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Better Than Revenge
*** PRE-ORDER THE THRILLING BOOK FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR BEA FITZGERALD NOW ***
Nadine Heywood is determined to be the best actress in the world.
Getting into London’s top drama school is just the first step. But there, Nadine comes head-to-head with Harper Moore. Beautiful, brilliant, effortlessly charming, she is everything Nadine isn’t. And immediately Nadine see’s her as more than just her competition.
As their worlds collide against the glitz of Hollywood, they can no longer keep their rivalry private. Splashed over the tabloids, Harper and Nadine are the public’s favourite celebrity feud.
But as the stakes get higher, they start to realise there is more to their passionate hate than meets the eye…
***
Nadine Heywood is determined to be the best actress in the world.
Getting into London’s top drama school is just the first step. But there, Nadine comes head-to-head with Harper Moore. Beautiful, brilliant, effortlessly charming, she is everything Nadine isn’t. And immediately Nadine see’s her as more than just her competition.
As their worlds collide against the glitz of Hollywood, they can no longer keep their rivalry private. Splashed over the tabloids, Harper and Nadine are the public’s favourite celebrity feud.
But as the stakes get higher, they start to realise there is more to their passionate hate than meets the eye…
***
Hardcover
First published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
September 26, 2026
Nothing makes me more hot and horny than when you go in for a "hot toxic rivals to lovers"-esque read, and you get ✨A HOT TOXIC RIVALS TO LOVERS-ESQUE READ✨
Two rival actresses, who have great success in Hollywood during the late 90's.
Omg these women are RIVALS at it's finest definition.
The conniving, and slightly evil stunts they pull on each other...
The gossip they start about each other...
The highkey obsession they have...
The rivalry WAS RIVAL-ING.
And eventually, you get the care, that is disguised as disgust.
"please eat, I can't have you being skinnier than me" vibes.
You get the care disguised as hatred.
"You look heroin chic, get help, you're disgusting" vibes.
I loved the writing, the Hollywood setting, the drama, the awards, the competition, and how these two women always appeared in each others lives... How they ruin relationships and friendships around them just to be in each others toxic as fuck orbit.......
I was into it.
I wish we had more time with them as a fucked up couple. because it's only about the last 10%? but dayyum, I had fun with this.
I don't know why but this is my favourite quote. I hope you enjoy it.
"Frankly, if she had a G string up her ass all these years, it would explain alot"
Two rival actresses, who have great success in Hollywood during the late 90's.
Omg these women are RIVALS at it's finest definition.
The conniving, and slightly evil stunts they pull on each other...
The gossip they start about each other...
The highkey obsession they have...
The rivalry WAS RIVAL-ING.
And eventually, you get the care, that is disguised as disgust.
"please eat, I can't have you being skinnier than me" vibes.
You get the care disguised as hatred.
"You look heroin chic, get help, you're disgusting" vibes.
I loved the writing, the Hollywood setting, the drama, the awards, the competition, and how these two women always appeared in each others lives... How they ruin relationships and friendships around them just to be in each others toxic as fuck orbit.......
I was into it.
I wish we had more time with them as a fucked up couple. because it's only about the last 10%? but dayyum, I had fun with this.
I don't know why but this is my favourite quote. I hope you enjoy it.
"Frankly, if she had a G string up her ass all these years, it would explain alot"
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Packed to the absolute brim with juicy gossip and salacious scandals, Better Than Revenge took me into the dark heart of Hollywood in all of its paparazzi-studded glory. Taking the form of a true-crime-documentary narrative, this twisted—and twisty—high-stakes “game” of cat-and-mouse was a wild ride through a crowded field of increasingly toxic friendships, relationships, and marriages. Combining slow-burning suspense, sapphic romance, and an in-depth exploration of jealousy, obsession, and love into one tempting story, it took the enemies-to-lovers motif up a notch on the scale. Of course, amidst all of the glamour and scandal was a murder mystery that kept my thriller-loving eyes reading away. Sadly, however, that’s where this one lost some of its glow. You see, for the first two-thirds of this slow-burning novel, I often wondered whether it even had an ember to be found as it dug deep into the history, drama, and characters.
In spite of the sedate pace, however, I still couldn’t stop reading this deliciously unhinged tale. An inevitable collision of two strong and calculating personas, they both had me tied up in knots throughout the four-hundred-plus pages of this heated rivalry of dueling morally gray characters. You see, the way Fitzgerald wrote Harper and Nadine, their relationship wasn’t just toxic—it was almost addictive. I still have to say, though, that the biggest selling point to this book was the mixed-media format itself. Interweaving documentary interview transcripts with tabloid headlines, omniscient fourth-wall-breaking narration, and Nadine’s own account, it kept me fully invested despite the slow-going. Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or Layne Fargo’s The Favorites, it felt far more like a celebrity drama-slash-romance with a murder attached than a thriller or mystery. But then, maybe that’s just me. Read it to find out. Rating of 3.75 stars (upgraded).
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Toxic relationships
- Obsession and jealousy
- Sapphic romance
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Dual timelines
- A mixed-media format
- Hollywood scandals
- True-crime documentaries
- Murder mysteries
- Slow-burning suspense
- Enemies to lovers
- Morally gray characters
BRIEF BLURB:
I highly recommend going into this book at least mostly blind. If, however, you’re one of *those* people, be sure to scroll to the end of my review to see the publisher-provided synopsis. All you need to know, though, is the following…
When Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore met in an English drama school, it was an instant frenemy situation after their once simple feud exploded sky high. Now both famous and accomplished Hollywood actresses who can command a crowd with a simple glance or turn of phrase, their rivalry has captured the media’s interest as they take over the headlines of gossip magazines all over the world. Little does everyone know, though, how deep their jealousy and obsession really goes. In fact, their preoccupation has turned both of their lives inside out as they try to best each other at every turn. This time, however, might just be different. Because Harper needs Nadine’s help, which has handed her biggest rival the perfect opportunity to either mend fences…or burn Harper down to the ground.
Thank you Bea Fitzgerald and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: bullying, domestic abuse, toxic friendship, murder, alcohol and drug abuse, death of a parent, grief, addiction, blood, stalking, blackmail, fatphobia, eating disorder, toxic relationship, mention of: abortion, violence
FULL PUBLISHER-PROVIDED SYNOPSIS:
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore have been rivals since their first days at drama school, a feud that has consumed them. A feud more passionate, more clawing than the gossip magazines ever note. Hollywood's It-Girl versus the acclaimed starlet, caught in an obsession that can only lead to one thing: someone's downfall.
