The Top of the World - a young woman travels to the place her brother spent his final months.

In 1974, 18-year-old Chip Bishop receives a devastating diagnosis. After graduating from high school, he decides to work at The Red Maple Inn, a resort in the Poconos, without informing his family. He is seeking an escape from his illness and chooses a summer filled with accomplishment and new relationships rather than enduring painful and debilitating treatments. The following summer, Chip's sister Maggie travels to The Red Maple Inn, seeking solace at the place where Chip spent the final months of his life, hoping to gain insight from those who knew him. The story alternates between Chip's final summer to Maggie's summer the next year, and her path to healing.

The Top of the World by Ethan Joella is a poignant story. Chip handles his illness with remarkable grace and maturity. His relationship with his family, especially his sister, is heartwarming, making the circumstances even more heartrending. The people he meets at The Red Maple Inn are complex, each grappling with their own sorrow and loss. It's a touching story, and although it's clear from the beginning that Chip will soon be gone, it's impossible to go through his final days without shedding tears along with his family. It was somewhat triggering for me but I'm glad I made it through this beautifully written book. Now, it's time for a rom-com!

Many thanks to Scribner for providing an advance of this moving book.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

General Fiction.

Publication Date: June 30, 2026.

Please "like" this post if The Top of the World sounds like a book you’d enjoy reading. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.