Ooh what a perfect summer thriller!

Julia, David and Erika have spent their summers at Lake Timmeny for their whole lives. A lake where secrets and drama isn't a stranger. The lake is also the place where two young women disappeared without a trace exactly 30 years apart, staying open and unsolved cases.

This year, the trio returns, 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.

This book had a full cast of characters but is told from two different POV's. First, we have Julia, a original part of the trio, and a mother whose life is about to take a turn for the worse and then we have Izzy, a newcomer to the lake as David's nanny to his twin children.

This book was relatively easy to follow even though the cast of characters is huge. I enjoyed the dual points of view from both Julia and Izzy and found their stories easy to follow. This thriller has twists aplenty and is full of drama. I thought it was the perfect summer thriller and I really enjoyed it.

Expected Publication: July 15th 2025

Thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The lake in the summer is a calm, peaceful getaway that will renew your mind and energize you, right? Maybe not when everyone has secrets and a newcomer to the group ends up missing. Told from two POVs, we’re taken down a twisty road that will keep you guessing!

Thank you to Jamie Day, NetGalley, and St Martens Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars!

I must confess, my feelings about this author's works have been a bit of a rollercoaster. While I wasn't particularly enamored with the first book, I loved the second. Unfortunately, this latest offering didn't quite hit the mark for me. The premise was intriguing, and I was genuinely excited to dive in, but it felt more like a lengthy mystery than a gripping narrative.

Three lifelong friends—Julia, David, and Erika—return to their summer lake homes in Vermont, now as adults with their own challenges. David showcases his new renovations, which upset his friends, and introduces a younger girlfriend along with a nanny with a secret agenda. When his girlfriend disappears after a fight, Julia and Erika question their trust in David. The story echoes a haunting history of two women who vanished from the lake thirty years earlier, leading to a search that uncovers deep-seated secrets and dangers, threatening their friendship and lives.

The first half of the book dragged a bit, but the second half picked up the pace, though I found myself losing track of the plot on a few occasions. The cast of characters was extensive, and I struggled to keep up with who was who, especially since the character development was a tad sluggish at the start. It was a bit like trying to untangle a ball of yarn while blindfolded!

On the bright side, the summer setting was vividly described and enchanting. Having spent my summers in Maine, I can only imagine how stunning Vermont must be. The twists and turns in the plot were unpredictable, and the connections between the characters were intriguing, even if I had to pause occasionally to catch my breath.

As I mentioned, the first part lacked the excitement of the latter half, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. If you enjoy complex friendships, dark pasts filled with lies and betrayals, this summer read might just be the perfect companion for a hot day. So don’t be discouraged—give this book a shot! It might just resonate with you. I’m eager to hear your thoughts!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"The Lake Escape" is a twisty domestic thriller that is perfect for summer. It's hard to believe Jamie Day only stepped onto the scene a couple of years ago, because she has written some solid suspense/thriller books. This was another intricate novel full of secrets, lies, and family drama. The book started off strong, and I was hooked. Around the halfway mark it lost its momentum a bit, but the pace picked up again toward the end with several surprising twists. There are a lot of characters in this story—many of whom are quite unlikeable—and it was hard at first to keep track of who was who. I really enjoyed the dual perspectives of Julia and Izzy, which created a lot of tension and suspense. I also loved the immersive and atmospheric lakeside setting. While this was not my favorite from Day, I liked it overall and think it will definitely make a great lakeside or beach read this summer.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. They both did a great job bringing the characters to life and building suspense through their narration. They were able to expertly convey the appropriate tone and emotion. Strole's voice was a nice contrast to Larsen's. The audiobook was well-produced, and I especially enjoyed the sounds of the lake's waves lapping the shoreline, which created an immersive experience.

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

I enjoyed this author’s previous books, and was so excited for this one, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.
I thought the story dragged, and I struggled to connect to any of the characters
I did appreciate the alternating perspectives that the story was told from. The twists were pretty good, even though some were a little over the top.
Overall I would say this falls more on the average end for me. I look forward to reading the author’s books in the future.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was a struggle for me. It was really slow for so long I had a hard time caring about what was going to happen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Somehow I was bored and overwhelmed with this one. Part 1 seemed longer than it needed to be. A lot of words for a basic set up with minimal/superficial character development. Part 2 was action packed, but the reveals were quite over-the-top in my opinion.

