This was a the usual mix of fun, suspense, and shaking your head at the sheer idiocy of some humans that I expect from Hiaasen. It's a great mix of characters and places, I really enjoyed it.

3 out of 5 stars

Okay, so Fever Beach was my first Carl Hiaasen book, and I totally get why people enjoy his writing—it's fast-paced, quirky, and a little bit unhinged in a fun way. The Florida setting is sweaty, wild, and chaotic, which makes for an entertaining backdrop. Some of the characters are so over-the-top, they feel like they stepped out of a cartoon, which I honestly didn’t mind at first.
That said, I had a hard time really connecting with the story. It felt like it was trying to juggle too many subplots at once, and while the satire is clever, the constant absurdity got a little exhausting. I kept waiting for a deeper emotional hook or character I could root for, but it never quite landed for me.

That said, there were definitely moments that made me laugh, and I can see the appeal if you enjoy offbeat crime stories with a splash of environmental satire and that signature Florida weirdness. It wasn’t quite my vibe overall, but I’m glad I gave it a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“You can’t fire me, not in Florida. This is where woke comes to die!”

Carl Hiaasen outdoes himself in his new, over-the-top, politically themed, Fever Beach! With multiple outlandish characters, Dale Figgo leads a small-minded “white group” called the Strokers for Liberty to try to ensure that certain political people are elected and that all ballots are properly accounted for. Figgo – mind you – has a claim to non-fame of smearing feces all over the wrong statute on January 6, 2021. Enter in fraud, corruption, and government, including charity programs and fronts, this book is an in-your-face look at the craziness that goes on behind the scenes (brought to you by the most extreme examples).

Hiaasen ties in current events to bring political satire to the next level. As a practicing south Florida attorney, whose law partner is a councilman, I feel like I could sadly relate to a lot that was being described in this novel. (Also, I still play Wordle every day.) Sadly, the main voting body of America doesn’t really know what goes on and I think we need authors (in this fun way) to shout the message for the people in the back.

I loved Viva and Twilly (and Figgo’s mom) and feel like they drove the narrative of this book. Some of the names were too close to each other (and too absurd for me to take seriously – like Clure for a Congressman!), and as a Personal Injury Attorney the liability with the Wee Hammers just drove me insane – it would never be approved!

While this book was a good laugh and hits home being in Florida, the humor didn’t save it enough for me over the complete level of idiots, eyerolls, and bigotry that each chapter focuses on. Overall, it was just too much for me.

3.2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I brought this book on a vacation and it was not the vibe I was looking for. I always enjoy Carl Hiaasen, but maybe the political fare hit a little different in this climate.

Hiassen does great “Florida Man” characters and what should feel like over-the-top plot lines. Putting aside the fact that, in the current political climate, the plot is all too believable, I did laugh at and enjoy most it, even as I cringed and despaired for this country. There’s so much chaos throughout the book, but then it just fizzles. The ending left me dissatisfied, but overall the book is a borrow-not-buy for me.

Hold on tight - there’s a new irreverent hero in Florida. As always, Hiaasen has his finger on the pulse of what is happening in the world, and, in particular, in Florida. This time out, inept white supremacist try their hand at political intrigue with unexpected results. Hisasen toes the line, then takes five giant steps over it. Fans of outrageous sardonic humor, and tales of unlikely comeuppances will love it.

I have been a fan of Hiaasen and have read his books in years. It was fun to see Twilly again, still up to his deeds on fighting for justice for nature in his vigilante ways.

This book is full of political satire and makes fun of far right believers. We have Dale Figgo who is the founder of Strokes for Liberty and basically is a white supremacist. He was kicked out of Proud Boys for defacing the wrong statue on Jan 6th. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed and his recruits aren't either.

His roommate, Viva, works for an ultra wealthy couple's nonprofit and can't stand Dale. Dale and his hooligans are funded by a crooked politician and they plan a big way to be the next big right winged group.

Twilly and Viva randomly meets at a bar and hit off. They soon begin to try and find out what Dale is up to.

The story is classic Hiaasen with his views and humor. I think I am having political burn out with the state of our country and this may be too close to truth.

Thank you @aaknopf for a copy of the book

Usually Carl Hiaasen books are very entertaining to me. Democrats will love this one!

Although I’m not a Trumpster or Jan 6 er, I was not really in the mood for a political satire either.

There was also plenty of humor fit for adolescent teenage boys.

I don’t rate books unless I finish and read every word, but I am glad to be finished with this one. Dumb and smutty.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knoph, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Fever Beach in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is May 13, 2025. Approx 384 pages.

