What do you think?
Killer Summer
She can still smell him.
She can still feel him.
But she can't see him.
Dani Kincaid is an average teen on the cusp of adulthood in late 1990s California. She has her friends, her family, her boyfriend, and a job at the local video store. But she also has a dangerous stalker in preppy classmate Matt Vickers, a textbook misogynist who will stop at nothing to have her by his side.
Twenty-five years later, Dani is still struggling to shake the past of the killer summer that turned her life upside down. She's changed her identity and moved to Florida, where the echoes of that awful summer continue to haunt every aspect of her life. Even though Vickers has been behind bars for a quarter of a century, Dani slowly begins to feel his terrifying shadow creep back into her life to finish what he began.
In a final girl showdown to end all showdowns, Dani is forced to face her past and stand up for herself and her freedom once and for all. But at what cost?
Killer Summer is a pink horror slasher splashed with hot magenta blood; a meditation on consent, independence, and the terrifying price that all women face, simply for being alive.
She can still feel him.
But she can't see him.
Dani Kincaid is an average teen on the cusp of adulthood in late 1990s California. She has her friends, her family, her boyfriend, and a job at the local video store. But she also has a dangerous stalker in preppy classmate Matt Vickers, a textbook misogynist who will stop at nothing to have her by his side.
Twenty-five years later, Dani is still struggling to shake the past of the killer summer that turned her life upside down. She's changed her identity and moved to Florida, where the echoes of that awful summer continue to haunt every aspect of her life. Even though Vickers has been behind bars for a quarter of a century, Dani slowly begins to feel his terrifying shadow creep back into her life to finish what he began.
In a final girl showdown to end all showdowns, Dani is forced to face her past and stand up for herself and her freedom once and for all. But at what cost?
Killer Summer is a pink horror slasher splashed with hot magenta blood; a meditation on consent, independence, and the terrifying price that all women face, simply for being alive.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Wendy Dalrymple
86 books347 followersWendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com
Www.wendydalrymple.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 5, 2026
A quite enjoyable novel if you like slasher horror movies, and I do. I guess it’s supposed to be “nostalgic 80s 90s.” To me it doesn’t feel nostalgic, just normal. I guess because I’m basically the same age as the main character. Spans time very well, being a book not a movie.
Though there was murder in the movie theater men’s room (a reference to the beginning of Scream 2?), I was glad Dani left Urban Legend before the dog got microwaved.
Though there was murder in the movie theater men’s room (a reference to the beginning of Scream 2?), I was glad Dani left Urban Legend before the dog got microwaved.
June 22, 2026
I really enjoy Wendy Dalrymple's writing and Killer Summer was an enjoyable throwback to the slashers of the 80s. Dani was a tough survivor of a stalker when she was a teenager and now 25 years later the stalker has escaped prison and is determined to have Dani for himself. The ending was a surprise for me which rarely happens.
May 15, 2026
This is an easy, breezy slasher perfect for people who just want a little slice and dice entertainment.
I like our main character, felt for the people who um...didn't make it, and definitely enjoyed the read!
While I figured out the big reveal far before it happened, that didn't really lessen my enjoyment. I was along for the ride.
Fast paced and entertaining!
I like our main character, felt for the people who um...didn't make it, and definitely enjoyed the read!
While I figured out the big reveal far before it happened, that didn't really lessen my enjoyment. I was along for the ride.
Fast paced and entertaining!
June 8, 2026
exactly what a slasher should be
March 12, 2026
I DID have fun with this. It felt like putting on your old school favorite slasher / horror movie. While the letterboxd star rating might be piss poor, it five stars in your heart because despite terrible acting and absurd plot lines, it's fun. What I'm saying it's a fun popcorn read that made me audibly laugh a few times.
The first half / part was whooping my ass left and right. It was an absolute bloodbath that went a mile a minute. Just full-blown crazy. By the time I hit part two, it unfortunately didn't keep that momentum, and the pace slowed. Rehashing things and relaying them in dialogue when our Final Girl was speaking to a friend which felt redundant. We KNOW what happened. We lived it with you, bestie.
Once we get towards the end-ish of part two, it picks right back up. Not as fast as part one, but it was enough to keep you turning the pages. There was some very absurd plot choices that made me laugh, but I was treating this like the story it was and not some sweeping classic lmao
Thank you to my besties at Mad Axe Media and Netgalley for the arc!
The first half / part was whooping my ass left and right. It was an absolute bloodbath that went a mile a minute. Just full-blown crazy. By the time I hit part two, it unfortunately didn't keep that momentum, and the pace slowed. Rehashing things and relaying them in dialogue when our Final Girl was speaking to a friend which felt redundant. We KNOW what happened. We lived it with you, bestie.
Once we get towards the end-ish of part two, it picks right back up. Not as fast as part one, but it was enough to keep you turning the pages. There was some very absurd plot choices that made me laugh, but I was treating this like the story it was and not some sweeping classic lmao
Thank you to my besties at Mad Axe Media and Netgalley for the arc!
March 15, 2026
A 90s (and 2023) slasher thriller was just what I needed to break out of my awful reading slump. The beginning reminded me of Alex Finlay’s Night Shift (a fave), but then you differ in plots. I loved the cat-and-mouse and the different time jumps. It just kept me excited and I could not stop turning the page.
Pub day is 5/12.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
Pub day is 5/12.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
August 28, 2026
This was my first read by Wendy Dalrymple and it has me wanting more. I love horror but not gore, preferring the anxiety it creates over the actual blood and guts of the actual acts, and this was the perfect combination. The writing was easy to read and flowed so well that I didn’t want to put this down. I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane into the 90s video rental shop, with pagers and movies of that time, but what really shone for me was the changes that happened within Dani after the attacks and how she struggled after the initial attacks. The ending had a twist that I knew was coming but couldn’t figure out how it was going to play out. I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Wendy Dalrymple is one of my favourite go-to horror authors and I was delighted when I spotted this book up on Netgalley. Of course I had to request it, I had to read this one! And boy, I can tell you that it was a RIDE! I just couldn’t put it down once I had started!
