The Fountain

by Casey Scieszka

A propulsive and deeply moving novel about eternity and mortality that asks what it would mean to live forever.

Vera Van Vulkenburgh hasn’t been home in one hundred and eighty-eight years. But now Vera, forever twenty-six and able to heal from any wound, has returned to the Catskills. Whatever made her family immortal happened here, and if she can uncover it, maybe she can reverse it. After nearly two centuries—an endless sequence of unnoticed, meaningless lives and a soul-shaking incident in the desert—she longs to be released.

Posing as a newly arrived forest ranger, she quickly blends into the upstate community and learns of something curious and disturbing. A mysterious, well-funded company is snapping up local property, no matter how high the asking price. But when her brother, a fellow immortal shows up, accompanied by a woman whose face is incredibly familiar to Vera, the purpose for her return gets clouded and Vera is in a race against time to find out what has caused her condition before someone else does.

Blending the spectacular with the everyday in a tale filled with humor and warmth, The Fountain explores what gives life meaning and how our understandings of our histories shape—and cage—us.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Science Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

Casey Scieszka is a born and raised Brooklynite who has lived in Beijing, San Francisco, Fez, and Timbuktu where she was a Fulbright Scholar. In 2013 she and her husband, artist Steven Weinberg, moved to the Catskill Mountains and opened the Spruceton Inn: a Catskills Bed & Bar, which runs an annual Artist Residency hosting world-renowned painters, bestselling authors, and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalists.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace]

Imagine if you could live forever. This story really is an eye opener. I fell in love with the characters and the plot. It was such a thriller till the end. Highly recommend.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed this, but I was surprised that I loved it.

Lovely writing makes this an easy read. It isn’t deeply literary (aka “sad and tragic”) but instead brings lightness and hope to a story that starts out seemingly grim and loaded with a practically unsolvable situation for the main character, Vera.

I loved all the characters, their vulnerability, their moments of sadness and joy; the building of a life and community as a way of bringing Vera truly back from the edge of her grey despair.

The story unfolds the potential for joy in a life that has also known bitterness and loss, the finding of friendship and love after long periods of denial and self imposed isolation. The Fountain gave me the same feelings I got reading books like Alice Hoffman’s Magic Lessons and The Rules of Magic: that sense of optimism and belief in the possibility of life touched by love and connection.

[Shirley Freeman]

I'll admit, I chose to look at the advanced copy of The Fountain because of the author's last name. When I saw that she is Jon Scieszka's daughter I wanted to read it. This story of 4 accidentally immortal humans is thoughtful and well told. After 200 plus years of constantly reinventing herself so as to never divulge her situation, Vera has decided to go back to the New England farm town in which she was born. Her goal is to find the source of her immortality to try and reverse it. But some other folks show up with different goals - in particular a super wealthy guy interested in discovering the fountain of youth. As Vera finds herself immersed in the community, and unable to find the source of her secret immortality, life (and death) become more complicated. I really enjoyed this unusual but smart and kind story - it would be a fun book for a bookclub to discuss.

[Cass (the_midwest_library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun one, a really easy read from a debut author who I will keep my eyes on. There's a bit of a mystery, it's a bit speculative and has a lot of charm. I think the pacing was a bit rushed at the end and there were a lot of plot points that could have been resolved a bit more robustly for me at the end. I did like the female MC quite a bit and thought she had a really interesting perspective on immortality.

I did find a lot of the plot predictable, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. I would push this into the category of "airport" or "beach" read if that makes sense. It wasn't quite far enough along on the literary fiction spectrum for me but I did have a good time!

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was something off about this book. The whole thing felt rushed... stilted. Not what I was expecting. I wouldn't call it bad, just not for me. I was hoping for more depth in themes of identity, life & death, & Interpersonal relationships to name a few. I wanted literary fiction and got genre fiction. Vera has a strong victim mentality that became whiny.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was quite the introspective take on immortality. There’s a steady tension throughout, between Vera hiding her immortality from the townspeople and keeping her true feelings from her brother. There’s also a complicated dynamic between Vera, her brother, and the other woman in their lives that adds another layer of emotional strain.

