Summerwork

by Carrie Mesrobian

Set in a single sweltering summer, the story of two traumatized teenagers picking up the pieces of their lives in the wreckage of a bizarre gothic mansion.

Seventeen-year-old Leo Arceneaux has been raised by his mother and uncle, having lost his father in a shockingly random murder when he was two. Connor Rigby is the teenage daughter of a wealthy lifestyle influencer. She has no idea who her father is. As summer begins, Leo and Connor both find themselves in a small town in rural Minnesota, living in the rundown grandiosity of Connor’s mother’s family’s estate. Rigby Mansion is a secluded gothic monstrosity that Connor’s mother is slowly renovating without ever actually being present. Leo is there as a summer landscaping laborer, working to pay off a debt to his mother and uncle, and Connor arrives shortly after, having left behind wreckage of her own and looking for a place to lie low away from her mother. 

Connor and Leo soon find themselves in an unfamiliar but intense relationship—not simply a summer romance but something that feels important and somehow tied to the combination of this particular blazing-hot summer and this weird house in the middle of nowhere. 

When an accident on the estate’s grounds reveals the bones of two long dead people, Leo and Connor become obsessed with the couple buried beneath the fountain. Neither of them can say exactly why, but they’re sure that somehow these two corpses are tied to the to whatever comes next in their lives.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a book with a summer theme and this fit. I was expecting more mystery but did enjoy the romance. The ending was very confusing. I listened to the audiobook and it ended so abruptly I thought I had missed several tracks. The mystery isn’t really explained, and I’m not sure what happens with the romance either.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there is promise here, but unfortunately this felt more like the outline to a novel than a fully fleshed-out novel. We're introduced to Leo and Connor when they both arrive to Connor's family's estate, but we only get the barest of insight into who they are. There is an air of "you're the only person here that's my age" to their romance, and the promised mystery of the corpses beneath the fountain really goes nowhere. I wish the author had taken another 150 pages to build out this story because the scenario has promise. I hate finishing a book and thinking, "that's it?"

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a sweltering summer, the story of two traumatized teenagers are picking up the pieces of their lives in the wreckage of a gothic mansion. Seventeen-year-old Leo has been raised by his mother and uncle, having lost his father in a random murder when he was two. Connor is the teenage daughter of a wealthy lifestyle influencer. She has no idea who her father is. As summer begins, Leo and Connor both find themselves in a small town in rural Minnesota, living in the rundown grandiosity of Connor's mother's family's estate. Rigby Mansion is a secluded gothic monstrosity that Connor's mother is slowly renovating without ever being present. Leo is there as a summer landscaping laborer, working to pay off a debt to his mother and uncle. Connor arrives shortly after, having left behind wreckage of her own and is looking for a place to lie low away from her mother.
Connor and Leo soon find themselves in an unfamiliar but intense relationship--not simply a summer romance but something that feels important and somehow tied to the combination of this summer and this weird house in the middle of nowhere. When an accident on the estate's grounds reveals the bones of two long dead people, Leo and Connor become obsessed with the couple buried beneath the fountain. Neither of them can say exactly why, but they're sure that somehow these two corpses are tied to the to whatever comes next in their lives.

Th author has written a teen romance with several mysteries and includes with memoirs of a grand old Minnesota mansion. I enjoyed reading te range and the mysteries of the story. This is a young adult novel.

Disclaimer: I received n arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgaey. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Megin (sharing_my_shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, you are about to read a completely different book than the one you are expecting. I would assume that may be the reason for the criticism I'm see surrounding this book.

The book blurb is not incorrect. Everything stated is true. However, it leads you to believe you are about to engage in a cryptic mystery, set in an arcane mansion. And you do. But it's certainly NOT the focus and it is NOT the vibe.

Summerwork is a quiet narrative that is atmospheric and full of summer sizzle. Two teens struggling with their pasts, find their paths cross, and fall into that all encompassing first love. Navigating one another, and all that experience entails. Overwhelmed by their need, and the building desire that pulls them together. Everything else is just a part of the backdrop. This is their love story.

Final thoughts? If you're a YA reader who enjoys romance, character focus, and sweltering summers, this will be for you.

My gratitude to Carrie Mesrobian and Penguin Young Readers Group/Dutton Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy. I am sharing my reading experience willingly.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of SUMMERWORK by Carrie Mesrobian in exchange for my honest review.***

If literary fiction for young adults is a genre, then that’s how I’d classify SUMMERWORK.

A well-written yet slow-paced slice of life, SUMMERWORK didn’t hold my interest. Usually I finish an ARC in a day, two days max. I slugged through this in a week, only finishing because NetGalley allowed me to preview this book.

I don’t think most teen readers will gravitate to SUMMERWORK or if they do that they’ll finish it, but I’m sure the book will find an audience or it wouldn’t be published.

[carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Carrie Mesrobian for the advanced copy!