After beating out Harper in every category for best actress, Nadine believes she has finally done it. She's won – completely and irrefutably. So why are thoughts of Harper still tormenting her? Why doesn't victory taste at all sweet?
When a knock at her door reveals Harper covered in blood, Nadine realizes this could be the ultimate opportunity to bring her opponent down. Or change them both forever.
With flashbacks to Harper and Nadine's infamous in-fighting building toward a murder that makes them iconic, and excerpts of an interview with Nadine for Harper's upcoming true crime documentary, this is a salacious tale of scandal, ego, and infamy about two frenemies who may be more to each other than they would ever like to admit.
In spite of the sedate pace, however, I still couldn’t stop reading this deliciously unhinged tale. An inevitable collision of two strong and calculating personas, they both had me tied up in knots throughout the four-hundred-plus pages of this heated rivalry of dueling morally gray characters. You see, the way Fitzgerald wrote Harper and Nadine, their relationship wasn’t just toxic—it was almost addictive. I still have to say, though, that the biggest selling point to this book was the mixed-media format itself. Interweaving documentary interview transcripts with tabloid headlines, omniscient fourth-wall-breaking narration, and Nadine’s own account, it kept me fully invested despite the slow-going. Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or Layne Fargo’s The Favorites, it felt far more like a celebrity drama-slash-romance with a murder attached than a thriller or mystery. But then, maybe that’s just me. Read it to find out. Rating of 3.75 stars (upgraded).
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Toxic relationships
- Obsession and jealousy
- Sapphic romance
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Dual timelines
- A mixed-media format
- Hollywood scandals
- True-crime documentaries
- Murder mysteries
- Slow-burning suspense
- Enemies to lovers
- Morally gray characters
BRIEF BLURB:
I highly recommend going into this book at least mostly blind. If, however, you’re one of *those* people, be sure to scroll to the end of my review to see the publisher-provided synopsis. All you need to know, though, is the following…
When Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore met in an English drama school, it was an instant frenemy situation after their once simple feud exploded sky high. Now both famous and accomplished Hollywood actresses who can command a crowd with a simple glance or turn of phrase, their rivalry has captured the media’s interest as they take over the headlines of gossip magazines all over the world. Little does everyone know, though, how deep their jealousy and obsession really goes. In fact, their preoccupation has turned both of their lives inside out as they try to best each other at every turn. This time, however, might just be different. Because Harper needs Nadine’s help, which has handed her biggest rival the perfect opportunity to either mend fences…or burn Harper down to the ground.
Thank you Bea Fitzgerald and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: bullying, domestic abuse, toxic friendship, murder, alcohol and drug abuse, death of a parent, grief, addiction, blood, stalking, blackmail, fatphobia, eating disorder, toxic relationship, mention of: abortion, violence
FULL PUBLISHER-PROVIDED SYNOPSIS:
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore have been rivals since their first days at drama school, a feud that has consumed them. A feud more passionate, more clawing than the gossip magazines ever note. Hollywood's It-Girl versus the acclaimed starlet, caught in an obsession that can only lead to one thing: someone's downfall.
After beating out Harper in every category for best actress, Nadine believes she has finally done it. She's won – completely and irrefutably. So why are thoughts of Harper still tormenting her? Why doesn't victory taste at all sweet?
When a knock at her door reveals Harper covered in blood, Nadine realizes this could be the ultimate opportunity to bring her opponent down. Or change them both forever.
With flashbacks to Harper and Nadine's infamous in-fighting building toward a murder that makes them iconic, and excerpts of an interview with Nadine for Harper's upcoming true crime documentary, this is a salacious tale of scandal, ego, and infamy about two frenemies who may be more to each other than they would ever like to admit.
September 19, 2026
Well, that was an adventure. I’ll say more on this. Just need to sit with it for a bit.
Edit with review:
Two A-list actresses have been in a very public feud for years, much to the entertainment of their industry mates and the public at large. But their feud gets even more public scrutiny and attention when one of the two is accused of murder (of someone else).
I've sat on this review because I don't know what to do about my internal warring about this book. On one hand, I found this mostly entertaining and interesting to read. People who enjoy toxic dynamics, especially when there's a potential romance at play between the characters, will really like this. On the other hand, I'm someone who doesn't like this dynamic and feel really icky about it, even while I enjoy the tension. And I do like rivals/enemies-to-lovers romances, but I don't like when they verge into something toxic. And Better Than Revenge does in a big way.
But I also recognize that it's well done here. The fact that I finished this book at all—something I could not do with another popular sapphic book, Tryst Venom Six-is a testament that Bea Fitzgerald did this well. I was thoroughly entertained, but I don't like that / was. So I will chalk this up to: It's not you; it's me. And leave it at that.
Edit with review:
Two A-list actresses have been in a very public feud for years, much to the entertainment of their industry mates and the public at large. But their feud gets even more public scrutiny and attention when one of the two is accused of murder (of someone else).
I've sat on this review because I don't know what to do about my internal warring about this book. On one hand, I found this mostly entertaining and interesting to read. People who enjoy toxic dynamics, especially when there's a potential romance at play between the characters, will really like this. On the other hand, I'm someone who doesn't like this dynamic and feel really icky about it, even while I enjoy the tension. And I do like rivals/enemies-to-lovers romances, but I don't like when they verge into something toxic. And Better Than Revenge does in a big way.
But I also recognize that it's well done here. The fact that I finished this book at all—something I could not do with another popular sapphic book, Tryst Venom Six-is a testament that Bea Fitzgerald did this well. I was thoroughly entertained, but I don't like that / was. So I will chalk this up to: It's not you; it's me. And leave it at that.
Want to Read
January 1, 2026so what im hearing is... hot toxic sapphic rivals 😝 gimme.
April 18, 2026
Oh my! I was left a bit breathless by this super near-masterpiece! Transitioning (I have discovered) from her usual mythological retellings, Bea Fitzgerald has delivered a searing, contemporary exploration of ambition and obsession that feels both dangerously modern and timelessly operatic.
The intensity of the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is superb! The rivalry between Nadine and Harper isn’t just a plot point, it’s a visceral, all-consuming force. Their evolution from drama school competitors to global tabloid sensations captures the thin, electric line between hatred and desire with incredible precision.
But Ms. Fitzgerald also delivers an incisive critique of celebrity culture. She brilliantly portrays how the public consumes female feuds, showing how Nadine and Harper are both victims of and players in a media landscape that demands their destruction for entertainment. And both women know it and use it. There’s a layer of intellectual depth, when you sit back and think about it, underpinning this high-stakes “game.”
Prose, narrative structure (I loved the clever documentary excerpts), and pacing are flawless. The writing is sharp, witty, and deliciously nasty, maintaining a tension that never wavers. I found myself increasingly hooked as the stakes escalated from the classrooms of London to the glitz of Hollywood. This is a bold, addictive, and expertly crafted story that explores the lengths one will go to stay in someone else’s orbit. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy the glitz, the plotting, and the blood in this ARC!
The intensity of the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is superb! The rivalry between Nadine and Harper isn’t just a plot point, it’s a visceral, all-consuming force. Their evolution from drama school competitors to global tabloid sensations captures the thin, electric line between hatred and desire with incredible precision.
But Ms. Fitzgerald also delivers an incisive critique of celebrity culture. She brilliantly portrays how the public consumes female feuds, showing how Nadine and Harper are both victims of and players in a media landscape that demands their destruction for entertainment. And both women know it and use it. There’s a layer of intellectual depth, when you sit back and think about it, underpinning this high-stakes “game.”
Prose, narrative structure (I loved the clever documentary excerpts), and pacing are flawless. The writing is sharp, witty, and deliciously nasty, maintaining a tension that never wavers. I found myself increasingly hooked as the stakes escalated from the classrooms of London to the glitz of Hollywood. This is a bold, addictive, and expertly crafted story that explores the lengths one will go to stay in someone else’s orbit. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy the glitz, the plotting, and the blood in this ARC!
March 8, 2026
3.5. I’ve written a review before saying something very much along these lines (although comparing two different books), but I need to do it again here: If you read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and said to yourself, “You know, this is great and all, but juuuuasst a little too understated and subtle for me….”
(I know! — said no one ever! lol)
… then this is The Book For You!
This is Evelyn Hugo Extra: Now, with more obsession, deception, manipulation, toxicity, rivalry, envy, and repressed sapphism! It does have all the other Evelyn Hugo Hollywood type stuff as well, including lots of film premieres, awards shows, and vivid descriptions of late 90s/early aughts evening gowns. But it’s basically Evelyn Hugo if there were two of them and they were both bunny boilers fixated on one another. From the moment they meet, these starlets, Harper and Nadine, just don’t know whether they want to kill one another or … you know … fold towels together. Fetch the newspaper together. Let’s say, French braid one another’s hair.
You have to just accept certain levels of hyperbole and suspend your disbelief with this book, just as with Evelyn Hugo. Everyone and Everything is The Most, Forever, period.
The comparison to Evelyn Hugo is also apt because this book really is more of a literary fiction than a thriller, as it may appear from the cover and title. It may be an extremely over the top, dishy, campy story, but the author can write.
Now, I must admit that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Evelyn Hugo either, and so I found this book a little superlative and drawn out and exhausting as well, but I know most people adore Evelyn and so I think many will really love this one too. I really hope they give it a try!
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks/Landmark for the ARC of this book, expected for release on August 18, 2026.
(I know! — said no one ever! lol)
… then this is The Book For You!
This is Evelyn Hugo Extra: Now, with more obsession, deception, manipulation, toxicity, rivalry, envy, and repressed sapphism! It does have all the other Evelyn Hugo Hollywood type stuff as well, including lots of film premieres, awards shows, and vivid descriptions of late 90s/early aughts evening gowns. But it’s basically Evelyn Hugo if there were two of them and they were both bunny boilers fixated on one another. From the moment they meet, these starlets, Harper and Nadine, just don’t know whether they want to kill one another or … you know … fold towels together. Fetch the newspaper together. Let’s say, French braid one another’s hair.
You have to just accept certain levels of hyperbole and suspend your disbelief with this book, just as with Evelyn Hugo. Everyone and Everything is The Most, Forever, period.
The comparison to Evelyn Hugo is also apt because this book really is more of a literary fiction than a thriller, as it may appear from the cover and title. It may be an extremely over the top, dishy, campy story, but the author can write.
Now, I must admit that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Evelyn Hugo either, and so I found this book a little superlative and drawn out and exhausting as well, but I know most people adore Evelyn and so I think many will really love this one too. I really hope they give it a try!
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks/Landmark for the ARC of this book, expected for release on August 18, 2026.
August 22, 2026
3.5 stars. Nadine and Harper’s lifelong rivalry serves as a dark case study in how intense hatred and attraction are merely opposite sides of the same coin.
Over decades, their competition warps into a codependent pathology, entirely consuming their individual identities until neither woman can function without her adversary.
Over decades, their competition warps into a codependent pathology, entirely consuming their individual identities until neither woman can function without her adversary.
July 31, 2026
I lesbodramma, quelli belli. Queste due davvero si fanno le peggio cose (ma roba veramente pesa, rega, non i dispettucci perché da bambina mi hai tirato le trecce). Inizia tutto perché Nadine becca Harper a sparlare di lei con le sue amichette, sbattendo sul tavolo il trauma che lei le aveva confidato, e da quel momento in poi è un crescendo di tensione.
Mi è piaciuta molto la struttura a documentario intervallata dalla prima persona di Nadine (è lei che ci racconta la storia, ed è una voce narrante di cui non sei nemmeno sicura di poterti fidare del tutto, eppure le credi lo stesso senza esitazioni). Non ho capito la scelta di narrare gli ultimi 2 capitoli in terza persona, è stato un grosso what the fuck che per me ha reso il finale un po’ underwhelming, ma a parte questo, è davvero un libro pazzesco.
È trash, eh, ma è comunque un libro potente, da cui non riesci a staccarti e alla fine ne diventi ossessionato più o meno quanto Nadine e Harper sono ossessionate l’una dall’altra.
Credo che al momento sia la miglior lettura dell’anno.
Mi è piaciuta molto la struttura a documentario intervallata dalla prima persona di Nadine (è lei che ci racconta la storia, ed è una voce narrante di cui non sei nemmeno sicura di poterti fidare del tutto, eppure le credi lo stesso senza esitazioni). Non ho capito la scelta di narrare gli ultimi 2 capitoli in terza persona, è stato un grosso what the fuck che per me ha reso il finale un po’ underwhelming, ma a parte questo, è davvero un libro pazzesco.
È trash, eh, ma è comunque un libro potente, da cui non riesci a staccarti e alla fine ne diventi ossessionato più o meno quanto Nadine e Harper sono ossessionate l’una dall’altra.
