This year the annual vacation of childhood friends, Julia, David and Erika, at Lake Timmeny in Vermont will not be as blissful and relaxing as expected. Even Izzy, the nanny to David’s two children, has her own reason to be on this vacation escape. With so many twists, a few unbelievable scenarios and the likeable and unlikable characters hiding secrets, this thriller held my interest. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for the eARC. This review is my opinion.

In The Lake Escape, by Jamie Day, three friends-- Julia, David and Erika-- return to their families' lake houses for their annual reunion, but this year tension is in the air. David remodeled his house which now obstructs the view from the other two and everyone is harboring a secret. When David's girlfriend disappears one morning, no one is quite sure whom to trust. And why exactly did Izzy take the job as the nanny for David's five-year-old twins? The story is told from Julia's and Izzy's perspectives in alternating chapters. Though I guessed part of the twist at the end, there were a few surprises along the way. Solid beach read-- whether at the ocean... or a lake.

Julia, Erika, and David have been returning to the same lake each summer since they were children. Now they all have children and secrets of their own as well as homes on the lake that have been passed down through their families. Julia arrives at the lake first and notices the monstrosity of a glass house that David has renovated between her house and Erika’s house. He blocks most of their views of the lake. Julia quickly becomes suspicious when she seems to be the only person who is upset about this. David has hired a very young college student to watch his 5 year old twins for their vacation so he can work and spend time with his much younger girlfriend. The more time that passes, the more uncomfortable the vacation becomes. David’s girlfriend disappears and she isn’t the first to go missing at the lake. Pretty soon the reader has no idea who is lying and who is telling the truth. All of the characters engage in finger pointing. As the secrets come to light, so do the imperfections in all of their lives. This is an intriguing thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Your head will be spinning as the lies continue to be woven into a web that shrouds all of the characters. The constant twists and turns keep you captivated with the story and second guessing what you think is happening. The characters are well developed and the back story is told in a way that seamlessly blends into the present. Perfect for a summer read!

Jamie Day always has entertaining summer reads, but they always somehow just fizzle out for me.
This was well written and fun to follow along with, but it became really far fetched.

I think this book had lots of promise but it just became too far fetched towards the end with the mob aspect. I genuinely did care about nearly all of the characters, though, and that really made the book enjoyable to read. I wanted to know more about the families in the aftermath. Shockingly, I didn’t care what happened to Fiona but I think it’s because we didn’t get to know her in any positive way to begin with. All in all, this was still a great read!

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for an eARC of The Lake Escape by Jamie Day! This was the perfect suspenseful mystery audiobook for the summer.

This one follows Julia, David and Erika - Now adults who grew up together summering at their Vermont lake homes. They now have kids of their own - and with that, their own challenges and secrets. David has renovated his lake house (now blocking the view for the others), as well as his much younger girlfriend and nanny who has joined them for vacation. What on earth could go wrong?

I don't want to spoil this one - But I didn't see that first twist coming at all! I was surprised by the ending. Will be recommending this one for mystery book lovers - not quite a thriller, but a summer heat nonetheless with major suspense!

Julie, David, and Erika are lifelong friends who grew up with summers on a lake in Vermont. they reunite at the lake, when they arrive, they see that David has built a house that obstructs the view of the lake from their houses. He also brings his girlfriend, who ends up disappearing.

Having read two of Jamie Day's earlier books, I was keen to read The Lake Escape, a summer 2025 release. Perfect timing for the season, the book promised all the right moments to make a stellar suspense novel. A lake where women disappeared, seemingly a pattern every few decades. Families who grew up together, some harboring secrets. Newcomers with an exe to grind for a mysterious reason. Drama ensued. A new woman disappeared. A local who lives in the woods lurks nearby. Great stuff. Enjoyed the writing and building drama. Mostly, I couldn't understand why the "friends" even kept in touch. Felt a bit manufactured, as if they only saw each other in the summer, yet they had lots going on in their lives with dependencies on one another. Oh well... a little bit of confusion but definitely tons of surprises.

