319 reviews for:

Disco Witches of Fire Island

Blair Fell

3.86 AVERAGE

retee422's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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When Joe joins his friend Ronnie for a summer trip to Fire Island, he has no idea that it's going to be lifechanging. He lives with two disco witches, Howie and Lenny, who are trying to find the chosen one to protect while they're down and out a final member for their coven. Their fifth member, currently, is dying of AIDS and governmental neglect. Joe is also trying to get over his relationship which ended with AIDS as well. But somehow, he gets a job at a small dive bar, becomes friends with the sometimes stand-offish ferryman Fergal, and lives his best life...with plenty of ups and downs. 

Each chapter begins with a quote from the Disco Witch manifesto, setting the stage for what's to come. And what's to come is mystical, campy, and filled with plenty of parties and alcohol--and sometimes even assimilationist assholes. 

This book is absolutely delightful and should be crowned the summer beach read of 2025. I'm also not normally big on historical fiction, but this felt just as important in this day and age as it would have 40 years ago.

spideractually's review against another edition

4.25

medium-paced

soybecca's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I tiptoed into this one, nervous it’d fall prey to NYC-fiction tropes and short of expectations given my own love affair with the magic of fire island but OH my heart is full. 

What else do we need in life but love, sea spray and disco? 

And kudos to Fell for navigating the realities of the AIDS crisis with hope and light. Was not surprised to read this novel was grounded in his own experiences. It radiates truth. 

booksmkay's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bradurdaynitelive's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

leathegriff's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

harboredhopes's review against another edition

4.25

---

some of the storytelling did not totally land with me and i would have liked to see some pieces more fleshed out but overall a really beautiful way to experience or explore this queer history. 

sharibeiri's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

ksmirl's review

3.5

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes