Twilly Spree is the reason I started reading Hiaasen. Nearly 20 years ago I picked up Sick Puppy based on the description of Twilly as an "eco-terrorist with a trust fund" and have enjoyed Hiaasen's darkly humorous portrayals of Floridian life ever since. In Fever Beach Twilly has matured, and developed some of the fatalism familiar to those of us who believe that America's narcissistic selfishness is a disease, but he's still fighting the good fight and isn't afraid of the consequences. He's just gotten better at remaining calm enough to keep from getting caught, despite dealing with self-aggrandizing millionaires, nepotism baby Congress critters, and illiterate neo-fascists trying to one up the Proud Boys. Times like these call for a protagonist like Twilly Spree, because everyone needs a superhero to root for.

A few years back, during the surreal summer months when we were isolated due to the pandemic, I stumbled upon Squeeze Me by Hiaasen. I had read quite a few of his middle grade books (being a middle school librarian) and a couple of his adult books, so I thought I knew what to expect. Being frustrated with the federal government during the pandemic (and for many reasons), it didn't take me long to see the thinly-veiled references to certain politicians in the book, and it turned out to be a rollicking good read. Fast forward a few years, and I saw that Fever Beach is out. According to the description, the politics in it looked like they would align pretty closely in it, so I expected to be entertained. Hiaasen did not disappoint. While he wrote Squeeze Me in such a way that the whole, "This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people..." etc. kept him from naming names, even though you knew who he was referring to in his characters, this one isn't about actual people in the news as much as actual events. It focuses more on the events of Jan. 6th and several wanna be Proud Boys and the trouble they get into. The characters have their usual eccentricities that you'd expect in one of this author's novels, and the action is outrageous, as always. I did my usual amount of shaking my head over the conversations and action in the novel, though I will say that Squeeze Me seemed to flow a little easier. There were a few times that I felt like Hiaasen was trying a little too hard to create characters that are over the top, and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be. That being said, I will still recommend it to others who I know will enjoy the themes in this book. Thank you to Knopf publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Fever Beach.

I must admit, I had a hard time with this book and nearly decided to DNF it. However, I felt it was only right to give it a fair attempt before leaving a review. I respect the hard work that authors invest in their writing, but this one simply wasn’t for me. While many readers found it amusing, I found the ignorant and hateful characters too relatable to reality, which made it tough for me to find the humor in the story.

Thank You Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I know that many found this funny but for me it's just to close to what I think some people really are like. The ignorant, hateful characters just made this a struggle for me. I couldn't find the humor.

In a world where every day is a dumpster fire, FEVER BEACH is a friend standing beside the flames, roasting a marshmallow in the putrid smoke.

It is far too easy to get caught up in the fear and theater of the MAGA movement, but Hiaasen takes their ridiculousness and dials it up to eleven for laugh-out-loud moments. Though there is much less emphasis on a particular crime as you would find in his other work, this book felt like a cleanse, both for reader and writer. Twilly is the man we all wish we could be, a chaotic force for good, and it was a delight to watch him work against the forces of corruption and hypocrisy with Viva along for the ride.

Highly recommend this book for those of us who are aching to see those like Clure and the Minks and the Strokers for Liberty get what's coming to them.

I always understood that Carl Hiaasen's Florida depicted the real one all too accurately, and now he has immortalized the MAGA-metastasis of society. The jokes are still funny and wry, the plot is thrilling and twisted, but it's a little disturbing to go from doom-scrolling the news to reading this as fiction. Carl has always demonstrated how criminals are a special kind of stupid, but this time around it's making me sad to think so many of my fellow Americans are making these appallingly bad choices in life, driven to criminality and paranoia by political disinformation.
One criticism of the writing, which I make to one of my favorite authors with all trepidation: in managing the multiple points of view, it seems there are several places where the narration goes into a nineteenth century kind of musing, "if she only knew..." or "never to be seen again"; I think it is unnecessary even for the laugh.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in hopes of my honest review. You got it! I have consumed nearly everything Hiaasen has written for adults, and I do mean consumed, and have enjoyed almost all of it. Here we have two new leads that we could perhaps meet again? It is the same screwball antics you come to expect from the master of antics! The sleaze of the bad characters yells a 3, but the LOLs I kept throwing out on a weekend retreat with my lady friends pushes it up. I like to be able to depend on the jerks getting their just desserts and the good guys heading off into a sunset of sorts. As always, this is firmly grounded in the present day landscape, which makes the humor all the more creepy! Take a break and enjoy this one!

When I saw that NetGalley and Knopf wrote that I would have early access to a new book by Carl Hiassen, I was THRILLED! After months of reading thrillers and suspense, I needed some wacky Florida characters. And I was NOT disappointed!

Hiassen takes a look at the "failed" Proud Boys. And seriously, how pathetic do you have to be to get kicked out of the Proud Boys??? This group wants to make a name for themselves - even though they are the biggest cast of misfits you could find. And honestly, not lovable misfits, but the lowest character available - and that's saying a lot for a character in a Carl Hiassen book!

But he captures their ineptitude brilliantly, with help from our "heroes" who help them right along the way toward the road of failure.

The book also shines a light on our corrupt political system, where the rich think they can buy their way into everything - particularly getting inside government by writing a check. Maybe that's how it used to be, but "the times, they are a changin'".

