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The Top of the World
A heartbreaking, life-affirming new novel by Ethan Joella—author of the Read with Jenna Bonus Pick A Little Hope—about a young woman searching for answers about her brother’s last days.
June 1975. Maggie Bishop has just graduated high school, the future hers to embrace—but she’s still reeling from the death of her older brother, Chip. A devastating diagnosis the summer before prompted Chip to leave home for a few months, never revealing where he went. Maggie’s search for clues leads her to The Red Maple Inn, a mountaintop resort in the Poconos.
At the Red Maple, Maggie is welcomed into a tight-knit community. As she unravels secrets about her brother’s final days, she begins to connect with the people he loved, and whose lives he touched. Through the warmth of strangers, Maggie begins to heal and is able to help others cope with loss.
Set in a nostalgic resort town over two transformative summers, this dual-narrative novel explores sibling relationships, coming of age, and the quiet power of human connection. Perfect for fans of emotional storytelling and small-town summer books, The Top of the World is a timeless story about memory, grief, second chances, and hope.
June 1975. Maggie Bishop has just graduated high school, the future hers to embrace—but she’s still reeling from the death of her older brother, Chip. A devastating diagnosis the summer before prompted Chip to leave home for a few months, never revealing where he went. Maggie’s search for clues leads her to The Red Maple Inn, a mountaintop resort in the Poconos.
At the Red Maple, Maggie is welcomed into a tight-knit community. As she unravels secrets about her brother’s final days, she begins to connect with the people he loved, and whose lives he touched. Through the warmth of strangers, Maggie begins to heal and is able to help others cope with loss.
Set in a nostalgic resort town over two transformative summers, this dual-narrative novel explores sibling relationships, coming of age, and the quiet power of human connection. Perfect for fans of emotional storytelling and small-town summer books, The Top of the World is a timeless story about memory, grief, second chances, and hope.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Ethan Joella
8 books877 followersEthan Joella teaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware and specializes in community writing workshops. His work has appeared in River Teeth, The Cimarron Review, The MacGuffin, Delaware Beach Life, and Third Wednesday. He is the author of A Little Hope, which was a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection and A Quiet Life. He lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
July 8, 2026
Two teenagers in dual narratives, one year apart in 1974 and 1975 spending their summers working at a resort in the Poconos. Chip in the last months of his life needs time on his own as he deals with a terminal diagnosis. A year later his younger grieving sister Maggie goes to the same place wanting to know more about how her beloved older brother spent his last days.
Ethan Joella writes heartbreaking stories about death and how the loved ones left behind deal with their grief. This is the third novel I have reading by Joella and I discovered that his stories in spite of the sadness, end up being uplifting and about living . I delayed reading this advanced copy. I knew what it was about and wasn’t sure I wanted to immerse myself in sadness of it right now. Then I read my good friend Jonetta’s beautiful review . She encouraged me to “go for it” even though the story is tragic because it was uplifting. She was so right . Even though it was tough read, I really am so glad I read it and had the chance to meet some incredible characters.
Maggie is welcomed with open arms by the community at the Red Maple Inn as soon as they find out she’s the sister of their dear friend Chip. During Maggie’s summer there and through Chip’s alernating narrative of his time there, we meet wonderful characters some of whom are carrying burdens of loss and grief of their own . While I loved Chip and Maggie, my favorite character was Chip’s best friend Vicky who gave him his dying wish and brought a “little hope” to Maggie and her family. It’s a moving story reminding us that it is the connections and bonds born out of caring and compassion that sustain us through the tough times as well as the good.
Jonetta’s review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I received a copy of this from Simon & Schuster through Edelweiss.
Ethan Joella writes heartbreaking stories about death and how the loved ones left behind deal with their grief. This is the third novel I have reading by Joella and I discovered that his stories in spite of the sadness, end up being uplifting and about living . I delayed reading this advanced copy. I knew what it was about and wasn’t sure I wanted to immerse myself in sadness of it right now. Then I read my good friend Jonetta’s beautiful review . She encouraged me to “go for it” even though the story is tragic because it was uplifting. She was so right . Even though it was tough read, I really am so glad I read it and had the chance to meet some incredible characters.
Maggie is welcomed with open arms by the community at the Red Maple Inn as soon as they find out she’s the sister of their dear friend Chip. During Maggie’s summer there and through Chip’s alernating narrative of his time there, we meet wonderful characters some of whom are carrying burdens of loss and grief of their own . While I loved Chip and Maggie, my favorite character was Chip’s best friend Vicky who gave him his dying wish and brought a “little hope” to Maggie and her family. It’s a moving story reminding us that it is the connections and bonds born out of caring and compassion that sustain us through the tough times as well as the good.
Jonetta’s review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I received a copy of this from Simon & Schuster through Edelweiss.
May 9, 2026
Always a delight to read Ethan’s books! Character driven and very heart felt.
I also appreciate a book that’s under 300 pages! He packed a punch in every page.
I also appreciate a book that’s under 300 pages! He packed a punch in every page.
