Gatsby: A Modern Retelling of Fitzgerald's Beloved Classic Novel

by Jane Crowther

A clever, gender-flipped modern-day retelling of the classic; stylish and beautifully written, with a host of the most decadently unhinged characters.

Everyone knows Gatsby. New money. Murky past. Huge online following.

Nic Carraway doesn’t belong amongst the super-rich, but when she scores a cheap summer lease in Long Island, it-girl Jay Gatsby becomes her neighbor.

Gatsby welcomes Nic to her opulent parties attended by the world’s A-list. And in return, Nic helps Gatsby reconnect with an old flame: Nic’s cousin, the ever-charming but now-married Danny Buchanan.

But no one can be careless like the rich. As the summer heats up, Nic finds herself tangled in a web of longing and ambition, betrayal and deceit. In a world where everyone is lying—about and to themselves—can Nic finally tell the truth?

For readers of The Paper Palace and Beautiful Little Fools, this hot summer story gender-flips and reimagines F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel.

Genres: Retellings, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Mystery

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you loved or despised Fitzgerald’s Jazz-age classic, Gatsby will have your eyes glued to the pages from beginning to end. A fresh modern-day retelling of an already memorable tale, this gender-flipping take took my all-time favorite classic novel and somehow made it even better. With a sharp look at influencers, cancel culture, and our obsession with image, the glamour, intrigue, and drama of the original novel was twisted and reimagined into our current over-the-top world. You see, just as The Great Gatsby was packed with thought-provoking themes, so too was this lyrical, almost poetic debut. Exploring deceit, jealousy, image, and wealth, the story was a complex yet magical homage to the literary master’s enduring tour de force of a book.

What else captivated me about this timely tale? Well, I have to say that the deliciously unhinged characters made me swoon with delight. Magnetic, enchanting, and just a little bit wild, this group of wealthy individuals sucked me right into their opulent world. Weaving together forbidden romance, dark secrets, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed, I loved every minute of this one-sitting read. After all, it felt perfect for fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald while also mixing in a very Gossip Girl feel. So if you’re looking for a brand new yet familiar read that immerses you in a world of wealth and privilege, grab this book now. Despite my love for the original novel, this book just might have overtaken it on my list of favorites. What a ride! Rating of 4.75 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Nic Carraway doesn’t belong amongst the super-rich, but when she scores a cheap summer lease in Long Island, it-girl Jay Gatsby becomes her neighbour.

Gatsby welcomes Nic to her opulent parties attended by the world’s A-list. And in return, Nic helps Gatsby reconnect with an old flame: Nic’s cousin, the ever-charming but now-married Danny Buchanan.

But no one can be careless like the rich. As the summer heats up, Nic finds herself tangled in a web of longing and ambition, betrayal and deceit. In a world where everyone is lying—about and to themselves—can Nic finally tell the truth?

Thank you Jane Crowther and The Borough Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: March 17, 2026

Content warning: alcohol, death, gun violence, car accident, infidelity, murder, drug abuse

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first things first - Please do not be put off by this book if you didn't enjoy The Great Gatsby!

I may be committing a literary faux pas here however I have to say I have never been over enamoured with The Great Gatsby. Like many, my introduction to TGG was mandated by my school (prior to discovering my love of reading) so my thoughts on the novel have always been of nostalgic hatred. I did re-visit the book in the past few years and still cannot see the greatness of it.

So, if that is the case, why did I pick this one up? A few reasons but mostly that I have really enjoyed some recent novels which are retellings of classic novels, I am thinking Demon Copperhead and James to name a couple of recent examples and I was also intrigued by the gender-flip aspect of this one too - gender neutral names like Jay and Nic coming in handy and Daisy Buchanan becoming Danny Buchanan.

This was an interesting novel, really bringing Gatsby into the 21st century and I certainly enjoyed it more than the original. I know that will be blasphemy amongst many literary scholars but we like what we like. As always, if you read the original, you kind of know where it is going but I would recommend this for those who enjoyed or disliked the original Gatsby.

