A review by kari_f
Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

3.5

“Just remember that life goes fast. That doesn’t mean it’s not wonderful. So don’t waste too much time worrying about the ending.”

This is the story of a young man in the throes of grief after losing his partner to HIV, as he accompanies his best friend to Fire Island for an unforgettable 1989 summer. The book dives into the many strong emotions surrounding relationships and the HIV/AIDS epidemic ravaging the queer community during this time period, and so many parts of the book were incredibly and vividly heartbreaking. 

There were some excellent quirky side characters that brought a bit of light to the story, in the form of of a disco witch coven whose aim is to bring life and joy to the party, as well as protecting the island through the art of the boogie. This added lovely banter, disco shenanigans, and fantasy elements into the story, in such a unique and campy way! 

The writing was incredibly vivid, and the fear and pain and joy were palpable. The main character is a realistically flawed character who makes excellent growth by the end of the book, but watching him make horrible decisions pained me at times while reading. There were some pacing issues and tropes I tend not to enjoy (but don’t want to spoil for others), but overall I thought this was a powerful story that felt deeply poignant while also having some really fun and campy moments to lighten the mood.
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