Thank you to NetGalley and to Atria Books for the ARC of Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell.

This story is told from three different perspectives - Orla, a former island native who hasn't returned since graduating high school, Faith, the soon-to-be fiance to David, son of one of the wealthiest men in the country, and Henry, an island recluse. Their stories are all intertwined around an event that happened 13 years ago when Orla and David's friend, Alice, went missing/was presumed murdered, on the Fourth of July. Henry was accused of the murder, though no body was ever found and he was never charged. This is the first summer Orla has returned, and it's the first summer since that year that David's family will once again be throwing their Fourth of July party. As Faith tries to ingratiate herself with the townspeople, rumors about Alice spread and David begins behaving in odd ways. Henry, ever watching from his home, begins to believe the truth may finally come out, especially when another girl disappears.

This is a solid beach read / summertime thriller. If you go into it with this frame of mind, or if you've had a few drinks by the water, then it is easy to just accept the story for its face value of entertainment without needing something deeper. While it is easy to figure out some of the twists and turns of the mystery early on, it's still a fun read that gets a bit darker than expected toward the end.

Again, it's a beach read, so I don't expect the characters to be incredibly layered, but I do wish more of them had some sort of reflective arc/change throughout the course of the novel. In a way, it was disappointing to see that all these people basically experience something without seeming to learn or change from the past or into the future.

I read Jessa Maxwell’s last novel, “I Need You to Read This” last year and enjoyed it, if not loved. This one treads somewhat similar territory (women living with secret pasts in high society), but I enjoyed the premise and mystery a lot more here. The central mystery is the years-old disappearance of a young woman from a wealthy, remote island off of New England and the story is told via three different people - her best friend, the man who everyone is convinced is guilty of the disappearance, and a woman who is engaged to the son of the wealthiest man on the island. All of our narrators have secrets, of course, and most of the characters are hiding who they really are. I really enjoy the subgenre of mysteries involving rich people being awful and this is exactly that. The setting is great and the writing is pretty evocative, in terms of place. I don’t think this breaks new ground on the current trend of mystery/thrillers, but I didn’t mind that at all. In fact, I found it pretty comforting. Very much enjoyed this one and am still dying (metaphorically) to read “The Golden Spoon.”

Dead of Summer had chilling, mysterious vibes! It was well written and had a clear thesis. It definitely felt like reading a suspenseful thriller! This storyline has three point of views and was an easy to read book. It gave me all the beach feels to it too, which I loved! It had me questioning what was going to happen next, which had me very entertained throughout the entire book! Even though this is a slow burn, I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a thriller summer read! I give Dead of Summer a high 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jessa Maxwell, and Atria Books Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Dead of Summer is set to be published on July 22, 2025!

Overall an interesting story. Faith has found herself in a relationship with a billionaire’s excited to go to their summer house (read: estate) with the prospect of an engagement on the way. Her people smart bestie encourages her to enjoy every minute. Meanwhile a man accused of a horrible crime hides away in his grief and a former Townie comes back to sulk and realize she’s kind of terrible.

There were several awkward flashbacks throughout the entire book that were trying to slowly reveal what happened in the past that traumatized everybody. But it became pretty obvious what the big reveal was going to be and who were the people really pulling the strings.

It’s a fun read but not super complex.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved her previous book "I need you to read this", that was an easy 5 star read. But, this latest one unfortunately did not keep the same momentum going for me. I found the story overall to be sluggish and extremely predictable. Too similar to other thrillers I've read.

Coming off of Jessa’s last book, I Need You to Read This, Dead of Summer just fell too flat for me. I found it very predictable and I didn’t find any of the characters to be as engaging as they were in her other books.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell is a fast-paced mystery set on Hadley Island. Faith goes with her wealthy boyfriend, David, to his family’s home, while Orla returns to clean out her family’s place. David and Orla have a history together, and with their friend Alice, they spent great summers on the island... until something went horribly wrong.