The book starts pretty normal but then quickly goes full creepy and slasher. We meet our MC Dani (Danielle) who works at a video store. She is having a pretty OK life, except for the fact that she has a stalker who just creeps her out and has been around for a while and she is just so done with it. What follows next is a night of horror and then months of terror. Because her stalker? He is determined to get Dani. And with determined I mean not just photographing her or stalking her or collecting stuff from her trash… I also mean killing everyone who comes close/may stand between him and her will get killed in gruesome slasher ways. The first part of the story had me on the edge constantly. I was wondering what would happen. Would Dani escape? Well, OK, we know from the blurb that she does, but still, as you are reading it you just forget about that. You are rooting for Dani. You want to give her a hug. You want to slap around some police people who don’t seem to take it entirely serious.
And then after a big terrifying event we get to 25 years later. Dani is still struggling, still paranoid, still not attaching herself to anyone. Not even a dog. Because while Vickers is behind bars she knows he can always get out. He will get out. She just doesn’t know when. We see her live solitary, only have select people she has around her (and no guys though she has a guy she is interested in and I found myself hoping that she would be able to one day date him), her house is a fortress, she has escape plans, she has plans with her aunt to just live far away off grid. As you can read, this is no life. I was at least glad she had some moments of joy, but I just wanted to hug her so many times and comfort her.
And if you thought the fear of Vickers was one thing, there are also people who think she is the criminal and Vickers the innocent victim (people are crazy y’all). Then things get scary when she gets a call. From that moment things ramp up and I was once again fully back on the edge of my seat (or curled up in bed). Things really got terrifying and Wendy Dalrymple wrote about everything in an excellent way.
I loved that each section is split into breath. Like it starts with First Breath and so each section has something similar. It was fun!
Oh, and I have to mention the aunt. Lisa. She was such a fantastic character and I love how she is always there for Dani.
All in all, this was a terrifying and terrific read that I will recommend highly to everyone.
Review also posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Wendy Dalrymple is one of my favourite go-to horror authors and I was delighted when I spotted this book up on Netgalley. Of course I had to request it, I had to read this one! And boy, I can tell you that it was a RIDE! I just couldn’t put it down once I had started!
The book starts pretty normal but then quickly goes full creepy and slasher. We meet our MC Dani (Danielle) who works at a video store. She is having a pretty OK life, except for the fact that she has a stalker who just creeps her out and has been around for a while and she is just so done with it. What follows next is a night of horror and then months of terror. Because her stalker? He is determined to get Dani. And with determined I mean not just photographing her or stalking her or collecting stuff from her trash… I also mean killing everyone who comes close/may stand between him and her will get killed in gruesome slasher ways. The first part of the story had me on the edge constantly. I was wondering what would happen. Would Dani escape? Well, OK, we know from the blurb that she does, but still, as you are reading it you just forget about that. You are rooting for Dani. You want to give her a hug. You want to slap around some police people who don’t seem to take it entirely serious.
And then after a big terrifying event we get to 25 years later. Dani is still struggling, still paranoid, still not attaching herself to anyone. Not even a dog. Because while Vickers is behind bars she knows he can always get out. He will get out. She just doesn’t know when. We see her live solitary, only have select people she has around her (and no guys though she has a guy she is interested in and I found myself hoping that she would be able to one day date him), her house is a fortress, she has escape plans, she has plans with her aunt to just live far away off grid. As you can read, this is no life. I was at least glad she had some moments of joy, but I just wanted to hug her so many times and comfort her.
And if you thought the fear of Vickers was one thing, there are also people who think she is the criminal and Vickers the innocent victim (people are crazy y’all). Then things get scary when she gets a call. From that moment things ramp up and I was once again fully back on the edge of my seat (or curled up in bed). Things really got terrifying and Wendy Dalrymple wrote about everything in an excellent way.
I loved that each section is split into breath. Like it starts with First Breath and so each section has something similar. It was fun!
Oh, and I have to mention the aunt. Lisa. She was such a fantastic character and I love how she is always there for Dani.
All in all, this was a terrifying and terrific read that I will recommend highly to everyone.
Review also posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 20, 2026
It's been quite some time since I read horror and now the kids are older - I've been trying to incorporate much more into my tbr.
This is my first Summerween and my first read of the season and I had such high hopes for it!
Now, I think that this may have been my first ever slasher read - having been a teen in the late 80's / early 90's, but definitely a reader rather than a watcher of the old slasher movies - but I totally get the vibe.
This book had that vibe in oodles from the start.
I loved the throwback to the old VHS rental stores and the introduction of Matt the stalker and the instant kills - but then this book fell quite flat for me.
After the initial "excitement" the pace really dropped off and we follow Dani as she navigates life after her horrific teenage years - now 25 years on.
I just felt as though nothing much happened for the middle half of the book, before things kick off again towards the final few chapters.
There was a lot of manipulation with the facts to try and get things to work out - I'm not so impressed with all the security features Dani installed when an intruder gets to pretty much just walk straight in 🤷🏻♀️ - but I get how this fitted the plotline?
There wasn't much suspense and I definitely didn't feel on edge or scared at any point - Maybe this is classic slasher writing and I just need to get with the programme ?
However, this was a super quick read that had me chuckling in places (hopefully, I was meant to!).
I loved the front cover and the chapter headers too.
I just felt it was much tamer than I'd been expecting.
This is my first Summerween and my first read of the season and I had such high hopes for it!
Now, I think that this may have been my first ever slasher read - having been a teen in the late 80's / early 90's, but definitely a reader rather than a watcher of the old slasher movies - but I totally get the vibe.
