Orla returns to the island in New England where she grew up after hitting rock bottom. Her plan is to take the summer to get her childhood home ready to sell. The return to the island brings back the horrid feelings of her best friend Alice’s disappearance while they were still in high school. Orla’s high school crush, David, has returned to the island with his new girlfriend, Faith, who looks very similar to their missing friend. Faith is thrilled to have the privilege of accompanying David to the family compound that reeks of their wealth. Enter Henry, who has been exiled to a tiny island near the coast, after being accused in Alice’s disappearance. What really makes this book interesting is that it doesn’t focus on one main character. We get equal parts of the promise of Faith’s glamorous summer and the decrepit existence that Henry has been reduced to. You can almost feel Orla’s anxiety creeping off the pages. The scenes transition seamlessly from character to character without seeming choppy. The characters’ back stories are blended well into the present. The reader is given just enough information to form opinions on who did what with the thrilling reality exposed at the ending. I feel that the very end lacked the punch I was hoping for - hence the 4 stars.

This is the latest offering from Jessa Maxwell. Her books are not usually very violent or gory, so if those things turn you off from mystery thrillers, give hers a try. The story is about 3 best friends in their teenage years-Orla, Alice, and David. One summer there is a drowning on the island, and it pushes them apart. Many years later, Orla comes back to get her parents’ house ready to sell, and David is there for the summer with his girlfriend. As their paths intertwine again, sinister forces may change the trajectory of their lives once more. I really liked the pacing of this one. There were a couple of inconsistencies and gaps, but I assume those will be fixed in the final version. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy to review.

This book is the definition of a bingeable summer read. The setting, an eerie but beautiful island, really pulls you in and makes the whole story feel even more intense. I loved the New England coastal vibe (especially since I’m from nearby in Pennsylvania). While it’s more mystery than thriller, the multiple POVs help build suspense and keep the story moving. It starts off slow and nothing truly wild happens until the last 20%, but you’ll be so hooked on the characters’ drama that it flies by. That said, there are a lot of characters and it’s tough to keep them all straight at times, which is why I dropped a star. Overall, this book wasn’t mind-blowing, and parts were predictable and repetitive, but it was still a super quick, easy, and entertaining read. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking for a moody, summery mystery to devour in a day, definitely give this one a shot!

I had high expectations because I really enjoyed Jessa Maxwell's previous release "The Golden Spoon" but this storyline has been played out and there is nothing new offered in Dead of Summer

I met Jessa Maxwell last summer and she said she had just finished writing this book so I’ve been eagerly awaiting reading it! I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It takes place during the Fourth of July weekend and I happened to be reading this during the Fourth of July so it was perfect timing.

There are three POVs in this story: Orla, Henry and Faith. Orla O’Connor returns to her parents home on Hadley Island to clean out their house before it is sold. Returning to Hadley is hard for Orla because years ago her best friend Alice disappeared on the island. Faith is an up and coming socialite from New York City dating David the son of a billionaire. Henry isa recluse who spies on the islanders and is also the man many accuse of killing Alice. As they all are on the island will the mystery of Alice be solved? Is she missing or was she killed? Who is to blame?

This is a very fast paced summer thriller. I would highly recommend adding it to your TBR this summer. I can’t wait to see what Jessa Maxwell has coming up next!

THank you Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Jessica Maxwell book, but I'll definitely be coming back for more. It was a fast read, or maybe I was just so into it, I couldn't put it down - I was instantly hooked by the characters, and found their complexity really engaging. While there were some aspects of the story that I did find a little predictable, some of the twists really did throw me, so I think it's a fun twisty mystery that is a perfect summer read.

Thank you, Atria Books, for sending me a copy of Dead Of Summer by Jessa Maxwell. I found this book to be intriguing and smart. It's a fantastic summer thriller. Although it was somewhat predictable, that didn't deter my enjoyment. I'm sure you'll adore this book. Some parts of the writing seemed a bit awkward to me, but that could just be my personal taste in writing styles. 4 stars!

After thoroughly enjoying Jessa Maxwell’s The Golden Spoon, I was eagerly anticipating Dead of Summer—and it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. This twisty, summer-set thriller was fast-paced, atmospheric, and thoroughly entertaining.

