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Dead of Summer: A Novel
Years after her best friend mysteriously disappeared from a remote New England island, a young woman returns in search of answers.
Orla O’Connor hasn’t been to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school a decade ago. As a teenager, her best friend Alice disappeared from its shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors. Now Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it. The island and her best friend’s empty house next door are stirring up memories she would like to avoid.
Then there are the locals, always gossiping and watching Orla’s every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new, impossibly pretty girlfriend, Faith.
Meanwhile, local Henry hasn’t left his house since Alice disappeared, in an attempt to let the accusations against him die down—except they never have. Orla’s return has shaken him, and lately he’s been seeing strange things through his telescope: shadowy figures walking on the beach in the middle of the night and a light on in an upstairs window of Alice's long-abandoned childhood home.
When another person on the island disappears, Orla, David, and Henry find themselves pulled into an eerie mystery that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Orla O’Connor hasn’t been to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school a decade ago. As a teenager, her best friend Alice disappeared from its shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors. Now Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it. The island and her best friend’s empty house next door are stirring up memories she would like to avoid.
Then there are the locals, always gossiping and watching Orla’s every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new, impossibly pretty girlfriend, Faith.
Meanwhile, local Henry hasn’t left his house since Alice disappeared, in an attempt to let the accusations against him die down—except they never have. Orla’s return has shaken him, and lately he’s been seeing strange things through his telescope: shadowy figures walking on the beach in the middle of the night and a light on in an upstairs window of Alice's long-abandoned childhood home.
When another person on the island disappears, Orla, David, and Henry find themselves pulled into an eerie mystery that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
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First published July 22, 2025
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About the author
Jessa Maxwell
3 books835 followersJessa Maxwell lives In Jamestown, RI with her husband, cats and a three-legged dog. Follow her on Instagram @jessamaxwellauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews
March 25, 2025
This is definitely a quick little popcorn thriller with a the summer atmospheric vibes. Old money, power, status, secrets. A remote island in New England? Loved all of that.
I was a bit bored at times and things felt a bit predictable to me.
A bunch of smoke and mirrors and a very thinly veiled plot. But it makes for a quick summer poolside thriller.
Expected Pub Date - 07/22/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria publishing for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.
I was a bit bored at times and things felt a bit predictable to me.
A bunch of smoke and mirrors and a very thinly veiled plot. But it makes for a quick summer poolside thriller.
Expected Pub Date - 07/22/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria publishing for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.
July 15, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
2.5 Stars
This was my first read by the author, and I wasn't overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, two and a half stars isn't a terrible book, but nothing about this thriller wowed me. This is the typical woman who comes back years after her friend disappears. While there, another disappearance occurs, so she and the creepy loner investigate. Is anyone else getting tired of this trope?
I liked the multiple points of view because they built suspense well, and the author wrote a fast-paced narrative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the island and could feel the tension between the characters. Unfortunately, as the story moves forward, the plot twists are just too clichéd and overdone. Anyone who's read a lot of thrillers will find the reveal very predictable, and most will figure it out before the end. The characters are typical, and I had a hard time feeling invested in what happened to them. The ending felt rushed and was tied up a little too neatly for my liking.
I would recommend this as a beach read, as you don't have to think too much, and the book is fairly short. I read it in a couple of sittings. Enjoyable enough for what it is, but it doesn't quite deliver the shocking suspense (an eerie and twisty mystery) its premise suggests.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
2.5 Stars
This was my first read by the author, and I wasn't overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, two and a half stars isn't a terrible book, but nothing about this thriller wowed me. This is the typical woman who comes back years after her friend disappears. While there, another disappearance occurs, so she and the creepy loner investigate. Is anyone else getting tired of this trope?
I liked the multiple points of view because they built suspense well, and the author wrote a fast-paced narrative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the island and could feel the tension between the characters. Unfortunately, as the story moves forward, the plot twists are just too clichéd and overdone. Anyone who's read a lot of thrillers will find the reveal very predictable, and most will figure it out before the end. The characters are typical, and I had a hard time feeling invested in what happened to them. The ending felt rushed and was tied up a little too neatly for my liking.
I would recommend this as a beach read, as you don't have to think too much, and the book is fairly short. I read it in a couple of sittings. Enjoyable enough for what it is, but it doesn't quite deliver the shocking suspense (an eerie and twisty mystery) its premise suggests.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 3, 2025
Vivid, immersive, and downright hypnotic, Dead of Summer brought Hadley Island to life as if I was watching it unfold on a screen. From the small town setting to the atmospheric vibe, I fell head over heels for the perfect plotting and dynamite characters. You see, while the start might be considered a slow burn, the rollout of the long-buried secrets and mysterious, dark past kept my eyes glued to the pages until a handful of reveals had me gasping with glee. With three distinct POVs leading the way, the deep sense of foreboding had me holding my breath. And when it all finally came out? Well, it was neither too much nor too little, but perfectly plausible in all of its horrifying truth.
