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Summer Rental
MEAN GIRLS meets SCREAM in this heart-pounding psychological thriller about a group of friends stranded on an island with a serial killer on the loose.
Riley March and her friends are headed to ritzy, remote Palm Key Island for one last blow-out party weekend before college. It's the vacation of a lifetime—beautiful beaches, epic nightlife, and hot guys like Riley's crush—superstar soccer player Sebastian Ramos. There's just one catch. Everyone on this trip is hiding something. Riley is hiding her past in order to fit in. Sebastian is hiding his feelings for Riley. And someone is hiding what really happened to Jordyn Chang, a classmate that mysteriously died last summer.
Things take a dark turn after one of their friends goes missing, and a hurricane cuts the group off from civilization. Trapped inside their rental house, a killer stalks them one by one. No one is safe. Everyone's a suspect. As the body count rises, Riley and her friends will have to confront the secrets they've been keeping if they want to stay alive . . .
264 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2023
1151 people are currently reading
17907 people want to read
About the author
Rektok Ross
7 books586 followersLiani Kotcher (writing as Rektok Ross) is a trial attorney turned award-winning and bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer. An avid reader since childhood, Liani writes exactly the kind of books she loves to escape into herself: exciting thrillers with strong female leads, swoonworthy love interests, and life-changing moments. She graduated from the University of Florida School of Journalism and obtained her juris doctorate at the University of Miami School of Law. Originally from South Florida, she currently splits her time between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas with her husband, step kids, and her dogs. She is the recipient of several awards, including the American Fiction Awards, IAN Book of the Year Awards, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Chanticleer Dante Rossetti Book Awards, and Women Writing the West. Her debut young adult thriller Ski Weekend was named a “best book” of the year by Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Parade, BookRiot, Yahoo!Life, Brit + Co., BookTrib, J-14, and more and is currently in development for a major motion picture. You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.
You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.
Facebook: @RektokRoss
Instagram: @RektokRoss
TikTok: @RektokRoss
BookBub: @RektokRoss
Twitter: @RektokRoss
Readers Group: www.facebook.com/groups/thebooknookbyrektokross/
Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ae3f56732419/email-newsletter
You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.
Facebook: @RektokRoss
Instagram: @RektokRoss
TikTok: @RektokRoss
BookBub: @RektokRoss
Twitter: @RektokRoss
Readers Group: www.facebook.com/groups/thebooknookbyrektokross/
Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ae3f56732419/email-newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,076 reviews
June 14, 2023
This was fun!! A quick YA summer slasher that definitely lives up to the ‘Mean Girls meets Scream’ description; these girls are MEAN and these characters make some *very* questionable decisions 😂😭
A great popcorn thriller to read on summer vacation 🌴
A great popcorn thriller to read on summer vacation 🌴
June 12, 2023
The book description wasn't kidding when it stated this book was "Mean Girls" meets "SCREAM”. That reeled me in, and I am happy to say that I was hooked! It also had "I know what you did last summer" vibes as well. I loved SCREAM and enjoyed the horror survival tips in this book from SCREAM (and other horror films) i.e., never say "I'll be right back", etc.
It says gripping in the title, and it certainly was!
Riley March and her group of "friends" are in the remote Palm Key Island for a last hurrah before they go their separate ways to attend the colleges of their choice. They are there to party, tan, flaunt their bikini bodies, and hook up. Riley's crush Sebastian Ramos and his group of friends are there as well. This is going to be the vacation of a lifetime!
But they all have secrets. Some of the secrets are bigger than others. Secrets can be deadly.
Fun in the sun turns into danger as the group ignores the hurricane warnings, friends disappear, and they become cut off. Their dream trip has become a nightmare!
Woohoo! This was such a gripping and intense read. I was blown away. I loved the trapped feeling of this book. When the hurricane was looming, they were trapped not only by the raging storm but also by the danger that awaited inside the house as well. Nowhere and no one was safe. I loved the tension, the danger and horror in this book. This book also touches on bullying, fake friends, toxic friends, deception, and loss.
Talk about being glued to the pages. I loved the SCREAM vibe in this book and tried my best to pin down the killer. Dripping with atmosphere, blood, and tension, Summer Rental: A Gripping Psychological Thriller is a killer book!!!
A bloody good book that is captivating, atmospheric, and gripping!
4.5 stars
#SummerRental #NetGalley #RektokRoss
Thank you to Ic13 Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
It says gripping in the title, and it certainly was!