This book had that vibe in oodles from the start.
I loved the throwback to the old VHS rental stores and the introduction of Matt the stalker and the instant kills - but then this book fell quite flat for me.
After the initial "excitement" the pace really dropped off and we follow Dani as she navigates life after her horrific teenage years - now 25 years on.
I just felt as though nothing much happened for the middle half of the book, before things kick off again towards the final few chapters.
There was a lot of manipulation with the facts to try and get things to work out - I'm not so impressed with all the security features Dani installed when an intruder gets to pretty much just walk straight in 🤷🏻♀️ - but I get how this fitted the plotline?
There wasn't much suspense and I definitely didn't feel on edge or scared at any point - Maybe this is classic slasher writing and I just need to get with the programme ?
However, this was a super quick read that had me chuckling in places (hopefully, I was meant to!).
I loved the front cover and the chapter headers too.
I just felt it was much tamer than I'd been expecting.
May 5, 2026
Slasher vibes, 90’s nostalgia, suspense, FUN!
I went into Killer Summer already knowing I liked this author after reading “Bed Rot Baby”, and that feeling held true here. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next.
One thing that really stood out to me was the writing style. The story started with the main character as a teenager, and the writing matched that phase perfectly. It was simple, quick, and really easy to fly through. I found myself reading those early chapters so fast. As the character got older, though, the writing shifted. The sentences became more descriptive and layered, which naturally slowed my pace a bit. It was such a thoughtful detail, and I genuinely appreciated the care that went into structuring the story that way.
I also really enjoyed the stalker element. It gave me strong 90s nostalgia. Like the feeling of watching “Fear” for the first time. There were several moments that leaned into that vibe, especially the scenes set in the video rental store, which I loved.
The ending worked for me too. After everything that happened, I finished the book feeling settled, which isn’t always the case with horror/thrillers, but it fit this story well. This was a twisty, nostalgic read that kept me glued to the pages the whole way through. 🙌📚
A huge THANK YOU, to #Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours/ Mad Axe Media for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
I went into Killer Summer already knowing I liked this author after reading “Bed Rot Baby”, and that feeling held true here. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next.
One thing that really stood out to me was the writing style. The story started with the main character as a teenager, and the writing matched that phase perfectly. It was simple, quick, and really easy to fly through. I found myself reading those early chapters so fast. As the character got older, though, the writing shifted. The sentences became more descriptive and layered, which naturally slowed my pace a bit. It was such a thoughtful detail, and I genuinely appreciated the care that went into structuring the story that way.
I also really enjoyed the stalker element. It gave me strong 90s nostalgia. Like the feeling of watching “Fear” for the first time. There were several moments that leaned into that vibe, especially the scenes set in the video rental store, which I loved.
The ending worked for me too. After everything that happened, I finished the book feeling settled, which isn’t always the case with horror/thrillers, but it fit this story well. This was a twisty, nostalgic read that kept me glued to the pages the whole way through. 🙌📚
A huge THANK YOU, to #Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours/ Mad Axe Media for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2026
4.5 stars.
*I received a ARC copy from Net Galley*
I devoured this book within 24 hours, actually it was more like 3 hours and I could not put it down. I’m a fan of horrors and especially serial killer/slasher flicks and this one really fits the mould. I love a strong final girl and that’s who our main character is. Think Sydney from Scream.
We start our story in 1998 when movie stores were still around, our girl Dani is being stalked by a customer.
For the first couple of chapters, my heart was pounding, bringing back that feeling of watching my first slasher flick. I knew what would happen, its simple serial killer moves but I couldn’t help but root for Dani. I wanted to know she was safe. The book is a great short horror and perfect for those summersweens!
*I received a ARC copy from Net Galley*
I devoured this book within 24 hours, actually it was more like 3 hours and I could not put it down. I’m a fan of horrors and especially serial killer/slasher flicks and this one really fits the mould. I love a strong final girl and that’s who our main character is. Think Sydney from Scream.
We start our story in 1998 when movie stores were still around, our girl Dani is being stalked by a customer.
For the first couple of chapters, my heart was pounding, bringing back that feeling of watching my first slasher flick. I knew what would happen, its simple serial killer moves but I couldn’t help but root for Dani. I wanted to know she was safe. The book is a great short horror and perfect for those summersweens!
April 8, 2026
Killer Summer is a mix of 90’s slasher and modern day survival story.
The beginning part taking place in the 90’s was super fast paced and I felt like it paid homage to a few classics! Hello, Scream 2.
The rest of the book taking place modern day was TENSE. I wasn’t sure where it was going and I knew I couldn’t trust anyone.
Dani’s resilience was really admirable and she was a badass final girl! AND AUNT LISA! My girl!!
The beginning part taking place in the 90’s was super fast paced and I felt like it paid homage to a few classics! Hello, Scream 2.
The rest of the book taking place modern day was TENSE. I wasn’t sure where it was going and I knew I couldn’t trust anyone.
Dani’s resilience was really admirable and she was a badass final girl! AND AUNT LISA! My girl!!
August 13, 2026
This is my first time reading a slasher book, and I was terrified 😨😅
This is such a great book for the spooky season and for fans of the Scream movies! 🔪👻
For such a short book, I’d say I really enjoyed this one 😄.
The story was told between the past and present, with a single POV, and I really liked how everything unfolded.
Now I need to read more books with this same trope 😉✔️
I highly recommend this book! ❤️
This is such a great book for the spooky season and for fans of the Scream movies! 🔪👻
For such a short book, I’d say I really enjoyed this one 😄.
The story was told between the past and present, with a single POV, and I really liked how everything unfolded.
Now I need to read more books with this same trope 😉✔️
I highly recommend this book! ❤️
May 21, 2026
3.5 rounded up, this was a good time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you’re a fan of messy, fast-paced slasher stories, “Killer Summer” by Wendy Dalrymple is basically the book version of a late-90s horror movie. It’s short (just over 200 pages), super quick to read, and is filled with tension from the beginning to the end.