Credo che al momento sia la miglior lettura dell’anno.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars rounded up
Oh this was just deliciously twisted in its toxic glory!
I loved this addictive drama so much, I devoured it in a day and a half. The structure centered around a documentary that was made around a murder case kept me glued to the pages and on the egde of my seat as the rivalry between the two stars built and escalted to new lows and the stories they spun fromthat. And by the time I got to the actual murder, I was picturing everything except that.
A gloriously fun read!
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Oh this was just deliciously twisted in its toxic glory!
I loved this addictive drama so much, I devoured it in a day and a half. The structure centered around a documentary that was made around a murder case kept me glued to the pages and on the egde of my seat as the rivalry between the two stars built and escalted to new lows and the stories they spun fromthat. And by the time I got to the actual murder, I was picturing everything except that.
A gloriously fun read!
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
August 21, 2026
Enemies to…… 🎬
Genoten.
Genoten.
August 1, 2026
MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THIS NOWWWWWWW 💳💥
So unbelievably entertaining, the two leading ladies are spectacular.
So unbelievably entertaining, the two leading ladies are spectacular.
July 28, 2026
oh but there just really is no better way to realise you're actually in love with your fiercest hollywood sapphic diva rival with whom you've been obsessed for almost all of your life and hate oh so passionately than to be helping her hide her husband's body (whom she just murdered btw cuz of course) is there? no but it all seriousness this was everything you could expect in a truly captivating read- juicy campy perfectly paced with the messiest characters possible who have toxiest relationship ever so that you just simply cannot look away and even if the start is a bit slow(ish) it does pick up from the midpoint on and boy does it worth it in the end (it's not the high literature but it's just so much fun!! and easily bingeable)
July 2, 2026
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
ohhh man i tried to like this book but the two main characters didnt have anything appealing about them and how they treated people.... and that has to be the sign of a good writer ....
this one had my hackles rising everytime i would have just avoided these people in real life.... as life is to short to be stuck with people like this
i know others will love this story
ohhh man i tried to like this book but the two main characters didnt have anything appealing about them and how they treated people.... and that has to be the sign of a good writer ....
this one had my hackles rising everytime i would have just avoided these people in real life.... as life is to short to be stuck with people like this
i know others will love this story
May 14, 2026
°❀⋆ Better Than Revenge .ೃ࿔*:･
★ ★ ★ ★
‘"Harper Moore and Nadine Heywood? It was always going to end like this: with a body buried six feet under.”'
‘Thelma and Louise meets the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a book about two actresses whose infamous rivalry has a body count.’ That’s Bea Fitzgerald’s own pitch for this book, and if that didn’t immediately intrigue you as it did me… we clearly don’t have the same taste in thrillers. Because that sounds EXPLOSIVE.
I love a thriller (or any book really) that centres around an elite sport or industry – for instance, I devoured the Favourites last year and it even made it onto my favourite books of the year. If, like me, you loved the Favourites, then I think you’d also love Better Than Revenge. Instead of the world of ice dance, we’re focusing on the equally cutthroat Hollywood. Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore’s rivalry first began when they met as teenagers at a London drama school. What started as vying for the same parts and envy coupled with insecurity has since snowballed into a decades-long feud that has kept the tabloids on their toes. From slandering each other in the press to bar brawls, it seems there is nothing Nadine or Harper won’t do to one-up the other.
The writing is so fast-paced and addictive – I felt like I would blink and I’d read 100 pages – with Nadine’s perspective interwoven with interview transcripts. It’s also deeply rooted in 90s pop culture from style and the dawn of the digital age to what the characters are listening to (Britney Spears, of course) and who’s dominating the headlines that week, which is an aspect of the book that I loved!
I did think the book leaned into some of its more hyperbolic moments, resulting in it feeling almost a bit melodramatic at times. It takes a while for the thriller aspect to kick in, but the ride there is so enjoyable that I had no complaints. Watching Nadine’s stratospheric rise to the top and Harper’s gritty ascension to fame, watching their rivalry play out on screens and behind closed doors was so fun.
If you’re someone who has been begging for the return of true enemies-to-lovers – I’m talking they can’t stand each other at first (and for a long time), look no further. Nadine and Harper’s relationship walks the line between love and hate very tenuously at times, and is so incredibly toxic! I also can’t help but think that this book would be the perfect remedy for a reading slump, as I could not put it down.
Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the digital ARC – Better than Revenge is out July 2nd
★ ★ ★ ★
‘"Harper Moore and Nadine Heywood? It was always going to end like this: with a body buried six feet under.”'
‘Thelma and Louise meets the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a book about two actresses whose infamous rivalry has a body count.’ That’s Bea Fitzgerald’s own pitch for this book, and if that didn’t immediately intrigue you as it did me… we clearly don’t have the same taste in thrillers. Because that sounds EXPLOSIVE.
I love a thriller (or any book really) that centres around an elite sport or industry – for instance, I devoured the Favourites last year and it even made it onto my favourite books of the year. If, like me, you loved the Favourites, then I think you’d also love Better Than Revenge. Instead of the world of ice dance, we’re focusing on the equally cutthroat Hollywood. Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore’s rivalry first began when they met as teenagers at a London drama school. What started as vying for the same parts and envy coupled with insecurity has since snowballed into a decades-long feud that has kept the tabloids on their toes. From slandering each other in the press to bar brawls, it seems there is nothing Nadine or Harper won’t do to one-up the other.
The writing is so fast-paced and addictive – I felt like I would blink and I’d read 100 pages – with Nadine’s perspective interwoven with interview transcripts. It’s also deeply rooted in 90s pop culture from style and the dawn of the digital age to what the characters are listening to (Britney Spears, of course) and who’s dominating the headlines that week, which is an aspect of the book that I loved!
I did think the book leaned into some of its more hyperbolic moments, resulting in it feeling almost a bit melodramatic at times. It takes a while for the thriller aspect to kick in, but the ride there is so enjoyable that I had no complaints. Watching Nadine’s stratospheric rise to the top and Harper’s gritty ascension to fame, watching their rivalry play out on screens and behind closed doors was so fun.
If you’re someone who has been begging for the return of true enemies-to-lovers – I’m talking they can’t stand each other at first (and for a long time), look no further. Nadine and Harper’s relationship walks the line between love and hate very tenuously at times, and is so incredibly toxic! I also can’t help but think that this book would be the perfect remedy for a reading slump, as I could not put it down.
Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the digital ARC – Better than Revenge is out July 2nd
April 4, 2026
Better Than Revenge follows Harper Moore and Nadine Heywood, who began their rivalry at drama school as teenagers. Now both successful actresses in Hollywood, they can no longer keep their rivalry private. Splashed over the tabloids, Harper and Nadine are the public’s favourite celebrity feud. But as the stakes get higher, they start to realise there is more to their passionate hate than meets the eye…
This was my first book by Bea Fitzgerald, and I ate it up! The premise of this one immediately sucked me in. I would say that this book is comparable to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Favourites. The mix of flashback and present day chapters, as well as interview transcripts, created great tension in the narrative. I just KNEW something was building up, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Nadine and Harper were both manipulative, petty, and deeply flawed. It was fascinating to follow their relationship from drama students to present day in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Their interactions were filled with tension, and it was so entertaining to see their rivalry escalate and them both grapple to gain the upper hand. Their relationship was toxic and fuelled by obsession, but, GOD, was it entertaining to read about!
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an addictive, compelling, and character driven read. Or, fans of Evelyn Hugo who want something a little more bloody!
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for providing me with an eARC. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
This was my first book by Bea Fitzgerald, and I ate it up! The premise of this one immediately sucked me in. I would say that this book is comparable to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Favourites. The mix of flashback and present day chapters, as well as interview transcripts, created great tension in the narrative. I just KNEW something was building up, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Nadine and Harper were both manipulative, petty, and deeply flawed. It was fascinating to follow their relationship from drama students to present day in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Their interactions were filled with tension, and it was so entertaining to see their rivalry escalate and them both grapple to gain the upper hand. Their relationship was toxic and fuelled by obsession, but, GOD, was it entertaining to read about!
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an addictive, compelling, and character driven read. Or, fans of Evelyn Hugo who want something a little more bloody!
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for providing me with an eARC. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2026
Wow what a story. The storyline of two rivalry actresses making it in Hollywood with a mysterious plot unravelling. The tension and the obsession between Nadine and Harper had me hooked. This book reminded me of the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo but with a more thrilling and mysterious take on the story.
I really enjoyed the structure of it switching between timelines and the present day timeline being in a more interview style and getting a glimpse into how other characters perceived the unravelling of events. It felt like watching a documentary of the two characters stories.
The dynamic between the two characters is so toxic and tense but sooo entertaining. It explores what people are willing to do in order to make it big in Hollywood and the environment in which evolves around the industry.
The story had me constantly engaged with well written characters and amazing writing brought to life with the events that occurred. I had no clue where the story was gonna lead to and that was such a strong element of this book. I didn’t know what to expect. There was so much depth built upon the story and characters personalities, it made the story even more rich in excellence.
I loved this book thoroughly and would recommend it to anyway wanting to read a Hollywood thriller about characters that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
I really enjoyed the structure of it switching between timelines and the present day timeline being in a more interview style and getting a glimpse into how other characters perceived the unravelling of events. It felt like watching a documentary of the two characters stories.
The dynamic between the two characters is so toxic and tense but sooo entertaining. It explores what people are willing to do in order to make it big in Hollywood and the environment in which evolves around the industry.
The story had me constantly engaged with well written characters and amazing writing brought to life with the events that occurred. I had no clue where the story was gonna lead to and that was such a strong element of this book. I didn’t know what to expect. There was so much depth built upon the story and characters personalities, it made the story even more rich in excellence.
I loved this book thoroughly and would recommend it to anyway wanting to read a Hollywood thriller about characters that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
July 29, 2026
“That rivalry – the mystery of it? Friends one moment, enemies the next? They're shrouded in so much gossip and rumor... Who doesn't want to know the real story of how the Hollywood It Girl and the Greatest Actress of the Age came to blows?"
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore have been obsessed rivals since drama school. As they begin to make names for themselves in Hollywood, they tear each other apart with abandon, becoming the most famous rivals of their era. But could it be their obsessive hatred towards each other is hiding something more? And what happens when their rivalry turns deadly?
Better Than Revenge was such a good time. Reading this book with its wild twists and turns, its often despicable and deliciously horrible characters, and its juicy drama was like reading a gossip magazine (in the best possible way). But while Fitzgerald delivers a sometimes campy story of fame, obsession and a delightfully toxic sapphic love story, she also infuses her story with depth and interesting, moving themes. Through this wild tale, Fitzgerald explores, among other things, living with and recovering from addiction, the invasiveness of modern media, and the dehumanisation and objectification of female celebrities. I thought she captured especially well how brutal it can be to live in the spotlight when every heartbreak you experience, every wardrobe malfunction you suffer and every move you make is recorded, dissected and roasted; you seize to be a multifaceted person and become an object, a symbol, something everyone wants to own. The book obviously centres, above all, on women's experiences in the public eye – the characters talk about how women simply aren't allowed the same complexity as men, how women's appearances and weight are scrutinised in a way men's aren't, and how women are sexualised in a way men aren't. One storyline also deals with this idea that women are expected to want motherhood and domesticity, and how rejecting those things can be seen as almost a betrayal of their gender, a sign of deviance, something the public should punish a celebrity woman for. Nadine's narration really captures how lonely this kind of life can be, surrounded by people but still without many people you can truly trust with your secrets. The book explores many a dark theme, so if you are sensitive to stuff like depictions of abuse, addiction, abortion and eating disorders, I'd give this book a skip, though I'd say Fitzgerald deals with these themes with honesty and care, and doesn't include them in her story just to shock.
The premise of this book is so much fun. Obsessed rivals in late-90s and early-2000s Hollywood tearing each other apart while also crushing on each other without realising it? One of these women coming to the other, covered in blood, asking for their help? So good! And though the fun of the dynamic did fizzle out a bit for me at the end when they I did enjoy their story from beginning to end. I loved the structure, with Nadine's narration paired up with transcripts of the documentary Nadine is taking part in about the truth of her feud with Harper. Nadine's narration clashes with what people say in the documentary, and these contradictions made the book really fun to read: everyone is biased and everyone sees this feud differently and everyone has a reason for why they say what they say. When you realise Nadine is My love for this structure took a slight hit when it was revealed that The murder side of this book was way smaller a portion than I anticipated. For the most part, this book feels like a literary historical novel about fame, rivalry and toxic love. You know from the beginning that someone dies, but getting to actually see it happen takes a long time. I didn't mind that in the end. I mention it here just so you don't pick this book up expecting a really high-action thriller.
