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Exquise est la fureur
When a beloved actress is cast in a feminist adaptation of a Fitzgerald classic, she finds herself the victim in a deadly game of revenge in which everyone, on screen and off, is playing a part.
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.
A twisty, thought-provoking novel of construction and deconstruction in conversation with the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and told through the lens of the film industry, Sweet Fury is an incisive and bold critique of America’s deep-rooted misogyny. With this novel, 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.
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.
A twisty, thought-provoking novel of construction and deconstruction in conversation with the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and told through the lens of the film industry, Sweet Fury is an incisive and bold critique of America’s deep-rooted misogyny. With this novel, 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.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2025
165 people are currently reading
27916 people want to read
About the author
Sash Bischoff
1 book110 followersSash Bischoff is a writer and director. She currently lives in New York with her husband and their many pets. Sweet Fury is her first novel.
Contact Sash on Instagram: @sash.bischoff
Contact Sash on Instagram: @sash.bischoff
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 542 reviews
December 30, 2024
A Feminist 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.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Electronic Text – Free/Nada/Zilch through publisher
Connect With Me!
Blog Threads BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
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.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Electronic Text – Free/Nada/Zilch through publisher
Connect With Me!
Blog Threads BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
February 13, 2025
With Hollywood vibes and deeply eloquent prose, this love letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald was much more thought-provoking than I ever imagined. After all, Sweet Fury broached some truly serious themes. Critiquing toxic relationships, feminism, and misogyny in turn, it was a stellar look at both through the guise of some deliciously unhinged personas. But it the smoothly unfurling plot and evocative descriptions that had me in the palm of Ms. Bischoff’s talented hand. You see, the realistic dialogue and cinematic feel gave me the unerring sense that I was there with each vividly conjured scene and perfectly parsed word.
There were a few hangups for me, though. First off was the somewhat long, slow burn at the start of the novel. Told via multiple POVs and Jonah’s therapy notes, I initially had a hard time losing myself in the words. Don’t get me wrong, once part two came along I was utterly riveted, but it took some doing to get to that point. Thanks in large part to the narrative style, it just felt a bit too dense to get truly absorbed. That, unfortunately, extended to the climax as well due to a standoff that included multiple ripostes that switched who had the upper hand several times. To be frank, I felt a bit lost and had to slow my reading speed down just to follow the action. Then again, when I finally soaked it all in, I was 100% floored.
Despite all of the above, however, I found myself transfixed by the time that I reached the end of this novel. With a powerful character-driven plot, rich writing, and an atmospheric, dark premise, this mashup of psychological suspense and literary fiction had quite the tally of gripping twists and turns. Were all of them shocking? No—not really. But much of that was down to how well the stage was set for each of them in turn. Provocative, lyrical, and emotionally charged, this debut novel proved that Sash Bischoff not only has literary chops, but can craft some truly magnificent f***ed up characters as well. Rating of 3.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you to Sash Bischoff and Simon & Schuster for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 7, 2025
Trigger warning: infidelity, domestic violence, knife violence, rape
There were a few hangups for me, though. First off was the somewhat long, slow burn at the start of the novel. Told via multiple POVs and Jonah’s therapy notes, I initially had a hard time losing myself in the words. Don’t get me wrong, once part two came along I was utterly riveted, but it took some doing to get to that point. Thanks in large part to the narrative style, it just felt a bit too dense to get truly absorbed. That, unfortunately, extended to the climax as well due to a standoff that included multiple ripostes that switched who had the upper hand several times. To be frank, I felt a bit lost and had to slow my reading speed down just to follow the action. Then again, when I finally soaked it all in, I was 100% floored.
Despite all of the above, however, I found myself transfixed by the time that I reached the end of this novel. With a powerful character-driven plot, rich writing, and an atmospheric, dark premise, this mashup of psychological suspense and literary fiction had quite the tally of gripping twists and turns. Were all of them shocking? No—not really. But much of that was down to how well the stage was set for each of them in turn. Provocative, lyrical, and emotionally charged, this debut novel proved that Sash Bischoff not only has literary chops, but can craft some truly magnificent f***ed up characters as well. Rating of 3.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you to Sash Bischoff and Simon & Schuster for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 7, 2025
Trigger warning: infidelity, domestic violence, knife violence, rape
December 31, 2024
Hollywood fans!!! Enticing psychological thriller with some juicy and twisty charms to dangle in front of you. Lila, quite the actress along with her partner, Kurt, who is the producer, recreates F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night" tragic romance. In order for Lila to do it justice, she incorporates a therapist, Jonah, to prepare for her new role.
Lila is gorgeous and magnetic on stage, but as the layers unravel in therapy, so does she. I like the way the characters blurred the lines between truth and tale leaving the reader to become part of the game. No one is quite who they seem when you can't tell who the more toxic person is or the victim. This is a dangerous game they play. You will get caught up in it quickly when the first surprise hits you. It took me a bit to get there, but the twist comes. I'm impressed by this author and knowing it is a debut!
Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this incredible ARC in exchange for my review.
Lila is gorgeous and magnetic on stage, but as the layers unravel in therapy, so does she. I like the way the characters blurred the lines between truth and tale leaving the reader to become part of the game. No one is quite who they seem when you can't tell who the more toxic person is or the victim. This is a dangerous game they play. You will get caught up in it quickly when the first surprise hits you. It took me a bit to get there, but the twist comes. I'm impressed by this author and knowing it is a debut!
Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this incredible ARC in exchange for my review.
March 16, 2025
Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff is an homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald; a peek behind the curtain at the entertainment industry and its power dynamics; and an appraisal of the #MeToo movement and the complicated nature of truth.
