4.5/5.

This book was filled with things I thought I hated but now I realize were just never done right.

Coming from someone that doesn't often read YA (but is a self-admitted sucker for ocean horror), this was legitimately an incredible title that I managed to finish in one sitting. The author refused to shy away from the inherent horror of the book—whether in the supernatural elements or in the very real grief of loss, especially regarding family—and it made me feel that despite it being for young adult audiences, it felt as if La Sala shows a genuine respect for the content his readers can handle (which I cannot say the same for with some of the books targeted for teenagers I've read). The love between the protagonists is real, the queerness is real and tangible and is allowed to just *be* in a world where such an existence is so heavily politicized. You can absolutely tell that this title is written with so much love and so much respect for La Sala's upbringing and home to the point where every sentence is steeped with it, and though I personally prefer my prose a bit more lyrical, I understand why that's not the custom for YA books. The writing is deceptively simple: emotional, matter-of-fact and snarky, and the protagonists had the perfect tone and thoughts that felt genuinely, unbelievably real. As someone who's also not a big fan of POV switches, multimedia storytelling, or switching between past and present to tell a story, I think La Sala accomplished all of these things perfectly and it absolutely tied the story together and fleshed out the environment just that much more.

Awesome work, and I cannot recommend this book enough—even for people like myself that don't often frequent the young adult side of books. I sincerely hope the author branches out to books targeted for adults in the future, as if the horror present in *this* title is what he considers to be toned down for a teenage audience, I shudder to think what he'd come up with with no holds barred.

Thank you so, so much to Scholastic and NetGalley for the ARC.

A queer read for the beach that will knock the barnacles off of your soul. Travel on a monstrous journey in the ocean that will chill you down to your core. A gay couple who explores the monstrosity of what is around them. But what is it? Get lost along the sandy beaches with a cliffhanger to die for!
Gay representation. Queer representation. Drag queen representation. Fall in love with a narrative that dives into the deep with real representation between the reefs. Read between the lines of Ryan La Sala’s eloquent writing, witty puns, and descriptive scene setting. Solve the mystery between each letter in between chapters unraveling the truth. The exchange between the past and present lives in the undying words of the past. The only thing I wanted more of is more narrative! Thankyou Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for a review.

I needed a respite from someone who wants to Make America Great Again and found it in The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala. It’s a fast paced mystery thriller about an island, Anchor ’s Mercy, and something that ruins Ollie’s summer. It kills townies and visitors alike; bachelorettes, families, drag queens and kings. There are conspiracies, scientists, specimens and singing. This is book one and it ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to dive into book two. ARC was provided by Scholastic/PUSH via NetGalley. I received an Advance Reading Copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ryan La Sala's "The Dead of Summer" is a captivating and vibrant eco-terror thriller, reminiscent of "The Last of Us" and "Resident Evil," but made wildly gorgeous by the beauty--and horrors--of the ocean. As Ollie Veltman and his mother return to their Provincetown-esque island of Anchor's Mercy after her battle with cancer, the presence of a Navy hospital ship in the bay unsettles Ollie. Over the course of the next few days, Ollie's island is taken over by a plague, creating a horrific landscape of the queer-friendly haven he grew up knowing. Alternating between past and present, we learn the dark history of Anchor's Mercy and how the land and sea itself has been fighting back against the humans' presence for years.

One thing about La Sala's books that has always impressed me is the absolutely stunning dichotomy of the worlds he creates, a terrifying story unfolding in a picturesque world. From "The Honeys" giving real "Midsommar" vibes to "Beholders" macabre world of art, La Sala's stories consistently find the bizarre in the beauty, which, in my opinion, is a unique line to toe when so many dystopian novels are set in front of a bleak background. The horror is often not clear and present, but rather ominous and creeping, giving a tension, a slow burn to a YA read which could easily push the throttle to 100% and burn out early. The interstitial chapters with the post-interviews of the fallout of the story's main action give the reader a glimpse of what is to come, but adds a layer of mystery: why is the author giving everything away so early?

The characters in "The Dead of Summer" are thoughtful and even in the face of true danger, facing their own internal emotions creating a tension often missing from "end of the world" stories. Although they are friends, Ollie and his friends have an ocean and year of distance between them, a distance they must overcome in realtime as they face the impending ecological doom of their island. These real-world issues juxtaposed with the supernatural world of the plot create a complex and sometimes infuriating dynamic for these characters. As readers, we have all been these kids where "minor" issues can see just as life-altering as the major ones going on around us.

La Sala has once again done it with "The Dead of Summer," and I'm excited by the premise this might be a series? If you have read and enjoyed Benjamin Percy's "The Comet Cycle" series, you will more than enjoy this one.