The story starts in 1998 with Dani, an 18-year-old working at a video store, who ends up with a seriously creepy stalker named Matt. When she rejects him, things escalate fast. Matt goes on a violent spree, killing people he thinks are “in the way,” including Dani’s boyfriend. It’s brutal and terrifying, especially because his obsession with her is so intense. What makes it even scarier is how realistic the situation feels; Dani knows something is wrong, but at first people don’t really believe her.
After a final confrontation, Matt ends up badly injured and in prison, and Dani spends years trying to rebuild her life. She even learns self-defense and tries to reclaim her trauma by writing a screenplay inspired by what happened to her. But 25 years later, things start getting creepy again because Matt has apparently escaped from prison and might be coming after her.
From there, the book leans fully into its slasher vibes. There’s a constant sense of dread because you never know when the next attack is coming. Dani is basically the classic “final girl,” and you end up rooting for her even when she makes some truly questionable decisions that will probably make you want to yell at the page a little.
The last quarter of the book is where everything really goes wild. There are multiple attempts on Dani’s life, and it turns out it’s not just the killer she has to worry about. There are also fanatics who idolize him and think Dani is lying, plus the possibility that other escaped prisoners might be helping him. Basically, nowhere feels safe.
There’s also a twist near the end about how Matt escaped prison and who exactly is hunting Dani that I didn’t fully see coming, which made the finale even more entertaining. And the ending itself is satisfying; Dani finally gets the chance to face her past and take control of her story. Also, shoutout to Dani’s aunt Lisa, who is an absolute badass.
Is the story perfect? Not really. Some parts are a little over-the-top, and the characters occasionally make classic horror-movie decisions. But honestly, that kind of adds to the charm. This book feels like watching a chaotic slasher movie where logic isn’t always the priority—entertainment is.
Overall, “Killer Summer” is a fun, creepy, slightly chaotic horror read with strong 90s slasher energy. If you like stalker thrillers, “final girl” stories, or quick horror books that feel like a guilty-pleasure movie, this one is definitely worth picking up.
If you’re a fan of messy, fast-paced slasher stories, “Killer Summer” by Wendy Dalrymple is basically the book version of a late-90s horror movie. It’s short (just over 200 pages), super quick to read, and is filled with tension from the beginning to the end.
The story starts in 1998 with Dani, an 18-year-old working at a video store, who ends up with a seriously creepy stalker named Matt. When she rejects him, things escalate fast. Matt goes on a violent spree, killing people he thinks are “in the way,” including Dani’s boyfriend. It’s brutal and terrifying, especially because his obsession with her is so intense. What makes it even scarier is how realistic the situation feels; Dani knows something is wrong, but at first people don’t really believe her.
After a final confrontation, Matt ends up badly injured and in prison, and Dani spends years trying to rebuild her life. She even learns self-defense and tries to reclaim her trauma by writing a screenplay inspired by what happened to her. But 25 years later, things start getting creepy again because Matt has apparently escaped from prison and might be coming after her.
From there, the book leans fully into its slasher vibes. There’s a constant sense of dread because you never know when the next attack is coming. Dani is basically the classic “final girl,” and you end up rooting for her even when she makes some truly questionable decisions that will probably make you want to yell at the page a little.
The last quarter of the book is where everything really goes wild. There are multiple attempts on Dani’s life, and it turns out it’s not just the killer she has to worry about. There are also fanatics who idolize him and think Dani is lying, plus the possibility that other escaped prisoners might be helping him. Basically, nowhere feels safe.
There’s also a twist near the end about how Matt escaped prison and who exactly is hunting Dani that I didn’t fully see coming, which made the finale even more entertaining. And the ending itself is satisfying; Dani finally gets the chance to face her past and take control of her story. Also, shoutout to Dani’s aunt Lisa, who is an absolute badass.
Is the story perfect? Not really. Some parts are a little over-the-top, and the characters occasionally make classic horror-movie decisions. But honestly, that kind of adds to the charm. This book feels like watching a chaotic slasher movie where logic isn’t always the priority—entertainment is.
Overall, “Killer Summer” is a fun, creepy, slightly chaotic horror read with strong 90s slasher energy. If you like stalker thrillers, “final girl” stories, or quick horror books that feel like a guilty-pleasure movie, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A massive thank you is in order to #NetGalley for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Killer Summer. In sincere appreciation for the opportunity to read this early, I am offering my completely honest and comprehensive review. My goal is to provide a detailed opinion so that other readers can accurately determine if this gripping, nostalgic thriller is the perfect fit for their reading preferences.-----My Rating: 4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, ultimately giving it a strong 4-star rating. Killer Summer immediately transported me back to the late 1990s, offering a distinctly nostalgic vibe that felt very much like stepping into a classic 90s horror film—think slashers with a sharp, suspenseful edge. The author masterfully captured that specific cultural atmosphere and tension.
One of the book's major strengths is its pacing and length. Coming in at just over 200 pages, the narrative is tight, lean, and utterly compulsive. In fact, I found it so engrossing that I easily consumed the entire book in a single sitting—a true testament to the author's ability to keep the pages turning.
Plot and Setting
The story is bifurcated by two distinct timelines rooted in a traumatic past. The initial horror takes place in the late 90s, where the protagonist, Dani, suffers an unimaginable tragedy: the brutal murder of both her boyfriend and her co-worker. This event, and the shadow of the killer, defines the rest of her life.
Fast forward twenty-five years. Dani is still grappling with the psychological fallout of those horrific events. Her life is now characterized by a deep, paralyzing fear of attachment. She is terrified to allow anyone to get close to her, consumed by the fear that she will inevitably lose them, just as she lost those closest to her years ago.