I wasn’t entirely sure how things would play out or whether Vera would get a happy ending, which kept me invested. I really appreciated the depth here. You can feel her exhaustion and melancholy in a way that lingers. This was a slow-paced read that got a tiny bit repetitive but, overall, I enjoyed the story and our characters.

[Novel Visits · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 by Casey Scieszka [#gifted from @harperaudio and @librofm]⁣
⁣
Like everyone else, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 very much reminded me of the children’s book 𝘛𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. I was beyond reading children’s books when that one was published in 1975, but for a few painful years in my teaching career ALL teachers at my school had to teach English to their homerooms. It was a bad idea, but it’s also where I became familiar with the Foster family who were made immortal after drinking from a fountain in the woods. Scieszka takes that basic premise and runs with it.⁣
⁣
In 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯, Vera has been 26 for 188 years, and she’s grown weary of the lifestyle that goes along with never aging. She longs for home, so finally decides to break the pact she made with her mother and brother and return to the small Catskills town where she was born. There Vera begins to make something of a normal life for herself, while also searching for answers to her own immortality.⁣
⁣
I really liked what Scieszka did with this story. Around Vera, she wove together a little dystopia, a little mystery, some adventure, a touch of romance, and a family saga all in one neat package. I flew through the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Megan Tusing. I found it a very easy book to listen to and I was always eager to get back to it. Considering that The Fountain is her debut novel, I’m excited to see where Scieszka goes next. I bet it’ll be amazing and I know I’ll be reading it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨⁣

[Claire Talbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I most listened to this one - a debut that reminds me a bit of "Tuck Everlasting". Ma, Eli and Vera have mysteriously become immortal - while other members of their family die naturally. The novel explores the pros and cons of never aging, constantly moving, and reinventing yourself. When Vera suffers a trauma in Joshua Tree National Park, she decides she has had enough of the self healing, never ending immortal life, and returns to their home town in the Catskill mountains of New York. Vera is hoping that by discovering the source of her immortality that she will be able to reverse it and die.
Parts of the book were repetitive, and although I enjoyed the story and thought it would be a great choice for book clubs it was not my favorite narration. Most interesting to me was Vera's longing for a simple, true life and how she quickly became a part of her home town. Thank you to Netgalley for both the audiobook and ebook.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this novel and the premise. I can definitely see this being made into a limited series or a movie. I liked the characters and was surprised by the twist at the end. I know this will not be for everyone as there are holes in the plot and the idea is just completely unbelievable but I really liked it from the very beginning.

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a giveaway and I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I was drawn into the story. This book kept me hooked and I did not want to put it down! I can't wait to see what else this author writes.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me a book with Addie LaRue comps, and I’m in. Give me one that’s shelved with literary fiction and takes place in the Catskills, and I’m SUPER in. And when I find out that Emma Straub called it “Tuck Everlasting for grown-ups”?? I’m ALL THE WAY in.

The Fountain is about a woman named Vera who returns to her childhood home in the Hudson Valley after many years. Nearly 200 years, in fact, because Vera can’t die. She’s convinced that whatever made her that way is located there in the Catskills, and if she can find it, she can reverse it. Then a mysterious company starts buying up tons of property in the area, and let’s just say entanglements ensue.

I have some plot squabbles with this book (DM me if you’ve read it and want to chat!), but on the whole, I had a really good time with it. It worked fabulously on audiobook — the perfect mix of clear prose, strong dialogue, and a central mystery to keep the plot moving. I think it will be an easy hit with lots of different types of readers, and I’m excited to talk about it with my IRL book club in May.

But what really puts the cherry on top of this book is the sense of place. Casey Scieszka lives and owns an inn in the Hudson Valley, and it’s clear how much love she has for the area. You will feel transported. I’m really looking forward to stay at the inn later this year for a little reading retreat! (I dare you to read this and not book a trip of your own.)

One important note: If you are sensitive to depictions of suicidal thoughts or attempts, please do yourself a favor and steer clear of this one.

[Chelsea Nunnenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read in a long time.

[Guinevere DelaMare · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audiobook) THE FOUNTAIN by Casey Sciezska, about a woman trying to undo the effects of 200 years of immortality, was such a page turner, I couldn’t wait to find out how it would end. Didn’t disappoint!