As for the characters, they ran the gamut from unlikeable in the extreme to oddly endearing even if highly suspicious. Complete with plenty of quirky individuals who loved to gossip, the red herrings abounded in this evocative small town. Then there were the wealthy vacationers who were the epitome of rich people behaving badly. As sides were chosen and dastardly deeds were revealed, there was no end to the number of people who had my side-eyeing suspicion out in full force. After all, there was a calculating edge throughout this addictive tale. Perhaps Maxwell’s best book yet, I was won over hook, line, and sinker as the tension increased and the lies were exposed. After all, memorable is an understatement for this page-turning stunner.
All said and done, despite being somewhat predictable in terms of the twists, I couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried. Ominous and twisted, I knew something big was coming, but didn’t have a clue what it could be. Did I guess a few of the twists just a tad bit early? Well, yes…but that didn’t ruin this one even a little. After all, with a fast-paced second half and a doozy of a conclusion, everything about this one delivered in spades. The family drama was intense as were the secrets, but it was the easy flow of the novel that had me transported straight into the plot. A chilling tale of deception, manipulation, and some truly evil schemes, you have to get this book now no ifs, ands, or buts. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Orla O’Connor hasn’t been to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school a decade ago. As a teenager, her best friend Alice disappeared from its shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors.
Now, Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it. The island and her best friend’s house next door, abandoned after her family left in grief, are stirring up memories she would like to avoid. Then there are the locals, always gossiping and watching Orla’s every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new, impossibly pretty girlfriend, Faith.
Faith suspects that David is going to propose but as soon as she settles into his family’s sprawling Hadley Island estate, she feels out of place. She anticipated a luxurious summer of fun and romance, but David is never around—lured into business conversations with his entrepreneur father from dawn to dusk. With nothing else to do, Faith begins to investigate the island’s dark past, curious about what really happened to Alice all those years ago.
When there’s another disappearance on the island, they find themselves pulled into an eerie and twisty mystery that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Thank you to Jessa Maxwell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 22, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Content warning: missing person, mention of: pedophilia
As for the characters, they ran the gamut from unlikeable in the extreme to oddly endearing even if highly suspicious. Complete with plenty of quirky individuals who loved to gossip, the red herrings abounded in this evocative small town. Then there were the wealthy vacationers who were the epitome of rich people behaving badly. As sides were chosen and dastardly deeds were revealed, there was no end to the number of people who had my side-eyeing suspicion out in full force. After all, there was a calculating edge throughout this addictive tale. Perhaps Maxwell’s best book yet, I was won over hook, line, and sinker as the tension increased and the lies were exposed. After all, memorable is an understatement for this page-turning stunner.
All said and done, despite being somewhat predictable in terms of the twists, I couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried. Ominous and twisted, I knew something big was coming, but didn’t have a clue what it could be. Did I guess a few of the twists just a tad bit early? Well, yes…but that didn’t ruin this one even a little. After all, with a fast-paced second half and a doozy of a conclusion, everything about this one delivered in spades. The family drama was intense as were the secrets, but it was the easy flow of the novel that had me transported straight into the plot. A chilling tale of deception, manipulation, and some truly evil schemes, you have to get this book now no ifs, ands, or buts. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Orla O’Connor hasn’t been to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school a decade ago. As a teenager, her best friend Alice disappeared from its shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors.
Now, Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it. The island and her best friend’s house next door, abandoned after her family left in grief, are stirring up memories she would like to avoid. Then there are the locals, always gossiping and watching Orla’s every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new, impossibly pretty girlfriend, Faith.
Faith suspects that David is going to propose but as soon as she settles into his family’s sprawling Hadley Island estate, she feels out of place. She anticipated a luxurious summer of fun and romance, but David is never around—lured into business conversations with his entrepreneur father from dawn to dusk. With nothing else to do, Faith begins to investigate the island’s dark past, curious about what really happened to Alice all those years ago.
When there’s another disappearance on the island, they find themselves pulled into an eerie and twisty mystery that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Thank you to Jessa Maxwell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 22, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Content warning: missing person, mention of: pedophilia
December 14, 2025
Dead of Summer is a mysterious warm weather read told through three perspectives: Faith, Orla and Henry. Their perspectives collide over the course of one Summer on Hadley Island, off the rugged coast of New England.
Faith comes to Hadley with her new boyfriend, David, feeling like this could be a big step towards them taking their relationship to the next level.
Orla is a Hadley native, who spent many Summers palling around with David when the two were younger.
Henry is the perspective who seems the most disconnected from the circles the two women circulate in. How is he going to fit into it all? That was a big question for me.
The majority of the mystery involves a girl named Alice, who was Orla's best friend. She disappeared one Summer night a decade ago, never to be seen again.
When Orla returns to the island, to prep her childhood home for sale, the location brings back a flood of memories. She can't stop thinking about Alice and feels compelled to dig up the truth surrounding the night she disappeared.
As luck would have it, David is there for the Summer, along with his new girlfriend, Faith, and for good or bad, Orla and David end up reconnecting.
Meanwhile, Henry is sitting back, watching it all. He's surprised to see these faces from the past reappearing. It floods him with memories too; unpleasant ones.