The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala follows Ollie Veltman returning to the queer vacation island of Anchor's Mercy after a year away caring for his dying mother, only to find himself in the middle of a supernatural plague rising from the ocean. The setup is solid - an eccentric drag queen-run paradise off the Maine coast suddenly overrun by mysterious contagions and sea monsters - and La Sala structures it as a mix of Ollie's story and friendships and scattered documents trying to piece together what went wrong. I appreciate La Sala's writing and characters even when his plots don't totally land for me (I suspect that I, like many readers, read La Sala through The Honeys-tinted glasses, and even when it's not perfect, it's still more Ryan La Sala which is better than the alternative of no Ryan La Sala) and this one kept me reading despite some jarring timeline jumps between past and present. The horror elements work well, especially the genuinely grotesque creatures, but I wanted more time to actually experience this island and its fabulous before everything went to hell. The cliffhanger ending feels a bit manipulative but also makes sense, given how much story is clearly left to tell.

From the lovingly crafted setting to the deeply unsettling nautical horror to the messy and lovable characters, La Sala is at the top of their game with this one. In his usual fashion, the prose is tense, cinematic, funny, and undeniably heart-wrenching— which is only amplified by the epistolary sections and graphics. The horror that he crafts for Anchor's Mercy is terrifying and immensely creative, and manages to be vivid without being too graphic for upper YA readers. This book grabbed me from the first page, and I genuinely could not put it down.

If you're looking for innovative and heartfelt queer YA horror and are open to oceanic zombies, this is absolutely the book for you.

Okay, Ryan, you just left us hanging like that? With a cliffhanger? And now I have to wait, what, another year to find out what happens to Ollie and his friends? To the Suds? All of the Suds?

Also, why is Ollie’s last name Dutch? Is that just me reading too much into it, or is there something there?

Anyway. If you loved The Honeys and Beholder, The Dead of Summer is something different—but in the best way. It’s told from Ollie’s perspective, mixed with audio transcriptions and other epistolary bits from a marine biology PhD student. The story keeps tossing you between now and then, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, needing to know more and more and more. And then that plot twist. I didn’t see it coming. And the cliffhanger! Now I’m stuck here with my theories and no answers. Sigh.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down (for now) because I need that sequel first.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve already told Ryan La Sala he’s responsible for my therapy bills after this one—I'll never be able to hear guns n roses without crying. You're foul for that, ryan 😰

I started reading and enjoying horror after discovering The Honeys, and Dead of Summer just proves that La Sala continues to grow and sharpen his craft with every new book. The coral zombies—known as Weepers—were both breathtaking and utterly terrifying. The imagery will stay with me for a long time.

But what I loved most was the friendship between the Suds. Their chemistry was unparalleled. Even when they fought, even when the world was ending around them, they never stopped showing up for each other. Their bond felt real, raw, and unforgettable.

Ryan La Sala has such a gift for queer horror, and Dead of Summer is another standout—equal parts beautiful, gruesome, and emotionally resonant.

Drag queen story hour and nautical coral zombies? Sign me up! I’m a big fan of Ryan La Sala, and his new book shows just how much he continues to grow as a writer. The Dead of Summer had some truly frightening imagery and a story that had me hooked from the beginning. La Sala is also just very good at writing interpersonal relationships and friendships, and I loved the coming-of-age story that was at the heart of this. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

With similar vibes to The Last of Us, this is a solid, fresh take on the apocalypse story. Normally, I can be hit or miss on La Sala's books, and this one worked for me! I really like the tone he finds here, cynical and snarky while still amusing and interesting. The setting and plotting are also well-done. The coastal vibes are perfect for summer, with details and routines that only a resident like Ollie would appreciate. And the story builds with a great amount of tension, culminating with a really strong ending,

A few tweaks would make this a five star for me, I think. I would've appreciated a little more normalcy before the onset of the pandemic, just some more time to appreciate what Ollie has--his home, his loved ones--so that the reader can really feel when it's lost. Somewhat similarly, I wish this had been a little scarier; the infection that's been created here is gruesome and vivid, but I wished for a few more moments where I felt truly unsettled, uncomfortable, and scared.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this! [review posted to goodreads, Storygraph, and Instagram]

After 10 months away, Ollie and Gracie Veltman return to their home and popular tourist destination, Anchor’s Mercy. Upon returning home, things go south quickly. A suspenseful mystery filled with so many twists and so much secrecy. Can Ollie and his friends save their home?

This book was absolutely brilliant. From the eerie sense that something terrible was going on right outside our allotted knowledge, to the constant whiplash of the plot twists, and the beautiful sense of found family, I was absolutely hooked.

The weepers were definitely a new and interesting concept that chilled me to the bone. Also the losses in this book were absolutely heart wrenching. AND THAT ENDING!!! MY JAW WAS ON THE FLOOOOR! I seriously cannot wait for the next book.

4 stars

Ollie Veltman, queer teenager, and his mom Grace are returning to their home on the vacation island of Anchor’s Mercy, off the coast of Maine. They’ve been gone for about a year while Grace was being treated for cancer. The return starts off well when Ollie meets a cute newcomer on the ferry over.

However, things go downhill quickly. Within a day or so of their return an otherworldly plague overtakes the island and Ollie is left to try to tell the tale and to try to determine what happened in AM.

First off, just looking at the map at the beginning of the book makes me want to book a trip to AM immediately. Ollie says it’s an island run by drag queens, and I want to go spend the hottest month of the year there (Maine is so cold!) because this place looks like it would be a blast. I wish the plague hadn’t set in quite so fast so we could have spent some time there.

