This was touted as the MFC being a victim in a game of revenge. While in reality she uses past victimization as the catalyst for victimizing everyone around her. No one is safe from her but she’s the one who walks away unscathed and celebrated? No. This story did not do it for me.

Lila is an actress and her fiancé, Kurt, is the director of a movie based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel Tender is the Night. Lila, in preparation for making the movie seeks the help of, Jonah, a therapist who is obsessed with Fitzgerald. As the therapy gets deeper into her past the professional lines begin to cross and then things become complicated as truths come out. There are lies mixed with truth and deceit changes relationships. No one is who they seem or what they say is completely truthful.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley

An incredible debut! I stayed up way too late to finish this book. At about the half-way mark, this book became unputdownable.

Filled with twists and clever plotting, I was fully invested in this fast-paced thriller from Sash Bischoff. Told over three acts, Sweet Fury has multiple narrators with tangled backgrounds and lots of tension. I love when narratives (especially thrillers) are told through different kinds of mediums, and this one has diary entries and therapy notes to enhance the story.

Read if you enjoy:
🎥 Hollywood settings
✍️ mixed media supplementing the narrative
🎥 twisty psychological thrillers
✍️ blurred lines between truth and reality
🎥 a mix of character-driven and plot-driven storytelling

My rating: 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the ARC and the ALC to review.

I had no idea what to expect going into this one, and my goodness, what an incredible debut! I listened via audio, which was also narrated by the author @sash.bischoff , and it was absolutely fantastic. I could not stop listening once this got started, it did not go at all how I thought it would. There is a scene towards the end that I was not expecting and literally gasped, both the writing and the narration was chef’s kiss.

I also want to note (and the author does as well in the beginning) that this story pays homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works (mainly Tender is the Night) throughout the book as they were an inspiration for this novel. I enjoyed what she did with this as I was reading, but you do not need to be a fan or even be familiar to enjoy this one.

Sweet Fury publishes this Tuesday, January 7, and I hope it is on your radar, as I really enjoyed it.

Movie star Lila Crayne and her director fiancé are embarking on filming a feminist’s version of “Tender is the Night.” In preparation for the role, Lila has started therapy with Jonah, to work through some past trauma. As her life begins to unravel on the couch, it is apparent everyone has a secret and no one is who they seem.

This book is an ode to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Bischoff has adopted the descriptive flowery prose and the focus on the famous and well off. There were some inconsistencies how some of these characters afforded their lavish or privileged lifestyles. I struggled knowing which character to trust and what their real intention were as the story unfolds. Prominent themes included feminism, abuse, and revenge, read content warnings if concerned. In my opinion, none of these characters were likable and I unfortunately, struggled to identify with or even root for any of them. I have not read “Tender is the Night” which might have swayed my review some. Read this is you enjoy psychological thriller and are okay with unlikeable characters.

The mystery in this book is a slow burn but the many layers of the plot definitely make it worth it. Lila and Kurt are Hollywood's power couple. They decide to work together to make a feminist film adaptation of Fitzgerald's 'Tender is the Night' and it is expected to make a huge splash once released. Lila starts going to a therapist to help her with some internal struggles before she takes on the leading role but soon, we see that her life isn't as perfect as it seems. As the story progresses, the characters begin to evolve. Once their masks fall, their true intentions are revealed. Nothing is as it seems and the ending completely shocked me but, looking back, I should have known!

I do think that if you have read 'Tender is the Night' you may enjoy this one even more but I haven't read it and still found it enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This is not my typical go-to type of book, especially for ARCs, but I enjoyed it overall. This is a psychological thriller with quite a few twists, some more apparent than others. This is the story of filmmakers trying to make a feminist retelling of a Fitzgerald novel, but one thing I did find puzzling was the lack of feminism displayed by most of the characters. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers or is a fan of nods to classic literature.

I unfortunately couldn't get into this one, found the chapters to be too long and boring. The characters were unlikeable, nothing really happened until the very end and many things just didn't make sense.
This is just my opinion so if interested in the synopsis please do give a try.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc, opinion is my own.

2/5

Lila Crane, America's sweetheart, and her fiancé, Kurt Royall, are set to begin filming their feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. To prepare for the role, Lila seeks out therapist Jonah Gabriel to work through her past trauma. But with twists and turns and secrets unveiled we start to wonder what the real story is.

I was so excited for this book after seeing it all over my feeds, but it was such a letdown. The twists were pretty predictable. The Fitzgerald tangents were repetitive and pretentious. I love an alternating POV, but the pacing of this felt so off with Lila's chapters moving so slow through time and Jonah's going from 0-100 with no warning.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Sash Bischoff knows Fitzgerald and it shows in this psychological thriller about a powerhouse Hollywood couple who is filming a feminist retelling of Tender is the Night.

I appreciate the swift switch in POVs that Bischoff implements in SWEET FURY and the therapy notes in between chapters is a unique touch and adds to the twists contained within. This is a great thriller for readers who are also Fitzgerald fans.

