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What Happened That Summer
Not yet published
Expected 3 Jan 26You think you know what happened that day… But what if you’re wrong?
Everyone remembers where they were when they heard that AJ Silver had died. In summer 1996, there was no avoiding the story that America's biggest teen pop sensation had plunged to his death on a rollercoaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England.
Now, 27 years have passed, and – even if you’re too young to remember the event – you’ve probably heard AJ Silver's songs topping the charts again. So what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?
I’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing everyone who was there that fateful day: workers, friends, family… the people who gained from his death, and the people who lost everything.
But you’re going to want to pay attention. Because I’ve found out a secret. One you’re all going to want to know… Perhaps it wasn’t such an accident after all?
Everyone remembers where they were when they heard that AJ Silver had died. In summer 1996, there was no avoiding the story that America's biggest teen pop sensation had plunged to his death on a rollercoaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England.
Now, 27 years have passed, and – even if you’re too young to remember the event – you’ve probably heard AJ Silver's songs topping the charts again. So what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?
I’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing everyone who was there that fateful day: workers, friends, family… the people who gained from his death, and the people who lost everything.
But you’re going to want to pay attention. Because I’ve found out a secret. One you’re all going to want to know… Perhaps it wasn’t such an accident after all?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 3, 2026
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 9, 2025
Thanks to Laura for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I am never not going to love a book by Laura, and I was thrilled when she sent me this copy. I don't want to come across corny but Laura is my favourite author and having met her, I can promise she is a lovely woman. It's not common to like every single book one author writes, some will inevitably be stronger than others. But I have now read eight of hers (with two more on the shelf) and thy are all as perfect as the one before and the one after.
It's a different angle than she normally writes, more of a thriller than the speculative fiction I'm used, which could have been a bad move but her writing ability ensures it's as fabulous as ever, and I'm interested to see what other angles she might pursue in the future.
I was concerned at first because there's only about eight chapters across nearly 300 pages, which is about 35 pages a chapter, and I reallllllly don't like long chapters. But because this is written in a script format, a podcast script format, with each chapter a new episode, it really whizzed by and I'm not sure shed have got to the heart of the story as easily if she'd written it as a normal narrative. This throws us straight in and gives us a personal perspective and holds our attention to the end.
It is full of twists and turns and shocks, but they don't feel overwhelming or too unbelievable, with one or two I couldn't have predicted.
I made the mistake of starting it in bed late one night, thinking I'd just read a few pages, but I was coming up halfway before I could bear to part with it. But then I had such a bad night and hardly slept so I returned to it and finished it in the early hours. So I may have been cranky that following morning but boy was it worh with.
We don't get to know the characters as an outsider - like a normal narrative would introduce and describe the characters - but because this is a podcast recording, we don't get that chance to read a physical description. Instead we get to know who they are as people, their likes and dislikes and ambitions. It gets us closer to them. And whilst some are nicer people than others, some goodies and baddies, they are all so distinct, so well written that they become familiar to you and after the first chapter I really felt I knew who they all were, their voices were so clear.
When a story is told over one day or something like that - I know this is technically over a few weeks because it's a podcast series, but it had the same feeling as something written over a short period of time - it can have a tendency to be slow or drawn out and uninspiring. But it felt right. Telling the story in retrospect I think has a stronger impact than if it was told in the usual way.
I could see this as a TV series. Not necessarily in the podcast form, but the actual content of what happened, I could easily see on screen.
Did I like this new angle she's chosen? Yes I did. If I'm completely honest, I prefer her speculative type novels, the ones with a little bit of magic and fantasy about them because that's just the genre I like, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is another five star read.
I am never not going to love a book by Laura, and I was thrilled when she sent me this copy. I don't want to come across corny but Laura is my favourite author and having met her, I can promise she is a lovely woman. It's not common to like every single book one author writes, some will inevitably be stronger than others. But I have now read eight of hers (with two more on the shelf) and thy are all as perfect as the one before and the one after.
It's a different angle than she normally writes, more of a thriller than the speculative fiction I'm used, which could have been a bad move but her writing ability ensures it's as fabulous as ever, and I'm interested to see what other angles she might pursue in the future.
I was concerned at first because there's only about eight chapters across nearly 300 pages, which is about 35 pages a chapter, and I reallllllly don't like long chapters. But because this is written in a script format, a podcast script format, with each chapter a new episode, it really whizzed by and I'm not sure shed have got to the heart of the story as easily if she'd written it as a normal narrative. This throws us straight in and gives us a personal perspective and holds our attention to the end.