Riley March and her group of "friends" are in the remote Palm Key Island for a last hurrah before they go their separate ways to attend the colleges of their choice. They are there to party, tan, flaunt their bikini bodies, and hook up. Riley's crush Sebastian Ramos and his group of friends are there as well. This is going to be the vacation of a lifetime!
But they all have secrets. Some of the secrets are bigger than others. Secrets can be deadly.
Fun in the sun turns into danger as the group ignores the hurricane warnings, friends disappear, and they become cut off. Their dream trip has become a nightmare!
Woohoo! This was such a gripping and intense read. I was blown away. I loved the trapped feeling of this book. When the hurricane was looming, they were trapped not only by the raging storm but also by the danger that awaited inside the house as well. Nowhere and no one was safe. I loved the tension, the danger and horror in this book. This book also touches on bullying, fake friends, toxic friends, deception, and loss.
Talk about being glued to the pages. I loved the SCREAM vibe in this book and tried my best to pin down the killer. Dripping with atmosphere, blood, and tension, Summer Rental: A Gripping Psychological Thriller is a killer book!!!
A bloody good book that is captivating, atmospheric, and gripping!
4.5 stars
#SummerRental #NetGalley #RektokRoss
Thank you to Ic13 Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 20, 2023
Normally I don’t leave negative reviews but this book was such a waste of time I feel like I have to.
As someone who loves teen slasher films, thrillers and who grew up in south Florida, I SHOULD have loved this book. I went out of my way to order it after finding it in none of the libraries or book stores near me.
The premise of this book sounds amazing. The problem is the writing is hard to get past.
The “teen” dialogue is cringe-worthy. There has never been teens who talk like that. It is dialogue written by an adult who has not put an ounce of effort into listening to how teenagers communicate now and settled instead for caricatures and vocabulary from a decade prior.
The main character is one dimensional sure with NO character development for her or any of the other characters. They are all so blandly written you can’t tell them apart.
The “murders” are rushed and unbelievable. The plot makes no sense and the pacing is rushed.
I really didn’t like this book.
As someone who loves teen slasher films, thrillers and who grew up in south Florida, I SHOULD have loved this book. I went out of my way to order it after finding it in none of the libraries or book stores near me.
The premise of this book sounds amazing. The problem is the writing is hard to get past.
The “teen” dialogue is cringe-worthy. There has never been teens who talk like that. It is dialogue written by an adult who has not put an ounce of effort into listening to how teenagers communicate now and settled instead for caricatures and vocabulary from a decade prior.
The main character is one dimensional sure with NO character development for her or any of the other characters. They are all so blandly written you can’t tell them apart.
The “murders” are rushed and unbelievable. The plot makes no sense and the pacing is rushed.
I really didn’t like this book.
June 21, 2023
A summer vacation in a lovely rental turns deadly. All because mean girls go too far. There’s a lesson to be learned in
this horror / slasher.
Very good, I recommend. I will be looking into her other books. This has made me a fan.
This book was given to me to read in exchange for my truthful thoughts and unbiased opinion. Thank you NetGalley.
this horror / slasher.
Very good, I recommend. I will be looking into her other books. This has made me a fan.
This book was given to me to read in exchange for my truthful thoughts and unbiased opinion. Thank you NetGalley.
July 1, 2023
Summer Rental by Rektok Ross
This book’s description of Mean Girls meets Scream in the middle of a hurricane had all the potential psychological thriller feels. As an added bonus there was a little I Know What You Did Last Summer feel as well. However, I was slightly underwhelmed by a few minor plot elements.
The dynamic of the pretty girl click was lackluster. Were they mean? Sure, but not in the typical “you can’t sit with us” way. Instead it was “we’re uber rich and stick to our own crowd”. No one was particularly cutthroat, but more not nice. The Scream vibe was also a miss in building enough suspense. Someone would end up missing and most of the group remained completely unconcerned. Even continuing to party and drink not wondering how the other person(s) in the group were going to make it back to the house without a car, money, or phone. If the group didn’t care about a missing character I as the reader was unconcerned as well…until all of a sudden they were found in a horribly gory murder scene.
Riley March attends the right prep school and has the right connections and friends, but she has a secret. She’s a scholarship student “faking it until she makes it”. The other girls in the group also have a secret, what really led Jordyn Chang to commit suicide last summer. Getting away from it all the close group of girls and guys escape to Palm Key Island where the girls rent a house with a history of murder. Several events including a hurricane occur and one by one their numbers dwindle. Is the killer in the house? Did they lure the group into a trap? Or is it related to their shared secrets and past?
