Beautiful Little Fools

I’m a huge fan of Jillian Cantor, so when I heard about her Gatsby retelling from the perspective of the female characters, I knew it was a book I just had to read. Beautiful Little Fools is an engrossing tale that beautifully complements the original and is even more atmospheric!

Synopsis: On a sultry August day in 1922, Jay Gatsby is shot dead in his West Egg swimming pool. To the police, it appears to be an open-and-shut case of murder/suicide when the body of George Wilson, a local mechanic, is found in the woods nearby.

Then a diamond hairpin is discovered in the bushes by the pool, and three women fall under suspicion. Each holds a key that can unlock the truth to the mysterious life and death of this enigmatic millionaire.

Daisy Buchanan once thought she might marry Gatsby—before her family was torn apart by an unspeakable tragedy that sent her into the arms of the philandering Tom Buchanan.

Jordan Baker, Daisy’s best friend, guards a secret that derailed her promising golf career and threatens to ruin her friendship with Daisy as well.

Catherine McCoy, a suffragette, fights for women’s freedom and independence, and especially for her sister, Myrtle Wilson, who’s trapped in a terrible marriage.

Their stories unfold in the years leading up to that fateful summer of 1922, when all three of their lives are on the brink of unraveling. Each woman is pulled deeper into Jay Gatsby’s romantic obsession, with devastating consequences for all of them.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I absolutely loved getting to read this story through the eyes and alternating voices of the female characters in The Great Gatsby (Daisy, Jordan, and Catherine). Cantor did a phenomenal job staying true to their characters (I was never a fan of Daisy, but now I really feel more for her and the life she was delt) while giving them their own voice and using rich and imaginative details that brings them to life. Getting to see these women on center stage really gave this retelling more depth and perspective.

Do I need to read The Great Gatsby in order to understand this book?

Nope! Actually, I think it would be pretty neat to read this book first and then The Great Gatsby. I’m thinking it would really give more perspective to the classic, because all that glitters is definitely not gold!

How was the pace?

This story was both fast and steady. It pulled me in from the first page and held me as the chapters alternated between the characters. I just had to know more about them and hated to see the story end.

Do you recommend this book?

Yes!! This is an excellent and refreshing feminist take on The Great Gatsby and I loved seeing the women take back the power!

Thank you William Morrow for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.