We follow the dual perspectives of Leo and Connor, two young teens caught up in a web of mysteries in the Rigby Mansion estate. Leo Arceneaux is sent to work at the estate to financially make up for his father's wrecked vehicle, while Connor Rigby is staying at her mother's estate.

Unfortunately, I don't think this novel was for me. The pacing of the story was off at times, and I couldn't connect with their character enough due to the lack of insight behind each one.

Perhaps if you enjoy a book on young love or a summer romance, this might be geared towards you!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit - I felt sucked in to the story and the mood.

I feel like Carrie Mesrobian really captured the feelings of being a teenager and liking someone new, and the wonder of getting to know them and having them like you back. I really enjoyed her writing, not just the characters but also the setting and the estate. I enjoyed finding out alongside Leo and Connor more about Connor's life and history.

This was the second book I've read by Carrie Mesrobian and I will definitely read more in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Penguin Young Readers Group/ Dutton Books for Young Readers, for the advance reader copy.

This is a short book which talks about a girl and a boy meeting under unexpected circumstances.

It is their story of having small talks, sharing whatever they want with each other and have some of the best moments together.

The writing is very accessible.

However, I feel like the story was going nowhere and it happens to be a slice-of-life kind of read.

It is a very summer vacation young love first experiences kind of short read.

[Jessicca Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summerwork is a thoughtful and engaging read that stayed with me after I finished it. The characters felt authentic, the atmosphere was immersive, and the emotional journey was handled with care. I appreciated how the story balanced mystery, relationships, and personal growth in a way that kept me invested throughout. It's a memorable novel that I would recommend to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary fiction with depth.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing the copy of Summerwork by Carrie Mesrobian. I loved the idea of the story but the writing style was not for me because it felt stilted and disjointed. This is a teen/YA book, so maybe younger readers will not be as bothered by it as I was. 3 stars

[Adelaide George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have so many questions about like everything. The book ended so abruptly with little to no resolution surrounding the romance and mystery although the latter is barely present throughout the story. Despite my lingering questions and the fact that I feel this book doesn’t really have a plot, I did enjoy it. The vibes were good and sometimes that’s all that matters.

[Clementine · Rating 5 out of 5]

more vibes than plot but mesrobian's writing never misses and the chemistry between the two teens leaps off the page.

[caffeinated_reads3]

What did I just read? This seemed rather adult to be categorized as YA. If you want to make this YA because the two main characters are in high school? Sure. However, the romance and yearning for one another was just a huge turn off for me as a reader. When the description for this book says "intense" they probably mean that it's highly hormonal and that's all this directs to. The mystery part was not very mysterious and does not play a huge role in the book. In fact, I would probably would have been perfectly fine without it.

Not the book for this reader.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Dutton Books for Young Readers for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

[Bengy Jake Speer · Rating 2 out of 5]

🌟🌟Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers Penguin Young Readers, and Carrie Mesrobian for allowing me to read and review Summerwork.

The first thing that drew me to this book was its beautiful cover. It feels almost lyrical, bringing to mind memories of summers long gone, golden fields of wheat and sunflowers beneath darkening skies. There is both beauty and unease in that image, which reflects the tone of the story well. Unfortunately, the narrative itself did not quite live up to the promise of its exterior.

Set during a single sweltering summer in rural Minnesota, Summerwork follows Leo Arceneaux and Connor Rigby, two teenagers dealing with loss, identity, and fractured family histories. The story is set around Rigby Mansion, a decaying gothic estate that provides a strong and atmospheric backdrop. The oppressive summer heat, the isolated setting, and the presence of the mansion combine to create a vivid gothic tone. The landscape descriptions are truly amazing, richly drawn, and add a constant sense of tension and isolation throughout the novel.

However, the storytelling itself was a significant struggle for me from the very beginning. The opening chapter, "Dislocation," sets a sense of mystery, but it quickly devolved into a narrative I had to repeatedly pick up and put down. I found myself scratching my head through most of the book because I simply could not understand the key components of the plot and what would trigger Leo's journey to finding out after years of his father being murdered. I forced myself to finish the book out of respect for the publishers and author, but I wanted to defer the book so many times because the entire story felt patchy.

The book ultimately falls short because it leaves too many loose parts and lacks the necessary emotional depth. Instead of properly addressing the psychological and physical impacts of Connor’s recent abortion, the narrative just has her having sex constantly. It made her character feel completely emotionally stunted, as if she simply didn’t care about the trauma, which felt incredibly hollow. Furthermore, the central mystery of the human remains discovered beneath the fountain is left with absolutely no conclusion, and the father-daughter storyline is never properly resolved.

Summerwork could have been an amazing story if it had been put together correctly with the right emotional weight. While it shines in its atmospheric descriptions, it lacks the key connective tissue needed to tie the plot together. It is a visually stunning but frustratingly fragmented read that unfortunately misses the mark.