While this won’t be a summer favorite of mine, I think it will still be a good vacation beach read for other people.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 15 2025

I really enjoyed Jamie Day’s last book, so when I received this arc, I was very excited to get into it.
60% in I was worried this was just another family drama. 61% in, things started to take an interesting turn.
I just struggled to engage with these characters, and the plot was a bit all over the place for me.
Old friends, family lake houses, and so many many secrets. This read does make for a great summer read.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

Who doesn’t love a good annual friends’ trip? Julia, David, and Erika have been spending their summers at their family lake houses ever since they were young and they have carried on the tradition into adulthood. What is normally a fun-filled relaxing weekend for the crew, becomes a bit more chaotic this year … even deadly.

When David’s girlfriend goes missing, and it aligns with the spooky lake lore (two other women disappearing exactly 30 years apart), things start to get tesnse and the friendships start to crack.

The story swaps back and forth between the POVs of Julia and Izzy (David’s nanny). As it progresses, we learn that Izzy has ulterior motives for nannying David’s adorable twins. We also learn that David may have some ulterior motives himself … in fact, does the entire group have deep dark secrets that they’re keeping from one another?!

I definitely enjoyed this story! While I wasn’t a huge fan of the asshole misogynistic characters, I also realize that they exist IRL, so it makes sense. Thankfully, to balance that out, I absolutely LOVED the female empowerment/girl power that develops as the story goes on. I’m always on board for a badass woman (pr a few). If you like any of Day’s other books, or even if you haven’t read any of them, I suggest you give this one a read!

Day writes a fantastic summer thriller. I've read their previous two releases and enjoyed them as well. Perfect setting with tons of drama. Definitely recommend!

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day
Narrated by Lisa Larsen, Phoebe Strole

Julia, David, and Erika spent their summers together at the Vermont lake homes of their families thirty and more years ago. Since their teen years they've been through so much, together and apart, and things have not always been smooth sailing. Still, each of them look forward to their summer vacations at their summer homes although their friendships are going to sink to the bottom of the lake once all kinds of things come to the surface.

For one, David has rebuilt his home so it blocks the lake views of Julia and Erika. Julia is furious, why doesn't Erika care? Plus David has brought another of his endless parade of younger and younger girlfriends to the lake and this one is WAY too young and immature for David. There there is the brand new nanny because David has run through his supply of former nannies somehow. Plus there are the fears about two women going missing after a certain number of years. Is it time for that to happen again?

We get two POVs, that of Julia and that of the nanny, nineteen year old Izzy. I liked them both, Julia seemed to be the most reasonable and down to earth of the older trio. Izzy is a smart, conscientious teen, and her parts were the parts I liked best. She was funny, a bit snarky, but really trying to do the best she could as a nanny with no nanny skills other than watching Mary Poppins every year. She has never even babysat before and now she's got two rambunctious and more than a little spoiled twins on her hands. And she's really there for another reason but can't let anyone know the real reason she is there.

Pretty quickly bad things happen and also bad things are found out, and also bad things are confessed. Lots of bad things. I just sat back and watched (and listened to) the great big Titanic size mess run into the iceberg that had been growing for a very long time. Who, if any one, will come out with their heads above water by the time this story is over? I was fortunate enough to have both the ebook and the audiobook and both are good ways to go with this story. I did really enjoy listening to the narrator of Izzy, she really put life in the part and sounded like the smart and curious teenager she's portraying.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC

The Lake Escape is a twisty summer thriller set at a picturesque Vermont lake with a dark past. Longtime friends Julia, David, and Erika reunite for their annual getaway, but when David's girlfriend mysteriously disappears, old secrets and tensions resurface. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, revealing a web of lies and betrayals that span generations. This was a chilling beach read that delves into the complexities of friendship and the shadows of the past.

