I voluntarily read, listened to, and reviewed advanced copies of this book and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Julia, Erika, and David have been friends since childhood. They spent every summer enjoying their families’ lake homes in Vermont. Now that they're adults, they bring their own children to the in hopes of a fun summer but long buried secrets find their way to the surface.

The Lake Escape is a stand-alone thriller. Similar to the author’s previous books, The POV alternates between Julia and Izzy.

The novel is fast-paced and packed with enough suspense to keep readers turning pages. There was at least one subplot that didn’t really add anything to the overall story other than a bit of unnecessary confusion. The MCs struggle with communication considering they’ve known each other for such a long time. The overall ending was unexpected and satisfactory which was nice.

The audiobook is narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. Their voices are different enough that I didn’t have any issues differentiating between them. They both did well keeping the large cast of characters distinct.

If you’re looking for a suspenseful novel with summery vibes, The Lake Escape may be a good fit for you.

Thanks for NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC of Jamie Day's latest thriller, "The Lake Escape".

This is the latest thriller written by Jamie Day (The Block Party), and I found it entertaining, to say the least. Three friends meet at the lake over the summer, as they have done for years past, but there’s something different this year. Too many secrets, lies, and disappearances have taken place over the years for everyone to come away from this year’s lake vacation unscathed. Then someone disappears again.

This year, drama surrounds a glasshouse, a new girlfriend, and a new nanny. What stood out to me was the author’s ability to create a plot and storyline that contained numerous characters yet remained easy to follow.

What didn’t work for me was the last 75 pages or so, as well as the nanny’s narrator. The voice of the narrator of the nanny’s character was meant to sound young, as her character is young, but I found her voice grating. The ending was just a bit too much. While entertaining, it was FAR from believable. Overall, a good thriller that I believe many readers will enjoy.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the advanced audio copy of THE LAKE ESCAPE by Jamie Day. I've been planning on reading his other novels, but this is my first--and I will read his other two. This novel centers around three friends who grew up together spending summers at the lake, as well as the temporary nanny, Izzy, who David hired to take care of his children. It also involves two separate mysteries, one of a woman who disappeared about thirty years ago, and another of a woman who recently disappeared. There are several theories thrown out as to whether these two mysteries are related. The story was told from two points of view, although the cast of characters was a lot larger than that. The book intrigued me allowing me to wonder throughout the book if the two cases of missing girls was related and what was the nanny hiding.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for the book #TheLakeEscape by #JamieDay. I enjoyed this book with deception, conspiracies and murder. Three friends, Julia, David and Erika all grew up together on the lake and still have these summer homes today. They always go on vacation the same time every year. This year, David had added on this his home and was overly too big. The next thing to happen is that David’s girlfriend, has now went missing. This isn’t the first person to go missing around here and things are not adding up. Why do all these girls end up missing and never found?

4 stars. A great summer audio pick with a lake setting + it’s sound flowing in the background! 💦 If you’re looking for an engaging slow-burn domestic thriller you’ll find it here; -secrets, lies, betrayals, and suspicion all merge with decades ago disappearances and a creepy secluded lake house three longtime friends- plus the nanny Izzy, are vacationing at for the summer. Told in dual POV’s the story really ramps up in the last half with an ending that will knock your socks off after (yet another disappearance)- the young girlfriend vanishes.
I love how this felt dark and chilling with an eerie vibe and enjoyed trying to fit the puzzle pieces together to solve the mystery. The only thing- I had to take notes as to keep the characters straight. I really enjoyed this latest from Jamie Day. Pub. 7/15/25

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lake Escape
by Jamie Day
3 out of 5 stars

Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

One sentence summary: Every 30 years, the lake takes another victim.

There was nothing that stood out as something I really liked. This book was okay, but it didn't make me excited to pick it up.

