"Follow your heart... ...but watch your back"

I thought this was an enjoyable audiobook, and the narrators were great.

I enjoyed the plot and felt like many of the characters were likable and relatable. All of the things that were intertwined and came together at the end were interesting!

I'm still trying to figure out what the giant lake house looks like. 🙃

‘The lake takes them’.
For three childhood friends will their annual two weeks at the lake be a vacation or an escape?

Oh my gosh, I was totally and completely HOOKED from the very first chapter of this audiobook. Jamie Day has a way of writing that keeps you hooked and I loved every minute!

These characters were so incredibly flat and boring. And, once again, this is a thriller where nothing really happens. We just get a whole lot of characters assuming stuff and talking/thinking about what might happen or what might've happened. They are all so unlikable.

This story takes place at a lake where people tend to go missing, but also where people continuously return to for their summer vacations (that just makes me think these people are kind of stupid).

I just really could not get into this story. I need interesting characters and an action-packed, thrilling storyline for me to enjoy a book. I just wanted more from this because it had so much potential. You can do so much with a spooky lake!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I was expecting the typical vacation thriller, but this was not it! This was a well-plotted mystery with many layers and characters that was, honestly, difficult to navigate at times. The murder mysteries made sense and went well with the eerie setting. However, the domestic drama going on within and between the couples was a bit much and hard to keep up with. The domestic elements kept this from being a more serious type of literary fiction, which would have been an improvement. Too much was just…too much. I have read all of Day’s thrillers and she showed her literary chops here! It’s time she heads away from the more cushy desperate housewives vibe and into serious fiction since she is clearly able. Great job on this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest and humble review: here it is!

I really enjoyed Jamie Day's debut novel- The Block Party so I was excited to read her newest. I thik she is goingto cement her reputation as the author of the thriller beach read! Th eLake Escape was a great who-dun-it with a lot of twists and red herrings. I think I enjoy about Jamie Day's novels is that she writes her thrillers about rich families that arent always what they seem. Money issues, infidelity, and in this new one- the mob! All set in a New England lake area where it sould be a relaxing summer trip. Highly recommend

I didn’t know what to expect but glad I jumped in, the mix of suspense and slight humor from the “nanny” kept me wanting more
My first from the writer/narrator but not my last

I just binged The Four Seasons on Netflix, so the timing of this listen was perfect, since The Lake Escape felt like a thrilling version of that show, with long-time friendships, old secrets, and simmering tension all packed into a lakeside setting.

I really liked how the story explored the dynamic between Julia, David, and Erika. There’s something fascinating about the way friend groups change throughout life stages, and I think Jamie Day did a great job of exploring that through these key characters. I especially appreciated how the story peeled back layers slowly without dragging things out too much. The narration also worked well. It kept me engaged and helped me keep track of the different perspectives.

I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a twisty spring/summer thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

This is the perfect summer thriller/mystery! Jamie Day does domestic thriller to a tee! The narrators Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole did an amazing job. The character development was just ok and that is what kept it from being a 5 star in my opinion.

Fun summer vacation read! This atmospheric mystery thriller has a large cast of characters some of whom are not exactly who they say they are. The story is told from two POV, both Izzy, the teen nanny and Julia, who has vacationed at the lake her whole life.

The lake setting, lifelong friends on their annual vacation and the suspense all come together to create an enjoyable summer read.

I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC and both are wonderful. The narration for the Izzy portions of the audiobook is excellent.

3.5 stars rounded up. I have really enjoyed Jamie's previous books, so I was super excited for this one! I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint. It's a great summer thriller, especially if you enjoy family/friend drama. It's told in multiple POVs, which I always enjoy in thrillers. The narrators kept me engaged and were super easy to listen to. I did not expect pretty much any of the twists, the curse of the lake added a nice little extra mystery to the missing girlfriend. It was a bit of a slow burn, but the end definitely bridged the gap with all of the excitement. It's a quick read and has the perfect summer by the lake atmosphere.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Release: July 15, 2025
Author: Jamie Day
Publisher: McMillan Audio

Rating: 4 ★ 

Julia, David, and Erika have been spending summers together at their lake houses in Vermont since they were kids. Now, as adults juggling strained marriages, moody teenagers, and the weight of adulthood, they return once again — but this year is different.

David is especially eager to show off his flashy home renovation (which conveniently ruins his friends’ lake views) and his much younger girlfriend. He’s also brought along a nanny, though no one realizes she has her own hidden motives.

Things take a dark turn when David’s girlfriend suddenly goes missing after a heated argument. With the memory of two other women who vanished from the lake decades ago still looming, everyone begins to wonder: is the past repeating itself?

As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the group is forced to confront just how little they really know about each other — and just how far someone might go to keep the truth buried.

This was such a fun, fast-paced summer thriller — exactly the kind of book you want to bring to the beach or devour on a lazy weekend. I loved how the story balanced a twisty mystery with layered characters and old friendships that feel real, messy, and full of secrets.

The premise is great: three longtime friends — Julia, David, and Erika — reunite at their family lake houses in Vermont, a tradition since childhood. But this summer, the vibe shifts when David’s girlfriend goes missing. With the lake already haunted by past disappearances, tensions rise and trust begins to unravel.

