Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read Dead of Summer—I devoured this one in a single sitting! Jessa Maxwell knows exactly how to pull readers in with atmosphere, tension, and just the right amount of suspicion. The isolated setting, buried secrets, and unraveling relationships made this such an addictive read.

I love a mystery that keeps me guessing, and this book had me questioning everything and everyone right up until the final reveal. The pacing was spot on, the twists were smart, and the ending completely stuck the landing. I’ve read all of Maxwell’s books and this one might be my favorite yet. Can’t wait to recommend it.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of dead of Summer. This is a great Beach read, that keeps your attention. I read it in a day and a half and even though parts were predictable I still really enjoyed it.

First, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to review this ARC!

Second, HOLY?!!! I sped through this book (for someone who is a full time student). I found some of the “twists” to be a little predictable, but that’s coming from someone who reads A LOT of thrillers. The twist at the very end of the book??? Did NOT see that one coming & I am so happy to say it really enhanced the ending for me. I think you’ll find that Faith is a super likable character, all of the men are insufferable, and Orla is lowkey the worst as well. Thank goodness Faith had a happy ending - she was my favorite character throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

Eeeek I was so excited to read this. I read her previous book and really enjoyed it. This book didn’t disappoint! Quick and fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Dead of Summer.

I didn't like the author's first book, The Golden Spoon, but I was curious to read her second.

The premise drew me in but sadly, it didn't hook me.

There are your standard tropes; a rich family with a boatload of secrets living on a small island of locals who resent them for their entitlement and arrogance, a young woman soon to be engaged to the scion of the wealthy family who doesn't know everything about her husband-to-be, and a young woman who has resentfully returned to her island hometown.

The three POVs include Faith, the bride-to-be; Orla, a local woman who escaped the island but has now returned, and Henry, the island's local weirdo offers their perspective of the wealthy Clarke family and how they all played a part in the disappearance of Orla's best friend, Alice.

The three POVs worked in tandem with each other though the flashbacks didn't work since they didn't appear in separate chapters.

The urgency and suspense is low and the pacing drags since exposition needs to be laid out via three POVs.

I didn't like anyone, Faith was painfully naive considering her background and Orla is one of those woman who chases after a guy who doesn't return her affections. She's a bad friend.

The wealthy family is, naturally, despicable, but despite these tropes, the coincidence bothered me more than anything.

What are the odds Faith would end up with David considering and have Elena as a friend?

This narrative took a level of disbelief suspension that I couldn't turn off including what David's terrible father was doing. Doing that on a small island where everyone knows everybody's business?

As Kevin McCallister in Home Alone said, "I don't think so."

Fantastic book! I would highly recommend both this book and other books by this author. Be sure to read this book!

Quick read and kept me on the edge of my seat. I went into it not knowing what to expect which I recommend you do because it added so much to the reading experience!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for this ARC!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-arc!

Orla returns to her childhood home on a remote New England island in Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell. Orla’s best friend Alice mysteriously disappeared from the island years ago. Although Alice was presumed drowned, her body was never found. Being back home stirs up memories for Orla about what really happened to Alice.

David, Orla’s former crush and son a very wealthy family, is also back on the island for the summer. David has brought along his girlfriend Faith to the island. While David spends most of his time talking business with his demanding father, Faith becomes interested in the story of the missing Alice. Looming above the island is lifelong resident Henry and his telescope. Henry’s lives in a house on a rock just off the island. He spends all his time watching the residents and tourists on the island. He lives in a self imposed exile because of rumors he was involved in Alice’s disappearance.

When another young girl goes missing after all these years, memories and secrets are stirred up. Orla, Faith, and Henry are pulled into the mystery.

This is a perfect summer beach or pool read! I was drawn right into the story. This is an atmospheric thriller with lots of summer vibes. The pace is good with lots of rising tension. I also enjoyed the multiple POV. There are twists, turns, and secrets galore. This is a quick read and entertaining thriller.

Wonderful summer thriller read with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout. Overall good read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher fir letting me review book

Wow. I blew through this book within two nights. I kept wanting to get to the end to find out what was really going on. And I was pretty surprised. Well written and pretty face paced. Some great characters and some you will absolutely despise. And a major surprise/twist near the end.
Well written and enjoyable read. I’m happy I picked this book.

Dead of Summer is short, fast-paced, and made for a beach bag. With its Instagram-worthy cover and bingeable plot, it’s the perfect one-sitting read for a poolside afternoon or lazy weekend.