I have mixed feelings about Fever Beach. I read to escape the hate and division being broadcast daily. I wish I had read the description more carefully and not requested this book based on the author alone. Reading a book about ridiculous, hateful, corrupt people was a struggle. That being said, some of the moments were so absurd I did laugh out loud.

This book is well written, but the story line was just not for me.

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

Hiaasen has a way of dreaming up the quirkiest crazy characters that kept me entertained through this whole whacky novel. Fever Beach has a lot of the current political climate intertwined in this fun amusing story.
I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own. So, this book follows the tried and true Carl Hiaasen formula. I think the issue for me and why I did not like it more was that it was political satire with some extreme characters and situations and with the current political climate weighing so heavy, it was hard to find the humor. I think I read for an escape so this book put me right back into what I was trying to have a break from. The plot really jumps around and the characters are outlandish but that is also par for the course for Hiassen so for die hard fans, they may enjoy it more than I did.

Thanks to Knopf & NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and enjoyed several Hiaasen books in the past (probably a decade ago) and I thought the "Bad Monkey" series on Apple was pretty great, so I figured I'd enjoy another Florida Man romp.

Weirdly, this was kind of like Bad Monkey minus the island vibes/murder and with neo Nazis tossed in. It could've been funny, but it just wasn't. Twilley Spree (WTF?) is our Andrew Yancey stand-in, except he's somehow extremely wealthy and wants to buy an island to get away from people, but until then he will infiltrate a sub-Proud Boys neo Nazi dudebro hoedown in Florida. Um, OK. He does this at the behest (sorta) of his lady friend, Viva, a good stand-in for Rosealba Campesino from BM. She is EASILY the best character, a wise Latina in a bad spot who, in the wake of a bad divorce, is working for rich asshole-political funders who switched from Democrat to Republican over a perceived slight during a fundraising dinner (Mr. Hiaasen, that is not how political affiliation works IMO) AND is renting a room from the head neo Nazi in charge (in his own mind anyway), who is being bankrolled by a good ole boy FL politician with weird sexual proclivities and a blackmail problem.

See, on paper it sounds funny, right? But it's mostly weird and icky. It *could* work as a TV series, I guess - lots of big personality characters who are little more than stereotypes. There's a guy with a dog named Himmler. It just feels like Hiaasen has veered so far into absurdist territory as to become unreadable.

I did try to make it all the way through but I quit @65%. Sorry, Carl.

As a Floridian, I will never pass a Carl Hiaasen book. Fever Beach had all the classics of a Hiaasen novel: super fun mystery, wild characters, and I always laugh out loud. It's centered around current topics, so the satire might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it landed so well with me.

What a cast of characters as only Carl Hiaasen can deliver. Dale Figgo, who was kicked out of Proud Boys for defacing the only confederate statue on January 6th; his tenant Vera Morales, a spitfire of a woman, who works for two right-wing hatemongers - the Minks; Twilly Spree - Vera's new stud muffin and defender of the underdog (who actually hates the hatemongers) and who inherited multiple millions to support his endeavors to right the world's wrongs and of course the corrupt Congressman Clure Boyett whose thirst for power is only overcome by his need for underage hookers and certain "toys". With Florida as a background from the beaches up north to the Keys and with events leading up to a close election, this book will have you laughing out loud and wondering if people can really be that stupid (yes they can!). What a great read. Thanks for the laughs - they are sorely needed these days.

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

As usual Carl Hiaasen brings us another fun, laugh a lot story. The misadventures just don't stop and many are worth a smile, if not laugh out loud. Warning this book will rub some people the wrong way, fortunately I am not one of them!

Keep up the good work.

An hilarious, acerbic, and insightful examination of Florida -- and the country -- through the prism of a deeply comical (and startlingly up to the minute) crime novel. Twilly Spree returns, wreaking vigilante mayhem and generating a great deal of chemistry -- and sparkling dialogue -- with new character Viva Morales.

Sure, MAGA and January 6th rioters are the lowest of low hanging fruit, but Hiaasen's rage and bullseye accuracy make this a highly satisfying romp. A highly elevated beach read and scathing indictment of our very stupid times.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to preview Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. I hadn't read any Hiaasen since Bad Monkey and had forgotten how fun his books are. Fever Beach was a wild ride filled with quirky Floridians centered an incompetent white supremacist and a corrupt politician trying to steal an election. I laughed out loud at multiple points during my read.

I fully understand that this type of satire might not be for everyone as we're living through the real life version of some of these events. However, I highly recommend this for satire lovers that are able to set aside reading for entertainment from current events.

Now that I've been reminded how much fun Hiaasen's writing is, I'm excited to dive back into his catalog.

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.