Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

The comp title says it all, if you liked The Silent Patient, you’re going to like this. Bonus points if you like feminist retellings and Tender Is The Night, which this novel explores by adapting it into a screenplay, or any of the other Fitzgerald novels.

This was twisty and manipulative. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Thirty-something movie star Lila Crayne has long dreamed of starring in a F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night leading role. She’s finally made it happen, with her fiancé, Kurt Royall, as director. In preparation for the role, she goes for therapy with Jonah Gabriel, to whom she claims Kurt is abusing her. Jonah, who met Lila while they were students at Princeton, has a long-standing obsession with her, which threatens his relationship with his fiancée, Maggie. Everyone has a secret, and no one is quite who they seem and then there’s the bombshell final twist. The book is about ambition, abuse and justice.

The pretentious writing style with many words I looked up in the dictionary and the numerous characters between real and actors had me struggling. I was prepared for some poetic prose as mentioned at the start of the book however I was at the point that if I saw F. Scott Fitzgerald’s name one more time I’d quit. Sash’s writing in a similar Fitzgerald style didn’t work for this psychological thriller. The first part when they are filming I skimmed read and for these reasons I almost stopped to give a DNF. Because of this ARC I pressed on and thankfully the relationship between Lila and Jonah and the ensuring twists had me reading to the end. I suspected there would be a murder however wasn’t sure who would be the killer. I was lost with the CODA ending and will check other readers’ comments when book is published. Rate is 3 as I maybe would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much! The different POVs and the incredible use of different mediums makes the story flow very fast. It makes you unsure who to trust and how much to trust them. The foreshadowing is there but not too in your face, and the twists keep you hooked until last page.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would 100% recommend to all thriller lovers!

Actress Lila Crayne and producer Kurt Royall are an unstoppable filmmaking team. They’re partners in life as well as business, and they’re seen as Hollywood’s “it couple.” But when Lila enters into therapy as part of research for a role, her therapist, Jonah Gabriel, is concerned by what she tells him about their relationship. However, what appears at first to be a straightforward story about a toxic partner is actually anything but. Because in this story, nothing—and no one—are what they seem.

I had a tough time getting into this one at first, but by the time the first twist was introduced, I was hooked! And the story just got better and better from there. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, but I will say that the twists were foreshadowed absolutely perfectly. I saw one of the big ones coming, but the groundwork was laid so subtly that I felt really smart for figuring it out, which is honestly the sweet spot for me. The author deftly alternates between points of view. We get glimpses into different character’s heads, but some scenes play out almost cinematically, where we as the reader are just watching from the outside and don’t know anyone’s motives. This is clearly done intentionally and it’s incredibly effective.

If you’re looking for a feminist thriller with glamorous Hollywood vibes…oh, friend, this one is definitely for you!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 7, 2025
Sash Bischoff’s debut novel, “Sweet Fury” is a unique exploration of the film industry, written as an homage to the literary great F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Lila Crayne is America’s Sweetheart- beautiful and compassionate, she sparkles on the big screen. She and her legendary filmmaker fiancé, Kurt Royall, team up to create a feminist adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night”. Lila knows that to give her all to the performance, she needs to face the trauma of her past head-on, which is why she seeks out the help of therapist Jonah Gabriel. Through Jonah’s guidance, Lila feels she is making headway but there are some deep secrets in Jonah’s past that are about to forever alter the lives of both Jonah and Lila forever.
“Sweet Fury” is a story of quiet, bubbling feminine rage, and it has never been so relevant. Lila is the protagonist who presents herself as one way to the world that adores her, while inside she plots revenge from a violation that took place years ago. There are some pretty deep topics in “Fury”, including domestic violence and sexual assault, so it’s not a novel to be taken lightly, but it is captivating, emotional and socially powerful.
I will admit that I have only ever read “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald, so a story that retells “Tender is the Night” was a little intimidating at first, as I thought that a knowledge of “Night” would be almost mandatory to enjoy Bischoff’s novel but I can honestly say that Fitzgerald’s work sets the stage, but Bischoff tells an entirely unique tale that stands on its own.
The story is told by Lila, through journal entries, and Jonah, as we slowly uncover their shared past (and the secrets within). Bischoff herself has some background in acting, so the portrayal of the nitty gritty underbelly of Hollywood holds some obvious realism.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from “Fury” but I was surprised by Bischoff’s impressive writing. The themes of “Fury” hold an even stronger relevance now, and readers looking for a #metoo revenge tale will flock to Bischoff’s debut. Bischoff is a unique voice that I can’t wait to hear more from.

There is no doubt Bischoff is a Fitzgerald fan, the parallels and the characterizations were spot on. But I also think as a Fitzgerald fan you will either love this or have a hard time letting the similarities go and I unfortunately fell into the latter.

Entertaining, juicy, feminist it’s going to be a great book club pick.

A fast paced read about a beautiful Hollywood starlet who is making a modern adaptation of Tender Is The Night by Fitzgerald with her director husband.
As you follow along with the story you realize that no one is quite who they appear to be. I ate this book up and really enjoyed all the nods to Fitzgerald and I couldn't wait to see where the story took me.
I really enjoyed this beautifully written debut, and look forward to reading more from this author.

For my more indepth, spoiler free review you can check that out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VniqVn6ak9Q&t=375s

An incredibly strong first novel from Sash Bischoff! This writer is ooozing talent! This was a fast paced and captivating book. While some of the chapters were unnecessarily long I appreciated the dark and twisty complexities of the different characters - particularly Lila. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending but ultimately that didn’t detract from my appreciation of the book as a whole. Looking forward to Bischoff’s next offering already! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
Lila Crayne is America’s sweetheart: she’s generous and kind, gorgeous and magnetic, and she’s loved the whole world over. She and her boyfriend, visionary filmmaker Kurt Royall, have settled into a stunning apartment in the West Village, and are embarking on a modern feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night.

To prepare for the leading role, Lila begins work 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; before long, careers, reputations, and lives are in danger of being irrevocably destroyed.

A twisty, thought-provoking novel told through the lens of the film industry, and in conversation with the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sweet Fury takes a hard look at America’s deep-rooted misogyny, and offers a fresh take on the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. A meta novel of construction and deconstruction about the narratives we tell ourselves—and what happens when we co-opt others into those stories—Sweet Fury examines the true meaning of justice, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator.

I really wanted to like this book. However, I simply could not deal with the overly descriptive, flowery writing style. I struggled to finished.

2 out of 5 ⭐️