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Daisy
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jan 27THE PAST GLITTERS. THE TRUTH KILLS.
Whatever happened to Daisy Buchanan? The psychological suspense debut from a New York Times bestselling author that reimagines Fitzgerald’s iconic heroine as a contemporary Long Island socialite in the aftermath of Gatsby’s death.
Daisy Buchanan is the top society hostess on East Egg, Long Island, with a successful husband, two beautiful children, and a jaw-dropping house. No one knows that she needs a few Klonopin to get through the day, to forget the unforgettable—that the love of her life, Jay Gatsby, was killed two summers ago. But when Daisy’s best friend, Jordan Baker, is found dead in her pool the morning after her husband Tom's opulent 40th birthday party, Daisy’s fragile peace is shattered. When people get close to her, they have the awful habit of dying, and she needs to find out why.
As the police investigate Jordan’s murder, Daisy spirals into her own toxic cocktail of revelations and confusion. Is someone watching her, or is that the gin talking? What was it that Jordan wanted to tell her right before she died, and did that secret lead to her demise? Is whoever killed Jordan coming for Daisy next…and has that person been here all along?
With razor-sharp social commentary, lethal secrets, and unforgettable twists, Daisy is an electrifying read that shines a (bright green) light on one of American literature’s most iconic romantic heroines.
Whatever happened to Daisy Buchanan? The psychological suspense debut from a New York Times bestselling author that reimagines Fitzgerald’s iconic heroine as a contemporary Long Island socialite in the aftermath of Gatsby’s death.
Daisy Buchanan is the top society hostess on East Egg, Long Island, with a successful husband, two beautiful children, and a jaw-dropping house. No one knows that she needs a few Klonopin to get through the day, to forget the unforgettable—that the love of her life, Jay Gatsby, was killed two summers ago. But when Daisy’s best friend, Jordan Baker, is found dead in her pool the morning after her husband Tom's opulent 40th birthday party, Daisy’s fragile peace is shattered. When people get close to her, they have the awful habit of dying, and she needs to find out why.
As the police investigate Jordan’s murder, Daisy spirals into her own toxic cocktail of revelations and confusion. Is someone watching her, or is that the gin talking? What was it that Jordan wanted to tell her right before she died, and did that secret lead to her demise? Is whoever killed Jordan coming for Daisy next…and has that person been here all along?
With razor-sharp social commentary, lethal secrets, and unforgettable twists, Daisy is an electrifying read that shines a (bright green) light on one of American literature’s most iconic romantic heroines.
Audible Audio
Expected publication January 5, 2027
About the author
Katie Cotugno
26 books2,460 followersKatie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of seven messy, complicated feminist YA love stories, as well as the adult novel Birds of California (Harper Perennial, 2022). She is also the co-author, with Candace Bushnell, of Rules for Being a Girl. Her books have been honored by the Junior Library Guild, the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, and the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, among others, and translated into more than fifteen languages. Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, as well as many other literary magazines. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University. She lives in Boston with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, Daisy Buchanan is back, and apparently death is still following her around like an extremely committed ex.
The opening of Daisy immediately grabbed my attention because it sets up exactly the kind of obsession I love in a domestic thriller. Someone is watching Daisy. Someone wants something from her. Someone seems determined to get closer and closer to her. And then we meet Daisy herself, living this polished Long Island life that looks enviable from the outside and feels like a slow emotional collapse from the inside.
Her marriage to Tom is already a disaster waiting to happen. She knows he has cheated on her at least twice, suspects there is more she doesn't know, and yet remains trapped in this comfortable but deeply unhappy life with their two children. She is also still haunted by Jay Gatsby's suspicious death, and unfortunately for Daisy, that isn't the only suspicious death connected to her past.
Then Jordan reappears with a secret she desperately wants to tell Daisy.
Except she never gets the chance.
From there, everything spirals into suspicion, alcohol, secrets, grief, and the increasingly uncomfortable question of whether Daisy is simply surrounded by dangerous people or whether she might be more involved than she realizes.
That part of the setup really worked for me. I liked the unreliable atmosphere around Daisy and the way her own memory, drinking, grief, and secrets make it difficult to know exactly what we should believe. The idea of taking such an iconic literary character and dropping her into a contemporary domestic thriller is also a genuinely intriguing concept.
Unfortunately, I figured out too much too early.
And once I realized what Jordan was going to reveal and where the mystery was ultimately heading, a lot of the suspense disappeared for me. I kept waiting for the story to prove me wrong, but instead it continued moving toward conclusions I had already reached. By the time the major answers arrived, I wasn't shocked. I was basically sitting there thinking, “Yep, there it is.” 😂
I also struggled to connect with Daisy and several of the other characters. There are plenty of secrets, betrayals, questionable decisions, and complicated relationships, but many of the characters felt more like pieces moving around the mystery than people I became emotionally invested in. I wanted more complexity and emotional weight beneath some of those revelations.
The conclusion was another place where I wanted more. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it felt too obvious after everything that came before, and I was hoping for one final twist that would genuinely knock me sideways.
Still, I can't say I didn't have fun with it. The pacing is solid, the premise is entertaining, and there is enough messy relationship drama, suspicion, and scandal to make this a very easy popcorn thriller. If you can avoid trying to solve everything from the beginning, I think this will work much better as a fast, juicy domestic mystery.
For me, though, the predictability took away too much of the excitement, and I never quite found the emotional connection I wanted.
A solid three stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this intriguing domestic thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The opening of Daisy immediately grabbed my attention because it sets up exactly the kind of obsession I love in a domestic thriller. Someone is watching Daisy. Someone wants something from her. Someone seems determined to get closer and closer to her. And then we meet Daisy herself, living this polished Long Island life that looks enviable from the outside and feels like a slow emotional collapse from the inside.
Her marriage to Tom is already a disaster waiting to happen. She knows he has cheated on her at least twice, suspects there is more she doesn't know, and yet remains trapped in this comfortable but deeply unhappy life with their two children. She is also still haunted by Jay Gatsby's suspicious death, and unfortunately for Daisy, that isn't the only suspicious death connected to her past.
Then Jordan reappears with a secret she desperately wants to tell Daisy.
Except she never gets the chance.
From there, everything spirals into suspicion, alcohol, secrets, grief, and the increasingly uncomfortable question of whether Daisy is simply surrounded by dangerous people or whether she might be more involved than she realizes.
That part of the setup really worked for me. I liked the unreliable atmosphere around Daisy and the way her own memory, drinking, grief, and secrets make it difficult to know exactly what we should believe. The idea of taking such an iconic literary character and dropping her into a contemporary domestic thriller is also a genuinely intriguing concept.
Unfortunately, I figured out too much too early.
And once I realized what Jordan was going to reveal and where the mystery was ultimately heading, a lot of the suspense disappeared for me. I kept waiting for the story to prove me wrong, but instead it continued moving toward conclusions I had already reached. By the time the major answers arrived, I wasn't shocked. I was basically sitting there thinking, “Yep, there it is.” 😂
I also struggled to connect with Daisy and several of the other characters. There are plenty of secrets, betrayals, questionable decisions, and complicated relationships, but many of the characters felt more like pieces moving around the mystery than people I became emotionally invested in. I wanted more complexity and emotional weight beneath some of those revelations.
The conclusion was another place where I wanted more. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it felt too obvious after everything that came before, and I was hoping for one final twist that would genuinely knock me sideways.
Still, I can't say I didn't have fun with it. The pacing is solid, the premise is entertaining, and there is enough messy relationship drama, suspicion, and scandal to make this a very easy popcorn thriller. If you can avoid trying to solve everything from the beginning, I think this will work much better as a fast, juicy domestic mystery.
For me, though, the predictability took away too much of the excitement, and I never quite found the emotional connection I wanted.