This was a fun read, and a ray of Florida sunshine I needed. The only negative I could see is if you're really as tired as I am of hearing about politics, some of this may hit too close to home. But if you're a Hiassen fan, or if this is your first book... you should enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I enjoy Carl Hiaasen's writing, witty and humorous, and this book doesn't disappoint.

Wild and wacky adventures with some true Florida men, who may or wished to have stormed the capital on Jan 6th. I loved the premise of this book, I love Carl Hiassen, but this one fell a little flat for me.

I love Carl Hiaasen and was very excited to be given his latest, Fever Beach. The unusual cast of characters are typical of a Hiaasen novel. I loved Viva and Twilly and hope that they make appearances in future novels. If it wasn't 2025, with the world dealing with what we're dealing with, I would say that Figgo is an outrageous, unbelievable character. Now, though, it's not hard to imagine him making a bid for president of the US (and somehow winning). Trigger warnings should probably include: n-word, death of dog.

Fever Beach is classic Carl Hiaasen—wickedly funny, sharply satirical, and packed with quirky characters navigating Florida’s wildest corners. Hiaasen’s signature mix of crime, humor, and environmental themes shines as he weaves a fast-paced story filled with outrageous twists and razor-sharp dialogue. His ability to blend absurdity with real-world issues makes the novel both wildly entertaining and surprisingly insightful. The setting is vivid, the villains are delightfully despicable, and the plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you love smart, irreverent thrillers with a dose of Florida mayhem, Fever Beach is an absolute must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Fever Beach by Carl Hassan.

This was the first book I have read of this author and thought it was just ok. I did laugh out loud a few times but these characters are crazy and all over the place.

What a great read! So funny and well written. I enjoyed it immensely.

Dale Figgo is a white supremacist who has started his own version of the Proud Boys.

Viva is Dale’s flatmate who enjoys messing with Dale and telling on him to his mother.. Viva works for the Minks, a rich elderly couple who use their money to bribe commissioners and aid ultra right-wing politicians.

The Minks are funding a “charity” for congressman Clure Bouette, which he is using to help ensure his upcoming election win, with the help of Dale Figgo’s group.

And then there’s Twilly, a wealthy man with anger issues (only towards those who deserve it). He uses his money and free time to create chaos on those who he deems are bad people. He meets Viva on a plane one day, and from there, the story begins.

I can’t tell you how much I laughed at the ridiculousness of this book! The characters are amazing, the plot was well thought out and delivered. This book won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me.

Having read a couple of hiaasens books I looking forward to a fun read. This one didn't deliver. If you never read this author and want to start read his early novels they are interesting and very funny. Stopped halfway through this one for couple days before I finished it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the digital arc of this book

This book was hilarious! I love Carl Hiaasen and his bumbling characters. This one is heavy on the political commentary which I find funny and scathing. I was hoping his newest book would be about Andrew Yancy but I was not disappointed in his new characters.

Hiaasen delivers a humorous take on today's chaotic political landscape. I was chuckling and laughing out loud as the characters bungle their far-right agenda. Author is on point with his humor and satire about today's politics. You see the bigotry, the sliminess of politicians and the total hypocrisy through humor. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc. Won't be going to Flordia anytime soon!

Fever Beach is exactly what you’d expect from Carl Hiaasen: a snarky, politically-driven, acerbically funny, dark mystery based in Florida. It’s entirely ridiculous and so much fun to read—as long as you lean politically left.

Viva Morales is a great tenant with a neonazi landlord, Dale Figgo. Figgo, in addition to being the proud founder of Strokers of Liberty, is unbelievably imbecilic. Through an evermore convoluted, yet amusing, web of connections Viva and her new beau, Twilly Spree, aim to bring down Figgo and his ragtag group of fascists, including the unfortunately named Jonas Onus.

This book goes everywhere. Depending on your tastes you’ll think it’s hilarious or wildly offensive. It can be a bit much, but that’s also what makes it great.

Highly recommended. 4.5 stars rounded down. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Carl Hiaasen. I’ve read all of his novels for adults, and watched Bad Monkey. This latest outing has many of the same tropes as his earlier work. Developers are bad. Some criminals are stupid. A man with a mysterious background (and, usually, an odd name) has the resources to stick a wrench in someone’s plans…and still “gets the girl.”
In this novel we have the added pleasure of watching the story play out from inside a disorganized white nationalist group with ties to an incompetent Florida congressman funded by morally bereft millionaires. Can white nationalists be this stupid, Congressmen and developers this corrupt? I’ve lived in Florida and can most assuredly answer in the affirmative. There’s a lot to laugh at…until I’d want to cry with the realization that this is just another day in the Sunshine State.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #FeverBeach for review purposes. Publication date: 15 May 2025.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of interconnected characters.
The bad guys were all stumbling baboons. The humor is what kept me going.
The story overall was great. A love interest, schemes, and bribery. All the good elements for a thriller.

However, one fair point is that the author makes it sound like all white nationalists are disorganized, looney tunes and they are all inept. I hope that readers are smart enough to understand that NOT all Neo-Nazi's are not that disorganized, stupid, and lazy.

Overall this is another knock out hit for the author.