I don't particularly like The Great Gatsby, so I had high hopes for a retelling from the women's point of view. It's now a much better story and I recommend it!

The book started out very strong. The prose was beautiful, and I LOVED being back in the world of Gatsby. None of the characters in Gatsby are particularly likable, and Cantor didn't seem to be trying to turn these women into heroines which I appreciated. They maintained their flaws and thus remained completely believable as the characters Fitzgerald created though now I felt I understood them all a bit better.

I've always enjoyed THE GREAT GATSPY, so was intrigues when reading the synopsis of BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS. I did not expect to love this book! The story of the era is woven through the lives of these women and the pieces of their lives that will push them into being a suspect in Gatsby's murder. Jillian Cantor skillfully weaves their lives into a rope that will bind them together.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

A mesmerizing Gatsbian tale. What an atmospheric, swanky vibe! It had me just as entranced as the original Fitzgerald novel. I couldn't put it down.

I just wish I could feel like recommending the book to friends, but I really don't want to. There are some things in the content that would not allow me to share the book with just anyone. Recommended for adults only. Contains some mature themes.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.

I really loved the Great Gatsby, and Jillian did a fantastic job recreating a classic. It’s a good twist added with elements that are more relatable to female readers.

A glossy, intricate spider's web made of diamonds, gin rickeys, and plenty of drama. I fell in love with the three heroines Cantor brought to life in this book and how she effortlessly gave them each an individualistic voice for them to stand on their own and steal the show from the horrible men from the original Gatsby. Could not put this book down!

"Beautiful Little Fools" is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of womanhood, identity, and societal expectations. Set in the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, the book follows the lives of three captivating women who challenge the norms of their time and strive for autonomy and self-discovery. Through the intertwining narratives of these strong-willed characters, the author explores themes of love, ambition, and the limitations placed on women in a changing society.

One of the standout aspects of "Beautiful Little Fools" is the author's rich and immersive writing style. The prose is elegant and evocative, transporting readers to the vibrant and decadent world of the 1920s. The author skillfully captures the spirit of the era, from the glitz and glamour of extravagant parties to the underlying tensions simmering beneath the surface. The characters are multidimensional and relatable, each struggling to find their place in a society that expects them to conform.

The novel also shines a light on the limitations and expectations placed on women during the time period, highlighting the challenges they face in pursuing their dreams and aspirations. The exploration of societal norms and gender roles adds depth and relevance to the story, resonating with contemporary readers and sparking important conversations about feminism and empowerment.

Overall, "Beautiful Little Fools" is a poignant novel that explores themes of identity, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Fans of historical fiction and stories of female empowerment will find this book a compelling and rewarding read.

I’m trying to write this review especially carefully so it doesn’t come off as my saying this book was badly written. It was well written and clever. It offered a unique new spin on one of my favorite classics. I had been really looking forward to this book when I heard about it.
I can see that a lot of people reviewed this book much higher than I did. But reviews are personal and based on your own enjoyment of the book and I just didn’t love this version of Jay Gatsby. Yes, it absolutely put an interesting spin on the story. And I don’t want to spoil the storyline so I don’t want to go into much detail. I’ll just say that Gatsby was not a good guy in this book and I didn’t enjoy seeing his character that way.

Kudos for Jillian Cantor for taking on The Great Gatsby from the female point of view. Highly recommended for book discussion groups as a companion read to the original classic.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. I was not able to finish so won't be leaving a full review at this time.

Beautiful Little Fools ...sure fooled me... I was reading along thinking how interesting that author Jillian Cantor has written this great historic novel based on the real lives of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan and the deaths that resulted from that steamy love affair... when I realized that the story she was interpreting was originally a novel... not real life.

I have loved all the books I have read by this author. Her imagination is prolific. She has wowed me with books about the Rosenbergs and their neighbors. She has imagined a story where Margot, Anne Frank's sister lives and comes to America to find her sister after the war. So when she steps in and explores the world of the infamous Jay Gatsby and his relationship with Daisy it is very creative.

