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.

this was a great premise. l,but didn't hit the mark fully. there were a lot of repetitive parts each time the narrator changed. I really liked the actual twists but the characters are all pretty loathsome. hard to feel any real attachment to any of them.thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A very good mystery/thriller that was a quick read. I very much enjoyed the storyline, friends/frenemies drama and some (but definitely not all) of the characters. Great way to spend a day curled up with your beverage of choice and your favorite blanket.

This was my second book by this author, and it didn't disappoint. There was a full cast of characters, all with their own secrets to hide. The story takes place in an idyllic lake house community where friends have gathered to vacation for many years. But is it really an escape when all of your problems follow you there too? The tension grew throughout the book as we are given a backstory to the main characters, In the present someone disappears, and each character seems to have a good reason for wanting this person gone. I had preconceived ideas as to what was happening, but I was so wrong. I love when this happens because I will devour a book like this in one sitting to find out what happens. At times it was a little confusing as to who did what and when because there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I think this is what keeps then story interesting. I loved Izzy the nanny and thought she was really wise beyond her years and seemed to handle things better than the adults in the story. Overall, a riveting and entertaining read.

Ah, summer at the lake—where the wine is chilled, the vibes are tense, and the drama is as deep as the water. Jamie Day serves up a juicy cocktail of passive-aggressive lakefront neighbors, generational secrets, and one seriously inconvenient missing girlfriend. Add a shady nanny, blocked lake views, and the ghosts of summers past, and you've got the messiest reunion since your last group chat imploded. The Lake Escape is like Big Little Lies in boat shoes—sharp, twisty, and soaked in scandal. Pack this one in your beach bag… but maybe keep an eye on the water.

Thank you Jamie Day, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#thelakeescape #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

I finished this is two days. I couldn’t stop listening. So many characters and so many secrets and surprises each of them hold. Interesting characters, some likable and others not at all (like David). This is told from multiple points of view and by the end everything merges together. I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was well written. Narration was also great.

How well do you know your oldest friends…in this book not very well!

Julia, David and Erika grew up spending summers together, one summer two young women disappear and that mystery remains unsolved.
30 years later at that same lake David’s girlfriend disappears.. Is history repeating itself!

I enjoyed this book and I recommend it!

This book has a lot of lies and secrets. It has some intense moments. Some characters are likable and some are not. It centers around a lake community in Vermont. The description of the lake and the houses made me feel as though I was there. Jamie Day is a good storyteller. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Julia, David, and Erika, grew up spending their summers at their lake homes in Vermont. Now adults, they continue the traditions at the lake that harbors secrets. Two young women vanished without a trace thirty years ago. The cases remain unsolved.

Currently, there’s tension among the friends when David builds a house of glass, which blocks his friends’ view of the lake. He arrives with a new girlfriend and the nanny for his two young children.

Then David’s girlfriend disappears. Is history repeating itself?

Unsurprisingly, there are secrets that will be revealed….

But less is more. This had everything but the kitchen sink thrown in and the last 20% of the book was so ridiculous that at one point I actually laughed out loud. Plus a monologue confession. They are the worst! Add in twist after ridiculous twist, and the mob (lol) and that was it for me. Sadly, this was one huge disappointment.