When another teenage girl disappears, Orla, David and Henry find themselves pulled into another mystery, so similar to the one that has haunted them all for years.
Dead of Summer is one of those stories where I was really dialed in initially. I loved meeting the various perspectives and getting established in our setting of Hadley Island.
I live on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, that is a desirable Summer resort location, so I found Hadley Island, and the kind of families discussed, very relatable. I think Maxwell did a great job of developing that and creating interesting back stories for each of our main characters.
I also enjoyed the initial roll out of the mystery. Unfortunately, the further it went along, as more and more of the puzzles pieces started to fall into place, the less compelling I found it.
As the truth starts coming out, it felt like a let down. The climax wasn't as exciting as the build, because for me, the truth wasn't as high stakes as I was anticipating.
It's really hard to explain what I mean by this without spoiling anything, I just feel like the build was so good and the end was just sort of middle of the road.
With this being said though, I can often be a nit-picky bitch and I can see that this is overall a good story. This would be a great book to take on holiday, or to the beach.
It's a fairly quick read, and depending on your state of mind, this could be the perfect read for you. Jessa Maxwell has a ton of talent and I know I'll be picking up more of her work, even if this one didn't quite knock it out of the park for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it so much!
Faith comes to Hadley with her new boyfriend, David, feeling like this could be a big step towards them taking their relationship to the next level.
Orla is a Hadley native, who spent many Summers palling around with David when the two were younger.
Henry is the perspective who seems the most disconnected from the circles the two women circulate in. How is he going to fit into it all? That was a big question for me.
The majority of the mystery involves a girl named Alice, who was Orla's best friend. She disappeared one Summer night a decade ago, never to be seen again.
When Orla returns to the island, to prep her childhood home for sale, the location brings back a flood of memories. She can't stop thinking about Alice and feels compelled to dig up the truth surrounding the night she disappeared.
As luck would have it, David is there for the Summer, along with his new girlfriend, Faith, and for good or bad, Orla and David end up reconnecting.
Meanwhile, Henry is sitting back, watching it all. He's surprised to see these faces from the past reappearing. It floods him with memories too; unpleasant ones.
When another teenage girl disappears, Orla, David and Henry find themselves pulled into another mystery, so similar to the one that has haunted them all for years.
Dead of Summer is one of those stories where I was really dialed in initially. I loved meeting the various perspectives and getting established in our setting of Hadley Island.
I live on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, that is a desirable Summer resort location, so I found Hadley Island, and the kind of families discussed, very relatable. I think Maxwell did a great job of developing that and creating interesting back stories for each of our main characters.
I also enjoyed the initial roll out of the mystery. Unfortunately, the further it went along, as more and more of the puzzles pieces started to fall into place, the less compelling I found it.
As the truth starts coming out, it felt like a let down. The climax wasn't as exciting as the build, because for me, the truth wasn't as high stakes as I was anticipating.
It's really hard to explain what I mean by this without spoiling anything, I just feel like the build was so good and the end was just sort of middle of the road.
With this being said though, I can often be a nit-picky bitch and I can see that this is overall a good story. This would be a great book to take on holiday, or to the beach.
It's a fairly quick read, and depending on your state of mind, this could be the perfect read for you. Jessa Maxwell has a ton of talent and I know I'll be picking up more of her work, even if this one didn't quite knock it out of the park for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it so much!
July 25, 2025
—— 𝟑 ✰ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬. 🛥️
❝𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏, 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.❞
📖┆𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟟/𝟚𝟘/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟟/𝟚𝟜/𝟚𝟝
📃┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Years after her best friend mysteriously disappeared from a remote New England island, a young woman returns in search of answers.”」
❝𝑰𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘, 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕.❞
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★☆☆
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟼𝟶 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: ☀️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄʟᴀᴍ ᴄᴀᴋᴇꜱ & ʙᴇᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴏᴍᴀᴛᴏ ᴊᴜɪᴄᴇ 🍺
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ▶︎•၊၊||၊|။|||||။၊|။• ʟɪᴀʀ (ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴏɴᴇ) — ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ❌
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🛥️ ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ ᴘᴏᴠꜱ
🛥️ ᴘᴏᴘᴄᴏʀɴ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀꜱ
🛥️ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇɴɢʟᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🛥️ ʀɪᴄʜ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʙᴇʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴅʟʏ
⚠️TW: kidnapping, death, mention of pedophilia
❝ “𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆.” ❞
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• I really thought I was going to love this one. I was hopeful because it started out so strong, I was locked in. But it ended up being too predictable, a little cheesy, full of plot holes, and you’re left with unanswered questions.
• I think when it comes to thrillers I’ve become such a picky bitch that I’m hard to please now. I wanted to be shocked at the twists/reveals, instead I was able to guess every one of them.
• I will say this; the book does get 5 ⭐️ for the setting and for the cover. The coastal, dreary, secluded New England island was the perfect atmosphere for a summer thriller.
• The biggest issue I had was with continuity. Sometimes the names would get mixed up, the author would refer to a character the audience has already been introduced to as “the man” or “the woman.” I’m not sure if this was because it’s an ARC and didn’t get the final proofread? But it left my brain hurting wondering if I had overlooked something.
• My personal opinion would be to skip this one, but if you’re curious and want a quick thriller to read at the pool or beach, knock yourself out. It’s not a bad book, I just think there’s so many better thriller options out there right now.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
❝𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒊𝒏, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆. 𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔.❞
♡ Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Be on the lookout for Dead of Summer, hitting shelves on July 22nd 2025!
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July 23, 2025
4 solid stars! This book’s a fast read (yay!) Set on a New England island with 3 POV’s about a missing girl from some years past. While I did think it was a bit predictable at times, it was also quite entertaining and enjoyable and I thought the writing was also good, so I will keep this author on my “auto” list, as I’ve liked all three of hers that I’ve read! Also recommending as a good beach read for this summer🏖️☀️👙
July 17, 2025
I really enjoy the plot and characters of the previous two Jessa Maxwell novels. While the writing was still good in Dead of Summer, I struggled to connect with the characters this time. None were very likable, and the plot was almost too simple in a few ways. I liked the setting a lot, as it reminded me of home. But it didn't much matter who killed Alice because the family was too over-the-top, so ultimately, I wasn't rooting for anyone in particular. That said, I did immerse myself in the book and really like the author's other works.
May 19, 2025
Her best yet! Loved it. Review to come
April 27, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This novel is the second book I've read by Jessa Maxwell. The first was her debut novel, The Golden Spoon, a 5-star book for me. Obviously, I had very high expectations of this mystery thriller, as I loved everything about the author’s debut novel.
The story takes place on a secluded island in New England and follows a set of characters. There is Orla O’Connor, who is returning to the island after a very long time, and this return brings back many buried memories of her best friend’s mysterious disappearance when they were teenagers.
Then there is David, who is also bringing his girlfriend, Faith, to introduce her to his family. Faith, being fascinated with the island, will start digging into its past and the secrets that are buried about it. Henry is another character that we follow his perspective. He was once considered a suspect in Alice's disappearance. And now, since Orla is back, he feels completely unsettled about her presence.
The book has an atmospheric setting, no doubt about that. The isolated island feels eerie at times, which completely suits the main theme. The story shifts between multiple perspectives, giving the readers a better understanding of each character’s behavior and motives.
The twists and turns were enjoyable for the most part. Yes, some were predictable, but that happens, and it is OK. I think character development would have benefited from some more depth. Overall, the story is a decent mystery thriller that you might enjoy reading, but don’t expect it to be a groundbreaking one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
The Review
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This novel is the second book I've read by Jessa Maxwell. The first was her debut novel, The Golden Spoon, a 5-star book for me. Obviously, I had very high expectations of this mystery thriller, as I loved everything about the author’s debut novel.
The story takes place on a secluded island in New England and follows a set of characters. There is Orla O’Connor, who is returning to the island after a very long time, and this return brings back many buried memories of her best friend’s mysterious disappearance when they were teenagers.
Then there is David, who is also bringing his girlfriend, Faith, to introduce her to his family. Faith, being fascinated with the island, will start digging into its past and the secrets that are buried about it. Henry is another character that we follow his perspective. He was once considered a suspect in Alice's disappearance. And now, since Orla is back, he feels completely unsettled about her presence.
The book has an atmospheric setting, no doubt about that. The isolated island feels eerie at times, which completely suits the main theme. The story shifts between multiple perspectives, giving the readers a better understanding of each character’s behavior and motives.
The twists and turns were enjoyable for the most part. Yes, some were predictable, but that happens, and it is OK. I think character development would have benefited from some more depth. Overall, the story is a decent mystery thriller that you might enjoy reading, but don’t expect it to be a groundbreaking one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
The Review
August 8, 2025
I found this to be a fun and quick read. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and thought the characters were quirky and engaging. The plot and twists were intriguing. While I had a sense of how the story might develop, I still enjoyed it.
Thank you, Atria books, for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date Jul 22 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤
Thank you, Atria books, for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date Jul 22 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤
March 17, 2025
Dead of Summer had chilling, mysterious vibes! It was well written and had a clear thesis. It definitely felt like reading a suspenseful thriller! This storyline has three point of views and was an easy to read book. It gave me all the beach feels to it too, which I loved! It had me questioning what was going to happen next, which had me very entertained throughout the entire book! Even though this is a slow burn, I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a thriller summer read! I give Dead of Summer a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Jessa Maxwell, and Atria Books Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Dead of Summer is set to be published on July 22, 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Jessa Maxwell, and Atria Books Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Dead of Summer is set to be published on July 22, 2025!
July 19, 2025
I would recommend popping a copy of Dead of Summer in your beach bag for an entertaining read. This is not a shocking psychological thriller or a pulse-pounding suspenseful read, but I found that it delivers a quick puzzling kind of mystery, though I wouldn't call it a cozy one. It took a while to get there, but the storyline eventually grabbed my interest as the truth behind everyone's lies and secrets began pouring out. All the pieces of the puzzle eventually fell into place. Some of it was surprising, but most of it was not. The "bad" characters were obviously very bad people, and the "good" characters were obviously good. And as we all know, good always wins over bad.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I will be on the lookout for her next one. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I will be on the lookout for her next one. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2025
3.5 ⭐ I started with the physical, then decided to go with the audio route and it was so good. I loved the full cast narration by Mia Barron, Ferdelle Capistrano, and Tim Lounibos. They were great! I enjoyed the summer setting on a secluded New England island. It definitely gave me that creepy, mysterious vibe. The tension built up as the book progressed. The pace did lull at times but then would pick back up. I'd say this is a good popcorn thriller that had some good twists, and others that are a bit predictable, but overall it held my interest and was a fun listen while I was out for a walk.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
Orlas best friend Alice disappeared 10 years ago on Hadley Island. She returns to the island to care for her childhood home and lay ghosts to rest. Her wealthy friend David and his new girlfriend also return. Their lives collide and deadly secrets are revealed.
This was a great book that kept me guessing and I can’t wait to read her others. Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC that will be released July 22, 2025!
This was a great book that kept me guessing and I can’t wait to read her others. Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC that will be released July 22, 2025!
August 18, 2025
New to me author! This was a good story i just wasn't drawn to its characters! Mostly flat
So a hermit lives on an isolated island, due to a past event that identified him as a suspect in a missing girl's case. He's virtually cut himself from the town.
The wealthy family on the island has come for a vacation and the girlfriend is on pins and needles hoping for that engagement ring. When the boyfriend; the heir to the throne starts to act questionable, she starts to do some digging of her own.
What's boyfriend's dad hiding and who is the hermit talking to?
Thanks Atria and NetGalley for this ARC, beyond grateful and humbled! 🙏🏾🙏🏾
"Dead of summer" Out July 22nd 2025
So a hermit lives on an isolated island, due to a past event that identified him as a suspect in a missing girl's case. He's virtually cut himself from the town.
The wealthy family on the island has come for a vacation and the girlfriend is on pins and needles hoping for that engagement ring. When the boyfriend; the heir to the throne starts to act questionable, she starts to do some digging of her own.
What's boyfriend's dad hiding and who is the hermit talking to?
Thanks Atria and NetGalley for this ARC, beyond grateful and humbled! 🙏🏾🙏🏾
"Dead of summer" Out July 22nd 2025
July 21, 2025
I’m giving this a 3, and it pains me because I’ve read Jessa Maxwell’s other books and liked them, but this one just didn’t resonate with me as much. The big reveals weren’t really that surprising to me because I had already figured them out. Some of the characters are straight up bad parodies of villains.
This author is capable of a much better plot, and I still will check out her next novel in the hopes that I will like it more. As it stands, I’m just disappointed in this one.
The plot is certainly on point with current US news, though!
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
This author is capable of a much better plot, and I still will check out her next novel in the hopes that I will like it more. As it stands, I’m just disappointed in this one.
The plot is certainly on point with current US news, though!
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
September 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Captivating and Suspenseful
Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell is a gripping mystery filled with tension, secrets, and atmosphere. The story centers on a woman visiting her boyfriend’s family on a remote island—only to find herself caught in a chilling search for the truth.
Told through multiple POVs, the book keeps you hooked with solid suspense and smooth, engaging writing. I saw the twist coming, but only right before it hit, so it didn’t spoil the experience. While the ending felt a little too neat and lacked some punch, the overall story was compelling, mysterious, and hard to put down.
Perfect for fans of thrillers with family drama, eerie settings, and slow-building tension.
Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell is a gripping mystery filled with tension, secrets, and atmosphere. The story centers on a woman visiting her boyfriend’s family on a remote island—only to find herself caught in a chilling search for the truth.
Told through multiple POVs, the book keeps you hooked with solid suspense and smooth, engaging writing. I saw the twist coming, but only right before it hit, so it didn’t spoil the experience. While the ending felt a little too neat and lacked some punch, the overall story was compelling, mysterious, and hard to put down.
Perfect for fans of thrillers with family drama, eerie settings, and slow-building tension.
April 29, 2025
I will forever love a @jessamaxwellauthor book! I started this book this morning and could not put it down until I was finished. This is a fantastic atmospheric summer popcorn thriller. The different POVs and short chapters will have you flying through this one! I loved the description of the island, the isolation of the mansion and the close knit community of the village. If you are looking for a beach read this summer, I recommend picking this one up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 7/22
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 7/22
November 9, 2025
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
I was not a fan of what actually happened in the Dead of Summer 2008, but i will admit that i was very much engrossed in finding out what did actually happen; which makes for good writing, despite how initially I was unamused with Faith's rather annoying penchant for a new glamorous and exciting life with all that glitters. It's a cruel awakening when one discovers that sometimes the sparkles exist to cover up the flaws that lie beneath the surface. 😟
Some twists certainly caught me by surprise. between Faith, Orla, and Hunter's perspectives, it was hard to discern who exactly was the one I should be sympathizing with, as they revealed in tidbits parts of their true selves. Some twists were unique - my surprise, well deserved, particularly with . 😢 I was not keen, though, when it was painted in the obvious, like when .