Ever grateful to Libro.fm for keeping me stocked with audiobooks.

[Rachel Dorfner · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH an interesting book. This book explored immortality in such a unique way. What does it mean to be human? What are we put on this planet to do? Do we have a bigger purpose? What does it mean to live? OMG. I loved it.

[Megan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of 2026 so far! I need more people to read this so I can talk about it with others.

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fountain by Casey Scieszka is an ambitious and emotionally resonant debut that blends speculative fiction, small-town mystery, and philosophical inquiry into what it means to live forever. While the novel doesn’t always succeed in centering its most compelling character, it remains a striking and thought-provoking exploration of immortality, identity, and the human need for connection.

The novel follows Vera Van Valkenburgh, a woman who has been physically frozen at age twenty-six for nearly two centuries. After 188 years of drifting through life—adopting new identities, avoiding suspicion, and enduring a deepening sense of existential fatigue—Vera returns to her childhood home in the Catskills. Her goal is not to preserve her immortality, but to undo it. Whatever caused her, her brother Eli, and their mother to stop aging originated there, and Vera is desperate to reclaim mortality.

Posing as a forest ranger, Vera embeds herself in a contemporary community that is both mundane and subtly unsettling. The central mystery emerges when a powerful, secretive company begins purchasing land in the area, suggesting that the source of immortality may be discovered—and commodified. As Vera investigates, her estranged brother Eli reappears, now entangled with a scientist connected to the company. The narrative tension escalates as Vera races not only to uncover the truth, but to prevent it from being exploited.

The plot is propelled by dual forces: a personal quest for death and a broader ethical conflict over whether immortality should exist at all. The ending, as you noted, is particularly effective—delivering a surprising yet thematically coherent resolution that underscores the novel’s central question: is endless life a gift, or a burden?

Vera is the narrative anchor, but arguably the least interesting character. Her weariness and longing for release are understandable, yet her internality can feel muted compared to the vivid emotional stakes embodied by others. She functions more as a lens than a fully dynamic presence—someone through whom the story unfolds rather than someone who drives it with distinctive energy.

In contrast, Eli is fascinating. His struggle for human connection—after centuries of detachment—feels urgent and tragic. Where Vera seeks escape, Eli seeks meaning within immortality, making him a compelling counterpoint. His relationship with others, especially his entanglement with scientific ambition, raises questions about whether connection can survive when time loses its limits.

Anneka/Ma is equally engaging. Anneka represents the seductive pull of progress—the belief that immortality can be harnessed for good. Her motivations blur the line between altruism and hubris. Meanwhile, Ma’s intense need to heal or save people introduces a moral dimension: if one has the power to eliminate death, is it ethical not to? These characters carry the emotional and philosophical weight of the novel in ways Vera often does not.

Themes and Scientific Parallels
One of the novel’s most intriguing elements is its implicit connection to real-world scientific research on longevity—particularly plant-based compounds that hint at “natural” forms of life extension.

For instance, the compound resveratrol, found in grapes and berries, has been widely studied for its potential anti-aging effects. Research suggests it can activate cellular pathways like SIRT1, which are associated with longevity and improved cellular health.
It also promotes autophagy—the body’s process of clearing damaged cells—which is crucial in slowing age-related decline. Similarly, other plant-derived compounds like quercetin have shown promise in extending lifespan and improving stress resistance in model organisms.

These real-world discoveries mirror the speculative premise of The Fountain. The mysterious source of immortality in the Catskills can be read as a heightened, fictional analogue to these biochemical processes—a natural phenomenon that humans seek to isolate, control, and monetize. The novel’s corporate subplot, in which a company attempts to harness immortality as a cure-all, reflects current scientific ambitions to turn plant-based longevity compounds into therapies for aging and disease.

Yet, as in reality, the science is incomplete. While compounds like resveratrol show promise in animals and cellular models, their effects in humans remain uncertain.
This uncertainty echoes the novel’s cautionary stance: the pursuit of eternal life may outpace our understanding of its consequences.

