The Bombshell Audiobook By Darrow Farr cover art

The Bombshell

A Novel

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The Bombshell

By: Darrow Farr
Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers
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About this listen

"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

"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 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.

©2025 Darrow Farr (P)2025 Penguin Audio
Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Tobacco
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Critic reviews

“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

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Although it was well written, I didn’t find the story believable and wanted to stop reading it a quarter of the way through, The reader was excellent which allowed me to stay with it, However I found the story just too wildly unbelievable at so many turns. The best part of the book ironically was the last quarter. It rang more true.

Completely unbelievable

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The Bombshell by Darrow Farr is smart, stylish, and scandalously fun. A must-read. Filled with page turning plot twists.

plot twists

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When I first started this book I was disappointed that the protagonist was so young, 17, and conceited and immature. She grows throughout the story, and even though she is deeply flawed the story itself is propulsive and exciting, with each character fully realized. I can’t wait until this author comes out with a new novel soon, and as for the brilliant narrator, I’ll be looking for in other audiobooks.

Perfect narration

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Paper thin characters, such a waste of time. I recco Steven Benioff's "City of Thieves." What a book about reality of revolutions and with unforgettable characters. NYT reviewer must have been stoned.

Laundry Lint has more depth!

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