A really strong effort from a gifted writer.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | The Borough Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's always something hubristic about taking on the challenge of re-writing a classic: it can be done, of course, but the adaptation needs to bring something new to the table as Wide Sargasso Sea does to Jane Eyre.

This modernisation of The Great Gatsby does a good job of fitting the story to our present, making Jay Gatsby a female social media influencer but I found it all a bit soulless and over-explained. When Nic first meets Gatsby, she explains: ' I recognized the dreamer in her. We were both in pursuit of something we imagined would deliver pure happiness.' I felt that this told us everything at 1% of the book whereas in Fitzgerald Gatsby remains an enigma until the end.

The other issue is that Fitzgerald is a supreme stylist and while this book isn't badly written, not many authors can match him sentence for sentence. The comparison doesn't do this author any favors.

So for me this felt too much like a fake or dupe of the real thing - I'd recommend it to readers who haven't read Fitzgerald and want a glitzy gender-flip tale of wealth with a darker social media underside.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I saw this book, I knew I had to apply. As a big fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the concept of a modern retelling immediately intrigued me.

This is a magnificent debut! Crowther brilliantly imagines what Gatsby would be like if he (or, in this case, she) lived in 2024, amidst the world of social media. The story deftly explores themes like the pressure of constant public scrutiny, cancel culture, and the ways people think they know you simply because they follow you on Instagram. It’s a fresh, exciting twist on one of the most iconic novels of all time.

One of the things I really appreciated is the gender flip, with Gatsby reimagined as a social media influencer. Because in today’s world, that’s one of the few industries that’s overwhelmingly female-dominated. It feels like an update for our times, with a new context that still captures the original’s essence. Themes like public scrutiny, cancel culture, and the illusion of intimacy online are woven deftly into the narrative, making this retelling both timely and timeless.
The glamour and opulence of the characters’ lives shine through on every page. Crowther brings the characters to life with such vivid descriptions that you can practically hear the laughter at Gatsby’s extravagant parties or picture them gossiping over cocktails. It’s clear that these characters are a little unhinged, but that’s what makes them so compelling.

The prose is stunning. There were moments when I’d stop and marvel at a beautifully crafted sentence or paragraph, thinking, "Wow." It’s a testament to Crowther's skill as a writer. That said, I’ll admit I had some difficulty fully immersing myself at times. Given how iconic Gatsby is and how well-known the original story is, I often found myself comparing the two instead of simply enjoying this retelling. This is no fault of the author—she did an amazing job—but the weight of the original novel’s legacy can’t be ignored. I did find myself wishing for a bit more originality and some fresh ideas beyond the established narrative.

While the modernized version of Daisy (Danny) still carries the same allure and complications as her 1920s counterpart, I found that Danny and Gatsby’s interactions in a world governed by social media added an extra layer of depth—where every word and gesture could be dissected online and they had to hide so no one would see them and post it. The modern Gatsby, too, is a very vulnerable figure inside, driven not just by ambition but by the pressures of online persona management. The idea of “performance” in today’s influencer culture fits seamlessly with the way the original characters operated in their pursuit of fame and status, making the entire story feel both timely and timeless.

Crowther’s retelling subtly critiques the very fabric of influencer culture, where authenticity often feels like a commodity and every relationship is tinted by the lens of public perception. It feels like a commentary on how today’s ‘greatness’ can often be just as shallow as the old-world pursuit of wealth and status. The parallels between the two eras are striking, and it made me reflect on how much of our lives are now governed by an audience, whether real or imagined.

I think this retelling has a lot of potential to engage younger readers and introduce them to the classics. If more authors did something like this with classic novels, it could potentially spark a whole new wave of interest in them. Imagine a series of modern updates—wouldn’t it be a great way to make the classics feel relevant to today’s generation?

Gatsby is set to release on April 10, 2025, exactly 100 years after the original’s publication. That’s a little detail I absolutely love, and it serves as a reminder of how timeless the themes of the novel are, even with a contemporary twist.