This novel was an incredibly quick read. The YA thriller vibes may have been hit and miss, but I did find the story hard to put down. The twist in the end was equal parts surprising and over the top. Thank you to NetGalley and Ic13 Books for this ARC in return for an honest review.
This book’s description of Mean Girls meets Scream in the middle of a hurricane had all the potential psychological thriller feels. As an added bonus there was a little I Know What You Did Last Summer feel as well. However, I was slightly underwhelmed by a few minor plot elements.
The dynamic of the pretty girl click was lackluster. Were they mean? Sure, but not in the typical “you can’t sit with us” way. Instead it was “we’re uber rich and stick to our own crowd”. No one was particularly cutthroat, but more not nice. The Scream vibe was also a miss in building enough suspense. Someone would end up missing and most of the group remained completely unconcerned. Even continuing to party and drink not wondering how the other person(s) in the group were going to make it back to the house without a car, money, or phone. If the group didn’t care about a missing character I as the reader was unconcerned as well…until all of a sudden they were found in a horribly gory murder scene.
Riley March attends the right prep school and has the right connections and friends, but she has a secret. She’s a scholarship student “faking it until she makes it”. The other girls in the group also have a secret, what really led Jordyn Chang to commit suicide last summer. Getting away from it all the close group of girls and guys escape to Palm Key Island where the girls rent a house with a history of murder. Several events including a hurricane occur and one by one their numbers dwindle. Is the killer in the house? Did they lure the group into a trap? Or is it related to their shared secrets and past?
This novel was an incredibly quick read. The YA thriller vibes may have been hit and miss, but I did find the story hard to put down. The twist in the end was equal parts surprising and over the top. Thank you to NetGalley and Ic13 Books for this ARC in return for an honest review.
July 3, 2023
you’d think with the SCREAM comparison, SO many targeted ads, and some 4 star reviews from my fav booktokers, that i’d love it, but shocker! i ✨don’t✨
-teenagers very obviously written by someone who hasn’t been a kid in a long time and probably watched 13 reasons why & gossip girl a lot
-every character is insufferable, except for poor jonathan
-boring until 70% -then VERY off the rails
-why is the person on the porch literally never mentioned again until the end?? seriously??
-don’t enjoy the very racially ambiguous pen name
-nice cover tho
-teenagers very obviously written by someone who hasn’t been a kid in a long time and probably watched 13 reasons why & gossip girl a lot
-every character is insufferable, except for poor jonathan
-boring until 70% -then VERY off the rails
-why is the person on the porch literally never mentioned again until the end?? seriously??
-don’t enjoy the very racially ambiguous pen name
-nice cover tho
May 21, 2023
The blurb says "MEAN GIRLS meets SCREAM", and it certainly delivers. "Summer Rental" by Rektok Ross is a nerve-shredding psychological thriller that kept me in suspense right up to the last page.
Riley March and her mean friends rent a house for the weekend of the 4th of July on Palm Key Islands to celebrate their high school graduation. It is their last getaway before they all go to different colleges and part ways. No one talks about the elephant in the room: the death of their classmate a year ago.
All of them have secrets, including Riley, and someone will go to great lengths to uncover those secrets. Riley successfully hides her past to fit in with the rich and spoiled girls: the twins Cam and Val, Blake, and Nia. She is less successful at hiding her crush on another classmate, Sebastian.
Pretty soon the much-anticipated vacation turns into the vacation from hell. Some of Riley's friends go missing, and it turns out the house has a bloody history. The plot thickens when a hurricane hits the island, preventing them from leaving. To make matters worse, a murderer is on the loose, and they find themselves in his crosshairs.
Haunted house, spooky atmosphere, and spine-tingling suspense make this an exciting read. I disliked most of the characters except Riley and a couple of others. I found her a bit naive and lacking in backbone, and I was glad she developed one toward the end.
I love books with messages. The themes of bullying and toxic female friendships are woven throughout the pages, enriching the story. Being popular isn't the most important thing; it's just smoke and mirrors. Real friendship doesn't come with a price tag. Real friends don't bully you or make you feel bad about yourself. They accept you as you are, and this is an important message for young adults to grasp.
I immensely enjoyed the story immensely and highly recommend it. The plot moves along at a good pace, the writing flows easily, and just when you think you've figured out who is the murderer, everything is flipped upside down. The book was a page-turner, and I flew through it - it definitely had the right amount of suspense to keep you wanting more.
*Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* link to the review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
Riley March and her mean friends rent a house for the weekend of the 4th of July on Palm Key Islands to celebrate their high school graduation. It is their last getaway before they all go to different colleges and part ways. No one talks about the elephant in the room: the death of their classmate a year ago.