Nadine and Harper were both fun characters, even though they both do really nasty things. I like a messy, complex character! I liked Nadine's drive and her ambition, her love for cinema and her wanting, at the same time, to be this commercially successful award-winning icon and a true artist. It was fun seeing her go from this reclusive acting student to this cinema superstar – she changes a lot, but at the same time, she does not. Even when she becomes famous, she is the same girl who refused to trust anyone and who was desperate for someone to see them after a childhood spent with emotionally distant and cold parents. It was fun following her as she learns to navigate fame and Hollywood, struggles with her reputation (I especially felt for her when she talks about how much it angered her that the thing people remember best about her breakout role was not her acting or her complex character, but how good her tits looked in a jumpsuit), fumbles and remakes herself, and tries her best to She was a really great and engaging narrator, and I appreciated just how subjective and biased she was.
Harper was an intriguing character, because we don't get to know her as closely as we do Nadine and we only see her through the eyes of others. But because she is quite open and she has a tendency to deal with her issues and pain by joking about it and, in that way, taking control of it, you do get to know aspects of her. I liked how this book showcased different types of bad parents – Nadine's ignore her and Harper's mom uses her for clout – and how these kinds of childhood wounds can leave different kinds of scars. I liked Harper's brashness, her shamelessness and her scheming. Like Nadine, she is delightfully ambitious. One thing I especially liked about her was that she embraces being a terrible person in a way Nadine cannot, not for a long time. Harper has no qualms about doing shitty things and admitting she is being shitty, which I kinda loved about her. It was also fun seeing this woman who shines in the limelight, charms everyone despite the scandalous rumours that surround her and dominates the mind of her sworn enemy become undone by
The side characters were all solid. You have the loyal friend for many years, Ivan, whose brilliant screenplay launches Nadine's career (also, that scene when ), and the flamboyant, funny but proud fashion designer, Amos, who There's Ruchi, Nadine's badass PR person who has so much shit to deal with but still remains a loyal ally and someone who is both friend and colleague to Nadine. Whenever Nadine messes up, and boy does she mess up, Ruchi is never Nadine's first boyfriend, Oisín, was a great depiction of a very specific type of man – the type who is all Joel Ingram, a football sensation turned celebrity boyfriend, was also a great depiction of a very specific type of guy, the kind who Though most of them are not named and they appear, for the most part, as this swarming group, the book also depicts the paparazzi in a really intriguing way: they loom everywhere and are a constant threat, always looking for the most scandalous scoop and picture they can find. I can't imagine what it would be like to live under the kind of scrutiny Nadine and Harper face, the kind of scrutiny I know actual celebrities live with on the daily.
The dynamic between Nadine and Harper was a ton of fun. I love a messy, toxic, obsessive queer dynamic, and I like reading about relationships where the people involved make each other worse in a way that neither can resist. There is no doubt Harper and Nadine are toxic and bad for each other, but it's this that makes reading about them so much fun, so much so that when their dynamic becomes slightly less horrible when they , the book became slightly less fun to read. I loved seeing the origins of their rivalry in drama school, and how it was all born out of both genuine reasons, like , and really petty, childish reasons (they truly act like kids, at school: they sabotage, fight, bitch and seek to disrupt the other to get ahead). The obsession was also really well depicted – Nadine says that "No one else’s love was as delicious as Harper’s hatred” and Harper threatens her with a smile, saying: “One day you’re going to thank me for all that I’ve done for you. You’re going to grovel. Even if I have to force you on your knees myself.” It was delicious reading about all the different ways, big and small, that they torment each other over the years: in school, Nadine , and in Hollywood, Harper spreads rumours of Nadine having an STD and charging crystals in her vagina. They make fun of each other on red carpets and Nadine even There's also this wonderful sense that neither of them can handle anyone else hurting their nemesis: only they can torment each other, no one else is allowed to do so. Who doesn't love a dynamic built around this need for someone to see you and only you, to know that you occupy this person's mind and that you are the thing that their world revolves around? As Nadine puts it: “All this to say, before Harper Moore took full rein over my life, I was brilliant. I was dedicated. But my god, I was boring. Everything was dull before Harper.” I kept wondering, as I was reading, why Nadine would I also loved this quote from Nadine after Harper
Better Than Revenge was a fun romp set in glamorous Hollywood and its dark underbelly, and it centered around a truly delightfully horrible pair of women who truly deserve each other (cause they are both so terrible) but who you still root for, despite their less than charming behaviour and personalities. This book had a few hiccups, but I still enjoyed it and flew through it. Bea Fitzgerald has impressed me with both her Greek myth reimaginings and her standalone adult novels, and I will keep reading whatever she publishes.
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore have been obsessed rivals since drama school. As they begin to make names for themselves in Hollywood, they tear each other apart with abandon, becoming the most famous rivals of their era. But could it be their obsessive hatred towards each other is hiding something more? And what happens when their rivalry turns deadly?
Better Than Revenge was such a good time. Reading this book with its wild twists and turns, its often despicable and deliciously horrible characters, and its juicy drama was like reading a gossip magazine (in the best possible way). But while Fitzgerald delivers a sometimes campy story of fame, obsession and a delightfully toxic sapphic love story, she also infuses her story with depth and interesting, moving themes. Through this wild tale, Fitzgerald explores, among other things, living with and recovering from addiction, the invasiveness of modern media, and the dehumanisation and objectification of female celebrities. I thought she captured especially well how brutal it can be to live in the spotlight when every heartbreak you experience, every wardrobe malfunction you suffer and every move you make is recorded, dissected and roasted; you seize to be a multifaceted person and become an object, a symbol, something everyone wants to own. The book obviously centres, above all, on women's experiences in the public eye – the characters talk about how women simply aren't allowed the same complexity as men, how women's appearances and weight are scrutinised in a way men's aren't, and how women are sexualised in a way men aren't. One storyline also deals with this idea that women are expected to want motherhood and domesticity, and how rejecting those things can be seen as almost a betrayal of their gender, a sign of deviance, something the public should punish a celebrity woman for. Nadine's narration really captures how lonely this kind of life can be, surrounded by people but still without many people you can truly trust with your secrets. The book explores many a dark theme, so if you are sensitive to stuff like depictions of abuse, addiction, abortion and eating disorders, I'd give this book a skip, though I'd say Fitzgerald deals with these themes with honesty and care, and doesn't include them in her story just to shock.