In The Lake House, a summer mystery unfolds on the shores of a Vermont lake. The story centers around childhood friends Julia, David, and Erika, who reunite at the lake house with their families. Things a dark turn when David's new younger girlfriend vanishes without a trace. As suspicions rise, secrets are revealed, and we learn the nanny has a hidden agenda. Does she know something?

This is a captivating summer read that's perfect for fans of suspense and mystery. We have lifelong friends who all carry their own secrets, the tension is real, the suspicions are high, and no one really trusts anyone.

Although the numerous characters can be challenging to keep track of initially, the author's writing style and pacing make it worthwhile. I was able to hybrid reading and listening to the book. The narrators bring the characters to life, making it easy to distinguish between them.

Overall, 'The Lake House' is a captivating summer read that's perfect for fans of suspense and mystery. It’s a slow burn start but a satisfying conclusion. With engaging writing and interesting plots, Jamie Day has become an author I'm eager to follow and read more from!

The Lake Escape leaves you no room to breathe through the never-ending mix of lies, deception and unsolved murders.

When three lifelong friends meet up at the lake for two weeks of rest, relaxation and plenty of booze, things quickly spiral. David has upgraded his cabin to a monstrosity of a house that impedes the lake view from the others’ homes. Then he brings a new girlfriend half his age. He also brings a new nanny to watch over his twins. When his girlfriend goes missing, he becomes the main focus of not only his friends, but the police as well. The nanny takes it upon herself to investigate but she has ulterior motives of her own. This group of friends realize that they really don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.

This book seamlessly blends gripping, heart stopping moments with the real emotions of each character. Jamie Day has knocked it out of the park with this one. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

This book is going to be a summer hit! We have lake vacation vibes, true crime, podcasting, missing people, deception, and murder! What else could you possibly ask for on your summer tbr? I tandem read the book and audiobook and I’ve got to say, I really loved the narration, especially since the story is told from multiple POV. Author @jamiedaybooks does an excellent job with themes of family drama so if you’re into that you’ll want to pick this book up!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read a few books by Jamie Day. I usually fully enjoy them. This one was ok. It fell flat a little for me. Became too convoluted and took a long time for me to finish it. It was entertaining and I didn’t hate it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Lake Escape" and all opinions expressed are my own. I have both the audiobook and kindle book. I listened to the audiobook. I just didn't like the characters or the story. It was a jumbled mess. The idea was good but it wasn't for me. I did like Izzy though.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I eagerly anticipated this new book from Jamie Day. Her first two were great, easy reads. The Lake Escape left me disappointed. While the setting was great, I didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters and the plot line was just a bit too much of a stretch for me to believe.

I loved the idea of this but it felt too long, and the mysteries felt too far removed from what happened. There weren't many likeable people in the story, which isn't really a problem with a thriller, but when nothing is happening it's nice to have a reason to keep reading. Still, people may enjoy this for a summer read, because it's a thriller with an interesting mystery.

I’ve enjoyed Jamie Day’s previous books, so I was especially excited to dive into The Lake Escape, a gripping thriller filled with family drama and long-buried secrets.
The story follows Julia, David, and Erika, childhood friends who grew up spending their summers at a Vermont lake. Now, as adults, they continue the tradition with their families at their respective lake houses. This summer, however, brings a new dynamic: David arrives with his much younger girlfriend, his two young children, and Izzy, a college student nanny with an agenda of her own.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its layered storytelling. The characters share deep connections, some well-known and others hidden beneath the surface, both in their present relationships and within their families’ pasts. The pacing is strong, with multiple mysteries unfolding throughout. For instance, why is Izzy working for David while keeping it a secret from her mother? These threads kept me engaged as I pieced together each reveal.
As the story progressed, I worried that the ending might not deliver the resolution I hoped for. But Jamie Day did not let me down and every strand was woven together beautifully, providing a satisfying conclusion. The Lake Escape is a well-crafted thriller that kept me invested from beginning to end, balancing intrigue, family drama, and suspense in a way that made for a compelling read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.