Maggie found out she was adopted when she was in elementary school, but was in such a loving family, she had no interest in finding her birth mother. Both of her parents, who were older, died by the time Maggie was only 30. This wonderful novel is about Maggie’s search for her birth mother. It was a delight, I finished in one day. Loved getting to go on this journey with Maggie. Highly recommend.

Songs of Summer by Jane Rosen is a heartfelt book that captures the essence of love and second chances. Maggie Mae Wheeler’s journey to uncover her roots leads her to Fire Island. The mix of family drama and personal growth is perfect for this uplifting story, but Maggie’s struggles with identity and belonging will tug at your heartstrings. I anticipate this author’s new release every summer, and this year is no different. Definitely a must add to your summer reading list!

Jane L. Rosen’s latest novel is an absolute gem, blending heartfelt emotion, humor, and just the right touch of romance. Maggie Mae Wheeler’s journey to Fire Island in search of her birth mother is both relatable and deeply moving. The book captures the essence of self-discovery and the courage it takes to seek out the answers to life’s biggest questions.

The Fire Island setting is pure magic, and Rosen brings it to life with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was right there, soaking up the sun and the drama of the wedding weekend. Maggie’s internal conflict—between staying true to her safe, content life or embracing the unknown—is so beautifully written that it was impossible not to root for her every step of the way. And the romance? Absolutely swoon-worthy. The chemistry between Maggie and her fake date was electric, and their banter brought so much charm to the story.

What stood out most for me was how the book balances its lighthearted moments with deeper themes of family, belonging, and love. While a few plot points were a tad predictable, the emotional payoff more than made up for it.

Just turned 30 and Maggie May is on the cusp of getting engaged to her lifelong best friend and new boyfriend Jason. But Maggie doesn’t feel quite ready to tell the world about their relationship. She tells Jason that she needs to understand where she came from before she can know where she’s going. So she does just that. Maggie does a DNA test and goes in search of her mother. Only problem is her Mom has taken off to Fire Island for a wedding. So Maggie goes in search of her to hopefully regain a little piece of her identity.

This books is third person, told from multiple povs. It’s deeply emotional with an emotionally stunted fmc. I struggle with characters who lack self awareness at 30 since I personally am painfully self aware. But it’s a sweet story about uncovering your past to learn more about yourself. The writing is very captivating.

Thanks netgally and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story of love, forgiveness, and self-exploration. The cover drew me, but the writing and story-telling kept me. I loved this one!

4.25/5.0

Maggie goes in search of her birth mother and finds her soul mate along the way. The story alternates between two timelines, Maggie’s story in the present and her mother Bea’s story in the past. I felt like this is more women’s fiction than romance but I enjoyed the romcom moments. (The references to the movie Say Anything are fun.)

Maggie is thirty years old and when she finds out who her birth mother is through a DNA test she decides to try and find her. She finds out her mother, Bea, will be at Bea's friend’s summer wedding on Fire Island and decides to travel there with hopes of meeting Bea. When she arrives, there are lots colorful characters that are part of the wedding party. After she sees some family drama between Bea and Bea's sister, she is ready to give up and go home. But then she meets Matt (whose mother is the bride) and she tells him her story - why she is there. He encourages her to stay and he introduces her to everyone as his girlfriend. This way she can meet her birth mother and her family and then decide if she wants to share her identity with them. Matt is a journalist for Rolling Stone Magazine and loves record stores while Maggie owns her family’s vintage record store (and loves it) so they have a lot in common. There is also Maggie’s best friend Jason, who she just became engaged to.

I thought the story focused mostly on Bea and her angsty family drama but it was fun to see Maggie find her HEA and I loved the sweet grand gesture at the end. Thanks to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is a warm, emotional journey of self-discovery, with Maggie searching for her birth mother. The writing is heartwarming, with a perfect balance of humor and real heart. I couldn’t help but root for Maggie as she navigates the tension between her old life and the new one she’s discovering. The chemistry between her and Matt was amazing. It’s a classic fake relationship trope, but done so right, compelling, funny, and full of those sweet, awkward moments we all love in rom-coms. The setting on Fire Island just added to the magic, making this one of those books where you can’t help but get swept up in.