Kudos to Bischoff for pulling it all off!
Beloved film actress Lila Crayne, dubbed “America’s Sweetheart,” and her director-fiancé are producing an adaptation (feminist retelling) of Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night for Lila to star in.
Filled with classic literary references, Sweet Fury is told from multiple points of view and timelines with Bischoff’s clever use of journal entries, therapy notes, and film script excerpts.
Nothing is ever black and white. Roles of victim and perpetrator become blurred. You soon realize that you cannot fully trust any narrator.
The novel raises some interesting questions about our culture as it weaves together themes of trauma, power, revenge, and how justice is served.
There’s a lot to unpack and discuss here. It would make an excellent book club read.
March 3, 2025
1.5 if I’m being honest but I don’t want to talk about it lol
December 8, 2024
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!
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!
January 24, 2025
4.25 stars
A tense, engrossing psychological suspense, Sweet Fury's promo material heavily mentions The Silent Patient, while genre-wise not exactly the same (The Silent Patient a thriller, Sweet Fury a drama—goes a lot more in depth in its characters' psyche), I understand the comparison in that both stories share a brisk pace with relentless tension, as well as gasp-worthy character behaviors motivated by objectionable impulse.
With F. Scott Fitzgerald's work being heavily featured, prior knowledge to his novels would be beneficial (particularly The Great Gatsby, and Tender Is the Night), Sweet Fury does a decent job providing the necessary context, but one will get more out it if already familiar with the source material. For the majority of its length, Sweet Fury has me completely immersed in its tightly-wound mind game, unfortunately, the conclusion tilts the scale a bit too far into silly popcorn thriller zone, with over-the-top action and an oddly placed epilogues that is in stark contrast to the more nuanced construction prior.
As a debut, Sweet Fury sets itself apart by being painstaking with its character work, but incorporating shades of thriller storytelling, making it memorable and unputdownable. There are some minor rough patches that come with a first novel, but overall a completely worthy read—especially if you have enjoyed Alex Michaelides' novels in the past (The Fury is another apt comparison, a title I enjoyed it though universally is less well-liked).
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A tense, engrossing psychological suspense, Sweet Fury's promo material heavily mentions The Silent Patient, while genre-wise not exactly the same (The Silent Patient a thriller, Sweet Fury a drama—goes a lot more in depth in its characters' psyche), I understand the comparison in that both stories share a brisk pace with relentless tension, as well as gasp-worthy character behaviors motivated by objectionable impulse.
With F. Scott Fitzgerald's work being heavily featured, prior knowledge to his novels would be beneficial (particularly The Great Gatsby, and Tender Is the Night), Sweet Fury does a decent job providing the necessary context, but one will get more out it if already familiar with the source material. For the majority of its length, Sweet Fury has me completely immersed in its tightly-wound mind game, unfortunately, the conclusion tilts the scale a bit too far into silly popcorn thriller zone, with over-the-top action and an oddly placed epilogues that is in stark contrast to the more nuanced construction prior.
As a debut, Sweet Fury sets itself apart by being painstaking with its character work, but incorporating shades of thriller storytelling, making it memorable and unputdownable. There are some minor rough patches that come with a first novel, but overall a completely worthy read—especially if you have enjoyed Alex Michaelides' novels in the past (The Fury is another apt comparison, a title I enjoyed it though universally is less well-liked).
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
February 18, 2025
I had high hopes for this book, despite not having read Tender is the Night. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had. It was a slow burn for me, I found myself not caring too much if I didn’t get a chance to pick it up, which is never a good sign.
The characters were all very unlikeable and over the top at times. I didn’t really care what happened to them, and I figured out what the twist was early on. The ending was interesting but disappointing. This was very literary for a thriller,and hard going for me. It was ok, but I just couldn’t get invested at all. Not the right audience for it.
Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this.
The characters were all very unlikeable and over the top at times. I didn’t really care what happened to them, and I figured out what the twist was early on. The ending was interesting but disappointing. This was very literary for a thriller,and hard going for me. It was ok, but I just couldn’t get invested at all. Not the right audience for it.
Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this.
December 4, 2024
HAPPY LATE PUB DAY! Came even earlier than we thought 😍
I feel obligated to start with an admission; I've never read Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. Actually, I haven't read anything at all by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
That said, the more he was mentioned the more the dread set in of an inevitable point at which the book would go over my head in its entirety. That never happened! In fact, what happened was nearly the opposite - I know more about Tender is the Night now than I did before finishing Sweet Fury. Without that relief of never having to face FOMO, I couldn't have given this 5/5.
On Sash Bischoff herself - this being her debut novel I feel like it's fair to single her out, apart from Sweet Fury - I was astounded over and over again how beautifully she could convey even the simplest of ideas. Her word choice and phrasing packed a punch, adding to the story itself which is also a knockout. Sash, if you're reading this, did your brain come with a built-in thesaurus??? You have made the list of authors I'm convinced got some upgrade I wasn't privy to.
Throughout the novel, I stopped to make notes over and over again. It seemed like every few pages a point was made or a new perspective brought up that deserved a mic drop after it. This take on friction in feminism is perhaps my new favorite. When Lila said Bullseye. And how I hadn't thought of this on my own before, I couldn't tell you. Or at least I Such a - frankly - badass take on the disservice men/society/culture/history paid women. Almost like a "help me, help you" situation, with everything self serving in the end.
The addition of Jonah to the mix is *chef's kiss*. A few therapy notes in, I was reminded of the nonfiction book And How Does That Make You Feel?: Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Therapy. It almost feels like a glimpse behind the curtain, if you've ever participated in therapy yourself. The paranoia I felt during Fletcher's book was very similar to what I felt as a result of Jonah's contribution here (at the beginning, anyway).
