"Harrowing yet entrancing. . . The mysteries and twists compound in this fascinating historical fantasy about longevity quests and how to live a life of meaning and purpose in a world that contains so much pain." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"Author Scieszka's debut is a classic tale of immortality with a modern twist. . . . A small-town mystery with a dash of historical fiction and romance, this book is perfect for readers of V. E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue." - Booklist
"As psychologically rich as it is philosophically probing, Scieszka's book offers readers a heady blend of imagination, mystery, and finely crafted storytelling. A provocative novel that incisively explores the question of what makes a meaningful life." - Kirkus Reviews
"Riveting. . . . Scieszka adds gentle humor and romance to the tense plot, as Vera settles into her new life among bougie urban transplants and falls for a rugged local EMT. Readers will find plenty to admire." - Publishers Weekly
"This historical fantasy includes elements of a thriller that keep readers captivated and guessing until the last moment. . . This debut is perfect for fans of Orlando by Virginia Woolf, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. A great addition to every library's fantasy collection." - Library Journal
"I had an existential crisis reading this book. What do we do in the face of our own mortality? What is life about? Scieszka's novel isn't doom and gloom - it's quite cozy, which is all I ever am really after in life. But she tackles existential questions with such warmth and intelligence. A truly outstanding novel." - Debutiful
"We need more contemporary novels with fantastical elements. . . . This is a debut, smart and fun. Immortality in the Hudson Valley!" - Today.com
"I love the premise of this book: What would happen if an immortal with a death wish moved to a town right out of a Hallmark movie? It's ultimately a story about overcoming trauma and isolation, and the blend of mystery, drama, and philosophy kept me flipping pages until the end. Read this book if you've ever thought about living forever." - Good Housekeeping
"At its core, this is a novel about longing, for more time, more answers, more life. It moves between past and present with a kind of dreamlike clarity, asking what we owe to the people we love, and what we owe to ourselves. There's something both intimate and expansive about it, like you're reading a story that belongs to one person but somehow reflects everyone. This is the kind of book you carry with you even after you've finished it, the kind you want to talk about, underline, and return to." - Belletrist
"This is speculative fiction that leans philosophical. It asks what makes a life meaningful, what endless existence costs, and who gets to decide whether longevity is a gift or a curse. It's intimate but layered, blending family drama, corporate intrigue, and existential dread in a way that feels perfect for a reflective spring read." - Bibliolifestyle
"Clever, funny, and full of surprises." - My Geekology
"The Fountain is a fascinating meditation on immortality, belonging, and the meaning of home... Ultimately, The Fountain is more than a fantasy about living forever; it's a story about finding home, accepting change, and the courage to let go of old fears. Scieszka's debut is both entertaining and deeply moving, perfect for readers who enjoy literary fiction with a speculative twist." - The Gloss Book Club
"A vampire novel without the bloodsucking, The Fountain is a gorgeous and often funny meditation on immortality and its impracticalities... For a novel that has a fantastical premise, The Fountain is grounded by lovely depictions of everyday life." - The Maris Review
"This adult spin on Tuck Everlasting is one of my favorite recent reads. I gulped it up in a day. Simultaneously very funny and also deeply moving. I admit I cried on the last page. And set in the Catskills by the innkeeper of Spruceton Inn! I can't wait to see what Scieszka writes next." - Make Me Good Soil
"Casey Scieszka's debut novel is absolutely delicious, like Tuck Everlasting for grown-ups. The premise is so good-an immortal woman's search for the fountain of youth-that the writing, crisp and funny, feels like an extra treat. An excellent debut." - Emma Straub, bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow
"Casey Scieszka's The Fountain is a meditation on beauty, nature, and what in our lives can be bought and sold (and at what cost). Hilarious yet tender, Scieszka's alluring voice shines on the page as she guides us through the joys and pains of never growing old amongst the majestic landscape of the Catskills. Here is a page-turner of a novel that is book club-ready, a frothy combination of magical realism, the foibles of modern life, an examination of the influence of big tech, along with a wallop of small town heart." - Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts
"The Fountain is wildly entertaining, deeply intelligent, and genuinely moving. The heroine Vera, her many lives and attempted deaths, her suffering and tentative hope, left a mark on me. Casey Scieszka has masterfully built a true mystery laced with questions of immortality, capitalism, and technology-but embedded within are the questions of what makes a meaningful life? How do we live with our past, and how do we forgive ourselves?" - Stephanie Danler, New York Times bestselling author of Sweetbitter
"This book is perfection! Bold, wickedly fun and razor sharp. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it. Will keep you turning pages late into the night. Enthralling, engrossing and deftly crafted!" - Jo Piazza, bestselling co-author of Good Morning America Book Club pick We Are Not Like Them and The Sicilian Inheritance
"Casey Scieszka explores the double-edged blade of immortality so incisively I wondered if she might be immortal herself. The Fountain is a fascinating quest for meaning, a love letter to the Catskills, but above all a testament to the ways in which family and home can make a life-of any length-worth living." - Aimee Pokwatka, author of Self-Portrait with Nothing