Now, years later, Henry, the town recluse, is being questioned about the disappearance of a young girl, after being accused of Alice’s murder in the past. The book is full of twists and surprises, and it kept me hooked the whole time. With multiple characters’ points of view, it’s easy to follow, and I found myself cheering for Henry!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read Dead of Summer.

Very twisty, an excellent read for the beach (the story takes place on one of those East Coast summer islands around the 4th of July). This is Jessa Maxwell’s 3rd book, and they’ve each been very different plot-wise but equally immersive. This go-around I did hazard a guess about a certain plot detail and was gratified by the reveal to know I had been correct! Anyway, you’ll definitely want to solve the mystery of what rabbit hole poor Alice fell down, and what do Orla and Henry know about it.

I will say there's a certain feeling of predictability throughout the book. BUT you will have a ominous gut feeling that will still surprise you. Just when you think you know exactly the way it's going to go, your thoughts will be kept racing until the very end. The mysterious island, the seemingly perfect couple unraveling, the unexpected death that you didn't see coming, the minor details throughout the passages that add to the climactic ending.. It all adds up to make it a great thriller. The ultimate She-venge, you could read at the beach! The author's ability to switch point of views each chapter in a smooth manner, keeps it a calculated, easy read! I was fascinated the whole way!

A solid thriller from the author of the Golden Spoon and I Need You to Read This. There is nothing new or noteworthy here that would make this a standout book but there are some decent twists, it’s a page turning book and the perfect beach read to throw in your bag and read in a few sittings that will keep
your interest and wrap up nicely in the end. Themes of rich people behaving badly, grief and secrets. I enjoyed it. It may not stick with me in the months to come but it was fun while I was reading. I loved Henry’s character and the twist involving him made my mouth drop open while reading!

Surrounded by the wealth and privilege of Hadley Island, David Clarke and his girlfriend Faith arrive at his family’s lavish mansion for the summer. But they’re not the only ones returning to the island… Orla is back for the first time since her best friend Alice’s mysterious death. Though Henry Wright was blamed, no body was ever found, and long-buried secrets are ready to surface.
Is life among the elite as perfect as it appears, or is something far more dangerous hiding underneath?

An atmospheric, slow-burn mystery set on a secluded New England island, Dead of Summer is a gripping, eerie read that weaves together secrets, privilege, and the ghosts of the past.

Faith has everything she’s ever wanted—a wealthy, devoted boyfriend, David, who offers her the stability and love she’s always craved. When he invites her to spend the summer at his family’s exclusive island estate, she doesn’t hesitate. She quits her job in Manhattan, imagining an idyllic escape filled with romance and luxury. But once she arrives, things feel...off. David is always absent, his powerful father barely acknowledges her, and whispers in town suggest that the family she’s tied herself to is far more dangerous than she realized.

Meanwhile, Orla has returned to the island for the first time in years, still haunted by the disappearance of her best friend, Alice. A struggling artist facing a recent failure, she comes back to her family’s empty home, hoping to find solace—but instead, she finds long-buried truths resurfacing.

As Faith and Orla’s paths cross, the mystery surrounding Alice’s fate deepens. Clues begin to surface, revealing shocking connections between the island’s most powerful family and the tragedy that changed Orla’s life. What really happened to Alice that night? And is history about to repeat itself?

Maxwell crafts a tense, beautifully written thriller that unfolds with creeping unease, drawing the reader into an isolated, unsettling world where privilege masks dark secrets. The dual timelines keep the suspense high, and the twists will leave you second-guessing everyone’s motives.

Perfect for fans of gothic island thrillers, slow-burning suspense, and deeply immersive mysteries, Dead of Summer is a chilling, compulsive read that lingers long after the final page.

#AtriaBooks #DeadOfSummer #JessMaxwell #AtmosphericThriller

Quick, good pacing, though a bit predictable at times. This is a solid beach read and all three POVs weave together nicely.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really great and easy thriller. This would be a perfect beach read if you like your summers a little riveting.