“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
That vile man was an underdeveloped caricature of a cliche, one that lacked substance, originality, or clarity - banal with zero remorse. 🙄 I wish it had not been such a dirty little secret, because it's a tired trope that makes me feel ashamed that the human race continues to be abhorrent and deplorable. though, I was a bit conflicted on the author's attempt to redeem someone at the final hour. Maybe to show that sometimes guilt can kick in at the last minute, to show the parts of themselves that had been redeemable, but it felt entirely moot, to be honest. 🤨
The writing was compelling - until the end, where the effort to suspend disbelief kicked into high gear. It's not that the clues are coming together, but rather it's falling apart, because the author lacked the finesse to explain it coherently enough. The evidence was too improbable to convince me, and the final justice was not as satisfying as it should have been. 😕
“You can never truly escape the place you came from.”
I had been wary when I saw the low rating, but it was not the worst of times. 🤷🏻♀️ The prologue drew me in, with that hint of a suspicious danger still lurking in the shadows; and as the past players reunite at Hadley island, the mystery slowly peels back the truth that was not revealed that fateful night. It had enough intrigue and suspicious doubt buried in those carefully guarded secrets that kept me invested enough to find my way to the end, without getting too bored in the process.
“The water can trap the light and play tricks on you. When you are out in it you have no idea how deep it is. You don’t have any way to see the untold number of creatures waiting in the dark.”
I was not a fan of what actually happened in the Dead of Summer 2008, but i will admit that i was very much engrossed in finding out what did actually happen; which makes for good writing, despite how initially I was unamused with Faith's rather annoying penchant for a new glamorous and exciting life with all that glitters. It's a cruel awakening when one discovers that sometimes the sparkles exist to cover up the flaws that lie beneath the surface. 😟
Some twists certainly caught me by surprise. between Faith, Orla, and Hunter's perspectives, it was hard to discern who exactly was the one I should be sympathizing with, as they revealed in tidbits parts of their true selves. Some twists were unique - my surprise, well deserved, particularly with . 😢 I was not keen, though, when it was painted in the obvious, like when .
“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
That vile man was an underdeveloped caricature of a cliche, one that lacked substance, originality, or clarity - banal with zero remorse. 🙄 I wish it had not been such a dirty little secret, because it's a tired trope that makes me feel ashamed that the human race continues to be abhorrent and deplorable. though, I was a bit conflicted on the author's attempt to redeem someone at the final hour. Maybe to show that sometimes guilt can kick in at the last minute, to show the parts of themselves that had been redeemable, but it felt entirely moot, to be honest. 🤨
The writing was compelling - until the end, where the effort to suspend disbelief kicked into high gear. It's not that the clues are coming together, but rather it's falling apart, because the author lacked the finesse to explain it coherently enough. The evidence was too improbable to convince me, and the final justice was not as satisfying as it should have been. 😕
“You can never truly escape the place you came from.”
I had been wary when I saw the low rating, but it was not the worst of times. 🤷🏻♀️ The prologue drew me in, with that hint of a suspicious danger still lurking in the shadows; and as the past players reunite at Hadley island, the mystery slowly peels back the truth that was not revealed that fateful night. It had enough intrigue and suspicious doubt buried in those carefully guarded secrets that kept me invested enough to find my way to the end, without getting too bored in the process.
August 1, 2025
Thank you @AtriaBooks and @Netgalley for my #gifted copy of Dead of Summer. #AtriaPartner
Dead of Summer had a lot going for it—an eerie, atmospheric island and a twisty mystery surrounding a missing girl. The multiple POVs helped build suspense and kept me curious about how it would all come together. That said, I never fully connected with the story or the characters, and I kept waiting for that wow moment that just never came. Not a bad read, just not one that stuck with me.
Dead of Summer had a lot going for it—an eerie, atmospheric island and a twisty mystery surrounding a missing girl. The multiple POVs helped build suspense and kept me curious about how it would all come together. That said, I never fully connected with the story or the characters, and I kept waiting for that wow moment that just never came. Not a bad read, just not one that stuck with me.
July 31, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this title.
I love Jessa Maxwell mystery/thrillers, and this is the 2nd title I’ve read from her catalogue. Her stories are always well set up, and the narrative maintains a steady pace, following the plot that has been introduced.
Dead of Summer has the right amount of players, so you don’t get bogged down in all these characters that eventually turn out not to have anything to do with the original plot. There are no unnecessary or conflicting backstories that deflect or confuse the reader from the original premise, and the story stays on track to deliver a great ending.
The Dead of Summer focuses on two neighboring friends, Orla and Alice, who do everything together, even their love of art, and they plan to go to New York to attend college when they graduate. They can’t wait to leave Hadley Island in New England, where everyone knows everyone. However, Alice realizes that her New York dream would be a little hard to come by due to her circumstances. Orla doesn’t see this, but she notices that her friend begins to act strangely, dress differently, and pull away from her little by little.