The main driver of the present-day plot is a terrifying development: the killer from her past has escaped confinement. This news shatters the fragile peace Dani has managed to construct. She starts to feel—or perhaps smell—the killer's ominous return, convinced he is coming back to finish what he started and reclaim her life.
Final Recommendation
Without hesitation, this is a read I would enthusiastically recommend. If you are a fan of quick, high-stakes thrillers, especially those with a pitch-perfect nostalgic atmosphere and setting, Killer Summer is a must-add to your reading list. The blend of a compelling plot, sympathetic protagonist, and genuine 90s horror vibes makes this a truly enjoyable and memorable reading experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, ultimately giving it a strong 4-star rating. Killer Summer immediately transported me back to the late 1990s, offering a distinctly nostalgic vibe that felt very much like stepping into a classic 90s horror film—think slashers with a sharp, suspenseful edge. The author masterfully captured that specific cultural atmosphere and tension.
One of the book's major strengths is its pacing and length. Coming in at just over 200 pages, the narrative is tight, lean, and utterly compulsive. In fact, I found it so engrossing that I easily consumed the entire book in a single sitting—a true testament to the author's ability to keep the pages turning.
Plot and Setting
The story is bifurcated by two distinct timelines rooted in a traumatic past. The initial horror takes place in the late 90s, where the protagonist, Dani, suffers an unimaginable tragedy: the brutal murder of both her boyfriend and her co-worker. This event, and the shadow of the killer, defines the rest of her life.
Fast forward twenty-five years. Dani is still grappling with the psychological fallout of those horrific events. Her life is now characterized by a deep, paralyzing fear of attachment. She is terrified to allow anyone to get close to her, consumed by the fear that she will inevitably lose them, just as she lost those closest to her years ago.
The main driver of the present-day plot is a terrifying development: the killer from her past has escaped confinement. This news shatters the fragile peace Dani has managed to construct. She starts to feel—or perhaps smell—the killer's ominous return, convinced he is coming back to finish what he started and reclaim her life.
Final Recommendation
Without hesitation, this is a read I would enthusiastically recommend. If you are a fan of quick, high-stakes thrillers, especially those with a pitch-perfect nostalgic atmosphere and setting, Killer Summer is a must-add to your reading list. The blend of a compelling plot, sympathetic protagonist, and genuine 90s horror vibes makes this a truly enjoyable and memorable reading experience.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Killer Summer takes the glossy nostalgia of late‑1990s California—video stores, sun‑bleached afternoons, the illusion of safety—and slices straight through it. At its centre is Dani Kincaid, an ordinary teenager on the edge of adulthood whose life is derailed by the obsessive, escalating fixation of Matt Vickers, a classmate whose entitlement curdles into something terrifying. The novel captures that creeping dread with unsettling precision: the way a girl can feel watched, cornered, hunted long before anyone else notices.
The story’s power comes from its dual timeline. Twenty‑five years later, Dani is living under a new name in Florida, still shaped by the trauma of that “killer summer.” Even with Vickers behind bars, his shadow lingers—proof that violence doesn’t end with a conviction, and that survival is rarely a clean escape. The tension builds beautifully as Dani senses him creeping back into her life, the past refusing to stay buried.
The book leans into slasher energy—bold, stylish, unapologetically pink—but beneath the aesthetic is a thoughtful exploration of consent, fear, and the exhausting vigilance women are forced to carry. Dani’s final confrontation is less about defeating a monster and more about reclaiming the parts of herself he tried to take. It’s cathartic, messy, and emotionally charged in all the right ways.
What stands out most is the novel’s empathy. Dani isn’t just a “final girl”; she’s a woman who has spent decades trying to outrun a story she never asked to be part of. Her resilience is the quiet heartbeat of the book, grounding the horror in something painfully real.
A sharp, stylish, and emotionally resonant slasher that blends nostalgia with modern commentary. It’s bloody, bold, and surprisingly tender—a story about survival, identity, and the price women pay simply for existing in the world.
With thanks to Wendy Dalrymple, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The story’s power comes from its dual timeline. Twenty‑five years later, Dani is living under a new name in Florida, still shaped by the trauma of that “killer summer.” Even with Vickers behind bars, his shadow lingers—proof that violence doesn’t end with a conviction, and that survival is rarely a clean escape. The tension builds beautifully as Dani senses him creeping back into her life, the past refusing to stay buried.
The book leans into slasher energy—bold, stylish, unapologetically pink—but beneath the aesthetic is a thoughtful exploration of consent, fear, and the exhausting vigilance women are forced to carry. Dani’s final confrontation is less about defeating a monster and more about reclaiming the parts of herself he tried to take. It’s cathartic, messy, and emotionally charged in all the right ways.
What stands out most is the novel’s empathy. Dani isn’t just a “final girl”; she’s a woman who has spent decades trying to outrun a story she never asked to be part of. Her resilience is the quiet heartbeat of the book, grounding the horror in something painfully real.
A sharp, stylish, and emotionally resonant slasher that blends nostalgia with modern commentary. It’s bloody, bold, and surprisingly tender—a story about survival, identity, and the price women pay simply for existing in the world.
With thanks to Wendy Dalrymple, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
April 19, 2026
𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝐵𝑦: 𝑊𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑦𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 🌴🔪☀️
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Format : E - Arc
211 pages
“𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛, 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖. 𝑊𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑦! 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑. 𝑊𝑒’𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑦. 𝐼𝑡’𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟!”
Killer Summer is perfect for fans who love a good throwback mixed with a good slasher thrown into the mix. Imagine California in the late 90’s, hot summer heat, video rental stores and telephone booths.. paging your friends about the hottest trends.
The summer before Dani heads off to college changes everything for her because of her stalker, Matt Vickers.. who takes everything from Dani sending her fleeing to Florida with a whole new identity.