Final Thoughts: If you're a fan of the original Gatsby or if you're curious about how the world of social media impacts classic literature, this retelling is a must-read. It’s both a nostalgic journey and a fresh exploration of themes that continue to shape our culture today.

[Consacre Kapongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super disappointed with myself because I took such a long time to finish this novel. Procrastination is my best friend sadly.

Gatsby by Jane Crowther is an amazing debut novel, I enjoyed it from start to finish. I say this but I took a bit of time to finish, but honestly this was an entertaining book. I loved Jane Crowther's writing style in the perspective of our main character Nic. The story Itself is really good, and Jane drove the story forward excellently. With strong themes of fame, love, jealously, lust, elitism and wealth. I can see how the novel The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald influenced and impacted Jane Crowther. The highlight for me was watching our main character grow and develop the longer she stayed in Long Island, on East Egg. interacting with her cousin Danny, T, Jordan and Gatsby. The novel has a pretty good plot twist and tragic scenario, all which help our main character figure out who they truly are and what they want in life.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crowther does a brilliant job of flipping gender on this modern-day Great Gatsby retelling. The story started off a little slowly for me but soon I was caught up and immersed in Nic’s world and her obsession with the opulence and social media stardom of Jay Gatsby. My heart went out to Nic, as she found herself caught in a web of lies and infidelities in her longing just to be near Gatsby and to be involved in her life. Relationships become tangled and her need to be accepted leads Nic into some very dark waters. All of the characters are morally bankrupt and Nic finds herself becoming ensnared in this lifestyle. As the story developed, I found myself feeling sorry for Gatsby and for Nic as well. The last 20% of the book really ramps up and I found myself furiously flipping pages toward the explosive ending. I hadn’t read the original so I really wasn’t sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it and will definitely look forward to Crowther’s next novel.

[Taylor Ellis-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn’t revolutionary but I really enjoyed it and the story x

[Georgina Reads_Eats_Explores · Rating 5 out of 5]

#gifted

Ah, it’s been a fair while (over 25 years!) since I last read The Great Gatsby, and I’ll admit I approached this modern retelling with a bit of caution. But Gatsby by Jane Crowther turned out to be a slick, summery surprise, one that tips its hat to the original while confidently doing its own thing.

Set on a swanky Long Island estate (where else?), we follow Nic Carraway, who’s lucked into a cheap summer let in a very posh neighbourhood. Her new next-door neighbour? Jay Gatsby, no longer the dapper gent we know, but a stylish, enigmatic it-girl with a flair for lavish parties and even bigger secrets. The gender flip works brilliantly here. Gatsby, as a magnetic, mysterious woman, adds a new kind of charge to the story: fresh, a bit dangerous, and entirely compelling.

What I loved most was how Crowther preserves that hazy, almost dreamlike glamour of Fitzgerald’s world while making the characters feel fully rooted in the 21st century. There’s influencer culture, celebrity obsession, and plenty of sharp observations about wealth and image. The dynamic between Gatsby and Danny Buchanan (Nic’s cousin and the novel’s Daisy stand-in) is beautifully handled, complex, emotionally charged, and utterly believable. The whole thing simmers with longing and quiet heartbreak.

Nic remains the observer, but this time, she’s got a bit more grit. She’s less passive and more self-aware, which makes the eventual fallout land with real weight because, yes, things unravel. No one gets out of a Gatsby summer untouched.

What Crowther achieves is more than a retelling; it’s a reimagining. The story feels both familiar and brand new, which is no small feat. Her prose reflects Fitzgerald’s lyrical tone while weaving in modern rhythms and sensibilities. Stylish, smart, and intensely readable, Gatsby is both homage and reinvention, and it is well worth picking up whether you’re revisiting West Egg or discovering it for the first time.

Thank you to the publisher for kindly sending me an advance copy. As always, this is an honest review.

[maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painfully average, wayyy too many synonyms and not even in an overwritten way, but a way that makes it strangely immature. I am the BIGGEST gatsby lover (maybe that’s where I went wrong tho!!) so I was vv let down
Also did not need the n*rland mention rn

[Monika Armet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.
Nic Carraway is an aspiring journalist who, after finishing Yale College, moves to New York and rents a boathouse in West Egg.

