The Lake Escape is a story built around generational lies and deceit and I love that theme! I am always going to read books where you can't trust your friends. No matter how many times I read that trope it never gets old for me.

I truthfully wasn't expecting all of the twists. If I am honest some of them were a little bit too far fetched for me, which is the main reason I am only giving it 4*.

I loved the lake setting and the mystery/ lore around that lake itself! That was probably the highlight of the story for me. It kind of gave off true crime vibes.

As far as narration goes, they did a solid 5*! I really enjoyed this and can definitely see myself reading some more from Jamie Day.

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. The narrations were very good. The characters were distinct and the voices sounded age appropriate.

I really liked this suspense novel. It takes place at the lake properties of three different families, who have been friends forever. The mystery at the lake involves the disappearance of two girls, thirty years apart. And guess what? The girlfriend of one of the men disappears. That man has also hired a nanny for the summer, who unbeknownst to anyone is researching the older disappearances. Things get kind of stirred up.

There's a lot going on in the story. I read several reviews that knocked the author for including some mob things. They said it was too far fetched. Let me tell you--as someone who grew up in the very small town of Kearney, MO and had a KC Mob member living three houses down from me, it's not necessarily that far fetched. The man was in a wheelchair from having been shot in the back from an attack from other mobsters. We had police officers laying in the field behind our house carrying out surveillance. What happened in the book isn't so far fetched...at least not to me.

The character development was very good. You learn quite a bit about most of the characters. I listened raptly and enjoyed it.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGallley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Two women have disappeared from the lake - thirty years apart. When Julia and her family meet up with lifelong friends for a getaway, one of them goes missing. Suddenly, it feels like the lake might have claimed someone else.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
I’m always up for a domestic thriller, especially one with friends reuniting on vacation.

Loved the dual POV, but not gonna lie, I wanted more! Julia, David, and Erica were at the heart of it - their friendship was the whole reason for these yearly reunions, but Erica barely featured.

The addition of new nanny Izzy definitely stirs things up and helps move the story along. The audiobook cast was strong, and the narrator who voiced Izzy really stood out - going from 20-something Izzy to 70-year-old Grace with such ease was seriously impressive!

For most of the book, it’s firmly a domestic suspense, but once the last quarter hits, it goes wild - mob connections, FBI, police - it suddenly turns into a whole different kind of thriller.

I love a closed ending, super satisfying but I’m not a fan of the final monologue wrap-up. I always prefer when a story shows, rather than tells.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This slow burn has one hell of a climax!! If you like your thrillers with some domestic drama and a totally wild ending, pack this for your summer vacay.

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for the advance listening copy.

This was really difficult to finish. The dual narrative featured two unlikeable characters - and the storyline was preposterous. The story is about three childhood friends, who grew up spending summers around a beautiful lake in Vermont - David, Julia, and Erika. When Julia arrives this summer, David's new towering glass house now obstructs her and Erika's cottages - and Julia is seething. We hear from Julia, and also from "Izzy" - David's new nanny, who is at the lake on a personal, secret mission. Every thirty years, a young woman disappears from the lake, and this year is the 30 year anniversary. When David's young girlfrien disappears - is the mystery of the lake rearing its ugly head, or are the secrets everyone is hiding to blame? Much of the dialogue was repetitive, and the author could have out a lot of the conversations. Lots of eye rolls. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced audiobook.

Audiobook

Julia and her family arrive at their lakeside cabin in Vermont. Each year since her youth, Julia has spent summers there with her best friends Erika and David, now grown with their own families. However, long-kept secrets are discovered that threaten the idyllic life Julia has come to enjoy!

The Lake Escape is a slow-burn thriller with many twists - maybe too many. Except for those under ten years old, every person has a secret, past, and present. How can everyone keep all of it straight and hidden from one another? It's hard to keep straight, but it does keep you on your toes, and the ending does provide a resolution.

Advanced copy provided by St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another great read from Jamie Day! After The Block Party, I have kept an eye on Day as they stood out as a writer who understands how to build suspense and weave a strong narrative. The Lake Escape was no different, the thrill was just as captivating in this novel. David, Julia, and Erica each had me second guessing who was the villain for the whole book. What I love about Day is that even at the end when things appear to be wrapped up and you have come down from the nerves of figuring out what happened, there is still more to be uncovered in the final chapters and epilogue. Even if you have solved the big mystery, Day always has a surprise or two up the sleeve that leaves you extra impressed at the end. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to this publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

This one starts off like a peaceful summer getaway—childhood friends reuniting at a Vermont lake house with their families—but you can feel right away that something is off. There’s this tension simmering just under the surface: everyone’s putting on their best face, pretending things are fine, but they’re all clearly dealing with their own issues.

