Ethan Joella Author Talk and Signing for The Top of the World

Ethan Joella visits Bank Square Books in Mystic on Friday, July 17, for a free author talk and book signing celebrating the release of his newest novel, The Top of the World. Readers will have the opportunity to hear Joella discuss his latest work, his writing process, and the themes that have made his novels favorites among fans of contemporary literary fiction before meeting the author and having books signed.

The Top of the World follows Maggie Bishop, a recent high school graduate in the summer of 1975 who is struggling to understand the death of her older brother, Chip. Her search for answers leads her to the Red Maple Inn, a mountaintop resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, where she uncovers the relationships her brother formed during his final months while discovering her own path toward healing. Told across two transformative summers, the novel explores grief, family, memory, and the enduring impact of human connection.

Joella is the bestselling author of A Little Hope, a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection, along with A Quiet Life, The Same Bright Stars, and The Top of the World. An English and psychology instructor at the University of Delaware, he is known for writing emotionally resonant novels centered on ordinary people facing life’s defining moments.

Event Details

• Event: Ethan Joella Author Talk and Signing
• Featured Book: The Top of the World
• Date: Friday, July 17, 2026
• Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
• Venue: Bank Square Books
• Location: Mystic, CT
• Admission: Free

About The Top of the World

Set during the summer of 1975, the novel follows Maggie Bishop as she searches for answers about her late brother’s mysterious final months. Her journey leads her to a mountaintop resort where unexpected friendships and long-hidden truths help her—and those around her—find healing and hope.

Themes include:

• Family relationships
• Grief and healing
• Coming of age
• Memory and hope
• Small-town community

About Ethan Joella

• Author of The Top of the World
• Author of A Little Hope, a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection
• Also wrote A Quiet Life and The Same Bright Stars
• Teaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware
• Lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his wife and two daughters

Book Signing

Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Ethan Joella and have copies of The Top of the World signed.

More Information

Additional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page.