June 19, 2026
(4.5 stars)
Thank you to Scribner Books for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of The Top Of The World by Ethan Joella. It’s another winner from this author.
If you’re looking for something that’s NOT an action-filled thriller, you’ve come to the right place. On Top Of The World started off a bit slow for me, but I soon grew attached to the characters and kept turning the pages to see what was going to be revealed next.
The book is mostly a meditation on grief and on the ways we can move on from heart-shattering sadness. The time is the mid-1970s and the place is eastern Pennsylvania, mainly the Pocono Mountains. For me, this time and place was nostalgic and Joella certainly popped contemporary references in here and there, to underline the times. (Remember the Nixon/Watergate scandal, for one?)
Chip was a year older than his sister Maggie. They were super close when they were growing up and remained that way through their teen years. Then Chip got very sick during his senior year of high school. It’s not a spoiler to say that Chip dies in the fall after his graduation. But over that summer, he leaves home to work at a lovely resort in the Poconos. He wanted to be around people who didn’t know about his health situation and just BE, as much as he could. But he never told his family where he went. Only his friend Vicky knew. The next summer, Maggie figures it out and after her graduation heads there herself, to see if she can reconstruct what Chip’s last summer was like, who he knew there, etc. We get chapters from Chip’s summer in 1974 and Maggie’s summer in 1975.
I loved meeting all the people at the Red Maple Inn! They were such an interesting assortment of people. There’s one young man, Elliot, who had a terrible experience in Vietnam and is trying to deal with PTSD. He broke my heart, and reminded me of someone I knew back then (when we had a mild earthquake, he thought he was back there and under attack).
And if you love books, there’s a lot in here about Catcher In The Rye and The Velveteen Rabbit.
The Top Of The World is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved it.
Thank you to Scribner Books for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of The Top Of The World by Ethan Joella. It’s another winner from this author.
If you’re looking for something that’s NOT an action-filled thriller, you’ve come to the right place. On Top Of The World started off a bit slow for me, but I soon grew attached to the characters and kept turning the pages to see what was going to be revealed next.
The book is mostly a meditation on grief and on the ways we can move on from heart-shattering sadness. The time is the mid-1970s and the place is eastern Pennsylvania, mainly the Pocono Mountains. For me, this time and place was nostalgic and Joella certainly popped contemporary references in here and there, to underline the times. (Remember the Nixon/Watergate scandal, for one?)
Chip was a year older than his sister Maggie. They were super close when they were growing up and remained that way through their teen years. Then Chip got very sick during his senior year of high school. It’s not a spoiler to say that Chip dies in the fall after his graduation. But over that summer, he leaves home to work at a lovely resort in the Poconos. He wanted to be around people who didn’t know about his health situation and just BE, as much as he could. But he never told his family where he went. Only his friend Vicky knew. The next summer, Maggie figures it out and after her graduation heads there herself, to see if she can reconstruct what Chip’s last summer was like, who he knew there, etc. We get chapters from Chip’s summer in 1974 and Maggie’s summer in 1975.
I loved meeting all the people at the Red Maple Inn! They were such an interesting assortment of people. There’s one young man, Elliot, who had a terrible experience in Vietnam and is trying to deal with PTSD. He broke my heart, and reminded me of someone I knew back then (when we had a mild earthquake, he thought he was back there and under attack).
And if you love books, there’s a lot in here about Catcher In The Rye and The Velveteen Rabbit.
The Top Of The World is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved it.
January 6, 2026
✨My first read of 2026, and it took me five days to finish because I didn’t want it to end. That’s a rarity for me. I wanted to savor every page and linger just a little longer because it was that good. There’s something so tender and heartfelt about loving a book so much that you read it slowly just to keep it from ending.
✨The story unfolds over the course of two years in the mid-‘70s with alternating timelines and points of view. The storytelling is filled with family, friends, laugh out loud humor, heartbreaking loss and is written with such emotional depth that I was completely immersed in it. Every character is someone the reader can’t help but love, and the pacing is perfectly measured, building to a conclusion that is as hopeful as it is heartbreaking.
✨ Finding light and hope in the midst of despair is the story we all need in 2026, and Ethan Joella has told it with extraordinary heart and insight.
✨ There is a major cameo from A QUIET LIFE. So if you haven’t read that one, pick it up – before or after this book. Really, just read them both. Better yet, read all of Ethan Joella’s books. You can thank me later.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Found family
✨Poconos settings
✨70s nostalgia
✨Catcher in the Rye
✨The Velveteen Rabbit
✨Coming of age
✨Friendship stories
✨Family fiction
✨Smiling through tears
Available June 30. Don’t miss this one!
✨The story unfolds over the course of two years in the mid-‘70s with alternating timelines and points of view. The storytelling is filled with family, friends, laugh out loud humor, heartbreaking loss and is written with such emotional depth that I was completely immersed in it. Every character is someone the reader can’t help but love, and the pacing is perfectly measured, building to a conclusion that is as hopeful as it is heartbreaking.
✨ Finding light and hope in the midst of despair is the story we all need in 2026, and Ethan Joella has told it with extraordinary heart and insight.
