I loved Seven Summer Fridays so I was excited to read another book set in this world. It was cozy and funny and emotional and a joy to read! And I absolutely love the watercolor painting covers.

Hold the ferry—we’re back on Fire Island! If you’re looking for your next fun-but-substantial beach read, this is it. This time around, we follow Maggie May Wheeler as she heads to the island in search of her birth mom. But once she lands in this quirky, chaotic coastal town, she starts to wonder if she actually wants to introduce herself after all.

Enter Matt—a charming local she meets at a bar. When he learns about her mission, he decides to help her get close to her birth family… without spilling her secret. Cue the fake-dating, emotional reveals, and alllll the drama.

I loved returning to the same dreamy Fire Island setting from the author’s previous two books—and yes, some familiar faces do make a comeback! This fictional family is pure chaos in the best way. The story unfolds through multiple POVs, with little puzzle pieces falling into place from different characters’ perspectives. It really hit on themes of forgiveness, chosen family, and letting go of old grudges in a way that felt both heartfelt and real.

My one tiny gripe? There were a lot of characters to keep track of. Before each chapter, I had to remind myself who was who. One or two fewer narrators might have made things a little easier to follow—but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the overall ride.

Read this if you love: Slow-burn, fake-dating romance, found family & small-town vibes, messy, emotional family reunions, beach reads with heart and humor

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! This one hits shelves on May 20, so mark your calendars—Fire Island is calling!

Maggie May (named after the song) owns and lives above her family's record store in small-town Ohio. Her adoptive parents have both passed away, and she's finally in a situationship with Jason, her best friend of 20 years, whose family is all the family she has left. When she turns 30, Maggie decides to take a DNA test in search of her birth parents, leading her to a summer adventure on Fire Island.

This story is so layered and heartwarming, with beautiful writing about families biological, adoptive and found alike, as well as friendship, betrayal, and loss. The interpersonal drama with everyone on the island was written in a way that made me feel like I was thrown right into the mix. I loved Maggie's and Matt's connection over their passion for music, and the story wove in song titles as chapter titles and lyrics throughout in a creative way.

Songs of Summer is a heartfelt and layered story that blends women’s fiction with threads of romance, self-discovery, and family. What starts as a simple summer story unfolds into something much deeper — a young woman, on the brink of 30, sets out to find her birth mother and ultimately discovers what she truly wants from life.

This book explores the complexity of family — both the one you’re born into and the one you choose. There are several characters woven throughout, but each one adds something meaningful to the story, and I found it surprisingly easy to keep track of them all. The multiple points of view offered a more complete picture of the emotional journeys at play, and I loved how they all tied together in the end.

One of my favorite aspects was the theme of music. Each chapter is named after a song, and there’s a playlist to match — such a fun and creative touch that made the reading experience even more immersive.

This isn’t a book I would have picked up on my own, but I’m so glad I did. It was beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and ultimately left me feeling hopeful. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories about growth, forgiveness, and second chances.

Content warnings: adoption, complicated family relationships, abandonment, loss of a parent

My first thought when I picked up Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen was that it was going to have Elin Hildebrand vibes. I respect Elin as a read but her books don’t always hit the mark for me. This one seemed like it would replace Nantucket with Fire Island for a buzzy scandalous summer beach read romance. I was right but I was also wrong and I absolutely loved this book. The reason? Her characters are infinitely more likable. She weaves a story much the same way, intertwining the lives of multiple characters together but I found I came out liking them rather than being kind of disgusted by them.

Maggie hails from a small town in Ohio, content to run her late-parents’ record store and marry her childhood best friend Jason, not because they’re in love but because Jason’s safe and his family is hers — the only one she has now that her parents are gone and she’s terrified to lose them. Feeling that pull, she decides to do a DNA test, searching for her birth mother from a closed adoption that she found out about as a child and has felt adrift from ever since. When she discovers that her birth mother lives nearby but has already left for a wedding on Fire Island and then for a year abroad, she decides this is her chance and travels to Fire Island, hoping to meet her. Maggie is hesitant though, not wanting to bring unwanted and unnecessary drama into her life and decides to observe Bea (her birth mother) while debating whether to approach her (it’s not as creepy as it sounds). She meets Matt, a family friend intertwined with everyone who offers to have her be his date to the wedding, giving her an opportunity to get to know Bea. What follows is a dramatic week with family drama coming to a head, much of it around the circumstances of Maggie’s birth although no one knows who she is. At the same time, she finds herself attracted to Matt in a way she’s never been with a guy.