All of them have secrets, including Riley, and someone will go to great lengths to uncover those secrets. Riley successfully hides her past to fit in with the rich and spoiled girls: the twins Cam and Val, Blake, and Nia. She is less successful at hiding her crush on another classmate, Sebastian.
Pretty soon the much-anticipated vacation turns into the vacation from hell. Some of Riley's friends go missing, and it turns out the house has a bloody history. The plot thickens when a hurricane hits the island, preventing them from leaving. To make matters worse, a murderer is on the loose, and they find themselves in his crosshairs.
Haunted house, spooky atmosphere, and spine-tingling suspense make this an exciting read. I disliked most of the characters except Riley and a couple of others. I found her a bit naive and lacking in backbone, and I was glad she developed one toward the end.
I love books with messages. The themes of bullying and toxic female friendships are woven throughout the pages, enriching the story. Being popular isn't the most important thing; it's just smoke and mirrors. Real friendship doesn't come with a price tag. Real friends don't bully you or make you feel bad about yourself. They accept you as you are, and this is an important message for young adults to grasp.
I immensely enjoyed the story immensely and highly recommend it. The plot moves along at a good pace, the writing flows easily, and just when you think you've figured out who is the murderer, everything is flipped upside down. The book was a page-turner, and I flew through it - it definitely had the right amount of suspense to keep you wanting more.
*Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* link to the review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
September 1, 2023
Scream meets Mean Girls and I’m here for it.
Did I predict the ending? Yes.
But it was still super enjoyable and a fast paced thriller that had me turning the pages aching for more. I really loved the different emotions it made me feel while reading and I enjoyed the thrill of trying to figure out who is behind everything.
If you’re looking for a just graduated high school, thriller that will have you flipping the pages for more, Summer Rental is a definite must add to your fall TBR.
Did I predict the ending? Yes.
But it was still super enjoyable and a fast paced thriller that had me turning the pages aching for more. I really loved the different emotions it made me feel while reading and I enjoyed the thrill of trying to figure out who is behind everything.
If you’re looking for a just graduated high school, thriller that will have you flipping the pages for more, Summer Rental is a definite must add to your fall TBR.
June 24, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“There’s nothing left to wait for. I’m only eighteen years old, I haven’t even lived yet, and I am going to die.”
The blurb of Summer Rental really sums it up all - 'Mean Girls meets Scream' and Rektok Ross provides just the right amount of mean screams to make this -- a rather fast-paced and wild ride of a read for me.
The author wrote the thrills and chills believably well; even if it was shining with all the elements of a classic slasher thriller, I was actually curious to see how the events would unfold, especially since the screams didn't really start till three-fourths of the book was over. Rather, before that, we are given much insight into the characters' behaviors, their attitudes towards others' disappearances, all the while, building up a steady amount of distrust and mystery, as to who the next victim would be, while a violent storm rages on - inside the house and outside. 😨
“Can we really trust anybody with our deepest, darkest secrets?”
But, the serial killer was so so obvious! 😩😩 Argh, when the background into the girls was revealed, my God, it was too apparent, I cried inwardly at how easily it was laid out. I rolled my eyes at how the clues were literally laid out for anyone with any sense could have seen it, because it was just too obvious - unless, it was meant to be intentional, which I seriously doubt, but still. And if it weren't for the fact that this was a YA thriller, I would be throwing hands. 😮💨😮💨
Yet, despite all the glaring clichés, I was still having a good time - very much entertained by the writing. The writing didn't falter in showing just how rotten and wicked and mean these girls were - how they would do anything to be the victor - without any regard or remorse for the other's feelings. 🔪🔪 And still, I didn't stop, even when the gore and blood began, when the serial killer went on their killing spree, because, it was somehow, oddly satisfying and morbidly amusing at how repugnant the characters were behaving - almost as if, we weren't meant to sympathize with them. 😅
“He was just being honest, I suppose, but honesty can be a mistake with our friends. Sometimes lies are better.”
What I did appreciate, which a lot of slasher films and books fail to mention is that, most of the evil in life stems from bullying - from being unkind to one another - for acting in malice under the guise of friendship - for treating others without any hint of kindness or guilt over inexcusable, intolerable behavior. 🥺 So, that slight appreciation of that, for not only the reader, but for the protagonist to understand, made it a little more than just your average thriller.
