Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by nickartrip102
Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell
4.0
I requested and received and eARC of Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell via NetGalley. How could I resist a book with such a fabulous title? I was instantly ready to conjure up a spell with Alicia Bridges, or whatever Fell had in store for me. The year is 1989 and Joe is depressed and lonely. When he’s offered and opportunity to work out on Fire Island for the summer with his best friend Ronnie, he accepts with the hope that the summer will help him the heal from the loss of his boyfriend to the AIDS epidemic. Ronnie’s plan, however, doesn’t quite work out as expected. Then again it seems that nothing on Fire Island is as expected. Joe is charmed by the older house cleaners, Lenny and Howie, who take him in, but he suspects they may be hiding something from him (such as the fact that they belong to a coven of Disco Witches!) He begins to fall for a gorgeous stranger, but the man has webbed feet and can hold his breath under water. With his life and Fire Island in danger, it may be up to Joe’s new friends to save the day!
Man, I fell. I fell hard. This book was so much fun and seemed to have a magic that captivated me. Something about the cultural references and the dialogue gave the story a quality that made it feel like an 80s film. I think what surprised me most was how quickly I developed an emotional connection to the story. First, I was drawn in by the sweet-natured Joe. After reading about the loss of his boyfriend, I wanted nothing more than for his character to experience joy and healing. His dynamic with Ronnie added some great humor which is also what I appreciated about Howie and Lenny’s friendship. All of the characters were written with such distinct and vibrant personalities that it really made Disco Witches of Fire Island an exceptional reading experience.
I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I’m accustomed to so many AIDS narratives that are (justifiably, obviously) maudlin so I really thought this was a unique approach that was respectful, campy, and absolutely joyous. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Disco Witches of Fire Island made me feel an entire range of emotions. There was laughter, there was tears, there was some very real anger. In this book, Fell manages to create an extraordinarily little world populated with some of the most interesting characters I’ve ever encountered. It feels impossible not to fall in love with Joe, Fergus, Ronnie, and company. Definitely a great way to start off my 2025!
Man, I fell. I fell hard. This book was so much fun and seemed to have a magic that captivated me. Something about the cultural references and the dialogue gave the story a quality that made it feel like an 80s film. I think what surprised me most was how quickly I developed an emotional connection to the story. First, I was drawn in by the sweet-natured Joe. After reading about the loss of his boyfriend, I wanted nothing more than for his character to experience joy and healing. His dynamic with Ronnie added some great humor which is also what I appreciated about Howie and Lenny’s friendship. All of the characters were written with such distinct and vibrant personalities that it really made Disco Witches of Fire Island an exceptional reading experience.
I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I’m accustomed to so many AIDS narratives that are (justifiably, obviously) maudlin so I really thought this was a unique approach that was respectful, campy, and absolutely joyous. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Disco Witches of Fire Island made me feel an entire range of emotions. There was laughter, there was tears, there was some very real anger. In this book, Fell manages to create an extraordinarily little world populated with some of the most interesting characters I’ve ever encountered. It feels impossible not to fall in love with Joe, Fergus, Ronnie, and company. Definitely a great way to start off my 2025!