If one were to read the blurb of this book, it comes across as pretty ridiculous. A drug lord, an author down on his luck, and his friend, an emu. What follows makes a fun read. For sure, if this book ends up being made into a movie, I won't b surprised. It was such a fun read.

That book was fun to read ! And the story was so original it was very refreshing.
Just look at the cover. An emu and lots of drugs. And imagine a desperate journalist and his weird but funny Samoan friend, two average guys who clearly aren't cut out for this, trying to smuggle the animal and the drugs out of Mexico. Really entertaining ! What I really loved is that the author managed to put many funny lines between the psychopathic behavior of the drug lord and the many life threatening events the characters are facing. I recommend if you're looking for a thriller full of twists and humour.

Fun, irreverent, similar vibes to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Hangover. I liked to story, like something a good storyteller would tell around a table in a dive bar.

situational-humor, verbal-humor, laugh-riot, snarky****

No point in recapping the publisher's blurb of this mad adventure spawned by falling victim of a Ponzi scheme as envisioned by the McKenzie brothers. Laughed my way through most of the book!
I requested and received an EARC from Venator Media Solutions via NetGalley. Thank you

4.5 rounded up to 5.
First, thank you very much to Netgalley and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange of an honest review; I don’t think this book would have crossed my radar otherwise, and that would have been a shame - this book was just a really fun read.
The novel opens to explain how our main character, Nick, found himself broke after falling for a pyramid scheme engendered by his brother-in-law. In a desperate attempt to get his family back and get out of bankruptcy, Nick decides to fly to Mexico to try to get an interview with one of the most notorious cartel leaders, Antonio Espinar, known for making reporters “disappear”. This is how Nick later finds himself with 10 million dollars’ worth of weed and no plan to transport it across the border or turn it into cash.
This is not a novel about themes or the accurate representation of cartels; rather the author takes all the known preconceptions and just runs wild with them. This book is over the top, with characters that mostly lack a sense of ridicule and have a flair for the extravagant, and that get themselves in really outlandish situations. The type humour and the overall vibe of the novel just reminded me a lot of the movie “The Hangover”, even if the plot was very distinct and more violent (some scenes are dark).
Get Idiota made me laugh out loud many times and I ended up enjoying this book much more than what I was expecting; I started reading it during an international flight and it did a brilliant job at making time go by faster. I’m now looking forward to get to other works from Nate Granzow when I’m in the mood for something funny.

Wow, talk about a wild ride. I could picture this whole thing like a movie playing in my head. Poor Nick, I mean, guy always has the best of intentions that kinda all fall to pot. Not sure if Manu was a good influence or not, but you gotta love him no matter what. Also, I want an Emu now.

**Get Idiota** by Nate Granzow - A Hilarious Cartel Adventure That Keeps You Guessing

"Get Idiota" is an outlandish, over-the-top, road trip adventure novel that takes readers on a wild ride through a world filled with chaos, absurdity, and relentless humor. If you enjoy oddball characters and unpredictable plots, this book may just become your happy place.

The story revolves around Nick Ripley, a milquetoast reporter, who's desperate to redeem himself after facing major setbacks in life. Teaming up with the crazy and audacious Manu Paulo, an acquaintance with a knack for getting into trouble, Nick embarks on a dangerous quest to interview the notorious Mexican crime lord, Antonio Espinar. The premise alone is enough to pique anyone's interest, and the ensuing hilarity of this epic comedy of errors keeps readers hooked from the start.

I struggled a bit at first with Nick, who lacked spark and was not a charismatic protagonist. As I got further into it, his character definitely grew on me and I became invested in witnessing his transformation from a desperate individual to someone prepared to take risk.

There was a lot of humour throughout the book, with outlandish and outrageous situations and desperate circumstances that made for an entertaining all round package. I don't usually like humour in my books, but it worked here.

The plot's unevenness might be a slight drawback for some, but a surprising twist at the end ties everything together perfectly, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

While the novel might not be everyone's cup of tea, readers looking for a fun and exciting read will find "Get Idiota" to be a refreshing addition to their bookshelves. Even those who typically prefer darker and more intense books, like I do, may find themselves thoroughly entertained by the unapologetic absurdity of this tale.

This is an entertaining book with some nice surprises. A humorous read with many adventures throughout the book.

Get Idiota by Nate Granzow is an outlandish, over-the-top, road trip adventure novel. You never really know what's going to happen next. If you like oddball or off-the-wall characters then this may just be your happy place.

The basic premise is that a milquetoast reporter, desperate to redeem himself after some major life setbacks, teams up with a crazy, ne'er do well acquaintance in order to get an exclusive interview with a notorious Mexican crime lord known for killing and/or maiming those who annoy him... particularly reporters. What follows is an epic comedy of errors.

I had a difficult time getting into this one. I'm not entirely sure why other than it was hard to like the main character. He grows on you, but in the beginning he's just a pitiful guy that isn't much fun to read about. What eventually got me hooked was just the outrageous 'What next?' factor - had to see where all this craziness was headed (if it was going anywhere at all).

Overall it was more humorous than outright hilarious - it had its moments - and the plot was a little uneven for my taste. There is a great twist at the end that caught me by complete surprise and yet, in retrospect, was absolutely perfect.

BOTTOM LINE: Liked it, didn't love it. I think fans of Dave Barry might enjoy this one.

A fun, exciting read that many will love. I often look for darker, more intense book, but if you like this style you can't go wrong ith this one.

Nate Granzow's "Get Idiota" is an exhilarating plunge into a world brimming with chaos, absurdity, and relentless humor that recalls the zany narratives of Carl Hiaasen or the witticism of a Dave Barry fiction piece. It's a book that unapologetically revels in its over-the-top scenarios and characters, and the result is a story that keeps you grinning from beginning to end.

In the center of the narrative whirlwind is the down-on-his-luck Canadian travel journalist, Nick Ripley, who's so desperate to reclaim his life that he embarks on a perilous if not suicidal, quest: to interview the notorious capo of Mexico's Las Brujas cartel, Antonio Espinar. His unlikely partner in crime is Manu Paulo, a kleptomaniac Samoan fixer who matches Nick's desperation with his outrageous audacity.

Their escapade takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves possessing $10,000,000 worth of Espinar's marijuana and his pet emu, Idiota. A series of madcap misadventures follows that catapult the hapless duo from one outlandishly dangerous situation to another, keeping readers on their toes with each new twist.

The verbal banter between Nick and Manu is one of the book's many delights, their camaraderie providing a comedic backdrop that enriches the narrative. The story moves quickly, driven by the hilarious mishaps and escalating stakes that make each chapter feel like a new adventure.

"Get Idiota" shines brightly in its ability to find humor in desperate circumstances. Granzow's knack for digging out nuggets of comedy from the most unlikely places is commendable. His characters, oddballs with their own set of quirks, make you laugh out loud, while the peculiar situations they find themselves in offer an element of surprise that prevents the story from being predictable.

This book isn't just about the laughs, though. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the lengths one can go to reclaim a life that's fallen apart. Even in their descent into a life of crime, Nick and Manu show a surprising depth of character that keeps you rooting for them.

In "Get Idiota," Granzow delivered a rollicking ride. This black comedy thoroughly entertains you with its clever humor, wacky characters, and compelling plot. If crime capers and outrageous humor are your cup of tea, then this is a book you cannot afford to miss.