I have to admit I saw the ending coming from a while away. HOWEVER, there were smaller twists (but still vital to the story, a rarity IMO) that I never would have guessed. The The Silent Patientcomparison was an accurate one. Similar, but done much much much better. And with an added layer of complexity.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Sash Bischoff and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
I feel obligated to start with an admission; I've never read Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. Actually, I haven't read anything at all by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
That said, the more he was mentioned the more the dread set in of an inevitable point at which the book would go over my head in its entirety. That never happened! In fact, what happened was nearly the opposite - I know more about Tender is the Night now than I did before finishing Sweet Fury. Without that relief of never having to face FOMO, I couldn't have given this 5/5.
On Sash Bischoff herself - this being her debut novel I feel like it's fair to single her out, apart from Sweet Fury - I was astounded over and over again how beautifully she could convey even the simplest of ideas. Her word choice and phrasing packed a punch, adding to the story itself which is also a knockout. Sash, if you're reading this, did your brain come with a built-in thesaurus??? You have made the list of authors I'm convinced got some upgrade I wasn't privy to.
Throughout the novel, I stopped to make notes over and over again. It seemed like every few pages a point was made or a new perspective brought up that deserved a mic drop after it. This take on friction in feminism is perhaps my new favorite. When Lila said Bullseye. And how I hadn't thought of this on my own before, I couldn't tell you. Or at least I Such a - frankly - badass take on the disservice men/society/culture/history paid women. Almost like a "help me, help you" situation, with everything self serving in the end.
The addition of Jonah to the mix is *chef's kiss*. A few therapy notes in, I was reminded of the nonfiction book And How Does That Make You Feel?: Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Therapy. It almost feels like a glimpse behind the curtain, if you've ever participated in therapy yourself. The paranoia I felt during Fletcher's book was very similar to what I felt as a result of Jonah's contribution here (at the beginning, anyway).
I have to admit I saw the ending coming from a while away. HOWEVER, there were smaller twists (but still vital to the story, a rarity IMO) that I never would have guessed. The The Silent Patientcomparison was an accurate one. Similar, but done much much much better. And with an added layer of complexity.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Sash Bischoff and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
September 23, 2024
Could not put this down & consider it a TOP read ever for me. It felt well thought out, brilliantly written, and kept me engaged. I found myself wanting the story to go on and could not put it down.
The way the book takes you through the story’s twists and turns makes you feel as if you are experiencing it yourself.
You will not regret reading this amazing book!
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to recommend and re-read it in the future!
The way the book takes you through the story’s twists and turns makes you feel as if you are experiencing it yourself.
You will not regret reading this amazing book!
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to recommend and re-read it in the future!
January 7, 2025
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.
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.
August 24, 2024
Im still weeping a little as I finish this brilliant debut novel! I loved Gatsby when I read it in high school and loved it even more when I became an English teacher and was able to teach it. Lila is an actress married to director Kurt when she will be playing the lead in Tender is the Night. She's also in therapy due to a childhood trauma that left her father dead in a horrific car accident. Vacillating in time between her days at Princeton and the present, the book details her rise to fame as well as the memories she carries with her daily and her need for revenge. I powered through as i couldn't put it down and it will remain as one of my favorite books of the year!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
September 22, 2024
Lila seems to have it all. She starts seeing a therapist for her job. While talking to the therapist, Lila has been keeping some secrets. This book kept my attention until the end.
November 10, 2024
This is a brilliant debut by Sash Bischoff. As a Fitzgerald and Alex Michaelides fan, this book had all the vibes. I loved the Gatsby-esque behavior of the characters: the hedonistic lavish parties, opulent wealth, and fame coupled with the main character's complicated relationship with her therapist. The pacing was excellent and gave it a psychological thriller feeling so you couldn't put it down. The prose is engaging, lyrical, and intelligent. It is thought-provoking and compelling from start to finish. I did want to have more clarity as to the outcome of the women at the end, but I loved it and highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Sash Bischoff for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: domestic abuse and sexual assault mentioned
CW: domestic abuse and sexual assault mentioned
March 6, 2025
Here is a book that makes me long for the more nuanced rating systems of other book-reading-reviewing-tracking apps.
This book is well crafted and written, very imaginative and cleverly aligned with the literature of F Scott Fitzgerald. Not only the stories of Tender Is the Night and The Great Gatsby, but also the lore of his life, his relationship with his wife Zelda, and thoughts that she was the author of his works.
What happens when you take a story and re-center it in the female perspective? This is very meta- it is multi-universal and there are layers upon layers of re-centering a story in a different perspective.
Here is the gist of it- this book is very well done. I hated the ending, the conclusion, I wanted to hurl the book against the wall. I hated the characters. They are really well characterized but I hated them so much. It is a brilliant book and I wish I never read it.
HOW DO I RATE THAT.
I guess 3 stars, but I am not happy about it.
This book is well crafted and written, very imaginative and cleverly aligned with the literature of F Scott Fitzgerald. Not only the stories of Tender Is the Night and The Great Gatsby, but also the lore of his life, his relationship with his wife Zelda, and thoughts that she was the author of his works.
What happens when you take a story and re-center it in the female perspective? This is very meta- it is multi-universal and there are layers upon layers of re-centering a story in a different perspective.
Here is the gist of it- this book is very well done. I hated the ending, the conclusion, I wanted to hurl the book against the wall. I hated the characters. They are really well characterized but I hated them so much. It is a brilliant book and I wish I never read it.
HOW DO I RATE THAT.
I guess 3 stars, but I am not happy about it.
November 9, 2024
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.
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.