Of course, there’s a boy …David, who’s from a wealthy family and doesn’t have the worries or concerns of Alice and Orla. Emotions and nativity can be a catastrophic combination when it comes to teenagers, and everything is in the moment. There are a few other essential players in this story. Henry, the island recluse, watches everyone from his tower. Faith, David’s girlfriend from New York, hoping for an engagement, and David’s father, Jeffrey, seemly pulling everyone's strings.
This thriller is a slow burn, building to the disappearance of Alice and the events that unfolded that night. Town gossip would reveal absolute truths as another girl goes missing and recluse Henry is once again in the center of everything.
I enjoyed the conclusion of this story and was on the edge, waiting to see what really happened, which was a little predictable. I gave this title 4.5 ✨.
I love Jessa Maxwell mystery/thrillers, and this is the 2nd title I’ve read from her catalogue. Her stories are always well set up, and the narrative maintains a steady pace, following the plot that has been introduced.
Dead of Summer has the right amount of players, so you don’t get bogged down in all these characters that eventually turn out not to have anything to do with the original plot. There are no unnecessary or conflicting backstories that deflect or confuse the reader from the original premise, and the story stays on track to deliver a great ending.
The Dead of Summer focuses on two neighboring friends, Orla and Alice, who do everything together, even their love of art, and they plan to go to New York to attend college when they graduate. They can’t wait to leave Hadley Island in New England, where everyone knows everyone. However, Alice realizes that her New York dream would be a little hard to come by due to her circumstances. Orla doesn’t see this, but she notices that her friend begins to act strangely, dress differently, and pull away from her little by little.
Of course, there’s a boy …David, who’s from a wealthy family and doesn’t have the worries or concerns of Alice and Orla. Emotions and nativity can be a catastrophic combination when it comes to teenagers, and everything is in the moment. There are a few other essential players in this story. Henry, the island recluse, watches everyone from his tower. Faith, David’s girlfriend from New York, hoping for an engagement, and David’s father, Jeffrey, seemly pulling everyone's strings.
This thriller is a slow burn, building to the disappearance of Alice and the events that unfolded that night. Town gossip would reveal absolute truths as another girl goes missing and recluse Henry is once again in the center of everything.
I enjoyed the conclusion of this story and was on the edge, waiting to see what really happened, which was a little predictable. I gave this title 4.5 ✨.
June 25, 2025
Calling all lovers of all things rich people behaving badly, secluded island settings, and anything written by Lisa Jewell or Shari Lapena - you NEED to read this book and thank me later.
Dead of Summer definitely had more of the mystery genre pacing rather than a straight up thriller, but I was so fully invested in this story and these drastically different characters that didn't even notice the slower pace. I really enjoyed the frequently shifting POV's which built so much tension toward the end that I was basically screaming at the book when a chapter would end on a character's cliffhanger, then pick back up with another character/situation in the next chapter. This was my first read by this author and will definitely not be my last, looking forward to exploring her backlist!
Dead of Summer definitely had more of the mystery genre pacing rather than a straight up thriller, but I was so fully invested in this story and these drastically different characters that didn't even notice the slower pace. I really enjoyed the frequently shifting POV's which built so much tension toward the end that I was basically screaming at the book when a chapter would end on a character's cliffhanger, then pick back up with another character/situation in the next chapter. This was my first read by this author and will definitely not be my last, looking forward to exploring her backlist!
July 13, 2025
When someone returns to their childhood home where a best friend disappeared years ago, you know there will be secrets revealed. And secrets galore in this somewhat slow burning but intense story.
Orla was best friends with Alice and they planned to go to New York together to chase a brilliant career in the art world. Alice is the most gifted one of the two, but Orla apparently made it too – although her career has ended now. Who also returns to the island is very, very rich David and his fiancée Faith. Both Orla and Alice used to have a big crush on David, so the first question is: what happened that he didn’t marry one of them? And what happened to Alice when she disappeared from the yacht of David’s father all those years ago? The whole community blamed Henry so he lives on feeling ashamed and unhappy but he cannot, for reasons we read about later, leave his house on the very, very small island next to Hadley Island.
A story with multiple layers of secrets, with strong characters and very skilfully written, it was a pleasure to read.
Thanks to Atria Books and Edelweiss for this review copy.
Orla was best friends with Alice and they planned to go to New York together to chase a brilliant career in the art world. Alice is the most gifted one of the two, but Orla apparently made it too – although her career has ended now. Who also returns to the island is very, very rich David and his fiancée Faith. Both Orla and Alice used to have a big crush on David, so the first question is: what happened that he didn’t marry one of them? And what happened to Alice when she disappeared from the yacht of David’s father all those years ago? The whole community blamed Henry so he lives on feeling ashamed and unhappy but he cannot, for reasons we read about later, leave his house on the very, very small island next to Hadley Island.
A story with multiple layers of secrets, with strong characters and very skilfully written, it was a pleasure to read.
Thanks to Atria Books and Edelweiss for this review copy.
March 13, 2025
Quick, good pacing, though a bit predictable at times. This is a solid beach read and all three POVs weave together nicely.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Dead of Summer.
I didn't like the author's first book, The Golden Spoon, but I was willing to give her second book the old college try.
The premise drew me in but it didn't hook me.
