Disco Witches of Fire Island is a time capsule, taking you back to a time both terrifying and magical for gay men. The characters are straight out of a dream, partying around Fire Island as they attempt to forget the epidemic destroying gay culture and spaces in the 80s and 90s. The book juxtaposes two generations of gay men – those who came of age well before the AIDS epidemic and those who have only known a world with the virus. It’s surprisingly upbeat, focusing on the joys and beauty of life instead of the terror and sadness of a dangerous world. There’s magic, new and old relationships, and mysteries galore. 

The best part of the book is realizing in the afterward that all of the characters are based on someone the author knew in his younger days. There are so many out there characters – some in the leather scene, some wearing flowing robes and endlessly talking about the old days, others who are constantly looking for the next hookup or pretending they’re a part of a different Fire Island social class than they actually are. It all blends together to create this unique picture of a world many have never experienced. The surprising part is the place magic has in the story, fueled by disco music and dance rituals performed by this larger than life coven. It’s unclear at times what their magic actually does, but it honestly didn’t matter to me. They were so alive, and it made me want to live a bigger life just to be a little bit like these uninhibited men.

There are definitely tragedies happening around them, but the focus is on the life each lived, not the death they’re suffering through. Honestly, I can’t say I’ve ever read anything like this book and I doubt I will again. It’s part fantasy, part gay romance, part memoir, all wrapped in a title that demands to be explored. I couldn’t think of a better ode to the past than this heartfelt portrait of a summer spent in a place that tries to capture a bit of magic every night.