Plus get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Published by SparkPress
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A poignant and irreverent coming-of-age tale of a queer young aspiring photographer in the ’70s torn between her love for her conservative family and her desire to be true to herself, perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six.
“Glitter and grit . . . a steaming—and unforgettable—summer of initiation.”—James M. Tabor, O. Henry Award winner and author of Blind Descent
“Quirky characters, unpredictable twists, a beautiful love story, and even an appearance by Bruce Springsteen . . . A joy to read!”—Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author of He Gets That From Me
1972, Jersey’s Asbury Park. One red-headed girl with a camera, one washed-up old seaside resort, ninety days to decide whether she leaves . . . or finally belongs.
Eighteen-year-old Maeve O’Connor has one way out of her strict Irish-Catholic home: win a statewide photo contest and bolt for art school in Manhattan. She stakes everything on one restless summer in weather-worn Asbury Park, a boardwalk alive with sideshow performers, flickering neon lights, and bar bands chasing their break.
Maeve’s lens, and her pulse, lock onto Georgie, a singer in midnight eyeliner whose voice rattles the plywood walls and refuses every label the town tries to stamp on him. Through Georgie she finds a community of carnival artists, stage performers and night-shift musicians who treat one another like family because the world won’t.
But rumors spread fast in Asbury Park. Scathing newspaper headlines branding her a “Lewd Voyeur,” church busybodies judging her, and Maeve’s own parents tugging her home.
“Glitter and grit . . . a steaming—and unforgettable—summer of initiation.”—James M. Tabor, O. Henry Award winner and author of Blind Descent
“Quirky characters, unpredictable twists, a beautiful love story, and even an appearance by Bruce Springsteen . . . A joy to read!”—Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author of He Gets That From Me
1972, Jersey’s Asbury Park. One red-headed girl with a camera, one washed-up old seaside resort, ninety days to decide whether she leaves . . . or finally belongs.
Eighteen-year-old Maeve O’Connor has one way out of her strict Irish-Catholic home: win a statewide photo contest and bolt for art school in Manhattan. She stakes everything on one restless summer in weather-worn Asbury Park, a boardwalk alive with sideshow performers, flickering neon lights, and bar bands chasing their break.
Maeve’s lens, and her pulse, lock onto Georgie, a singer in midnight eyeliner whose voice rattles the plywood walls and refuses every label the town tries to stamp on him. Through Georgie she finds a community of carnival artists, stage performers and night-shift musicians who treat one another like family because the world won’t.
But rumors spread fast in Asbury Park. Scathing newspaper headlines branding her a “Lewd Voyeur,” church busybodies judging her, and Maeve’s own parents tugging her home.
Product Details
- Publisher: SparkPress (July 15, 2025)
- Length: 280 pages
- ISBN13: 9781684633258
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"The Shore Sound is rising, innocence is falling as heroes easy to like and villains easier to hate fuel a steaming—and unforgettable—summer of initiation. This is coming of age like it once was and always should be!"—James M. Tabor, winner of the O. Henry Award for short fiction and author of Blind Descent
"This engaging story is full of quirky characters, unpredictable twists, a beautiful love story, and even an appearance by Bruce Springsteen. Mehuron's novel shines as it showcases the wonders of living outside-the-box. A joy to read!"—Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author of He Gets That From Me
"I loved this coming-of-age story and its brazen heroine! Down on the South Beach Drag will transport you to a time and place when societal norms were a barrier for the wild hearts and talents of blossoming artists and free spirits. Thank heavens not everyone stayed behind those barriers! This unique novel is filled with lovable, wild, and unique characters and a storyline that will make you stand up and cheer.”—Kris Radish author of The Year of Necessary Lies.
"Mehuron's Down on the South Beach Drag is a captivating journey of self-discovery set against the vibrant backdrop of 1970s Asbury Park. With a unforgettable kaleidoscope of characters and a story that tugs at your heart, this is a must-read for anyone who’s ever dared to really chase their dreams."—Marley Gibson, Radiate and the Ghost Hunter series
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): Down on the South Beach Drag
eBook 9781684633258
