Chelsea Ichaso is a YA thriller author whose books are always ones I’ll pick up. They are well plotted and filled to the brim with secrets, lies and danger. The Summer She Went Missing continues to hit those points with a dark and twisted story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

This was that sort of book that keeps you guessing, particularly when it is focused on manipulations and lies. The use of two timelines also helps exacerbate this, as reveals happen in either time that have far reaching consequences for the other. There’s also a central tension about what really happened last summer: a runaway case or something far worse?

You can feel that sinister presence throughout, but Ichaso has plenty of surprises in store for the final act. The twists in this are great and yet again, it is a solid and highly entertaining YA read. I enjoyed Paige as a protagonist with her conflicted feelings and torn loyalties. There is a sense of needing to absolve in her hunt for the truth. I also liked how the romantic aspect complicated the plot further, adding another layer to this tangled web. However, it never stayed as the primary focus. It was a fun addition to the focus on friendship as a pivotal relationship. In particular, it focuses on messy female friendships and how this sometimes spiralled into something more toxic and co-dependent. These summers are a gateway to another world for Paige. Ichaso also included a throughline about financial privilege and how class played a huge factor into which people were deemed as worthy victims of the limited investigations you saw play out. This social commentary was well thought out and again, added a new dimension to the book.

The Summer She Went Missing was another excellent read that fully immersed me and left me desperate to untangle the knot of events at its core.

Forever Friends

Having delved into numerous thrillers over the years, my journey took an intriguing turn with Chelsea Ichaso's "The Summer She Went Missing." Swift-paced and brimming with potential, it leaves readers pondering a multitude of questions. What actions would you take if your closest companion vanished without a trace? How deeply would you delve into the mysteries surrounding her disappearance? For Paige, these quandaries manifest as tangible concerns intertwined with guilt, as she reflects on her distraction with summer romance during the fateful season her friend Audrey went missing.

Fond memories of summers spent at Clearwater Ridge with Audrey Covington and her family fade into a haunting uncertainty when Audrey inexplicably vanishes. Amidst the backdrop of budding romance with Audrey's brother Dylan, Paige finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of confusion and suspicion. A year passes with Audrey's absence looming large and unexplained. When another girl disappears under similar circumstances, Paige becomes convinced of a connection between the two incidents. What dark secrets lie beneath the surface of their idyllic summer retreat?

Drawing parallels to the captivating narrative style of "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," Ichaso weaves a compelling tale of mystery and intrigue. The dynamics between the girls prove more engrossing than anticipated, yet Paige's portrayal lacks the depth desired for a truly compelling protagonist.

Paige's unwavering determination to uncover the truth, even if it means collaborating with her ex, underscores her commitment to unraveling Audrey's fate. However, the rationale behind her fervor feels somewhat underexplored, rendering her character somewhat one-dimensional.

Narrated predominantly from Paige's perspective, interspersed with intermittent glimpses from "The Girl's" viewpoint, the narrative offers tantalizing insights into the overarching mystery. These brief interludes inject a much-needed dose of suspense and speculation, enriching the storyline.

Despite its shortcomings in depth, "The Summer She Went Missing" delivers an enjoyable mystery with a youthful twist. Earning an easy four stars, it's a recommendation tailored for those seeking a brisk yet engaging thriller with a dash of YA allure.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing the arc for an honest review.

This is the second book by this author I have read. First of all let me start with saying the writing is good. I think overall my issue is with the pacing. It felt like nothing was happening. Most of the book was just Dylan and Paige talking about doing things and spending two second doing them and then talking about it some more.

I didn’t feel emotionally invested in any of these characters. I didn’t even care about the missing girls. It just didn’t hold my attention.

Thrill ride of the summer! The Summer She Went Missing is a great YA thriller with a solid plot. This book kept me on my toes and will be the perfect summer escape.

A missing teen, a twisted love triangle, and the forgotten friends. A summer escape with long time family friends gone wrong.

