I have been really enjoying the Fire Island series. What a stunning backdrop for novels! I want to live there, be there & know all these intriguing characters (even if I have a slightly hard time remembering who is who between novels). I enjoyed this book about found family, island adventures and the love that is shared between people who respect each other. It was not always believable but that’s what books are for. It was funny and delightful and a nice easy beach read. Can’t ask for more!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I haven't read the first two because I didn't realize this was part of a series. This is my first read by Jane L. Rosen and I enjoyed it. I was initially unsure how I felt about the multi-POV, but for this story, it worked. I will say a few of the POVs seemed unnecessary. I liked Maggie, Matt, Beatrix, Veronica, and Chase's POVs. Maggie doesn't mention Chase in the epilogue, and I was hoping that Chase and Bea would talk and air things out for Maggie. I thought the story flowed well overall.

DNF at 8%. This was just not for me—I didn’t enjoy the writing particularly. I can see it working well for other readers!

5 stars! This was my first Jane L. Rosen book and I was so impressed by it! I really loved all of the characters and how many different perspectives we got to see. I don’t read too many books written in third person, and I actually really enjoyed experiencing the book only by what was happening, rather than by being in the characters’ minds. I loved getting a taste of Maggie’s upbringing and seeing how she got to her current situation. The relationships between Maggie and Jason and Matt and Dylan were super cool to read about, getting their background and seeing how they evolve.

I’m so glad I got to read this eARC and was able to find a new 5 star read thanks to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group!

4.25 rounded ⬇️
This is a story about finding things that are lost – or finding things you didn’t know you wanted.

This was a wonderful spring read, but I just know it would be a top-notch summer read – bonus points if you’re on a little island with lots of drama! This book let me indulge in my fantasy of knowing nearly every side of a story. Perspectives galore! This might not be for everyone, and I’ll admit it definitely bordered on confusing for me, but I personally think it really heightened the story. The ability to get the emotional background information from the sources as the story went along made it feel richer and more grounded. Perhaps this could’ve been done just through the perspectives of the three main women, but I appreciated the community commentary.

I always appreciate a good put-on-the-spot fake dating moment, and the way this one in particular played out was very fun. I did have some hesitations surrounding the almost-cheating aspect of this situation, but I think it was handled well overall and the tension/emotional investment was strong.

A NOTE: I just now, after reading this book, realized that this is not the first book set on the island! I must now go back and read the others to learn more about this little community. I hope that my lack of background knowledge didn’t negatively impact my experience or understanding. I guess it says something about my being able to completely follow along without knowing!

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this e-ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

On her 30th birthday, Maggie starts to feel a little lost and like she needs answers to figure out who she is and where she belongs.  Since losing her parents, the only family she has ever known, Maggie decides that finding her birth mother is the best place to start.

Her search leads her to Fire Island, an idyllic summer getaway where her birth mother is attending a wedding.  As Maggie observes her biological family from a distance, she sees that they come with a lot of… drama.  Torn between diving deeper into their world or returning to her peaceful life and cozy relationship, her decision gets more complicated when a handsome local offers to take her to the wedding — if she will pose as his date.

Is it the magic of the island, the rush of the music, the fun of jumping into the weekend’s events with her fake beau?  Suddenly, playing the part of his girlfriend starts to feel way too real, and the words to every love song seem to be about them.

Songs of Summer is the third in the Fire Island trilogy, so it was fun to return and revisit characters from the first two books.  It is full of themes around family, love, taking chances, and discovering where you belong.  And I loved all the references to songs and artists.  Music is nostalgic to me, so I loved how it tied into this story and showcased the emotional power music can have in our lives.  And of course, with being set on Fire Island, it was full of summer vibes, making me wish I was on a beachy vacation myself.

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Pub, and Jane L Rosen for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Songs of Summer Pub Date: May 20th, 2025

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of Songs of Summer in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, heart warming story about a girl who is on a mission to meet her birth mom and gets a lot more out of it than she could expect. When I realized that this was a 3rd book in series I was a little worried because I haven't read the other two. It's actually a stand alone thankfully so it worked fine. That leads into my one of my complaints of the book which is the fact that there were too many characters to keep straight, and I think part of that is because I am expected to know some of the characters already from the other stories. Also, the relationship between a pair of sisters felt very immature, and I found it hard to believe that women in their mid 50's would argue the way they did.

The good outweighs the bad though, because one thing I loved about this book is that it comes with a playlist, and every chapter has a song from the playlist attached to it. I listened to every one as the chapters came, and it made for such an immersive experience. I liked that most of the songs were older, more niche songs from some popular bands from the 60's and 70's that I had never heard before. I loved how the book referenced songs regularly, but it never felt like Rosen was trying too hard. It felt natural and something that this particular character would reference.

I loved the short, easy chapters, the pacing was great, and Maggie May is very easy to root for. Definitely recommend picking this one up. Maybe try reading the first two first if you want to get to know some of the other characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing Group and Jane L Rosen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book from the author. It’s the 3rd in a series and while I think I would have enjoyed reading the first 2 books first I still really liked this one!

Maggie was adopted and after losing both her parents she decides to look into her birth mother. She and her bff find her office but are told her birth mother just left to attend a wedding before teaching abroad for a year. Maggie decides to do the only logical thing, essentially crash the wedding.

Maggie has a conflict between wanting to meet her birth mother and being afraid it’s not worth the risk. She also is hesitant to move forward with her best friend who she recently started a secret relationship with. She’s stalling from sharing the relationship but doesn’t want to lose him and his family that mean so much to her.

I was afraid this was going to be a cheating situation and was glad when it flirted in that direction but didn’t fully commit.

The music aspect was really fun. I’m awful with lyrics and stuff but I loved how Maggie and Matt worked lyrics into their banter without making it too cheesy. If you’re into music you’ll get a kick out of it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it. If you can, I’d take the time to read the full series.

Woman decides to find her birth mother and stumbles into a family wedding on Block Island. Carryover characters from this author's prior novel makes this book even more enjoyable.

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!!!