Ryan la Sala can do no wrong. If you like The Last of Us and Scooby-doo, you definitely need to read this book.

The Dead of Summer follows Ollie, a teenager returning to his home island, Anchor's Mercy, after his mom spent a year fighting cancer. Now cured, both mother and son are ready to have the summer of their lives - exept Ollie had a fight with his best friends, his mom has been acting weird and an unexpected tropical storm has swept the island. What seemed familiar is now unkown - people are missing, everything is broken, and a mysterious epidemy starts spreading through the island, turning people into coral-like zombies.

However, the epidemy is not the only mystery here. The story alternates between two timelines: when the storm happens and 20 days later, with our main character being held captive in a government ship. But why? What information does he know that the government might want, and how can he scape the ship alive and save his friends and family?

When I first saw the words "Ryan La Sala" and "oceanic horror" in the same phrase, I immediately knew I'd love this book. Once more, Ryan delivers a story with charismatic characters who we can't stop but root for, an unique plot (I swear to God, sometimes I look at Ryan's plots and think "How can this insane gay come up with the craziest ideas?") and a fast-paced writing that makes you devour the novel in one sitting.

I love stories about the ocean, and this one is no different. The way the author describes the beaches, the marine life, the seashells, the coral-like creatures - some of them with jellyfish tentacles, others with coral horns or ear shells - is all very eerie and beautiful at the same time. Ryan La Sala has a very vivid, cinematographic way of describing things that always pulls me into his stories.

The high point of The Dead of Summer, besides the oceanic theme, is definitely its characters. I love Ollie's sarcastic humor, Bash's heart of gold and Elisa's badass determination. Sam is a very intriguing character who I feel might be hiding more than he lets us know (I have my theories, but I won't share because of *spoilers*), which makes me like him even more. And, of course, our favorite drag queen: Willy, or better, Wendy Pretendy™. Wendy's leadership habilities, her will to save anyone and everyone she cares about, no matter what price she must pay, is really admirable.

Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of The Last of Us and Scooby-doo. It has zombie-like creatures chasing people, meddling kids trying to solve mysteries (and maybe even environmental crimes?), action-packed scenes and the perfect survive-or-die vibe.

The Dead of Summer ends with more questions than answers, and I'm excited to read the next volume and unravel all the mysteries left behind.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ryan La Sala, and Scholastic for the eARC. This dystopian-style story had an intriguing plot and well-drawn characters. The premise felt fresh and unique, and I especially loved the atmospheric island setting in Maine.

This was so so good! Anchor's Mercy is a remote island off the coast of Maine, something like a hybrid between P-Town and Bar Harbor. It's got amazing beaches, great fishing, and is a queer haven swimming with Drag Queens and tourists. All of the residents in Anchor's Mercy also keep getting mysteriously sick. The story follows Ollie, who just returned to Anchor's Mercy with his mom after she goes into remission with her cancer treatment. They also happen to arrive the day before day 0 of a strange infection that spreads across the population, turning them into something like Ocean Zombies. But this isn't a simple Zombie story, and everything on the island is not as it seems. The second story being told here is post-infection, by an unnamed scientist trying to figure out what happened during the deadly outbreak.

What follows is a survival tale full of suspense, body horror, and conspiracy theories. The center of the story is Ollie and his friend group, nicknamed the Saps, as they try to survive the zombie apocalypse and get to the bottom of what is happening on their island. I loved the Saps and all of their shenanigans. This book is the very definition of Found Family, both among the teenagers and the adults in their lives. I also loved the town. It's got great P-town vibes and captures all of the magic and Queer Joy of visiting P-town in the summer, while still having the remote and isolated island vibes of Bar Harbor. Music is also an important and constant theme throughout this book which I enjoyed a lot. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I actually didn't realize that this was the first book in a duology, so I did not see the ending cliffhanger coming, but it was such a good and satisfying twist. I absolutely cannot wait for book 2.

🎧 This was also absolutely incredible as an audiobook! Pete Cross does an amazing job narrating the MC, as always, but I was also incredibly impressed by the production quality in general. In addition to a chorus of additional narrators during key scenes, the book contained sound effects, production effects, etc. to really immerse you into the story. The whole book felt like listening to a radio play of the highest quality. I enjoyed myself immensely.