December 6, 2024
I will start off by saying I think it’s a huge disservice to be marketing this book as a thriller comparable to Silent Patient (also it kinda lowkey spoils one aspect of the book) this is very much a pure psychological suspense and the few ‘reveals’ are pretty easy to pick up on. readers going in expecting this will be disappointed.
I say that because this IS a good book and Bischoff’s writing is really strong especially for a debut. I love stories about the film industry/actors and this scratched that itch for me. It’s some pretty straightforward commentary about toxic relationships and masculinity but the story itself was good and some quotes hit hard.
I say that because this IS a good book and Bischoff’s writing is really strong especially for a debut. I love stories about the film industry/actors and this scratched that itch for me. It’s some pretty straightforward commentary about toxic relationships and masculinity but the story itself was good and some quotes hit hard.
November 27, 2025
Este libro prometía muchísimo: un thriller psicológico con toques literarios, un enfoque feminista y la etiqueta de “el nuevo fenómeno tras La paciente silenciosa”. Con eso, obvio que me llamó la atención. Pero aunque tiene elementos potentes, es una apuesta arriesgada que puede dividir opiniones.
La historia quiere ser profunda y compleja, pero se lía demasiado y acaba sintiéndose forzada. Los personajes, además, son bastante insoportables, egoístas, fríos, y conectas bien poco con ellos. Todos se proclaman feministas sin tener muy claro lo que eso significa. Hay momentos en los que la forma de escribir de la autora también se nota un poco artificial, como si intentara impresionar más de la cuenta.
A pesar de todo esto, engancha y mucho, sobre todo el tercer acto. Siempre tenía ganas de seguir leyendo para saber qué pasaría en el siguiente capítulo, pero el desenlace me ha decepcionado bastante. Para mí, no ha sido lo suficientemente potente y acaba siendo muy predecible.
En resumen: no está mal, tiene cosas interesantes, pero está muy lejos de ser el nuevo GRAN thriller. Al final, se queda en una novela conceptual y un buen recordatorio de que a veces el marketing pasa factura.
La historia quiere ser profunda y compleja, pero se lía demasiado y acaba sintiéndose forzada. Los personajes, además, son bastante insoportables, egoístas, fríos, y conectas bien poco con ellos. Todos se proclaman feministas sin tener muy claro lo que eso significa. Hay momentos en los que la forma de escribir de la autora también se nota un poco artificial, como si intentara impresionar más de la cuenta.
A pesar de todo esto, engancha y mucho, sobre todo el tercer acto. Siempre tenía ganas de seguir leyendo para saber qué pasaría en el siguiente capítulo, pero el desenlace me ha decepcionado bastante. Para mí, no ha sido lo suficientemente potente y acaba siendo muy predecible.
En resumen: no está mal, tiene cosas interesantes, pero está muy lejos de ser el nuevo GRAN thriller. Al final, se queda en una novela conceptual y un buen recordatorio de que a veces el marketing pasa factura.
February 12, 2025
I started to keep a list of really frustrating lines from this book to demonstrate how pretentious the writing is. We get it, you went to Princeton! The plot is feeble, the dialogue unlike anything people say out loud, and the praise baffling. I'll let you judge for yourselves with the quotes below.
"...he knew it might be déclassé, even gauche, to succumb to the plebeian vote."
"And then, right as he was nearing the nadir: his panacea."
"The exquisite tabula rosa of his mind."
"My silent deliberations evanesce as I walk"
"before settling on a selection that felt timeless, soigné"
"the tiny fig points of her nipples" (SO MANY NIPPLES, every reference strange)
"And through the windows' pansophic eyes"
"...he knew it might be déclassé, even gauche, to succumb to the plebeian vote."
"And then, right as he was nearing the nadir: his panacea."
"The exquisite tabula rosa of his mind."
"My silent deliberations evanesce as I walk"
"before settling on a selection that felt timeless, soigné"
"the tiny fig points of her nipples" (SO MANY NIPPLES, every reference strange)
"And through the windows' pansophic eyes"
April 9, 2025
3.25 stars
December 16, 2024
2 stars
My feelings about this book are somewhat complicated, but my overall impression is not as positive as I'd hoped upon entry.
Lila is a film star who - in an effort to engage with an adaptation of Fitzgerald's work - heads off to therapy. It's clear immediately that most of the characters that appear are terrible and/or minimally untrustworthy in some way, which makes it hard to engage with them or root for them. For the first half of the novel, I found myself bordering on boredom, and had I resorted to AI audio narration to help me persist. When the plot turns more intriguing, it also backs right up into a space that I'd have preferred a solid content warning for. So, I'll do the honors on that here for likeminded readers who'd have preferred to know that there was going to be a drawn-out description of a rape scene. There are other CW-worthy mentions, but I'll stick here for now.
I could have done without that level of detail, and I don't think the outcomes would have been any less compelling with a briefer description. What I really found challenging was the tie between victims/survivors and truthfulness. I get where this was going and what was being attempted, but I didn't love the messaging that some level of vigilante justice by whatever means necessary is just a-okay. Maybe we need a reminder - especially in modern society (vomits forever) - that the vast majority of folks who feel and/or assert that they are victimized ARE. The messaging on this front...not for me.
I understand why some folks will read this novel as some sort of feminist justice, but I could not disagree more with this assessment. As someone who regularly works with survivors, I cannot see myself recommending this novel to anyone around me, and my advice to those considering the read anyway is to check a comprehensive list of content warnings (which I do not claim to have provided here).
Though I found this read challenging, I'm still appreciative of the opportunity to have encountered it (and, frankly, to warn specific people around me away from it).
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
My feelings about this book are somewhat complicated, but my overall impression is not as positive as I'd hoped upon entry.
