What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
19 days and 16:38:23
25 copies available
U.S. only
The Bombshell
Not yet published
Expected 27 May 25Win a free print copy of this book!
19 days and 16:38:23
25 copies available
U.S. only
A young woman's radicalization sparks a widespread movement and media frenzy in this explosive novel of youthful passion, political awakening and first love, by an extraordinary new talent.
“A lush, cinematic and propulsive novel filled with sex, violence, glamor and a true revolutionary spirit. It’s a towering literary achievement.� (Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize winner)
Corsica, 1993. As a sun-drenched Mediterranean summer heads into full swing, beautiful and brash seventeen-year-old Severine Guimard is counting down the days until graduation, dreaming of stardom while smoking cigarettes and seducing boys in her class to pass the time. The pampered French-American daughter of a politician, Severine knows she’s destined for bigger things.
That is, until one night, Severine is snatched off her bike by a militant trio fighting for Corsican independence and held for a large ransom. When the men fumble negotiating her release, the four become unlikely housemates deep in the island’s remote interior. Eager to gain the upper hand, Severine sets out to charm her captors, and soon, the handsome, intellectual leader, Bruno, the gentle university student, Tittu, and even the gruff, unflappable Petru grow to enjoy the company of their headstrong hostage.
As Severine is exposed to the group’s political philosophy, the ideas of Marx and Fanon begin to take root. With her flair for the spotlight and newfound beliefs, Severine becomes the face of a radical movement for a global TV audience. What follows is a summer of passion and terror, careening toward an inevitable, explosive conclusion, as Severine steps into the biggest role of her life.
The Bombshell is an electric novel filled with seduction and fervor as it explores the wonders and perils of youthful idealism, the combustibility of celebrity, and the sublime force of young love.
“A lush, cinematic and propulsive novel filled with sex, violence, glamor and a true revolutionary spirit. It’s a towering literary achievement.� (Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize winner)
Corsica, 1993. As a sun-drenched Mediterranean summer heads into full swing, beautiful and brash seventeen-year-old Severine Guimard is counting down the days until graduation, dreaming of stardom while smoking cigarettes and seducing boys in her class to pass the time. The pampered French-American daughter of a politician, Severine knows she’s destined for bigger things.
That is, until one night, Severine is snatched off her bike by a militant trio fighting for Corsican independence and held for a large ransom. When the men fumble negotiating her release, the four become unlikely housemates deep in the island’s remote interior. Eager to gain the upper hand, Severine sets out to charm her captors, and soon, the handsome, intellectual leader, Bruno, the gentle university student, Tittu, and even the gruff, unflappable Petru grow to enjoy the company of their headstrong hostage.
As Severine is exposed to the group’s political philosophy, the ideas of Marx and Fanon begin to take root. With her flair for the spotlight and newfound beliefs, Severine becomes the face of a radical movement for a global TV audience. What follows is a summer of passion and terror, careening toward an inevitable, explosive conclusion, as Severine steps into the biggest role of her life.
The Bombshell is an electric novel filled with seduction and fervor as it explores the wonders and perils of youthful idealism, the combustibility of celebrity, and the sublime force of young love.
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 27, 2025
7 people are currently reading
7,002 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 30, 2025
the best dangerous-boredom-of-teenage-girls novel since megan abbott was good, and it's better than that because the danger is allowing and in fact encouraging teenage girls to firebomb the walmart. a little bit of elena ferrante in the mix but, like, imagine the psychological problems elena ferrante's girls would have if they were french. somehow an extremely effective eric rohmer pastiche in the written word?? a book that will look you in the eye and tell you it's the same kind of communist as you (threat, implication, heckle). séverine is a girl of all time.
November 30, 2024
A truly dazzling novel I was fortunate enough to have early access to � mind your business re: how � and which I am eager to place into the hands of many come next year. The protagonist, Severine, is one of the most deftly-drawn characters I’d read in some time; she is as memorable and as compelling as the protagonists of recent novels by Tess Gunty and Emma Cline.
You’ll want to get yourself a copy of this one in late May!
You’ll want to get yourself a copy of this one in late May!
March 1, 2025
Wow. I’m going to be honest when I got done with Chapter 1 I thought this book wasn’t going to be for me.
I felt the main character Severine was too much but as I kept reading it made sense and then I couldn’t put the book down. It all made sense, Severine is too much! I devoured this book. This is a story that stands out from other fiction in the best way. The plot had me hooked, the relationships between the characters was addicting, and I needed to see how it played out.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I felt the main character Severine was too much but as I kept reading it made sense and then I couldn’t put the book down. It all made sense, Severine is too much! I devoured this book. This is a story that stands out from other fiction in the best way. The plot had me hooked, the relationships between the characters was addicting, and I needed to see how it played out.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2025
Some gorgeous scenery and palpable drama in the early going, nicely paired with an ironic take on the protagonist’s faux-revolutionary self-regard. The third act, though, reads almost as shallow and flat as the main character, with little sense of culpability or consequence.
March 16, 2025
This read like a cult classic movie, with such vivid characters and settings. Séverine was such an interesting and well written character to center the story around. Her ability to wrap men around her finger was fascinating to read about, especially how she was able to essentially spin her own kidnapping into a political revolution. I found some of the political talks a little repetitive, but overall I really felt the heat and violence of the revolution.
The third act of the novel was particularly well written. Séverine’s struggle to understand her younger self, her relationship with Bruno and her daughter’s life was such a clever addition to this story. Farr could have ended the book with her escape to America, but by providing the reader with a glimpse into the life she built for herself, we were able to truly understand who she was despite her explosive teenage summer. A stand out, impressive and sizzling story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheBombshell #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The third act of the novel was particularly well written. Séverine’s struggle to understand her younger self, her relationship with Bruno and her daughter’s life was such a clever addition to this story. Farr could have ended the book with her escape to America, but by providing the reader with a glimpse into the life she built for herself, we were able to truly understand who she was despite her explosive teenage summer. A stand out, impressive and sizzling story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheBombshell #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2025
3.5-ish rounded up.
There were a few times (a lot of times) where Severine kind of gave me the ick because of her white savior complex, her internalized misogyny, and for her motives behind joining the revolution, but after sitting with it, I believe (and hope) that was sort of the point of her character. it’s also pretty accurate for how a rich, white, high schooler would behave. I genuinely will miss these characters, particularly Tittu and Petru, like they were my real life friends.
Also, I agree with one of the other reviews that the third act did fall a bit flat.
There were a few times (a lot of times) where Severine kind of gave me the ick because of her white savior complex, her internalized misogyny, and for her motives behind joining the revolution, but after sitting with it, I believe (and hope) that was sort of the point of her character. it’s also pretty accurate for how a rich, white, high schooler would behave. I genuinely will miss these characters, particularly Tittu and Petru, like they were my real life friends.
Also, I agree with one of the other reviews that the third act did fall a bit flat.
March 31, 2025
Teenage girl - who, of course, knows everything, is kidnapped and then turns to the life of a freedom fighter because she is in love and thinks the world revolves around her. As the gang got further embroiled in their desire for revolution you can feel the more grown up members of the gang questioning the route that they are following - but they are pressed on by the younger, foolhardy members.
I felt that the last part of the book was necessary to put it all into perspective, however I hankered for a final twist - that police knock on the door she had been awaiting for all those years.
I felt that the last part of the book was necessary to put it all into perspective, however I hankered for a final twist - that police knock on the door she had been awaiting for all those years.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.