Big thanks to Scholastic for the gifted eBook and my local library's Hoopla access for the audiobook.

Ollie Veltman returns to Anchor's Mercy after a year away while his mom battled cancer. Nervous about facing his friends who think he abandoned them; Ollie is determined to uncover the truth about this small island. Anchor's Mercy hides a dark secret—something is causing the locals to get sick, just like Ollie's mom. After a storm hits the island, his search becomes urgent as a mysterious outbreak spreads. Three weeks later, Ollie is isolated on a military hospital ship, where Marine Biologist Yumana Awor is sent to uncover what happened to Ollie and his friends after the outbreak. Together, they reveal a story of survival and government conspiracy, with the truth holding the key to saving Anchor’s Mercy.

Wow! This book was a rollercoaster ride. I didn’t know what to expect with this book, but I was curious after reading the synopsis. This is perfect for readers new to the horror genre, such as myself, or those interested in the YA horror subgenre. I loved the alternate timelines of before and after the outbreak, and it seemed that every chapter held another clue to this mystery. I also enjoyed the transcripts throughout this book. The audiobook added to the creepy atmosphere, making the transcripts sound like they were being recorded. However, that ending made me want to scream. How can you give us a cliffhanger like that and make us wait for the next book? I will be impatiently waiting for book 2.

The Dead of Summer is out now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Publishing for the opportunity to review The Dead of Summer. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars!!!

My enjoyment of YA horror is so back! I admittedly didn't know much about the plot of this book going into it, but when I found out it was a plauge/monster horror set on a New England tourism island, I was immeditely sucked in! The horror in this book comes on quick and doesn't let go until the last page. There were some horrific monster scenes in this that I will have to fight hard to get out of my brain and I will NEVER be able to see a bridal party the same ever again. I love the way that Ryan La Sala casually adds so many queer characters and never makes the books feel like they're about being queer. It's something that I wish we had more in YA publishing. I think La Sala has found their groove in the YA horror scene and I'm so excited to see what they write next!

What’s worse than returning home to old friends who hate you? How about a long-buried monster deciding it’s time for a comeback?

First Line: Smile big enough and you’ll end up with tears on your teeth! My mom told me that.

Reasons to Read:
Island Secrets 🌊 Ollie returns to Anchor’s Mercy to discover a sickness spreading through the island that ties to his mother’s illness and the town’s dark past.

Rising Horror 👻 A deadly storm unearths something ancient and terrifying that turns Ollie’s search for answers into a fight for survival.

Race Against Time ⏳ Isolated on a military ship, Ollie realizes the real danger isn’t over and must risk everything to stop Anchor’s Mercy from vanishing forever.

Would you risk everything to save a town that may never forgive you?

Rating: 🌊🌊🌊🌊

Thoughts: Ryan La Sala has a way of writing that is just so unique and quirky. His characters are complex and flawed in all the best ways. This book is very beautifully written, and reminds me a lot of Walking Dead, if the zombies were made of coral and had musicality. There was a pretty big twist towards the end that caught me by surprise and made me so interested to see where the next book would be going. The fate of a lot of these characters are still very much at risk or not finalized, even though you think you know what may have happened. But I wouldn’t put it past this author to completely turn things on its head in the next book.

4.5 stars

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow this book was honestly incredible. I was absolutely obsessed with the mixed media format, and I loved flipping between interviews, journal entries, and narrative chapters. It kept the story fast-paced, engaging, and mysterious. I also loved the queer joy that was highlighted in this story (even if it is a dark, twisty, apocalyptic tale). The main characters were so fun to read about – they were all so dynamic and realistic, which I appreciated.

I also really enjoyed the horror elements of the novel. The Dead of Summer is a mix between a political conspiracy thriller, an apocalyptic zombie-like disease horror, and a coming-of-age drama. I only say the disease element is zombie-like because of how the infection spreads, but the actual effects of the disease are unlike anything I’ve ever read before – it’s unique, and grotesque, and I’m truly obsessed with it.

I cannot wait for the sequel. Thank you to Netgalley and PUSH for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads 9/21/25.