Told through three POVs, the story dives into the mysterious death of a family member during a luxurious summer gathering at the Clarkes’ lakeside estate. The setting—a small town with a shimmering lake and an ultra-wealthy, high-profile family—gave off major The Perfect Couple (Netflix) and We Were Liars (Prime Video/book) vibes. I especially loved the dynamic of the glamorous yet secretive Clarke family and the eerie sense that anyone could be hiding something.

This book was everything The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager wished it could be. The vibes are similar—lake, suspense, secrets—but where Sager’s novel felt like a miss, this one absolutely hit the mark. It had the mood, the pacing, and the mystery that kept me flipping pages.

Though I was able to predict the twists, that’s not a knock on the writing—just the result of being an avid thriller reader and TV watcher. The story still had me fully engaged and eager to see how everything unfolded.

Dead of Summer is the perfect popcorn thriller for fans of summer mysteries with a glamorous edge. If you like layered secrets, shifting POVs, and a setting you can practically feel, this one’s worth diving into.

I was expecting this to be more of a thriller but I would say it’s more of a mystery. It started off very slow and it took me a while to get into the story. I wanted to give it a chance so even though the beginning was slow moving I kept reading and things started to pick up. It did catch my interest but I felt the plot was too predictable at some parts. The “thriller” elements weren’t shocking or thrilling and with the multiple POV and flashbacks the pace was sluggish. I was hoping for more twists and unexpected turns as thrillers usually have those elements but this one was lacking in that regard unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Years after her best friend Alice vanished from Hadley Island, Orla O’Connor returns alone to clean out her family’s home before it’s sold—but she can’t shake the feeling that someone’s watching her. Her former high school crush, David, is back on the island too, accompanied by his glamorous, social-climbing girlfriend, Faith. She’s expecting a summer of luxury and picture-perfect New England charm, but David remains largely hidden away with his controlling father. Meanwhile, local recluse Henry quietly observes the island’s every move—and its buried secrets—through his ever-present telescope.

This atmospheric thriller is a slow burn. The first half leans heavily into mood and character development, and I found my attention drifting. Happily, around the halfway point, the story snaps into focus. The tension builds, the stakes rise, and I was fully invested from then on. Worth the ride!

I was very disappointed with Maxwell's third novel after loving her previous two, The Golden Spoon and I Need You to Read This. Both of those books had fun hooks (solving a murder in a reality baking competition in the former and at an advice column in the latter), but this one didn't; it just kind of languished, wandering through a summery beach setting like a hundred domestic thrillers/mysteries before it. There was very little plot, almost no characterization, and hardly any intrigue. For such a short book, it dragged and plodded toward an uninspired, borderline nonsensical ending.

Here's to hoping for more from Maxwell's fourth.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell is a perfect summer thriller. It is fast paced, intriguing, and has a small town vibe. The multiple viewpoints gave a unique description of the story and helped tie everything together. This book is perfect to read over the weekend while lying by the lake. Also, I love the cover. It is perfect for the story.

A fun and fast paced summer thriller. I really enjoyed this story and especially small town island feel. Faith has no idea what she’s getting into when she accepts an invitation to spend the summer with her boyfriend on a small island. When the past comes back to haunt everyone, some secrets will finally see the light of day. Nice twists and turns to keep you wanting more.

Thank you Atria for my gifted copy!

Eat the rich.

That was the repetitive refrain in my brain the entire time I read this. Eat the rich. They are up to no good. Always.

Dead of Summer was such a satisfying read. Like crunching crisp, juicy pomegranate seeds between your teeth. It was tart. Sharply written, engaging and surprising. I absolutely loved this book. It is, aptly, the perfect read for the Fourth of July. The rich gallivanting on an island that doesn’t belong to them, acting like it does, and ruining lives left and right. See what I mean? Appropriate holiday read.

Dead of Summer has to be my favorite read from Jessa Maxwell, and that’s saying something, because she always hits it out of the park. You’re not going to want to miss this one this summer.

3⭐️

This was a fairly quick popcorn thriller for summer. A remote New England Island mixed with wealthy, powerful men and the memory of a missing girl haunting the narrative. I liked the storyline of Alice’s disappearance ten years prior and the possibility that the town pariah didn’t do it. I also separately liked the truth behind David’s family’s corruption being exposed. I think if those storylines were separate books I would have liked them more individually.