A solid three stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this intriguing domestic thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Daisy is a blend of darkness and glamour, wrapped in a messy narrative that you simply can't put down. It reimagines Daisy Buchanan, thrusting her into a contemporary Long Island setting filled with opulence—think stunning homes, lavish parties, addiction, a complex marriage, hidden truths, and privilege that can erase almost any problem. It's a thrilling ride that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Then in a shocking twist, the story takes a dark turn when Jordon Baker is found lifeless in Daisy’s pool.
What truly kept me turning the pages until dawn was how Daisy transcends the mere act of borrowing characters from The Great Gatsby and instead brings them into a contemporary light. It’s as if we’ve been granted exclusive access behind the curtain. Daisy evolves from a beautiful, enigmatic figure others define into a fully realized character whose thoughts we can explore. Her mind is a compelling landscape filled with grief, unravelling emotions, and a palpable suspicion of those around her, all while grappling with her own trust issues. It’s a mesmerizing journey into her psyche.
There’s an intriguing tension that permeates this entire book. The opulence is over-the-top, the relationships are intricately layered, the marriage is fraught with tension, and lurking beneath that veneer of sophistication is an ever-present sense that something is profoundly amiss.
I was deeply intrigued by how the story interacts with our existing perceptions of these characters, all while avoiding any sense of nostalgia. The story includes subtle references to Fitzgerald, yet it stands firmly on its own. It’s sharper, more insightful, and digs deep into the woman Daisy became after Gatsby, rather than the idealized figure Gatsby once envisioned.
The mystery had me on the edge of my seat, but it was Daisy's character that held me captive and kept the pages turning.
you’re a fan of psychological suspense, you won’t want to miss this one! With its nuanced portrait of high-society train wrecks acting without consequence, intricately crafted female characters, and stunning settings that conceal dark secrets, this story will keep you guessing about everyone’s true motives right until the end. Daisy is definitely a must-read!
Katie Cotugno has truly reimagined Daisy Buchanan for a modern audience, breathing new life into her narrative and finally giving her the story she deserves. This is my first time reading a book by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to exploring her backlist! Expected release date: January 5, 2027. A special thank you to Kejana at St. Martin’s Press marketing, NetGalley, and of course, St. Martin’s Press, for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not obliged to provide a review.
Then in a shocking twist, the story takes a dark turn when Jordon Baker is found lifeless in Daisy’s pool.
What truly kept me turning the pages until dawn was how Daisy transcends the mere act of borrowing characters from The Great Gatsby and instead brings them into a contemporary light. It’s as if we’ve been granted exclusive access behind the curtain. Daisy evolves from a beautiful, enigmatic figure others define into a fully realized character whose thoughts we can explore. Her mind is a compelling landscape filled with grief, unravelling emotions, and a palpable suspicion of those around her, all while grappling with her own trust issues. It’s a mesmerizing journey into her psyche.
There’s an intriguing tension that permeates this entire book. The opulence is over-the-top, the relationships are intricately layered, the marriage is fraught with tension, and lurking beneath that veneer of sophistication is an ever-present sense that something is profoundly amiss.
I was deeply intrigued by how the story interacts with our existing perceptions of these characters, all while avoiding any sense of nostalgia. The story includes subtle references to Fitzgerald, yet it stands firmly on its own. It’s sharper, more insightful, and digs deep into the woman Daisy became after Gatsby, rather than the idealized figure Gatsby once envisioned.
The mystery had me on the edge of my seat, but it was Daisy's character that held me captive and kept the pages turning.
you’re a fan of psychological suspense, you won’t want to miss this one! With its nuanced portrait of high-society train wrecks acting without consequence, intricately crafted female characters, and stunning settings that conceal dark secrets, this story will keep you guessing about everyone’s true motives right until the end. Daisy is definitely a must-read!
Katie Cotugno has truly reimagined Daisy Buchanan for a modern audience, breathing new life into her narrative and finally giving her the story she deserves. This is my first time reading a book by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to exploring her backlist! Expected release date: January 5, 2027. A special thank you to Kejana at St. Martin’s Press marketing, NetGalley, and of course, St. Martin’s Press, for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not obliged to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve always had a soft spot for Daisy Buchanan.
Maybe that’s because I’ve long suspected there was more of Zelda Fitzgerald’s voice in The Great Gatsby than history gives her credit for. Whether that’s true or not, Daisy has always struck me as a far more complicated character than she’s often given credit for. So when I heard someone had imagined what her life might look like a century later, I couldn’t resist.
First, a disclaimer: this is not a 1920s historical novel. It’s a modern-day psychological suspense novel that asks, What if Daisy Buchanan lived today? Think of it as fan fiction in the very best sense of the word—an imaginative reworking of beloved characters rather than a retelling of Fitzgerald’s original novel.
And yes…there are unavoidable spoilers for The Great Gatsby. But it’s been 100 years. I feel okay talking about them.
In this version, Daisy is a wealthy Long Island socialite trapped in an unhappy marriage, struggling with depression while trying to uncover what really happened to her best friend, Jordan Baker, after Jordan is found dead. The mystery moves quickly, the twists keep coming, and I found myself flying through the pages.
I also appreciated that Katie Cotugno doesn’t simply borrow Fitzgerald’s characters—she uses them to explore modern ideas about privilege, image, marriage, and the roles women are expected to play. Those themes are woven naturally into the suspense, giving the novel more substance than I expected.
Now, I already know this book is going to divide readers.
Some people are going to roll their eyes and call it cheesy.
To which I say…sometimes cheese is exactly what you’re craving.
Not every thriller needs to be an imported French cheese served on a charcuterie board. Sometimes you just want Cheez Whiz on a cracker, and you know what, friends? Cheez Whiz is delicious. This book embraces its big twists and dramatic reveals without apology, and I had an absolute blast with it.
The modern setting took me a little while to adjust to, but once I accepted that this wasn’t trying to recreate Fitzgerald’s novel, I was completely on board. And that ending? I genuinely did not see it coming.
If you love The Great Gatsby, enjoy psychological suspense, and are willing to have a little fun watching classic literary characters dropped into a contemporary thriller, I think you’ll have a great time with this one.
Now someone else needs to read it so I have people to discuss that ending with.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
Expected publication: January 5, 2027.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe that’s because I’ve long suspected there was more of Zelda Fitzgerald’s voice in The Great Gatsby than history gives her credit for. Whether that’s true or not, Daisy has always struck me as a far more complicated character than she’s often given credit for. So when I heard someone had imagined what her life might look like a century later, I couldn’t resist.
First, a disclaimer: this is not a 1920s historical novel. It’s a modern-day psychological suspense novel that asks, What if Daisy Buchanan lived today? Think of it as fan fiction in the very best sense of the word—an imaginative reworking of beloved characters rather than a retelling of Fitzgerald’s original novel.
And yes…there are unavoidable spoilers for The Great Gatsby. But it’s been 100 years. I feel okay talking about them.
In this version, Daisy is a wealthy Long Island socialite trapped in an unhappy marriage, struggling with depression while trying to uncover what really happened to her best friend, Jordan Baker, after Jordan is found dead. The mystery moves quickly, the twists keep coming, and I found myself flying through the pages.
I also appreciated that Katie Cotugno doesn’t simply borrow Fitzgerald’s characters—she uses them to explore modern ideas about privilege, image, marriage, and the roles women are expected to play. Those themes are woven naturally into the suspense, giving the novel more substance than I expected.
Now, I already know this book is going to divide readers.
Some people are going to roll their eyes and call it cheesy.
To which I say…sometimes cheese is exactly what you’re craving.
Not every thriller needs to be an imported French cheese served on a charcuterie board. Sometimes you just want Cheez Whiz on a cracker, and you know what, friends? Cheez Whiz is delicious. This book embraces its big twists and dramatic reveals without apology, and I had an absolute blast with it.
