pages? Guaranteed.

As much as I'm sorely tempted to reveal the most riotous moments and dialogue, I wouldn't dream of messing up anyone else's fun; Just read it and have a ball.

This last sentence of my review doesn't need a spoiler warning. You may have guessed it already.

You just read a 5 star review.

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen is a classic Hiaasen novel, over the top, satirical, full of sharp humor, and has a great cast of quirky characters.

Set in Florida, Hiaasen's portrayal of the Sunshine State is hilarious and sadly very accurate in some parts of the state. This story is very heavy on politics and not everyone will like it. If you are on the right side of the fence, or just not into politics, this is probably not the one for you. The plot is a complex mishmash of twists and hilarious mishaps. One thing that I will say is that the ending was a bit anticlimactic. You have this buildup throughout the book and it gets you ready, then it just peters out in my opinion. Definitely give this a shot if you are a fan of Hiaasen!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carl Hiaasen, and Knopf for this ARC!! Publication date is May 13th 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, and Mr. Hiaasen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Frankly, there are more than enough synopses of this book, and better (and more amusingly and succinctly descriptive) ones than I could write, so I'll refer the review reader to those.

Suffice to say: Hiaasen is back with a quintessentially Florida satire. Here you have several "Florida man" candidates, all repping the absolute zaniest and worst Florida has to offer (and trust me, there's plenty to be had). The plot isn't terribly elaborate but we're not here for the plot; we're here to ride this roller coaster from its ominous beginning to its careering, shuddering end. Half the fun, as another reviewer pointed out, is enjoying the plethora of massive idiots receive their just desserts. It so rarely happens in real life that it is immensely satisfying to see it, even if it is only on-page. For all those reviewers opining that the action is too outlandish: well, yes, but (sadly) if you dig hard enough in Florida news you will see that it's inspired by real life events. And for those reviewers who feel that the characters don't resemble real human beings, well, sir and madam, I suggest you get out more because I have encountered plenty of wackadoo Florida people who could seriously contend.

I don't think this was quite as much fun as Squeeze Me and I did feel the ending was a little anticlimactic after so much buildup, but, overall, an exhilarating romp. I know I'm in for a lot of laughs when I open a Hiaasen book and this one did NOT disappoint.

Carl Hiaasen’s Fever Beach delivers everything fans of his work expect—sharp humor, fast-paced action, and a cast of quirky, unforgettable characters. Set in the sun-drenched, often bizarre world of Florida, this novel expertly blends crime, satire, and dark comedy in the way only Hiaasen can.
The story centers on a gripping mystery involving a beachside resort and a series of unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Hiaasen’s trademark wit shines through in every page, with moments of hilariously absurd dialogue and outlandish scenarios that never feel over-the-top, but perfectly in tune with the oddball world he’s created.
At its heart, Fever Beach is a commentary on greed, corruption, and the unpredictability of life, all told with a keen eye for the absurdity of human nature. What’s most impressive is how Hiaasen never sacrifices character development for plot, and vice versa. Each character feels fully realized—sometimes infuriating, sometimes endearing, but always real.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Hiaasen’s books, Fever Beach is a must-read. It’s smart, fast, and fun—everything you want in a thriller with a healthy dose of social commentary. A perfect beach read with bite!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this digital e-arc.*

A wonderfully entertaining story featuring Twilly Spree and Viva Morales working together to bring down some bad actors. Twilly is a flawed character with a good heart. Sort of an environmental vigilante. Viva is a sharp, clever woman. Gotta love her as a fellow Wordler. They’re the perfect team righting the wrongs. We need more Twilly and Viva’s in this crazy world. Non-stop action in this fast paced social satire that pokes fun at Florida’s politics and the toxic culture of white supremacy groups. This is the first of Hiaasen’s many books that I’ve read and I have to say I’m a new fan. Loved it!!! - 5 stars

I have thought of reading a Carl Hiaasen book often over the years, yet for some inexplicable reason I never have. I was delighted when I was approved to read an ARC of his very soon to be released novel Fever Beach. It may be my first Hiaasen book, however it will certainly not be my last., He writes about issues of today like white supremacy, and entitlement in a hilarious and somewhat disrepectful manner, yet he totally pulls it off. The book is fast paced; funny and the characters are a hoot, In a very challenging world Fever Beach is a welcome read- thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf Publishing and Carl Hiaasen for the opportunity to read an ARC of Fever Beach; this review reflects my candid opinion. 4 stars.

Carl Hiaasen doesn't disappoint in his new book. It is extremely funny. I do have to say it is very political and very left wing. There are some very interesting characters. Some not so smart if you know what I mean. There is the white nationalist group trying to affect the election and it goes into corruption in government. But of course, in a funny way. There is a funny scene with drag queens too. All in all it was a fun read.
Thanks to #netgalley, #knopfpublishing and @carl_hiassen for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a very interesting book. Not quite something I think I would normally like after having read the whole thing. I did enjoy the description. This book is pure chaos and really seems to show some of the crazy that could be behind any politician, their agenda, or even how those who rise in power. Such a unique ride and one that I hope isn’t fully accurate, but probably sadly is. If you like politics or even just a chaotic book that all has purpose this is the book for you.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

4 🌟

What a wild ride that was.

