An entertaining little novel of the quirkiness and weirdness of South Florida and its inhabitants.

So, we have a narcissistic guy, his naive (stupid) girlfriend who not only gives him thousands of dollars (which he promptly blows) but has a baby with him, and his overweight, hanger-on buddy; they all live in a cabin deep in the swamps of the Everglades. The buddy has some talent with a camera and is trying to create a reality show starring his good-looking (but man, is he narcissistic) friend as The Glades Man. It is not going well. Meanwhile the girlfriend stumbles upon a stash of gold bars. Knowing her greedy boyfriend will take those too if he finds out about them, she keeps her find a secret.

In another location not far away, two brothers run a bait and beer shop. It is not doing well. The older brother is a dreamer/schemer hoping to hit it big with his latest money-making idea. Trouble is, he doesn't have one. The younger brother has no ambition, no drive and spends his days behind the counter placing Candy Crush.

Elsewhere, a divorced, behind on his child-support, alcoholic unemployed journalist is desperate for some cash. A pal comes up with a job offer; the pal will dress up as Elsa from Frozen for a rich little girls birthday party, and his alcoholic buddy will be Elsa's sister. This involves a large giant head of Dora the Explorer, which will be worn by the down on his luck journalist. That's right, Dora the Explorer. Don't ask.

Through a series of hilarious albeit unfortunate events, these seven folks eventually come together in one giant money-making scheme. Or it would be a money making scheme if things weren't continually going south for them. Get it? South? South Florida? Ok, moving on...

By the halfway point in the story, I found all these characters entertaining and amusing but not in the least bit likable. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. I wasn't rooting for any of them; I kept reading to see which one of them would crash and burn first. Then suddenly, a couple of these folks develop a spine and sense of right and wrong and finally I have someone to root for!

Eventually, alls well that ends well. Or as well as could be expected. And this has the best Epilogue to a story that I've ever read, hands down.

Dave Barry does it again! Another fantastic, hilarious Florida adventure. I loved this book from the start!

I can’t believe I waited this long to read Dave Barry’s fiction! I’ve read his articles and nonfiction Florida stories before. Swamp Story was a knockout - the perfect mix of Florida Man (several, actually), mystery, thriller, and some hilarity. And having visited the area the story was set, I have to say, I could imagine it all taking place! I want to see Bortle Brothers’ store in person! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

d setting in the book truly make you feel like you are there in the Everglades experiencing the crazy ride with them.

If you’re looking for a book to make you laugh, that you can’t put down, this is the one. I’m genuinely so sad it’s over, and am already looking forward to rereading it again soon. He also includes an epilogue that thoroughly wraps every question you might have up, with a neat little bow. Also, worth it to add that this would make such an entertaining show or movie!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Honestly, SIX out of five stars for this book!!!

There should be a literary genre titled "Florida Fiction" filled with titles from famous Floridians such as Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey, and of course, Dave Barry. Dave's latest is a twisted tromp through the Everglades as good guys and bad guys search for a pile of gold hidden during the Civil War. I always love stories where the multitude of characters thrown at you at the beginning of the book become more and more connected by the end of the story. "Florida Fiction" is always identifiable with its hilarious so-unbelievable-it-has-to-be-based-on-real-life situations. "Swamp Story" is no different. I recommended this to any readers who need to escape the craziness of their lives for the craziness of others and who would look forward to 300+ pages of snorting laughs and giggles.

I am always a little disappointed coming to the end of a Dave Barry book, becasue he has written so few novels and there is such a span of time between publishing. I want more books more often from this author!

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this hilarious novel from Netgalley via publisher Simon and Schuster, and the author, Dave Barry. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Swamp Story of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am always pleased to see another Dave Barry tale. I sure miss his column in the Miami newspaper. And as always with his tales, there is guaranteed laughter stops every few pages.

Slater and Kark are out to make a pilot for a reality show to pitch to TV execs. Titled 'Glades Man', it will be shot in the heart of the Everglades, 50+ miles from Miami, featuring heartthrob handsome Slater as the romantic explorer, and as the monster, their heavy-set depressed friend Phil sporting a Dora the Explorer Halloween head. Kark is in charge of the handheld camera and is quite experienced. Their working theory is that much of the winter influx of snowbirds who hit the Florida coast every autumn are seniors from the middle northern states of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, etc, and back home their regional booger-bear is a mythical creature known as Melonhead. Slater and Kark's hypothesis - a curious Melonhead had followed them down to Florida and found a fine home in the swamp.

Slater, his girlfriend Jess, and their infant daughter Willa, as well as Slater's bestie and doping buddy Kark, live in a small nondescript cabin in the swamp. Jess and Willa spend a LOT of time walking the dry trails throughout the swamp. Jess can't believe her younger self thought Slater was a keeper. Slater and Kark spend a lot of time smoking dope. If they can sell this pilot to a major studio they wouldn't have to sell their dope to make a living.