✨ There is a major cameo from A QUIET LIFE. So if you haven’t read that one, pick it up – before or after this book. Really, just read them both. Better yet, read all of Ethan Joella’s books. You can thank me later.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Found family
✨Poconos settings
✨70s nostalgia
✨Catcher in the Rye
✨The Velveteen Rabbit
✨Coming of age
✨Friendship stories
✨Family fiction
✨Smiling through tears
Available June 30. Don’t miss this one!
July 3, 2026
5 stars. Ethan Joella has that special gift of writing deeply emotional stories that pull right at your heartstrings, and The Top of the World is another tender reminder of just how much feeling he can put on the page.
Set in the Poconos in the 1970s, this story follows eighteen-year-old Chip Bishop who leaves home after receiving a life-changing diagnosis. He spends his final summer in a place that later becomes deeply meaningful to his sister, Maggie, the Red Maple Lodge.
After Chip passes, Maggie’s future is at a standstill, her parent’s grief is too much to deal with. She travels to the Poconos to see the place where her brother spent that summer - the people he met, the moments he lived, the pieces of him his family never got to see. It’s there, with the people that cared so much for him, that she’s finally able to open up and talk about her own loss of him and to plan her future. Love does not end when someone is gone, Maggie’s journey shows how it keeps moving - through memories, through places, and through that ache of wanting to feel close to someone you still love, even when they are no longer here.
This is such a profoundly beautiful story that completely grabs hold and doesn’t let go even after the last page. Loved loved loved. Pub. 6/30/26
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the Poconos in the 1970s, this story follows eighteen-year-old Chip Bishop who leaves home after receiving a life-changing diagnosis. He spends his final summer in a place that later becomes deeply meaningful to his sister, Maggie, the Red Maple Lodge.
After Chip passes, Maggie’s future is at a standstill, her parent’s grief is too much to deal with. She travels to the Poconos to see the place where her brother spent that summer - the people he met, the moments he lived, the pieces of him his family never got to see. It’s there, with the people that cared so much for him, that she’s finally able to open up and talk about her own loss of him and to plan her future. Love does not end when someone is gone, Maggie’s journey shows how it keeps moving - through memories, through places, and through that ache of wanting to feel close to someone you still love, even when they are no longer here.
This is such a profoundly beautiful story that completely grabs hold and doesn’t let go even after the last page. Loved loved loved. Pub. 6/30/26
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2026
4.25 stars Review to follow shortly
March 20, 2026
Thank you so much to Goodreads and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book! Ethan Joella is one of my favorite authors and I couldn’t have been more ecstatic when I saw that I won my most anticipated book of the year! Just like his three previous books, this one was another five star reads for me, and dare I say my favorite. I absolutely loved the 1970’s Pocono resort setting and Chip & Maggie were such amazing characters who seemed so realistic. The secondary characters and their backstories added so much to this novel. I only wish it was longer because I loved it so much!
April 18, 2026
I’ve absolutely loved all of Ethan Joella’s previous books. I was over the moon when I received an ARC of his newest book, The Top of the World.
It saddens me to say that this was my least favorite. The story was very heartfelt and the setting sounded beautiful. I had a hard time getting into the story and connecting with the main characters. For such a character-driven story, I just couldn’t relate to Maggie and Chip, and I found the first half to be quite slow.
I will definitely be reading anything Joella writes, but this wasn’t my favorite.
3.5 stars
It saddens me to say that this was my least favorite. The story was very heartfelt and the setting sounded beautiful. I had a hard time getting into the story and connecting with the main characters. For such a character-driven story, I just couldn’t relate to Maggie and Chip, and I found the first half to be quite slow.
I will definitely be reading anything Joella writes, but this wasn’t my favorite.
3.5 stars
June 2, 2026
Absolutely beautiful. I didn’t want it to end.
January 12, 2026
I've thoroughly enjoyed Ethan Joella's backlist titles and his upcoming release THE TOP OF THE WORLD is another win.
This is a beautifully quiet yet poignant story of love, loss and family that is balanced by joy and hope. Set in 1975 and told through dual POVs, the story centers on Maggie, who travels to a resort in the Poconos seeking answers about her brother’s final days. I felt connected to so many of the characters—not just Maggie and Chip, though their journey is at the heart of the novel
It is bittersweet and emotional and just made me feel good. It made me feel like I was wrapped up in tenderness. . I found myself tearing up at times, which happens every time I read one of his books.
This is a beautifully quiet yet poignant story of love, loss and family that is balanced by joy and hope. Set in 1975 and told through dual POVs, the story centers on Maggie, who travels to a resort in the Poconos seeking answers about her brother’s final days. I felt connected to so many of the characters—not just Maggie and Chip, though their journey is at the heart of the novel
It is bittersweet and emotional and just made me feel good. It made me feel like I was wrapped up in tenderness. . I found myself tearing up at times, which happens every time I read one of his books.
July 1, 2026
Devastating. Heartbreaking.
But, a gift - of time, people, of friends.
I love when I start a book by an author whom I’ve read before. As soon as I get into the story, I remember their other books and their writing. This one felt so familiar in the ways Ethan Joella builds community and family. He takes these small moments to build such love and care. All of his books are this way.
This one alternates between two pov, a brother and sister: Maggie and Chip in the mid 1970s. Maggie is on a quest to learn more about how her brother spent a summer, in the Poconos at the Red Maple Inn. Chip has received a devastating diagnosis and wants to experience a summer on his own terms.
It’s such a great summer read - most of the book takes place in summer, at this beautiful resort doing all the summer things. But it is also for the heavier moments of going through something hard. The cast of characters is so well-developed - it’s hard to not love them all, along with all their human flaws (which Joella shows us make them who they are).
I always look forward to his next book, and I’m so glad he shared this one with us!
“...to me, l'd be glad I was being remembered, that someone couldn't forget me. It would mean so much."
…
“But I'd also want to know there were still things making you laugh and smile. That would be important to me." Ch 20
“We will never forget what we've lost, we will never be the same because of it, but we can build something new. That's the key.” Ch 23
“A book is never finished.
You never really forget it. It's always existing, always there for someone to take off the shelf and remember. Lives and books are the same.” Ch 24
“I think happiness comes in a lot of different shapes, like individual holes in a beehive. The hive might fall and break into pieces, but when you pick it up, there are still some perfectly assembled areas.” ch 40
“She thinks of how every life is a medley of happy and tragic, broken and fixed, known and unknown paths.” Ch47
“He's never seen anything like it. He's at the top of the world, looking out at everything, and he's so happy he found out that view existed.”
P 232”
But, a gift - of time, people, of friends.
I love when I start a book by an author whom I’ve read before. As soon as I get into the story, I remember their other books and their writing. This one felt so familiar in the ways Ethan Joella builds community and family. He takes these small moments to build such love and care. All of his books are this way.
This one alternates between two pov, a brother and sister: Maggie and Chip in the mid 1970s. Maggie is on a quest to learn more about how her brother spent a summer, in the Poconos at the Red Maple Inn. Chip has received a devastating diagnosis and wants to experience a summer on his own terms.
It’s such a great summer read - most of the book takes place in summer, at this beautiful resort doing all the summer things. But it is also for the heavier moments of going through something hard. The cast of characters is so well-developed - it’s hard to not love them all, along with all their human flaws (which Joella shows us make them who they are).
I always look forward to his next book, and I’m so glad he shared this one with us!
“...to me, l'd be glad I was being remembered, that someone couldn't forget me. It would mean so much."
…
“But I'd also want to know there were still things making you laugh and smile. That would be important to me." Ch 20
“We will never forget what we've lost, we will never be the same because of it, but we can build something new. That's the key.” Ch 23
“A book is never finished.
You never really forget it. It's always existing, always there for someone to take off the shelf and remember. Lives and books are the same.” Ch 24
“I think happiness comes in a lot of different shapes, like individual holes in a beehive. The hive might fall and break into pieces, but when you pick it up, there are still some perfectly assembled areas.” ch 40
“She thinks of how every life is a medley of happy and tragic, broken and fixed, known and unknown paths.” Ch47
“He's never seen anything like it. He's at the top of the world, looking out at everything, and he's so happy he found out that view existed.”
P 232”
January 8, 2026
This was my last book of 2025 and it did not disappoint. I enjoy Ethan Joella’s very simple but yet deeply meaningful stories. I loved the setting for this one. And as usual, Ethan delivered another beautiful story!
It’s a heartbreaking, life-affirming new novel about a young woman searching for answers about her brother’s last days.
Set in a nostalgic resort town over two transformative summers, this dual-narrative novel explores sibling relationships, coming of age, and the quiet power of human connection. Perfect for fans of emotional storytelling and small-town summer books, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 is a timeless story about memory, grief, second chances, and hope.
Thanks to @scribnerbooks and @joellawriting for my arc! I fell in love with Chip, just like everyone else in the story. As with all his stories, Ethan had me smiling, crying, savoring and just plain thinking about the meaning of life and the human spirit all throughout the pages. You won’t want to miss his latest book.
It’s a heartbreaking, life-affirming new novel about a young woman searching for answers about her brother’s last days.
Set in a nostalgic resort town over two transformative summers, this dual-narrative novel explores sibling relationships, coming of age, and the quiet power of human connection. Perfect for fans of emotional storytelling and small-town summer books, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 is a timeless story about memory, grief, second chances, and hope.
Thanks to @scribnerbooks and @joellawriting for my arc! I fell in love with Chip, just like everyone else in the story. As with all his stories, Ethan had me smiling, crying, savoring and just plain thinking about the meaning of life and the human spirit all throughout the pages. You won’t want to miss his latest book.
February 2, 2026
Ethan’s writing is beautiful as always. Just as wonderful as an author as he is as a person! This book will make you want to book a trip to the Poconos ASAP.