There are your standard tropes:
A rich family with a boatload(pun intended) of secrets living on a small island of locals who resent them for their entitlement and arrogance
A young woman soon to be engaged to the scion of the wealthy family who doesn't know everything about her husband-to-be
Another young woman, a local, who has resentfully returned to her island hometown.
The three POVs include Faith, the bride-to-be; Orla, a local woman who escaped the island but has now returned, and Henry, the island's local weirdo offers their perspective of the wealthy Clarke family and how they all played a part in the disappearance of Orla's best friend, Alice.
The three POVs worked in tandem with each other though the flashbacks didn't work since they didn't appear in separate chapters.
The urgency and suspense is low and the pacing drags since exposition needs to be laid out via three POVs.
I didn't like anyone, Faith was painfully naive considering her background and Orla is one of those woman who chases after a guy who doesn't return her affections.
She's also a bad friend.
The wealthy family is, naturally, despicable, but despite these tropes, the coincidence bothered me more than anything.
What are the odds Faith would end up with David considering and have Elena as a friend?
This narrative took the level of disbelief suspension up a notch I couldn't sustain including what David's terrible father was doing.
Doing that on a small island where everyone knows everybody's business?
As Kevin McCallister in Home Alone said, "I don't think so."
I didn't like the author's first book, The Golden Spoon, but I was willing to give her second book the old college try.
The premise drew me in but it didn't hook me.
There are your standard tropes:
A rich family with a boatload(pun intended) of secrets living on a small island of locals who resent them for their entitlement and arrogance
A young woman soon to be engaged to the scion of the wealthy family who doesn't know everything about her husband-to-be
Another young woman, a local, who has resentfully returned to her island hometown.
The three POVs include Faith, the bride-to-be; Orla, a local woman who escaped the island but has now returned, and Henry, the island's local weirdo offers their perspective of the wealthy Clarke family and how they all played a part in the disappearance of Orla's best friend, Alice.
The three POVs worked in tandem with each other though the flashbacks didn't work since they didn't appear in separate chapters.
The urgency and suspense is low and the pacing drags since exposition needs to be laid out via three POVs.
I didn't like anyone, Faith was painfully naive considering her background and Orla is one of those woman who chases after a guy who doesn't return her affections.
She's also a bad friend.
The wealthy family is, naturally, despicable, but despite these tropes, the coincidence bothered me more than anything.
What are the odds Faith would end up with David considering and have Elena as a friend?
This narrative took the level of disbelief suspension up a notch I couldn't sustain including what David's terrible father was doing.
Doing that on a small island where everyone knows everybody's business?
As Kevin McCallister in Home Alone said, "I don't think so."
July 22, 2025
Wellp, I didn’t love this book. It was kinda slow burn in the beginning, but still smooth reading somehow, kinda hard to explain. I really liked the characters, I thought they all had really interesting personalities and I was drawn in by that. The setting was also awesome! Quirky small island where everyone knows everyone and everything! Isolated scenery is always great for a thriller! I didn’t love the plot. I’m not sure how to articulate exactly why it wasn’t working for me but, it was just missing a lot of stuff I guess. I think this was a mid thriller for me, not bad at all but not especially exciting either. I think and I have seen, a lot of people really enjoy it though so I wouldn’t say this is a definite pass, it’s worth a try!
July 20, 2025
Dead of Summer is a fast paced thriller, forcing people on a small town island to confront their past. About 15 years ago, Alice fell off a boat and was thought to have drowned. Without a body recovered, her best friend, Orla, has never been able to let it go. As Orla returns to her hometown, the ghosts of her past begin to haunt her again.
I was able to both read and listen to this. The multi POV storytelling coupled with full cast narration really brought this story to life.
Thank you @atriabooks @AtriaThrillers and @simon.audio for my #gifted book and #audiobook via @librofm
All opinions are my own
I was able to both read and listen to this. The multi POV storytelling coupled with full cast narration really brought this story to life.
Thank you @atriabooks @AtriaThrillers and @simon.audio for my #gifted book and #audiobook via @librofm
All opinions are my own
July 23, 2025
this was just okay, quite predictable but easily binged 🤷♀️
March 27, 2025
I loved it, this is my fave book by this author and I personally feel like it’s her best work yet.
Small coastal town full of gossip, tourists and the obscenely rich who think they can get away with murder.
I loved how the chapters are split into different characters POV. For me Henry was the star of the show no question.
Perfect fast paced thriller for summer time!
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publish date - July 22nd
Small coastal town full of gossip, tourists and the obscenely rich who think they can get away with murder.
I loved how the chapters are split into different characters POV. For me Henry was the star of the show no question.
Perfect fast paced thriller for summer time!
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publish date - July 22nd
Read
November 21, 2025Ahh I wanted to love this one but unfortunately I could not get into it. I have enjoyed the other books by Jessa Maxwell and couldn’t wait to read this one so this hurts. BUT the good news is… so many others loved it so I may just have to chalk it up to wrong book at the wrong time for me! I will still buy and read books this author puts out!
happy reading 📖
happy reading 📖
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