Because, if nothing else, I respect this - the author states in her Author's Note that this was an homage to all the slasher films she grew up watching, all the thriller books by authors, she read growing up. And seeing those familiar names of books, seeing those well-known authors that I myself grew up reading, then I think, this book was an entertaining way to pay homage to those classic veterans of this genre. ✨✨
“There’s nothing left to wait for. I’m only eighteen years old, I haven’t even lived yet, and I am going to die.”
The blurb of Summer Rental really sums it up all - 'Mean Girls meets Scream' and Rektok Ross provides just the right amount of mean screams to make this -- a rather fast-paced and wild ride of a read for me.
The author wrote the thrills and chills believably well; even if it was shining with all the elements of a classic slasher thriller, I was actually curious to see how the events would unfold, especially since the screams didn't really start till three-fourths of the book was over. Rather, before that, we are given much insight into the characters' behaviors, their attitudes towards others' disappearances, all the while, building up a steady amount of distrust and mystery, as to who the next victim would be, while a violent storm rages on - inside the house and outside. 😨
“Can we really trust anybody with our deepest, darkest secrets?”
But, the serial killer was so so obvious! 😩😩 Argh, when the background into the girls was revealed, my God, it was too apparent, I cried inwardly at how easily it was laid out. I rolled my eyes at how the clues were literally laid out for anyone with any sense could have seen it, because it was just too obvious - unless, it was meant to be intentional, which I seriously doubt, but still. And if it weren't for the fact that this was a YA thriller, I would be throwing hands. 😮💨😮💨
Yet, despite all the glaring clichés, I was still having a good time - very much entertained by the writing. The writing didn't falter in showing just how rotten and wicked and mean these girls were - how they would do anything to be the victor - without any regard or remorse for the other's feelings. 🔪🔪 And still, I didn't stop, even when the gore and blood began, when the serial killer went on their killing spree, because, it was somehow, oddly satisfying and morbidly amusing at how repugnant the characters were behaving - almost as if, we weren't meant to sympathize with them. 😅
“He was just being honest, I suppose, but honesty can be a mistake with our friends. Sometimes lies are better.”
What I did appreciate, which a lot of slasher films and books fail to mention is that, most of the evil in life stems from bullying - from being unkind to one another - for acting in malice under the guise of friendship - for treating others without any hint of kindness or guilt over inexcusable, intolerable behavior. 🥺 So, that slight appreciation of that, for not only the reader, but for the protagonist to understand, made it a little more than just your average thriller.
Because, if nothing else, I respect this - the author states in her Author's Note that this was an homage to all the slasher films she grew up watching, all the thriller books by authors, she read growing up. And seeing those familiar names of books, seeing those well-known authors that I myself grew up reading, then I think, this book was an entertaining way to pay homage to those classic veterans of this genre. ✨✨
May 1, 2024
When the popular graduates of Bishop Lake high school go on a Fourth of July celebration the rent a house with a dark history. Riley, the twin beauties Val and cam, Blake and Maya are all best friends and although Riley is the recent transplant from a different school she quickly became the new edition. They’re meeting the boys there which include Zeb Tyler Jonathan and Mason. They’re all rich spoiled and used to getting what they want will everyone except for Riley until last year she too had money to burn but now that her father has been arrested for corruption she has had to learn to live within her means this is just one thing her friends doesn’t know about Riley situation and it’s the reason they’re staying in a summer rental as opposed to the posh hotel on the island. Val is there to try and win Tyler away from Maya and after they hit the club it looks like that’s exactly what Val has done because Val and Tyler go missing in the group cannot find them. When they learn the hurricane is going to hit the island Zeb and Cam do not want to leave without Tyler and Val so they decide to stay and have a hurricane party Blake invites the bartender from the night before Roxy and the boys get evacuated from the hotel and come to stay at the summer rental. End it is all fun and games until Riley finds a dead body. I never know how much to give away in a review so I’m going to stop there and I will say I have noticed a lot of people gave this book 5 stars but the nitty-gritty of the book didn’t even start till over 50% of the boat is red which I thought took forever because mostly what you’re reading about is teenage drama which can be very interesting but in a horror book I was waiting for the horror and it seems when it does come it’s Bam Bam Bam and then the books over so for 70% of the book it’s just strange noises she sees people behind the rental something that never gets answered in the book don’t get me wrong this book was pretty good and I read the whole thing but I don’t think this is a five star read because as I said most of the book is who sleeping with you then looking for Val in the Horror is only the last 30% but again this is just my opinion I see other people love the book so maybe once again with the book I am missing something. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher that I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 1, 2023
This book was described as "Mean Girls meets Scream" and I am so pleased to say that that is so accurate! I really enjoyed this one. I went into it hoping for a fun thriller with these exact vibes, and this did not disappoint.