The good news is that there was nothing that made me dislike this book, either. It was a standard suspense with the expected characters. I didn't care for any of the characters, thinking they were all morally deficit, but that is expected in a book like this.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy suspenseful reading but are not expecting the writing to be incredible. Just a good solid story.

I listened to this book on audio and appreciated the narrators.

Trigger/ Content warnings: One open-door sex scene; miscarriage

A perfect summer mystery!

Every summer childhood friends Julia, Erika, and David bring their families back to the summer lake houses where they spent their own summers growing up together in Vermont. The lake holds many memories for the three, but it also holds many mysteries, including that of two missing women who were never found several decades ago and are now local lore.

When one of their own go missing, everyone's secrets begin to come out and fake facades begin to break down. Could someone in their circle have had something to do with the two missing women from back then? Could one of them have done the unthinkable and committed murder? What was supposed to be another fun, relaxing summer quickly turns into week of lies, hard truths, and a search for clues.

Jamie Day has written another fantastic mystery full of twists, turns, and well-developed characters. The lake setting was atmospheric, the small town secondary characters added another layer to the storyline, and the twists came together very well in the end.

The narration was done by two different voice artists, primarily one for Julia and one for the nanny, which made it very easy to listen to and understand whose perspective we had.

I am recommending this one to all of my readers this summer! If you love thrillers and summer settings, you'll easily cross this one off your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this title!

Such a fun read overall! This was a slow start and a bit hard to follow starting out for me but so worth it taking a bit to get into! Once everything was established I couldn’t stop! Family drama, villains you love to hate, the MCs arcs beautifully tied together and the ending was twisty and unexpected! I really enjoyed the teen MC’s perspective and uncovering her past and her ties to the lake.

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for early copy for review*

3.5 rated up

I listened tonthe audiobook for this and my favorite part was probably the lake's excerp. I love additions like waves in audiobooks. The two narrators did a good performance throughout. I loved the accent that Julia's pov had for David.

The story for this was pretty basic, but I really enjoyed myself and was never bored. Nothing really surprised me, but I enjoyed the writing style and would check other things out by this author.

Finished The Lake Escape in basically one sitting. Messy characters, lots of secrets, and a setting that somehow felt both dreamy and creepy. Totally pulled me in. Thanks to Macmillan for the ARC!

Julia, David, and Erika have had always loved their summers spent on a serene lake in Vermont. Their bond, forged in their teens, has endured, but now, they are parents, burdened by the responsibilities and frustrations that come with that newfound role. However, this summer promises to be different for all of them.

For starters, David has undertaken significant renovations on his cabin, much to the dismay of his summer neighbors. In addition to they, despite the pleasant memories shared by the trio, a haunting history lingers from three decades ago. Two young women had mysteriously vanished, leaving their families devastated.

Despite the good memories shared by the trio, there is a history that goes back three decades, when two young women had gone missing. However, their families are not the only ones at the lake for the summer. David has brought along his much younger girlfriend and his brand new nanny he had hired for his twins.

This story has multiple perspectives, but the character with the most intriguing story is Izzy. She is at the lake for a much deeper reason than to be a nanny. While she slowly but excellently embraces her new role, she has an entirely different reason for being there. While this remains a mystery at first, the bigger mystery is that David’s new girlfriend Fiona goes missing. Things were already tense, but Fiona’s disappearance increases the tension tenfold, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat.

Could there be a connection between the missing women of that long-forgotten summer and Fiona’s disappearance? While Izzy embarks on a quest for answers about the past, Julia’s perspective adds a layer of drama to the unfolding mystery. Julia’s unwavering determination to uncover the truth about Fiona’s disappearance, despite the chaos she brings to the story, captivates the reader. The dual narration in this story brought an extra level of intrigue.