The multiple POVs (especially Julia and Izzy, the nanny) added depth, and I appreciated how each character came with their own baggage — divorce, teenagers, secrets, you name it. Izzy’s backstory, in particular, had me hooked. I didn’t love all the characters (some of the guys were definitely eye-roll-worthy), but that actually made it more fun — watching everything spiral out of control was part of the ride.

The plot does get a little tangled in the middle, but I stayed engaged, and the structure made it easy to follow all the moving pieces. And the ending? A little wild, maybe even implausible, but entertaining. I was totally holding my breath during parts of it.

If you’re looking for something atmospheric, suspenseful, and easy to binge, The Lake Escape is a solid pick. Especially if you love domestic thrillers where everyone’s hiding something — and the women take charge by the end.

Favorite Quote:
"we all carry burdens, but it's the people we share them with who make them lighter."

Julia, David and Erika have been friends since childhood, they spent their summers at the same lake . Now that they are adults with their own families, they continue the tradition every year. The lake is their favourite place even though the lake has a lore; two women, have disappeared thirty years apart.

This year, Julia, her husband and teen daughter; Erika her husband and teen son and David with his girlfriend and his 5 year old twins and their nanny all arrive for a few weeks of fun. Izzy, the nanny has an alternate reason for being there and after one of the group go missing, she realizes she may be in over her head.

Thai group of friends has more secrets than you can count and the storyline is fast paced and throws some interesting twists at you. This was a fun summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, narrator and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of the audiobook in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

A week at a lake sounds like bliss! The water, the sun, old friends, and cookouts makes for an enjoyable vacation. Unfortunately for Julia, David, and Erika, old friends who spent their summers at their family's idyllic Vermont lake homes, this week will become a nightmare! Instantly gripping and atmospheric, The Lake Escape, grabbed my attention and never let go! Now that they are adults, Julia, David, and Erika have a lot on their plates - relationships, children, financial responsibility, sex and secrets! They are no longer the carefree teenagers who enjoyed their summers together!

David has arrived with Izzy, his newly hired Nanny, children and younger girlfriend to show off his newly renovated home which just happens to block his friends cherished lake views. When his girlfriend goes missing, an investigation is underway. Friends will look differently at friends and a long-ago mystery about two missing women at the lake surfaces.

This was book is told through the POV's of a couple of characters and slowly secrets emerge as do memories. I enjoyed the setting which was nostalgic and ideal. I could imagine the lake, the woods, and the homes. It looks like such a relaxing setting, but it is anything but relaxing for the friends and those in their lives. As the mystery builds, so does the suspense.

There were times that I wanted this book to move a little faster. There are quite a few characters and at times I felt as if they bogged down the story a little bit. What doesn't bog down the plot is the atmosphere, the tension, the suspense, the twists, and the setting.

I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook which made for a wonderful reading experience!

What a great thriller to enjoy this summer! Wonderfully written, well thought-out, shocking, and gripping!

This was a really fun little summer thriller. I actually liked a lot of the characters which is rare for me in domestic thrillers where everyone has a hidden agenda.

The narration in the audiobook was a little grating, but easy to overlook when the story was so engaging!

Thank you to the publishers for the audiobook arc.

3.5 rounded up.

Fast-paced and attention-grabbing, The Lake Escape starts strong with a messy cast of unlikable characters you can’t look away from. It’s fun in that “everyone’s got secrets” kind of way, even if it drags a bit in the middle. The web of lies is entertaining to unravel, but the ending leans a little too implausible to fully satisfy. Still, a solid popcorn thriller that keeps you guessing — especially if you're at the beach or lake for the weekend this summer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated PG-13 for language, violence, and general domestic drama.

I enjoyed this thriller! 3.75, rounding to 4 stars.
This was my first Jamie Day book, and I will read more!
Missing Women from Lake Timmeny in Vermont.
Three longtime friends started coming to the lake with their parents and have stayed and continued this tradition. So David, Erika, and Julie come down with their own families. While they are at the lake, a woman goes missing (the first woman was when the friend group was young).
There are a lot of interconnected plots throughout the book, and so many discoveries! Multiple POVs.
There were so many times that I caught myself making sure I could take deep breaths.. lol, you will know if you read it.
To have so much going on in an interconnected plot story, the author did an excellent job with the structure.
The characters are well-developed, and I was able to connect them for the majority of the book
I think this is a perfect book for a lazy day or beach read.
Definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for a review!
Happy Reading!

Jamie Day’s Lake Escape is exactly what you need for a summer read that’s full of thrills, laughs, and a splash of romance. From the first page, I was hooked—imagine sun-kissed days, mysterious lake secrets, and characters who feel like old friends dropping by for a visit. The story whisks you away to a charming lakeside town where everyone’s hiding a little something, and the stunning scenery makes it impossible to put down. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the witty banter will keep you grinning ear to ear. What really sets this book apart is how it balances lighthearted fun with moments of genuine emotion—the kind that make your heart do a happy dance. Whether you're into cozy mysteries, swoon-worthy romances, or just looking for an escape from reality, Lake Escape delivers in spades. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and enjoy this delightful adventure. 3.5 stars rounded up stars for a book that’s as refreshing as a day at the lake—fun, warm, and thoroughly enjoyable!

This was the first book of Jamie Day's that I have listened to. The book was really good. The narration was goid. I will be looking up more of this authors books to to listen to.

5/5

What an absolute wild ride! I’m fairly good at figuring out thrillers/mysteries but I was constantly surprised by all the twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed being along for the ride and digging up the truth with the two main characters.