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.

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.