The way the book is set up readers get to experience a fair amount of the island (not in any kind of boozy brunch, singalong way, though) and that was nice. This was definitely YA, and I’m not sure I understood the reason for the ending, though this is only book one in what MAY be a planned trilogy (I might have created the trilogy part in my mind, I’m not sure.) so things may be more clear in the next book. There’s a fair amount of tragedy here in volume one. I think YAs will enjoy this.

The Dead Of Summer is the perfect summer horror read! A great representation of YA Horror that will pack a punch and haunt your dreams. Highly recommend this novel and author!

(Review also visible on Goodreads)

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so so so excited for this book (already preordered) that I signed up for NetGalley in the hopes of being able to read it early because I was so impatient

This book has everything I want and expect from Ryan La Sala: unique horror concept(specifically moments that make me go “Ryan are you okay?”), highly relatable main character with a complicated family life, and beautifully descriptive language that ensures you never suffer from white room syndrome.

The story is told through the main character’s POV as well as epistolary (I had to look that word up) artifacts, and usually I don’t enjoy epistolary elements as much as the actual character POV in these types of stories, but La Sala managed to hook me. The transcripts and journal entries were tied in perfectly to keep me asking questions throughout the entire story.

It’s a good thing there is going to be a sequel because RYAN!!! I have so many questions still!

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book - I knew the second Ryan La Sala dropped another book that I wanted to read it, as I absolutely LOVED The Honeys. Little did I know this would become my absolute favorite of his books. I also want to thank Ryan for letting me frantically message him on Twitter because I NEEDED to talk about this with someone.

Ryan asks the important questions: what if we did The Last of Us, but with coral instead of mushrooms? And what if it took place on an island off the coast of Maine that operated like if Martha's Vineyard and Provincetown had a baby (which deeply appealed to my MA native sensibilities).

In all seriousness, Ryan created a book that combined the horror of a zombie-esque apocalypse, the intrigue of a conspiracy, and the humor of three high school kids just trying to get through their trauma. And it worked beautifully. There were so many times I shouted "What the Heck???" out loud to my empty apartment, laughed hysterically to myself at the nail salon, and cried while sneaking in a chapter in between work meetings.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. As someone who can read horror but not watch it, the atmosphere was just detailed enough for me to be able to envision it but not so detailed that I felt uncomfortable. I loved the format switching from narration to transcripts. I loved the little bits of humanity dispersed throughout the horror. And I LOVED how much I hated the antagonist.

I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book come September to see this book in all its glory. This ended up being one of my favorite books I've read all year so far.

Thank you @scholastic for letting me read this one early. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Ryan last week the day I got approved and let’s just say… I was WAY TOO EXCITED.

This book is so so so so so so good. There will be zero spoilers in this review. But it’s Ryan 100%. Gross, tender, laugh-out-loud funny, scary, and way too freakin’ real. There are some really great twists that had me like 👀😱☠️.

The writing style of this one is so unique. I LOVE how the book is laid out and I truly cannot wait to see it as a final copy. It’s told between interviews (so so so good, some of my fave parts come from the interviews), before, and after.

The friendship is SO GOOD. Bash is such a dad, I love him. Ollie is sassy-as-hell mess. Elisa is the glue trying to hold it all together.

I cannot WAIT for everyone to experience this incredible book. And there’s gonna be a second one. I am SO SEATED ALREADY and Ryan just turned it in.

@theryanlasala - you are a twisted lil genius and I love you.

Ahhhhhhh!!!

I loved this one! By far my favorite from La Sala so far - he's growing as a writer and it's to all of our benefit. :) The idea behind the colony of coral is incredibly interesting, and personal connections made the Ptown vibes really special for me. At turns funny, frightening, sad, and deeply hopeful, this novel is one I'll recommend to students and peers alike. Can't wait for Book 2!

I love Ryan La Sala so I had faith in this book even if it was zombies. I was right to put my trust in them because this book was so good. This actually had a good amount of horror in it. I can't wait for La Sala's next book.

I will be forever chasing the high of The Honeys and because of that I tend to do myself the disservice of setting my expectations too high when it comes to anything else Ryan has written, which is a me problem. I've also been struggling with YA lately, so I was really afraid to read this. With all of that being said, I was pleasantly surprised! It's a super fast paced read that I was able to fall in to really easily and it's just plain fun. My only real complaint is that I wanted MORE. Especially with this having a sequel, I wanted more depth before everything got crazy. I wanted more time with these characters, especially the drag queens, and I wanted to spend more time on this island before everything plunged into chaos. That being said, I wanted more chaos!! I just felt like there was so much room for more. There could be be 101 reasons why that didn't happen, so I'm choosing to just be happy with the ride and will be waiting not so patiently for book 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC!

Ryan La Sala has quickly become one of my favorite YA horror authors, and this was another great addition! It is a testament to their writing that I enjoyed it, despite it being a take on zombies (one of my least favorite horror tropes). This had heart and horror, and was generally a fun, Scoobie doo esc mystery. Not one of my favorites of theirs, but still great.