This sampler was so good! I am a little upset at myself for requesting it because I now have tormented myself until I can get the full novel in September. This book is perfect for spooky season and I am so excited to read my first novel by this author. I have heard nothing but stellar reviews from his earlier works and I am excited to add this one to the Halloween TBR.

I was a big fan of Ryan La Sala's book, The Honeys, so to say I'm looking forward to The Dead of Summer is a massive understatement. This excerpt sampler has me eagerly awaiting the publication of the novel in September. I am very intrigued by the tonal shift between the chapter's from Ollie's perspective vs. the chapters logging the mystery illness. Can't wait to read the entire book!

Interesting premise/ excerpt so far, Excited for the book to come out soon as I have enjoyed other books by this author.

things ryan la sala has made me (more) scared of:

• bees
• mirrors
• coral

i don’t fuck with the ocean to begin with, so i KNEW going into this one i was going to be at a disadvantage. and YEAH the ocean is still terrifying, but at it’s heart, this book is a loud commentary on the way queer people are left to deal with our own shit with the help of only our chosen families to get us through it. an island, that is a queer destination, gets infected with a mysterious illness and is literally abandoned and it’s inhabitants left there to die. chilling!

this is the second ryan la sala book the group chat has read together, and bless that, because i needed someone to understand the stress i was vicariously feeling for these teenagers. the notes app theories i have cooked up had me looking like that charlie day from it’s always sunny meme trying to connect the most pointless shit because i was SURE it meant something.

i’m still convinced i’m right abut a few of them, but i WON’T KNOW because i was so invested in the book that i forgot until about 75% thorough that that was a DUOLOGY, so there’s an entire second book coming. it’s absolutely going to be worth the wait, but man, the twist right before the ending is EXHILARATING and i am so obsessed with whatever is wrong with ryan.

these characters they’ve written here are some of my absolute favorites (wendy pretendy, a literal goddess of a human) and i’m excited to see the ones that survive the island (and honestly, maybe even the ones that didn’t) in the conclusion of the story because i KNOW it’s going to be such an intense, rocky ride to get to the ending. but they’ll be okay, because suds still together, right? right, ryan?

Ryan La Sala is one of my favorite authors. The Honeys is my favorite book of all time. His newest release, The Dead of Summer, coming out September 16th, is one of my most highly anticipated reads and of course a 5 star prediction.

Even in 30 pages, it already lives up to the hype in my head. I was laughing and hanging on to every word. I was dying to know what happens next. True his writing style, Ryan La Sala keeps things exciting with spectacular writing and unique plots.

I have this pre-ordered and I cannot wait for more.

The synopsis for this book really intrigued me, so I knew I had to attempt to get this excerpt. It did not disappoint. 30ish pages and I'm already hooked on the topics and themes La Sala has set up for The Dead of Summer (queer experiences, chronic/terminal illness within the family, and a mysterious island with an even more mysterious history of terminal illness in its residents turned SCP-style biohazard horror).

This is one title you won't want to miss out on if you like virus stories (Hell Followed With Us), isolated horror (Still Wakes the Deep), and putting together a story through scientific notes scattered throughout the narration. I, for one, will be showing up to my local bookstore on release day to grab a copy!

With that blurb and those comps, I was beyond interested. I’m just sad this was only a sampler because my interest was piqued! (but I’ll take it for now.) I do think that opening line was a bit clunky, but I like Ollie’s narrative voice and I’m interested to see an exploration of illness and grief with maritime eldritch horrors (my fave). I’ve never read anything by Ryan La Sala before but I’ll keep an eye out for this in September.

Hate that this was a sampler. I wanted to keep reading. But based on the sample - can't wait for the book to release. Sounds like a crazy ride.

Consider me intrigued! Though just a excerpt, I’m immediately sucked into Anchor’s Mercy. So far it’s all atmosphere and intrigue; I’m anxious for the rest!

This sampler was well written and imaginative. The characters were interesting and engaging. I truly enjoyed reading this and will have to get the book when it come out because I absolutely have to know what happens next!

Sampler was so good I had to go wish for the full arc and it was granted. Gonna dive into the full book shortly, so excited for it.

I am so ready, I need this book now! I was immediately drawn in and interested in what was going on and I can't wait to read more about this book. In the little bit we are given you really get a feel for the characters and for their apparent motivations. You also get a taste of what might really be going on. It draws you in, leaving you wanting more.

this does everything that I want in a sampler, and hype the reader up for the full book. I was engaged from the first chapter and enjoyed the overall experience of this. Ryan La Sala was able to weave the action and horror element into something that worked. I was invested in what was happening with Ollie and wanted to read the full story, with Ollie and the rest of the characters. I enjoyed how suspenseful it was and how the sampler got me into the story.

The excerpt was just enough for me to get the feel of the stories and the characters. The island setting seems idyllic but there’s hints at something sinister. I can’t wait to read more!

Thanks to NetGalley for the sample!

I’m absolutely hooked by this excerpt and can’t WAIT to read the whole thing. Ryan La Sala never disappoints!

While I only read the excerpt sampler, I can see there is a great story ahead! I fear like there may be stories that talk about the queer experience and the homophobia that is rampant in America, I feel like I haven't quite seen it done this way. When it is officially published, I will make sure to have my library purchase a copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for allowing me to read what I know is the beginning of a wonderfully mysterious book, and thank you to Ryan La Sala for writing it.

Reading this sampler made me so excited for this book! I read Ryan La Sala's The Honeys and absolutely ate that up, so I am excited to feel similarly about The Dead of Summer.

I'm officially hooked! This was just the right amount of tease to entice me to read this book.

We get a snippet of Ollie, our protagonist, and a really interesting glimpse into both his relationship with his mother, and a potential relationship with another young man he's just encountered.

And we also know things are about to go very, horribly wrong...which has me clawing for the answers to HOW all this happens.

Wow I read this so fast!! I am super excited for Ryan’s new book to come out. Thank you for the sampler!!!

i’m hooked already!! just from a short excerpt, i can already feel my skin crawling from the eerie description and curiosity over what is really going on on this island. the characters are very intriguing and campy, and their quirks are already part of what i can tell will add to this horrifying, (anticipatingly) heartbreaking story.

“What you don't look at can't see you. It was like playing peekaboo with god.” chills!!!

my only criticism is that i was confused on the first sentence whether we were talking about tears as in rips or crying tears, so it took me a little longer to get pulled in. but not a dealbreaker! i can’t wait to read more.