For audiobook fans, The Lake Escape delivers a lush, suspense-filled ride: evocative narration, layered mystery, and a payoff that rewards patience. It’s a top pick for those who relish atmospheric, slow-burn thrillers with strong emotional currents—if you're prepared for a wider cast and a suspense build that blossoms later, this lake-side story offers a satisfying plunge into dark secrets and summer-day anxiety.

Three childhood friends—Julia, David, and Erika—return to their Vermont lake homes for their annual two-week summer vacation. On the surface, it’s a familiar tradition, but this summer, everything feels different.

Told in alternating chapters that keep the pace fast, this story weaves together past and present, secrets and suspicions.

The multiple storylines come together in a layered, yet easy-to-follow way. This is a smart, twisty mystery that kept me turning the pages. A great pick for anyone who enjoys thrillers with complex characters and slow-burning tension.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this psychological mystery even more than The Block Party. The characters are nuanced and their motivations are believable, so I feel that the author earns the twists and turns that the story takes as the secrets of each are gradually revealed, rather than the revelations and twists coming out of nowhere, as can sometimes be the case with psychological thrillers. The point of view shifting between Julia and Izzy is an effective device that doesn't get confusing, as is the shifting between past and present. Cracks appear in various relationships as the tension and pressure of Fiona's disappearance builds, and the truth about the events leading up to it is revealed. I didn't want to put the book down once I reached the last third of the book. I will recommend for lovers of mysteries and psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lake Escape takes place in Vermont, at Timmeny Lake with childhood friends Julia, Erika, and David. It’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation. The characters are now grown, and their memories of the lake return.

Two women have gone missing at the lake – in thirty year intervals, and now it’s been thirty years since the last disappearance. After the first night around the campfire, David’s girlfriend Fiona goes missing. Has the lake taken her or is there more to this group of friends? What secrets are they keeping?

The story is fast-paced and told through the alternating povs of Julia and Izzy (David’s nanny). As I read, I was trying to put the pieces together, and there was one part I just couldn’t figure out! While I enjoyed The Lake Escape, the last 50ish pages felt like they dragged on. It’s a fun summer read!

Julia, David and Ericka have been friends for a very long time. Growing up on the lake during the summer, they return year after year, even as adults for their annual lake retreat. But now, they have mortgages, marriage problems, surly teenagers, secrets and lies. When David arrives at the lake with his kids and girlfriend and their nanny, he is so proud to show off his opulant addition to his lake house, but the others aren't as impressed. Julia is battling financial issues with her gambler of a husband, Ericka has teenagers that are miserable and don't want to be there. But when David's girlfriend Fiona goes missing, the third woman to go missing in the same place in 30 years, some of those secrets are going to be revealed, and David's nanny may just be the one to reveal them.

Jamie Day writes such good thrillers! I always love the rich neighborhood friend vibes, the secrets and unhinged lives they lead.

This book was exactly what I want in a thriller! It had a great setting, complex characters, and great POVs. The story was told by Julia, who has been spending summers at the lake her whole life, and Izzy, a nanny who accepted a job last minute for a wealthy single father with two kids.

Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole did a great job with the narration and kept me on the edge of my seat! Having the story bounce between their POVs made the mystery feel like a puzzle, and I loved how their histories unexpectedly wove together in the end.

Thank you to Minotaur books for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Julia, Erika, and David have been lifelong friends connected by their lake houses. When they go this summer, Julia and Erika find that David has built a massive house that blocks their view of the lake. David has also brought his new girlfriend, Fiona, and a new nanny. When Fiona disappears on the first night, we spend most of the story trying to find her. The nanny, Izzy, is there for more reasons that to watch the kids. Her aunt mysteriously died at the lake years ago and she is trying to figure out who killed her. This story was pretty slow paced at the start but quickly picked up. The connections between Julia, Erika, and David are crazy and how Izzy fit into the picture was as well. I enjoyed the who did it aspect as the story sets up one person and in reality that person isn'y fully responsible.