I feel like the twist wasn't a huge surprise, but honestly, I enjoyed reading it so that was ok with me. I ended up reading this book in under 24 hours, I just couldn't bring myself to put it down. The ONLY reason that I didn't give this five stars is because I don't give out five stars lightly. I reserve those only for my very favorite books of all time.
This one was really, really good though! Definitely a fun read. If that sounds like your vibe at all, you'll like this one.
I feel like the twist wasn't a huge surprise, but honestly, I enjoyed reading it so that was ok with me. I ended up reading this book in under 24 hours, I just couldn't bring myself to put it down. The ONLY reason that I didn't give this five stars is because I don't give out five stars lightly. I reserve those only for my very favorite books of all time.
This one was really, really good though! Definitely a fun read. If that sounds like your vibe at all, you'll like this one.
June 16, 2023
I don’t get the high ratings, this was really bad
June 17, 2023
Mean Girls meets Scream! What a twisty, turny, unputdownable read!
Riley arrives on Palm Key Island with her rich friends who she struggles to fit in with financially and the whole dramatic saga begins!
A hurricane coming soon traps the group of unlikable teens on the island and when a body and a haunted house combine with the group of teens, you know things are about to get crazy.
Rektok Ross has written a great thriller that is fast moving, quickly paced, and has really quality character development in my opinion as seen through Riley's evolution in the story.
If you're looking for a quick, easy read that you will be flying through the pages on, look no further!! I highly recommend Summer Rental and will be going back to read her previous book, Ski Weekend!
Thanks to the author for a gifted copy of the book for review!
Riley arrives on Palm Key Island with her rich friends who she struggles to fit in with financially and the whole dramatic saga begins!
A hurricane coming soon traps the group of unlikable teens on the island and when a body and a haunted house combine with the group of teens, you know things are about to get crazy.
Rektok Ross has written a great thriller that is fast moving, quickly paced, and has really quality character development in my opinion as seen through Riley's evolution in the story.
If you're looking for a quick, easy read that you will be flying through the pages on, look no further!! I highly recommend Summer Rental and will be going back to read her previous book, Ski Weekend!
Thanks to the author for a gifted copy of the book for review!
June 16, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Once Upon a Time Tours.
Summer Rental is a fast-paced slasher thriller that's hard to put down. Described as 'Mean Girls meets Scream', this book has you jumpy from 1/2 of the way through, and the description is 100% accurate. We follow a group of teens off to celebrate July 4th at a summer rental house at Palm Key Island. Riley (Rhi Rhi) is our protagonist and is unnerved from arriving at the house for various reasons. Each character is keeping secrets,some way bigger than others. A hurricane is headed their way, and with two of their friends missing, the group don't want to leave until they return. They hole up in the house to wait out the storm, and soon, a body turns up. Tensions rise within the group, and nobody knows who they can really trust. I loved the vibes of this book - nostalgic Screem vibes, and Rektok Ross did a fantastic job at making this book visually come to life, and I could see it playing out like a film! If you love Scream and Mean Girls you really don't want to miss this book!
Summer Rental is a fast-paced slasher thriller that's hard to put down. Described as 'Mean Girls meets Scream', this book has you jumpy from 1/2 of the way through, and the description is 100% accurate. We follow a group of teens off to celebrate July 4th at a summer rental house at Palm Key Island. Riley (Rhi Rhi) is our protagonist and is unnerved from arriving at the house for various reasons. Each character is keeping secrets,some way bigger than others. A hurricane is headed their way, and with two of their friends missing, the group don't want to leave until they return. They hole up in the house to wait out the storm, and soon, a body turns up. Tensions rise within the group, and nobody knows who they can really trust. I loved the vibes of this book - nostalgic Screem vibes, and Rektok Ross did a fantastic job at making this book visually come to life, and I could see it playing out like a film! If you love Scream and Mean Girls you really don't want to miss this book!
May 12, 2023
Can you spell T W I S T Y? SUMMER RENTAL certainly can, and will deliver one after another revelatory punch till readers are reeling, dizzy, and peeking over their shoulders to see what's causing that frisson of "Somebody's watching!" An in-depth exposure at "how-the-wealthy-YA-live" (it's not complimentary), Narcissism, and what humans will do in their pursuit of one-upmanship (it's not pretty). What is pretty is how compelling is this delightful (yet gory) YA psychological Thriller/mystery/budding romance/millenial technology-savvy. A one-sitting read; I couldn't turn away. I had to discover what was next!