Lila is a film star who - in an effort to engage with an adaptation of Fitzgerald's work - heads off to therapy. It's clear immediately that most of the characters that appear are terrible and/or minimally untrustworthy in some way, which makes it hard to engage with them or root for them. For the first half of the novel, I found myself bordering on boredom, and had I resorted to AI audio narration to help me persist. When the plot turns more intriguing, it also backs right up into a space that I'd have preferred a solid content warning for. So, I'll do the honors on that here for likeminded readers who'd have preferred to know that there was going to be a drawn-out description of a rape scene. There are other CW-worthy mentions, but I'll stick here for now.
I could have done without that level of detail, and I don't think the outcomes would have been any less compelling with a briefer description. What I really found challenging was the tie between victims/survivors and truthfulness. I get where this was going and what was being attempted, but I didn't love the messaging that some level of vigilante justice by whatever means necessary is just a-okay. Maybe we need a reminder - especially in modern society (vomits forever) - that the vast majority of folks who feel and/or assert that they are victimized ARE. The messaging on this front...not for me.
I understand why some folks will read this novel as some sort of feminist justice, but I could not disagree more with this assessment. As someone who regularly works with survivors, I cannot see myself recommending this novel to anyone around me, and my advice to those considering the read anyway is to check a comprehensive list of content warnings (which I do not claim to have provided here).
Though I found this read challenging, I'm still appreciative of the opportunity to have encountered it (and, frankly, to warn specific people around me away from it).
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2024
I was so excited at the prospect of reading “Sweet Fury,” a psychological thriller, when the publisher offered me an ARC in exchange for my review. As an F. Scott Fitzgerald fan, I couldn’t resist the theme centered around the making of a film adaptation of “Tender is the Night,” with a feminine twist. It had a promising start with its prologue of a bloody corpse. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to its promise.
In the novel, Lila Crayne, a self-proclaimed Fitzgerald aficionado, stars in a film adaptation of “Tender is the Night” being directed by her fiancee, Kurt Royall, who is famous for another film in which Lila also starred. Lila will be portraying Nicole Rider, a mental patient of psychiatrist Dick Rider, who falls in love with the psychologically damaged Nicole, and marries her. The book blames his subsequent decline on Nicole. However, Lila wants to change the story to make Dick the predator instead of the prey, creating an image of Nicole as a strong female character who overcomes her past trauma despite being preyed upon by Dick.
The characters in “Sweet Fury” seem to parallel those in “Tender is the Night” when Lila seeks therapy with Jonah Gabriel, also a Fitzgerald fan, whose attendance at Princeton, Fitzgerald’s alma mater, coincided with a year in which Lila was a student. Jonah has been obsessed with Lila since he met her at Princeton, although Lila informs him that she doesn’t remember him. Throughout the therapy, Jonah tries to retain his professionalism, despite his obsession with Lila, but her lure seems impossible to resist.
The narrative alternates between long stretches of dialog involving the filming, such as speeches to the cast members at a pre-filming party, long sequences describing a scene being practiced and filmed, interspersed with long narratives with no dialog in which the past is described as well as the characters’ feelings explored. In between these long chapters are short ones of either Jonah’s therapy notes or Lila’s journal entries, detailing her physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her fiancee, which she created at Jonah’s request.
Despite the long, somewhat tedious chapters, the book was a solid four rating until the denouement, which devolved into the farcical. And the short epilogue was totally incomprehensible to me. I can usually overlook a contrived ending if it is satisfying, but this ending involved lengthy monologues, bizarre actions, and a sudden appearance by a secondary character. If readers can overlook these deficiencies, it could be an interesting novel. Perhaps I had higher expectations of a book which invokes my literary hero, F. Scott Fitzgerald. (On the plus side, it did make me want to re-read “Tender is the Night”).
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
In the novel, Lila Crayne, a self-proclaimed Fitzgerald aficionado, stars in a film adaptation of “Tender is the Night” being directed by her fiancee, Kurt Royall, who is famous for another film in which Lila also starred. Lila will be portraying Nicole Rider, a mental patient of psychiatrist Dick Rider, who falls in love with the psychologically damaged Nicole, and marries her. The book blames his subsequent decline on Nicole. However, Lila wants to change the story to make Dick the predator instead of the prey, creating an image of Nicole as a strong female character who overcomes her past trauma despite being preyed upon by Dick.
The characters in “Sweet Fury” seem to parallel those in “Tender is the Night” when Lila seeks therapy with Jonah Gabriel, also a Fitzgerald fan, whose attendance at Princeton, Fitzgerald’s alma mater, coincided with a year in which Lila was a student. Jonah has been obsessed with Lila since he met her at Princeton, although Lila informs him that she doesn’t remember him. Throughout the therapy, Jonah tries to retain his professionalism, despite his obsession with Lila, but her lure seems impossible to resist.
The narrative alternates between long stretches of dialog involving the filming, such as speeches to the cast members at a pre-filming party, long sequences describing a scene being practiced and filmed, interspersed with long narratives with no dialog in which the past is described as well as the characters’ feelings explored. In between these long chapters are short ones of either Jonah’s therapy notes or Lila’s journal entries, detailing her physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her fiancee, which she created at Jonah’s request.
Despite the long, somewhat tedious chapters, the book was a solid four rating until the denouement, which devolved into the farcical. And the short epilogue was totally incomprehensible to me. I can usually overlook a contrived ending if it is satisfying, but this ending involved lengthy monologues, bizarre actions, and a sudden appearance by a secondary character. If readers can overlook these deficiencies, it could be an interesting novel. Perhaps I had higher expectations of a book which invokes my literary hero, F. Scott Fitzgerald. (On the plus side, it did make me want to re-read “Tender is the Night”).
