Thanks for the ARC Atria Books and NetGalley! Jessa Maxwell wrote an incredibly interesting book - I was so interested to see how all of the storylines tied together and really didn't expect the twists as they came! This one felt a little slow-paced but once I was in it, I was really in it.

Chilling mysterious thriller with a great storyline! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc!

2.5 ⭐️

honestly this one didn’t hit for me. i went in expecting a suspenseful summer mystery, but the plot just kinda dragged and never really built up to anything that exciting. the reveals were underwhelming, and it all felt a little too quiet and slow-paced for my taste. i kept waiting for that moment where everything would click or the tension would really ramp up—but it never came. not the worst thing i’ve read, but definitely didn’t leave much of an impression either.

thank you to netgalley and atria books for the arc

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. My first by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Atmospheric and twisty. A very well written domestic suspense.

In this book, Orla returns to Hadley Island a decade after her best friend Alice mysteriously vanished. As she confronts old memories, she becomes entangled in a new disappearance, drawing her, Alice’s old crush David, and a reclusive local named Henry into a chilling mystery that may reveal more than they’re ready to know. A twisty and atmospheric thriller that unearths the island’s dark past.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

Dead of Summer is such a perfect, fast-paced thriller! I can see this being something I would love to read beachside during the summer, when I need something quick and easy to read. Though I did find many of the plot points predictable, I still found myself hooked and waiting to see what was going to happen next. Seeing all of the storylines of the three separate characters come together and seeing just how they all intertwined with each other was so satisfying and incredibly well done. My main issues with the book fall mostly within the pacing. I felt as though the first half of the book was moving so slowly, and about halfway through, it became way too fast-paced instead. While I did think a lot of the context and information given in the first half that I think contributed to it feeling slower was necessary, towards the end, I began to feel like I did not always have enough information, and found myself getting a little confused at times. I also thought some of the time jumps mid chapter were confusing, as I did not always know exactly when I was reading a flashback versus when I was reading something from the current day, causing me to have to reread parts of the book, particularly within the second half.

Overall, these problems were not enough to cause me to dislike the book, and I still found it to be a very enjoyable read! Will definitely recommend this to others who are looking for a fun thriller!

3.5 stars - As several other reviewers have said, it really is a "quick, popcorn thriller" - perfect for beach or poolside reading! Overall, I liked it- felt the remote island setting was ominous & atmospheric, but I really could have done without all the rich people vibes, that trope is getting old. Still kept me reading and was quite entertaining. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the advance reader's copy - greatly appreciate the opportunity to read & review early!

This was a fun thriller and I could see it working well in the summer. The setting of Hadley Island, a small island on the New England coast was perfect for a sort of locked island mystery. The story has three different POVs, Orla, whose best friend was lost at sea in high school and her death was blamed on local man Henry, who we also follow. And then Faith, a young person living in NYC who becomes entangled with David, who is incredibly rich and spends his summers on the island. There are a lot of rich people behaving badly in this book, but I appreciated that the POVs were all from people just trying to live their lives on the island rather than one of the incredibly rich people who vacation there.

The mystery was enough to keep me turning the pages to find out what happened, and the characters all had depth to them. I enjoyed the setting and the resolution of the book. This would be a fun book to read by the pool or pick up when you need something lighter.

A girl’s disappearance still haunts residents of a remote island years later. Orla returns to on a to help clean out her childhood home and ends up facing ghosts from the past she’s been trying to avoid. David brings his girlfriend home to meet his wealthy overhead father. Henry watches it all through his telescope and self imposed exile. Told through multiple POVs and timelines. There is a lot going on. It started strong but then kind of fizzled. Overall it was ok.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy. Pub date 7/22.

I liked this book but i felt that the twist were a bit predictable. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the writing is immersive, making you feel like you’re right there on the island, watching the shadows move on the beach. If you love thrillers that are both chilling and emotionally gripping give this a try.

I will forever love a @jessamaxwellauthor book! I started this book this morning and could not put it down until I was finished. This is a fantastic atmospheric summer popcorn thriller. The different POVs and short chapters will have you flying through this one! I loved the description of the island, the isolation of the mansion and the close knit community of the village. If you are looking for a beach read this summer, I recommend picking this one up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 7/22

Great read. Loved the setting. Good character development. Highly recommend. Looking forward to more from Jessa Maxwell..

I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. This is the perfect summer beach book! We have an isolated New England Island where Orla's family has a home. Orla hasn't been back since her best friend, Alice, disappeared 10 years ago. Now the home is being sold so she returns to help clean it out. This brings back memories and Orla begins digging around the past.
David also returns. David was Orla's crush back in the day and he has brought his soon-to-be fiancée, Faith. Or at least she believes she is soon to be a fiancée. Faith is bored, as David is always busy and has little time for her, so she too begins digging around in the past. We also meet Henry who is a loner and likes to spy. He has always been dogged with the rumor that he may have had something to do with Alice's disappearance.
Then another girl disappears and all three get caught up in the middle.
With this story, atmosphere and characterization are the stars of the show and I really enjoyed following along. I would read more from this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jessa Maxwell and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Instagram and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of July 22, 2025.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell was a cleverly crafted mystery thriller that immediately captivated me from the very first chapter. The eerie atmosphere, the mysterious mansion, and the peculiar characters who resided there all contributed to the suspenseful tone. What really happened here?
Faith, in particular, was a mystery that kept me guessing throughout the novel. The author’s writing style was engaging and gripping, making this a thoroughly enjoyable and suspenseful read.