I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC, but I found myself really struggling to get through it. Soooo much of the middle of this book was boring and aimless. It's a coralpocalypse (polypocalypse?), so I should be engaged. Instead, I kept waiting for something to happen. I didn't care much about the characters, which made it rough going.

I enjoyed parts of this, but there was a section where the main character summarizes a dramatic scene during an interview, and we just... skip over several days at the start of the nightmare? As a writer myself, I understand the urge to skip over "boring" parts of the story, but this a) should not have been boring, and b) is an issue with plot structure. After that section, I felt like La Sala wasn't as invested in the story, which made it hard for ME to get invested. The first third or so had me fully pulled in, but once I hit the murky middle, I dragged.

I loved The Honeys so much, in part because of the atmosphere. While the setting for this was interesting, I really needed some more momentum to keep me engaged. I do love the idea of body horror in coral form, and Ollie's dynamic with Gracie was interesting. I'm glad other people really enjoyed it, but it wasn't for me, and I won't be continuing the series.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. My tepid review is my own.

Loved the Annihilation x They Bloom at Night vibes in Dead of Summer, and the use of journal entries and transcripts!! It’s fun with plenty of body horror but also tender and thoughtful in its social and ecological commentary—just the way I like my horror.

I loved this book! From the island setting, the vibrant characters, and creepy coral-like parasite of a monster, the descriptions of this books were so visceral with high imagery. Ryan La Sala has created a unique monster with these coastal creatures that take over human bodies by drowning them and taking over their host. It gave me the vibe of The Last of Us but through a queer, Disney Channel lens.

Other things I loved about this book:

Main trio of characters that have grown up together called the suds: Ollie, Bash, and Elisa
There’s a map and found articles that made this read even more immersive
Funny moments that added levity and reprieve from the horror and grief
The timeline and following the mystery through the scientist was a clever way of organizing the book and I loved how we followed along to figure out what the creatures are, how they came to be, and how to stop them.

A fun and queer ride through zombie territory. This was tagged as similar to We Were Liars, and I can see that in terms of the character relationships and in the journey of trying to figure out the truth. The cast of characters were distinct and memorable. The horror elements were done well, especially for a young adult novel. This made me want to go back and read La Sala's other book The Honeys.

I'd recommend this for fans of YA, queer stories, horror / zombies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic PUSH for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I almost gave up on this book just a few chapters in as the changing of the narrative back and forth in time was weirdly confusing. I think it was the narrative starting “two days before” and then the next narrative shift indicated the same events happening twenty some odd days earlier that threw me. Silly I know but when I see “two days before” starting the book I assume two days before the current narrative, so the next time shift made me feel like the author just made a weird error in their writing.

Anyways, a silly thing to be irritated about but it threw me for a loop the first couple of chapters and made it hard to get invested.

I did get invested though, and more than I expected. Ocean-based horror is normally not my thing so I wasn’t sure how I’d enjoy this one, but I did. Certain elements felt a bit heavy handed to me (not to be named here cuz spoilers) and could have been more impactful with a bit lighter of a touch, but overall the world building was good, the descriptions were creepy and visceral, and the ending was satisfying without wrapping everything bf up in too pretty of a bow (it is horror after all).

A mixed review but overall good.

thank you so much to colored pages blog tours and the publisher for an early copy! all opinions are my own!

this may be my fave Ryan La Sala book out of the three i've read 😱😱
not only has a super diverse cast of characters and it makes so normal to be surrounded by drag queens, the characters are so smart and amazing and such a tight group of friends that i wish i had. the story is so well developed, how the mystery was explained and how the diverse formats made the story so compelling, it made me want to read faster to know why the characters were in that situation. there are so many different themes surrounding this, like a loved one having cancer, how one forces itself to smile and pretend everything is fine while losing all hope, secrets and living in a small town forced to have them in order to survive... all the details made this story amazing, and i'm sure the physical copy is even more beautiful in person.
now, i cannot BELIEVE this is a duology and i have to wait for another year to see how everything ends. like, didn't you have enough while having me open-mouthed at all the revelations at the end? how the story kept on getting worse and more desparing with each page? how it showed how evil some people are just because of their selfish ambitions? naaa, it was amazing and i need more and i really hope i can read the sequel because i need the Suds to be okey and survive this horror.
i love how this author is an exception regarding the genres i read. i mostly request him because he writes queer stories, but i might as well start reading more horror because of him. anyway, go read this one if you haven't already!!

