DNF around 45%
Unfortunately, this just was not for me. Everyone was saying how thrilling this was, but I was very bored the whole time. The writing style is the main reason this wasn't for me. It was difficult for me to immerse myself into the story, because I felt like the writing was too jerky and I kept getting pulled out of the experience.

I enjoyed how the story intertwined Fitzgerald's stories. However, it's not required to know Fitzgerald's works to read this. You may miss subtle hints, but I don't think it'll limit your story experience. Although let's not forget that F. Scott Fitzgerald stole a lot of his "ideas" from his wife, Zelda.

Using F Scott Fitzgerald's TENDER IS THE NIGHT as the guideline for the plot, Sash Bischoff managed to keep the "bones" of Fitzgerald's book while crafting her own masterpiece of literary fiction. Two people who seem to the world to have a perfect marriage and a perfect working relation, take their theatrical skills in hand to retell Tender is the Night in their own words. Lila Crayne is the current Hollywood hot ticket. To her fans, she's perfect and her movies best sellers. Kurt Royall is the man who can bring the film to market. He's considered the best at what he does. Together, they are unstoppable. But no marriage, no partnership is as perfect as theirs seems and small cracks begin to appear.
This book starts slow. Bischoff takes the time to build a rosy picture of a slice of life that seems solid in a world that is full of make believe. The sets are built to show the world only what the couple wants to be seen. Then the first bubble bursts and it's impossible to NOT see how skillfully Hollywood"s glamour can cover many scars, both physical and mental. As the story loses the happily ever after the public wants from them, this couple will make headlines, just not for a movie.

A feminist ode to F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'Tender is the Night', this is the story of Lila and Kurt, the famous Hollywood actor and director duo as they attempt to bring this written creation to the big screen. In an attempt to get into the main character, Lila goes to a therapist to see if she can utilize any past or present trauma to bring more emphasis to her role. That's when things start to get interesting as the author narrates the story from different perspectives, and a plot of revenge rears it's ugly head.

This oozes old world Hollywood glamour, which I love, but the narrative style takes a while to get used to. Once you delve in though, you're hit by twist after twist, some of which you can see coming, and some which you can't which makes the read all the more pleasurable. The fact that the author is an acclaimed theater director makes all the more sense as the realistic nature of the storytelling process unfolds. You don't have to be a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald to love this adaptation of his book that highlights the misogynistic nature of the film industry.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my review!

This checks every box for me when it comes to a good thriller: unreliable narrators, twists and surprises that I didn’t predict, a fast pace, and the most important thing (to any type of novel): solid writing.

I loved the way the author was able to lull me into a false sense of security in Act One. I had just settled in, gotten comfortable, and then when I got to Act Two, the bottom fell out from under me. It was great. While I was interested from the start, this was really what sucked me in and made it hard for me to put it back down.

I also really enjoyed the way the author balanced the therapy session notes in Act One with the diary entries in Act Two. It made for an interesting structure with the swapped POVs and made it even harder to know I could trust.

While this does heavily reference the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, I do not think you need to be well acquainted with his works to enjoy this. I’ve read The Great Gatsby numerous times, but that’s the only of his that I’ve read and I was able to follow everything just fine. The author explains everything that the reader needs to know about Tender is the Night through the characters’ dialogue and the making of the film adaptation.

Speaking of, the descriptions of the filming and rehearsals made me really want this to be a real movie. They were described so clearly that I felt like I was seeing it in my head already and now I want the finished product!

The synopsis says that Bischoff “examines the narratives we tell ourselves, and what happens when we co-opt others into those stories; and she probes the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator and the true meaning of justice.” I think this accurately summarizes what Bischoff accomplishes here; this story poses a lot of interesting and thought-provoking questions that I found myself mulling over for days after I finished the book.

Sweet Fury is very solid thriller and an impressive debut - I highly recommend you check it out!

