A solid mystery told in multiple POVs. I wasn't sure how it would end up but I liked Izzy's character and how she told the truth at the end.

Julia, David and Erika have spent their summers at Lake Timmeny for their whole lives. The lake is also the place where two young women disappeared without a trace exactly 30 years apart. The cases remain open and unsolved.
This year, the trio returns with their families, but each person is carrying a whole lot of secrets from each other. David's girlfriend disappears the first night of their vacation, which makes it appear that history is repeating itself.
Told in 2 POVS, from Julia and Izzy, David's children's nanny, their perspectives slowly, bust surely put the puzzle together.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital e-arc.*

This book is full of secrets, petty drama, and that creeping dread you can't quite shake. Overall it is a moody and twisty read.

This was perfect for the summer! I truly did not know who to trust and what to believe. I always love a good popcorn thriller by the pool and this delivered. Also can we talk about the perfection of the cover?! Stunner!

Thank you @netgalley for my copy!***

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Publishing for the ARC of "The Lake Escape" in exchange for an honest review.

Rubbing my hands in morbid glee at the thought of another Jamie Day get-together of family and friends......and wondering who'll come out of it alive and well or belly up, six feet under, pushing up daisies, taking the dirt nap. or....(feel free to insert your own catchphrase here).

This time we're off to big beautiful Vermont Lake Timmeny and all its surrounding greenery.....and mystery. Amid the families of vacation homeowners, Julia Erika and David grew up alongside each other as their summers progressed. Now adults with families of their own they're back on the lake in the same homes of their childhood and teen years......except for wealthy talent agent David, who replaced his original family cabin with a sprawling, three story modular monstrosity, whose expanse blocks Julia and Erika's views of the lake.

It's not just their children they're brought them - the original trio also bring along no end of family strife, and plenty of hidden secrets to bedevil them. Julia and husband Christian struggle with a failing business and teen daughter Taylor, who's fallen into a sullen funk. High powered attorney Erika and outdoorsman husband Rick are at odds with their teen son Lucas, who dreamily hopes to become a singer-songwriter. Divorcee David has summer custody of his toddler twins and he also brought along Izzy, his new college student nanny and his gorgeous, live wire trophy girlfriend du jour, Fiona.

What's going to befall this bunch? What doesn't. Let's put it this way.....more than enough happens to surprise the living Jamie Day-lights out of them.

It seems Lake Timmeny already carried an ominous history of two separate young women disappearing in 30 year intervals, with no trace of them ever found. And wouldn't you know it - a brand new disappearance (right on time, 30 years after the last one) has shaken these three families to their very core.......and everybody's hidden agenda,and most forbidden secrets start tumbling out.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect setting for an absorbing summer mystery read and even with a not particularly sympathetic cast of characters, author Day knows how to keep you hooked till all the reveals are laid bare. My only peeve - with such a busy line-up of major players, I thought I might need a March Madness-type chart to help me lay out who did what to whom and why. And I'm not sure every reader will fully go along with the amount of exposition required to sort it all out.

I myself wouldn't mind spending a summer along the shores of Lake Timmeny......as long it's far enough away from Julia, Erika and David. They've got.....uh....issues.

Some secrets are too dangerous to tell

Three people who have been friends since childhood are spending their annual summer vacation at their neighboring houses on Lake Timmeny in Vermont. Julia arrives with her husband Christian and teenage daughter Taylor, hoping that the vacation will be a balm to her many woes...financial troubles caused by the business venture she and Christian run which is failing, a shaky marriage marred both by Christian's past drinking problem and his recently ended affair, and a teenage daughter whose mood swings are increasingly hostile in nature. Things don't start off well; the first thing Julia sees is her friend David's newly "renovated" house which has turned his setting appropriate rustic house into a multistory glass monstrosity which is sure to block views of the lake from both Julia's house and that of the third member of the Lake Gang, Erika. David arrives, with his latest gorgeous girlfriend Fiona as well as his five year old twins and Izzy, the pretty young college girl who will be acting as nanny for them. Tension seems to set the mood this year, and things come to a head when Fiona disappears after a heated argument with David. Over the last three decades two other young women have disappeared without a trace along the shores of Lake Timmeny, with the bones of one of them having recently been discovered...is Fiona the victim of foul play, and could her situation have any relation to that of the previous two women? For three people whose families have been summertime neighbors and friends for years and who once considered themselves a close-knit group, it is shocking to discover that they don't really know one another well at all. What secrets are being kept, and who has a motive strong enough to kill?
The Lake Escape is a solid summer thriller, with its setting alongside a lake bringing vibes of family summer vacations of yesteryear. The story is told from the points of view primarily of Julia and Izzy, the nanny who harbors her own hidden reasons for being at the lake. The pace is a bit slow at first as each character's backstory is fleshed out, but once those are established the speed and the tension ramp up. Themes of friendship, family, nostalgia for the past and the secrets everyone keeps are blended in with the search for Fiona and its possible connection to the previous missing women. Some of the twists didn't completely ring true for me, but overall it was an engaging read perfect for the beach (or in this case, the lake) bag, 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4. Fans of Riley Sager, Lisa Jewell and Lucy Foley as well as those who enjoy a good summer-themed thriller should grab a copy of author Jamie Day's latest effort. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me access to a copy of this suspenseful read in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