Thank you so much to ColoredPagesTBR, Ryan La Sala, Scholastic for the copy of this book!

This is my first Ryan La Sala and likely will not be my last. He had come highly recommended even prior to reading this. This is considered a YA horror but not in the way you would normally classify a horror. I would say this is Sci-Fi horror? It was such a unique concept that was so well done!

I was very intrigued by the premise of the book early on. Majority of it takes place in the before, during and after. Using the after to help bridge the gaps of what was happening in the past. This also included mixed media which did not come across as well via ebook but luckily I had the physical that I could reference (you don’t lose any of the content just the visual aspect).

I am going to try to be vague in what happens as I think it would be fun to go into this blind. But a quick description, Ollie returns home only to his small ocean town to it being taken over by Weepers. You will need to read to find out what exactly are Weepers.

I love the relationship between Ollie and his friends Elisa and Bash. They had gone through so much and this just adds on to their story. These kids are just so smart and they know the towns people are hiding something and are determine to figure out what is going on. What is causing everyone to get sick?

There was a twist at the end which when it came I was not expecting and made so much sense. It definitely leads to the 2nd book. And now i need to know what happens next! This is not super gory so if you are worried about the scare factor, I think you would be safe.

If you are a fan of A Quiet Place, this gave me similar vibes of that. As mentioned this book was just so unique and had so many layers to it. Highly recommend!

PS - The cover will make sense when you read 👀

Thank you to Colored Pages for sending me an early copy and including me in the book tour!

I honestly was worried I wasn’t going to finish this book in time for my post because of a huge book slump I have been in the past month or so! But I finally finished just in time🤪

This was a ride!! While I enjoyed the unique creepy horror elements, I found it leaned a bit too science-heavy for me at times. There were definitely parts where I felt a little lost and wished I could understand it better. But that is completely just because I didn’t feel smart enough!

I loved how unapologetically queer this book was, it was packed with LGBTQ+ rep and it felt so refreshing to see characters owning their identities while also dealing with all the chaos around them. It wasn’t just ‘background rep’ either, it really mattered to the story and the relationships, which made my heart so happy!

I also adored the strong community relationships in this small coastal town and how close everyone was and seeing Ollie get back with his group of best friends and them going through this story together. But the relationship that hit my heartstrings most was between Ollie and his mum! They just got me right in the heart!

The horror in this was genuinely so unsettling, and I thought it was so incredibly unique. The whole concept of this deadly contagion and the dual timeline of before and after the outbreak was really intriguing.

Another thing I always enjoy in books is mixed media, throughout this story we are given journal entires, tape recordings and even images which I think always keeps me more engaged and feels like I’m getting through the story much quicker (which really helped in my reading slump)

Overall, this was a fun and fast paced creepy horror, I just wish I enjoyed the sciencey bits more!

This YA horror novel was right up my alley! Zombie-like creatures, conspiracy theories, complicated family dynamics.. You name it, Ryan touched on it.

The atmosphere alone sets the tone for a good thriller / mystery / horror theme. The island-like area in Anchor’s Mercy, Maine adds a level of seclusion that was perfect for what will normally take place if something like this was to ever happen for real, which is isolation & quarantine. As this illness spreads through this town, people slowly begin to turn into “weepers” & those not infected need to steer clear to prevent the spread. In true pandemic fashion, it spread anyway!

What I loved most was the alternating timelines between before & after the outbreak. The interview transcripts were intriguing and I looked forward to each & every one of them, as it built a level of suspense that kept you guessing. The ending.. talking about leaving me wanting more! I can’t wait to read book 2 - this was my first read by Ryan La Sala but certainly won’t be my last! Overall a great read that’s perfect for those who like their scares mixed with emotional depth and queer representation. Thank you Scholastic | PUSH, Colored Pages Book Tours and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 09.16.25

❇️ huge thanks to netgalley and scholastic for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are mine! ❇️

💀 this was my first experience with ryan la sala but oh. my. god. this is a masterclass in atmospheric horror that had me quaking in my boots.