The premise of this book is so much fun. Obsessed rivals in late-90s and early-2000s Hollywood tearing each other apart while also crushing on each other without realising it? One of these women coming to the other, covered in blood, asking for their help? So good! And though the fun of the dynamic did fizzle out a bit for me at the end when they I did enjoy their story from beginning to end. I loved the structure, with Nadine's narration paired up with transcripts of the documentary Nadine is taking part in about the truth of her feud with Harper. Nadine's narration clashes with what people say in the documentary, and these contradictions made the book really fun to read: everyone is biased and everyone sees this feud differently and everyone has a reason for why they say what they say. When you realise Nadine is My love for this structure took a slight hit when it was revealed that The murder side of this book was way smaller a portion than I anticipated. For the most part, this book feels like a literary historical novel about fame, rivalry and toxic love. You know from the beginning that someone dies, but getting to actually see it happen takes a long time. I didn't mind that in the end. I mention it here just so you don't pick this book up expecting a really high-action thriller.
Nadine and Harper were both fun characters, even though they both do really nasty things. I like a messy, complex character! I liked Nadine's drive and her ambition, her love for cinema and her wanting, at the same time, to be this commercially successful award-winning icon and a true artist. It was fun seeing her go from this reclusive acting student to this cinema superstar – she changes a lot, but at the same time, she does not. Even when she becomes famous, she is the same girl who refused to trust anyone and who was desperate for someone to see them after a childhood spent with emotionally distant and cold parents. It was fun following her as she learns to navigate fame and Hollywood, struggles with her reputation (I especially felt for her when she talks about how much it angered her that the thing people remember best about her breakout role was not her acting or her complex character, but how good her tits looked in a jumpsuit), fumbles and remakes herself, and tries her best to She was a really great and engaging narrator, and I appreciated just how subjective and biased she was.
Harper was an intriguing character, because we don't get to know her as closely as we do Nadine and we only see her through the eyes of others. But because she is quite open and she has a tendency to deal with her issues and pain by joking about it and, in that way, taking control of it, you do get to know aspects of her. I liked how this book showcased different types of bad parents – Nadine's ignore her and Harper's mom uses her for clout – and how these kinds of childhood wounds can leave different kinds of scars. I liked Harper's brashness, her shamelessness and her scheming. Like Nadine, she is delightfully ambitious. One thing I especially liked about her was that she embraces being a terrible person in a way Nadine cannot, not for a long time. Harper has no qualms about doing shitty things and admitting she is being shitty, which I kinda loved about her. It was also fun seeing this woman who shines in the limelight, charms everyone despite the scandalous rumours that surround her and dominates the mind of her sworn enemy become undone by
The side characters were all solid. You have the loyal friend for many years, Ivan, whose brilliant screenplay launches Nadine's career (also, that scene when ), and the flamboyant, funny but proud fashion designer, Amos, who There's Ruchi, Nadine's badass PR person who has so much shit to deal with but still remains a loyal ally and someone who is both friend and colleague to Nadine. Whenever Nadine messes up, and boy does she mess up, Ruchi is never Nadine's first boyfriend, Oisín, was a great depiction of a very specific type of man – the type who is all Joel Ingram, a football sensation turned celebrity boyfriend, was also a great depiction of a very specific type of guy, the kind who Though most of them are not named and they appear, for the most part, as this swarming group, the book also depicts the paparazzi in a really intriguing way: they loom everywhere and are a constant threat, always looking for the most scandalous scoop and picture they can find. I can't imagine what it would be like to live under the kind of scrutiny Nadine and Harper face, the kind of scrutiny I know actual celebrities live with on the daily.
The dynamic between Nadine and Harper was a ton of fun. I love a messy, toxic, obsessive queer dynamic, and I like reading about relationships where the people involved make each other worse in a way that neither can resist. There is no doubt Harper and Nadine are toxic and bad for each other, but it's this that makes reading about them so much fun, so much so that when their dynamic becomes slightly less horrible when they , the book became slightly less fun to read. I loved seeing the origins of their rivalry in drama school, and how it was all born out of both genuine reasons, like , and really petty, childish reasons (they truly act like kids, at school: they sabotage, fight, bitch and seek to disrupt the other to get ahead). The obsession was also really well depicted – Nadine says that "No one else’s love was as delicious as Harper’s hatred” and Harper threatens her with a smile, saying: “One day you’re going to thank me for all that I’ve done for you. You’re going to grovel. Even if I have to force you on your knees myself.” It was delicious reading about all the different ways, big and small, that they torment each other over the years: in school, Nadine , and in Hollywood, Harper spreads rumours of Nadine having an STD and charging crystals in her vagina. They make fun of each other on red carpets and Nadine even There's also this wonderful sense that neither of them can handle anyone else hurting their nemesis: only they can torment each other, no one else is allowed to do so. Who doesn't love a dynamic built around this need for someone to see you and only you, to know that you occupy this person's mind and that you are the thing that their world revolves around? As Nadine puts it: “All this to say, before Harper Moore took full rein over my life, I was brilliant. I was dedicated. But my god, I was boring. Everything was dull before Harper.” I kept wondering, as I was reading, why Nadine would I also loved this quote from Nadine after Harper
Better Than Revenge was a fun romp set in glamorous Hollywood and its dark underbelly, and it centered around a truly delightfully horrible pair of women who truly deserve each other (cause they are both so terrible) but who you still root for, despite their less than charming behaviour and personalities. This book had a few hiccups, but I still enjoyed it and flew through it. Bea Fitzgerald has impressed me with both her Greek myth reimaginings and her standalone adult novels, and I will keep reading whatever she publishes.
June 27, 2026
ARC Review: Better Than Revenge by @chaosonolympus published by @penguinbooksaus @bookmarked and supplied by @netgalley
Release date: 7 July 2026 (AUS/UK)
18 August 2026 (USA)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Toxic queer Hollywood actresses with a rivalry that spans over a decade, that’s what you are getting with Better Than Revenge and I are it up!
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore first meet at a British acting school in the early 90s and immediately a rivalry is established. This will follow them for years to come, from London to Hollywood, movies to awards and all the tabloid media that follows. But how much of this rivalry is true and how much is orchestrated to boost both of their public personas?
Throw in a murder and one actress turning to the other for unexpected help and you get this gripping story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. This story is mostly told from Nadine’s perspective while being interspersed with interviews from documentary and tabloid headlines.