I ate this one up! I’m a sucker for a good slasher but throw in the 90s nostalgia and I am all over it. This was such a fun story with an incredible badass bitch, final girl moment. You truly cannot help rooting for Dani from beginning to end. I know I did!
I felt like there was an important message in here as well and it shows the dangers us women have to deal with daily. While we can do nothing wrong there are “individuals” out there who are unstable and won’t take no for an answer. Stay safe out there ladies!
Killer Summer gives the reader a bit of everything.. slasher vibes, pink horror, classic nostalgia, gory deets and the whole “Good for her” trope.
𝐴 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Xpressobooks and Wendy D for the arc! All thoughts are my own.
🔪🌴 Out : 05/12/2026
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Format : E - Arc
211 pages
“𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛, 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖. 𝑊𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑦! 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑. 𝑊𝑒’𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑦. 𝐼𝑡’𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟!”
Killer Summer is perfect for fans who love a good throwback mixed with a good slasher thrown into the mix. Imagine California in the late 90’s, hot summer heat, video rental stores and telephone booths.. paging your friends about the hottest trends.
The summer before Dani heads off to college changes everything for her because of her stalker, Matt Vickers.. who takes everything from Dani sending her fleeing to Florida with a whole new identity.
I ate this one up! I’m a sucker for a good slasher but throw in the 90s nostalgia and I am all over it. This was such a fun story with an incredible badass bitch, final girl moment. You truly cannot help rooting for Dani from beginning to end. I know I did!
I felt like there was an important message in here as well and it shows the dangers us women have to deal with daily. While we can do nothing wrong there are “individuals” out there who are unstable and won’t take no for an answer. Stay safe out there ladies!
Killer Summer gives the reader a bit of everything.. slasher vibes, pink horror, classic nostalgia, gory deets and the whole “Good for her” trope.
𝐴 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Xpressobooks and Wendy D for the arc! All thoughts are my own.
🔪🌴 Out : 05/12/2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC of this book and am sharing my honest review.
I don’t think I’ve ever added a book to my “Want to Read” shelf as quickly as I did this one.
KILLER SUMMER worked for me on two levels. First, this is a speedy, enjoyable read, perfect for either reading by the pool or curled up indoors during a summer rainstorm. Dani is our plucky horror film fan/ heroine, who quickly recognizes she is the final girl in stalker Matt Vicker’s twisted fantasy. The body count escalates as Dani goes into full Heather Lagenkamp mode to prepare for her face off. Dalrymple knows what she’s doing, and the climax pays off.
Diving deeper, this book also has much to say about the continued failures of society to protect victims of stalking/abuse. In 1998, services for managing grief, PTSD and providing protection were scarce. Victims were isolated and left searching for ways to process their experiences and move forward. Sadly, 30 years later, not much has changed. The true horrors of this story are those that sink in as the story progresses: frustration, fear, loneliness, helplessness. Dani's stalker takes and takes until she truly is the final girl, standing alone, weapons and support system stripped from her.
Enjoy this book as the fun, nostalgic ride it is, but don’t ignore the feelings it stirs about the way our systems are continuing to allow situations like this to occur. This book has a lot to say, the most important being: Believe victims.
I don’t think I’ve ever added a book to my “Want to Read” shelf as quickly as I did this one.
KILLER SUMMER worked for me on two levels. First, this is a speedy, enjoyable read, perfect for either reading by the pool or curled up indoors during a summer rainstorm. Dani is our plucky horror film fan/ heroine, who quickly recognizes she is the final girl in stalker Matt Vicker’s twisted fantasy. The body count escalates as Dani goes into full Heather Lagenkamp mode to prepare for her face off. Dalrymple knows what she’s doing, and the climax pays off.
Diving deeper, this book also has much to say about the continued failures of society to protect victims of stalking/abuse. In 1998, services for managing grief, PTSD and providing protection were scarce. Victims were isolated and left searching for ways to process their experiences and move forward. Sadly, 30 years later, not much has changed. The true horrors of this story are those that sink in as the story progresses: frustration, fear, loneliness, helplessness. Dani's stalker takes and takes until she truly is the final girl, standing alone, weapons and support system stripped from her.
Enjoy this book as the fun, nostalgic ride it is, but don’t ignore the feelings it stirs about the way our systems are continuing to allow situations like this to occur. This book has a lot to say, the most important being: Believe victims.
June 23, 2026
Killer Summer was a solid, enjoyable read, but one that never quite reached its full potential for me.
The premise is great: Dani survived a brutal tragedy in her teens, changed her identity, and spent twenty-five years looking over her shoulder, waiting for the man who destroyed her life to return. There are some genuinely tense moments, particularly in the opening section and Dani was a protagonist I found easy to root for.
Where the book struggled for me was with its pacing. It has a lot of interesting ideas—trauma, revenge, isolation, learning to trust again but at only 212 pages, it felt like there simply wasn’t enough room to explore everything in depth. The middle section spent a long time with Dani’s paranoia and daily life, while the final confrontation arrived and wrapped up surprisingly quickly.
I also found most of the supporting characters fairly one-dimensional. Aside from Dani and her aunt Lisa, there weren’t many characters that really stood out or stayed with me after finishing the book.
That said, I still enjoyed my time with this one. It’s a quick, easy-to-read slasher thriller with a likeable protagonist and enough tension to keep the pages turning. It just left me wishing it had either committed to being a fast-paced slasher or given itself a few more pages to fully develop its ideas.
Not a new favourite, but definitely a decent read if you’re looking for something short and entertaining.
The premise is great: Dani survived a brutal tragedy in her teens, changed her identity, and spent twenty-five years looking over her shoulder, waiting for the man who destroyed her life to return. There are some genuinely tense moments, particularly in the opening section and Dani was a protagonist I found easy to root for.
Where the book struggled for me was with its pacing. It has a lot of interesting ideas—trauma, revenge, isolation, learning to trust again but at only 212 pages, it felt like there simply wasn’t enough room to explore everything in depth. The middle section spent a long time with Dani’s paranoia and daily life, while the final confrontation arrived and wrapped up surprisingly quickly.