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2025
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.
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.
December 3, 2024
I really despised that ending and dropped another whole star from the rating.
The book was very intriguing and well written, for the most part. I loved reading the twisty plot and was anticipating how it would all unfold. Until the end, I was going to give this 4 stars.
But.....I don't care about Celia, and I think it's pretty repulsive to compare their rapist and Lila as being "just as bad" as one another. Lila deserves to fuck all the people over who've fucked HER over, and then maybe become a bit of a gray hero. But looks like Maggie and Celia teamed up and will now screw up her life AGAIN, and in my opinion that's just fucking stupid and really, really disappointing.
Also....the whole point of meeting Lila is to "help" Jonah somehow? Because Maggie doesn't think he should be in prison for life? HUH?????? I don't understand why Celia would assist with that. Jonah is a rapist. He literally raped two different women. Also he committed soooo many illegal acts as a therapist. So the more I think about it, the more the ending doesn't make sense. HE'S A RAPIST. HE DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON. HELLO?????
I don't care about justice for Maggie or Celia lmfao. No offense, but this is Lila's story, not these random chicks, and how am I supposed to be satisfied with an ending where the MC, who's spent her whole life on this one specific revenge plot, is now going to get a horrible end. I want my female protagonists to get away with shit - none of this "oh well now she gets what's coming to her." BORING and beyond unsatisfying. Stupid and lame and overdone.
The book was very intriguing and well written, for the most part. I loved reading the twisty plot and was anticipating how it would all unfold. Until the end, I was going to give this 4 stars.
But.....I don't care about Celia, and I think it's pretty repulsive to compare their rapist and Lila as being "just as bad" as one another. Lila deserves to fuck all the people over who've fucked HER over, and then maybe become a bit of a gray hero. But looks like Maggie and Celia teamed up and will now screw up her life AGAIN, and in my opinion that's just fucking stupid and really, really disappointing.
Also....the whole point of meeting Lila is to "help" Jonah somehow? Because Maggie doesn't think he should be in prison for life? HUH?????? I don't understand why Celia would assist with that. Jonah is a rapist. He literally raped two different women. Also he committed soooo many illegal acts as a therapist. So the more I think about it, the more the ending doesn't make sense. HE'S A RAPIST. HE DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON. HELLO?????
I don't care about justice for Maggie or Celia lmfao. No offense, but this is Lila's story, not these random chicks, and how am I supposed to be satisfied with an ending where the MC, who's spent her whole life on this one specific revenge plot, is now going to get a horrible end. I want my female protagonists to get away with shit - none of this "oh well now she gets what's coming to her." BORING and beyond unsatisfying. Stupid and lame and overdone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
My goodness I loved this book. At about halfway through, I couldn't put it down!
I don't know much about F. Scott Fitzgerald and though I've read Gatsby, it was ages ago and I can't say I remember much. A massive theme in this book is a nod to Fitzgerald and his life but I felt that not having that inherent knowledge wasn't a negative. Bischoff did a great job filling in the gaps and connecting the dots, though I'm sure if you're a Fitzgerald aficionado, you'll pick up on many things I missed!
The style of this novel was incredibly unique and well done. I loved that it was broken into parts with different narrators/perspectives and then within each part there were also different styles like therapy notes, screenplays, etc.
The characters were really well developed. I didn't trust anyone and had you asked me about 20% in, I would have said I knew exactly where the novel was going. While I wasn't entirely wrong, I definitely wasn't entirely right either and getting to that final scene was truly epic.
This would be a stellar book club choice because there are so many relevant themes to discuss and it is very timely. With elements of the "me too" movement and feminism, I felt entertained and enlightened all at once.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and very highly recommend it. Well written, superbly executed, and tremendously thought-provoking. Don't miss it!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the copy!
I don't know much about F. Scott Fitzgerald and though I've read Gatsby, it was ages ago and I can't say I remember much. A massive theme in this book is a nod to Fitzgerald and his life but I felt that not having that inherent knowledge wasn't a negative. Bischoff did a great job filling in the gaps and connecting the dots, though I'm sure if you're a Fitzgerald aficionado, you'll pick up on many things I missed!
The style of this novel was incredibly unique and well done. I loved that it was broken into parts with different narrators/perspectives and then within each part there were also different styles like therapy notes, screenplays, etc.
The characters were really well developed. I didn't trust anyone and had you asked me about 20% in, I would have said I knew exactly where the novel was going. While I wasn't entirely wrong, I definitely wasn't entirely right either and getting to that final scene was truly epic.
This would be a stellar book club choice because there are so many relevant themes to discuss and it is very timely. With elements of the "me too" movement and feminism, I felt entertained and enlightened all at once.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and very highly recommend it. Well written, superbly executed, and tremendously thought-provoking. Don't miss it!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the copy!
October 7, 2024
This book borders so hard on clever then when it actually crosses into that territory is absolutely wastes it’s shot. This book will be a best seller marketed like silent patient and will either be people’s favorite or they’ll hate it.
January 8, 2025
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.
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.
December 17, 2024
This was a really fast paced, well-written suspense novel that I especially appreciated because of the connection to Fitzgerald’s novels (and personal life). I’ve only ever read The Great Gatsby a few times and own Tender Is the Night, which I’m now interested in reading thanks to this one. Another review noted that the characters sometimes act in a very Gatsby-esque way; I would agree and add that the overall vibe feels faithful to Fitzgerald and the 1920s. I loved all the quotes and mentions of him and Zelda (who is also fascinating). The ending fell apart a bit for me for various reasons: it got a little campy, drawn out, overly dramatic. Also, I don’t understand the epilogue at all so maybe someone can explain that to me. Overall, I’ve not enjoyed many thrillers lately but this held my attention, and I flew through it without a single eyeroll.