June 17, 2023
Summer Rental is marketed as Mean Girls meets Scream, and since I love both of those things, I should absolutely love this book, right? Wrong.
The only thing about this book that’s similar to Scream is the true crime/horror nerd that is a ripoff of Randy’s character and even directly rips off Randy’s dialogue in 3 separate places. Literally that’s it.
The only comparison to Mean Girls is that the The 10 Squad (because they’re all 10s) are toxic and awful people and terrible friends to each other.
Other problems? This book is slooooowwww. Two people disappear pretty quickly but the first confirmed death is 70% into the book, literally. And that’s fine but the next 20% of the book is balls to the wall, all action squished into the last bit.
I’m just not a fan, and thanks to the free peek at Ski Weekend, I know I would rather re-read R.L. Stine’s novel with the exact same title than read Ross’s version.
I feel like this is way harsh, and I think Ross’s plot idea and her explanation of why bullying and toxic female friendships are important to her is great, but the execution does not live up to the hype.
If you want a cheese fest that doesn’t deliver until the last 20%, give it a whirl.
The only thing about this book that’s similar to Scream is the true crime/horror nerd that is a ripoff of Randy’s character and even directly rips off Randy’s dialogue in 3 separate places. Literally that’s it.
The only comparison to Mean Girls is that the The 10 Squad (because they’re all 10s) are toxic and awful people and terrible friends to each other.
Other problems? This book is slooooowwww. Two people disappear pretty quickly but the first confirmed death is 70% into the book, literally. And that’s fine but the next 20% of the book is balls to the wall, all action squished into the last bit.
I’m just not a fan, and thanks to the free peek at Ski Weekend, I know I would rather re-read R.L. Stine’s novel with the exact same title than read Ross’s version.
I feel like this is way harsh, and I think Ross’s plot idea and her explanation of why bullying and toxic female friendships are important to her is great, but the execution does not live up to the hype.
If you want a cheese fest that doesn’t deliver until the last 20%, give it a whirl.
June 7, 2025
Predictable, but fun!
June 18, 2023
Summer Rental by Rektok Ross is a summery YA thriller. If you’re a fan of locked room style mysteries (especially if the characters are locked in a house together during a hurricane) then this would be a good book to choose! Overall, I liked this book and read it in nearly one sitting. It definitely has those mean girl vibes, and the killer was unexpected. However, it didn’t have much buildup in terms of the suspense for a murder mystery; everything happened so fast. One minute everyone’s drunk and the next minute they find a dead body. THEN they end up at the hands of the killer right after. It felt like there were missing pages. When I read a thriller book – doesn’t matter if it’s YA or not – I want to feel some sort of tension and I just didn’t feel it while reading this one. The only tension was between the characters because they were clearly all backstabbing each other. No matter, it’s a good book but was definitely missing something for me. I do plan to read the author’s previous novel though and look forward to seeing how she deals with a snow themed mystery.
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ YA Thrillers
❥ Locked Room type thrillers/mystery
❥ Summer/Vacation reads
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ YA Thrillers
❥ Locked Room type thrillers/mystery
❥ Summer/Vacation reads
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐
September 9, 2024
Con la descripción de Scream se combina con chicas malas, a mí ya me han convencido para leer este libro.
Es la típica lectura juvenil, de un grupo de amigos que van a pasar las vacaciones de su vida, pero con slasher.
Y es que este grupo de amigos, alquila una casa de vacaciones en una isla, y pese a las alertas de huracán, deciden seguir allí de fiesta.
Y cuando el huracán ya está allí, y sea imposible escapar, todo estallará, y serán atacados uno a uno.
Es la típica lectura juvenil, de un grupo de amigos que van a pasar las vacaciones de su vida, pero con slasher.
Y es que este grupo de amigos, alquila una casa de vacaciones en una isla, y pese a las alertas de huracán, deciden seguir allí de fiesta.
Y cuando el huracán ya está allí, y sea imposible escapar, todo estallará, y serán atacados uno a uno.
July 15, 2023
This one was, Im sorry, not good. If you have ever seen I Know What You Did Last Summer 1 and 2 or the original Scream...you've read this book. Very cheesy, predictable and no sense of originality.
Ugh so frustrating...
Ugh so frustrating...
July 6, 2023
My only complaint is it takes 70% of the book before the first dead body shows up
June 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️! A very quick summer thriller read! Was it the best thriller I’ve ever read, definitely not. Was it a fun time? Yes!