The modern setting took me a little while to adjust to, but once I accepted that this wasn’t trying to recreate Fitzgerald’s novel, I was completely on board. And that ending? I genuinely did not see it coming.
If you love The Great Gatsby, enjoy psychological suspense, and are willing to have a little fun watching classic literary characters dropped into a contemporary thriller, I think you’ll have a great time with this one.
Now someone else needs to read it so I have people to discuss that ending with.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
Expected publication: January 5, 2027.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2026
This picks up two years after Jay Gatsby’s death, bringing Daisy’s story into the present day. Clearly inspired by The Great Gatsby, it uses Fitzgerald’s characters and story as the foundation for a contemporary thriller.
The author did a great job carrying the characters into the present while keeping them true to their original personalities.
The plot moves quickly from one possibility to the next, which kept me reading, although I found some of it predictable. There was one twist that genuinely surprised me, which I appreciated.
I enjoyed the book, but I think my expectations influenced my reaction. I went in expecting the Gatsby elements to play a bigger role and found myself reading more of a contemporary thriller with Gatsby as its backdrop.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I’d recommend going in expecting a contemporary thriller inspired by The Great Gatsby rather than a story that closely builds on the original.
Thank-you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
The author did a great job carrying the characters into the present while keeping them true to their original personalities.
The plot moves quickly from one possibility to the next, which kept me reading, although I found some of it predictable. There was one twist that genuinely surprised me, which I appreciated.
I enjoyed the book, but I think my expectations influenced my reaction. I went in expecting the Gatsby elements to play a bigger role and found myself reading more of a contemporary thriller with Gatsby as its backdrop.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I’d recommend going in expecting a contemporary thriller inspired by The Great Gatsby rather than a story that closely builds on the original.
Thank-you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
August 4, 2026
As someone who loves The Great Gatsby, I was nervous to read this, but I had nothing to fear. Katie did such an amazing job of creating a modern story surrounding the characters and plot from the original. You don’t need to read Fitzgerald’s book in order to understand or enjoy this story. This book stands out enough on its own.
Did Not Finish
September 9, 2026NOOOOOOOOOOO 😭😭😭
I was so excited to read this book because I love The Great Gatsby but I had to DNF it when I saw the f-word was in the first chapter because I personally do not read books with f-words. I'm sure this is a good book and I'm so sad I can't read it but I have to stick to my convictions and if I make an exception for this book, there's a chance I'll end up giving a lot of books an exception which leads to me lowering the standard I hold the books I read too.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this ARC.
I was so excited to read this book because I love The Great Gatsby but I had to DNF it when I saw the f-word was in the first chapter because I personally do not read books with f-words. I'm sure this is a good book and I'm so sad I can't read it but I have to stick to my convictions and if I make an exception for this book, there's a chance I'll end up giving a lot of books an exception which leads to me lowering the standard I hold the books I read too.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Oh my gosh I ADORED this book. I am an unapologetic Gatsby lover, from the novel to the 1974 film to the 2013 film. Leo will always be my Gatsby but I digress.
This book was everything. I loved the modern day adaptation, I loved that Jay was an Afghanistan vet ( I am married to one of those after all) and I love that Daisy was still so very snobby, but self aware. The plot (don’t want to give anything away) was…chef’s kiss. I have big heart eyes right now, I could have kept reading forever. 💚
Everything was just perfect. Katie Cotugno, I just adore you and I think everything you write is brilliant!!
This book was everything. I loved the modern day adaptation, I loved that Jay was an Afghanistan vet ( I am married to one of those after all) and I love that Daisy was still so very snobby, but self aware. The plot (don’t want to give anything away) was…chef’s kiss. I have big heart eyes right now, I could have kept reading forever. 💚
Everything was just perfect. Katie Cotugno, I just adore you and I think everything you write is brilliant!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you are looking for likable, redeemable characters, this is not your story. However, if you are looking for a great continuation of sorts from The Great Gatsby, with a few darker twists, a dash of murder and mystery, this is your story.
Like I said, the characters are all awful people. They aren't lovable; they aren't ever likable, but they are interesting, and you can't help but get sucked into their madness.
This was a great story that I liked from the very first chapter, horrible characters and all and I just couldn't get enough of it all the drama, and the crazy, and the sheer awfulness of these people and their story.
Honestly, a great continuation on a classic that also has unredeemable, unlikable characters.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Like I said, the characters are all awful people. They aren't lovable; they aren't ever likable, but they are interesting, and you can't help but get sucked into their madness.
This was a great story that I liked from the very first chapter, horrible characters and all and I just couldn't get enough of it all the drama, and the crazy, and the sheer awfulness of these people and their story.
Honestly, a great continuation on a classic that also has unredeemable, unlikable characters.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really intrigued by the idea of Daisy, especially the reimagining of Daisy Buchanan as a modern-day Long Island socialite dealing with the aftermath of Gatsby’s death. It is definitely an interesting take on a character who has been interpreted so many different ways over the years.
The story pulled me in right away with Jordan’s death and Daisy trying to figure out what really happened. There are plenty of secrets, questionable relationships, and twists along the way, and I was constantly wondering who Daisy could actually trust. The atmosphere also worked well, with the wealthy Long Island setting and all the polished appearances hiding what was really going on underneath.
Daisy herself is complicated, unreliable, and sometimes frustrating, but that felt very much in keeping with the story. I liked watching her try to separate what she knew from what she thought she knew as everything around her began to unravel.
I enjoyed the combination of psychological suspense, family drama, and the connection to The Great Gatsby. It is a clever reimagining that gives Daisy a story of her own while still keeping some of the themes and echoes of Fitzgerald's original novel.
An intriguing and atmospheric read with plenty of secrets to uncover.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC for review. All opinions are my own.
The story pulled me in right away with Jordan’s death and Daisy trying to figure out what really happened. There are plenty of secrets, questionable relationships, and twists along the way, and I was constantly wondering who Daisy could actually trust. The atmosphere also worked well, with the wealthy Long Island setting and all the polished appearances hiding what was really going on underneath.
Daisy herself is complicated, unreliable, and sometimes frustrating, but that felt very much in keeping with the story. I liked watching her try to separate what she knew from what she thought she knew as everything around her began to unravel.
I enjoyed the combination of psychological suspense, family drama, and the connection to The Great Gatsby. It is a clever reimagining that gives Daisy a story of her own while still keeping some of the themes and echoes of Fitzgerald's original novel.
An intriguing and atmospheric read with plenty of secrets to uncover.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Whatever happened to Daisy Buchanan? The psychological suspense debut from New York Times bestselling author, Katie Cotugn, that reimagines Fitzgerald’s iconic heroine as a contemporary Long Island socialite in the aftermath of Gatsby’s death.
I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE and it absolutely delivered! I really enjoyed this modern day reimagining of Daisy Buchanan. This is Daisy’s story 2 years after Gatsby death. I felt completely immersed in Daisy’s glamorous, messy Long Island life, like I was right there among the lavish parties, secrets, and suspicion. The writing was fantastic, vivid, and atmospheric, theres infidelity, murder, and a mystery that pulled me deeper into the story. I enjoyed it.
Read on release day 01/ 05 /2027.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE and it absolutely delivered! I really enjoyed this modern day reimagining of Daisy Buchanan. This is Daisy’s story 2 years after Gatsby death. I felt completely immersed in Daisy’s glamorous, messy Long Island life, like I was right there among the lavish parties, secrets, and suspicion. The writing was fantastic, vivid, and atmospheric, theres infidelity, murder, and a mystery that pulled me deeper into the story. I enjoyed it.