At times the plot points got a bit busy but somehow they still felt dull to me. There was nothing super surprising and I was able to predict most of the twists. Especially Henry’s first twist and as well as the big twist at the end. Even though this was just okay for me it was still a fun read!

Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for providing this ARC to me!

I’ve loved Jessa Maxwell’s books, and Dead of Summer did not disappoint! It’s a quick read that kept me guessing! I was shocked by the twist at the end!

Dead of Summer is atmospheric and transports you summer on a small island in England. It’s a popcorn thriller I was unable to put down! My favorite of Jessa Maxwell’s novels yet. I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advance copy.

DEAD OF SUMMER - JESSA MAXWELL
Pub Date - 7/22/25
Rating - 3/5
Page Count - 288
Publisher- Atria
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Atria Books for this gifted electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is truly a perfect summer read since it takes place on a remote New England Island in the middle of the grueling heat. Orla, David, and Alice were inseparable as children especially during the summer when David came to visit the girls. One summer, Alice suddenly goes missing after a mishap on a boat leading to Orla not returning to the island for over 15 years. Now, after so long, Orla is back to her hometown and secrets suddenly start to peel away as she runs into her old friend David.

The author does a really nice job immersing the reader into this setting - I truly felt part of the trio and this story as it was happening. The premise was very intriguing and I got through the story pretty quickly! The only thing was how the story played out. I wish that there was more done. The ending felt a little rushed and predictable. Maybe it's because I've been reading a ton of thrillers so I've figured out a pattern, but it seemed like most of the twists, I knew before they were coming. Overall, decent summer read. Definitely worth picking up!

3.5/5

Thank you @atriabooks #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell was a solid, fast-paced mystery that made for a super easy, entertaining read. This was my first book by Jessa, and after seeing so many glowing reviews for The Golden Spoon, I was excited to dive into this one!

First things first — can we take a second to appreciate this cover? It’s so puuurrrty and absolutely captures the mood of the story. I loved the eerie, summery vibe it gave off before I even cracked it open.

As for the story itself, it’s a good summer thriller — the kind you can binge in a day. What really pulled me in was the setting and the delightfully sketchy characters...because who doesn’t like dramatic crazies?! The return to the island created the perfect scene for a story that bounces between past and present (easy to follow don’t worry), slowly unraveling secrets and showing everyone’s true colors.

Was it earth-shattering where I am waving my Dead of Summer flag? Not quite — it was a little predictable at times. That’s ok though, it happens sometimes and I still thought it was an entertaining, easy-to-devour mystery that scratched my thriller itch, so I say give ‘er a try! If you’re in the mood for a drama-filled whodunit with summery vibes, this one’s worth tossing in your beach bag.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

This is the first Jessa Maxwell book I've read and definitely won't be my last.

This is a perfect summer thriller. I absolutely loved the island setting! I really felt like I got to know the island and the people.

The story was very fast and I really enjoyed it. I didn't guess the twists until right at the very end either.

It was a satisfying ending as well! Definitely recommend this if you want a fast summer thriller read and an escape to the coast!

DEAD OF SUMMER takes place on Hadley Island. It is a playground for the rich with all sorts of buried secrets.

Faith comes to the island as the girlfriend of David Clarke who is the son of billionaire Geoffrey Clarke. She's expecting to soon become his fiancée but finds his behavior on the island troubling. All of a sudden, he seems to have no time for her and is constant meetings with his father.

Orla comes back to the island where she grew up to prepare her parents' home for sale. She fled after high school and had an excellent career as an artist in New York City until her last show failed spectacularly. She's home living on Xanax and trying not to be overwhelmed with the memories of her lost best friend.

Henry has never left the island. He and his wife became recluses after being accused of the murder of Orla's best friend Alice. Now he spends his days with his telescope watching the town and making notes in his logbooks.

Alice is the thread that ties all three characters together and is the mystery that needs to be solved.

David, Alice and Orla were summer friends while they were children and teens. Alice and Orla had dreams of leaving the island for New York City, attending art school, and then becoming famous artists. But she disappears and is presumed drowned during the Clarke's famous 4th of July party.

Years have passed but this year Geoffrey Clarke plans to renew the annual party and another young girl disappears.

The story is woven between Orla, Faith and Henry's viewpoints and the secrets of the past and their own secrets are gradually revealed. It was an engaging story with interesting characters.