It is full of twists and turns and shocks, but they don't feel overwhelming or too unbelievable, with one or two I couldn't have predicted.
I made the mistake of starting it in bed late one night, thinking I'd just read a few pages, but I was coming up halfway before I could bear to part with it. But then I had such a bad night and hardly slept so I returned to it and finished it in the early hours. So I may have been cranky that following morning but boy was it worh with.
We don't get to know the characters as an outsider - like a normal narrative would introduce and describe the characters - but because this is a podcast recording, we don't get that chance to read a physical description. Instead we get to know who they are as people, their likes and dislikes and ambitions. It gets us closer to them. And whilst some are nicer people than others, some goodies and baddies, they are all so distinct, so well written that they become familiar to you and after the first chapter I really felt I knew who they all were, their voices were so clear.
When a story is told over one day or something like that - I know this is technically over a few weeks because it's a podcast series, but it had the same feeling as something written over a short period of time - it can have a tendency to be slow or drawn out and uninspiring. But it felt right. Telling the story in retrospect I think has a stronger impact than if it was told in the usual way.
I could see this as a TV series. Not necessarily in the podcast form, but the actual content of what happened, I could easily see on screen.
Did I like this new angle she's chosen? Yes I did. If I'm completely honest, I prefer her speculative type novels, the ones with a little bit of magic and fantasy about them because that's just the genre I like, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is another five star read.
November 24, 2025
A book with only 8 chapters that is not a novella was daunting as long chapters are not the most enjoyable ones! However this book is in podcast interview format and each chapter represents a podcast episode. This was the first time I’ve actually read a book in this format. Previously I have specifically had the audiobook versions of books to get the podcast experience and I’m pleased to say I was not disappointed in the reading of this book.
The story, set in a theme park, with a world renowned pop star shutting it down for 6 weeks whilst he runs amok inside, may seem be a bit far fetched, but it follows a storyline that makes the scenario realistic and believable.
Laura Pearson gives us the opportunity to get to know each character intellectually and emotionally. They were all fully formed characters with strong opinions, beliefs and experiences that rang true to the person they were bought in to be.
A great read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for review.
The story, set in a theme park, with a world renowned pop star shutting it down for 6 weeks whilst he runs amok inside, may seem be a bit far fetched, but it follows a storyline that makes the scenario realistic and believable.
Laura Pearson gives us the opportunity to get to know each character intellectually and emotionally. They were all fully formed characters with strong opinions, beliefs and experiences that rang true to the person they were bought in to be.
A great read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for review.
November 21, 2025
Review of ‘What Happened That Summer’ by Laura Pearson, due to be published on 3 January 2026 by Boldwood Books.
A story told in 8 chapters, in the style of a podcast. Host, Danny Drake, a 1990s obsessive, revisits the death of pop megastar, A J Silver who was killed on a rollercoaster in 1996.
The podcast has a host of characters who were involved with the tragedy - the theme park owners and their family, the family and entourage of the pop star.
What can I say, other than…..Wow!
As a fan of Laura, this is unlike any other book she has written, and completely blew me away. I devoured every page, was completely invested in the characters and was stunned by the ending.
If you read one book next year - make it this one - you won’t regret it!
A story told in 8 chapters, in the style of a podcast. Host, Danny Drake, a 1990s obsessive, revisits the death of pop megastar, A J Silver who was killed on a rollercoaster in 1996.
The podcast has a host of characters who were involved with the tragedy - the theme park owners and their family, the family and entourage of the pop star.
What can I say, other than…..Wow!
As a fan of Laura, this is unlike any other book she has written, and completely blew me away. I devoured every page, was completely invested in the characters and was stunned by the ending.
If you read one book next year - make it this one - you won’t regret it!
November 23, 2025
Loved this book and read it in one sitting! It's the story of the death of AJ Silver who died at a theme park back into 1990's. He was an incredibly famous pop star and known all over the world and his death was shocking as he was just 17
The story is told in just 8 chapters in the style of a podcast which is hosted by Danny Drake and he revisits the death of AJ, including interviews of all those involved. I could see this made into a film or TV series as it was all so believable
The story is told in just 8 chapters in the style of a podcast which is hosted by Danny Drake and he revisits the death of AJ, including interviews of all those involved. I could see this made into a film or TV series as it was all so believable
November 24, 2025
I feel that this would be better as an audiobook as there are similar books out there that do work better in that format. I found the whole thing a bit slow and I figured out the ending part way through which meant that I didn’t get the shock factor that I think the author was going for. It was an alright book but now one I would rave about.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews