The Lake Club

by Lina Patton

"Juicy and tense, insanely readable and surprisingly tender—you need this one in your beach bag." —CAROLA LOVERING, bestselling author of Tell Me Lies

A sizzling, soapy summer debut, in which two women in a wealthy lakeside suburb clash over a cute male nanny, pulling the town’s darker secrets to the surface.

DRAMA LOVES A DEEP END

When Danika Crawley attends events at the Aldon Lakes Country Club, heads turn. Danika has it all—beauty, money, a successful husband, and two perfect children. She plans on making this summer her best season yet and has a secret weapon to secure the envy of her neighbors.

Augie Elling has lost it all. Reeling from a post-grad scandal amidst her now-former life in New York, she returns to Aldon Lakes with her tail between her legs. Augie wants to keep her head down, save money, and find a way to leave her hometown for good, but someone keeps distracting her.

Danika and Augie have one thing in they are both a little obsessed with Chat, the male nanny Danika hired for the summer. But, unbeknownst to either woman, Chat’s appearance in town sets off a chain reaction that threatens Aldon Lakes' carefully maintained ecosystem. As the heat rises between the three of them, the truth behind a long-buried scandal comes to light, and everyone at the club must reckon with the consequences.

The Lake Club is both an addictive, rollicking beach read, and a stylish, deft exploration of a lesser-known region of American wealth.

"The ultimate summer escape. Stylish, smart, and utterly unputdownable." —GEORGIA CLARK, author of Play It Again

Genres: Fiction, Summer, Thriller, Audiobook, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Mystery

Audible Audio

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Lina Patton is a writer, illustrator, and teacher. Originally from Maine, she moved to Minnesota at thirteen, trading the ocean for 10,000 lakes. She holds a BA from Elon University and an MFA from George Mason University. Her work has appeared in ELLE, The Cut, Narrative Magazine, and Driftwood Press, among others. After seven years living abroad, she and her husband currently reside in Washington, DC, with their two very good, very bad dogs. The Lake Club is her first novel.

Reviews

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scandalous. Soapy. Summery.

Holy character overload. I spent about the first 50% of the book trying to remember all the names and get everyone straight. I got them memorized just in time for all the drama to ensue...and trust me there is no shortage there! This one reminded me of Lianne Moriarty with a splash of Desperate Housewives. Perfect for a beach/pool read if you like a slower pace.

Read this one if you like:
•Slow burns
•Upper crust settings
•Large casts of intertwined characters
•Debuts

Thank you to Harper Audio & NetGalley for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review. 2.75 ⭐️

Publishing June 16, 2026

[Bianca | bookd_by_bee 🐝 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperAudio Adult for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars ⭐️

You know when John Mayer said “You’re like twenty-two girls in one. And none of them know what they’re running from” in his song Paper Doll? Well this book was like twenty-two stories in one and none of them knew what the point of the story was 🥴.

This story had ALLL the ingredients of a summer thriller: picturesque location ✅, misbehaved rich people ✅, and unreliable narrators ✅, Gang’s all here for a fun story! Or not. This wasn’t a slow burn, it was a NO BURN 🚫🔥. This story never took off for me. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but they never did. It was billed as a sort of fatal attraction/obsession situation between Augie, Chat, and Danika, but that barely played out at all. It seemed like the two women were more obsessed with each other than anything. Augie’s secret backstory that she obsessed about for most of the book? Completely irrelevant to the plot of the story. There was seriously no need for the flashback chapters. There were too many side stories that didn’t connect or weren’t really relevant, and I was distracted by that for the majority of the story. I also spent most of the book thinking the narrators were pronouncing Chat’s name wrong and it was meant to be Chad, because WHY is someone named CHAT? Or Joshua Mike for that matter?

The narrators were fine (Eileen Steven’s and Teri Schnaubelt). I had high hopes for this one, but it wasn’t for me. Shame. The premise is really good.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a minute for me to get into, but boy that ending! Originally this was going to be a 3 🌟, however, the way the author pulled everything togeeat the end was too good. I went from hating the characters to finally understanding them! This was definitely a drama filled novel though, lol.

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minus the author making it seem like being 32 is almost one foot in the grave and your life is over (I made that particular character at least 42 in my head since she’s divorced, and remarried with 2 kids lol) I had a good time with this. It’s pretty low on plot, but it reads exactly like a Real Housewives episode. Just messy rich people.

Check out my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️
2/5

I didn’t enjoy this one. Reasons why:
1. There were too many characters. I spent so much time trying to remember who everyone was.
2. There were too many side plots. They weren’t needed but also the very complicated ending wouldn’t have made sense without these many many many many side plots.
3. Chat. That’s not a name.
4. I couldn’t figure out what genre this was trying to be.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Lina Patton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Heidi Zuva]

Rich people being messy, set against summer vibes? I'll read.👀🤣

Premise - Danika is a woman who has it all. Augie is a woman who lost it all. They're both living in the wealthy lakeside suburb of Aldon Lakes and they're both obsessed (vows not withstanding) with Chat, Danika's kids' nanny. Ka-boom.

Okay, there were a few things that didn't come through for me in the book jacket copy.

First, Augie isn't Danika's peer, but an early 20s woman working at the club.

Second, Augie and Chat are the only ones having a sneaky link. Danika isn't trying to cheat on her husband with Chat. She likes being desired, sure, and doesn't mind if he notices she's hot, but not really any more than she wants *everyone* of all genders, ages, contexts to desire her.

I was expecting 'The Graduate' meets 'Beef,' whereas this story has more of an Erin Hilderbrand novel vibe. Not a bad thing, she's a mega bestseller! It's just not the book I expected, so (in case anyone read the premise the way I did) clarifying.😅

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Teri Schnaubelt and Eileen Stevens. They were well suited to the story, giving (again) Hilderbrand vibes. It's a cozy beach listen for sure, but more of a chill women's fic pick than a White Lotus clutch-your-pearls.

Thanks, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sowmya Viswanathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I expected this to be a fluffy palate cleanser between more serious books—boy, was I wrong. This book has it all—a voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of wealthy suburbanites, romance, unsolved mysteries, and much more. The characters were well developed (although I would have enjoyed more background on characters such as Teuta and Leah). And I never would have guessed the insane plot twist—did not see that one coming. It’s giving midwestern lake community White Lotus vibes.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's just something about reading rich people's messiness and drama in the summertime that brings me such joy. While this was just an okay read for me I still completely ate it up.

[Kayda Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the setting of this one, I just really struggled to stay entertained. Don’t get me wrong, the wealthy suburban country club drama was definitely there, it just didn’t feel high stakes at all to me. I couldn’t find any connection with the set of characters, so I lacked investment. It felt very slow up until the end. I thought the flashback New York plot was going somewhere much more intense than it did.

I originally requested because it said for fans of Tell Me Lies, but I unfortunately didn’t get that connection. Overall, this was not bad by any means…I think this wasn’t for me, but I can see how this would appeal to many who like these kinds of books.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and the author for the advanced eARC!

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved how packed full of drama this book was. A feisty look at suburban life with all its drama and secrets, I couldn’t put it down! Each character was so fascinating and I could relate to different quirks of each one. Loved the male nanny aka manny Chat and how Augie and Danika are both obsessed with him. Augie was a very likeable character and I was really rooting for her. This book has plenty of scandal and shocking twists between the 3 main characters. An ideal summer read, I will be reading this one again and again simply because the drama is so juicy! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[katerinaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

╚»★«╝ ℛ𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 of 'The Lake Club' ╚»★«╝
➴ 4.5 (rounded up)

❛❛ But you never got to mourn the previous versions of yourself—they simply disappeared. You never knew the last time a stranger would hit on you, the last time you’d kiss someone who was not your husband, the last day you were not a mom. It made Danika sick how quickly you could slip
into a brand-new life, a brand-new self, even one you’d been chasing.” ❜❜.

ⓘ review may some contain spoilers

╰┈➤ 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 & 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆
Danika Crawley has the perfect life; money, a rich husband, two beautiful kids and a big house. Augie on the other hand has lost it all, her job, her dreams... she starts working at the Aldon Lakes Country Club in the wealthy suburbs of Minessota to gather some money. only one thing is common between the two women; they are both obsessed with Chat, Danikas' kids male nanny she hired for the summer. except Chat's not just here to watch over the kids... he is trying to piece together the past and uncover secrets...

⤹ this book was a very nice surprice! i liked the premise and the plot was really nicely executed. i mean who would say no to a bunch of rich rich people drowning in secrets? the book is super fast paced, featuring almost all of the main characters' POVs and a beautiful setting.
⤹ Lina Patton’s writing style is immaculate, considering also the fact that this is her debut novel. every chapter is purposefully written, the summer vibes are top tier and her characters are two dimensional and have depth.
⤹ this book manages to combine a fully fleshed-out mystery along with a juicy romance and a looooot of dramatic secrets creating a fascinating read that i became addicted to. but, now that i think of the mystery again, i would have preferred for some of the clues to make an appearance earlier in the book. in that way, readers would have had more chances to figure out the truth. a lot of reveals were in the final 70-80% and therefore made it hard for the reader to piece together what exactly happened.

╰┈➤ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒌𝒂
from the start and until the middle of the book i despised Danika. after the big reveals though, i felt a lot of sympathy towards her. her life although perfect on the outside was very lonely in reality. she struggled to maintain her perfect facade and tried her best to fit in this pretentious and pompous society. balancing motherhood and her job responsibilities made her drained, distant and forced her to seek an escape in alcohol. i feel nauseous even thinking about how isolated she actually lived, forced to play pretend in her own household.

𝑨𝒖𝒈𝒊𝒆
Augie was also a troubled character. her irrational choices and reckless decisions forced her to deal with a harsh aftermath. she struggled to accept the reality of her new life and mourned her past self. her dedication to overcome her problems was often outbalanced by her reckless nature… she tried to make the most out of her youth but always felt like she was failing. i think that a lot of her problems would have been solved or made easier if she actually confronted her feelings and considered more carefully the consequences of her various choices. still, i appreciate the way Lina Patton wrote her character and the fact that she made Augie feel very real, far from perfect.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒕
Chat had a vert sweet soul and was a likeable character. he was a total golden retriever! easy-going and chill, he added a freshness to the story, mainly because he didn’t suppress his feelings or thoughts. he was always open, pursuing everything he wanted and never second guessing anything. this strait-forward demeanour really moved the story. i felt deeply connected with him and maybe became a tad obsessed with him too 🫣

𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
the side characters really served a purpose here; they highlighted the snob and pretentious atmosphere of the club, the greed that comes with money and the loss of values. every single person was despicable, mainly because they tried hard to look unapproachable and distinguish themselves from the others using their wealth. Lina Patton describes the toxic environment, the fake friendships and the ruthless gossip with an incredible sincerity and everyone, from Joshua Mike to Wyatt Greene to Teuta, are characters with depth and dimension.

╰┈➤ 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
‘The Lake Club’ was a very unexpected surprise! the drama, the mystery and the romance were all equally balanced, making the book easy to read and enjoyable. Lina Patton wrote a stunning debut and has me sat for more of her books!


────୨ৎ────
xoxo 💋 Κ

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lake Club is exactly the kind of juicy, addictive summer read that begs to be packed in a beach bag or tossed into a pool tote. Lina Patton leans fully into the glossy drama, messy relationships, and suburban scandal in a way that feels delightfully soapy without ever taking itself too seriously. From the wealthy country club setting to the simmering gossip and secrets hiding beneath polished exteriors, this was the definition of a breezy page turner. The Midwest lakeside backdrop also gave the story a fun twist that helped it stand out from the typical coastal summer drama vibe.

The story follows Danika and Augie, two women whose lives become tangled through the arrival of Chat, the attractive male nanny at the center of the town’s growing obsession. The characters themselves are deeply flawed, often frustrating, and not necessarily likable in the traditional sense—but honestly, that’s part of the fun. Watching rich people make messy decisions, stir up drama, and unravel long buried scandals made this incredibly entertaining. The light mystery element added just enough intrigue to keep the pages flying while the fast pacing made it dangerously easy to read in one sitting.

What worked especially well was how readable and compulsively entertaining the entire book felt. It’s frothy and dramatic in the best possible way, balancing gossip filled fun with enough tension and secrets to stay engaging throughout. If you love stories packed with wealthy suburban chaos, complicated women, simmering scandals, and country club drama, this one absolutely delivers. Perfect for fans of escapist summer fiction that’s equal parts glamorous, messy, and impossible to put down.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 70%

This had the potential to be a good thriller but sadly the story never had an element of suspense or surprise that made me want to keep reading. The story dragged on and nothing happened.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this in exchange for an honest review.

[Alecia (aleciareadsitall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danika, wife, mom of two, and member of the Club puts on a good front, but she has many secrets hiding behind her smile. Augie is back home in Minnesota working at the Club after a failed attempt in marketing in NYC. The two clash over the course of a summer, specifically over Danika’s male nanny.

A juicy summer drama filled with toxic characters and their bad behavior, The Lake Club is an addictive thriller perfect for a reading session by the water. It reads like a soap opera with lots of secrets and lies and past mistakes coming back to bite people.