December 13, 2025
This is the kind of novel that I dream of: likable characters, a “mystery” of sorts (not really a mystery, but a slow roll out of “what the heck happened last summer”), extremely digestible (aka short, aka meaning I would pick up the book whenever I could) chapters, and so many emotions! I’ve read all of Joella’s works, and will continue to in the future, but I think this is my favorite to date. Thank you for Maggie & Chip’s stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
Another excellent novel by one of my favorite authors! It's well-written, emotional, yet also highly readable as well as unforgettable. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
July 8, 2026
Ethan Joella is a favorite in the book community for good reason. With every new release, he delivers lovable complex characters (and side-characters) that are dealing with something heavy. And by the last page, the reader is a puddle with a full heart and a wet face.
This was one of my top anticipated releases this year, and it might just be my favorite of his (though that's a tough call).
It's bittersweet; I loved it so much, but now the wait restarts for his next release. *sigh*
I loved every single thing about this book. The POVs of each Chip and Maggie in their respective timelines, and the timeline of them together - was genius. Their combo chapters really added that right hook, right in the feels.
Joella writes grief so unbelievably well, it was both heavy and healing.
The settings in his books are always so vivid. I loved escaping with each Chip and Maggie to a resort in the mid-1970s Poconos.
🎧 Ryan Do & Mia Hutchinson-Shaw were phenomenal narrators. I literally couldn't stop listening - I'm talking weeding til after dark, quietly sobbing in bed at 2am finished in one sitting.
Thank you Simon Audio/LibroFM for the ALC!
This was one of my top anticipated releases this year, and it might just be my favorite of his (though that's a tough call).
It's bittersweet; I loved it so much, but now the wait restarts for his next release. *sigh*
I loved every single thing about this book. The POVs of each Chip and Maggie in their respective timelines, and the timeline of them together - was genius. Their combo chapters really added that right hook, right in the feels.
Joella writes grief so unbelievably well, it was both heavy and healing.
The settings in his books are always so vivid. I loved escaping with each Chip and Maggie to a resort in the mid-1970s Poconos.
🎧 Ryan Do & Mia Hutchinson-Shaw were phenomenal narrators. I literally couldn't stop listening - I'm talking weeding til after dark, quietly sobbing in bed at 2am finished in one sitting.
Thank you Simon Audio/LibroFM for the ALC!
June 29, 2026
4.5⭐️
Ethan Joella writes quietly beautiful novels. I knew going into THE TOP OF THE WORLD that it would be wise to prepare my heart for an emotional experience.
There is something about this novel that felt both heartbreaking and hopeful; told in a way that had me invested from the start. Joella weaves a tale of siblings who tell their stories in timelines a year apart.
In the summer of 1974, teenage Chip escapes to work at a resort in the Pocono Mountains after receiving a terminal diagnosis. He leaves without telling his family where he is going. It is his way of taking control of his life while battling a disease he has no control over.
One year later, his sister Maggie returns to the same resort after discovering a name tag in her brother’s belongings. Weighed down by grief, she seeks to understand how he spent his final summer.
The intersection of those experiences is a profound look at what it means to be human and how a single life can have a big impact. I love stories with strong themes of found family and this delivers. The supporting cast is outstanding as they both comfort and are comforted by Chip and Maggie.
Joella has penned a lovely book that examines love, grief, and healing. This book cements his status as a must read author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Books for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Ethan Joella writes quietly beautiful novels. I knew going into THE TOP OF THE WORLD that it would be wise to prepare my heart for an emotional experience.
There is something about this novel that felt both heartbreaking and hopeful; told in a way that had me invested from the start. Joella weaves a tale of siblings who tell their stories in timelines a year apart.
In the summer of 1974, teenage Chip escapes to work at a resort in the Pocono Mountains after receiving a terminal diagnosis. He leaves without telling his family where he is going. It is his way of taking control of his life while battling a disease he has no control over.
One year later, his sister Maggie returns to the same resort after discovering a name tag in her brother’s belongings. Weighed down by grief, she seeks to understand how he spent his final summer.
The intersection of those experiences is a profound look at what it means to be human and how a single life can have a big impact. I love stories with strong themes of found family and this delivers. The supporting cast is outstanding as they both comfort and are comforted by Chip and Maggie.
Joella has penned a lovely book that examines love, grief, and healing. This book cements his status as a must read author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Books for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
July 9, 2026
I just completed this wonderful story and loved it so much. Read it if you:
*were around during the 70s or want to learn more about the 70s
*enjoy sibling and/or found family stories
*can use an entertaining and life-affirming read
It received a Kirkus starred review and was chosen as Book of the Week by People magazine.
*were around during the 70s or want to learn more about the 70s
*enjoy sibling and/or found family stories
*can use an entertaining and life-affirming read
It received a Kirkus starred review and was chosen as Book of the Week by People magazine.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
If June's late evenings had an official representative, it'd be Ethan Joella. The Top of the World is my second Joella read (the prior, The Same Bright Stars)--and true to form it's set in a small, community-knit seaside town whose earned familiarity equips its cast to shine a truthful light on the everyday actions and choices that define the life of its focal character: Here, a sister's quest to understand the youthful brother she just suddenly has lost to cancer.