It’s described as mean girls meets scream! I do think it lives up to that. But I wanted more scream and less mean girls. This has a VERY slow build to it. Nothing happens that’s thrilling until about 65% in. I wanted more thrill and the slasher part spread out more! I do think that beginners in the thriller genre or teens will eat this book up though! It’s got that teen romance sub plot
I did finish this in a day! While it was a very slow burn thriller , I also couldn’t put it down? Definitely a very easy read! I was intrigued.
I love this author though she’s literally the sweetest! I do like spring harvest better than this one, but this is a good quick summer read!!
It’s described as mean girls meets scream! I do think it lives up to that. But I wanted more scream and less mean girls. This has a VERY slow build to it. Nothing happens that’s thrilling until about 65% in. I wanted more thrill and the slasher part spread out more! I do think that beginners in the thriller genre or teens will eat this book up though! It’s got that teen romance sub plot
I did finish this in a day! While it was a very slow burn thriller , I also couldn’t put it down? Definitely a very easy read! I was intrigued.
I love this author though she’s literally the sweetest! I do like spring harvest better than this one, but this is a good quick summer read!!
August 7, 2024
This was a fun summer slasher! I very much agree with the “Mean Girls meets Scream” description on the back 🙈 not anything crazy special but definitely a fun, bingeable read for the beach!!
June 27, 2023
This book was basically filler up until 70% and then stuff actually happened. The writing was so overly descriptive, it was like they were trying to meet a wordcount requirement or something. Truly the most boring "heart-pounding thriller" I've ever read.
July 3, 2023
The premise of this book sounds amazing - but the problem is the writing is hard to get past. The "murders" are rushed and unbelievable. Overall plot makes no sense and the pacing is rushed
June 10, 2023
Summer Rental by Rektok Ross. Thanks to the author and @onceuponatimetours for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Riley is headed to a beach party weekend with her friends, who is struggles to fit in with. The weekend takes a turn as a hurricane hits and a body shows up.
This is a great summer beach read! It is fast paced, exciting, and a very quick read. There’s some major drama with some majorly dramatic characters; many of them quite unlikeable. It unravels fast. You don’t have to wait long for the action to begin.
“A war is coming. I just hope we all make it out of this weekend alive.”
Riley is headed to a beach party weekend with her friends, who is struggles to fit in with. The weekend takes a turn as a hurricane hits and a body shows up.
This is a great summer beach read! It is fast paced, exciting, and a very quick read. There’s some major drama with some majorly dramatic characters; many of them quite unlikeable. It unravels fast. You don’t have to wait long for the action to begin.
“A war is coming. I just hope we all make it out of this weekend alive.”
June 17, 2023
I really wanted to love this one!! However, despite the fact this was under 300 pages it still felt very slow paced.
August 10, 2023
More like 2.5 stars
Literally nothing happened for the first 180 pages. It was just a lot of build up with a mediocre payoff.
Literally nothing happened for the first 180 pages. It was just a lot of build up with a mediocre payoff.
August 10, 2023
Lighten up, would you? We’re eighteen. We’re too young for anything bad to happen.
I love books, scary movies and Regina George so naturally I was excited to read a book described as “Mean Girls meets Scream.” This was a fun lil summer slasher! It definitely lives up to the description, although instead of “you can’t sit with us” mean you get a ‘we’re toxic, but stick together cause we’re rich’ kind of mean amongst the friend group. The suspense was mediocre, in my opinion, but I enjoyed reading the typical outrageous/not-so-smart decisions made when a serial killer is on the loose 😂
I’d recommend this as a palate cleanser if you read a lot of thrillers or horror.
I love books, scary movies and Regina George so naturally I was excited to read a book described as “Mean Girls meets Scream.” This was a fun lil summer slasher! It definitely lives up to the description, although instead of “you can’t sit with us” mean you get a ‘we’re toxic, but stick together cause we’re rich’ kind of mean amongst the friend group. The suspense was mediocre, in my opinion, but I enjoyed reading the typical outrageous/not-so-smart decisions made when a serial killer is on the loose 😂
I’d recommend this as a palate cleanser if you read a lot of thrillers or horror.
May 2, 2024
2.5 ; I went into this read because of the ‘Scream’ & ‘Mean Girls’ association which was the main attention grab for this book + for me, but the Scream aspect was lacking :/ I did feel bored until 70% in and the killings all happened at once I wish it was more spread out. Also the writing wasn’t my favorite at all. However, I like the setting for this book as well as the few chapters of buildup before the killings happened that did have me entertained but that’s pretty much it.
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