Read on release day 01/ 05 /2027.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
August 28, 2026
Remember the iconic love interest of Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby?" That would be Daisy Buchanan, and this was a clever reimagining of Daisy's life set in modern times. Two years after the death of Jay Gatsby, we follow the life of Daisy where she is married to Tom Buchanan, and they are raising two young daughters. After a 40th birthday party that she throws for Tom, her best friend, Jordan, is found dead floating in her swimming pool. Daisy is so distraught and feels like everyone she is close to ends up dead. She goes about trying to figure out what happened to Jordan. And along the way, she reveals a lot of secrets. At one point early on, I thought that I had figured everything out and just wanted to see how it would all pan out. But then, it ends up that I wasn't right at all. I really enjoyed this story and going back reliving the characters in "The Great Gatsby."
Many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for an invitation to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for an invitation to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly, I devoured this book and it was so good. The Great Gatsby is my all-time favorite book. I studied every single piece of the story in college & I think about it all the time so I was incredibly excited to discover the this book was a modern-day reimagined take on a "sequel" to the beloved classic.
It is so unique. We pick up a short time after Gatsby's death only we aren't in the 1920s like the original story, we are in present day New York (same setting, characters & all). It's so masterful & immediately sucked me in. There were so many little Easter eggs that pay tribute to the original story & I just feel that the writing was so strong to deliver a story that was already once told but with a unique and completely independent perspective.
There were a few small pieces of the plot that felt a little lacking and underdeveloped and the ending felt a tad rushed but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn't get enough. I didn't want it to end!
I know some readers will be disappointed in the twist ending & the choice of character developments but I think these plot decisions are really what make the story stand out as Cotugno's unique take instead of feeling like a continuation of Fitzgerald's work which would have felt disingenuous.
You also don't need to have read The Great Gatsby to understand this story, it reads as a standalone. However, I would highly recommend you do so in order to appreciate all of the symbolism, references & back story.
I loved it. I can't wait to read it again and I would LOVE to see this as a film adaptation!
Thank you St. Martins Press, NetGalley & the author for my ARC of this book! All thoughts & opinions expressed are entirely my own & posted voluntarily.
It is so unique. We pick up a short time after Gatsby's death only we aren't in the 1920s like the original story, we are in present day New York (same setting, characters & all). It's so masterful & immediately sucked me in. There were so many little Easter eggs that pay tribute to the original story & I just feel that the writing was so strong to deliver a story that was already once told but with a unique and completely independent perspective.
There were a few small pieces of the plot that felt a little lacking and underdeveloped and the ending felt a tad rushed but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn't get enough. I didn't want it to end!
I know some readers will be disappointed in the twist ending & the choice of character developments but I think these plot decisions are really what make the story stand out as Cotugno's unique take instead of feeling like a continuation of Fitzgerald's work which would have felt disingenuous.
You also don't need to have read The Great Gatsby to understand this story, it reads as a standalone. However, I would highly recommend you do so in order to appreciate all of the symbolism, references & back story.
I loved it. I can't wait to read it again and I would LOVE to see this as a film adaptation!
Thank you St. Martins Press, NetGalley & the author for my ARC of this book! All thoughts & opinions expressed are entirely my own & posted voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 Stars
Daisy is a modern day take on the characters of The Great Gatsby, after Gatsby’s death.
Daisy not coping well with the loss of Jay Gatsby. It's two years after Jay's death. Daisy is on anxiety meds and still married to her cheating husband Tom Buchanan.
Daisy works hard to portray their marriage as an ideal union, throwing perfect parties for fundraisers and Tom's business associates.
Things come to a head at Tom's 40th birthday. Daisy finds Tom is cheating (AGAIN!). Daisy retaliates by leaving the party with a handsome stranger.
The next day, Daisy finds her best friend, Jordan, dead in Jordan's pool. Daisy feels she is being watched. The police deem she is a suspect. But what about Jordan's husband? Or Daisy's husband, Tom?
Will Daisy finds out who killed her friend?
I read The Great Gatsby in high school, so I vaguely remember the story. Kudos to the author, Katie Cotugno, for making me want to revisit this classic for fun and not for a grade!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
Daisy is a modern day take on the characters of The Great Gatsby, after Gatsby’s death.
Daisy not coping well with the loss of Jay Gatsby. It's two years after Jay's death. Daisy is on anxiety meds and still married to her cheating husband Tom Buchanan.
Daisy works hard to portray their marriage as an ideal union, throwing perfect parties for fundraisers and Tom's business associates.
Things come to a head at Tom's 40th birthday. Daisy finds Tom is cheating (AGAIN!). Daisy retaliates by leaving the party with a handsome stranger.
The next day, Daisy finds her best friend, Jordan, dead in Jordan's pool. Daisy feels she is being watched. The police deem she is a suspect. But what about Jordan's husband? Or Daisy's husband, Tom?
Will Daisy finds out who killed her friend?
I read The Great Gatsby in high school, so I vaguely remember the story. Kudos to the author, Katie Cotugno, for making me want to revisit this classic for fun and not for a grade!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
reading-next-arc-approvals
August 24, 2026PUBLISH DATE: jAN 5, 2027
BOOK TITLE: Daisy
AUTHOR: Katie Cotugno
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES:288
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
BOOK TITLE: Daisy
AUTHOR: Katie Cotugno
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES:288
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Want to Read
August 14, 2026oooh this one sounds so intriguing!! Pub date: January 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐
Thank you so NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC of this book!
Having recently re-read The Great Gatsby for book club, I was VERY excited about this book. It did NOT disappoint! I was nervous, given Gatsby is a classic, but what Katie Cotugno did was provide closure and create suspense. It gave background, built on storylines, and modernized the story so it was more relatable and timely. Same characters but takes place a couple of years after the end of The Great Gatsby. I truly enjoyed it and have recommended it to everyone, especially those in our book club! I am incredibly curious as to what F. Scott Fitzgerald's family think of this take on the classic.
Thank you so NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC of this book!
Having recently re-read The Great Gatsby for book club, I was VERY excited about this book. It did NOT disappoint! I was nervous, given Gatsby is a classic, but what Katie Cotugno did was provide closure and create suspense. It gave background, built on storylines, and modernized the story so it was more relatable and timely. Same characters but takes place a couple of years after the end of The Great Gatsby. I truly enjoyed it and have recommended it to everyone, especially those in our book club! I am incredibly curious as to what F. Scott Fitzgerald's family think of this take on the classic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Daisy is a brilliantly crafted contemporary reimagining of what might have happened to Daisy Buchanan in the years following Jay Gatsby’s death if the events of the original novel had unfolded on modern-day Long Island.
Katie Cotugno takes a character so often defined by the men surrounding her and gives her space to become something far more complicated, flawed, and deeply human. The novel thoughtfully explores privilege, grief, reinvention, and the consequences of the choices we make while still capturing the glamour and underlying darkness that made The Great Gatsby so compelling.
This was an inventive, layered continuation that felt both familiar and entirely its own. A fascinating read for anyone who has ever wondered what came next for Daisy Buchanan.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. Daisy is expected to be published on January 5, 2027.
Katie Cotugno takes a character so often defined by the men surrounding her and gives her space to become something far more complicated, flawed, and deeply human. The novel thoughtfully explores privilege, grief, reinvention, and the consequences of the choices we make while still capturing the glamour and underlying darkness that made The Great Gatsby so compelling.
This was an inventive, layered continuation that felt both familiar and entirely its own. A fascinating read for anyone who has ever wondered what came next for Daisy Buchanan.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. Daisy is expected to be published on January 5, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5!