I will definitely be recommending this to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this advanced coy in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 05 March 2024

Audrey is missing. She had been acting dodgy lately and told a bunch of lies about her summer jobs and plans. Audrey's best friend and brother find a burner phone the following summer in Audrey's room. They are trying to figure out who the one phone number that is in the phone belongs to and if this person may know about Audrey's disappearing and perhaps the disappearing of another girl as well
Is Audrey involved in more than what is to be believed? Is she still alive? Is she hiding because perhaps she has done an unspeakable act that no one can know about

This was a very good YA thriller. It kept me turning pages. An easy to follow quick read. There were twists and turns some very predictable, but still a good story. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars

Every summer, many well-off families descend upon the small town of Clearwater Ridge, and every year Paige's family joins the Covington's at their home for as long as she can remember. Paige and Audrey seem to be the best of friends, spending their days swimming and relaxing but when Audrey starts to detach from Paige and ends up missing, Paige starts to wonder if she knew the real Audrey.

Almost a year has gone by and with the help of her long-time crush and Audrey's brother, she begins to figure out what happened that summer and just maybe she'll help bring Audrey home.

At first, I thought this would be a classic mystery book with some of the basic tropes but I was wrong this will go down as one of my favorite books this year and if you're in the mood for a twisty thriller I'd recommend picking this one up!

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Audrey and Paige are best friends. One summer Audrey goes missing. The next summer Paige and Audrey’s brother Dylan are determined to find out the truth. What happened to Audrey?

If you love a mystery with a romance you will enjoy this book. I had a good time reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEFIREBOOKS FOR THE ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley for the digital arc. Audrey and Paige are best friends. They spend Summers together in Clearwater Ridge. Paige is in love with Dylan, Audrey's brother, and Audrey does everything to keep them apart. Til she can't. Til she disappears. The complicated love story in The Summer She Went Missing was my favorite part of the book. The book was slow to start, but the mystery was perfect.

When I was reading this, I could not help but think of Pretty Little Liars. Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is still very original, but I've always loved PLL and this read was right up my alley! The descriptions throughout, the character build, the plot...I was here for all of it! I've never read anything from Chelsea Ichaso before, but this won't be the only book of hers I read. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. If you're thinking about buying this, do yourself a favor and get it!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at the 35% mark.

I found this book to be slow paced which I tend to enjoy but this wasn’t for me. Also I know it’s YA but our two MC are 17 and 19 I believe, but they acted more like 13 year olds but also drinking and going to parties so it was hard to wrap my head around.

Paige Redmond and Audrey Covington are BFFs, and every year, Paige's family travels to Clearwater Ridge to stay with the Covingtons for a summer full of swimming, partying, and catching up. This summer, though, is unlike any other. Audrey begins keeping secrets from Paige, creating tension in their friendship, and what was supposed to be a fun summer quickly turns into a nightmare when Audrey goes missing. Fast forward to the following summer, and it seems like the police have given up, as there is still no sign of Audrey. Is she alive? What happened the night she left and never returned home? What secrets was she keeping from her friends and family? Paige decides she wants answers and teams up with Audrey's brother (and her crush), Dylan, to retrace Audrey's steps and figure out what really happened.

This book was fantastic! The pacing was perfect, the main characters were likable, and there was a good mix of summer vibes, mystery, and romance throughout. I liked that the author separated the summers before and after Audrey's disappearance. It flowed seamlessly from one part to the next, and there was enough suspense to keep me guessing until the end. Overall, this book felt like a crossover between A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and The Summer I Turned Pretty. If you are a fan of either series, you must pick up this book! This was the first book I have read by this author, and it definitely won't be my last. I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads and highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

3.75 Stars! This was my first book by Chelsea Ichaso. While it did have some YA characteristics, it still had all the makings of a good thriller too.

Our main character, Paige, always goes to visit the Covington family for the summer. Their daughter, Audrey, is her best friend. And her brother, Dylan is Paige’s long time crush. While anticipating the best summer of her life - things start shaping up differently than she planned.