There were a lot of characters to keep track of and honestly I did not like a single one of them. With that being said, I definitely ate this one up and found it really hard to put down. I love the rich people behaving badly trope and this one fits the bill.

Recommend for lovers of soapy summer drama and country club secrets and antics.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.75 Stars
Dive in for some fresh, messy summer vibes that are also having me think of We Were Liars meeting The Real Housewives of Orange County vibes 😱 with all the secrets, scandals, and messy family drama. It took me a little while to keep everyone straight, but once the drama started unfolding, I was hooked. If you're looking for a juicy summer read packed with wealthy families, long-buried secrets, and plenty of gossip, this one is worth checking out.

Tropes/Themes:
☀️ Summer read
🏡 Wealthy lakeside community
🤫 Family secrets
💰 Wealth & privilege
👥 Large cast of characters
🎭 Multiple POVs
🔥 Scandal & gossip
🕵️ Mystery
🌊 Lake setting

*Thank you to Lina Patton, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.*

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun one for the summer, full of the drama of rich people behaving badly.

There is some light suspense and I was expecting a bit more, but it was still fun to follow.

It is definitely mismarketed as a thriller. I wouldn’t call this a thriller at all. We have Augie, a post grad student working at a lake house for the summer and Danika, a bored housewife who are both into the same man. I almost couldn’t buy into it solely because his name was Chat.

Overall, it was a drama about rich people doing bad rich people things, not a thriller, but a fun summer read.

[Larissa Canassa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 STARS

It was actually good written and an interesting theme but I wasn’t invested for like, 80%… overall it was a mid read 😚

[gottalottie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is tagged as a thriller, it isn’t even intriguing

[Sofia Guerino]

yeah DNF at 28%. How come I’m 1/3 in and just bored. Wanted to put up with it but eh

[Mostly Bookish Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

​A salacious, fast-paced summer drama that pulls you right under!

​The Lake Club was the absolute perfect kick-off to my summer reading list. We dive into the story through the dueling POVs of Augie and Danika two women returning to the Aldon Lakes Country Club for the summer—interspersed with some highly mysterious, gripping commentary.

​While the country club is supposed to be a happy place to show off, it's actually hiding a massive web of secrets, scandals, and lost loves. The pacing is incredibly fast, and I was completely hooked watching the true nature of these women's relationships to the club unravel. Also, let's be honest... I think we all fell for Chat, the male nanny, just a little bit! 😍

​Highly recommend if you want an addictive, dishy read to stick in your beach bag.

​Read this if you like:
💰 Rich people behaving badly
💋 Country club scandals & neighborhood secrets
🕵️‍♀️ Dueling perspectives & mysterious interludes
💚 Messy summer entanglements (and hot male nannies)

[Kelsie Gilkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lake Club
Publication date: June 16, 2026

Lake Club takes place in a posh Minnesota town, Aldon Lakes, where the rich enjoy country clubs, golfing, and extravagant dinner parties. One Aldon Lakes resident, Danika hires a male nanny, Chat, to care for her children over the summer. Quickly, it becomes clear that Danika has hired this specific nanny for a reason and she doesn’t want anyone to know why. Another Aldon Lakes resident, Augie, a newly graduated 22 year old, is home for the summer after a scandal caused her to lose her first big city post-grad job. Soon, Augie returns to her high school job at the country club and runs into Chat, whom she is shocked to see after they had a fling the previous summer. Danika makes it known that she dislikes Augie and doesn’t want Chat around her. But why?
I enjoyed this book and am rating it 3 stars although I’d probably put it closer to 3.5.
I found the setting to be fun and unique, mostly taking place within the country club and the homes of the rich. There were a lot of unlikeable characters in the book which made it fun to read but hard to connect with most of the characters, although some had redeeming moments in the end.
The relationship between Augie and Chat felt forced to me, minimal chemistry between the two, although it helped drive the plot. I also felt some of the dialogue between characters was cringey at times.
Besides that, I think the plot was really interesting and new. It felt like a low-ish stakes thriller in some ways. I think it would be fun to read by the pool in the summer!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

[Madyson Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danika is just getting back into home design thanks to her husband, and is excited for everyone at the Lake Club to see Chat. Her new “Manny” as they call him, is now here to help Danika take care of her two kids. He is young, and handsome and she is excited for everyone at the club to start talking about him.

Augie left last year to go to New York to work. This failed miserably and she is now back working at the Lake Club for her sixth year, Augie also knows Chat, who was a hookup last year that she wants to forget about.

As they both become more obsessed with Chat, tensions start to arise and cause problems. Secrets start coming out.

This felt like reading a thriller, and watching gossip girl at the same time. I was loving it, i flew through this book and honestly was exited to keep picking it up. Definitely recommend to thriller and drama lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for sending me an Arc to read and review!

[DeAnn✨deannsreadingriot✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @harpercollins for the gifted audiobook...this is my honest review.

📖 The Lake Club
✍️ Lina Patton
🗓️ June, 16 2026 | @harpercollins
🎧 9 hrs 13 min | 🗣️ Teri Schnaubelt | Eileen Stevens
🫆Genre Fiction | Suspense
📘 Book cover 👩‍🍳💋

✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
☀️ Summer Read
💰 Rich folk behaving badly
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Family drama
🌊 Atmospheric
📍Minnesota Nice

🫖 THE TEA
A wealthy lakeside town gets turned upside down when two very different women clash over the new summer male nanny. The fallout digs up a dark town secret, forcing a whole community to deal with the consequences.

💭 MY THOUGHTS
Full disclosure, I started this one before its release date and ended up putting it down because I just wasn’t in the right headspace. Too much on my mind and it didn’t initially pull me in. It builds, and the characters are definitely not trying to win any popularity contests and the vibe was off initially. This is less of a heart pounding thriller and much more of a suspenseful family drama. However, on my 2nd attempt I was in the zone and even though I didn’t want to be best friends with anyone in the story, I still enjoyed it. The atmospheric writing and imagery were great, and I loved the MN shoutouts.

🎧 AUDIO THOUGHTS 💭
I listened to this one, and while the audiobook would be my pick, you could easily read the physical copy and still enjoy it through any format. The narrators did a great job, bringing the characters to life.

⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 3.25🌟
Oh the drama! This book won’t be for everyone. This is the perfect pick if you are in the mood for wealthy people behaving badly against a summer lake club backdrop. I spent the whole book hovering between three and four stars because while l liked it, it didn’t quite hit the love category for me. After all that messiness, the ending felt a bit too sweet for me to round up to 4 stars.

It’s a yes for me! 🖤
DeAnn | @deannsreadingriot

#TheLakeClub #SummerReads #BookReview #Bookstagram #SuspensefulReads

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the summer drama, y’all! Set in an affluent community near Lake Minnetonka and centered around the country club set, The Lake Club primarily tells the stories of Danika Crawley, a thirty-something wife and mother of two, and Augie Elling, a young, twenty-something-year-old woman taking shifts (again) at a Minnesotan country club after abruptly exiting an advertising job in NYC.

Told through Danika’s and Augie’s POVs, along with a third unnamed perspective that is revealed at the end, the two women’s lives careen into each other when Danika hires a manny for her children for the summer and he just so happens to be Augie’s one-night-stand she never expected to see again.

Strap in for jealousy, scandals (yes, more than one), rumors, pettiness, affairs, and the unveiling of what happened on an ill-fated night that rocked the community years before. It’s a haves vs. have-nots tale with a foundation that’s shifting beneath everyone’s feet.

It’s a bit slower in the beginning but picks up speed and momentum the farther into the book you get.

The dual narration by Teri Schnaubelt and Eileen Stevens kept me engaged in the story and made it easy to keep track of POV. The narrator for Augie captures her age especially well.

I received advance copies of the ebook and audiobook and a finished copy of the book from William Morrow. All review opinions are my own.

[On_a_sandbar (Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every plan is more exciting when you’re the only one who knows it.”

The Lake Club 💦
Lina Patton
The story started quietly, almost unassuming - but I got hooked.
Then whoa! It got interesting very quickly 😈 Everytime I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to get back to it!

I really enjoyed this domestic drama full of mystery and suspense.
The setting of exclusive lake community Aldon Lakes was picturesque and I could picture the beautiful properties and lakeside views.

The main players:
Danika - beautiful, wealthy suburban wife and mom. And she’s desperate to maintain social dominance with her newly hired Summer (nanny) “manny” Chat.

Augie - after graduating college and landing her first job in New York City, it turns out to be very short lived. She finds herself back in Aldon Lakes hiding the scandal that sent her back home.

Chat - College grad and former school hockey player desires to travel the world. He just needs to make enough money this summer to pay for the trip. He’s also what was supposed to be Augie’s one night stand in NYC - but shows up in the suburban community in Michigan that she grew up in.

There are many layers in the plot and it’s interesting and engaging, a page turner for sure 👌🏻

“There is an age when you are most yourself.” - though the problem was, you’d never know at what age you were most yourself until it passed.