West Egg is different from the East Egg. The former means new money, and the latter the old money and more ‘prestige’. Nic has a cousin, Danny Buchanan, who married Tomasina (but everyone calls her T), and they live in the East Egg. Nic was always close to Danny, and soon invitations to their house followed.

On the social media platforms, Nic follows Jay Gatsby, a beautiful and mysterious influencer who hosts lavish invite-only parties. Imagine Nic’s shock when she discovers that Gatsby lives right next door to her boathouse! Imagine her further shock when she receives an invitation to one of her parties…

Soon, a friendship blossoms between Jay and Nic. Is it premeditation or chance? The truth may be a lot uglier than Nic anticipated…

This is a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby, a classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I loved how it was transported to modern times with mobile phones, social media, and all the fancy tech you can imagine.

The author kept closely to the original story, and I loved how she swapped genders for the key characters – I thought that was cleverly done, and it brought a fresh and exciting take on the story.

This book shows the ugly side of social media, how we present ourselves, and how we are perceived by others. As I was reading it, I thought of the well-known saying “All that glitters isn’t gold,” and that’s so true in this case.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its beautiful, lyrical, and dreamy prose.

I definitely recommend it.

[Marie Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Fitzgerald’s original, and this modern-day retelling did not disappoint. Jazz Age decadence gives way to 21st Century digital overindulgence, and the parallels were absolutely fitting. The gender swap provided an interesting twist, too, making this story its own while upholding the structure established by the classic.

I knocked off a star because I wasn’t completely sold on the changes to Danny (Daisy) and Gatsby. Fitzgerald made it clear that Daisy was superficial and destructive, while Crowther presented Danny as lost and aimless; it almost seemed like he didn’t play an active role in all the hurt he caused, and that was a missed opportunity. His ending also felt like reaching for justice, instead of leaving us longing for retribution the way Fitzgerald did. Gatsby read like a supporting character in her own story. I missed her presence throughout, and kept hoping for more of her influence, especially toward the end when everything comes to a head during the Labor Day showdown. At the end of the day, I had to ask myself if I enjoyed this book, and the answer was yes, and so it should be regarded and appreciated as a solid option within the world of Jay Gatsby.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like Fitzgerald, Crowther’s prose is gorgeous and poetic, romanticising the sights and sounds of modern Long Island with precision and originality. Her ability to turn a phrase and have us understand exactly the feeling or thought she wants to convey is remarkable, and that, along with my familiarity with the source material, made Gatsby such an insatiable read. Crowther’s ability to capture not only the essence of The Great Gatsby, but the melody of Fitzgerald’s prose is uncanny, and the dissection of how we treat women in the media is both powerful and prescient. A modern retelling of Gatsby, but with influencers, social media, the idea of digital new money, and the toxicity of celebrity is so intelligent I’m surprised it’s not been done sooner - thank god it was Crowther, with her razor sharp pen, and her candid presentation of these characters, who brought it to life.

[Lisa Weideman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The feeling and mood of The Great Gatsby was maintained while the setting was modernized. While I have studied the original in an undergraduate class and written about the use of color as theme, I do believe this story may also be compelling to someone entirely unfamiliar with the original novel.

[ranymjesuis]

DNFed 78 pages in—it’s soooo boring omg and disappointing too.

I don’t remember EVERYTHING about The Great Gatsby, but at least it was interesting in some way, at least enough to leave me a good memory of it.

I have two major issues with this book:

1. why do we already know A LOT about Gatsby before Nic even met her? The whole point of the "Gatsby" myth is for it to stay one, there’s no point in waiting for Nic to meet the Mysterious Gatsby if I already know her! Nic being obsessed with Gatsby’s influencer lifestyle was just… unnecessary
2. the writing tried TOO HARD to be rich and complex–girl, not everything needs to be poetic!

For instance:
"[…] I watched a willowy figure casting the phone about her, looking for a signal or filming a video. It was almost a dance as she held the glowing square above her head, to the side, pirouetted with it, flirted with the screen."
—almost annotated "tf u on abt?"
"As I watched the buildings pass I peeled my parched tongue from the roof of my mouth, regretting the soy sauce I had consumed."
—ok, there’s nothing dramatically overwritten here but just imagine reading pages and pages of a not a only half-passive narrator (at least that’s faithful to the original book) but one who also loves to talk, talk, talk to say nothing?

I get that Nic is supposed to be this sort of outsider, observing these messy rich people’s bullshit but something should’ve been done to make the story engaging and captivating–what, idk, but something. She has a clear purpose (spending her NYC summer trying to write something) but she’s just constantly on the sidelines, subject to other characters will and whims, which gets boring at some point.

I’m super disappointed bcs I loved the idea of a modern/genre-switch retelling of Gatsby’s dramatic story but this wasn’t it.

[Morgan McCord · Rating 4 out of 5]

*my reviews are for my personal record*

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway — thanks!!

A retelling of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby to fit modern themes such as, social media and the celebrity status of influencers (also with flipped genders of Gatsby and Daisy!!)

Generally, I prefer to escape the world of modern technology during my reading for pleasure. So I am often put off by books that dwell on such topics. However, I didn't find that to be much of an issue while reading Gatsby and, I did appreciate its moral on social media, sensational headlines, etc.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love "The Great Gatsby," so I'm the audience for this because I absolutely love it too. Crowther did such a good job replicating the time of OG into this modern telling - the characterization done flipping everyone's genders, the plot switches to social media involvement, just everything fit so well.

I did go into this thinking Nic and Jay were going to be lesbians together, so I must've gotten that mixed up with another copyright-has-expired-let's-publish-the-fanfic titles that I'll have to hunt for now...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As captivating as the original- love the gender bend and 21st century update

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.

The Great Gatsby is such a well loved book of mine and Jane Crowther emulates Fitzgerald well, capturing his tone and the essence of the writing whilst firmly steeping this classic in the throws of modernity.

Set 100 years after the original story, the themes are still very relevant today, perhaps eerily so. Crowther breathes new life into the story, giving it an almost thriller like quality leaving the reader unsettled by secrets and betrayal. The murky past and questionable morality of the characters works well with this modern twist of the influencer lifestyle. Whilst keeping faith to the original story arc, those who know the story will still be gripped by the writing and intrigue.

Nic’s role in this is less of an apathetic passive bystander, and is in truth happy stirring up discontent, this version shines an uncomfortable light on her actions in a more truthful way- Nic is bored and jealous, she lies to those she claims to care about and is complicit in multiple deceptions. Nic is traditionally fairly morally ambiguous, but I feel in this version she is more at fault.

I like that there is more awareness of Nic and Danny’s background in this. Fitzgerald’s original lacked the social awareness that Crowther’s version has lent Nic, being cognisant of her privilege in a way the original writer was unable to do. It also introduced new themes in an effort to update the story, like Jordan Baker’s character’s race and how this impacts him, however I felt like this could have gone further as it introduced this theme but only very lightly explored it.

Definitely a book I want to reread.

[MISS RACHEL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having studied The Great Gatsby for A-level English more than 35 years ago, the premise of this intrigued me. Tbh, I couldn't really remember much detail from the original - though some of the symbolism that my English teacher went on and on about has stuck with me - the colour yellow, the optician's billboard ad and the car headlights - but I didn't really remember what happened beyond big parties and an affair... so there was enough intrigue in this version to keep me engaged.

The characters have all been flipped so that Gatsby and Nic are young women, whilst Danny (rather than Daisy) Buchanan is married to 'T' (not Tom). I don't remember who the other characters were originally - I may have to rewatch the 2013 film to remind myself of more of the original detail. (Hush now all those who are screaming that I should just re-read the book!)

I liked the update to the current day with instagram influencers etc. replacing the rich and famous of the 1920s but I'm not sure it was really worth it. I'm sure lots of what made the original such a success was the quality of the writing more than the story itself (witness the fact that I couldn't remember much of it!) and the writing here was good but nothing special.

