I read this book very quickly! An engaging summer thriller that reminded me a lot of the tv show, Revenge (down to one of the character's being named David Clarke!!) I saw all of the twists coming, which made it a bit less exciting of a read, but still enjoyable.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for my early copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I think this could be a really quick read for some, but I read it over the course of a month. I just kept picking up other books instead. The story wasn’t bad, but it was a bit slow and didn’t hook me in. All in all, I’d say it was an average read.

I absolutely devoured this novel from Jessa Maxwell. The perfect summer thriller! Set on Hadley Island, this multiple POV mystery intertwines the stories of David Clarke, a billionaire who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, Faith, his girlfriend with a mysterious past of poverty and addiction, and the people of Hadley Island, including a creepy hermit, Henry, who knows everything about everyone.

As Faith ventures to Hadley Island with her boyfriend in hopes of an engagement, she isn’t prepared for what actually awaits her. An eerie resemblance to a dead girl, David’s old friends from summers past, and thick island tea from the Salty Crab. It’s a twisted ride.

This was an un-put-down able, binge worthy read, and I highly recommend it!

*Will post on socials closer to release*

2.5 stars

Dead of Summer was unfortunately a miss for me. It kept me engaged enough to read through to the end, but I just don’t think the plot or the characters were fleshed out enough. There was no depth or connections to them, other than being unlikeable, and the only one I emphasized with was Henry. I wish there was a deeper exploration of the relationships between the characters and more emphasis on Henry’s, Orla’s and Faith’s backgrounds. I really enjoyed The Golden Spoon, and hope Maxwell finds her stride in future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read, so I can't really say I regret reading it, but it's not one I would recommend. I loved the Golden Spoon, but the last two books have been misses for me. It feels like I have read this book before in a better written way.

I love a bingeable summer thriller.

Likes:
Multiple POV’s
Less than 300 pages
Reminded me of the show Revenge
Remote island setting

Dislikes:
Could skim many pages without missing important information. The twists at the end didn’t seem well thought-out. They felt thrown in last minute without much foreshadowing. Not a lot of character development.

I was really intrigued by the premise, but unfortunately this one didn’t quite land for me. While the pacing and writing were decent, the plot felt a bit too familiar and lacked the originality I was hoping for. It just didn’t stand out the way I expected.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC!

This was the perfect, quick summer thriller and exactly the kind of book you want to binge in a couple of sittings by the pool. It had all the ingredients of a great summer mystery: rich people behaving badly, a moody beach town full of shady characters, and a cover-up that pulls you in from the start.

I appreciated how fast-paced the book was! It kept me turning pages, eager to see what would happen next. The use of multiple POVs added depth and intrigue, though the ending felt a bit too fantastical and came to an abrupt close. Some of the twists were easy to spot, but the journey was fun enough that I didn’t mind. If anything, I wish we had gotten a bit more justice in the end. Still, this was an entertaining read that scratched the itch for a juicy, sun-soaked thriller.

I genuinely did not want to put this book down. If you're into clausterphopic, everyone is hiding a secret type vibe, this is the book for you! The book follows Faith into her new relationship with David, a wealthy man whose family (of course) has secrets. Faith embarks on a summer trip to David's family summer home and learns a lot about the history of this mysterious place. What happened to Alice all those years ago? Why did David bring Faith, the spitting image of Alice back to the island with him, and how shocking is being reuinited with his old pal, Orla? Henry, an island local knows everyone's secrets & watches from his perch through a telescope. Who is to blame for Alice's supposed drowning? Is it Henry the watchful eye, David & Orla he old besties....or someone else? HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I really enjoy the ease of following this. Although, there weren't very many characters I genuinely liked, I still wanted to know what happened to them. I enjoyed some of the twists but felt some were predictable. Overall, I enjoyed it and can't wait to see what else this author does.

3.5 stars. It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. I felt like things could have been fleshed out a little bit more, and I did guess the twist, but overall it was an entertaining read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria for the advanced readers copy!

This book had everything I appreciate about mystery thrillers. I could not read it fast enough! Set at under 300 pages, I finished this book in under 4 hours. That could be due to the length of the book or the fact that I was reading so fast to find out what happened next. My brain could barely keep up with my eyes! A perfect book to add to your summer TBR if you are a seasonal reader like me.

A little slow start but turned out so good! Thank you NetGalley for the arc. Full review to come! 4 stars

I enjoyed this book! It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat as I wondered, what happened. I will say, I did find myself, figuring out the twist before it actually happened, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book itself. I enjoy this author books and will continue to read them!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun beach read. I enjoyed the novel--especially the ending.

What happened to Alice that summer...and who was involved?

Orla hasn’t been back to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school 1o years prior. As a teen, her best friend, Alice, disappeared from the island's shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors running rampant. Now, Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it, and she can finally leave the past behind her, right? WRONG. The island itself, particularly her best friend’s house next door that was abandoned after her family left the island in grief, start stirring up memories she would rather not deal with. The locals are busy bodies, one in particular named Henry, and Orla feels them watching her every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new girlfriend, Faith, who is expecting a proposal at any moment. As soon as she settles into his family’s HUGE estate, she feels completely out of place. She anticipates a luxurious summer of fun and romance, but David is never around, constantly lured into these "hush hush" business conversations with his entrepreneur father from dawn to dusk. With nothing else to do, Faith begins to investigate the island’s dark past, curious about what really happened to Alice all those years ago.

This story had me from the start! I wanted to know who this Alice person was, why she disappeared, and the obligatory, "WHO DID IT?!" As the story took me in, I realized very quickly that not everyone was who he or she seemed in this story. While I had a slight suspicion about the identity of a particular character early into the story, I still enjoyed how everything developed and came to a head.

For anyone who enjoys thrillers of the summer variety, I would recommend this one!

Thank you, Netgalley, Atria Books, and Jessa Maxwell for the opportunity to read this ARC! <3

#netgalley #atriabooks #jessamaxwell #deadofsummerbook

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for the arc!

This was a quick read for me! Secrets, missing girl, and a creep island is more than enough for a good thriller. Plus I love a good split POV read, this one has 3! Have to say Henry was my fav lol

In Dead of Summer, Jessa Maxwell serves up a twisty, atmospheric mystery set at an elite summer camp with secrets as deep as the lake it surrounds. When a young counselor is found dead, the camp's glossy surface starts to crack, revealing a web of privilege, betrayal, and buried trauma. Maxwell blends sharp suspense with layered characters, crafting a fast-paced whodunit that’s equal parts chilling and compulsively readable. A perfect pick for fans of The Last Time I Lied or Big Little Lies—but with more bug spray and buried secrets.

Quick read with a lot of twists and turns. You might hate most of the characters in this book, but they are definitely written in a realistic way. The final twist was good and took me off guard.

Dead of Summer is a compelling read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and mysteries. Alice’s disappearance hangs over the reader throughout as you wonder what happened and who was involved. Maxwell’s ability to weave tension and intrigue into the fabric of a seemingly idyllic setting makes this novel stand out. There were some interesting twists, though some were predictable. That didn’t take away from the book, though, and I think readers will enjoy the unfolding of events and consequences.