I really liked the way this explored long-term friendships—how much history you can have with someone, and how that history can sometimes cover up a lot of dysfunction. The dynamic between Julia, Erica, and David felt real: nostalgic, complicated, a little bit messy. And once the story hits the halfway point, it picks up fast. I flew through the second half.

Izzy, the nanny, was also a standout character. She has her own secret reasons for being at the lake, and her investigative thread added a really compelling layer to the story.

My only gripe? The constant references to Instagram captions and social media. I get what the author was going for—this whole “appearance vs. reality” theme—but it started to wear on me a little. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall experience too much.

I listened to the audiobook and thought it was really well done—the pacing, the narration, the tension, all of it worked. I’d definitely check out more of Jamie Day’s books after this one.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re in the mood for a summer thriller that slowly twists its way into something darker and more layered—with secrets, tension, and characters you won’t know whether to trust—this one delivers.

The Lake Escape starts simply enough. Erika, Julia and David grew up spending summers together at a Vermont Lake. They return every year with their families but times have changed. Julia’s business is in trouble, Erika seems to be hiding something and David…David is now a divorced millionaire who has built a mega mansion on the site of his old lake house. He has returned for this vacation with his girlfriend, the tempting Fiona, his twins and their new Nanny Izzy. All goes reasonably well on the first night. Well, as well as it can go when too many specialty lake cocktails are imbibed and Fiona attempts lap dancing. Later that night, she and David have a loud argument and the next morning she is gone. Every 30 years a woman has disappeared at the lake and now, exactly 30 years after the last, Fiona is missing. As the locals say “the lake takes them”. Now begins a complicated investigation which is not solved until the final pages.

I listened to The Lake Escape audiobook and the narration was excellent and kept me listening. I like the different points of view and the characters (with a few exceptions) but I thought some plot details were overdone. Without spoilers, I felt the final chapters were not at all believable. While I might not have continued reading this mystery, the narration earns it 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jamie Day.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day is a great summer thriller that’ll have you guessing (and second guessing) from beginning to end.

Jamie Day always writes fantastic multi POV thrillers. This one does not disappoint! With the lake setting, it’s a perfect summer read. It centers around a group of friends who grew up together, and still vacation at the lake. It is full of deceit, mystery, unlikable characters, and tension. And it has plenty of twists that will surprise you.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was performed by multiple narrators. It was incredibly well done, including some cool sound effects in the lake scenes. I listened at 1.5x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy

If you like family/friends drama, unreliable narrators, solving murder mystery, and basically dysfunctional relationships, this book has all of that, plus some.

David, Julia, and Erika have all grown up together since they were kids. They all come out to Lake Timmeny every year as a family get-together with their respective partner/spouse and kids. Well, this year, things are about to change. Lake Timmeny has its own dark history after two women mysteriously disappeared 30 years apart, and now bones have been discovered, and people are questioning if their little piece of haven is still safe. When David's girlfriend goes missing, it brings back suspicion of those previous disappearances.

The characters are flawed. They have secrets and hide them well. But secrets can't be buried forever.

The pace in this book was pretty steady, I didn't find it too slow. It kept me guessing throughout, and the changing perspectives gave more insights into the characters' lives and how/why they are who they are.

Give this one a go if you like drama-filled, messy lives characters, with a murder mystery storyline.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC audiobook!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book started quickly and kept me guessing who did it until the very end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four-Star Review for The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

Jamie Day does it again with The Lake Escape—a suspenseful, tightly-woven mystery that delivers the kind of atmospheric tension and emotional twists fans have come to expect. The setting is perfectly eerie, the pacing brisk, and the characters layered just enough to keep you second-guessing their motives. While a few plot points felt slightly predictable, the execution was strong enough that it didn’t take away from the enjoyment.

Day continues to be one of my go-to authors for smart, engaging thrillers. If you enjoy lakeside secrets, slow burns with satisfying payoffs, and a strong sense of place, this one is well worth the read.

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

I found this one a bit overwhelming. There were just too many characters, and it was tough to keep track of them all. The only perspective I really enjoyed was Izzy's.

If you're after a mystery that feels like a TV show, this book could be a solid pick. I wish there had been more suspense sprinkled throughout the story instead of just crammed in at the end. There was a lot of buildup, but the conclusion seemed a bit rushed.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I thought this was a great summer thriller beach read! I liked how three generations were tied together by tragedy at the Lake. I liked the dual alternating viewpoints. It kept the book interesting providing two entirely different perspectives and timelines.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🎧Song Pairing: Mixed Drinks About Feelings - Eric Church

💭What I thought would happen:

There is someone in that lake. Anyone else get the creeps when swimming and having no idea what’s underneath 😂 I irrationally think shark

📖What actually happens:

🏡Annual family/friend vacation
🚤Lake setting
⚠️Alcoholism, abuse
🤬Missing women
😱Lake lore
🩵Friendship and family drama

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Resentment! Drama! Mob associations! Marital problems! Murder mystery! Holy balls that’s a lot of stuff in 300 pages.