Duck and Billy Campbell are bullies, perhaps psychos, and they are spending their time in the swamp looking for the rumored Everglades Treasure buried hundreds of years ago - ingots of gold. All their knowledge of the gold comes from a fellow inmate, J-Dog, with whom they spent a good deal of time in the Apalachee Correctional Institution. They met and became friends because coincidentally they all had in common almost identical swastika neck tattoos.

Ken and Brad inherited the Bortle Brothers Bait & Beer from their father and his brother. In the middle of the swamp, there was a time the store sold enough for the families to get by. That ship has sailed, however. Ken thinks of himself as the 'brains' of the business. Brad plays a lot of Candy Crush. Business is not good, their stock of beer is fast disappearing and the lights will go off almost immediately if they don't come up with months of back payments. While in town selling miscellaneous things for cash, Ken hears about the pilot of 'Glades Melon Monster' and decides they need to include the bait and beer shop in the pilot, he just has to talk to the guys doing the filming. Kick in $500 or so and order a bunch of specialty tee shirts. Brad isn't sure this plan is any better than others they have tried in the past, but Ken is willing to do most of the work so Brad shrugs and goes back to his cellphone game.

Add in the annual Python Challenge which invites large numbers of macho men up the Tamiami Trail to shoot invasive Pythons and the biggest snake gets a trophy. The laughs really start piling up.

Fun story in an interesting location. Characters interaction was very predictable, which made the story less than engrossing. Ultimately expected more humor from this author.

There is a mysterious wilderness of swamps, marshes, and rivers that conceals life in the Florida Everglades. This vast wetland area has been home and hunting grounds for many people and groups. Alligators, panthers and boars are abundant. But, have you ever heard of the Everglades *Melon Monster (*sometimes spelled “Mellon”)

“Swamp Story” is the latest humorous novel by the one and only Dave Barry. Is this book a glorious & well-written zany spoof, or is it a profound look at the clashing cultural world that iis our modern day angst? Are the characters idiots and losers, or seekers of the truth?

Get ready to laugh out loud, and shout out funny passages, as you find out what happens when some sorry “Gator Men” and “Gator Guys” (and one spunky Gal) mix it up with not only a variety of semi-savory South Florida folk, but also the whole social media Tik Tok and Instagram world. What are they searching and fighting for? Love? Respect? Security? Yes, and also Gold.

So many lovable character and so many laughs- you will enjoy “Swamp Story” by Dave Barry. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

If you are familiar with Dave Barry’s columns or have read any of his many other books, then you know just what to expect in Swamp Story. It was vulgar, often in poor taste, but funny as heck and very imaginative.
I do not recommend reading it in the company of family members who are also trying to read. Your frequent whoops of laughter will be a real domestic annoyance. There are hilarious action scenes, such as the lavish birthday party where Phil, dressed as the Everglades Mel(l)lon Monster, falls into the $8,500 birthday cake and sends a massive wave of white frosting exploding onto the party guests.
In typical Barry fashion, the book does a good job of ridiculing current mass culture, such as his comment that less than twenty-four hours after the first video of the Mel(l)on Monster was posted, more people were aware of the monster than could name the vice-president of the United States.
I have enjoyed Barry’s nonfiction, like his history of the United States, Dave Barry Slept Here, but this was my first foray into his fiction. Except for Brad, one of the bait shop owners, and Jesse, who is a rather naïve loser, practically all of the characters were thoroughly unlikable. There is also a constant emphasis on illegal drugs, using them and selling them. The book exceeded my tolerance for poor taste and became downright unpleasant at times, e.g., when Billy and Duck decide to rape the unconscious, bleeding Jesse. This is not what I would expect in a caper novel that is supposed to be funny.
People’s tolerance for poor taste varies, and if the aspects I describe above do not disturb you, I think you will enjoy this book. As for me, I think I will go back and reread Lessons from Lucy.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
Quintessential Dave Barry

Swamp Story by Dave Barry was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. Dave has been around a long time and I have read him since my childhood. This particular tale, to me, took a while to get going but once it did, it sailed right along. The book contains Daves's usual brand of weird folks, whom we all see all the time, they are not just in Florida, doing their capers that keep us entertained. This book should be made into a movie, for sure. If you, or whoever you may buy gifts for likes Dave Barry, Big Trouble (the movie), or tales that will make you think of things other than the world at large, give this book a read.

4 Stars

Dave Barry does it again! A hilarious story about the strangest things and random people that don't seem to have anything to do with each other somehow all come together and mash up in the weirdest way.
But it's funny and goofy and yet having lived in Florida I can totally see it happen there.
A good read that I enjoyed.

Get ready for a wild ride and be aware, that you will randomly break out in giggles, or right out loud laughter...so it is best, to read this book without an "audience", because an audience would right out think, you belong in an insane asylum !

But seriously:
This is not the first book I have read from Dave Barry, and the comedic value of this book is priceless.

And I will go one step further:
This book should be a Hollywood movie/comedy - if this would be actually made into a movie, it would be a hit !

I mean - come on:
A young mom with a little baby finding gold in the swamp...murderous hillbillies, loan sharks, drug dealers, media - social media and the rest of the "usual" media, idiots - lots of idiots - a wild boar and more shenanigans.
How could this not be hilarious ?

