This novel starts with main character Julia passing away from cancer. But rather than move on, she ends up sticking around to observe her husband and some friends/neighbors for one last summer on their beloved Fire Island. So through Julia’s perspective, we focus primarily on her husband grieving and slowly learning how to move on, her best friend coping with single life after divorce, and her best friend’s teenage son dealing with watching his mom date and contemplating his changing relationship with the girl he’s been best friends with since they were kids - interspersed with Julia sharing stories of her life with Ben.

A friend of mine passed away quite recently, so I must admit I was a little nervous to pick this one up. And I cried at both the beginning and end of the book, but in between I’m happy to say that the book was lighter than the description might make you think. Julia is sort of a fun third party narrator to the lives of the people she is observing - not omniscient as she doesn’t know what they’re thinking, but providing her own commentary on their actions, making this book as much a portrait of small town life as a book about grief. And speaking of the setting, I’ve never been to Fire Island, but this book totally made me feel like I had - one of those books where the setting is almost a character in and of itself.

So, another winner from Jane L Rosen, who has become a must read author for me! Looking forward to discussing this one with my book club.

I thought this book was okay. I think because the main character has passed and is in limbo watching how her friends and family deal with the loss of her, makes it really hard to connect with her.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC.

On Fire Island is a look at one woman’s life and her sphere after she passes away. Julia is a book publisher and marries a writer, Ben. They have a beautiful love story but we know from page one that Julia will die young. In some kind of purgatory, after death, Julia is allowed to watch her husband and family mourn on Fire Island. The first part of the book sets up the small town setting various characters.

I really enjoyed this book and while it covers heavier topics I think it’s still going to be a great summer read. The descriptions of the island, the people, the food all reminded me a lot of Jennifer Weiner’s beach series books, throw in a little of Hildenbrand’s Golden Girl which similarly has a woman in between death looking on at life carrying on and a bit of young love of Carly Fortune and you have On Fire Island.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I loved the story. The writing was so well done and I could not put the book down. Jane Rosen made the characters so real that they almost felt like family.

On Fire Island is the PERFECT summer read and I read it from beginning to end without stopping. I found myself so enamored in the story that I didn't want to put it down! I can't wait to read more from Jane L. Rosen.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of On Fire Island by Jane L. Rosen.
This book is heart-wrenching but also laugh-out-loud funny. On Fire Island is a book about a woman named Julia. Julia spends one last summer on Fire Island before she can follow the light to the other side. She watches as her husband, Ben, and her friends come to terms with their loss.
I have read and enjoyed all of Jane L. Rosen books.

3.75 stars

Despite the premise which is sad, this was actually a sweet story that I enjoyed meandering my way through. Grief is a companion of mine and I appreciated this journey a lot, which I know sounds weird. However, the standout for me was Shep who I would delightfully read many stories about. He was a hoot and I just loved the old man antics he got up to.

Overall it is a bit chaotic with a LOT of characters but once you settle in and make sense of who is who and where the threads are it's worth the time to finish and enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this one expecting something like an Elin Hilderbrand novel, especially with her praise right on the cover. However, that is not what I received.

Like a previous reviewer pointed out, I too had no idea what was going on with the characters. I didn’t know at what points we were in the past or the present, or when Julia was dead or alive.

The first part of the novel was great, when Julia dies and we hear about her not going towards the light. However, things quickly fell apart for me in part two.

I think some editing around the chapter titles would have really helped a ton for this one. Maybe character names and past and or present.
I DNF’d this one about the 40% mark and will not be adding this review to goodreads or other social media.

Thank you so much to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. Even though this one was a miss for me I look forward to reading more of the authors work.

DNF This will be a good summer read book for many but not me. Unfortunately, I had a hard time identifying with the characters. Some stories were amusing while others sad but I lost interest. I will not post on Goodreads since I abandoned the novel.

What is there not to love about a Jane Rosen story!! A heartbreaking yet endearing love story about loss and letting go. A definite beach read for 2023.

On Fire Island
by Jane L. Rosen
Pub Date: 23 May 2023
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Women's Fiction

This heartwarming book captivated me from the first page. It is a well-written story of healing after a devastating loss.

The soul of Julia, 37, lives on Fire Island in the months following her death, waiting to enter the spirit world. Julia finds it unimaginable to pass away so young and leave behind her beloved husband Ben. Thus, rather than committing to the light at the end of the tunnel, she chooses to spend one last summer with those she loves most.  

The book is narrated by Julia as she watches her family and friends cope with grief. I was gripped by the poignant writing in every chapter. A delightful and humorous cast of characters kept me laughing and crying throughout the story. It is a sweet novel that filled me with hope and love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this incredible book with me. It will be a pleasure to read more from Jane L. Rosen.

“We're all just walking each other home”. This quote encapsulates my entire feelings over this book. This was a very heartfelt and a heartwarming read for me. It had me feel ranges of emotions, which had me once again fall in love with this author’s work. Absolutely beautiful!!

This is the second book by Jane L Rosen and I enjoyed it. after reading the synopsis I thought it might be a little sad, but it was very good.

This was such a heartwarming story about heartbreak and healing after loss.

It follows Ben as he returns to Fire Island after the death of his wife, Julia. She returns too, narrating the story and watching over everyone.

I really loved seeing Ben be comforted by his neighbors and find his way back to a new normal. I liked seeing the interactions between all the Fire Island residents. I liked how Julia was the narrator, observing everything that was happening and reflecting on the past.

This was just a cozy book though the biggest theme is loss and grief. Recommend but be aware.

I was surprised how much I liked this book. Julia decides to forgo the light and spend a last summer on Fire Island watching family and friends. fun book

Happy to report that Jane Rosen's second book was just as delightful as her first! I was hesitant at first but the narrator style grew on me. I enjoyed the varied ages of the characters and none of their story lines rang false. Thank you netgalley for the advance ecopy.

I have loved Rosen’s earlier novels, but I was very disappointed in this one. It seemed more a rumination on what the narrator, Julia, might see after her premature death at 37. So, rather than a plot, the reader is taken on a journey of how her husband and friends might handle her death.

The reader gets a voyeuristic tour of a small part of Fire Island in the months after her death while her soul is awaiting its’ entry to the spirit world. Some of the vignettes are a bit entertaining, but most were too long. I was actually bored by some of the longer, lugubrious, scenes.

I was totally detached from the characters and really couldn’t relate to any of them. Honestly, I was enchanted by Rosen’s earlier novels, but I’m not sure I will recommend this one.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book was a pleasure to read! Highly recommended to fans of both chick lit and literary fiction...the author has found the sweet spot of good writing and engaging storytelling. Thank you for the ARC. I've' already started recommending it to friends and colleagues.