I also found most of the supporting characters fairly one-dimensional. Aside from Dani and her aunt Lisa, there weren’t many characters that really stood out or stayed with me after finishing the book.
That said, I still enjoyed my time with this one. It’s a quick, easy-to-read slasher thriller with a likeable protagonist and enough tension to keep the pages turning. It just left me wishing it had either committed to being a fast-paced slasher or given itself a few more pages to fully develop its ideas.
Not a new favourite, but definitely a decent read if you’re looking for something short and entertaining.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Killer Summer blends nostalgic slasher vibes with a story about survival, trauma, and the long shadow of violence. The sections set in the late 1990s were easily my favorite part of the book. They captured that classic teen slasher atmosphere perfectly—video stores, small-town friendships, and the growing dread of a dangerous stalker. Those chapters had strong Scream-like energy and felt immersive and tense.
The story then jumps forward twenty-five years, following Dani as she tries to live a new life after the events of that “killer summer.” While I appreciated the themes around consent, misogyny, and the way harassment continues to follow women even decades later, the pacing in the present-day timeline felt rushed compared to the slower build of the 90s storyline. The twist was also fairly easy to see coming, which took some of the suspense out of the later chapters.
One element I did appreciate was the commentary on modern “keyboard warriors” and online harassment, and how those voices can become another form of villainy in a survivor’s life.
Overall, this was an enjoyable slasher-inspired thriller with strong 90s nostalgia, though the second half didn’t feel as developed as the first.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story then jumps forward twenty-five years, following Dani as she tries to live a new life after the events of that “killer summer.” While I appreciated the themes around consent, misogyny, and the way harassment continues to follow women even decades later, the pacing in the present-day timeline felt rushed compared to the slower build of the 90s storyline. The twist was also fairly easy to see coming, which took some of the suspense out of the later chapters.
One element I did appreciate was the commentary on modern “keyboard warriors” and online harassment, and how those voices can become another form of villainy in a survivor’s life.
Overall, this was an enjoyable slasher-inspired thriller with strong 90s nostalgia, though the second half didn’t feel as developed as the first.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is just in time for those who want some Summerween vibes. A 90’s opening, pink horror slasher theme. It’s perfect for people who grew up loving Fear Street or Christopher Pike.
Dani is only eighteen, when a stalker attacks her at her job & causes the deaths of several others. Twenty-five years later, she is still trying deal when the past finally catches up to her. This is a really well executed book, the tension & caution Dani always feels is palpable. It’s a fast paced cat & mouse game that really kept me turning the pages. Dani is likeable & you really feel for her & her predicament. The villain, Matt, pissed me off in all the right ways, his obsessive, stalking, self important attitude will make your blood boil. I wasn’t quite sure where the ending was going but it led up to a very potent crescendo of self defence, one I think readers will really appreciate. This author writes very rich, strong prose but it’s still quick in pace. I can definitely see myself reading more books by her.
Thank you Netgalley & Mad Axe Media for the ARC of this book for an honest review.
🔪
Read if you like:
* The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
* Dollface by Lindy Ryan
* Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen
Dani is only eighteen, when a stalker attacks her at her job & causes the deaths of several others. Twenty-five years later, she is still trying deal when the past finally catches up to her. This is a really well executed book, the tension & caution Dani always feels is palpable. It’s a fast paced cat & mouse game that really kept me turning the pages. Dani is likeable & you really feel for her & her predicament. The villain, Matt, pissed me off in all the right ways, his obsessive, stalking, self important attitude will make your blood boil. I wasn’t quite sure where the ending was going but it led up to a very potent crescendo of self defence, one I think readers will really appreciate. This author writes very rich, strong prose but it’s still quick in pace. I can definitely see myself reading more books by her.
Thank you Netgalley & Mad Axe Media for the ARC of this book for an honest review.
🔪
Read if you like:
* The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
* Dollface by Lindy Ryan
* Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen
March 23, 2026
If you're a fan of 90's slasher films, this one's for you!
The story follows Dani Kincaid, and it begins in the late 90's at a video rental store. She's a recent high school grad that's ready to move forward with her life. On her last night working at the video store, Matt Vickers walks in and she immediately gets the creeps. He's a usual at the store and gives off an uneasy, predatory vibe and always makes Dani uncomfortable. While he's there, she avoids him at all costs until her coworker checks him out and he's on his way. Dani thinks she's in the clear and finishes her shift for the night. What Dani doesn't know, is that her final shift will be the beginning of a lifetime of horror.
This was such a fun read! I loved the nostalgia in the first half and how it blended beautifully with the present. Wendy does a great job creating traumatic moments while splashing a bit of humor in between. Definitely gave "Scream" vibes and I am here for it!
A popcorn thriller that's fun (and traumatic? lol) from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Net Galley, Xpresso Book Tours and Wendy Dalrymple for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Dani Kincaid, and it begins in the late 90's at a video rental store. She's a recent high school grad that's ready to move forward with her life. On her last night working at the video store, Matt Vickers walks in and she immediately gets the creeps. He's a usual at the store and gives off an uneasy, predatory vibe and always makes Dani uncomfortable. While he's there, she avoids him at all costs until her coworker checks him out and he's on his way. Dani thinks she's in the clear and finishes her shift for the night. What Dani doesn't know, is that her final shift will be the beginning of a lifetime of horror.
This was such a fun read! I loved the nostalgia in the first half and how it blended beautifully with the present. Wendy does a great job creating traumatic moments while splashing a bit of humor in between. Definitely gave "Scream" vibes and I am here for it!