Pub date: Jan 7, 2025
Pub date: Jan 7, 2025
May 4, 2025
Dacă vrei să ajungi o stea de cinema, să apari pe marile ecrane și să fii cunoscută în întreaga lume, atunci trebuie să ții cont de următorul aspect: este mai important cu cine te culci decât talentul actoricesc. Firește, trebuie să fii capabilă să interpretezi un rol, să râzi, chiar dacă îți vine să plângi în hohote; să fii îndrăzneață și să nu te rușinezi dacă ești nevoită să joci în pielea goală; să fii senzuală sau depravată, chiar dacă ești timidă; să-ți săruți partenerul de scenă de parcă ar fi marea ta iubire, chiar dacă, în realitate, nu vă leagă absolut nimic – cu alte cuvinte, atunci când pășești pe platoul de filmare trebuie să uiți de tine cea adevărată și să-ți asumi identitatea pe care scenaristul și regizorul au creat-o. Dar ca să ai șansa să zâmbești în fața camerelor într-un rol principal, e necesar să ai un protector, un bărbat care să te ia sub aripa lui și să te propulseze în carieră în schimbul unor mici favoruri murdare. Practic, sexul reprezintă cea mai bună monedă cu care îți poți plăti rolul într-un film. Și dacă vei ajunge celebră, nu va mai conta că ai fost șantajată și abuzată sexual; nu va mai conta că trăiești într-o relație toxică doar ca să nu fi tăiată de pe lista distribuției celui mai recent film. Nimic nu va mai conta... Însă toate nopțile în care te-ai mințit că-l iubești în timp ce te pătrundea, satisfăcându-și propriile pofte, vor brăzda urme adânci în mintea și-n inima ta, până când, fără să-ți dai seama, vei ajunge să joci un rol și-n viața de zi cu zi. Vei deveni o păpușă neputincioasă în mâinile celui care te-a modelat, iar singurele cuvinte la care vei mai reacționa vor fi: Lumini! Motor! ACȚIUNE!
Lila Crayne este o femeie realizată din toate punctele de vedere: este o actriță de film cunoscută și foarte talentată, e amețitor de frumoasă și sexy, are mulți bani, o are ca impresar pe mama ei, o adevărată scorpie atunci când vine vorba despre interesele fiicei sale, și este logodită cu Kurt Royall, regizor celebru pe întreg mapamondul, mult mai în vârstă decât ea. Acum, Lila se pregătește să joace în viitoarea capodoperă a iubitului ei, o adaptare cinematografică a romanului „Blândețea nopții” de F. Scott Fitzgerald, reinterpretată într-o manieră feministă. Cu toate că protagonista noastră este o forță a naturii în lumina reflectoarelor, reușind să cucerească și, într-o oarecare măsură, să îmblânzească lumea sălbatică a cinematografiei în care doar bărbații au un cuvânt de spus, pe plan personal, este una dintre multele victime ale violenței domestice, confruntându-se cu traume din copilărie și nesiguranțe generate de misoginismul nociv al masculilor din jurul ei. Și aici intră în scenă Jonah Gabriel, psihoterapeutul chipeș și amabil care are o obsesie stranie pentru viața și romanele lui F. Scott Fitzgerald, în special pentru „Marele Gatsby”. Ca orice terapeut capabil, cu studii la trei universități de renume, Jonah se străduiește s-o ajute pe Lila să-și înfrunte proprii demoni, sondând adânc în mintea și-n sufletul ei. În urma discuțiilor, Lila își amintește de tatăl abuziv, de accidentul rutier în care acesta și-a pierdut viața și de relația toxică a părinților, dându-și seama că merge pe același drum pavat cu vânătăi, la fel ca mama ei. Îl iubește pe Kurt, fapt pentru care îi îndură capriciile și loviturile, iar ca să nu-l piardă – nici pe el și nici avantajele câștigate – acceptă să fie manipulată.
În momentul în care Kurt îi impune și mai multe limite, Lila se revoltă și caută o cale de scăpare. În consecință, ședințele ei cu jonah devin tot mai personale, apropierea romantică dintre ei fiind din ce în ce mai evidentă, el privind-o ca pe femeia visurilor sale, în ciuda faptului că e logodit cu altcineva, iar ea pe el, ca pe o portiță spre o viață nouă, lipsită de umilință. Însă legăturile dintre ei sunt mai încâlcite decât o pânză de păianjen, fiindcă amândoi au secrete care, odată dezvăluite, le vor ruina definitiv existențele. În plus, nu trebuie să uităm că Lila este o actriță desăvârșită, jucându-se cu aparențele după bunul său plac.
Pe lângă faptul că este un roman psihanalitic ce explorează traumele cele mai profunde ascunse în subconștient și un documentar despre ceea ce înseamnă să faci un film, „Dulce furie” reprezintă atât un omagiu adus lui F. Scott Fitzgerald și operelor sale literare, ce devin o obsesie bolnăvicioasă pentru toate personajele, cât și un manifest feminist ce reclamă șantajul, abuzul sexual, manipularea și transformarea femeii într-un accesoriu strălucitor, ale cărui drepturi și libertăți sunt încălcate cu prima ocazie. Sash Bischoff se folosește de experiențele sale ca actriță și regizoare pentru a realiza o radiografie a lumii cinematografice, scoțând în evidență părțile întunecate, ceea ce se ascunde de fapt în culisele platourilor de filmare, lupta veșnică dintre sexe și misoginia excesivă ce nu ține cont de secolul în care ne aflăm. Practic, întregul roman poate fi considerat un film pe hârtie, fiind alcătuit din cadre succesive, imagini, pe de-o parte, vii și nuanțate, pe de alta, schematice și zugrăvite în tonuri de gri, formând un ansamblu coerent, poetic și artistic..
