I don’t have a lot to type about this book, I thought about not finishing this book several times but other reviewers said it picked up 60-80% of the way through (I didn’t feel that way).. All throughout reading I felt like I’d missed parts because the writing was muddy, the pacing was slow, and I just struggled to finish.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House publishing/Ballantine for the eARC.

I was floored by the twist at the end. Somehow it evaded me the whole time reading even while I had noted clues that later made it all click into place. The second twist, so closely resembling the first, while a nice parallel just seemed to push the believability over the edge for me. I felt the first 2/3 of the book were going to lead to slow, somewhat predictable ending, then was really shocked, then somewhat let down by the echo of Lorna and Sarah’s fates.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Toxic Rich People in Paradise

If you like your books filled with beautifully descriptive places most of us don’t have access to…here’s your new read.
The island of Capri becomes the star right from the start. The people are about as toxic as you can get, but very entertaining. Multiple timelines and points of view, multiple sleeping partners, and multiple betrayals. And all the while there’s that island, the lush, decaying beautiful places they live in and its history.
I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just leave you with this. Read it. It’s worth the time and you may find a new place to dream of visiting.
#NetGalley #Saltwater #Summer2025
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for this copy of Saltwater by Katy Hays

Saltwater is a gripping tale of family secrets, long-buried truths, and the haunting legacy of a mysterious death. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Capri’s cliffs, the story begins in 1992 with the tragic death of Sarah Lingate, whose fall leaves a lingering question: was it an accident, or something far more sinister?
A fun mystery, that keeps you guessing until the end!

A total page-turner! I really enjoyed that this story flash backed to the past and had different points of view. No one seemed to know the truth about anyone else, so it worked really well and kept me in the dark, too. I'm usually pretty good at guessing plots, but this book had one really big twist that shocked me (yet worked perfectly if you thought back to earlier moments). I couldn't put it down, and I definitely recommend it!

I liked the cover. Slow start and a little confusing at times. Wish it was more suspenseful and less angsty

Wow.. when I started this book, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it, let alone love it. It definitely took me a little to get into the story, which has a lot of characters and moving parts. However I am thrilled I stuck with it. That's all I'll say without giving anything else away.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is your quintessential “rich people behaving badly” thriller set in the sun-drenched luxury of Capri. We’re talking a family so tangled in secrets, lies, and questionable decisions that they practically belong on their own reality show. At the heart of it all is Helen Lingate, a woman with one goal: to figure out what happened to her mother, Sarah, who was found mysteriously dead below the cliffs of Capri in 1992. But of course, when it comes to a family this wealthy, nothing is ever straightforward—except their penchant for covering up inconvenient truths.

The story unfolds through multiple POVs and timelines, which is either brilliantly intricate or slightly dizzying, depending on how well you can keep track of who’s plotting against whom. Every chapter introduces another layer of secrets and betrayals that would make even a soap opera villain say, “That’s a bit much.” And naturally, there isn’t a single character who could be described as “likable” or even remotely grounded in reality. But hey, isn’t that why we read books about old-money families? If you’ve come here looking for relatable, salt-of-the-earth characters, you’re better off reading something else.

There’s a lot to love—or at least tolerate—about Saltwater. The setting is beautifully described, and if you’re not booking a flight to Capri after reading Hays’s lush descriptions, you’ll probably at least want to Google some photos. The plot has enough twists to keep you entertained, even if they sometimes veer into soap-opera territory. And that ending? Well, let’s just say it’s the literary equivalent of a mic drop, leaving you either reeling in shock or wondering why you invested so much in these characters to begin with.

All in all, Saltwater is perfect for readers who love mysteries full of scandal, betrayal, and toxic family ties. Just be ready to lose track of timelines and put up with characters you wouldn’t want to spend five minutes with in real life. If that’s your cup of tea (or should I say, limoncello?), then dive in.

This thriller was entertaining and kept my attention. I sometimes enjoy a good book about rich people, especially when they are unlikeable, which this book was full of. I would give it a try if you are looking for a decent read that you just want to chill out and not think about anything.

OMG I loved this book! I was immediately hooked as Hays introduces us to the luxurious and envious life of the Lingates. I didn’t mind the timeline and POV jumps. There were so many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I would 10000% read a sequel about these characters. Thanks for the eARC!

Helen wants to know the truth of what happened to her mother. A story of secrets, greed, family drama, and intrigue. So many bad people ruthless to get the family fortune made for an entertaining read.

Rich people up to no good.

I was a massive fan of Katy Hays' The Cloisters. The tarot cards, the academic nature of the entire book—it hit all of my sweet spots. For her second novel, Saltwater, Hays takes us to Capri. It's sunny and beautiful, and it's the Lingates' home away from home, even though Sarah Lingate was found dead in 1992.

At the time of her death, her husband, Richard, and his brother, Marcus, were both investigated for murder, but there was no evidence. Plus, it helps that the Lingates are old money. Old money and family history that rules over everything.

Sarah has one child, 3-year old Helen. For the rest of Helen's life, she was protected and kept on a tight leash. She shopped where she was allowed. She ate where she was allowed. She went to school where her father wanted because she could live at home and he could keep a watchful eye.

Thirty years later, the Lingates arrive at the same white villa in Capri as they have for the last thirty years to remember Sarah and squeeze in a vacation rubbing elbows with other old-money families. Helen's boyfriend has come along this year, as has Marcus' assistant, Lorna.

Lorna has secrets of her own, but she and Helen have connected during her time with Marcus. They have been working on a plan of escape, one that will benefit both of them. When the family wakes up and Lorna is missing, all of the lies and old money secrets start to dissolve.

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One of the things that I enjoyed about both The Cloisters and Saltwater was the way that Hays laid out the story. With Saltwater, duel timelines and multiple POVs help expand the story, adding depth and intrigue to the mystery of both disappearances.

There are a ton of red herrings, and I was constantly wondering who did what and to whom. Each reveal was better than the one before, and the final reveal took this from a four-star to a five-star read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

“Saltwater” will be the next thrilling, hot read of the summer! This transportive story takes you to the luxurious costal area of Capri, Italy. This rich family has secrets long buried and new ones rising with the tide. Each character has a different motive at play. I enjoyed unraveling the family dynamics of this dramatic thriller. The alternating timelines and perspectives added to the intrigue of the storytelling.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

On some levels this book struck me as a slapstick comedy, changing identities, random deaths, no guilt….except this isn’t funny, just confusing. I think the style of writing is fine but the plot is so absurdly convoluted that I needed a spreadsheet to figure out who was who and who was dead or alive.

This takes place on beautiful Capri where the ultra-wealthy Lingate family returns every year despite the fact that Sarah Lingate had been…murdered, killed or committed suicide there 30 years earlier. The book is narrated by Sarah, her daughter Helen and the shady family assistant, Lorna. It is told in different time periods during a 30 year span.

Honestly, I felt there were simply too many “confusions” which weren’t red herrings just endless trivialized death. I was very uncomfortable with that attitude. I don’t think there was a single likable character.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this rather bizarre novel.

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.