The Lake Club is Lina Patton’s debut novel, and I’ll be ready for her next!

Out now - pub date 6/16/2026

Many thanks to @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy, I’m so grateful!

Instagram post @on_a_sandbar

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. There was a very interesting plot here but we didn’t really get to it until halfway through.

I enjoyed Augie and Danika’s POVs, so drastically different than each other. But there is so much in Augie’s backstory that isn’t wholly relevant to the plot - it slows the pacing down. And the first half of the book is more mood setting than anything else. It was really slow and I thought about DNFing a few times. Just… so little happens.

It felt almost like it was trying to set itself up as a thriller but then walked it back. This would’ve been a very good thriller. Danika’s spiraling obsession with Chat alongside the death of Lyle Greene that haunts the perfect lakeside town. I would say that it struggled with genre, which ultimately lead to it taking too much time to launch.

Overall I think it was a very interesting story. For the large cast of characters, it was easy to distinguish them and know who were the important players.

Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced and finished copy.

[Mary Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you for this ARC from NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me right in with the first chapter depicting two people having an affair in model homes. You spend the majority of the book trying to figure out who is behind the affair while getting to know the main set of characters. The reveal of this affair definitely surprised me!!

You have Danika, who is trying to redefine herself as more than just a mother and rich housewife, while navigating between her old life and her present life. Augie, who is a young woman heading back to her hometown due to unforeseen circumstances causing her to leave the Big Apple. Chat, the hot manny who is torn between his devotion to Danika and his desire for Augie.

Perfect summer lake setting! I envision an upscale version of Dirty Dancing scenery with the personalities of the Real Housewives.

Drama. Desire. Determination. This story has it all.

[Daveia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one, but it completely missed the mark for me.

The premise promised emotional tension, family drama, and a compelling mystery, but the execution never delivered. The relationship dynamics weren't nearly as layered as they were made out to be, and what initially seemed like it might become an interesting emotional conflict never really developed.

The biggest issue was the sheer number of unnecessary side plots. They slowed the story to a crawl without adding much to the overall narrative. By the time the mystery was finally revealed in the last chapters, my reaction wasn't surprise or satisfaction—it was simply, "Well, at least now I know what happened." Unfortunately, even then, the resolution didn't feel particularly convincing.

Instead of a gripping lake-house drama, this felt unfocused and overstuffed, with too many threads competing for attention and too little payoff. Definitely not for me.

[Leah reading & recording · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a debut novel The Lake Club is fantastic! I felt a part of the community, like I was spending my summer there and re-living all the memories alongside the main characters, all of whom were so unique. Danika in particular was so relatable and easy to root for.

Set primarily at the country club that a number of wealthy families vacation at every summer in Minnesota, this story follows Danika, a seemingly perfect mother of two, and Augie, a new grad looking for a new job while spending one last (hopefully) summer working at the club. As the two move through their respective summers they keep bumping into each other and given they can’t seem to stand one another, this is not ideal for either one. I enjoyed how many people Danika and Augie had in common and how everyone liked both Danika and Augie yet the pair could not stand each other. What’s that saying—something about not liking someone if they remind you too much of yourself? Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed the scene setting, character development, and the way everything wrapped up. Sometimes a summer can make all the difference!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a chance to read this debut novel ahead of its publication! I look forward to reading many more novels by the talented Lina Patton.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This summer at Aldon Lakes is going to be one that EVERYONE will remember.

Augie Elling has been trying to make a name for herself in New York City, but she didn’t expect a scandal to force her to return home. Now she’s back working at the Lake Club for the summer. Danika Crawley has everything, yet knows she has to up her game to stay relevant within the Club. Both woman are complete opposites and their worlds collide when Danika hires manny (male nanny) Chat . He knows something about the town’s past. Everyone has secrets and the Lake Club will be the place where everything will start to unravel.

The Lake Club brings all the summer drama! I love the duel POVs of Augie and Danika because it helped build the tension. They aren’t the only people in the Club with things to hide and the ending was worth all the revelations. One of the mysteries concluded so fast, I would have enjoyed more clues thrown in throughout the story because it was so intriguing. Chat was a standout, even though he was a side character. Love that the author focused on the women of this novel and their emotions. If you’re looking for drama & secrets… you need to check out The Lake Club!

I was given the opportunity to hear the audiobook, which elevated the novel. The narrators did a fabulous job and the storyline is perfect for audio because it’s easy to follow along.

Thank you @linapatton, @williammorrowbooks, and @bookclubgirl for my gifted copy.