In SWEET FURY, written by Sash Bischoff, Lila Crayne and her filmmaker fiancée, Kurt Royall, film a feminist adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s TENDER IS THE NIGHT. In preparation for her role, Lila sees therapist Jonah Gabriel to help her deal with her past trauma.

I enjoy reading an epistolary novel, so this book that contains a series of journal entries is a treat to read. While the plot is mostly well-constructed, I wish the chapters were shorter. This book draws me in, and I have to keep reading. I am now interested in reading Fitzgerald’s TENDER IS THE NIGHT. Most of this book is wonderful, but the conclusion is a bit disappointing. Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review and advance reader copy of SWEET FURY.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

While I am unfamiliar with the orginal story Sweet Fury is a retelling of, I know that neither is meant for me. I just wasn't the right person for this book and that's okay. It was well written, but the storyline and characters never made me want to dive into the story.

Tender is the night. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Say no more- I’m in! I appreciated the care given to Lila’s character when facing her trauma and seeing the female rage slowly build and come to a head. The description of the gaslighting that so many woman have experienced and can relate to was immaculate- at least, for me, so I’m sure I’m not alone. As a teacher who has taught F.Scott Fitzgerald for the past 15 years, while I love his fiction, I have always taken offense at the voices that aren’t heard in his fiction. I also wonder if Lila isn’t a sort of vision of what Zelda herself may have found and discovered if mental health had been a priority during her time. Very thought provoking and validating!

Okay, first things first, I need to make a confession: I hate The Great Gatsby. I know, I know! I read it for the first time in high school, then again in college, and I really couldn’t stand it either time. My dislike for it was so intense that – and here’s a second confession – I’ve never read anything else by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

So why would I choose to read a novel that claims to be “in conversation with the works” of the author who wrote one of my most hated books of all time? Well, it was the rest of the description that really sold me: Set in the film industry, Sweet Fury is a novel about America’s Sweetheart, actress Lila Crayne, who is set to star in a feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, directed by her fiancé, acclaimed director Kurt Royall. To prepare for her role in the film, Lila starts working with a therapist to tackle her deeply-rooted childhood trauma. But as the lines between therapist and patient begin to blur, it becomes clear that no one is quite who they seem to be.

I may not love F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I really loved Sweet Fury. I understand why the blurb compares it to The Silent Patient, but really Sweet Fury is another type of story altogether. I’d classify it as a psychological noir character study, with tension and twists that make it read like a thriller. It’s literary in its execution, which one would expect for a book inspired by a writer of classic American novels, but there is still a propulsive urgency to the writing that kept me engrossed all the way through. I thought I’d figured out the twist, but I hadn’t – and I really love it when that happens. It wasn’t gasp-worthy like The Silent Patient, but it was completely satisfying nonetheless (minus an epilogue that felt unnecessary).

Sweet Fury features an entire cast of my favorite kind of characters: nuanced, complex, unlikable but still relatable, who behave in questionable ways motivated by self-preservation. Sash Bischoff does a deep dive into the darkest, seediest parts of their psyches, and I was enthralled. The execution and character work reminded me a bit of Peter Swanson's books, but Bischoff has a voice and perspective entirely her own, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the complimentary reading opportunity.

This is a fast paced and quick read and the characters are very compelling. The concept of this book was unique and it pulls you in right away. I loved the film industry aspect. Bischoff’s writing is SOLID. Ultimately, though the book fell short for me. In my opinion, the ending didn’t make a lot of sense and I was expecting this to maybe be a four or five star read by the end so I was feeling a bit let down. I would say it’s worth a read because the set up of the story was sooo good, and maybe the ending might connect better with someone else.

TW: sexual assault, abuse.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my review!

Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff is a remarkable debut!
I enjoyed reading this story.
The characters were really well developed.
And the plot is very unique.
Sash Bischoff masterfully weaves a compelling and twisty read making this story intriguing.
These characters were brought to life and the author’s writing and descriptions of the characters and scenery were really well written.