One detail that I did enjoy as a nod to the original was using the name of the optician (TJ Eckleburg) whose eyes were on the billboard for the news reporter who was the 'eyes in the sky' in this version.

Overall - worth reading if you know the original on some level. 3.5 stars

Grateful to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an e-ARC.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sent to me by the amazing borough press who I cannot thank enough for sending me my very first ARC 🫶🏻

Now, I love a retelling and this did not disappoint! The characters from The Great Gatsby are gender flipped and brought into the 21st century, social media obsessed world which I think will endear a whole new set of readers.

Gatsby is the influencer of the moment and her every move is watched and followed by her millions of followers. This becomes a running theme throughout the book and shines a light on how society now seems to take what is said on there as gospel.
I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and it was quite thought provoking at times.

It stays true to the original story & although I knew what the ending was going to be, I still found myself rooting for Gatsby.
I absolutely hated ‘T’ (Tom in the original) who is an absolute narcissistic b**ch but that just goes to show how well the character was re-written and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of karma on Gatsby’s part when we’re told the fate of Danny (Daisy in the original).

The writing makes you feel as though you’re there at one of Gatsby’s parties and I could really picture the scenes that were being described. A good book can make you feel all sorts of emotions and I really did with this one. Anger, joy, sorrow & hate. A fab read 👍

[Yalan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Put. Down. That. Thesaurus.

I try to finish every book I start, but I gave up on this on page 82. Even if the story were compelling, the prose is not. It puts the ‘over-written’ in over written, in that it is REALLY MASSIVELY GARGANTUANLY GIGANTICALLY UNBELIEVABLY over written. I’d cite examples but I can’t be bothered to put myself through the painful reading experience again. Essentially, the author tries too hard to find other ways to say the same thing, presumably to avoid repetition. There’s also SO. MUCH. EXPOSITION. Sometimes, less is truly more.

Even if the prose were compelling, the story, 81 pages is, is really not. I’m no great Original Gatsby fan; can’t remember it much, in all the honesty. So it’s not that it’s a retelling, but that this social media influencer thing, with some of the ‘action’ limited to the MC looking at her phone (wow, riveting) is as interesting as dishwater.

Usually I’d look forward to resuming a book. When I thought about going back to this one, it dragged up nothing but a sense of dread.

Obviously, I needed to DNF this.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern gender flip retelling of the Great Gatsby, where Gatsby is a female Instagram influencer and her long lost love is Danny Buchanan, he is in a marriage to a rich woman, his cousin Nic has just left college and trying to make her way as a writer and so you have the gender flipping of this story. When re-writing a classic text, you have to bring a new perspective, I am not sure that there is enough of that in this book. It is so true to the original that it is distracting at times, as you are reminded of such an iconic text. I did really enjoy the modern day setting of the East and West Eggs, getting a sense of what that area is like now and how somethings have changed whilst other things really haven't. I would have enjoyed a book about those changes without drawing quite so heavily on The Great Gatsby, which appeared to hinder the author's wonderful writing.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever Crowther - her re-imagining of The Great Gatsby, simply titled Gatsby, is thoroughly modern, and riffs on Fitzgerald's classic without mimicking. Crowther captures the essence of the characters but also recasts them which provides her version with a straightforward point-of-difference - Gatsby is a female influencer and Nic, a woman staying in West Egg during her summer college break, is a would-be journalist, looking for inspiration. You know the story and this version won't offend die-hard fans looking for a beach-read.

3/5

[James Goodhand · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this superb reimagining, Crowther deftly places her Gatsby in the social media age, living an American Dream that promises anybody can fake it. It's stylish and slick and always beautifully written, with a cast of the most decadently unhinged characters. I highly recommend joining the party.

[Olivia]

I think hard to rate because I don’t know that it’s transformative enough of a retelling to rate on its own terms but I honestly did find it entertaining as someone who wouldn’t mind rereading The Great Gatsby once a decade. Getting my thoughts together still for a review on booktube.

[Cassie Sylvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good modern and gender-bent retelling of The Great Gatsby. It’s just so easy to be drawn into the lives of these characters!