Honest and humbly inquisitive about the lives most of us lead in one way or another, I find Joella's summer-set slice-of-life writing captures what makes summers unique and so nostalgic, and, here, the growth in coming of age universally relatable.
Contemporary fiction and grounded family drama readers, as well as those with siblings whom they seek to understand, I recommend Top of the World for your beach bag, firepit side table, or weekend/commuter tote.
Thanks to Scribner, Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader's copy.
Honest and humbly inquisitive about the lives most of us lead in one way or another, I find Joella's summer-set slice-of-life writing captures what makes summers unique and so nostalgic, and, here, the growth in coming of age universally relatable.
Contemporary fiction and grounded family drama readers, as well as those with siblings whom they seek to understand, I recommend Top of the World for your beach bag, firepit side table, or weekend/commuter tote.
Thanks to Scribner, Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader's copy.
June 30, 2026
Thank you so much to Scribner for the complimentary copy of this book & eARC!
Thank you so much to Simon Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out tomorrow!
"My dear, you've got to focus on the pieces. We will never forget what we've lost, we will never be the same because of it, but we can building something new. That's the key. That's what your brother taught me. Remember what's lost, but try to build something else."
My oh my! Once again, Ethan has delivered this amazing gift of a book. And this may be my new favorite of his. Just like his others, it's not a long book and yet it took me a short bit to get through only because I had to keep taking breaks reading it due to the heaviness.
This book is told from two different timelines - 1974 Chip's last summer, 1974 Maggie & Chip in the fall and the following summer 1975 from Maggie's POV. Chip's point of view was such a gut punch watching him experience a lot of his lasts. He just took the whole thing in strive. He kept going and pushing even when his body told him to stop. I love seeing all his different relationships that he made with the folks at Red Maple. Without saying too much but his relationship with Vicky. *tears*
Maggie was just the sweetest kid as well! She wanted to know what her brother did the summer before he pass. Her and Chip had what seemed to be such a good relationship with each other. She was with him until the end and read his favorite book to him one last time. She went to Red Maple to piece together that summer and was able to connect with all the people that were in his life.
Even though this book was heavy, just like with Joella's other books, there is also laughs, love and so much heart.
"You know Maggie, I don't think much changes. Our relationships. I think when we lose someone, they are still helping us. We still need them. So let him continue to open doors, you know?"
I paired my reading with the audio and it was done spectacular by Ryan Do and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. I thought both felt age appropriate for their characters. They each had a youthful tone to it. Ryan especially sounds so vulnerable when he spoke. Mia especially towards the end with what was happening with Maggie's character sounded so hopeful.
At the core of his book, I feel like it is about a brother sister relationship and Maggie's way to connect with her brother that she was missing. The book wraps up beautifully and it will sit with me for quite some time.
Thank you so much to Simon Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out tomorrow!
"My dear, you've got to focus on the pieces. We will never forget what we've lost, we will never be the same because of it, but we can building something new. That's the key. That's what your brother taught me. Remember what's lost, but try to build something else."
My oh my! Once again, Ethan has delivered this amazing gift of a book. And this may be my new favorite of his. Just like his others, it's not a long book and yet it took me a short bit to get through only because I had to keep taking breaks reading it due to the heaviness.
This book is told from two different timelines - 1974 Chip's last summer, 1974 Maggie & Chip in the fall and the following summer 1975 from Maggie's POV. Chip's point of view was such a gut punch watching him experience a lot of his lasts. He just took the whole thing in strive. He kept going and pushing even when his body told him to stop. I love seeing all his different relationships that he made with the folks at Red Maple. Without saying too much but his relationship with Vicky. *tears*
Maggie was just the sweetest kid as well! She wanted to know what her brother did the summer before he pass. Her and Chip had what seemed to be such a good relationship with each other. She was with him until the end and read his favorite book to him one last time. She went to Red Maple to piece together that summer and was able to connect with all the people that were in his life.
Even though this book was heavy, just like with Joella's other books, there is also laughs, love and so much heart.
"You know Maggie, I don't think much changes. Our relationships. I think when we lose someone, they are still helping us. We still need them. So let him continue to open doors, you know?"
I paired my reading with the audio and it was done spectacular by Ryan Do and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. I thought both felt age appropriate for their characters. They each had a youthful tone to it. Ryan especially sounds so vulnerable when he spoke. Mia especially towards the end with what was happening with Maggie's character sounded so hopeful.
At the core of his book, I feel like it is about a brother sister relationship and Maggie's way to connect with her brother that she was missing. The book wraps up beautifully and it will sit with me for quite some time.
June 25, 2026
“Remember what’s lost, but try to build something else.” -Rhonda
This was a beautifully written story. It was poignant and heartfelt, with characters I enjoyed and loved. Joella took us through Maggie’s search for peace with the death of her brother, Chip. Maggie went looking for answers at The Red Maple; a resort in the Poconos where Chip spent his last summer. She craved connections with the people who knew him there.
