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.

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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.

Twilly Spree is back! So hang on to your hats because it is definitely a wild ride. This time he takes on a group of moronic white-supremacists (though that could be an oxymoron...); a corrupt politician with a serious fetish problem; a pair of crooked philanthropists; and an intriguing hit man. And Twilly has a new partner - Viva Morales. She works for the supposed philanthropists and rents a room from one of the white-supremacists. It's the only place she can afford after her ex cleared out her bank account. Twilly realizes that she could definitely be in danger but she also is able to glean important information.

As always, Hiaasen addresses serious issues while embellishing them with a liberal dose of Florida craziness. I enjoy Twilly. He is a bit crazier than Skink but has a good heart - which just might get snared by Viva.

Thank you to Net Galley and Alfred A. Knopf Publishing for an early copy of Fever Beach by Carl Hiassen

Fans of the outrageous but always enlightening Carl Hiassen will settle in on page 1 for an insightful, quirky and nasty look at a malfunctioning group of Proud Boys wannabees seeking recognition and a place in the national spotlight. What occurs is one wrong turn after another from every possible angle and no sign of remorse from the numerous villains in the story.

This all begins with a hitchhiker and a white supremist engaged in leaving hateful flyers in a wealthy neighborhood in Florida. From there the reader is treated to the macabre inner workings of a hate group that cannot look beyond its own prejudices. Fortunately, Hiassen has provided a small number of characters who will undermine the criminal actions of a pseudo phinanthropy group, a congressman and a hit man.

Readers will shake their heads in disbelief, laugh out loud and likely get angry as well as the narrative rages on. Loose ends will be tied up and the good guys and girls will live to see another day while the criminals face their fate.

Sit back and enjoy every chapter of Fever Beach which may hint at real-life America..

I am thankful and appreciate being able to receive a copy of this! This is my first book by Carl but it definitely won’t be my last.