🏝️ the premise is this: a secluded island off the coast of maine called "anchor's mercy" is hit with an apocalyptic-level storm and overnight, there is a contamination that hits the island. people are transformed into "weepers" which are grotesque creatures that sprout coral from their bodies (big body horror vibes but im a baby and i tolerated it!). the creepiest part?? they smile and sing with an eerie sense of euphoria... yeah....

👫 the characters AND their development were the stand out elements of this book! the trio of friends, the suds (cause they stick together), ollie, bash, and elisa, is painfully realistic as teenagers who have since drifted apart after a rift formed when ollie left the island with his mother to seek treatment for his mother's cancer. you feel every pang of their fractured relationship and its even more satisfying to see them slowly build it back together.

🧐 but the thing that should get you to read this is the PLOT TWISTS! plural baby!! the last 15% of this book is a relentless series of jaw-dropping reveals that will you leave you gagged. liiiitttererally right when you think you know what's going on??? NOPE! i had more questions than answers by the end of this book and the only thing keeping me from freaking out rn is the fact that there is a #1 in the title. please be a series!!!!! i need more!

🌈 the book is also a huge breath of fresh air for its authentic and impactful queer representation. who knew that one of the most emotionally resonant scenes in the entire book would feature a drag queen saving the day in a barricaded library all while singing sweet child o' mine?? it's a powerful reminder (without being forced!!) that even in the darkest of times, there is still room for joy, for theatrics, for hope.

this. is. amazing. i just wish i would have read it sooner.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Set on the fictional Maine island, Anchor's Mercy, I was immediately intrigued by the location. I love a coastal horror. I knew this was going to be good, but I loved this one way more than I expected. This is now a close second to The Honeys as my favorite from La Sala. This plays out like a movie, giving such a vivid picture of the horrors that befall this little island.

Ollie has been on the mainland for the past year while his single mother battled cancer. Now, she is cancer free, with a new view of life and a cheery outlook, determined to have the best summer ever. They head home to Anchor's Mercy, but Ollie isn't ready to celebrate. He pretty much ghosted his two best friends and isn't sure what kind of reaction his return will get.

While the town's facade looks picturesque and perfect, there is a not so secret truth that everyone pretends to ignore. There is something wrong here, something under the surface... and an incoming storm is going to provide the perfect time to rise up. Something is infecting people and the way they react is so insanely scary to me personally. The way its all described, how the infected act... yikes! So much fun.

Later, when Ollie is being held aboard a military medical ship, we get to recount in a forward/backward fashion, the events of this disaster, and how Ollie and his friends get through; who makes it out alive and who falls victim. The characters in this book were awesome! They have strengths and flaws that make them so realistic in a world where super unimaginable things are happening to them. There is a dark town history that this book delves into and it brings so much to the suspense of the book. I cannot recommend this book enough!

This is an exceptionally gripping, creepy and surprisingly emotional read told in a timeline set both days before and after a catastrophic ecological event.

I received a digital copy of this - thank you so much - as I am in Scotland so had to have some fun with the cover art 👀

I will never look at coral the same way again.

Pick this up if you like:

🩷 dual narrative to enhance suspence
❤️ books about natural phenomenon
🤎 conspiracies and cover ups
🧡 mystery pandemics
💛 found family
💚 a cheeky, teenage protagonist
💙 complex family dynamics
💜 a diverse and queer cast of characters
🖤 They Bloom At Night or Into the Drowning Deep
🩶 harrowing marine horror
🤍 unlikely allies

There doesn't seem to be a UK order available for this title so I can't get a physical copy but I wish I could because I highlighted so many quotes 😭

Actual rating: 3.5

this book is not for the faint of heart. It has all the creepy thrills I love. The characters were interesting and fun to get to know. I like that each one had their own voice. I believe Ollie was a well fleshed out character. I enjoyed the found family aspect between him and his friends. My major problem with this is the middle lost my interest. I started to feel like I just wanted to hurry up and be done with it. I really appreciated the lgbt rep and the horror elements in this. I would still recommend to my audience, especially as a great summer read.

Thank you Scholastic | PUSH and NetGalley for providing me this ARC for my honest review.