Jamie Day weaves together great pacing and drama, crafting a compelling summer read that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

Julia, David and Erika have spent their summers at Lake Timmeny for their whole lives. The lake is also the place where two young women disappeared without a trace exactly 30 years apart. The cases remain open and unsolved.
This year, the trio returns with their families, but each person is carrying a whole lot of secrets from each other. David's girlfriend disappears the first night of their vacation, which makes it appear that history is repeating itself.
Told in 2 POVS, from Julia and Izzy, David's children's nanny, their perspectives slowly, bust surely put the puzzle together.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Three childhood friends and their families return to their lake houses for their beloved two-week summer tradition. This year, though, things feel different—with a house reconstruction and two newcomers joining the mix: David’s mysterious new girlfriend, Fiona, and Izzy, the nanny hired to care for his young twins.

As everyone settles in, hoping for rest and reconnection, tension bubbles beneath the surface. When a woman vanishes, longtime residents can’t help but recall two eerily similar disappearances—each spaced thirty years apart. Now, with another person gone, the chilling cycle seems to be repeating itself. Secrets unravel fast, and the only thing guaranteed this summer? Betrayal, blackmail, and death.

The two voice actresses did a phenomenal job bringing the suspense and explosive emotions to life!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Jamie Day, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. This FOUR STAR twisty thriller hits shelves TOMORROW onTuesday, July 15th—don’t miss it!

An interesting cast of characters that run the spectrum from decent and nice to truly heinous. The three main characters grew up spending their summers together on the same quiet block in an idyllic setting in Vermont. When they all return for the summer, they realize how things have changed. David, one of the three, has built a wholly inappropriately sized McMansion blocking their views, solitude and messing with the relationships between the three lifelong friends. Things from disturbing to dark when David's much younger girlfriend, with whom he had been fighting goes missing. This brings up the question of is this related to the missing women from years ago and does David’s nanny have a hidden agenda. There rarely are actual coincidences in life so what is happening? Twisted, dark, lies new and old all lead to even more creepiness and a darker ending. Some surprises, some cost to the surface is you’re paying attention. A not terribly surprising ending. I enjoyed this being told from multiple characters POV.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy of Day's newest thriller - which is out TOMORROW, 7/15!!

This one was a decent summer listen. The lakeside setting was atmospheric, and the mystery kept me interested, even if some of the twists were a little easy to see coming. It has that familiar thriller vibe—small town, secrets, and people you’re not sure you can trust—which can be fun, but also felt a bit predictable at times.

The audio version helped bring this to life a little more; the voice work was clear and easy to follow, with enough personality to keep things engaging.

Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for something light and suspenseful, but it didn’t totally blow me away. Great for a weekend listen, just not super memorable.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Jamie Day, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Three friends grew up together, spending summers at their Vermont lake homes with their families. Now adults, with marriages and kids, they look forward to getting together every year. But this year starts off with resentment, as David has remodeled his home to block the lake views from the others, plus he brought with him a new girlfriend and a nanny. And everyone has secrets.

I've enjoyed all of Jamie Day's books and this was no exception. Give me a messy family drama any day and then throw a mystery in the mix and you have the perfect book for your own lake or beach escape (hopefully with no bodies!). I felt the audiobook was very well done, with different narrators for the two points of view, making it easy to follow along. I liked the different family dramas and storylines and was always anxious to get back to the lake! The ending wrapped up all the plots very well.

🛟 The Lake Escape 🛟

The grand finale of The Lake Escape by Jamie Day will have you screaming, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!”

Izzy, a young and determined journalist, is desperate to dig into a decades-old cold case at a seemingly serene Vermont lake. But cracking the case means getting close to the tight knit lakeside community and that means getting creative.

Her solution? Watch Mary Poppins on repeat and fake it as a nanny. Naturally.

When she lands a summer job with David, a local father, everything seems relatively normal. The neighbors are friendly, if a little dramatic, and the lake? Absolutely stunning. But then someone disappears.

Again.

Did the lake claim another victim, as the local legends warn? Or is something more sinister lurking beneath the surface?

Armed with a nanny bag full of tricks and serious Mary Poppins energy, Izzy is ready to find out.

I seriously enjoyed this one! It kept me guessing from start to finish, and I loved Izzy’s quirky yet dynamic personality. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole was fantastic. So well done!

A fun bonus? The “lakeside” ambient audio woven throughout the story! I honestly wish there were an extended version just for a nature sound escape.

Overall, I’ll be highly recommending this one to fans of twisty thrillers and of course, anyone with a soft spot for Mary Poppins. 🤣

TechaBooks Review Rubric:
🎭Narrative Elements (Characters, Plot, Pacing, etc.,) - 4.6 STARS
🔪Genre: Thriller (Tension and Twists) - 4.5 STARS
🕵🏻‍♀️Genre: Mystery (Clues, Logic, Reveal) - 5 STARS
🎧Audiobook Narration Quality - 5 STARS
⭐️ Overall - 4.8 STARS

Much appreciation to @macmillan.audio for the advanced copy of this audio book! I am excited to provide you all with this honest review.
Release Date - 7/15/2025

❓Q O T D ❓- Which pop culture nanny would you trust to solve a mystery? (Mary Poppins, Fran Fine, Mrs. Doubtfire…?) or Why did you pick up your current read?

#bookstagram #thelakeescape #netgalley #marypoppins

What should be a nice getaway turns into a real life nightmare when a disappearance occurs. Women seem to disappear from this area on more than one occurrence and on this year’s vacation, Julia and Izzy are determined to find out what’s happening. It was great hearing the story from of their POVs. The story gave an eerie vibe, as these disappearances took place in a secluded lake area. The secrets ran deep in this friend group, and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold & seeing the character development in Izzy‘s character, she was my favorite.

The narration in the audiobook but was well done, and using two narrators to distinguish the two FMCs was a nice touch. Overall, a decent read that fans of slow burn mysterious thrillers may enjoy. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own. ★★★½

Childhood friends Julia, David, Erika and their families head to their family lake houses for a getaway only for someone to end up missing.

This was a twisty one! Here's what I liked:

The setting: While it's not locked room because they can leave, the characters really only stay in the lake side setting. This gives a good unsettling feeling to the whole book. I also loved that it was by a lake and the surrounding woods. It was a perfect setting.

The dual POV: You get the story from Julia and Izzy (David's new nanny who has her own agenda). I loved this because you had two women giving you the story and getting you info to really dig into the disappearance and the old myths in the surrounding areas. It also helped that I liked both women and found them relatable for different reasons.

The mysteries: Yes, multiple. You find out that the lake has a series of missing people over the years and new bones were just found nearby. This adds another layer to the overall mystery which was cool.

The narration: Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole do such a great job with the dual POVs. Both really help get into the narrative. In particular, Izzy's voice really comes across well!

All in all, this was a great twisty thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Let’s be honest...this book should’ve been called The Glass House. The term is dropped so often you’d think it was sponsored by a high-end window company. But hey, at least the metaphor is clear: fragile egos, transparent lies, and a house full of people who definitely shouldn’t have gone on vacation together.

We’ve got your classic toxic friend group reunion: shady pasts, current tension, and just enough passive aggression to curdle lake water. Most of the characters are wildly unlikeable. Each has secrets, grudges, and the emotional depth of an Instagram quote. If you’re looking for someone to root for, good luck. There are only. a few and they are all children or barely past. And yet… it works. Somehow, Jamie Day pulls it all together. The plot simmers, the secrets unravel, and just when you’re wondering if it’s all style and no payoff—bam! The ending sticks the landing. Clever, twisted, and weirdly satisfying, even after all the eye-rolling and bad decisions it took to get there.

Come for the drama, stay for the glass house. Yes, the characters are mostly insufferable, but the suspense is solid and the finale delivers a well-earned mic drop that will possibly save your faith in humanity. Just maybe don’t plan your next group getaway in a fully transparent lakeside mansion.