Thank You NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

𝑺𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑻 𝑭𝑼𝑹𝒀 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒇𝒇 was a tantalizing story of power, memory, and revenge all wrapped up in F. Scott Fitzgerald trimmings offered to me by @simonbooks via @netgalley coming out January 7th.

A remake of Fitzgerald's 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 sends the lead actress to a therapist to better tap into the psychological aspects of her character. Lila Crayne opens up about past trauma and Dr. Jonah Gabriel tries to help her with what seems to be a more present danger. What unfolds is a walk through a madhouse of falsehoods and masking, truth and reveals that casts into the light the embedded cultural misogyny and how it can destroy anyone it touches.

I am not a Fitzgerald aficionado, having only read Gatsby, and wasn't sure if I would be lost in this tale. I was aptly caught up and pulled into this quickly moving story that jumps perspectives and formats keeping it fun to read. The themes were familiar, but felt freshly explored in how far reaching the damage done by an unequal society can bring. I want to say more, but I will keep it to saying I felt the ending gave me much more to consider and I thought it was excellently done.

Possible spoiler ahead:

*I thought this was a thought-provoking novel that had me entertained and curious about how to get justice without becoming a monster in the process.*

This was a very elevated psychological thriller with the underlying themes of women empowerment and feminism within a still very male dominated and driven workforce. The story is wrapped within F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work with our main characters working on a screen adaptation of Tender is the Night. This plot quickly merges off screen as well into the general notion of the book when our female main characters Lila starts working with a new therapist, Jonah. The book is told through multiple points of view and also through journal entries and client notes.

There are a decent amount of characters, but I didn’t find it overwhelming as the focus is only on a few. There were a couple characters that had a lot of focus for no reason, in my opinion, and was hoping that they would have had more of a presence in the end or the twist. I did like the twist and wasn’t expecting it. It connected really well.

I appreciate the overall message of women empowerment and feminism. However I do think that it still lent itself into “women are crazy” too much to be truly feminism. The ending is one where you can kind of “choose your own path” because so many things were unreliable enough to make you question what was real. It was everyone’s perception of what happened to them, and perception is reality.

Overall, I enjoyed the uniqueness of the book and will look out for more of her work! Thank you to @sash.bischoff and @simonbooks for a gifted advanced readers copy as part of the Simon Books Buddy program.

I honestly really enjoyed this book. I’m not a huge Fitzgerald fan and I have never read Tender is the Flesh. So I can’t really say I caught any Easter Eggs.
I will say I enjoyed the first section of the book much more just in terms of flow. Once we got into the second half of the book and more of Jonah’s flow it just didn’t flow as well for me.
Honestly, it’s just one of those twisted, train wreck that you can see coming but can’t stop kind of books. You know these people are deeply flawed. They are all walking mistakes and yet you can’t look away.
Personally I would read it again just for fun.
A solid 4.5 stars for me.
TW: gaslighting, rape, domestic abuse, coercion

I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Movie star and American sweetheart Lila Crayne has long awaited the chance to star in a feminist adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'Tender Is The Night', which her temperamental, much older boyfriend Kurt is directing. To deal with some past trauma that she feels might impact the film, she seeks counselling in the form of therapist Jonah. What unfolds is a tale of ambition, abuse and obsession. Think shades of feminist rage, a deadly power struggle and a chess game of revenge.

This book is sure to be a favourite among Fitzgerald fans and the author notes that there are Fitzy Easter Eggs placed throughout the book. As I am not a Fitzgerald fan, I realize I may not have appreciated all the knowledge and expertise that went into this book, but it did not stop me from appreciating the source material as Tender Is The Night and Fitzgerald's backstory is well explained to those who are not familiar.

Told in dual POV between Lila and therapist Jonah, what I really liked about the book was that it was engaging and well paced- at times it felt like a psychological thriller, complete with the unreliable narrators. It was hard to tell who exactly was the good guy- if there even was one. Bischoff reveals one surprising secret after another, all the way until that bombshell final twist. This book was partially based on the author's own experience with the entertainment industry- and feels very fitting given what is going on with the Weinstein and Lively/Baldoni cases right now.