În ciuda faptului că „Dulce furie” a fost încadrată la thriller, eu am o reținere în acest sens. Da, există o crimă, însă reprezintă o simplă consecință a evenimentelor narate, în prim plan fiind expusă situația femeilor care aleg să devină actrițe, vânzându-și trupul cine știe cărui regizor care le promite faima – un subiect sensibil, dar mult mai real decât ne-am dori. Personajele lui Bischoff sunt corupte, dedate propriilor interese, indiferente la suferința pe care o produc, existând o discrepanță colosală între imaginea lor publică și golul infinit ce rămâne după ce se lasă cortina, ceea ce le face nedemne de încredere. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca ritmul întâmplărilor să fie puțin mai alert, însă finalul exploziv a meritat toată așteptarea.
Lila Crayne este o femeie realizată din toate punctele de vedere: este o actriță de film cunoscută și foarte talentată, e amețitor de frumoasă și sexy, are mulți bani, o are ca impresar pe mama ei, o adevărată scorpie atunci când vine vorba despre interesele fiicei sale, și este logodită cu Kurt Royall, regizor celebru pe întreg mapamondul, mult mai în vârstă decât ea. Acum, Lila se pregătește să joace în viitoarea capodoperă a iubitului ei, o adaptare cinematografică a romanului „Blândețea nopții” de F. Scott Fitzgerald, reinterpretată într-o manieră feministă. Cu toate că protagonista noastră este o forță a naturii în lumina reflectoarelor, reușind să cucerească și, într-o oarecare măsură, să îmblânzească lumea sălbatică a cinematografiei în care doar bărbații au un cuvânt de spus, pe plan personal, este una dintre multele victime ale violenței domestice, confruntându-se cu traume din copilărie și nesiguranțe generate de misoginismul nociv al masculilor din jurul ei. Și aici intră în scenă Jonah Gabriel, psihoterapeutul chipeș și amabil care are o obsesie stranie pentru viața și romanele lui F. Scott Fitzgerald, în special pentru „Marele Gatsby”. Ca orice terapeut capabil, cu studii la trei universități de renume, Jonah se străduiește s-o ajute pe Lila să-și înfrunte proprii demoni, sondând adânc în mintea și-n sufletul ei. În urma discuțiilor, Lila își amintește de tatăl abuziv, de accidentul rutier în care acesta și-a pierdut viața și de relația toxică a părinților, dându-și seama că merge pe același drum pavat cu vânătăi, la fel ca mama ei. Îl iubește pe Kurt, fapt pentru care îi îndură capriciile și loviturile, iar ca să nu-l piardă – nici pe el și nici avantajele câștigate – acceptă să fie manipulată.
În momentul în care Kurt îi impune și mai multe limite, Lila se revoltă și caută o cale de scăpare. În consecință, ședințele ei cu jonah devin tot mai personale, apropierea romantică dintre ei fiind din ce în ce mai evidentă, el privind-o ca pe femeia visurilor sale, în ciuda faptului că e logodit cu altcineva, iar ea pe el, ca pe o portiță spre o viață nouă, lipsită de umilință. Însă legăturile dintre ei sunt mai încâlcite decât o pânză de păianjen, fiindcă amândoi au secrete care, odată dezvăluite, le vor ruina definitiv existențele. În plus, nu trebuie să uităm că Lila este o actriță desăvârșită, jucându-se cu aparențele după bunul său plac.
Pe lângă faptul că este un roman psihanalitic ce explorează traumele cele mai profunde ascunse în subconștient și un documentar despre ceea ce înseamnă să faci un film, „Dulce furie” reprezintă atât un omagiu adus lui F. Scott Fitzgerald și operelor sale literare, ce devin o obsesie bolnăvicioasă pentru toate personajele, cât și un manifest feminist ce reclamă șantajul, abuzul sexual, manipularea și transformarea femeii într-un accesoriu strălucitor, ale cărui drepturi și libertăți sunt încălcate cu prima ocazie. Sash Bischoff se folosește de experiențele sale ca actriță și regizoare pentru a realiza o radiografie a lumii cinematografice, scoțând în evidență părțile întunecate, ceea ce se ascunde de fapt în culisele platourilor de filmare, lupta veșnică dintre sexe și misoginia excesivă ce nu ține cont de secolul în care ne aflăm. Practic, întregul roman poate fi considerat un film pe hârtie, fiind alcătuit din cadre succesive, imagini, pe de-o parte, vii și nuanțate, pe de alta, schematice și zugrăvite în tonuri de gri, formând un ansamblu coerent, poetic și artistic..
În ciuda faptului că „Dulce furie” a fost încadrată la thriller, eu am o reținere în acest sens. Da, există o crimă, însă reprezintă o simplă consecință a evenimentelor narate, în prim plan fiind expusă situația femeilor care aleg să devină actrițe, vânzându-și trupul cine știe cărui regizor care le promite faima – un subiect sensibil, dar mult mai real decât ne-am dori. Personajele lui Bischoff sunt corupte, dedate propriilor interese, indiferente la suferința pe care o produc, existând o discrepanță colosală între imaginea lor publică și golul infinit ce rămâne după ce se lasă cortina, ceea ce le face nedemne de încredere. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca ritmul întâmplărilor să fie puțin mai alert, însă finalul exploziv a meritat toată așteptarea.
January 8, 2025
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.
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.
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