While Dylan has finally noticed her, Audrey is acting distant and a little sketchy. Which is very out of character for her BFF. Paige can’t figure out exactly what’s going on, and before she can get to the bottom of it, Audrey doesn’t come home.

I didn’t love the huge time gap that goes by from the disappearance to what happens after. But other than that, this was a very enjoyable read. There were lots of twists I didn’t see coming.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Chelsea Isacho for sending me an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Summer she Went Missing is not only a thriller/mystery but also a look into grief and how it affects people.

Although the first quarter of the book was interesting, it slowed down a lot once The Girl chapters. It's still interesting, but it takes a while to pick up again.

4,5☆

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Sourcebooks Fire for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a really enjoyable ya mystery! The mystery itself was very interesting and I absolutely loved the main two characters. Paige especially is very quirky and relatable.

I really liked how the author writes and how this book was paced. It kept me interested from beginning to end. The twists (especially that last one) were so good and I never saw most of them coming.

I really recommend this to YA mystery lovers!

The Summer She Went Missing follows Paige who spends her summers in Clearwater Ridge with her best friend Audrey. Last summer Audrey goes missing. This summer she has not been found so Paige and Audrey’s brother Dylan take it upon themselves to find out what really happened to her. Soon they realize that they are in deeper than they thought they would be. But they are determined to find out what really happened.

I really enjoyed this one. I am a big fan of YA mystery / thriller books. This one had me hooked the whole time. This was a pretty slow paced book. But I really enjoyed the overall story. I also did not see the ending of this book coming. If you are looking for a good YA mystery / thriller I would suggest this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.
I really enjoyed this one and the mystery had me guessing the whole time. Once it hit the 60% mark I finished the rest in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. The mystery really gets going and things start to evolve.
We follow Paige and Dylan as they try to uncover what happened to Audrey as she went missing last summer. Paige is Audrey’s best friend and Dylan is Audrey’s brother. Paige and Dylan had previously had a relationship until they lost touch as Audrey went missing. We see the two work together and there is a second chance romance we get to see happening, while they are trying to find out what happened.
I loved the small town/lake setting, it added an eerie feeling at times. I loved seeing Paige and Dylan unravel clues and I was trying to solve the mystery alongside them.
A really solid YA thriller that I couldn’t put down and really enjoyed.

Thank you again to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this advanced copy!

4 out of 5 stars for this YA thriller!

I am a huge fan of YA thriller and suspense novels and was ready to dive into this one as soon as I could. This gave 'A Good Girl's Guide To Murder' vibes so if you liked that one then you'll definitely like this one. Most of the chapters are written from Paige's POV with a few written in "The Girl's" POV, which I was DESPERATE to find out who "The Girl" was. The dynamic between Paige and her bff Audrey was an interesting one to read about and how it played out. The sub plot of Paige and Audrey's brother, Dylan, finding love with one another was another angle that kept me going. Definitely a story where you think you have it figured out only to learn you had no idea the entire time! Definitely recommend for those who love a good YA thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Unfortunately, this was DNF for me. I felt like the pace of the book was very slow, so it did not keep my interest. I also did not find myself invested in the story or the characters. I don't think this is a bad book, it's just not a book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Summer She Went Missing is another engrossing thriller from Chelsea Ichaso, and just like with the first book I read from her, I really enjoyed it. While it’s a bit different than what I was expecting in some ways, that’s very much a good thing, and it kept me guessing throughout. What initially seemed fairly basic and obvious became much more complex as the story went on, and I was very impressed with how the story turned out. While the story took a little while to get into, there was enough to keep me interested until the story picked up until about halfway through.
I wasn’t super sure about the characters at first, but I soon became intrigued by the dynamics between them. Paige and Audrey were best friends, and Dylan was Audrey’s older brother, and their families spent summers together. I particularly appreciated following Paige as she re-examined her friendship with Audrey. Paige and Dylan have a solid dynamic as friends-to-lovers, and while it didn’t blow me away, it’s quite cute for what it is as a subplot.
This was an engaging read, and I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy YA thrillers.