I absolutely loved this story unfolded. It was fun and really sucked me in. I would 100% read on a beach and enjoy every minute of it. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC.

Songs of Summer was a delightful summer read by Jane L. Rosen. A girl goes on search of her birth mother and a hope for a family and you will be surprised what she finds. I love the way the characters are portrayed and the family dynamics are explored in the story. The references to songs and records are a nice touch to the story and a musical playlist for the novel is included at the end of the novel. I have read all of Jane L. Rosen’s books and each book has won my heart every single time. I look forward to reading her next book and I also recommend reading all her previous books. You will fall in love with each book and not be disappointed. Bravo Jane, you have another winning book. 🙋‍♀️🇨🇦🥰📚👏💐🙏🤞

A messy family drama romance set in the author's Fire Island universe. I really enjoyed Maggie's journey to learning more about her birth mother's family and her complex relationship with her childhood best friend turned fiance and the new man she can't resist. This was good on audio and is best read after having ingested the author's other Fire Island romance books. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

It took me two chapters to get into this but once she got on fire island i was completely enthralled, giddy even! this book is so cute and quippy and the two main characters are absolute perfection! the two main supporting characters are just as wonderful! This is my first 5 star of the month! love it! I want more from this author! kudos!

Maggie May Wheeler had a great life! She had loving parents, a steadfast best friend, and lots of music, but at30, she finds herself at a crossroads. Maggie feels like part of her is missing, and her birth mother may be the answer. The search for her birth mother brings her to Fire Island where she is quickly swept up in its charms and embraced by its residents.

I will always be excited about a new Jane L. Rosen book, but I was ecstatic to have another chance to return to Fire Island. I have been such a fan of this community since my first trip there, and it was such a pleasure to catch up with friends, old and new.

As with the previous books, Rosen flips perspectives. Maggie's search for her birth mother dominates the story, but there were some great side plots as well. As someone who has read the other two Fire Island books, I was thrilled to learn more about Shep's daughters, and to see Matty take center stage. I feel like I have watched him grow up!

Maggie was such a great addition to this Fire Island family. She fit right in, most noticeably with Matty. They both shared a love of music which contributed to their fantastic banter. I was glad he was there to guide her through this BIG moment in her life.

As expected, I laughed, I cried, my heart exploded - these are things I expect when reading a Jane L. Rosen book, and she always delivers. There were a plethora of heartwarming and moving moments that had me wiping my tears, and I could not help but be filled with joy for everyone involved.

Overall: Another memorable trip to Fire Island that left me with a warm heart and huge smile on my face.

Maggie May Wheeler owns the record shop that was her parents before they both passed away. Now, before she gets engaged to her childhood best friend, she wants to find her birth mother. The search leads her to Fire Island, where her mother is a guest at a wedding. She wants to find out more about the women who gave her up.

When she arrives at Fire Island, a local invites her to the wedding as his date, and the two have immediate chemistry. Maggie is immediately torn between her feelings for this new man and the man at home, who is family to her.

Meanwhile, on Fire Island, we get to visit with old favorites like Ben, Addison, and Shep, and meet some wonderful new characters like his two daughters, Beatrix and Victoria.

Why Jackie loves it
I love Fire Island and the characters, and this book did not disappoint. The book is perfect for the beach with a storyline that is full of heart, but never too much. My favorite touch is that each chapter is the title of a song and there are fantastic tracks. Someone created a Spotify playlist, and I highly suggest putting it on while reading the book. It is literally the soundtrack of summer!!!

Jane Rosen with another lovely novel! I love her writing style and the characters she writes of. I like how they’re family/friends orientated and together the characters paint the bigger picture of the story.
I like how this story was part of a stand alone trilogy of characters from her other books. I like seeing what the characters from the other books re up to now. If you enjoy reading a sweet, beach read about family/friends and a little romance - this one is for you you.

Thanks to Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the E-ARC! Beautiful story. Loved the characters & the setting. Will definitely read more from this author.

Maggie Mae Wheeler lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, above her family's record shop, which she runs following the deaths of her adoptive parents. At thirty, she enjoys her life and her lifelong friendship with Jason. The two decide to take things to the next level and quickly go from secret lovers to being engaged-to-be-engaged. However, before Maggie can make it official, she needs to fill the void in her heart by finding her birth mother. Upon discovering her identity, Maggie travels to New York's Fire Island, where her biological mother is set to attend a wedding. She chooses not to reveal herself immediately, opting to observe her first. When Maggie meets Matt, the charismatic son of the bride, he agrees to take her to the wedding as his date.

