On Fire Island

By: Jane L. Rosen

Narrated by: Emily Lawrence

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

"Dazzling...as funny as it is poignant, nostalgic as it is sharp." —Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

A book editor spends one last summer on Fire Island in this sparkling and surprising new novel from the author of A Shoe Story.

As a book editor, Julia Morse lived and breathed stories. Whether with her pen to a manuscript or curled up with a book while at her beloved Fire Island cottage, her imagination alight with a good tale, she could anticipate practically any ending. The ending she’d never imagined was her own.

To be fair, no one expects to die at thirty-seven. So when the unthinkable happens to Julia, rather than following the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, she chooses to spend one last summer near those she loves most.

As she follows her adoring, novelist husband Ben to their—unexpectedly full—home on Fire Island, she discovers the ripple affect her life has had on the trajectory of so many: her baseball loving, young-at-heart neighbor who believes it’s best not to go it alone, two bright-eyed teenagers eager to become adults, and her best friend who must shake off heartbreak for a new chance at love.

With poignant comedy and insight, On Fire Island is an ode to the stories all around us and to the brightest types of loves…for the people closest to you and the places that shape you.

©2023 Jane L. Rosen (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Wanna get away? Spend a delicious, idyllic summer On Fire Island with a cast of characters who will win your heart and soul. Rosen’s intimate, detailed descriptions of the charms of Fire Island provide an irresistible escape.” —Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Five-Star Weekend

“I can’t stop thinking about On Fire Island, Jane L. Rosen’s dazzling story of enduring love, gut-wrenching loss and unlikely friendships. I read it with an enormous smile on my face and tears in my eyes—it’s as funny as it is poignant, nostalgic as it is sharp. A beautiful tribute to the summers of our past and to Fire Island. Unforgettable!” —Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

"With her trademark humor and eloquence, Jane L Rosen transports us to a summer paradise where an unforgettable cast of multi-generational characters sustain each other through every kind of love and loss. On Fire Island is fun and fast paced, but it’s also a beautifully rendered meditation on human connection. Don’t miss this one; it’s perfect." —Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

Enjoyable summer read

As someone who grew up on Fire Island, I loved the nostalgia (for me) of this book. The places, the feel of Fire Island and the characters while being fictional were so relatable. I felt like I knew them or someone like them.

Such a good read!!

I loved all the characters in this book, and the way the story is told. This is not only a love story, but a story of friendship and going on after great pain.

An emotional listen

A beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, a fabulous island that may be the most amazing place on earth and with an eclectic cast of characters, learning to move forward. Not on, but forward.

Excellent!

Wonderful story. How we deal with grief and life goes on. I loved the characters, supportive, funny, loving.

Light hearted story

If you are from New York and visited Fire Island you will appreciate this light hearted story.

Great summer read!

Loved this one! Spontaneous purchase after seeing Katie Couric recommended ot in people magazine! The connections of different generations and different neighbors was what I liked so much.

5 stars!!

Loved this book! What a fabulous story. Do your self a favor and listen to On Fire Island this summer.

Average beach read

I struggled to continue reading this book. It was an average beach read at best. I didn’t care for the narrator and that probably affected how I felt about the story.

Horrible

What I boring book Omg! So many characters they were so irrelevant!! The end so lame!!!

In relatable and weird

I don’t think I understood the premise when I bought this. If you like depressing books about unrelatable dead people turning into ghosts then this is the book for you. Not my thing at all.