While Sweet Fury’s synopsis sounded really interesting, its execution was lack luster.

The book was just low level boring the entire time. I felt mildly entertained and interested enough when the POV changed to keep going but I do kinda wish I had DNFed in the beginning when it didn’t catch my interest.

I think this book could have been really good with more character development. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters or care what happened to them because we never got to know them. In addition, the twist was both predictable and absurd which is a really bad combination.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this one. There are better books out there!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Good. A really interesting contemporary book. Not perfect but definitely worth the read if you are able to get you hands on it.

Lila Crayne was going to make everyone pay, even if she was going to go down with them too. Take that Tender is the Night and flip it in its mighty grave.

Lila was everyone’s favorite actress. With her powerful partner in the film industry, she was holding the reins. Everyone and absolutely everyone was in the palm of her hands. When she scored the biggest role she imagined, she thought she should talk to a therapist to solve her past trauma to be able to play the part in the movie properly. Her sessions created a different image of Hollywood’s it couple. Was she looking for a way out seeking help or was she crying wolf?

I would not call this a feminist book, but there is surely a woman seeking revenge here. It was definitely served cold for few of the men in this story. I understood where Lila was coming from and the solution she found was impeccable according to her tortured mind, but she took playing a role little too seriously.

This is the twisted story of an actress who works with a therapist to dig into her tragic past and things start to unravel. This book was hard to get into and while I liked seeing the layers get peeled off and secrets revealed and I liked the connections with Fitzgerald but the characters were wholly unlikeable and unrelatable and the writing felt forced.

This was a mind f***, in the best way possible. Lila and Kurt are at the top of their game - apparently a devoted and madly in love couple, about to start filming what is sure to be a successful and award-winning film: a feminist adaptation of Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. As Lila prepares for the role, she begins to see a therapist, Jonah, to work on past trauma. But things are not as they seem - with Lila, Kurt or Jonah. And it takes a while for it all to unfold in a spectacular fashion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a digital ARC of this title!

Things aren't always as they appear.

On the surface, power couple, Lila and Kurt, are the envy of all. Lila, an acclaimed and stunningly gorgeous actress and Kurt, an innovative and wildly successful director, at the top of their game in Hollywood.

After being approached by a young writer about a retelling of Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night with a feminist slant, it seems like the perfect passion project for the couple to tackle.

But as the movie start to take shape, Lila and Kurt 's lives start to unravel.

Dark and moody, raw and chaotic, it's a layered psychological rollercoaster told from differing points of view.

With strong parallels to the life and writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald, it was a literary treat to read.

I didn’t expect to like this book, but I read it anyway for book club. I not only liked it, I loved it. With an unreliable narrator, great writing and amazing character development, I was hooked from the first page. And I certainly didn’t expect to be so shocked at the twists (yes, there was more than one twist) in the end. This is a must read in my opinion!

I could not put this book down! Actress Lila, and her producer partner Kurt, are set to begin filming “Tender in the Night.” In order to help herself prepare for the role, she begins working with therapist, Jonah. By the end you don’t know who is telling the truth and who is really who. It kept me engaged and wanting to know more. The twists you don’t see coming happen!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for the ARC.

Sweet Fury is a beautifully written story which explores complex themes of misogyny and justice. Though it begins slowly, the narrative is still quite captivating, especially in the second half. Packed with unforeseen twists and red herrings, this book was a pleasant surprise. Readers who appreciate a slow burn and unexpected reveals will definitely enjoy it!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was the soap-operatic suspenseful novel I needed to get me out of a minor reading slump. Told from various points of view, the reader soon realizes they cannot trust any narrator.
Lila Crayne is beautiful and brilliant. She is THE most sought-after actress of the moment. She has everything she could have ever wished for: beauty, fame, a handsome famous actor as a fiance and now the role of a lifetime. Lila and her husband are producing a feminist version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night" (a rendition I would love to read in real life). For Lila to fully envelope her character, she seeks therapy under the care of Johna Gabriel, who coincidentally has an infatuation with F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story is told in the third person narrative with chapters in first person under the guise of Jonah's private patient notes on Lila and Lila's journal. Soon, forbidden attractions occur, secrets are revealed, and half-truths are believed, culminating in a shocking act of violence. 
I enjoyed this novel's pace, plot, and the fact that I found very few characters with redeeming characteristics. Now, I want to go out and read Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

Actress Lila Crane in preparation for a main role in a new movie starts working with a therapist Jonah. Their sessions would unravel some new details for both of them.

I haven’t read F. Scott Fitzgerald before, but this book inspired me to give it a try. I enjoyed how Sash Bischoff was opening up his characters for readers, you couldn’t be sure who to like and who to be careful with. I could feel that something is off but couldn’t put my finger on it, and each part was giving a good twist and would make wonder what will happen next.

This is a pretty solid debut. I don’t know that the Silent Patient comparisons are completely accurate, this doesn’t have the same thriller vibe. The ending was pretty predictable, but it was enjoyable enough on the way there.

This book started strong but ended being a flop for me. I can't recommend it and won't leave this review anywhere else. That would be rude and I'm not a rude reviewer. I just didn't enjoy anything about this one.

Thank you #NetGalley for the arc.

The author did a great job with this book. I know I was thoroughly creeped out the entire time.
I just feel like maybe I was not in the right headspace for this one so I couldn't fully enjoy it. I will definately be reading more of Bischoff's work in the future.

As a longtime fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, when I read the description of this book, I knew that I had to read it. Lila Crayne is a beloved actress engaged to Kurt Royall, a legendary director. They are about to film a remake of the movie of Fitzgerald’s novel, Tender is the Night with a feminist bent. In order to prepare for the role, Lila decides to start therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jonas Gabriel to help her get to the root of some of her past trauma in order to prepare for the role. Lila and Jonas have met before but she doesn’t seem to remember him but he has become obsessed with her. As the therapy sessions continue, Jonas and Lila’s personal lives starts to fall apart and real life begins to mirror the movie with devastating results.

Sweet Fury is a character driven slow burn of a novel of revenge, secrets with a twisty ending. I enjoyed the insider look at filmmaking and the references to Fitzgerald’s novels. If you are a Fitzgerald lover you will really enjoy this book but even those who haven’t read any of his novels will like it. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced reading copy.

Reads like Fitzgerald fan fiction, which I didn’t mind. Feels a little overwritten in spots but passed the time just fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

SWEET FURY ultimately wasn’t for me.

This novel takes a meta approach, intertwining a feminist film production of Tender Is the Night with a plot that loosely mirrors Fitzgerald’s classic. Acclaimed actress Lila and her director husband, Kurt, are at the helm of the project, with Lila set to play Nicole Diver. To prepare for the emotionally demanding role, Lila begins therapy with Dr. Jonah Gabriel, hoping to confront her own painful past. However, as tensions mount both on set and in her personal life, she starts leaning on Jonah in ways that blur professional boundaries. What begins as an intriguing premise escalates into absurdity, with a climax that feels excessive and an epilogue that strains credibility.

The novel builds suspense through alternating perspectives—Lila’s, Jonah’s, therapy transcripts, and excerpts from Lila’s journal—creating an engaging but, at times, disjointed narrative. While the book positions itself as a feminist exploration of power and justice, particularly regarding sexual assault, its execution feels contradictory. The female protagonists are often depicted as cruel, self-absorbed, and indifferent to the struggles of others, which undercuts the novel’s intended themes.

Additionally, readers should be aware of a significant rape trigger warning.

While I appreciated the clever Fitzgerald references woven throughout, the novel’s convoluted execution and frustrating character portrayals left me disappointed.

I had a hard time getting into this book until a twist in the middle. It was much like Silent Patient in that everyone isn’t what they seem. However, the ending was a bit strange and not entirely satisfying.

I really enjoyed Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff! The Hollywood setting was so fun and glamorous, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m a sucker for a slow burn, and this one definitely delivered—I was totally invested in the tension and buildup. That said, the ending felt a bit unrealistic and left me a little confused, which knocked it down a star for me. I had to reread a couple of parts toward the end to fully grasp what was happening. Also, while the characters were interesting, I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable (except for Maggie, but she wasn’t a main), which made it harder to fully root for them. Still, if you’re into juicy, drama-filled stories with a Hollywood twist, this is a great pick! Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hollywood story about toxic relationships and masculinity. I didn’t find it to be paced like a thriller but enjoyed it nonetheless.