Saltwater is an atmospheric, twisty story about a wealthy family and their secrets. Were there murders? Infidelity? Who is telling the truth and who is being deceptive? WHO are they really?? I absolutely loved it and wished I could visit the island to experience it for myself (minus the mysterious murders). I couldn't put it down and the story kept me guessing up until the very end. I did enjoy the glimpse of the characters lives in the end, after all of the reveals. Can't wait to read the author's next book !

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a masterfully crafted novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Holy plot twist. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, Katy Hays yanked the rug right out from under me. The story follows Helen, the protagonist, as she navigates the complexities of her life following the death of her mother. Hays intricately weaves a narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring that just when you think you've unraveled the mystery, another layer is revealed.

Helen's journey is both poignant and suspenseful. As she delves deeper into her family's past, long-buried secrets come to light, challenging her perceptions and loyalties. The novel explores themes of family, identity, and the often murky waters of truth and deception.

Hays's writing is both evocative and gripping, painting vivid scenes that immerse the reader in Helen's world. The emotional depth of the characters, combined with the suspenseful plot, makes Saltwater a compelling read that resonates long after the final page.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that delve into family dynamics and hidden truths, Saltwater is a must-read. Its intricate plot and emotional depth make it a standout in contemporary fiction.

This book is full of rich family drama, mysterious deaths and unlikeable characters. There are multiple POV, and i found it hard to keep track of who was who at times. It felt like the story was dragging in the middle 1/3 or so of the book. Capri sounds like a gorgeous place to visit and at times the island felt like it could be telling the story too. The ending was had some predictible reveals and a couple strange surprises. This was a good slow burn mystery, maybe not so much thriller in my opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Well... my sister asked me to recommend any good recent beach reads, and, looking back on the first half of this year, I was surprised to find...pretty much nothing. That's not to say I haven't read some amazing, quality books, but just that they've all been a bit on the crushing reality side of the equation. So, when I recommended this one to her, there was a caveat. It might seem dark for a "beach read". So yes, this one is dark. But oh, so twisty and twisted. What a family! And it takes place on Capri! Where I've never been but now want desperately to go. But not too close to the cliffs, apparently. So yes, grab this one and head to the beach, the park, or a nice yacht in Capri. Your choice. Enjoy.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The pacing was way too slow and the characters lacked depth. I found the characters hard to distinguish because everyone was the same.

I hope others love this one but it didn’t work for me.

I really enjoyed this book.

Having the setting be in Capri definitely took me in!

I never wanted to put this down. I enjoyed the multiple POV’s.

Great twists!

Saltwater dives deep into themes of power, appearances, secrecy, and the lengths people go to maintain control. Every summer, the wealthy and influential Lingate family returns to Capri, the same island where Sarah Lingate tragically fell to her death from the cliffs. But this year, something unexpected is waiting for them: Sarah’s necklace. The very one she wore the night she died.

The novel unpacks the complicated inner workings of the Lingate family, revealing just how far they’ll go to protect their reputation—even if it means pulling strings and manipulating those around them. At the heart of the story is Helen, Sarah’s daughter, who’s brought along Lorna Moreno, a trusted family employee. Helen is determined to find out what really happened to her mother, hoping Lorna can uncover the truth. But when Lorna disappears, everything spirals into a new mystery.

There’s plenty of suspense and family tension throughout the book. The Lingates aren’t exactly a warm and fuzzy bunch, and their cold, secretive nature made it hard to connect with them. Still, the dramatic dynamics between them made for an engaging read. And the setting? Capri couldn’t be more perfect—a lush, dramatic backdrop for a story filled with lies, pressure, and unexpected twists.

I didn’t see the ending coming at all. The author handled the final twist so well, and it definitely kept me turning the pages. Overall, this was an enjoyable and atmospheric read, and I’d absolutely be interested in picking up more from this writer in the future.

3.5 stars

This was an okay read for me and would have been perfect for a beach read when I'm not expecting anything fantastic. But it wasn't as much of a thriller as I was expecting. I think it's partly because the rich people behaving badly storyline is hit or miss with me. While one of the main characters did not fall in this category, there was still enough obscurity in her background to make you wonder. I listened to this book, following along with the ebook, and that helped with the multiple characters and jumps in timeline. I think the book really took off for me at about the 60% mark when I started guessing what had happened 30 years ago. There was one thing that I guessed that was supposed to be a complete surprise at the end, so it didn't end up being a surprise, but on the other hand, it did make me happy that I had figured it out! Hence the extra half star. That said, I felt like this was a story that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be, and because of the execution, it didn't quite carry it off. In some ways it reminded me of the old 80s TV show, Dallas with the story arc of Who Killed JR. Rich family, check. Rich family behaving badly, check. Murder mystery? Check. Thriller? Yes, definitely at the end.