WOW. This is a knockout debut novel bringing the readers through not only behind-the-scenes Hollywood, but also therapy, and dark academia. The author weaves a LOT of F Scott Fitzgerald into the novel, so if you’re a fan you’ll enjoy that. I really enjoyed this wild ride. The ending was a little sparse after being so deep into characters’ heads throughout the whole book, but it’s ok! If you enjoyed The Silent Patient, Advika and the Hollywood Housewives, and possibly even The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I think you’d enjoy this novel! Thank you so much for the early read!

Actress Lila Crayne and her producer husband Kurt Royall seem to have it all - balanced personal and professional lives in a town where those lines are easily blurred. When Lila starts therapy as research for an upcoming role, however, her therapist, Jonah Gabriel, becomes increasingly worried about the dynamics between Lila and her husband. While their relationship sounds like the typical toxic partnership, it quickly unravels into a complex web of deception.

In her debut, Bischoff skillfully weaves the plot twists into foreshadowing, allowing the reader to be hooked throughout (despite what I found to be a slow start). Sweet Fury remains engaging despite its occasionally overwrought prose, although it strikes quite a difference from the prose of Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night", of which this is loosely based. The novel shines in its portrayal of psychological manipulation and intrigue. It’s an entertaining, twist-laden debut that offers a compelling look at fame, relationships, and the dark side of self-reinvention.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sash Bischoff's Sweet Fury was a scintillating and oft harrowing tale of twisted proportions, all with beloved Lila Crayne at the center. A really fantastic and gritty feminist tale, I loved exploring Bischoff's writing with this one.

Sweet Fury
By Sash Bischoff

This book is a mishmash off ideas about male privilege, female victimhood, revenge, obsession – and different points of view on all of these topics. Unfortunately, the author has ultimately succeeded in creating a caste of thoroughly unlikable characters, with the possible exception of Maggie.

The plot line here is so convoluted that I was hard pressed to figure out what the author was getting at. Who was the perpetrator and who was the victim seemed to change throughout the book. And adding character viewpoints and motivations toward the end did nothing to salvage the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This was a quick read and I think it would be interesting to read in tandem with an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The ending definitely went a little off the rails which took this from a 4-star to a 3-3.5-star read.

A critique of America's misogyny, told through the lens of the film industry, with a conversation with Fitzgerald's work and a healthy dose of revenge. But who is the victim? I really enjoyed this book - the characters are fascinating and the reveal is fantastic. I'm not going to say too much, because I don't want to reveal too much. This is an excellent debut for Bischoff.

"Lila Crayne is America’s sweetheart: she’s generous and kind, gorgeous and magnetic. She and her fiancé, visionary filmmaker Kurt Royall, have settled into a stunning new West Village apartment and are set to begin filming their feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night.

To prepare for the leading role, Lila begins working with charming and accomplished therapist Jonah Gabriel to dig into the trauma of her past. Soon, Lila’s impeccably manicured life begins to unravel on the therapy couch—and Jonah is just the man to pick up the pieces. But everyone has a secret, and no one is quite who they seem."

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

A Feminisit Retelling of Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night?

While everyone in this novel is a self-proclaimed feminist, this book is devoid of female pleasure. How can Kurt be in his 50’s and not know his way around a woman’s body? Lila should have given him a copy of “She Comes First” with the relevant passages highlighted and put him on a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan). If Kurt doesn’t rise to the occasion, she should forward The Break-Up Powerpoint Presentation.

The prose is also slightly overwritten and unnatural, giving it a bit of an inauthentic hue. For example, there is this one passage about a ranking of women. One of the male characters launches into this diatribe, but no guy even the most pro-women would talk in these very specific and academic terms.

Finally, the ending. Oof! It didn’t make any sense for a variety of reasons. Without spoilers: 1. Keep in mind that Lila and Kurt allegedly have bodyguards and a security team. 2. If you go on TikTok, you will find that people can read lips.

The author does have a solid understanding of Fitzgerald’s works, and this is a solid piece of fan fiction.

I am disappointed this was marketed as a thriller rather than more of a psychological suspense.

While I did enjoy reading this feminist take on Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald it was overall just okay for me.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

I have a great deal of respect for books with morally-gray protagonists. Usually it means the author didn't hold back or worry about public opinion when writing the story, Therefore, a huge round of applause to Sash Bischoff for her debut. It's a brave book.

The premise sounds simple enough. Lila Crane actress about to star in a feminist retelling of Tender is the Night starts therapy in order to better know her character. At least that's what we're told on page 1. It's quickly apparent that Lila is an unreliable narrator. So, for that matter, is her therapist. The result is a twisting, turning psychological thriller written in the style of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I wanted to love this book. Sadly, my enthusiasm was tempered by two things. First is not being a Fitzgerald afficianado, enthusiast, or whatever you want to call it. The second is that neither protagonist is sympathetic or likeable. In fact, most of the characters are unsympathetic and unlikeable. (Okay three things. The epilogue. I don't want to spoil things, but it left me disappointed and unsatisfied.)

As a reader, I'll be willing to give Bischoff a second try. There was a lot here to like. 3 1/2 stars

This book was incredibly pretentious and did not work for me. I nearly DNF'd it but ended up rage-reading it. I think it had a lot of potential but none of the characters or plot felt realistic and genuine.