As a debut, The Fountain is undeniably impressive. Its prose is engaging, its premise is compelling, and its thematic scope is ambitious. The novel shines most in its supporting characters and its ability to weave philosophical questions into a suspenseful narrative. The ending, in particular, lands with clarity and impact, elevating the story beyond a simple immortality tale.

However, the relative flatness of Vera as a protagonist prevents the novel from reaching its full emotional potential. Ironically, in a story about endless life, it is the side characters—Eli, Anneka, and Ma—who feel the most alive.

Still, Scieszka’s debut signals a writer deeply interested in the intersection of science, ethics, and human longing. Like the plant compounds that inspire its central mystery, The Fountain suggests that the secret to life may not lie in extending it indefinitely, but in understanding what makes it meaningful in the first place.

[Sarah Harney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for an ARC of The Fountain.

This was a super interesting concept for a story that really made me think about the implications of immortality and what a well-lived life means. Unfortunately the pace of the story was just a bit too slow for me and the ending much too abrupt. It felt as though the story never really reached a climax and I was left with so many unanswered questions. A lot of potential here but ultimately it didn't deliver for me.

3 stars

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me so emotional with heavy themes of mortality. Vera is a mesmerizing main character. The setting is beautifully written into the book so it feels as if you’re in the middle of it. I found myself reflecting on what it would be like for me in Vera’s place. A beautiful plot, great character development, and lots of reflective takeaways, this is a book to treasure for years to come. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had such a great premise but didn’t deliver for me. The characters felt flat, the plot was underwhelming, and while I enjoyed the flashbacks, there just wasn’t enough of them. Overall, not terrible, but forgettable.

[Steven Lowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

This was such a unique and quietly powerful take on immortality—less about the spectacle and more about the emotional weight of living forever.

The Fountain leans into atmosphere and introspection, following a protagonist who feels both deeply human and completely untethered from time. Vera is a fascinating character—world-weary, searching, and layered in a way that makes you feel the full gravity of her existence without ever needing dramatic exposition. Her return home carries a sense of unease and longing that lingers throughout the story.

The writing is thoughtful and often lyrical, balancing moments of warmth and subtle humor with deeper reflections on identity, memory, and what it means to truly live. The blend of the supernatural with the ordinary is handled really well—it never feels overdone, just quietly woven into everyday life in a way that makes it feel believable.

While the pacing is more measured and reflective than action-driven, it works for the story being told. This is a book that invites you to sit with its ideas rather than rush through them.

A beautifully written, contemplative novel that explores immortality in a fresh, grounded way—perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of the extraordinary.

[Shanna Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this compelling, emotional, atmospheric story. I loved the complicated characters, the setting, and how the author chose to not get bogged down by the minutia of the plot. This could have been a 600 page book but is so much better where it is because it gives you so much to consider on your own. The writing is gorgeous and her next book will be an automatic read for me.
Also, as I discovered in the acknowledgements, her dad is children's author Jon Scieszka, so imagine my delight when I realized I adored this book by the daughter of the man whose books were on my kids' shelves when they were little. The Stinky Cheese Man!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought The Fountain was going to be a bit more Gothic in tone based on the description. Where I didn’t get that, I got an insight into the question: if you were immortal, what impact would you make and how would you spend your time? Where I do think the middle of novel was slow, the ending made up for it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

content warning for suicide and suicidal ideation.

it's fine, nothing amazing. very flat writing and characters. more a mystery/thriller than scifi. it's not deep and is written for mass market appeal like her father's work. cliche ending that having a man in your life fixes your desire to kill yourself.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pacing on this felt strange and the characters all acted very predictably. This felt more like a cozy-adjacent mystery than literary fiction…not my fave. Prob closer to a 2 but that feels mean lol

[Reactor Magazine]

Casey Scieszka quietly explores The Fountain of a Youth as a Catskills curse, and the three individuals who wrestle with mortality. Read Mahvesh Murad's review of The Fountain at Reactor

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extra star for the Catskills ❤️ loved the beginning and loved the end, but there was too much fluff about the neighbors. Also too many unanswered questions. I wish we got more stories from the past or more about Vera telling her partner instead of the damn cider company.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Laura Tyrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely read with an ending that was a little too abrupt for me

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
There are enough open storylines in this novel to either be frustrating - or lead to a second book. An interesting and original concept.