Despite juggling multiple POVs, the story flows smoothly, and I never felt lost. I was pretty confident I had it all figured out—and to be fair, I did catch some of the reveals early—but Jessa Maxwell still managed to throw in a few last-minute twists that genuinely surprised me.

It’s not too heavy, which I appreciated, and the writing kept me engaged the whole way through. If you're a fan of Lucy Foley or enjoy twisty thrillers with atmospheric settings and just the right amount of suspense, this one’s a solid pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review—I really enjoyed this one!

Dead of Summer is a mystery novel that, while not inventing anything new, is exciting enough to keep readers hooked.

Following the alternating stories of Faith - a woman with a hidden past, excited for her future with her rich and handsome boyfriend David, Henry - a recluse who spends his time people watching from his home, exiled by his neighbors, and Orla - returning home and struggling with the memories of her friend Alice’s death years prior. Each chapter alternates between the three characters who seem disconnected in the beginning, but as the story progresses are much more entwined than they seem.

While slightly predictable, I found Dead of Summer to be an enjoyable read - especially as the plot began to pick up and the mystery began to unravel. Jessa Maxwell doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but has crafted a story that any fan of mysteries will absolutely eat up.

I love this one! So dark and creepy, a perfect summer read I can’t wait to hear what others say. if you like thrillers and fast thrills you will love this

This is a nice quick little thriller! Wasn’t hard to read and I thought it was well paced and well written.

This was a solid mystery but a little too slow paced for me. I didn’t really get a true feel for the characters. I think mystery lovers will enjoy this though.

A fast paced "rich people are corrupt" delicious setting with clear heroes. Multi POV there are secrets to uncover about the past and

The meaning of the title is unclear, I think it is just a cool sounding name. It does take place in summer time in a vacation home.

Orla- returning back to the island to sell her family home. She hasn't lived on the island since her best friend Alice went missing years ago. It is just coincidence that she happens to be back.

Faith- seriously dating David, who comes from old money, and she hates his father. She finds an engagement ring in his suitcase and realizes he is about to propose, but something seems fishy with his family. She begins to look into Alice and how she went missing. Then another girl goes missing.

Henry- a local boy without much means, the town thinks Alice went missing because of him although there wasn't any proof. We like him and he seems sweet and also like a scapegoat. He likes using a telescope so he knows more about the islanders- so think Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window."

This is a fun summer mystery! I enjoyed the characters and the plot, I did not guess the reveals although the pacing was quick enough to lead you to the reveal (last sentence in the chapter, etc). The writing style was a little choppy for me, shorter declarative sentences, even in inner dialogue. I did enjoy the character of sweet Henry and the injustices against him hit me hard! He is a Boo Radley type character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. Book to be published July 22, 2025.

Dead of Summer is one of those thrillers that feels familiar in a good way — there’s a slow-building sense of dread, and even though you think you can guess where it’s going, it still keeps you second-guessing yourself. The remote island setting, the picture-perfect couple starting to crack, and the dark past resurfacing all add to the tension. When you’re sure of a twist, another layer makes you question everything.

The shifting timelines and multiple points of view were handled well overall, though it took a little while to settle into who’s who and when. Some twists were a bit predictable, but the pacing and atmosphere made it a satisfying read. It’s a solid summer thriller — something you could easily get lost in at the beach, even if it’s not the author’s strongest.

I really enjoyed this thriller! I felt it had a bit of a slower pace, which usually turns me off of thrillers, but I actually loved how the author had the story unravel! It was definitely a page turner, and I didn't see the twists coming. I'd recommend this to readers!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we get the points of view of three different people: Faith, Henry, and Orla. I liked Faith and Henry but I didn’t like Orla very much. Faith goes with her boyfriend David to his family’s summer home which her best friend Elena helps her prepare for. Faith learns about Alice and how David and her were friends along with Orla. Orla had a crush on David for years until the summer Alice disappeared. Alice was presumed dead and after fifteen years Alice is actually revealed to be alive and David’s father paid her off and made her sign an NDA. Faith also learns that Alice and Elena are the same person and that Henry is completely innocent and was just trying to help Alice that night of the Fourth of July fifteen years ago. David pushed Alice the night of the Fourth of July and was going to tell people about Geoffrey , David’s father and he got upset and pushed her off some railing and was believed to be dead until Geoffrey’s men found her and forced her to sign the NDA. Orla of course lied to the police after David asked her to so that Henry would get the blame.

It felt a bit rushed, like there couldve been more detail throughout.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review