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Summerwork
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.
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.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 3, 2026
1.75/5
I feel like this book had potential but…
The characters in the book were one thing that I wanted more of. I had remembered I had this book on my tbr when I saw it at my library and after checking it out, I decided to not reread the summary because I thought it’d be fun to go in blind. I ended up having to read the summary 20 pages in because I had no idea where the plot was going, and it was already feeling like a really slow paced read.
I wish that the characters had more depth and the story had more tense mystery elements. It just felt like the characters were bored with each other and there wasn’t anything that pulled me in as a reader.
Overall, I was excited for a short fast paced book with a mystery and only got a short book.
I feel like this book had potential but…
The characters in the book were one thing that I wanted more of. I had remembered I had this book on my tbr when I saw it at my library and after checking it out, I decided to not reread the summary because I thought it’d be fun to go in blind. I ended up having to read the summary 20 pages in because I had no idea where the plot was going, and it was already feeling like a really slow paced read.
I wish that the characters had more depth and the story had more tense mystery elements. It just felt like the characters were bored with each other and there wasn’t anything that pulled me in as a reader.
Overall, I was excited for a short fast paced book with a mystery and only got a short book.
June 29, 2026
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.
June 20, 2026
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?"
August 19, 2026
SUMMERWORK by Carrie Mesrobian is a YA contemporary and coming-of-age novel, told in dual POV. Leo has been sent away for the summer to do landscaping work at a vacant mansion, with the hope that he’ll make enough money to cover the repair costs of the property he damaged. Connor, on the other hand, is a Rigby. Her family owns the manor, and it’s the perfect place to escape her current life before school starts up again. Yes, it’s in the middle of Minnesota, but nowhere is far enough from her deadbeat ex and her perfectionist mother. Even so, the start of summer looks like it's going to be a dismal affair. That is until Leo and Connor meet each other, and all that goes out the window. Together, they not only uncover the history of the house, but also each other’s, and for the first time in a while, it feels like everything may be okay.
What I adored about this book is how atmospheric it is. Mesrobian does a great job of establishing the setting, both the house itself and the grounds around it. She also lays out each event, so they feel significant, mysterious, and a bit golden.
It’s such a unique writing style, and certainly not one I’ve encountered before, in that there’s a lot of space in the narrative, and the reader must supply what is occurring off-the-page. That said, it still works, as the emotional beats still land. However, I would have loved to have a bit more closure in the end with some of the storylines. It drops off abruptly without a ton of answers, even though the point is: life went on.
Along those lines, one of the thematic elements I enjoyed was the idea of expectation, and how what you actually need may be different than what you imagined. That is at least the case for both Leo and Connor, which makes their summer unexpectedly eye-opening.
Overall, SUMMERWORK is a great book for anyone who wants a quick read that includes a secret relationship, surprising family lore, and a gothic backdrop.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/summerwork-2/
What I adored about this book is how atmospheric it is. Mesrobian does a great job of establishing the setting, both the house itself and the grounds around it. She also lays out each event, so they feel significant, mysterious, and a bit golden.
It’s such a unique writing style, and certainly not one I’ve encountered before, in that there’s a lot of space in the narrative, and the reader must supply what is occurring off-the-page. That said, it still works, as the emotional beats still land. However, I would have loved to have a bit more closure in the end with some of the storylines. It drops off abruptly without a ton of answers, even though the point is: life went on.
Along those lines, one of the thematic elements I enjoyed was the idea of expectation, and how what you actually need may be different than what you imagined. That is at least the case for both Leo and Connor, which makes their summer unexpectedly eye-opening.
Overall, SUMMERWORK is a great book for anyone who wants a quick read that includes a secret relationship, surprising family lore, and a gothic backdrop.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/summerwork-2/
July 4, 2026
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.
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.
June 13, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
***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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
July 4, 2026
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!
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!
August 28, 2026
Leo and Connor, two fatherless teens, connect and fall for each other at a mansion where one is working and the other is living for the summer. When human remains are discovered beneath an old fountain, they seek to find their identities. There's some insta-"romance" in this story that is not fully explained in a believable way or with a strong feeling, but readers can understand a summer fling between two teens who only have each other as same-age companions while essentially unsupervised. The alternating POV makes each character lose some potential depth, but does allow mostly their feelings about their parents to come through.
February 24, 2026
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.
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.
July 8, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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
July 17, 2026
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.
June 19, 2026
more vibes than plot but mesrobian's writing never misses and the chemistry between the two teens leaps off the page.
Read
June 22, 2026What 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.
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.
July 26, 2026
🌟🌟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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2026
It wasn't bad. but it wasn't great. It didn't really follow the description as we'll as It should have. It talks about two teens who find bones and solve the mystery of who they belong to. That happens... but not very well. They don't solve anything. The book ends very abruptly and has little to no resolution. I think if it had an extra 100 pages it would have been better.
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