The Lake Escape is a twisty summer thriller set at a Vermont lake with a dark past. A group of longtime friends reunite for their yearly getaway, but things take a turn when one of their girlfriends disappears—and old secrets start to surface.

Told through two POVs (Julia and Izzy), it was easy to follow even with a large cast. The first half is a slow burn, but the second half goes full drama with twist after twist—some fun, some a little over-the-top (the mob?!).

Still, it was entertaining, atmospheric, and kept me hooked. Great for a beach read

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

This one did not work for me. I found that the beginning was very slow and kind of boring. The second half had all the fun, however it was so over the top that it was hard to be believable. I found that parts of both halves were wonderful, but overall the issues just made this one ehh for me.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

The perfect summer thriller read!! Giving all the summer vacay vibes mixed with all the thrilling suspense you can imagine. I went into this book without reading what it was about, I had seen some good reviews of Jamie Day books in the past and just took a chance on a new author and I was not disappointed. I was hooked almost immediately and couldn't put it down. It kept me guessing all throughout, which I love. I love the not knowing and letting my mind wander on who did what and then being surprised in the end and this book brought all of that. I loved the descriptions of the lake houses and the flashbacks to younger years spent there, it gave all the summer holiday vibes mixed with the thrilling suspense that I love. I was lucky enough to receive a digital ARC of this book and I definitely recommend adding it to your summer reading list when it releases!

[Snack-Size Review] The Lake Escape, by Jamie Day

Quick Bite: Is this author twelve? I feel like this author is twelve.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

What It’s About: Erika, Julia and David have been best friends whose families owned neighboring lake houses since they were children. Now middle-aged, they still go back to the lake every summer for a much needed vacation and reunion. But the lake seems to have its own agenda: Every thirty years, a young woman goes missing without a trace. And it just so happens that this trip falls on the thirtieth anniversary of the last disappearance.

A Word From The Nerd: I’m just going to say it - this book was terrible. The biggest problem was the character of Izzy, David’s nanny. She’s very smart, and we know this, because she tells us over and over how smart she is. She’s also an expert on children, because she watched Mary Poppins a bunch of times. Oh, and she’s a master investigator who plans to become the next true-crime podcast superstar (I can only imagine it’s because she wore out her copy of Harriet the Spy). The “adults” all behave in completely ridiculous, unbelievable ways. Both of our narrators tend to wax poetic, constantly, in ways that would make a fourteen year old cringe. Finally, the “twists” are just stupid, crammed in out of nowhere, and make no sense. Just bad, all bad.

The Nerd’s Rating: ONE HAPPY NEURON (and some weird blue cocktails, that might help.)

WILL THIS BE THE BEST WEEK OF THEIR LIVES… OR THE LAST?

JULIA, DAVID, AND ERIKA grew up together spending summers at their idyllic Vermont lake homes for as long as they can remember. Now adults— with their own sullen teens, endless mortgages, and low-voltage sex lives— the three friends have amassed secrets over the years.

This summer, David is eager to show off his newly renovated home—which now blocks his friends’ cherished lake views—and his much-younger girlfriend. He also, unwittingly, brings a nanny with a hidden agenda. What could possibly go wrong?

When David’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a shouting match, Julia and Erika wonder just how well they know their lifelong friend. The lake harbors a harrowing past: two young women, with no known connection, vanished without a trace thirty years ago. Did the lake take another?

As a search is mounted, an intricate web of lies, deceits, and betrayals spanning generations starts to surface, and everyone finds themselves in danger of becoming the next victim. Of the lake, or something darker.





As I rapidly turned the pages of The Lake Escape, I couldn’t wait to see what would unfold. The old friends enjoying a vacation at their lake houses have many buried secrets. Most of them will remain hidden until the very end of the story.

Primarily I was focused on David and his glass house, with all kinds of dark events behind him. But as more time passes, and as we learn more about the missing girls from the lake, we will discover that there will be a lot to uncover.

I liked the alternating narratives that offered glimpses into all the characters. By the conclusion, we are satisfied that much has been revealed. 5 stars.

***