This was an easy bingeable popcorn thriller. I liked the concept, the characters, and the fact that I could not predict the twists.

Full of shallow, stereotypical characters, this books still ends up being a pretty good summer beach read. Why? Well, because there is a lot going on and a lot of characters but it is still all really easy to follow along. And because stories about kids that grew up together and have decades of secrets to get exposed makes for fun reading. I would say that most of the planned twists were telegraphed way ahead of time, but I think that adds to this as an excellent vacation read where maybe you have an extra glass of wine while reading, or take a little unplanned nap mid-chapter. It is a fluffy escape.

Thank you to Netgalley and Jamie Day for this advanced reader copy of The Lake Escape. This was an easy quick thriller. I was very interested in the story at the beginning. The middle did fall a bit flat for me and then the ending was good. I few twists and turns. Just wish the middle would have had some twists to it to keep my interest. Overall I did enjoy this read. This book comes out Tuesday, July 15th. Would be a fun summer thriller.

A summer thriller to add to your TBR!
Set at a lakeside cabin in Vermont, this book follows childhood friends reuniting for what’s supposed to be a yearly relaxing vacation, until someone disappears, and buried secrets start coming out fast. 👀
It’s twisty, atmospheric, and so easy to binge. Was it a little over the top at times? Sure. But I was still invested all the way through.
Definitely recommend picking this one up!

3.75⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Jamie Day and her publisher St Martins Press. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the July 2025 release of THE LAKE ESCAPE

Everyone’s hiding something—and it’s about to explode in this new summer book release.

⛵️ Suspense
☀️ Buried Secrets
🚣🏻‍♀️ Multi POVs
⛵️ Unhinged characters
☀️ Immersive Setting, atmospheric
🚣🏻‍♀️ Slow Burn mystery

If you’re craving a summer read that’s equal parts thrilling, atmospheric and a treasure chest full of buried secrets—this one is for you because this group of friends and family have some serious deception happening.

There is a large cast of characters to follow on this one, which in some books can be overwhelming, but in this case the author skillfully navigated the multiple perspectives and blended this tranquil setting into a captivating and suspenseful ride

Don’t let that picturesque lake setting fool you though it’s about to transform into a game of lies leaving no one safe from their deep dark closet of secrets.

It did feel a touch predictable at times but still enjoyed how it all unfolded (or should I say unraveled) and came together. The twists just keep on coming and left you wanting to keep turning those pages—overall a fun mystery thriller that was quick to read. Perfect to pack for a wknd summer getaway.

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy of Day's newest thriller - which is out TOMORROW, 7/15!!

This one was a decent summer read. The lakeside setting was atmospheric, and the mystery kept me interested, even if some of the twists were a little easy to see coming. It has that familiar thriller vibe—small town, secrets, and people you’re not sure you can trust—which can be fun, but also felt a bit predictable at times.

Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for something light and suspenseful, but it didn’t totally blow me away. Great for a weekend read, just not super memorable.

The Lake Escape
Jamie Day
Publication Date: July 15

I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Lake Escape. Her 2024 novel One Big Happy Family was one of my top thrillers of last year. While I didn’t like this one as much as last year’s novel, this was still quite good (and a perfect summer read). The storyline was fast paced, and Day does a great job of building suspense at the end of each chapter, so as a reader, I wanted to keep reading. There were some twists, but the bulk of the story was investigating and unraveling the mystery. I definitely recommend this book to thriller readers.

Plot: Childhood friends Julia, David, and Erika spent summers at the lake. Now, as adults, they have gathered there again with their families. When David’s girlfriend vanishes with no trace, and with a history of disappearing women at the lake, everyone wonders if they truly know David. As the story progresses between two POVs, Julia and Izzy (the nanny for David’s children), the mystery of the missing women slowly untangles, with lies and secrets revealed along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Jamie Day, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Three friends grew up together, spending summers at their Vermont lake homes with their families. Now adults, with marriages and kids, they look forward to getting together every year. But this year starts off with resentment, as David has remodeled his home to block the lake views from the others, plus he brought with him a new girlfriend and a nanny. And everyone has secrets.

