While I’ve enjoyed other books by Jamie Day, this book wasn’t for me. It took me forever to read and I stopped reading and came back to it multiple times.

3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable read, and I was entertained. I did feel that the first half was a bit meandering at times with all of the action packed into the last part of the book. I would have liked to have seen more mystery and suspense throughout the story instead of only at the end. Some of the final scenes strained credibility. Still, this was a fun read – and I think it would be a nice read for summer vacation.

I paired the print and audio versions for an immersive read, and this was a fun way to absorb the book.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Julia, David, and Erika have been coming to Lake Timmeny, Vermont since childhood, their families owning adjacent houses. Their friendship has been long and enduring. This year may be different. David has built a huge glass house obscuring the view of the two others and has brought his young, sexy girlfriend along with his twin children. He has hired Izzy as a nanny, but she seems to be there under the shadow of a secret. The three friends have secrets of their own. The lake is notorious because two girls disappeared whereabouts unknown thirty years apart, leading to the legend “the lake takes them”. It is now thirty years since the last disappearance and another person goes missing.

Told from two points of view with a bit of a convoluted plot this is a twisty, sinister trip through toxic relationships. There are twists galore, some unexpected, others easy to guess. With a plot that begs the question how well do we know our friends, it is a fast, engrossing read. As a comic break from the suspense, I enjoyed Julia’s musings of how she would post current situations to Instagram. Her comments are quite entertaining.

I really struggled to get into this story. I didn’t really feel pulled in and it seemed really slow to start. Not much happening. I think there was just too many characters and storylines and unnecessary things that kept me from enjoying it. I previously loved the authors first two books but this was sadly a miss.

Julia, David, and Erika grew up spending summers as neighbors at Lake Timinee in Vermont. As adults, they've raised their children there, too. But things are off this summer. David has built a massive house of glass blocking the others' views of the lake; his new nanny, Izzy, and his girlfriend, Fiona, seem to be at odds; and Julia and Erika have secrets of their own. Then Fiona goes missing...just like a woman has every thirty years.

I love books with lots of juicy secrets, and Jamie Day has created a fun one with a perfect summer setting in this story.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for a reader's advanced copy of this book, and also thank you NetGalley. It is greatly appreciated.

Julia, David and Erika, they all grew up together spending their summers at thee Vermont Lake Houses for as long as they can remember. Now they are all adults with their own sullen teens, endless mortgages. These old friends have there own secrets over the years. This summer David is eager to show off his new vacation house, but now it blocks his friends cherished lake views, he also happens to bring along his much younger girlfriend. He also brings a nanny with a hidden agenda.

However when David's girlfriend vanishes after an intense shouting match. Julia and Erika wonder just how well they know their lifelong friend. This lake harbours a harrowing two young women, with no known connection, they vanished without a trace thirty years ago. Did the Lake take another women? or will they find out something darker?

Rounding this book up to a 2.5. Why is it always a guy named David ugh *eye roll*

Anyways this book was just okay it my opinion. I wouldn't say this book was DNF worthy I still wanted to read it and figure out what happened to his girlfriend. I felt like there were a lot of things going on in the book, like their was so much bring thrown in. It felt like it was all over the place. Everything did get tied up at the end of the book, but thee amount of things in it, is what really threw me. Out of this entire book I do think Izzy was my favourite character, the choice she had to make at the end of the book was hard but I think she made the right choice sending that person to jail. The cover of this book is what really drew me in, and made me want to read it. I will say she describes everything so well which makes the book worth reading. Plus I love how cozy it felt when I was reading about the lake houses.

This was a book that needed almost no brain power to read and I honestly love those kinds of books they are my favourite to read. During this read I was more invested in Izzy's story and Julia's and what was happening to them. Anybody else I could have cared less about. I would read another by this author, just because one book was a little floppy doesn't mean the others will be.

This book comes out July 15th, 2025, if this book sounds interesting to you pick it up, my opinions are my own and you don't have to listen to me.

Happy Reading!!!!