Fever Beach follows Dale Figgo, a bumbling extremist whose life collides with Viva Morales, a sharp-witted newcomer, and Twilly Spree, a hot-headed millionaire environmentalist. As they uncover a web of corruption and dark money in Florida, Carl Hiaasen delivers a sharp, chaotic satire full of greed, absurdity, and unforgettable characters.

I'm not even sure where to start. This was my first Carl Hiaasen novel, and he really knows how to paint a picture with words. The Strokerz for Liberty idea was hilarious. Dale and Onus were precisely the types I imagined being in charge of these podunk operations. The story did drag a little for me in the middle, but I was ultimately glad to try out this author/book. I'd happily read about Viva and Tilly again, for sure.

Recommended for fiction readers looking for something funny, timely, and different. Those on the right side of the political spectrum probably wouldn't care for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for the ARC.

If you've read any Carl Hiaasen you have some idea of what to expect. Florida, over-the-top characters, ridiculous situations, and a good time. This book lived up to all of the above.

This was my first Carl Hiaasen book and it definitely won't be my last! While being the most Florida book I've ever read, it also humored and satisfied my poor despondent little liberal heart. This book taking place in Florida was perfect - it oozed satire but also wasn't 100% that far fetched from events that might actually happen in Florida. While reading, I found myself saying "HA" out loud many times out of sheer unexpected delight at the insanity unfolding for these characters.

I was beyond impressed with Hiaasen's writing and his ability to introduce 20+ characters with fleshed out backgrounds and motivations. Even the people we meet for a brief period of time become important to the story and I loved that. It definitely can't be an easy feat for a writer to do. However, as enjoyable of a read as it was, I sometimes felt that the story dragged a bit in the middle. It became a bit boring listening to Figgo and Viva bicker and continue to co-exist in the same condo.

I very much enjoyed the ride I was on while reading this book and loved rooting for our anti-heros, Twilly, and to a certain extent, Galaxy, IMO.

I strongly recommend reading this book if you want to experience the unbridled joy of witnessing poopie (pun intended), racist, militia members and corrupt politicians and their benefactors suffer the consequences of their own actions. It was supremely satisfying and I personally enjoyed every moment. :)

Also - HILARIOUS to learn that the Proud Boys have a membership rule about the act of self-gratification.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the eARC!!

🌴ARC REVIEW🌴
I took a detour from my usual dark thrillers and ended up on "Fever Beach." It was the wildest, weirdest, most entertaining literary layover I’ve had in ages.

This was my first Carl Hiaasen book. I understand the buzz around him: sharp satire, outrageous and unhinged characters, and enough Florida chaos to make an alligator raise an eyebrow. 🐊💥 The antics of these characters reminded me of The Three Stooges--pure comedic gold! Without giving too much away, Figgo's reconstructive surgery scene had me in stitches! It's been a while since I've read anything that made me laugh so hard. Just a heads up, though; be prepared for vulgar language and sharp humor that tackles some sensitive topics, so check those trigger warnings.

It technically has political and racist themes, but don’t let that scare you off — the dark humor is so rich, it practically floats above the absurdity. Hiaasen pulls no punches and makes every outrageous moment land perfectly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — A fantastic palate cleanser I didn’t know I needed. I’ll definitely be booking another trip into Hiaasen’s quirky world soon.

Thanks to the author and Knopf Publishing for this eARC provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Fever Beach is Carl Hiaasen’s newest adult novel. It takes place in Florida as do many of his books. It is definitely satirical in nature about many of the current things happening with today’s political and social climate.

I have only read Hiaasen’s middle grade novels which mainly deal with environmental themes at an age-appropriate level. This was my first of his adult novels and it was definitely not my cup of tea. I will definitely continue to read future middle grade novels but will probably think twice about the adult ones as political theme (even in satire format) is not something that I enjoy.

Carl Hiaasen has created a wild and crazy ride through Florida in his latest book, Fever Beach. The main plot centers on the fictious Strokerz for Liberty, who do whatever they think will bring them certain a kind of fame, often with disastrous results. Meanwhile, a corrupt wealthy elderly couple bribe a corrupt politician, hoping for profit on a proposed home development that would destroy an orange grove, and involves child labor. The Strokerz's plots and the politician's fraud and corruption are discovered by the elderly couple's employee, Viva, and her boyfriend, Twilly. Both frantically work to avoid a calamity. Fever Beach is a captivating, entertaining and frightening look at what is happening in the world today. It is a brilliant satire, both hilarious and sobering at the same time, with fabulous characters! Justice does prevail in the end, in some quite unusual and creative ways! The book is dedicated to Jimmy Buffet, and I believe he would be very pleased! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of this review are my own.
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