We also got to know Chip, as he tried to reconcile himself to his prognosis. He had been a young and healthy athlete before he got Leukemia, and he wanted one summer with people who didn’t know he was sick. He worked hard and made good friends at the resort, and developed an especially sweet friendship with the resort owner, Rhonda.
The Red Maple Resort setting in the Poconos was so well done that I could imagine all the trails, lakes and trees as I read. And like the author said in his notes at the end, I also pictured scenes from Dirty Dancing in the dining rooms, rec rooms and resort trails.
Great read! Sad but heartwarming too.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
This was a beautifully written story. It was poignant and heartfelt, with characters I enjoyed and loved. Joella took us through Maggie’s search for peace with the death of her brother, Chip. Maggie went looking for answers at The Red Maple; a resort in the Poconos where Chip spent his last summer. She craved connections with the people who knew him there.
We also got to know Chip, as he tried to reconcile himself to his prognosis. He had been a young and healthy athlete before he got Leukemia, and he wanted one summer with people who didn’t know he was sick. He worked hard and made good friends at the resort, and developed an especially sweet friendship with the resort owner, Rhonda.
The Red Maple Resort setting in the Poconos was so well done that I could imagine all the trails, lakes and trees as I read. And like the author said in his notes at the end, I also pictured scenes from Dirty Dancing in the dining rooms, rec rooms and resort trails.
Great read! Sad but heartwarming too.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
July 10, 2026
3.5 rounding up. Another beautiful book by Joella that touches on siblings and heartbreak and living life to its fullest. I blazed through it fast with its short chapters and alternating POVs and timelines. There were a few parts that had me questioning the logic which caused me to bump it down a bit in rating but it’s a deeply moving book that I’d recommend.
Maggie lost her older brother Chip and she’s searching for a way to handle her grief and to figure out where he was the summer before he died. She finds the Red Maple resort where he worked and decides to take a job there to see if she can find the pieces she’s missing.
We alternate between Maggie and Chip’s respective summers a year apart in 1974 and 1975. The relationship with Vicky was not well fleshed out. Before Chip goes to Red Maple and so I was confused but all his romantic entanglements and didn’t really see the point. The surprise at the end was also confused to me because why wouldn’t they tell the parents and bring joy to everyone while he was still alive? It seemed unnecessarily angsty. It’s two relatively minor points in an otherwise great story so don’t let it deter you
Maggie lost her older brother Chip and she’s searching for a way to handle her grief and to figure out where he was the summer before he died. She finds the Red Maple resort where he worked and decides to take a job there to see if she can find the pieces she’s missing.
We alternate between Maggie and Chip’s respective summers a year apart in 1974 and 1975. The relationship with Vicky was not well fleshed out. Before Chip goes to Red Maple and so I was confused but all his romantic entanglements and didn’t really see the point. The surprise at the end was also confused to me because why wouldn’t they tell the parents and bring joy to everyone while he was still alive? It seemed unnecessarily angsty. It’s two relatively minor points in an otherwise great story so don’t let it deter you
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really loved this story more than I expected to! This was my first book by this author, and it won’t be my last! The story alternated between Chip’s POV in the summer of 1974 and Maggie’s POV in the summer of 1975, with some parts thrown in of Maggie and Chip together. I loved the sibling relationship between the two characters, as well as the reflections on life and death. The Red Maple Inn was the perfect setting, and this was a story where the background characters were just as important as the main. I would love a story from Rhonda or Eliot’s perspective. I grew up in northwestern NJ and I have been to the Poconos so it was easy to picture the resort. The chapters that Maggie shared with Chip were heartfelt and I definitely needed to reach for the tissues at times. If you enjoy a good family story about siblings and living life to the fullest, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
June 24, 2026
You know how some authors just know how to write people? Real, 3D, complex people that seem to, as a whole cast, represent humanity? Ethan Joella is that author.
This story is told from the perspective of Chip and Maggie, a brother and sister who end up in the Poconos at the Red Maple Resort at different times for different reasons, both chasing an escape and distraction. They find so much more. Stories that promise heartache and healing always ride a fine line for me- beautiful and raw on one side and sliding into Hallmark-esque exaggeration on the other. Do not fear friends, this one lands you safely and squarely in the middle of beauty.
I never tire of Ethan’s writing and his ability to give readers inspiration and wisdom in the midst of complex scenes. He is a wonderful human on the page as an author and off the page in real life. Add this (and his backlist) to your summer reading!
This story is told from the perspective of Chip and Maggie, a brother and sister who end up in the Poconos at the Red Maple Resort at different times for different reasons, both chasing an escape and distraction. They find so much more. Stories that promise heartache and healing always ride a fine line for me- beautiful and raw on one side and sliding into Hallmark-esque exaggeration on the other. Do not fear friends, this one lands you safely and squarely in the middle of beauty.
I never tire of Ethan’s writing and his ability to give readers inspiration and wisdom in the midst of complex scenes. He is a wonderful human on the page as an author and off the page in real life. Add this (and his backlist) to your summer reading!
July 1, 2026
Maggie is dealing with a huge loss. Her brother Chip has died, leaving her with a huge hole in her heart and a few questions. Chip disappeared the summer before, but returned after 2 months with no explanation. Maggie needs to find out how he spent his last months.
I fell in love with Ethan Joella’s writing when I read The Same Bright Stars. This one blew me away. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This character driven story hit me hard. The characters were raw, real and totally relatable. I loved Chip, he made the most of his time and left his imprint. I could so relate to Maggie…I graduated HS in 1975 and I lost a sibling. The song references reminded me of a special time, along with reminiscing about a vacation in the Poconos with my parents. Sometimes a book resonates so closely it brings back memories; smiles, tears and a mixture of both. This book did exactly that for me. It’s filled with love, friendship, hope and second chances. I look forward to Mr. Joelle’s next book, but for now I’ll run out to buy his previous books.
Thanks to Scribner Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
I fell in love with Ethan Joella’s writing when I read The Same Bright Stars. This one blew me away. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This character driven story hit me hard. The characters were raw, real and totally relatable. I loved Chip, he made the most of his time and left his imprint. I could so relate to Maggie…I graduated HS in 1975 and I lost a sibling. The song references reminded me of a special time, along with reminiscing about a vacation in the Poconos with my parents. Sometimes a book resonates so closely it brings back memories; smiles, tears and a mixture of both. This book did exactly that for me. It’s filled with love, friendship, hope and second chances. I look forward to Mr. Joelle’s next book, but for now I’ll run out to buy his previous books.
Thanks to Scribner Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
June 30, 2026
4.25 ⭐
Ethan Joella has become one of my go-to authors, so I was over the moon to get my hands on an ARC of The Top of the World. Set at a resort in the Poconos, this is the perfect book to tuck into your beach bag this summer! It was a quiet, emotional read that explored the bond between siblings Maggie and Chip, while also weaving in a cozy found-family theme. A sense of aching and nostalgia ran throughout the story as it grappled with loss and the hope that can emerge in its wake. There's a reason Joella is an auto-buy author for me, and The Top of the World cemented that once again. I can't wait to see what he releases next!
Ethan Joella has become one of my go-to authors, so I was over the moon to get my hands on an ARC of The Top of the World. Set at a resort in the Poconos, this is the perfect book to tuck into your beach bag this summer! It was a quiet, emotional read that explored the bond between siblings Maggie and Chip, while also weaving in a cozy found-family theme. A sense of aching and nostalgia ran throughout the story as it grappled with loss and the hope that can emerge in its wake. There's a reason Joella is an auto-buy author for me, and The Top of the World cemented that once again. I can't wait to see what he releases next!
June 30, 2026
A moving historical fiction novel about a sister grieving her brother's death and the summer she spends retracing his last moments working at a mountaintop resort in the Poconos in the 1970s. This book was filled with great found family, grief, and sibling love. It was also excellent on audio and a great feel-good read for the summer if you're looking for a break from thrillers and love stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of authors like Frederik Backman.
April 26, 2026
** Thank you to Scribner Books and the author for this ARC of The Top of the World! **
My book reviews are slightly different than most, as I write more about the emotional impact of a book rather than the more technical aspects. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt all the feels. Grief was the prevailing ‘theme’ of this book, and that in and of itself interested me. As a person who is all too familiar with grief and the myriad emotions that come with it, I found myself relating to the characters on a deeply personal level. I cried a lot while reading this book, especially at the end. The Top of the World is a beautiful book that heralds the importance of family, friends and the communities that heal us as we navigate the challenges of grief. I also loved reading about places I’m familiar with by an author that is from my home state and teaches at my college Alma Mater.
My book reviews are slightly different than most, as I write more about the emotional impact of a book rather than the more technical aspects. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt all the feels. Grief was the prevailing ‘theme’ of this book, and that in and of itself interested me. As a person who is all too familiar with grief and the myriad emotions that come with it, I found myself relating to the characters on a deeply personal level. I cried a lot while reading this book, especially at the end. The Top of the World is a beautiful book that heralds the importance of family, friends and the communities that heal us as we navigate the challenges of grief. I also loved reading about places I’m familiar with by an author that is from my home state and teaches at my college Alma Mater.
July 9, 2026
Chip and Maggie are young adult siblings ready to begin their journey into adulthood when Chip learns that his days are numbered. Set in the Poconos in the 1970s, Chip makes the brave decision to live out his last months away from family and friends. His short but powerful journey of self-discovery inspires Maggie to revisit the people and places Chip saw last.
As a reader who is also a medical professional, I loved this book! Joella tackles end of life with such tenderness and precision. 1974 was not steeped in end of life care or language like 2026 is, so for Chip to have the insight and courage to take control of his last chapter was beautiful and inspiring.
This book is full of found family, love and loss, coming of age, and legacy. So well done!
As a reader who is also a medical professional, I loved this book! Joella tackles end of life with such tenderness and precision. 1974 was not steeped in end of life care or language like 2026 is, so for Chip to have the insight and courage to take control of his last chapter was beautiful and inspiring.
This book is full of found family, love and loss, coming of age, and legacy. So well done!
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