Another fantastic Jamie Day novel! This one had all the feels. I was captivated from start to finish with no idea who to trust. So many secrets and lies. Great cast of characters that kept me burning the midnight oil. Don’t let this gem pass you by.
Thank you NetGalley, Jamie Day and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

With an atmospheric setting in Vermont, this missing persons drama has a hint of local folklore (which, honestly, I would’ve loved reading more about), and started out so strong.

When a group a friends comes together just like they have every summer before, it already starts on a bummer note because one of them has renovated his home to block the lake views.

Conjecture about this goes on for a few chapters, but you know, eventually, hopefully, there’s going to be more to the story than just a petty argument.

Turns out the lake itself holds a mysterious past. Two women vanished thirty years ago, never to be found. So when the renovated home guy’s girlfriend goes missing, everyone is suspicious and a suspect.

The story is told from different perspectives, and unfortunately, Izzy’s chapters were juvenile and distracting. Yes, she’s only 19, but her observations made me start to lose interest, with less feelings of suspense and more like inflated teenage drama.

It took me a little bit to get into this. I really liked the first book. I read by her block party, but this one felt a little bit slow. But I liked the premise and felt like it was a good summer read

Jamie Day’s The Lake Escape is a gripping summer read that blends nostalgia, suspense, and a touch of the sinister. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of a Vermont lake, the story follows lifelong friends Julia, Erika, and David as their annual retreat turns ominous after David’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes.

What really stands out is Day’s use of multiple perspectives, which adds layers to the mystery and keeps the pacing brisk. The web of secrets, betrayals, and long-buried truths slowly unravels, building to a series of satisfying twists. The atmosphere is immersive, and the lake itself almost feels like a character—serene on the surface, but hiding something dark beneath.

While the large cast of characters occasionally made it hard to connect deeply with everyone, the emotional stakes and suspense kept me turning pages. It’s a perfect pick for fans of layered thrillers with a strong sense of place and character-driven drama.

Looking forward to what Jamie Day writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jamie Day, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hybrid read for me as I alternated between the audio and digital version.

The Lake Escape is entertaining and full of family drama and secrets. I loved the lake getaway setting. I felt whisked away on a summer vacation. I enjoyed the characters and the years of history they shared together. The mystery of the missing women was intriguing. The bond that the nanny ended up forming with David's children was heartwarming. The majority of the book I listened to the audio version and I feel like that increased my rating from 4 to 5 stars. It had me hooked.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced audio and digital version in exchange for my honest review.

Julia, David, and Erika have spent every summer at Lake Timmeny for as long as they can remember. Their vacation homes are a break away from their everyday lives. But when David's new girlfriend, Fiona, goes missing without a trace, their vacation turns into an investigation with David as a suspect. As the search for Fiona continues, Julia and Erika wonder if Fiona's disappearance could be related to the other two women who have gone missing at the lake 30 years ago. The campfire story says that the "lake took them". Could the lake have taken Fiona?

The Lake Escape focuses on two POVs: Julia, who has been David's best friend since childhood, but starts to investigate David's involvement in Fiona's disappearance, and Izzy, an inspiring journalist determined to investigate the missing women of Lake Timmeny, and David's new nanny. I enjoyed Izzy's POV. The secrets she discovered in Fiona's disappearance, and the women who went missing 30 years ago had me guessing how they were all connected. The story seemed to line up with an obvious conclusion, but I was completely surprised by how this book ended.

Overall, this is an intriguing mystery that is the perfect read for summer.

The Lake Escape comes out on July 15th.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review The Lake Escape. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook and reader copy of The Lake Escape by Jamie Day in exchange for an honest review. I thought this murder mystery had some wonderful Agatha Christie like twists and turns. When Izzy uses a nanny position for two weeks on the lake as a means to investigate a cold case, danger, intrigue and history follow. I enjoyed how complicated things get with each hour and many layers there were in this story. I was trying to figure out who was the lake killer or if there were more than one until the end of the book. This was a very well thought out book and entertaining too, I recommend it.

