The Bombshell - by Darrow Farr (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"If a book could possess "French-Girl Style," The Bombshell would have it... effortlessly cool: a smart, sophisticated tale of sexual and political awakening over the course of a fateful summer."--New York Times Book Review

"An escapist, Hollywood-ready excursion to Corsica."--Vogue

Corsica, 1993. As a sun-drenched Mediterranean summer heads into full swing, beautiful and brash seventeen-year-old Séverine 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, Séverine knows she's destined for bigger things.

That is, until one night, Séverine 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, Séverine 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 Séverine is exposed to the group's politics, they ignite something unexpected within her, and their ideas begin to take root. With her flair for the spotlight and newfound beliefs, Séverine 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 Séverine steps into the biggest role of her life.

An electric novel by an extraordinary new talent, The Bombshell is filled with seduction and fervor, and explores the wonders and perils of youthful idealism, the combustibility of celebrity, and the sublime force of young love.

Review Quotes

"If a book could possess "French-Girl Style" -- that aspirational Parisian chic the internet tries to trick me into believing can be achieved with bangs or Repetto ballet flats -- The Bombshell would have it. Darrow Farr's debut novel is effortlessly cool: a smart, sophisticated tale of sexual and political awakening over the course of a fateful summer that reads like falling into an Éric Rohmer film."--New York Times Book Review

"Explosive, sexy -- and don't miss the twists and turns as the adventure progresses." --People

"An escapist, Hollywood-ready excursion to Corsica... Youthful idealism is fun, but what happens when the bill comes due? The final pages provide a touching answer you don't quite expect."--Vogue

"A novel I inhaled and loved...The Bombshell belongs in the category of books you really must read until the end -- I was clocked by a twist I genuinely didn't see coming -- and there's a lot of sultry detail to keep you engaged along the way.... I dare anyone to pick up the novel without falling for -- and, OK, occasionally wanting to ground -- Séverine, the alluring and vain teenager at its heart."--Joumana Khatib, New York Times Book Review

"Inspired by heiress Patty Hearst's abduction, Farr incorporates elements of glamour and darkness into her novel's political core."--Washington Post

"If you've read Ann Patchett's Bel Canto more times than you can count or have nursed a healthy obsession over the Patty Hearst trial, this book is begging to be added to your TBR."--Marie Claire

"The truest encapsulation of the summer novel. It's bold, brash, and deeply absorbing...Drama and destruction, passion and power, all add up to a combustible combination in this tale of conquest, freedom, and sexual awakening."--Literary Hub

"Farr's accomplished debut deftly balances heady ruminations on colonialism and revolution with relatable human moments...vibrant prose lends texture and urgency, while the fully fleshed characters' increasingly thorny interpersonal relationships raise the story's stakes and give it soul. A passionate powder keg of a novel."--Kirkus Reviews

"A lush, cinematic and propulsive novel filled with sex, violence, glamor and a true revolutionary spirit. It's a towering literary achievement. The Bombshell is certain to be the debut of the year, a true must-read."--Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner

"An electrifying exploration of personal and political revolution, The Bombshell is a complex, unflinching portrait of youthful transformation and the dangerous allure of fame that announces Darrow Farr as an exciting new voice to watch."--Gabriela Garcia, New York Times bestselling author of Of Women and Salt

"What a sexy, kinetic and dazzling novel this is, full of lust for life and ideas and the fecund dreams of youth. I was completely seduced by the brio of its unlikely revolutionary hero.... An amazing, unforgettable novel."--Chang-rae Lee, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of My Year Abroad

"The Bombshell will explode into your psyche and keep you happily captive until the last word. Farr's complicated heroine, by turns overconfident and touchingly vulnerable, will force you to constantly reassess your convictions. I didn't want this fascinating, nuanced, beautifully drawn novel to end."--Emma Knight, New York Times bestselling author of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

"Youthful passion, political awakening and first love abound in Darrow Farr's debut novel. Taking place over the course of one Mediterranean summer, The Bombshell is a glamorous literary achievement." --Geek Girl Authority

About the Author

Darrow Farr is a Salvadoran American writer. She was a Stegner Fellow in Fiction at Stanford University from 2017 to 2019 and received an MFA in creative writing from the Michener Center at the University of Texas. The Bombshell is her debut novel. She was born and raised outside Philadelphia, where she now lives with her husband and son.