I can only recommend, to pick up this book, if you want to laugh your heart out.
But be aware, to either take regular pee breaks - or you won't be able to hold it !

The characters are so exactly described, that they become alive and hilarious in your head.

Bravo - Mr. Berry.
I can't be wrong with my review, if even the great comedian Steve Martin is smitten by this comedic masterpiece !

I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this as much as the author's non-fiction work. Somehow life in Florida is crazier than fiction. But it came together nicely at the end and I thoroughly enjoyed the last third. It has all of the things you would expect: alligators, rednecks and drinking. If the characters all had Trump stickers in the windows of their pick-ups, it would be close to what I see when I am out and about down here in Florida.

Good choice for fans of Carl Hiaasen. If I didn't see the cover I would have thought him the author. But I like Dave Barry better.

Dave Barry does it again! He brings life to the Florida Everglades, chock full of zany characters and wild exploits. I love his fun writing and never want to put it down.

David Berry is one of the funniest writers I know. He and Carl Hiasson have Florida 'bizzarities' tied up between them. They can explain them, they can describe them with a twist of hilarity that makes me quite envious.
In their world, everyone is slightly stupid, and stupid stuff happens. But reading closely, you realize Barry has just pushed the reality of our world out a few centimeters and shown a light on the absurdity of it all.
In this book, a young man who wants to be on reality TV has talked a lovely young woman and a videographer to join him on an island in the Everglades. They are going to make a pilot of Everglade Man. But really all ….knows how to do is take off his shirt and look gorgeous.
Then there is gold on the island that was buried and presumed lost many years ago. Jesse, the girlfriend, finds it but bad guys are looking for it which puts her in their crosshairs. And there is another absurd idea of creating a swamp monster so that a failing business can be propped up by sales of T-shirts etc.
And of course, all of these intersect in a very satisfying way.

I’ve always thought Florida was a bit weird but now I can say with absolute certainty “only in Florida!”
And Dave Berry knows how to make you fall in love.

WTF - Welcome To Florida. This is one of those sprawling South Florida/ Everglades "Florida Man" stories that are so extremely entertaining even in the real life versions, and here comedic story master Dave Barry pulls no punches. Similar in tone and style to Jimmy Buffet's A Salty Piece Of Land, there *is* some social/ societal commentary here - but it is buried in a tale that is so "unrealistically real" (as another reviewer noted) that it is one of those "jokes with a point" that are freaking hilarious - yet also perhaps a touch too real. Specifically, much of the commentary in this particular tale revolves around social media and "fame"/ "celebrity", and Barry's observations here - baked into the overall narrative of the tale - are quite biting. And yet... the over the top insanity humor is never far away, and is ultimately the driving force of the tale. If you've been experiencing too much seriousness in your "real" life or in your reading and you need a break from all the death, drama, and destruction... this is the perfect getaway, no matter where you may physically be or what time of year it may be where you are. Very much recommended.

Very funny, combination of crazy characters and unfathomable situations with the South Florida spin. Dave Barry is always very funny and is here as well. His dry take on the outrageous is a very entertaining and this is a really fun book to read.

Swamp Story is a tale about the absurdity of social media trends, buried treasure, and trying to make a buck in today's world. Set in the Everglades, a group of down-on-their-luck characters devise a plan to become rich off of a crazy idea: that the Melon Heads have arrived. Meanwhile, Jesse would do anything to did herself of Slater, one of the would-be stars of the video in the making. Problem is, she has no money or transportation... Until she stumbles across long-buried treasure.

Swamp Story is reminiscent of Carl Hiassen's stories, weaving a tale of mismatched characters against a background that can only be found in one place on Earth: Florida. Funny, poignant, and full of cringe, it is a light, easy read that is uncomfortably realistic.

Swamp Story by Dave Barry is another half-baked, crazy story by Barry. As an almost Florida native, I've loved his humor through the years, and his books are so close to reality they are almost non-fiction. Non-stop fun and the trademark Barry humor , this is a must read. Loved it.

4.5 stars. I’d never read Dave Barry’s fiction before, but, as you’d expect from him, this novel is very funny.
Jesse made some errors in judgment and is now stranded, penniless, in a cabin in the Everglades with her hapless but attractive baby daddy Slater and his lecherous friend, Kark. Kark is going to film Slater as Glades Man and then they’ll sell their reality show for a zillion dollars. In another section the Everglades is Ken of Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer. Business hasn’t been great, but he comes up with a scheme to explode social media by a citing of the “Everglades Melon Monster,” who is really unemployed alcoholic Phil in a painted Dora the Explorer head. Ken, Kark, Slater, and Phil team up to film a mystery citing of this Melon Monster, and, shockingly, the scheme works. People desperately want Melon Monster merch, and things seem to be looking up . . .
There are good guys and bad guys but mostly borderline idiots whose inane conversations are hilarious. This novel is a lot of fun.
NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this book, which RELEASES MAY 2, 2023.