Daisy Fay tells the story of meeting Jay, falling in love and the heartbreak of him leaving for war and her sister and father dying. Jordan Baker, Daisy's best friend follows the same story line and adds her perspective and personal facts about her life as a professional golfer to fill out the storyline. We also hear from Catherine McCoy a woman suffragette, who becomes involved with Gatsby and her sister, Myrtle Wilson, whose own unhappy marriage leads her to get involved with the lives of the main characters here by meeting Tom Buchanan at the request of Jay Gatsby. We hear from each of these women as their lives intertwine in an increasingly dangerous whirlwind that will end in tragedy.

Moral of the story; money cannot make you happy.

Beautiful little fools gives us The Great Gatsby told from the point of view of Daisy. Alive with amazing characters this book is sure to be a favorite of you’re a fan of F Scott Fitzgerald. I love a reimagining where women get to tell their side.

Thank you to #NetGalley.

I read The Great Gatsby so long ago only the name Daisy Buchanan rang a bell and of course Jay Gatsby.

I really enjoyed this book about Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Catherine McCoy in the 1920s. They were three strong women in their own way. Daisy and Jordan were best friends since they were little and almost like sisters. They had their own lives and I really got caught up in Daisy's life with Jay Gatsby and then Tom Buchanan. Jordan was a strong woman also like Daisy and was a woman golfer which was unusual in those days.

Catherine came into the picture with Daisy and Jordan late in the book but there were chapters about her also. Her sister Myrtle was also in the book and how she also got involved in everyone's lives, starting with Jay and then Tom eventually.

What a tangled web we weave and how it played out was interesting.

An interesting take on the Gatsby canon — this time, Daisy and Jordan are given the power that is denied them in the source text. This is one of the more interesting retellings of The Great Gatsby.

I didnt finish this book, thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I had thought this would be Gatsby from the view of the female characters, and really wasnt. And to be honest I couldnt figure out what it really was meant to be. I wish this retelling could've kept more of the original mystery. In this one, the women had all their stories laid out, and the men were so obvious that any subtlety was gone.

In the end, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the plot or any of the characters, and as we readers all know, thats just boring

Beautiful Little Fools is a captivating retelling of The Great Gatsby from the perspectives of the various women in the story. Told from four different viewpoints - Daisy, Jay Gatsby, Catherine, and Jordan - the novel explores the relationships and secrets of each character as they navigate love, loss, and personal identity in the tumultuous era of World War II.

One of the standout elements of the book is its well-developed and empathetic characters. Daisy, in particular, is a relatable and sympathetic figure as she grapples with a loveless marriage and the weight of her own mistakes. Jordan also stands out as a character struggling to find her place and be true to herself in a society that often ostracizes those who defy societal norms.

While some may find the pacing of the novel to be slow at times, the rich character development and immersive historical setting more than make up for it. The mystery of Jay Gatsby's death adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story, and the satisfying conclusion ties up loose ends in a way that feels true to the characters and their journeys.

Overall, Beautiful Little Fools is a beautifully written and emotionally impactful novel that fans of The Great Gatsby and historical fiction will not want to miss.

Cantor's take on a classic is brilliant. I loved exploring the women's characters more in-depth. The writing was expertly crafted and the story flowed. What a read!

I read The Great Gatsby in high school. I can't remember anything about it and wasn't all that into it anyway. If Jillian Cantor's latest novel, Beautiful Little Fools, had been taught in high school instead, you can bet I would still remember it now.

Jillian tells F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic from the women's point of view and it is just really good the entire way through. I actually had to look up the storyline of The Great Gatsby and that was helpful in knowing the plot of this novel, but there were still some surprises. It was just so engaging and well-told! It really did feel like a murder mystery as I had no idea who would end up being the killer.

Jillian Cantor is an amazing historical fiction author and I'm always glad to read whatever she writes. Maybe she can make some other high school required reading interesting again with one of her future novels. In the meantime, I highly recommend Beautiful Little Fools!

Movie casting suggestions:
Daisy: Maude Apatow
Jordan: Lily-Rose Depp
Catherine: Zena Grey
Myrtle: Emily VanCamp
Jay: Austin Butler
Tom: Josh Swickard
Frank: Wes Bentley

‘Beautiful Little Fools’, a reimagining of ‘The Great Gatsby,’ by Jillian Cantor was entertaining, immersive, and gorgeously crafted. Just so well done. Highly recommended!