This is a really solid debut, I would definitely be interested to see what Bischoff puts out next. Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for my earc!

A captivating read of intent, deception and the assumption of what our hearts want to believe. This novel is about a couple, the “IT” couple, an actress and film director, America’s sweethearts and their quest to cast a feminist adaptation of a Fitzgerald classic “Tender is the night”. For those who may not “KNOW” who Fitzgerald is, he wrote “The Great Gatsby” in 1925.

My setting was perfect as I read this novel while the “Golden Globes” were on TV. Lila Crayne is cast in the film as one of the main characters and has sought out a well known therapist, Jonah, to help her work through some issues which she thinks might influence her performance. Lila’s fiancé is all but too jealous and seeks to absolve their meetings. There are issues of trust, truth, secrets and revenge as the novel evolves. A few twists propels this novel while intertwining the film industries setting and prose.

You will truly enjoy and appreciate this novel if you have an interest in a film adaptation, its language, its narrative and the drama which unfolds amongst the actors/actresses in the world of screenplay. Author Sash Bischoff developed characters who were imaginative and believable. I appreciated how the plot came full circle in the end, Lila’s surprise. Favorite character, Maggie (Jonah’s fiancé), for reasons of brutal honesty.

I highly recommend reading about the author, Sash, on Instagram or elsewhere to see who is behind this novel. It helped me to respect and acknowledge everything that went into it. To know of her history, where she’s from and a little about her helps to appreciate and promote her very first novel, congratulations @sashbischoff! Keep writing!

Thanks to @simonandschuster and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Such a roller coaster of feelings towards this book. I honestly did not realize that this was a mystery until a solid 75% of the way through the book, so I obviously did not guess the ending. I enjoyed the connection to Fitzgerald and the Hollywood glamour of this book. The twists and turns were incredibly well done. I also thought that the multiple points of view - and the different ways that these points of view were shared was different and enjoyable. However, I did feel like the book was very unnatural and unrealistic at points. Sometimes that can work for a book, it being so far out there that it makes sense, but since this book was not that way, it just did not always feel like a smooth transition to me. Overall, I enjoyed the plot, the twists and turns were very well done and I thought that the characters, although beyond frustrating, were well developed and interesting. Lots of secrets unfolded, which added to the fun of the book.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I don’t think I’ve read any of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work, so any symbolism or references to his masterpieces would have been lost on me. I’m also not sure this is the kind of book one really “enjoys”, given the themes of misogyny, sexual predation, and manipulation, but it certainly got my attention and held it. Lila Crayne is America’s sweetheart, a beautiful and accomplished actress. She and her partner, director Kurt Royall, are setting out to film a feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night”, and part of her preparation is to work with therapist Jonah Gabriel to dig into her past trauma. The story alternates between Lila and Jonah’s perspectives, their secrets (and characters) slowly revealed not the reader. This is very much a character-driven story, and while they were well-portrayed, I didn’t really like any of them that much. I found the epilogue confusing, but having read the ARC, it’s possible the final published version will make more sense? Overall, this was a moody and largely unpredictable psychological thriller (3.5 stars rounded up to 4).

Lila is about to start work on a new movie. She & her fiancé are about to work on a new adaptation of a classic novel. While preparing for the role, she delves into her own traumatic past to find the path for her character. When things start to unravel and she begins to come to terms with the secrets that are being uncovered, can she make her way through the past?

The story centers around the making of a film adaption of Fitzgerald’s “Tender in the Night” with a feminine twist. Lila is an actress and her fiancé Kurt is the director of the film. Jonah, a therapist is also a fan of Fitzgerald’s work & has been obsessed with Lila since they met at Princeton, despite Lila stating that she doesn’t remember Jonah.

This one didn’t really work for me, it just did not capture the allure I was hoping for, The ending seemed pretty far fetched and hard to believe. It does make me want to read Tender in the Night though!

Thank you NetGalley & Simon and Schuster for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review!