Thanks, Atria Books via NetGalley.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

This was such a solid, moody summer thriller — definitely one of those “just one more chapter” reads that totally sneaks up on you.

Dead of Summer takes place on a remote New England island (very murder-y vibes) where Orla O’Connor returns years after her best friend Alice mysteriously disappeared. Of course, things on Hadley Island are not what they seem, and as Orla digs into her past, long-buried secrets start bubbling up. The story is told through a few different POVs — including Faith (who's dating Orla's ex), and Henry (the resident weirdo with a thing for spying) — and somehow it all works. The tension builds slowly but steadily, and the payoff is super satisfying.

Jessa Maxwell’s writing is atmospheric and immersive — you can practically feel the fog rolling in while reading. The characters are layered and flawed in believable ways, and I really appreciated how each person had their own agenda. There’s also this great balance between mystery, emotional drama, and just enough romance to keep things interesting without taking over the plot.

If you're into twisty, slow-burn thrillers with strong character development and a creepy setting you can’t quite shake, I highly recommend this one. It’s a little dark, a little sad, but still hopeful in the right moments — and perfect for fans of The Guest List or The Last Thing He Told Me.

Would totally read more from Maxwell. Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this complimentary copy.

First want to say thank you for the ARC!

Here’s my spoiler free review of the book!

Honestly, this book was just a very quick summer thriller. Like I’m talking you finish it in one sitting on the beach! I will say some aspects of the book were a bit predictable, but the main suspect wasn’t that predictable to me. I was honestly kind of surprised by who did it.

I didn’t find that I liked really any of the characters that much. Some aspects of the story felt a little rushed to me like the backstory on Faith. It was a fine book, but it wasn’t one of those thrillers that I kept thinking about the ending once I was done reading!

But if you’re looking for a book on vacation this could be it!

Dead of Summer, by Jessa Maxwell, is an enjoyable twisty turny novel that leads to places I was definitely not expecting! The three main characters are:

Orla, who is returning to the island she grew up on after years away. It is a good time for her to take a break from her life trying to make it as an artist in NYC, and clean out her parents' house before they sell it. She hasn't been back since her best friend disappeared from the island as a teenager, and she is faced with many memories, as well as looks and whispered gossip from the locals.

Faith, who is spending the summer on the island with her uber wealthy boyfriend. She had visions of long romantic walks by the ocean, sails and parties; she didn't anticipate that her boyfriend would be spending most days closed off working with his father. The boredom leads her to some exploring of the town, and the mystery of the girl who disappeared so many years before.

Henry is an older gentleman, who lives on a tiny island off the island, isolating himself from the many suspicions that maybe he had something to do with the disappearance.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some unexpected twists and turns. It is not your average summer by the beach novel, which I really loved.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

This novel is the second book I've read by Jessa Maxwell. The first was her debut novel, The Golden Spoon, a 5-star book for me. Obviously, I had very high expectations of this mystery thriller, as I loved everything about the author’s debut novel.

The story takes place on a secluded island in New England and follows a set of characters. There is Orla O’Connor, who is returning to the island after a very long time, and this return brings back many buried memories of her best friend’s mysterious disappearance when they were teenagers.

Then there is David, who is also bringing his girlfriend, Faith, to introduce her to his family. Faith, being fascinated with the island, will start digging into its past and the secrets that are buried about it. Henry is another character that we follow his perspective. He was once considered a suspect in Alice's disappearance. And now, since Orla is back, he feels completely unsettled about her presence.

The book has an atmospheric setting, no doubt about that. The isolated island feels eerie at times, which completely suits the main theme. The story shifts between multiple perspectives, giving the readers a better understanding of each character’s behavior and motives.

The twists and turns were enjoyable for the most part. Yes, some were predictable, but that happens, and it is OK. I think character development would have benefited from some more depth. Overall, the story is a decent mystery thriller that you might enjoy reading, but don’t expect it to be a groundbreaking one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I went into Dead of Summer super intrigued by the premise, and in a lot of ways, it delivered exactly what I wanted. I absolutely loved the setting — a lush island in the summer, filled with wealthy characters and all the secrets you’d expect them to have. The atmosphere was so vivid and immersive; I was completely enthralled and couldn’t wait to see how everything unfolded.

That said, while the story kept me hooked, the characters themselves felt pretty two-dimensional. They never quite jumped off the page the way I hoped they would, which made it harder to fully invest in their fates. And when it came to the ending… it just wasn’t my favorite. It felt a little rushed and didn’t quite live up to the tension and mystery that had been building throughout the book.

Overall, Dead of Summer was a fun, fast-paced read with an incredible setting and plenty of intrigue, even if the character development and conclusion left me wanting a bit more.

This started off a little slow for me but picked up the pace at around 50%? That is a little too long in the tooth for me. While I overall enjoyed this read, it was quite predictable and hard to get invested in the characters.