I’d say this was my fav from the author so far! I always associate summer with their newest thriller!

I don’t know about you but a lake setting is *chefs kiss* for shit to hit the damn fan. There is less opportunity for a quit exit

Anywho grab this one, take it to the lake with ya😉

Three best friends meet for their annual lake trip to their family summer homes. Lake life is suppose to be fun and relaxing. Or so this trio thought. Not only does the lake lore talk of two missing young women (30 years apart) BUT another woman’s goes missing while the families are enjoying s’mores and bonfires. Secret never stay quiet, and we watch the childhood trio begin to mistrust, fear and scheme.

This book is the perfect summer thriller, maybe just not read it at a lake house. I enjoyed the dual POV Julia and Izzy. Readers were given a well rounded view with these two MCs. I enjoyed the drama, the betrayal and the mystery of this third missing woman. I gave 4 stars specifically because the epilogue felt a little too forced and long winded.

Bingeworthy and fun for the summer.

Thank you Macmillan Audio the advanced listening copy.

This book is out July 15, 2025.

60 years ago, a woman disappeared. 30 years later, another woman disappeared...it's now 30 years....and a woman disappears.
Let me start by saying I listened to the audio book, and the book mainly is between two women, Izzy and Julia and the person reading does do a good job between the two characters.
Julia, Erika and David grew up together on the lake, spending summers as close as siblings, experiencing everything from the death of a parent, teen love and raising families. This year, David is divorced, dating a younger woman and brings along a nanny, Izzy, who has her own agenda for being there, which is gradually revealed through out the book.
Then the girlfriend disappears and Erika and Julia wonder how well they know David. Julia's daughter Taylor has her own secrets and begins to work with Izzy, investigating David and also Erika's son Lukas.
The story has twists and turns and I have to admit, the ending had so many people coming in and out, I totally lost track and had to go back and figure out who was who. There were a few very long winded "thoughts" that took away from the grand finale, but it was good. There were surprises, a good and plausible guilty person, and a satisfying ending.
4 smiles.

This book was okay. It took me awhile to get into it. I listened to the audio version. The narration was fantastic, but it took me a bit to get going with the story. It wasn't bad at all, just couldn't quite get into it.
This story surrounds a group of friends who have been meeting at their respective summer houses year after year since they were young. Now, all adults with their own children, they arrive for another summer. This time around, things don't go so well. There are marriages on the rocks, teens with issues, and it just so happens to be twenty years since the lake claimed a "victim".
I won't tell you more because I'll ruin it for you if I do. This book is good and once you can get yourself firmly into it, you'll likely enjoy it quite a bit.

4.25⭐️s : Really enjoyed the narrators and dual points of view for this story. Highlight was the goosebumps I got a little over halfway through the book (nanny narration). Lowlight was Julia’s last narration talking about breath & meditation seemed a little too forced & cheesy. And I’m practicer & advocate of the benefits of breathing & meditation. Just seemed a little too quick & easy. I had to laugh.

Found it to be a quick listen. Yes, there are quite a few characters, but still fairly easy to keep track of them and the story. No more complicated than any other story with a friend group. I’m not sure how many characters I found 100% likable, but that didn’t seem to matter as I was still really invested in the story.

Enjoyed the twists & turns. And how smaller details were accounted for in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for a free ARC of the audiobook.

I had high hopes for The Lake Escape by Jamie Day, especially after enjoying her previous work, but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I’m giving it 3 stars— the plot felt a bit too far-fetched at times.

The story centers around three longtime friends, Julia, David, and Erika, who’ve spent summers together at their lake homes since childhood. Now adults, they reunite at the lake for what’s supposed to be a relaxing getaway. But when David shows up with his much-younger girlfriend and she suddenly vanishes after an argument, things get messy fast.

What threw me off was how casually her disappearance was treated. It just didn’t feel realistic that no one seemed truly concerned at first. Especially when you add in the fact that two other women vanished from the same lake decades ago… it just felt like too many convenient twists stacked on top of each other.

I listened to the audiobook and also read the ebook, and I will say the narration was great, definitely helped me stay more engaged than I might’ve been with just the text.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for the eARC and audiobook in exchange for an honest review! The Lake Escape by Jamie Day comes out on July 15, 2025.