A story about not super likeable rich people, but yet I couldn't put it down. Didn't see that last twist coming!

Outstanding! Part family drama, part dual timeline, part mystery, part love, loss, forgiveness and loyalty. This family drama is set on the Almalfi coast of Italy and so full of twists and turns you lose track of who is related to who and how! Fast-paced and all-encompassing story that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. As I love The CLosisters, I anticipated this one and it did not let me down!

OH WOW. This one took me by surprise, time and again. Until the last page (and I reread the final chapter to make sure!), I couldn't predict the outcomes or ending.

If you like a family drama, thriller, mystery, and a touch of romance, you'll love this one. It was unexpected. At times, it was an edge-of-seat page-turner ... I shook my head at the imagination of the writer more than once.

Recommended.

This book was a little slow at times, but that last half, most importantly, the last couple of chapters made it all worth it. I was not expecting that ending at all.

I enjoyed the suspense and mystery, but didn’t love the rich family angst aspect. Also I felt like the final few chapters were a bit of a stretch for me and a little convenient.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy!

The wealthy Lingate family takes an annual vacation on Capri. The family is close and keeps tight reins on the youngest member, Helen.

30 years ago, Sarah, Helen’s mother died during the annual vacation. Was it murder, suicide, or an accident? Helen is determined to find out and exposes secrets and lies that will be the undoing of the family.

The beginning was a bit slow for me however it became a page-turner with a surprise ending—many thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

This story revolves around the Lingates, a wealthy family that vacations in Capri. Thirty years ago, Sarah Lingate died in a tragic accident. Now, another person has gone missing, and Sarah's daughter Helen suspects that her mother might have been murdered. The premise and setting had me hooked, and I was very excited to read it. For me, the action was lacking, and the book had so much description (very well written) that it got in the way of the story. Some people might feel differently. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. If you're looking for more of a family drama, this might be for you. For me, I was reading it more as a mystery/thriller and it was a little too slow for my taste.. Again, very well written, and others might feel differently. Thanks to the publisher and author for this advance copy.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a captivating debut that pulls readers into a world filled with secrets, longing, and the rugged beauty of the coastal landscape. The story follows a young woman navigating her past while trying to find her place in a new, mysterious environment. Hays crafts an evocative atmosphere, blending lyrical prose with a sense of quiet suspense. The characters are raw and deeply human, making it easy to connect with their struggles. A perfect read for those who enjoy introspective narratives with a haunting, coastal backdrop.

After reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays I knew I needed to read anything else she ever publishes. The atmosphere and energy from Saltwater was different from The Cloisters in several ways, but it also carried some similarities that I now associate with Hays' writing style. Saltwater is a book about a mysterious well-to-do family who continues to spend their summers at the house in Capri even after the wife/mother, Sarah, was found dead below the the cliffs. In the wake of Sarah's death, everyone wants to know what happens, but no one can get the Lingates to incriminate themselves even though they had to play some role in it. In the wake of this chaos, Sarah's daughter Helen grows up isolated and controlled - no one can be trusted. But all Helen wants is to know what really happened to her mother all those years ago.

The beginning of the book introduces readers to the story about half way through the entire situation is playing out, leaving readers to figure out what's happening, why it's happening, and who can be trusted. In addition to the unique chronological order of this book, readers are also shifted back and forth in time; spending time in Sarah's life before her fateful death, the weeks and months leading up to the Lingates summer trip to the island of Capri, and right in the thick of it while some sort of scheme is happening on the island - but the reader doesn't know what that scheme is.

I really enjoyed reading Saltwater by Katy Hays, her writing style is unique in that you can tell that she does a lot of research about the topics that she writes about and she leaves the information in the pages so it doesn't just set the scene but really makes the reader feel like they're in the storyline - I felt like a wealthy friend of the Lingates who was observing everything happening rather than someone reading about a wealthy families secrets. I did have a hard time with where the book started and trying to fill in the blanks, but that is simply a reading preference of mine and nothing to do with any actual issue with the plot; by the end I had fully put the puzzle together with no holes.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Hays' first book, The Cloisters, as well as people who enjoy a mix of mystery and historical fiction. I also got very similar vibes from the characters as I did when I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo so I anticipate readers who read that would also like this book.

Saltwater, a thriller/mystery, is told from 2 different time periods and with multiple characters. 30 years ago Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Capri, Italy.Her death was really never solved although it was said to be an accident and now another person has been found dead. Sarah’s daughter, Helen has returned to Capri and is not sure who she can trust or believe once a necklace belonging to Sarah has been discovered. This is an easy read and kept one in suspense throughout the entire book.

Saltwater follows the Lingate family in over two different timelines - 1992 when Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Capri & present day when her now 33 year old daughter is trying to figure out what happened to her mother. Helen wants nothing more than to know what happened to her mom, but the problem with digging up the past is that sometimes it can repeat itself.

In addition to having two timelines, the story is told from multiple different points of view which, in my opinion, doesn’t always work. For Saltwater, the change in POV & timeline shifts worked most of the time but there were definitely moments where I wound up a little confused. Helen’s character arc throughout the story was one of the defining features & written extremely well, although I would have liked to see more out of a few of the other characters.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. Even though there were spots where I felt like it dragged, the ending without a doubt made up for it. Truth be told I had to go back and reread one of the final chapters to make sure I read it correctly.

Thank you #Netgalley and Random House Publishing for proving me an ARC of #Saltwater for my honest review

This one has a great pre
Ise but unfortunately I felt became very stuck in a repetition around the 25% mark. I wish it would've picked up more in the beginning instead of a sort of slow burn.

This is a coming of age novel about Lucy as she inherits her grandfathers cottage in Ireland after graduating college. The writing was poetic and sweet and it was a lovely reflection of her evolving identify as we learn about the players and people in her world.

Intriguing! Enjoyed the varying viewpoints and text structures--added much to the nuance of the plot. Fabulous descriptions of the island--felt like I was there. Kept me guess until the last moments.

Saltwater by Katy Hays
Publishing date 03/25/25
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley , Random House - Ballantine books, & author for this e-ARC.

Synopsis — 30 years ago, 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead off the cliffs of Capri, Italy. Now, 30 years later, her daughter Helen who is haunted by what happened to her mother that night, has returned to Capri where yet another person connected to the Lingates disappears and the investigation into her mother’s death is officially reopened.

Saltwater is a twisty thriller that is set in Italy. The family drama and mystery/thriller aspects of this book made for an intense edge of your seat type of read. Highly recommend this one when it releases next March.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a fun thriller and a must-read for 2025! This twisty family saga centers around generational secrets and what someone can be capable of in the name of family. To me, the best part of this story is its setting, it takes place on the island of Capri, Italy and thanks to the author's writing, the island itself serves as a character with Hays' imagery adding to the dynamic of the story. Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Drama, mystery, family secrets… all set in beautiful, exotic Capris!! This was an immersive, dark thriller that had me hooked. Definitely recommend!!!

30 years ago, 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead off the cliffs of Capri, Italy. Now, 30 years later, her daughter Helen who is haunted by what happened to her mother that night, has returned to Capri where yet another person connected to the Lingates disappears and the investigation into her mother's death is officially reopened. No one is who they seem and Helen doesn't know who to trust when long buried secrets finally surface.

Great destination thriller and one that I think is going to be a perfect beach read for the summer of 2025! This book was filled with family drama, layers and layers of secrets and neverending twists and turns. The book is told from multiple points of view and is a dual timeline story. I felt that the timelines transitioned smoothly and was a dark and tense and mysterious thriller. I truly enjoyed this one!

Expected release date: March 25th 2025.

My reviews can also be found on my GoodReads profile.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Absolutely loved this mystery/thriller. I loved the family angst aspect and I did not guess a single thing right which is fantastic

This started slow but oh my. Family drama at its best. It is suspenseful and a little dark. The light of the book was the setting in Capri. I loved the descriptions of the location. The ending was good.