[Meeve K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the idea when I found it in a book store and modernizing and gender switching worked out nicely.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having seen The Great Gatsby musical, and then read The Great Gatsby, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this modern retelling.

[Skip Ferderber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories are costantly made and remade. According to Gemini AI, “Romeo and Juliet” is the plot for over 100 films, 117 indirect versions (e.g., “West Side Story”). Hundreds of books and TV shows have been made of the greatest teen-age angst story of all time.

So why not “The Great Gatsby”?

Which brings us to “Gatsby,” a terrific retelling of the Jay Gatsby story translated into today’s digital celebrity-heavy social media society. This time around, Jay Gatsby is a woman social influencer with a heavy back story. Nick Carroway, the neighbor, is Nic, a woman writer who has yet to find her literary voice. Daisy is now Danny Buchannon, the beautiful man, who Gatsby longs for. His acid-tongued wife is “T,” a reference to the original’s Tom. Jordan Baker, the cynical woman golfer is now a man. Tom’s auto garage lover Myrtle becomes Miguel, T’s rough-hewn lover.

But do not mistake this book for a quick-buck two-bit gimmick. Despite the gender changes, all the characters emerge as thoughtful, breathing flawed human beings. As with the best of literary adoptions, this is a powerful well-written, thoughtful story of fame, pain, deceit and ultimately tragedy.

Even if you know the Fitzgerald original, be prepared to be emotionally involved as the players take their place in somewhat familiar places, yet emerge as fresh in this retelling as a wholly original story. In many ways this modern retelling expands the original tale, allowing the characters more room to breathe, expanding their emotional range in ways the original never did. “Old sport” and other period pieces are gone; this version is current in the best sense. Yet it never strays from the original’s emotional core, the utterly senseless tragedies that makes the story so beloved despite its many retellings.
J
ust like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Oedipus Rex,” “Sherlock Holmes,” King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table” and many other, great tales are told and retold because their soul, their human appeal remains exquisite and meaningful for new audiences. “The Great Gatsby” has become one of those tales. “Gatsby,” this new version, joins the ranks of those books that do honor to the original and still emerge as a well-crafted work of contemporary original art.

For those who care about these matters, seven feature films have been made about Jay Gatsby, at least 30 books and innumerable references in all media. “The Chosen and the Beautiful” came out in 2021, telling the Gatsby story from Jordan Baker’s point of view, recast as a gay Vietnamese woman. It won the attention of the nation’s literary community. With luck, and enough reviews, this current “Gatsby” deserves readers’ attention. Highly recommended.

[Jennifer B · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review 📖

📜Gatsby
✍️Jane Crowther
📠Harper Collins/The Borough Press
📚General Fiction
🗓️Pub date: March 17, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @harpercollins @boroughpress for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this #gifted book. All opinions are mine alone.

From the publisher:

Everyone knows Gatsby. New money. Murky past. Huge online following. Nic Carraway doesn’t belong amongst the super-rich, but when she scores a cheap summer lease in Long Island, it-girl Jay Gatsby becomes her neighbor.

Gatsby welcomes Nic to her opulent parties attended by the world’s A-list. And in return, Nic helps Gatsby reconnect with an old Nic’s cousin, the ever-charming but now-married Danny Buchanan.

But no one can be careless like the rich. As the summer heats up, Nic finds herself tangled in a web of longing and ambition, betrayal and deceit. In a world where everyone is lying – about and to themselves – can Nic finally tell the truth?

Thoughts:

This was such a fun and contemporary retelling of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. With a glittering backdrop of The Hamptons’ uber rich and opulent lifestyles, influencers, and social media presence, I was a sucker for the vivid attention to detail, madness of forbidden, flaunted romance, and effortless merge from the classic to having this shine in its own light.
This would be an absolute perfect beach or summer read, while sipping cocktails oceanside. I couldn’t get enough and wish the story went on forever. A must read!

@crowther_jane you poured pure magic into this masterpiece!

#advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #gatsby #retelling #janecrowther