I love Bea’s Greek mythology retellings but now I can’t wait to see more of this genre from her 💜
Release date: 7 July 2026 (AUS/UK)
18 August 2026 (USA)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Toxic queer Hollywood actresses with a rivalry that spans over a decade, that’s what you are getting with Better Than Revenge and I are it up!
Nadine Heywood and Harper Moore first meet at a British acting school in the early 90s and immediately a rivalry is established. This will follow them for years to come, from London to Hollywood, movies to awards and all the tabloid media that follows. But how much of this rivalry is true and how much is orchestrated to boost both of their public personas?
Throw in a murder and one actress turning to the other for unexpected help and you get this gripping story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. This story is mostly told from Nadine’s perspective while being interspersed with interviews from documentary and tabloid headlines.
I love Bea’s Greek mythology retellings but now I can’t wait to see more of this genre from her 💜
July 18, 2026
3⭐️
I thought, given the nature of this book (wlw,rivals, enemies to lovers, hot women etc etc) that I would be obsessed with this book and unfortunately it didn’t hit for me…or not as hard as I thought it would anyway.
The characters at times felt a little 2d and the rivalry a little tired but perhaps that says more about Hollywood’s obsession with women at each others throats (not in the gay way) but seriously, get a room Nadine and Harper, any rivalry that last this long has surely got to be fruity.
TJR reigns supreme in this genre I think. This burn was so slow I actually had to check if the match was still lit after 300 pages.
I thought, given the nature of this book (wlw,rivals, enemies to lovers, hot women etc etc) that I would be obsessed with this book and unfortunately it didn’t hit for me…or not as hard as I thought it would anyway.
The characters at times felt a little 2d and the rivalry a little tired but perhaps that says more about Hollywood’s obsession with women at each others throats (not in the gay way) but seriously, get a room Nadine and Harper, any rivalry that last this long has surely got to be fruity.
TJR reigns supreme in this genre I think. This burn was so slow I actually had to check if the match was still lit after 300 pages.
April 10, 2026
I loved this! The relationship between Nadine and Harper was so intense! They were both as toxic and obsessive as each other, i couldnt put it down because i was so invested in what they were going to do to each other next. I also loved the way it was written, a mixture of flashbacks and past tense and then the documentary style present tense made it really interesting and also built up a lot of tension. I loved how you couldnt quite tell if their rivalry was just pure hatred or if there was more to it! Definitely recommend this one its super gripping!
July 19, 2026
I LOVED this so so much, the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time. I hadn’t heard of this book or author before when I picked it up and I’m SO glad I did. Such a fun storyline, mixed media 4 life.
July 17, 2026
Very fun!! This is a well crafted story and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The documentary parts were such a fun addition, I love mixed media so this worked like a charm for me lol. Both Nadine and Harper are SO messy and toxic and so entertaining. I definitely recommend this as a fun read this summer!
September 15, 2026
Actual rating: 4.75⭐
Chaotic. Dramatic. Addictive.
These are probably the three words I would use to describe this book. Two women who have hated each other for so long but why? Who knows.
The way this book twists narratives and proposes complex characters like it's a day job is so fascinating. Holy moly, I loved Nadine and Harlow's story. The way their characters developed, the way their feelings progressed and the celebrity wars.
The main thing that made it so addictive was the reality-show style it was written. The podcast narratives and then the actual story??? Made it so interesting. I literally COULD NOT put it down.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for gifting me an e-ARC of this book! 🥹🫶
Chaotic. Dramatic. Addictive.
These are probably the three words I would use to describe this book. Two women who have hated each other for so long but why? Who knows.
The way this book twists narratives and proposes complex characters like it's a day job is so fascinating. Holy moly, I loved Nadine and Harlow's story. The way their characters developed, the way their feelings progressed and the celebrity wars.
The main thing that made it so addictive was the reality-show style it was written. The podcast narratives and then the actual story??? Made it so interesting. I literally COULD NOT put it down.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for gifting me an e-ARC of this book! 🥹🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2026
Such a promising premise - actresses in a feud who become lovers, some crime and toxicity sprinkled in (Thelma and Louise style) and a thrilling novel is born. Sadly, the story falls flat and feels enumerative on many occasions, all the parties and awards for made up movies I couldn’t contextualize. Yet, whenever the two women crossed paths and were hateful and hot towards each other I happily devoured the scenes. Second half was better.
September 17, 2026
I liked this more than I thought I would. It was very entertaining, and I could visualise the characters very well. The story and drama was great. I think the only thing I would've liked is if the ending was quite as rushed as I found it. I've been told it's like Evelyn Hugo on crack.
September 10, 2026
4.5 🌟- Evelyn Hugo but on crack, a really thought provoking one!
August 25, 2026
i love women
August 21, 2026
I actually really liked this unreliable narrators ftw also shout out Effie the cat
August 30, 2026
I’m really torn on this one because there were parts I enjoyed, but overall it just wasn’t for me.
Better Than Revenge follows Nadine and Harper, two actresses whose rivalry begins at drama school and follows them into Hollywood, becoming increasingly obsessive, destructive and complicated along the way.
I didn’t particularly care for either Nadine or Harper, although I don’t think they are written to be likeable. Their rivalry became so intense and OTT that it eventually felt daft and repetitive, and I found myself skimming quite a lot. I also couldn’t connect emotionally with either of them, so by the time the sapphic aspect really came into play, I was already past the point of caring.
The pacing was very up and down, and some of the events became too unbelievable for me. I also found the setting quite jarring. Although it’s mostly set in the 90s and 00s, the writing often felt much more like old Hollywood.
There were definitely some interesting ideas here, particularly around fame, ambition, obsession and the darker side of Hollywood, but unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with the story or characters.
This one wasn’t for me, I’m afraid.
Better Than Revenge follows Nadine and Harper, two actresses whose rivalry begins at drama school and follows them into Hollywood, becoming increasingly obsessive, destructive and complicated along the way.
I didn’t particularly care for either Nadine or Harper, although I don’t think they are written to be likeable. Their rivalry became so intense and OTT that it eventually felt daft and repetitive, and I found myself skimming quite a lot. I also couldn’t connect emotionally with either of them, so by the time the sapphic aspect really came into play, I was already past the point of caring.
The pacing was very up and down, and some of the events became too unbelievable for me. I also found the setting quite jarring. Although it’s mostly set in the 90s and 00s, the writing often felt much more like old Hollywood.
There were definitely some interesting ideas here, particularly around fame, ambition, obsession and the darker side of Hollywood, but unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with the story or characters.
This one wasn’t for me, I’m afraid.
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