I personally haven’t read great gatsby and I kind of wish I had but I still enjoyed this book. Daisy was an easy character to follow and I liked that as the reader we found things out along with her and got to experience everything with her. I was definitely shocked by the plot twist and I thought it was realistic. I was slightly confused at the end however.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I personally haven’t read great gatsby and I kind of wish I had but I still enjoyed this book. Daisy was an easy character to follow and I liked that as the reader we found things out along with her and got to experience everything with her. I was definitely shocked by the plot twist and I thought it was realistic. I was slightly confused at the end however.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Gatsby reimagination in which Daisy is basically a Real Housewife of Long Island...and honestly, it worked. This novel picks up where Fitzgerald's novel left off - Jay Gatsby is dead, Tom and Daisy are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, it's 2026...and then there's a murder. I don't want to say more lest I spoil it, but this was a fun ride. The only eye roll moment for me was when Cotugno can't resist using Fitzgerald's famous "beautiful little fool" line; that she didn't rely on his work too heavily and didn't try to imitate his prose strengthened her work. The soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation would be fun to play while you read this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As soon as I read the blurb for Daisy, I had to have this novel. The Great Gatsby is my favorite classic work of literature, and the ideal springboard for a sequel that preserves the tone and personality of the titular character while spinning a brand-new tale set in modern times. I was hooked from the first page.
The story builds on the theme of infidelity in the wake of Jay Gatsby’s death. Tom’s. Daisy’s. It’s the motive for murder in the original novel, but it feels different from Daisy’s perspective. Sure, she has a bad marriage, but losing her one true love is fertile ground for reinvention. No longer does Daisy want to be the beautiful little fool. She wants the life she deserves, independent of Tom, who remains as big an oaf in this novel as Fitzgerald’s version of him. The death of Jordan Baker becomes a turning point when Daisy has to more closely scrutinize her trusted circle.
The author has done an overall fantastic job preserving the core material—characters, location, and backstory—while sprinkling in enough retrospective chapters that one doesn’t need to be a The Great Gatsby superfan to understand Daisy and Jay’s relationship and the key events and timeline leading up to his murder. It’s hard for me to say with certainty since I have read the original, but I feel like this novel easily stands on its own.
Twisted, tragic, and maybe, in the end, hopeful, Daisy is the follow-up novel I didn’t know I needed. I highly recommend it. Thank you to Katie Cotugno, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The story builds on the theme of infidelity in the wake of Jay Gatsby’s death. Tom’s. Daisy’s. It’s the motive for murder in the original novel, but it feels different from Daisy’s perspective. Sure, she has a bad marriage, but losing her one true love is fertile ground for reinvention. No longer does Daisy want to be the beautiful little fool. She wants the life she deserves, independent of Tom, who remains as big an oaf in this novel as Fitzgerald’s version of him. The death of Jordan Baker becomes a turning point when Daisy has to more closely scrutinize her trusted circle.
The author has done an overall fantastic job preserving the core material—characters, location, and backstory—while sprinkling in enough retrospective chapters that one doesn’t need to be a The Great Gatsby superfan to understand Daisy and Jay’s relationship and the key events and timeline leading up to his murder. It’s hard for me to say with certainty since I have read the original, but I feel like this novel easily stands on its own.
Twisted, tragic, and maybe, in the end, hopeful, Daisy is the follow-up novel I didn’t know I needed. I highly recommend it. Thank you to Katie Cotugno, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a lot of fun with Daisy. As a huge fan of The Great Gatsby, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of revisiting these characters in a modern-day setting and seeing the story from Daisy’s perspective.
I really enjoyed how Katie Cotugno took the familiar characters and gave them a fresh spin while still keeping so many of the elements that made the original memorable. Daisy is still very much Daisy, and I loved getting inside her head and seeing her relationships, especially with Tom and the people closest to her, from her perspective.
The mystery was probably my favorite part. There were plenty of red herrings, twists, and moments where I thought I had figured out what was happening, only to change my mind again. I definitely did not see the ending coming, and that always earns extra points from me.
I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven in places, but once the mystery really got going, I flew through it. Overall, this was a clever and entertaining modern reimagining that should be especially fun for Great Gatsby fans, but I also think it works as a psychological thriller on its own.
Definitely a fun one to add to your TBR if you enjoy classic retellings, messy rich people, secrets, and a good whodunit!
I really enjoyed how Katie Cotugno took the familiar characters and gave them a fresh spin while still keeping so many of the elements that made the original memorable. Daisy is still very much Daisy, and I loved getting inside her head and seeing her relationships, especially with Tom and the people closest to her, from her perspective.
The mystery was probably my favorite part. There were plenty of red herrings, twists, and moments where I thought I had figured out what was happening, only to change my mind again. I definitely did not see the ending coming, and that always earns extra points from me.
I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven in places, but once the mystery really got going, I flew through it. Overall, this was a clever and entertaining modern reimagining that should be especially fun for Great Gatsby fans, but I also think it works as a psychological thriller on its own.
Definitely a fun one to add to your TBR if you enjoy classic retellings, messy rich people, secrets, and a good whodunit!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy.
Katie Cotugno’s Daisy: A Novel is a dramatic retelling of The Great Gatsby from Daisy Buchanan’s point of view, but set in the modern day era. This is not a pampered 1920’s housewife; this is a glamorous socialite dripping in diamonds and Dior, whose lover, Jay Gatsby, was shot dead two summers ago. And now that her best friend, Jordan Baker, has been found dead, she finds herself at the center of a chaotic police investigation.
I thought I’d hate the modern setting, but it actually works really well. The book is packed with all the mod-cons: Klonopin, pilates, fake Birkin bags. But it also gives us a fresh look at class, wealth and women’s autonomy.
There are some very necessary, very clever updates to the text. For example, rather than smuggling bootleg alcohol, Jay Gatsby has made his millions from a private security firm not unlike Blackwater.
But my favorite part of this book is all the easter eggs that are dropped in for the lovers of the original book. The author gives more than a few nods to the masterpiece that inspired it.
The psychological suspense kept me turning every page, but I guessed the murderer before the end, so it gets 4 stars from me. If you’re looking for a thriller dripping in glamour, I highly recommend this Gatsby drama retold for the 21st century.
Katie Cotugno’s Daisy: A Novel is a dramatic retelling of The Great Gatsby from Daisy Buchanan’s point of view, but set in the modern day era. This is not a pampered 1920’s housewife; this is a glamorous socialite dripping in diamonds and Dior, whose lover, Jay Gatsby, was shot dead two summers ago. And now that her best friend, Jordan Baker, has been found dead, she finds herself at the center of a chaotic police investigation.
I thought I’d hate the modern setting, but it actually works really well. The book is packed with all the mod-cons: Klonopin, pilates, fake Birkin bags. But it also gives us a fresh look at class, wealth and women’s autonomy.
There are some very necessary, very clever updates to the text. For example, rather than smuggling bootleg alcohol, Jay Gatsby has made his millions from a private security firm not unlike Blackwater.
But my favorite part of this book is all the easter eggs that are dropped in for the lovers of the original book. The author gives more than a few nods to the masterpiece that inspired it.
The psychological suspense kept me turning every page, but I guessed the murderer before the end, so it gets 4 stars from me. If you’re looking for a thriller dripping in glamour, I highly recommend this Gatsby drama retold for the 21st century.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This psychological murder mystery was excellent. Every time Daisy got close to someone they died. Her faith in herself and life was on the edge. I really enjoyed the ending.
I did not understand how the alternative chapters worked, which explains why I felt confused a few tomes, like "I'd missed something". I went back and read two chapters and consulted notes I had taken as I read and everything fell nicely into place. This may have been a non-issue in a print book if the fonts were different or something but in E format is was the same as the rest of the book so I was unaware what the time changes fitting in represented.
I volunteered to read an ARC from St. Martin's Press through Net Galley.
I did not understand how the alternative chapters worked, which explains why I felt confused a few tomes, like "I'd missed something". I went back and read two chapters and consulted notes I had taken as I read and everything fell nicely into place. This may have been a non-issue in a print book if the fonts were different or something but in E format is was the same as the rest of the book so I was unaware what the time changes fitting in represented.
I volunteered to read an ARC from St. Martin's Press through Net Galley.