A popcorn thriller that's fun (and traumatic? lol) from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Net Galley, Xpresso Book Tours and Wendy Dalrymple for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
The year is 1998 and Dani Kincaid is 18 years old, working at a video store in California and looking forward to college. But she has a creepy stalker named Matt Vickers. When he asks her out and she rebuffs him, Vickers goes on a spree and takes everything from Dani. 25 years later, she's built a new life in Florida. But suddenly it seems she's being stalked again, somehow her new identity revealed. And word has it Vickers escaped from prison. But this time, she's prepared to fight back and end things once and for all.
This very much had the slasher vibes of a late 90s horror movie, with the lightness that keeps the book from being too dark, yet still full of horror. The plot being an obsessed stalker as the villain was different, as well as the way the final girl prepared herself for years. There were plot twists towards the end that I saw coming, but didn't see coming at the same time, some of which were more hokey than original or surprising, 3.5/5*
The year is 1998 and Dani Kincaid is 18 years old, working at a video store in California and looking forward to college. But she has a creepy stalker named Matt Vickers. When he asks her out and she rebuffs him, Vickers goes on a spree and takes everything from Dani. 25 years later, she's built a new life in Florida. But suddenly it seems she's being stalked again, somehow her new identity revealed. And word has it Vickers escaped from prison. But this time, she's prepared to fight back and end things once and for all.
This very much had the slasher vibes of a late 90s horror movie, with the lightness that keeps the book from being too dark, yet still full of horror. The plot being an obsessed stalker as the villain was different, as well as the way the final girl prepared herself for years. There were plot twists towards the end that I saw coming, but didn't see coming at the same time, some of which were more hokey than original or surprising, 3.5/5*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An exciting premise that had a strong start, with fun 90s slasher vibes complete with characters working at a video store, but then it faltered during the time jump in part two. There were a few moments of repetitive exposition that just felt like a waste of time, and a main character who exclusively made questionable choices. I don't think she made one smart decision this entire time. There was one sequence towards the end of part one that just had me baffled at how she made so many wrong choices in a row. It was almost impressive. It was also a little too predictable for my taste. I figured out the second antagonist before we even got to the time jump, and then I guessed the related twist, too. The pace picked back up a little at the end, but there was still very little mystery or intrigue for me.
That all being said, I do think it had entertaining moments, especially part one. This wasn't my favorite of Wendy's, but I'm still a big fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC!
That all being said, I do think it had entertaining moments, especially part one. This wasn't my favorite of Wendy's, but I'm still a big fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Killer Summer was such a tense and eerie read, with strong 90s slasher vibes that made it even more fun to read.
The story follows Dani, who was stalked years ago by a violent man. Now, 25 years later, she’s living under a new identity as a college professor—until strange things start happening and it feels like her past has found her again.
I was a bit unsure at first because it’s written in third person (I usually prefer first), but I ended up really enjoying it and found it easy to get into.
The book has some great twists and definitely keeps you on your toes. It has that classic slasher feel where there’s constant tension and the sense that danger is always close by, which added to the overall eeriness.
Overall, a really solid thriller with a creepy premise, good pacing, and a nostalgic slasher edge. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy suspenseful, stalker-style stories!
📅 Release date: May 12
Killer Summer was such a tense and eerie read, with strong 90s slasher vibes that made it even more fun to read.
The story follows Dani, who was stalked years ago by a violent man. Now, 25 years later, she’s living under a new identity as a college professor—until strange things start happening and it feels like her past has found her again.
I was a bit unsure at first because it’s written in third person (I usually prefer first), but I ended up really enjoying it and found it easy to get into.
The book has some great twists and definitely keeps you on your toes. It has that classic slasher feel where there’s constant tension and the sense that danger is always close by, which added to the overall eeriness.
Overall, a really solid thriller with a creepy premise, good pacing, and a nostalgic slasher edge. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy suspenseful, stalker-style stories!
📅 Release date: May 12
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC of Killer Summer by Wendy Dalrymple.
OMG – I came across Wendy Dalrymple’s work this year and have devoured almost all of her backlist, and was extremely privileged to be given an early copy of her newest book! Through her work, I discovered Mad Axe Media, which works with amazing horror authors whose work I have enjoyed.
If you loved the original Scream, you will love this book. Imagine if Drew Barrymore’s character hadn’t died, and you were able to catch up with her 25 years later as she struggles with the trauma she experienced and the creeping sensation that someone is watching her again. She knows the slasher from 25 years ago is in jail, but something still doesn’t feel right…
With a release date in May 2026, this is a perfect slasher addition to your summer TBR. You will not be disappointed with this slash, suspenseful book, and I promise it will make you want to read everything Wendy has written.
OMG – I came across Wendy Dalrymple’s work this year and have devoured almost all of her backlist, and was extremely privileged to be given an early copy of her newest book! Through her work, I discovered Mad Axe Media, which works with amazing horror authors whose work I have enjoyed.
If you loved the original Scream, you will love this book. Imagine if Drew Barrymore’s character hadn’t died, and you were able to catch up with her 25 years later as she struggles with the trauma she experienced and the creeping sensation that someone is watching her again. She knows the slasher from 25 years ago is in jail, but something still doesn’t feel right…
With a release date in May 2026, this is a perfect slasher addition to your summer TBR. You will not be disappointed with this slash, suspenseful book, and I promise it will make you want to read everything Wendy has written.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun and entertaining read that I went through very quickly.
It gave me strong slasher vibes, reminding me of classic Scream-style stories, with that “popcorn thriller” feeling that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still keeps you engaged.
The pacing works really well — it’s not a long or dense book (just over 200 pages), which makes it perfect for a quick, immersive read. I could easily see this as the kind of book you pick up for a summer evening and finish in one sitting.
While it may not be the most complex or groundbreaking story, it delivers exactly what it promises: suspense, entertainment, and an enjoyable reading experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to readers looking for a light, fast-paced thriller with classic slasher vibes. I give it 3'8 stars.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wendy Dalrymple for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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