Songs of Summer is the third installment in Jane L. Rosen's The Fire Island Trilogy. The characters are endearing, the storyline is moving but never gets too heavy, and Fire Island is a great setting. Rosen adds a delightful musical element to the book. In addition to Maggie's music store, Matt works as a writer for Rolling Stone. Each chapter is a song title, which is perfectly picked for what will take place. I couldn't help but smile each time I read the song choices, especially ones by some of my favorite artists: The Beatles, Jackson Browne, Carole King/James Taylor, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Squeeze, Cat Stevens. While part of a trilogy, this enjoyable book can be read as a standalone. With its heart, humor, and playlist, pack this book in your beach bag.

4.25 stars.

This book hit at just the right time, when the weather is getting warmer and I want some low stakes, wacky family, and a really cute semi-central love story. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC of this breezy book.

📖 Book Review 📖 What were your hopes and dreams for your future self growing up? Is your life anywhere close to how you envisioned it? Since I was a teenager I dreamed of becoming a mom, particularly growing my family through adoption. And as I am now in the throes of the teenage years with four children coming of age themselves. What a strange circle life is.

Jane L. Rosen’s absolutely beautiful novel Songs of Summer spoke directly to my heart in what felt like the most poignant and heartfelt connection and conversation with long lost friends. Life was an easy slow song for Maggie May until she discovered that she had been adopted and that knowledge coincided with a move that rocked her life. But with change comes some good and she meets the boy across the street, a connection that runs deep through their thirtieth birthday. But before their relationship can go any further, Maggie May feels compelled to find her birthmother and will go to extraordinary lengths to discover this missing part of her identity.

Arriving on Fire Island, Maggie May finds her whole birth family and takes them in from afar like a sociological experiment, resonating like a familiar tune that you recognize but cannot quite name. Songs of Summer is such a heartfelt and complex novel that is beautifully cathartic.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted ARC!

This book sang to me in all the right ways. Songs of Summer is the third book in the Fire Island Trilogy, but I hadn’t read the first two (yet!) and still absolutely adored this story—it stands on its own beautifully and now I’m dying to go back and experience the other two.

Told in multiple POVs, this warm, heart-filled novel is packed with themes I love: family, love, taking chances, breaking free of the familiar, and discovering where you really belong. The characters are so lovable and well-drawn, and I especially appreciated the beautiful exploration and celebration of Jewish culture woven throughout the story.

And for my fellow music lovers—this book is an absolute dream. I loved all the references to songs, artists, and the emotional power of music. It adds such richness to the story and made me want to put together a playlist right away.

Maggie Mae’s journey—equal parts emotional and romantic—hit me right in the feels. Watching her navigate grief, identity, and unexpected new beginnings was deeply moving… and yes, I was full-on sobbing at the end (in the best way). Everything wrapped up perfectly, leaving me with that warm, satisfied, "hugged by a book" feeling.

Publishing on May 20 — add this one to your TBR now! Perfect for fans of emotional escapes with heart, humor, and a touch of Fire Island magic.

What a really pleasant way to pass the time. This is my first Jane L. Rosen novel but it certainly will not be my last. The premise is one of sheer delight. Spending time on Fire Island, who could wish for more. The integration of all the families can make one jealous. Do not pass up the opportunity to read this book. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Mae is a brilliant young woman with a "best friend" who goes on a quest to find her birth mother. She finds much more than her mom.

Thank you to @netgalley and @BerkleyPub for this ARC. Maggie Mae finds out in her teens that she adopted. It is a good thing, her best friend Jason is there to help easy the pain. Fast forward to their thirty year, they have vowed to be together forever....that is until she finds her biological mom who will be home on Fire Island for her best friend's wedding. Maggie decides she needs to go "see" her mom before she actually meets her. She quickly finds herself now as the fake girlfriend of the bride's son and not sure how she will get out of this one. Sweet, sweet, sweet story! #SongsofSummer #JaneRosen #BerkleyPub #May2025

The wrong review was posted, will be corrected and updated ASAP.
I want to thank Berkeley and Jane L Rosen for the opportunity to read this eARC!