August 13, 2026
Daisy is what happens after the Great Gatsby. Two years after Jay Gatsby dies, Daisy is continuing her seemingly perfect life. She has the attractive and successful husband and two beautiful kids. The kicker? People around her die way too often. Secrets come out, and it’s not what you think.
I think this thriller captured Daisy in a way that I couldn’t have imagined. It was entertaining though sometimes predictable. We’re taken to a world of the rich that I only see on tv or read about in books. I enjoyed reading it. I will say there’s cheating left and right, if that’s something that triggers you. The excessiveness of it is what took a star from me here.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I think this thriller captured Daisy in a way that I couldn’t have imagined. It was entertaining though sometimes predictable. We’re taken to a world of the rich that I only see on tv or read about in books. I enjoyed reading it. I will say there’s cheating left and right, if that’s something that triggers you. The excessiveness of it is what took a star from me here.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Absolutely loved it! This is a modern reimagining/extension of The Great Gatsby story. I enjoyed being in the modern day Daisy Buchanan world. Though Daisy is a somewhat unlikeable character I really connected with her longing for and grief over the loss of Jay Gatsby. Forever the love of her life. Enjoyed how Daisy navigated her marriage struggles, the murder mysteries, her girlfriend dramas and more. Fantastic pacing. Satisfying ending.
4.5 ⭐ rounded up to 5⭐ here. Highly recommended.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Goodreads. I was thrilled to win an advanced reader's copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
4.5 ⭐ rounded up to 5⭐ here. Highly recommended.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Goodreads. I was thrilled to win an advanced reader's copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
August 10, 2026
I did a quick online recap of Great Gatsby before reading as I hadn’t read the book since high school. I personally am grateful I had that recap in mind before starting the book. I loved the modernized version of the characters. It made it easier to digest and more relatable to modern readers. It kept the characters and plot of the original source material, but it gave them more depth, background, and twists. The thriller/murder mystery genre made it such a fun read! It was easy to jump into. Daisy could easily be a very unlikeable character which can ruin a story for me, but I almost enjoyed it in this case seeing the imperfections in the wealthy fmc that has held such an unattainable feel since the original story. Fast paced, easy to follow, and a quick read. Now some negatives for me include the elevated language randomly sprinkled in when they conflicted with the simplicity of the story and some of the cliche modern terminology. I wish two of the male character names weren’t both starting with an “N” as it made mixing them up easy. I do unfortunately feel that the twists were predictable for me though sometimes it is nice to read a predictable thriller especially if the premise is interesting enough. The climax of the story seemed very rushed with barely any story left afterwards. I did enjoy the last chapter however. Ultimately, while I feel there were issues in the execution and predictability for me, I still loved the concept of a modernized Daisy/Gatsby world and had a fun time with this bingeable thriller.
Thanks to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!!
Thanks to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I loved The Great Gatsby when I first read it in high school and the times that I have reread it as an adult. I liked this book but I didn't love it. I applaud the author for giving this work a fresh, modern flair which was completely believable. But the set up took way too long and we spent far too much time inside of Daisy's head which started to have the feel of an unreliable narrator, one of my most disliked tropes. Once Jordan's death happened things started to pick up a bit but then it seemed that Daisy forgot all about Jordan for a while even after she realized that it was murder! The pacing was just all over the place for me. I would recommend this for any Gatsby lovers as it is a unique retelling of the classic work. Just be prepared to wade through some slow patches.
Set in modern times, the story starts two years after the events in The Great Gatsby. Jay is dead, Nick is in Dubai for work, Jordan is married to Igor and Daisy and Tom still live in East Egg with their daughters, Pammy and baby Cecily. Cecily is clearly Jay's daughter, a twist that wasn't very twisty when it was revealed. After promising to recommit themselves to their marriage and a new postnuptial agreement that protects Daisy if Tom cheats again, Daisy throws herself into volunteering, hosting lavish parties and fund raisers. But she is barely holding it together, constantly thinking that people are talking behind her back, dealing with stifling anxiety and popping pills to deal with the challenges of everyday life. She suspects that Tom is cheating again and gets confirmation at his 40th birthday party when she sees him texting with his mistress. As if that wasn't bad enough she has a fight with Jordan who drunkenly says that she has something to tell Daisy that she won't like before disappearing for the night. Daisy takes refuge in her new friend Cate who she met at a recent gala but who her friends are suspicious of and Noah who she found stalking in her bushes at one of her parties. She uses the hotel room that she booked that night for Tom's birthday to have a tryst with Noah before sneaking home in the middle of the night. In the morning she brings apology coffee to Jordan's house but instead finds her friend's lifeless body floating in the pool. It is first thought to be an accident where a drunk Jordan fell and hit her head before landing in the pool but the police soon treat it as murder. This sends Daisy spiraling further. Especially when she finds out that Cate is really Myrtle's sister, which was pretty obvious to those who have read Gatsby. She eventually confronts Cate who admits that she wanted to get into Daisy's house to find a self-portrait that Myrtle painted that she gave to Tom. Daisy loves that painting and thought that Tom bought it as a gift to her. Daisy gives it back to Cate, decides that her marriage is over and tells Tom that she wants a divorce. He admits to having an affair with a woman from work but insists that it is over and says that it won't happen again but Daisy isn't hearing it. She meets with a divorce attorney who tells her to think long and hard before taking any action because she doesn't have enough evidence to invoke the postnuptial agreement and she should consider what Tom will do to try to keep her. Daisy has thought that someone was following her so she stops seeing Noah thinking that Tom might have hired a detective which just sends her spiraling further. She seeks out Nick who returned for Jordan's funeral and asks his advice. He tells her to be careful and reminds her that he is always there for her. Finally Daisy figures out what I already knew that Tom was having an affair with Jordan and that was the secret that Jordan was going to tell her. This has her thinking that Tom killed Jordan in order to keep her mouth shut. Then Noah is killed in the park and Daisy is certain that Tom is guilty. Daisy's attorney suggests that she find somewhere else to sleep that night so she goes to Nick's where he tries to convince her to go to Dubai with him. She refuses and then he tells her the truth that he killed Jordan because she was sleeping with Tom and that he hired Noah to keep an eye on Daisy while he was away and he had to kill him when he started sleeping with her. Nick has always loved Daisy and been obsessed with her and now he is determined that they'll be together. He also admits that he told George that Jay killed Myrtle so that he'd go after Jay. Nick tries to force Daisy to leave with him but she manages to message Cate who calls the police and Nick is arrested. Several months later Daisy is divorced and finally agrees to take a job with Meyer Wolfsheim who sends her oversees to help a client launder his money via charitable contributions. It is strongly suggested that the man she is traveling to meet is Jay who didn't really die. The book would have been far more satisfying if Tom were the guilty one. I didn't like that the book turned Nick into a bad guy.