This book started out like a slow climb up a rollercoaster—you can feel the tension building, knowing something big is coming. And once you reach the top, hold on tight, because the twists and turns come fast and furious. I couldn’t put it down. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would jolt in a new direction. It’s a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read that keeps you guessing until the very end.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

‘The lake takes them’.
For three childhood friends will their annual two weeks at the lake be a vacation or an escape?

In THE LAKE ESCAPE, written by Jamie Day, Julia kicks off her summer vacation at her annual spot, a Lake Timmeny lake house in Vermont. She discovers that a friend from childhood, David, is renovating his lake house, disturbing her view and old path to the lake. Her other childhood friend, Erika, lives next door to David. Julia, David, and Erika each have a family but still gather together at the lake every summer. Izzy, a 19-year-old college sophomore who is a “wanna-be nanny,” is also at the lake, hired by David as a nanny for his five-year-old twins. The chapters for the rest of the book alternate between the points of view of Julia and Izzy. I want to know what will happen and read on.

I like that the book starts with a newspaper article about the unearthing of human skeletal remains. I know, right away, I am reading an exciting mystery. I want to know whose body it is and how and why it got there. I am engaged in the plot from the beginning. It is easy to know whose point of view goes with each chapter because the Izzy chapters are written in the present tense and Julia chapters are written in the past tense. The plot is well-constructed and keeps me enthralled through to its conclusion. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review THE LAKE ESCAPE

Fun summer vacation read! This atmospheric mystery thriller has a large cast of characters some of whom are not exactly who they say they are. The story is told from two POV, both Izzy, the teen nanny and Julia, who has vacationed at the lake her whole life.

The lake setting, lifelong friends on their annual vacation and the suspense all come together to create an enjoyable summer read.

I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC and both are wonderful.

3.5 stars rounded up. I have really enjoyed Jamie's previous books, so I was super excited for this one! I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint. It's a great summer thriller, especially if you enjoy family/friend drama. It's told in multiple POVs, which I always enjoy in thrillers. There's a missing girl every 30 years, secrets, and drama, drama, drama. I did not expect pretty much any of the twists, the curse of the lake added a nice little extra mystery to the missing girlfriend. It was a bit of a slow burn, but the end definitely bridged the gap with all of the excitement. It's a quick read and has the perfect summer by the lake atmosphere.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A week at a lake sounds like bliss! The water, the sun, old friends, and cookouts makes for an enjoyable vacation. Unfortunately for Julia, David, and Erika, old friends who spent their summers at their family's idyllic Vermont lake homes, this week will become a nightmare! Instantly gripping and atmospheric, The Lake Escape, grabbed my attention and never let go! Now that they are adults, Julia, David, and Erika have a lot on their plates - relationships, children, financial responsibility, sex and secrets! They are no longer the carefree teenagers who enjoyed their summers together!

David has arrived with Izzy, his newly hired Nanny, children and younger girlfriend to show off his newly renovated home which just happens to block his friends cherished lake views. When his girlfriend goes missing, an investigation is underway. Friends will look differently at friends and a long-ago mystery about two missing women at the lake surfaces.

This was book is told through the POV's of a couple of characters and slowly secrets emerge as do memories. I enjoyed the setting which was nostalgic and ideal. I could imagine the lake, the woods, and the homes. It looks like such a relaxing setting, but it is anything but relaxing for the friends and those in their lives. As the mystery builds, so does the suspense.

There were times that I wanted this book to move a little faster. There are quite a few characters and at times I felt as if they bogged down the story a little bit. What doesn't bog down the plot is the atmosphere, the tension, the suspense, the twists, and the setting.

I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook which made for a wonderful reading experience!

What a great thriller to enjoy this summer! Wonderfully written, well thought-out, shocking, and gripping!

Jamie Day's books are fun, light mysteries, and The Lake Escape is no exception. The lake setting with its lake lore, summer regulars since childhood, family drama and dynamics make up the perfect ingredients for an easy summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this entertaining eArc.