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.
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