Set in modern times, the story starts two years after the events in The Great Gatsby. Jay is dead, Nick is in Dubai for work, Jordan is married to Igor and Daisy and Tom still live in East Egg with their daughters, Pammy and baby Cecily. Cecily is clearly Jay's daughter, a twist that wasn't very twisty when it was revealed. After promising to recommit themselves to their marriage and a new postnuptial agreement that protects Daisy if Tom cheats again, Daisy throws herself into volunteering, hosting lavish parties and fund raisers. But she is barely holding it together, constantly thinking that people are talking behind her back, dealing with stifling anxiety and popping pills to deal with the challenges of everyday life. She suspects that Tom is cheating again and gets confirmation at his 40th birthday party when she sees him texting with his mistress. As if that wasn't bad enough she has a fight with Jordan who drunkenly says that she has something to tell Daisy that she won't like before disappearing for the night. Daisy takes refuge in her new friend Cate who she met at a recent gala but who her friends are suspicious of and Noah who she found stalking in her bushes at one of her parties. She uses the hotel room that she booked that night for Tom's birthday to have a tryst with Noah before sneaking home in the middle of the night. In the morning she brings apology coffee to Jordan's house but instead finds her friend's lifeless body floating in the pool. It is first thought to be an accident where a drunk Jordan fell and hit her head before landing in the pool but the police soon treat it as murder. This sends Daisy spiraling further. Especially when she finds out that Cate is really Myrtle's sister, which was pretty obvious to those who have read Gatsby. She eventually confronts Cate who admits that she wanted to get into Daisy's house to find a self-portrait that Myrtle painted that she gave to Tom. Daisy loves that painting and thought that Tom bought it as a gift to her. Daisy gives it back to Cate, decides that her marriage is over and tells Tom that she wants a divorce. He admits to having an affair with a woman from work but insists that it is over and says that it won't happen again but Daisy isn't hearing it. She meets with a divorce attorney who tells her to think long and hard before taking any action because she doesn't have enough evidence to invoke the postnuptial agreement and she should consider what Tom will do to try to keep her. Daisy has thought that someone was following her so she stops seeing Noah thinking that Tom might have hired a detective which just sends her spiraling further. She seeks out Nick who returned for Jordan's funeral and asks his advice. He tells her to be careful and reminds her that he is always there for her. Finally Daisy figures out what I already knew that Tom was having an affair with Jordan and that was the secret that Jordan was going to tell her. This has her thinking that Tom killed Jordan in order to keep her mouth shut. Then Noah is killed in the park and Daisy is certain that Tom is guilty. Daisy's attorney suggests that she find somewhere else to sleep that night so she goes to Nick's where he tries to convince her to go to Dubai with him. She refuses and then he tells her the truth that he killed Jordan because she was sleeping with Tom and that he hired Noah to keep an eye on Daisy while he was away and he had to kill him when he started sleeping with her. Nick has always loved Daisy and been obsessed with her and now he is determined that they'll be together. He also admits that he told George that Jay killed Myrtle so that he'd go after Jay. Nick tries to force Daisy to leave with him but she manages to message Cate who calls the police and Nick is arrested. Several months later Daisy is divorced and finally agrees to take a job with Meyer Wolfsheim who sends her oversees to help a client launder his money via charitable contributions. It is strongly suggested that the man she is traveling to meet is Jay who didn't really die. The book would have been far more satisfying if Tom were the guilty one. I didn't like that the book turned Nick into a bad guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve never much cared for contemporary authors tinkering with earlier writers’ works – almost never, to my mind, is justice done to the original – and Katie Cotugno’s “Daisy,” with its revisiting of the American classic, Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby," is no exception.
To be fully honest, though, I’ve never been as much a fan of the original novel as others, what with its having been the occasion for a bad experience for me my freshman year in college, when my effort at addressing a question about the novel that my rhetoric instructor assigned us as the first theme we did for him, the first piece of writing in fact that I’d ever done in college, earned me a “D.”
Not that I didn't deserve it, with how I’d not yet developed the critical way of thinking about novels that our instructor was rightly demanding of us and which I went on in fact to refine enough to graduate as an English major, but still obviously upsetting for me, the “D” (though no stranger to the grade I’d been in my earlier undistinguished studies), and not calculated to make me entertain warm thoughts about the novel.
Though to give myself my due, other voices more esteemed than mine have had issues with the novel, including at the time of its publication the critic H.L. Mencken, who found it “in form no more than a glorified anecdote, and not too probable at that,” and in our own time the novelist Jane Smiley, who in particular criticized the novel’s iconic last line, finding its image of “boats beating against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” to be “tremendously meaningless.”
Nevertheless, it’s what’s most vaunted about the novel, its lyrical prose, which Mencken went on to salute for its “charm and beauty.” But it’s not the prose but rather the straight story line from the original that Cotugno mostly appropriates for her version, in which she faithfully reproduces the original characters, Nick, the sensitive narrator who has come East from the Midwest to learn the bond business; Gatsby, the hopeless romantic who has remained obsessed over the years with Daisy, the namesake of Cotugno’s novel; her husband, the oafish and philandering Tom; Jordan Baker, the golf pro with whom Nick will take up; and the more minor characters, including Myrtle, one of Tom’s flings; and her husband, George, who in the original ends up killing Gatsby and then himself after the car accident that kills Myrtle.
All on hand they are, though with George and Myrtle already dead, as Cotugno picks up the story a couple of years later, but not in the ’20s timeline of the original novel but rather in our own time, which with its assorted 21st Century telecommunications devices seemed to me to somewhat trivialize the novel.
Even without the irksome-for-me topicality, though, the characters seemed somewhat trivialized, with Nick in particular ill-served, considering that it’s his sensibility in Fitzgerald’s original novel through which the lyrical prose is conveyed and who, for all his finally not coming off well in Cotugno’s version, is arguably the most admirable of the original novel’s overall not so admirable characters.
All of which is not to say there aren’t things to like about Cotugno’s novel, which is rendered in serviceable enough prose of its own – it’s what drew me to the novel – and delivered with considerable brio with a couple of arresting plot developments of its own.
To be fully honest, though, I’ve never been as much a fan of the original novel as others, what with its having been the occasion for a bad experience for me my freshman year in college, when my effort at addressing a question about the novel that my rhetoric instructor assigned us as the first theme we did for him, the first piece of writing in fact that I’d ever done in college, earned me a “D.”
Not that I didn't deserve it, with how I’d not yet developed the critical way of thinking about novels that our instructor was rightly demanding of us and which I went on in fact to refine enough to graduate as an English major, but still obviously upsetting for me, the “D” (though no stranger to the grade I’d been in my earlier undistinguished studies), and not calculated to make me entertain warm thoughts about the novel.
Though to give myself my due, other voices more esteemed than mine have had issues with the novel, including at the time of its publication the critic H.L. Mencken, who found it “in form no more than a glorified anecdote, and not too probable at that,” and in our own time the novelist Jane Smiley, who in particular criticized the novel’s iconic last line, finding its image of “boats beating against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” to be “tremendously meaningless.”
Nevertheless, it’s what’s most vaunted about the novel, its lyrical prose, which Mencken went on to salute for its “charm and beauty.” But it’s not the prose but rather the straight story line from the original that Cotugno mostly appropriates for her version, in which she faithfully reproduces the original characters, Nick, the sensitive narrator who has come East from the Midwest to learn the bond business; Gatsby, the hopeless romantic who has remained obsessed over the years with Daisy, the namesake of Cotugno’s novel; her husband, the oafish and philandering Tom; Jordan Baker, the golf pro with whom Nick will take up; and the more minor characters, including Myrtle, one of Tom’s flings; and her husband, George, who in the original ends up killing Gatsby and then himself after the car accident that kills Myrtle.
All on hand they are, though with George and Myrtle already dead, as Cotugno picks up the story a couple of years later, but not in the ’20s timeline of the original novel but rather in our own time, which with its assorted 21st Century telecommunications devices seemed to me to somewhat trivialize the novel.
Even without the irksome-for-me topicality, though, the characters seemed somewhat trivialized, with Nick in particular ill-served, considering that it’s his sensibility in Fitzgerald’s original novel through which the lyrical prose is conveyed and who, for all his finally not coming off well in Cotugno’s version, is arguably the most admirable of the original novel’s overall not so admirable characters.
All of which is not to say there aren’t things to like about Cotugno’s novel, which is rendered in serviceable enough prose of its own – it’s what drew me to the novel – and delivered with considerable brio with a couple of arresting plot developments of its own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow...so, I first fell in love with The Great Gatsby my junior year of high school when we read it in my Eng III class (and that was a long time ago!). I later taught The Great Gatsby to my own high school students and grew to love it even more. And, of course, my favorite movie adaptation will always be the 1974 version starring Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan. To me, they epitomized the perfect Jay and Daisy.
