Where is the sequel, Ryan??? Ryan, the sequel??? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE SEQUEL PLEASE RYAN???

You guys may think I’m joking BUT I’M NOT. This book had everything, funny business names a la Bob’s Burgers, a hermit crab named Crabigail, and a secret government conspiracy/cover up. Ooooh plus if you like Last of Us but can’t in good conscience support it, support this instead! Literally the weepers (like clickers but swap cordyceps for coral) were so scary I actually had nightmares. NIGHTMARES! Do you know how rare that is as an avid horror lover???

That’s all I’m saying, if you don’t read this book when it comes out I’m going to tell the ocean on you. 😡

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will start off by saying that if you follow Ryan La Sala on Instagram, this book is everything he promises and you will not be disappointed.

Ollie Veltman is back on his beloved island of Anchor's Mercy after months of taking care of his dying mother on the mainland. His anxiety and fear of seeing what he left behind begins to melt as he meets new friends and begins healing lost connections with old ones. Then, disaster strikes. As storms rage, and an unknown contagion sweeps through the island, Ollie, Sam, Elisa, and Bash must figure out what is going on and how to stop it when they seem like the only ones who care enough to actually do something about it.

The Dead of Summer has all the elements of horror, mystery, and intrigue while keeping the characters sassy and sarcastic in a way that doesn't undercut the seriousness of Ollie's situation. For me, the epistolary artifacts were what made this novel so interesting. Also, that ending...I'm glad I went into this knowing it was book 1.

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC.

I am a Ryan LaSala fan--if there are no Ryan LaSala fans left, I'm d-e-a-d DEAD.
LaSala's done it again, folks--what an incredible, terrifying, amazing ride. Get off the ferry in Anchor's Mercy and become wrapped into main character Ollie's shattered friend group, and try to hold on: the tide is strong and the waves are high. If you're coming into this book without knowing what it's really about, GOOD. The storm is coming, and it's not the one you expect. There's so much mystery and intrigue, so much gorgeous horror. I got to the end of the book and immediately needed the second. You'll. not be disappointed if you want a nail-biting, suspenseful, nuanced read.

Thank you Netgalley and PUSH for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ryan La Sala returns with “The Dead of Summer,” a bold, haunting, and wildly original dive into queer horror that fuses body horror, grief, friendship, and an unraveling mystery into something as beautiful as it is grotesque. This is not just a horror story—it’s a vivid, deeply human exploration of identity, memory, and what it means to survive when your world, your body, and your community begin to decay.

Set on the eerily picturesque island of Anchor’s Mercy, known for its thriving queer culture and lively drag scene, the story begins with Ollie Veltman’s return home after a year on the mainland with his mother, who has just survived a battle with cancer. But something is off. People are getting sick—again. Secrets are swirling. And beneath the island’s idyllic surface, something ancient and hungry is stirring in the sea.

Told in a fragmented narrative that includes present-day drama, flashbacks, student interviews, and even visual excerpts from research notes, “The Dead of Summer” explores literary experimentation with pulse-pounding storytelling. The result is a kaleidoscopic, immersive experience that keeps readers on edge and gasping for air as the mystery slowly unfurls.

The core horror of the story comes from a radiant, supernatural disease that infects humans and slowly transforms them into coral-based monstrosities. This isn’t your average zombie plague—the infected are still partially themselves, caught in a chilling symbiosis with the coral that now pulses through their bodies. The infection spreads fast, the horror is visceral, and the stakes climb with every chapter. The result is a body horror tale that rivals “The Last of Us” while carving out its own identity—one where beauty and terror coexist.

But what makes “The Dead of Summer” shine is not just the eerie atmosphere or the innovative worldbuilding—it’s the heart. Ollie’s struggle with grief, especially the alienation he feels as his mother changes after her illness, hits hard. His friendship with the loyal trio that anchors the story is deeply felt and unwavering, providing moments of warmth in an otherwise harrowing narrative. The queer representation is refreshingly natural and celebratory, woven into the island’s culture rather than treated as subtext or tokenism.

The book also tackles the ethics of scientific experimentation, climate trauma, and generational secrets—all without ever losing its fast-paced, character-driven core. The ending offers a twist that redefines what’s come before, and while you may crave more closure, the setup for a sequel is both tantalizing and earned.

Overall, “The Dead of Summer” is a brilliantly queer, terrifyingly imaginative, and emotionally resonant horror novel that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go. Ryan La Sala has created something special—part survival thriller, part supernatural mystery, and entirely unforgettable.

So freaking good! I LOVED it! What a creative story that I am DYING to know what happens next in . . . I hope that sequel comes out ASAP!

The last book I read by Ryan la Sala was the Honeys. Which I enjoyed. I meant to read Beholder next and never got around to it. So when I saw there was a new book coming out, that would start either a series or duology, I decided to request it. The story is about a small island with a dark and hidden history. No one likes to talk about it, but after a chemical spill in the 60's many of the island residents has gotten sick and died. This includes the main characters Mother. But after a year on the mainland getting medical care they return to the island. Within days everything goes wrong with an outbreak of something....that causes humans to transform into monsters. The queer themes and body horror was very reminiscent of Andrew Joseph White's Hell Followed With Us. Though it stands apart from it with a very different story being told. This story was creepy and twisty. I definitely did not see the end coming. It wrapped up enough that I don't feel like the book ended on a bad note, but I can't wait for the next one! Will be recommending it to all of my teen readers who like horror and stories like the Last of Us. (Thank You to Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC)

The Dead of Summer was absolutely fantastic! The author wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.