I've enjoyed all of Jamie Day's books and this was no exception. Give me a messy family drama any day and then throw a mystery in the mix and you have the perfect book for your own lake or beach escape (hopefully with no bodies!). I felt the audiobook was very well done, with different narrators for the two points of view, making it easy to follow along. I liked the different family dramas and storylines and was always anxious to get back to the lake! The ending wrapped up all the plots very well.

Day has yet to disappoint me!
The Lake Escape by Jamie Day is another amazing read!
This story sucked me in, and with the detailed writing, I could picture it playing on the big screen.
Had me from the first page to the last.
The compelling narrative and well-drawn characters had me up so late.
The way she creates her characters is seriously the best. They are intriguing and entertaining.
A great suspense that pulled me in from the very beginning!
I love Jamie Day! Her writing is beyond captivating.

3.5 ⭐️ | What should be a nice getaway turns into a real life nightmare when a disappearance occurs. Women seem to disappear from this area on more than one occurrence and on this year’s vacation, Julia and Izzy are determined to find out what’s happening. It was great hearing the story from of their POVs. The story gave an eerie vibe, as these disappearances took place in a secluded lake area. The secrets ran deep in this friend group, and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold & seeing the character development in Izzy‘s character, she was my favorite. Overall, a decent read that fans of slow burn mysterious thrillers may enjoy. Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Childhood friends Julia, David, Erika and their families head to their family lake houses for a getaway only for someone to end up missing.

This was a twisty one! Here's what I liked:

The setting: While it's not locked room because they can leave, the characters really only stay in the lake side setting. This gives a good unsettling feeling to the whole book. I also loved that it was by a lake and the surrounding woods. It was a perfect setting.

The dual POV: You get the story from Julia and Izzy (David's new nanny who has her own agenda). I loved this because you had two women giving you the story and getting you info to really dig into the disappearance and the old myths in the surrounding areas. It also helped that I liked both women and found them relatable for different reasons.

The mysteries: Yes, multiple. You find out that the lake has a series of missing people over the years and new bones were just found nearby. This adds another layer to the overall mystery which was cool.

All in all, this was a great twisty thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Julia, Erika, and David are childhood friends and spend two weeks every summer at the lake. Julia arrives at her lake house to find her view obstructed by David’s “renovations”. When David arrives, excited to show off his new house and girlfriend, he unknowingly brings a nanny with ulterior motives. With years of friendship, come years of secrets. What will be uncovered between the three friends?
This was a fun summer read! I enjoyed the lake setting and imagined myself being at the lake. The mystery and suspense added to the vibes and kept me engaged. This book had multiple points of view that allowed the plot to unfold naturally. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

Overly complicated mystery thriller centered on three lifelong friends who have a tradition of spending summer vacation at their generational family lakeside homes in Vermont.

When the 3 friends, their significant others, and their kids converge on the lake this time, old conflicts and dark secrets are exposed. All are having some issues in their personal lives — between marital problems, alcoholism, debt, and many lies. David has brought along a new girlfriend, Fiona, as well as a young nanny to care for his 5-year old twins. It seems the nanny has a hidden agenda. Julia and Christian are facing some serious money problems along with a betrayal that might undo them. Erika and Rick have harbored deceit for many years. It all comes to a head when Fiona goes missing. And this isn’t the first time a young woman has disappeared from Lake Timmeny.

I really got into this at first, intrigued by all the possibilities. The further along I read, however, the more the book became a bit over the top. There was way too much that stretched my credulity and the plot became so complex with a ton of characters and relationships that it got to the point of ridiculous. I especially didn’t like the revelations or the conclusions. Bummer. I also never cared for any of the characters with all the coincidences and unlikely behavior they exhibited. So, although a quick read, I ended up unsatisfied and disappointed.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole, did a great job of voicing the characters and did their best to provide dramatic flair to a story that just couldn’t match their talents despite their excellent performances.

The Lake Escape is a new summer thriller from Jamie Day.

"David, Erica, and Julia grew up spending time together at the family homes on a Vermont lake. They're back for a summer escape as adults. But when David's new girlfriend disappears, everyone wonders about a connection with the other women who disappeared - all thirty-years apart. The police are called and a search is started. Secrets and betrayals come to the surface and everyone finds themselves in danger. Will the Lake take another?"

Day gives us another great collection of jacked-up characters. It seems like there's a dark side to the secrets that all have. Day keeps you guessing - you will have no idea the direction she takes. There are little parts you will guess, especially if you read many crime fiction/thrillers. But the big picture will elude you 'til the end.
There's a wild ending with some surprising reveals. Day made me feel for some of the characters - "Don't do that to them, Jamie!" But the resolution works.

Another good story from Day.