Overall, I probably wouldn't reread this one (I only reread the books that I loved and couldn't put down), but I would be interested in reading future books by the author. I think she shows promise, and I enjoyed this one enough to put her in the would consider reading category in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Welcome aboard the Lingate family yacht and experience the island of Capri, a taste of Italy, and a whole lot of family drama. The story opens with a 1992 newspaper article reporting the disappearance of playwright Sarah Lingate, the wife of oil magnate Richard Lingate. Her mangled body would later be discovered at the base of an ocean-side cliff, but decades later, there’s still no closure on how it happened. Did she fall? Did she jump? Was she pushed? And now, it would seem, a second woman in the Lingate’s orbit has disappeared on the island. Clues to the plot are scattered like breadcrumbs for the reader to find and discern. Most of the first-person narrative is the inner monologue of the Lingate’s jaded personal assistant. The reader experiences the island and the drama through her eyes. This plot requires a bit of patience as it skips its way through time and characters, in two distinct parts.

A fun beach read thriller with some clunky parts, but overall thrilling and fast paced. For fans of female rage that burns and simmers slowly, White Lotus vibes, found family and rich people behaving terribly.

This is a story about a very wealthy family, the Lingates. There are two mysteries and timelines. One, the mysterious death of the mother years before and the disappearance of their assistant.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Capri. This was a slow burn that took a while to hook me, but once I did, I enjoyed it. There are multiple twists in the novel that I enjoyed as well. It gets crazy at the end too.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Saltwater is a slow burn in the best way—moody, introspective, and soaked in a kind of quiet tension that lingers beneath the surface. Katy Hays has a real talent for crafting atmosphere; every page feels damp with salt air and secrets. The coastal setting is almost a character in itself, and the way Hays ties environment to emotion is beautiful.

The protagonist’s journey is subtle but compelling, and I appreciated how the story explored identity, longing, and the murky edges of obsession without spelling everything out. It’s the kind of book that trusts the reader to sit with ambiguity, which I respect, even if it left me wanting a bit more resolution in places.

If you’re looking for something fast-paced or plot-driven, this might not be it. But if you enjoy quiet character studies and immersive writing that leans literary, Saltwater is well worth your time. One star off only because some sections felt a little meandering, but the overall effect was powerful and stayed with me long after I finished.

This book was chilling and enthralling. I couldn't put it down. The story that this author created is so well thought and intricate.

The cover of this novel is so stunning and I saw a lot of buzz on bookstagram about Saltwater so I was ecstatic to check this one out. While the setting was incredibly lovely and transporting and the writing itself was decriptive and beautiful, this book was not for me. Had it not been an ARC, I would have DNF'd it mid-way. The pace was incredibly slow and for a book that was only 330 pages, it felt like I was reading it forever and a chore to read. I enjoy a complex, unlikeable character in many of the books I read, but this cast of characters seemed pretty unlikeable but one-dimensional. Would have been a 1-star read, but the ending had a big twist that bumped it up to two stars.

DNF at 15%

Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I was uninvested in the characters and the story.

Family Drama ✔️
Tension so thin you could cut with a butter knife ✔️
Murder mystery vibes ✔️

This book had murder mystery all over it. This Lingate family is not the family I would want to vacation with. Throughout the book it takes you from past to present explaining the story 30 years ago and then jumping to the present. I felt like it took a while for me to wrap my head around which timeline we were in sometimes.

I did enjoy the drama throughout this book and the twist at the end. I did not see that coming which made for a more enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

This twisty mystery was set in Capri and sure did make me feel like I was there. The story kept me guessing and oh boy some of those twists! This was a thrilling mystery but I felt like there may have been just a bit much with the multiple POV's. The narration moved a bit slow for me. Overall, not a bad mystery and I'll keep my eye out for more by Katy Hays!

Great characters, twist and turns but sorta predictable. Felt I had read this before. It was fine beach read but I was able to put it down and walk away. Loved the cover.

I love a book full of twists and turns! I like to be kept on the edge of my seat! I will say however, sometimes it was hard to keep track of everything going on.

Pacing dragged. I didn't find them writing style immersive or engaging. And I'm so over the trend of an entire cast of unlikable characters.

DNF