Enough reminiscing though because in this brand new reimagining of Gatsby, Katie Cotugno takes us and the whole supporting cast into a present-day setting. Yes, Daisy, along with her husband, Tom; cousin, Nick; best friend, Jordan; and now, Cate, sister of Myrtle (gasp) are all living in 2026 East Egg. Actually, Cate is living in The Valley of Ashes in the same apartment above the garage where George and Myrtle lived, but she does turn up at a party in East Egg at Tom and Daisy's house and continues to figure into the plot after that.
Face it, didn't we all love to hate Daisy in Fitzgerald's original 1925 Gatsby? Well, readers, it's 100 years later, and not much has changed. Gatsby was shot by George, Myrtle's husband, two years prior to the story opening as he thought Jay was responsible for his wife's death. Tom is still the philandering, unfaithful husband; Nick is still the consoling cousin; Jordan is now the professional golfer; Daisy is still a bit whiny and "lost" and is now a pretentious and superficial fundraiser. Now, instead of only having Pammy, she has a toddler named Celia, who seems to share the same dimple in her chin as Jay Gatsby. Does the time span fit? Yes.
I loved what Katie Cotugno did with Fitzgerald's characters, bringing them into the 21st century. If we all thought their lives were messy in East Egg and West Egg in the 1920s, we are absolutely immersed in all of the drama in present-day Long Island.
Cotugno's story really takes off the night of Tom's lavish 40th birthday party thrown by Daisy. There is a new character introduced into the mix, and then the next day, Daisy stumbles upon the body of a murder victim. The rest of the story revolves around discovering who was responsible for the murder of one of the original supporting characters and then examining the characters and what their lives and personalities would be in a present day setting. There are still so many allusions to the original Gatsby, but Cotugno is able to spin a great yarn and take the story and characters one step further.
If you were a lover of Gatsby, definitely, definitely give Cotugo's reimagining of the classic a try when it comes out January 5, 2027. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to preview this engrossing, enjoyable, and suspenseful ARC. 4.5 stars from me
Enough reminiscing though because in this brand new reimagining of Gatsby, Katie Cotugno takes us and the whole supporting cast into a present-day setting. Yes, Daisy, along with her husband, Tom; cousin, Nick; best friend, Jordan; and now, Cate, sister of Myrtle (gasp) are all living in 2026 East Egg. Actually, Cate is living in The Valley of Ashes in the same apartment above the garage where George and Myrtle lived, but she does turn up at a party in East Egg at Tom and Daisy's house and continues to figure into the plot after that.
Face it, didn't we all love to hate Daisy in Fitzgerald's original 1925 Gatsby? Well, readers, it's 100 years later, and not much has changed. Gatsby was shot by George, Myrtle's husband, two years prior to the story opening as he thought Jay was responsible for his wife's death. Tom is still the philandering, unfaithful husband; Nick is still the consoling cousin; Jordan is now the professional golfer; Daisy is still a bit whiny and "lost" and is now a pretentious and superficial fundraiser. Now, instead of only having Pammy, she has a toddler named Celia, who seems to share the same dimple in her chin as Jay Gatsby. Does the time span fit? Yes.
I loved what Katie Cotugno did with Fitzgerald's characters, bringing them into the 21st century. If we all thought their lives were messy in East Egg and West Egg in the 1920s, we are absolutely immersed in all of the drama in present-day Long Island.
Cotugno's story really takes off the night of Tom's lavish 40th birthday party thrown by Daisy. There is a new character introduced into the mix, and then the next day, Daisy stumbles upon the body of a murder victim. The rest of the story revolves around discovering who was responsible for the murder of one of the original supporting characters and then examining the characters and what their lives and personalities would be in a present day setting. There are still so many allusions to the original Gatsby, but Cotugno is able to spin a great yarn and take the story and characters one step further.
If you were a lover of Gatsby, definitely, definitely give Cotugo's reimagining of the classic a try when it comes out January 5, 2027. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to preview this engrossing, enjoyable, and suspenseful ARC. 4.5 stars from me
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Kejana Ayala at St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Daisy by Katie Cotugno.
I was a fan of the original novel and saw with mixed feelings the several movies made based on it; and while I knew this was a contemporary reimagining of Daisy Buchanan's life, I found myself disappointed that it wasn't set in the original period. I didn't want to read about Daisy going to Pilates and Starbucks, she went from "It" girl to so basic and that made me put the book down a few times, unsure if I'd pick it back up.
I did finally plow through and wish I didn't. The characters are unpleasant. Tom is a cheating gaslighting bully, her mother is a society matron that puts standing over her own daughter's feelings, Jordan is a miserable best friend, etc.
A new character that wasn't in Gatsby, Cate, worms her way into meeting Daisy for reasons that aren't very clear at first. The author tries to build up creepy vibes, with Daisy feeling like she's being watched, and grieving Jay's death and now Jordan's as proof that anyone she loves will be taken from her. Cate, who wasn't on the guestlist of the party where Daisy meets her is positioned to be someone with malicious intent and while she ends up being the sister of Myrtle, all she wanted was a painting her sister had done and given to Tom. Her arc just fizzles out as she virtually disappears from the canvas once Daisy returns the painting.
A third unexpected murder of someone Daisy cares about occurs and things take a stupid turn. Having caught Tom cheating on her yet again, she wonders if he is killing the people she cares about because she no longer cares for him. She turns to Nick, beloved cousin Nick who knew Jay and mourns like she does, or does he?
The author takes the only worthy character from Gatsby and just ruins him. The ick factor was impossibly high even before he begins to enumerate what he has done for Daisy.
The final chapter is so oblique, but what we are meant to believe is even more laughable because if Nick is what Nick has become there is no way the ending would have been possible. He would have verified and been certain as everything was happening. In fact, he was the one who let Daisy know about Jay and would have been watching when the crime scene was discovered. So stupid.
In the end I was disgusted and angry by the choices the author made.
I was a fan of the original novel and saw with mixed feelings the several movies made based on it; and while I knew this was a contemporary reimagining of Daisy Buchanan's life, I found myself disappointed that it wasn't set in the original period. I didn't want to read about Daisy going to Pilates and Starbucks, she went from "It" girl to so basic and that made me put the book down a few times, unsure if I'd pick it back up.
I did finally plow through and wish I didn't. The characters are unpleasant. Tom is a cheating gaslighting bully, her mother is a society matron that puts standing over her own daughter's feelings, Jordan is a miserable best friend, etc.
A new character that wasn't in Gatsby, Cate, worms her way into meeting Daisy for reasons that aren't very clear at first. The author tries to build up creepy vibes, with Daisy feeling like she's being watched, and grieving Jay's death and now Jordan's as proof that anyone she loves will be taken from her. Cate, who wasn't on the guestlist of the party where Daisy meets her is positioned to be someone with malicious intent and while she ends up being the sister of Myrtle, all she wanted was a painting her sister had done and given to Tom. Her arc just fizzles out as she virtually disappears from the canvas once Daisy returns the painting.
A third unexpected murder of someone Daisy cares about occurs and things take a stupid turn. Having caught Tom cheating on her yet again, she wonders if he is killing the people she cares about because she no longer cares for him. She turns to Nick, beloved cousin Nick who knew Jay and mourns like she does, or does he?
The author takes the only worthy character from Gatsby and just ruins him. The ick factor was impossibly high even before he begins to enumerate what he has done for Daisy.
The final chapter is so oblique, but what we are meant to believe is even more laughable because if Nick is what Nick has become there is no way the ending would have been possible. He would have verified and been certain as everything was happening. In fact, he was the one who let Daisy know about Jay and would have been watching when the crime scene was discovered. So stupid.
In the end I was disgusted and angry by the choices the author made.
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