Thoughts

This book was just... not as good as I thought it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed All of Us Villains, and I had such high hopes here! Don't get me wrong. It's still a good book. It just didn't suck me in like I had hoped. One of the downfalls of reading a new work by an author you've previously enjoyed so much is high expectations that might not be met quite as well the second time around.

Pros
Atmospheric Waves: One of the things that really sets this spooky ghost story apart from other medium tales is its atmospheric and all-encompassing setting. The unsettled spirits of the ocean cry out with the waves. The power of the moon plays with the tide and the minds of the mediums. Blood and candles mingle with saltwater and ocean spray. Murder victims come with sand dollar eyes and barnacled fingers. It's all very creepy, and it creates a perfectly (unwholesome) beachy vibe.

Bi-Awareness: In a culture of bi-erasure, it is nice to have not just one but two bisexual girls represented in this text--and to have at least one of them date a boy as well as fall for the sapphic love interest. While Evelyn might break up with her boyfriend, it has nothing to do with her interest in women, and so that's nice, too.

Ecological Undercurrent: It only makes sense that rising sea levels would affect tidal ghosts, doesn't it? The ecology of marine life, tidal pools, and the ghostly denizens therein all feel the impact of environmental change, as is only natural. The chemical waste from a now-defunct factory may in fact be pivotal. It makes sense that a beachy read would take stock of the actual beach and its residents, human and otherwise, and I so appreciate that this book does take into account the environmental pressures these regions are facing today.


Cons
Secret-Keeping: I don't really enjoy plots that revolve around secret-keeping as a way to create dramatic tension. Here, the omission of truth is a primary leading force behind just about everything, and I just didn't feel a compelling enough reason why this had to be. Why would Mina's mother keep everything from her? Why so many secrets? There seemed to be no particular reason behind this secret-keeping aside from dramatic emphasis. And I just don't like that.

Interchangeable MCs: The external trappings of these girls--their lives, interests, hobbies, familial relationships--might be different, but their narrative voices aren't. I found myself getting confused, because the girls acted and reacted so similarly. The narrative was a little choppy in this regard. Nothing was the same between these girls on the outside, so they should have been easily distinguished. And yet, they weren't. Which is unfortunate.

Weight of Words: This fantasy book leans a bit too much on the weight of the words it uses. By this, I mean Herman uses words we already know and understand to convey important concepts in her world without taking the time to really explain those concepts herself--that is, without digging in and doing the worldbuilding. "Curse," "exorcism," and similarly loaded words are tossed around like we know exactly what they mean, and to an extent, we do. But these words don't get fully defined in-world. This felt like too much of a shortcut. I had an idea of what these words would mean but not the precise meaning--and the impact of the world and its consequences get, therefore, a little bit lost.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10

Those looking for another ghostly tale after Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys will appreciate these new teenage mediums. Those who like a bit of dark, enemies-to-lovers romance like in Julia Ember's Ruinsong will like these mismatched love interests.

The Drowning Summer is a YA paranormal book with Bisexual representation. This author co-wrote another book I loved, All of Us Villains. I never read the great Gatsby, but I've heard from others it gives that vibe. I've been loving sapphic ghost related YA books lately, this gave me similar vibes to My Dearest Darkest. This is also a mystery/thriller. This has the friends-enemies-lovers trope too which I love! Something else that intrigued me throughout the book was the symbolism of the sand-dollars. Overall I'd recommend to any LGBT+ friends that like YA mysteries/paranormal books.

Go into this story with mild expectations and you will not be disappointed. This new resurgence of paranormal and horror stories in YA, it’s cute in theory but this story in my opinion tries to do too much. A good portion the book felt convoluted—until you get to the middle of the book, that’s where a lot of the story started to make sense for me. As with most YA paranormal books—this book definitely has an audience and despite the authors past, I still think people should give it a chance. Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

This is a book I'm really conflicted on. I've been hesitant to read any Christine Lynn Herman since the bullying accusations against her and other authors came out last year. Still, I've been really interested in this title so reading it here and being as honest as possible felt like a great option.

That being said, this was just okay. I liked a lot of elements, like the family of mediums and the sapphic romance. I think the setting and tone were really spooky and compelling, and the mystery kept me hooked. On the flipside, I wish the supporting cast had more depth. Our main characters had such interesting parents and their stories were almost more interesting than their kids. The problem is, we never dive into those stories enough, or learn about who they are outside of their connection to the murders this story follows. There's also a friend group in this that's super sweet and really impactful, but each member felt one dimensional. I wish we learned more about Nick, whose brother was one of the victims of the murders our characters are trying to solve.

Also, I thought this was easily predictable. I immediately figured out who was responsible. Still, this didn't really tamper my enjoyment or intrigue, because I was desperate to know their motivations. I think this character made for a great villain and the final reveal is sort of devastating. Also part of this mystery is some environmental stuff we never dive enough into. The idea of pollution affecting spirits is so compelling and I wish the story was centered more around that. Overall, the mystery aspect of this was just okay.

In the end, I do thing this book has a lot to offer. The main characters, Mina and Evelyn, constantly make bad and dangerous choices, but their connection makes them redeemable. I definitely liked Mina over Evelyn, who makes such a dumb decision at this beginning of this book I almost quit reading. That being said, I think young readers will appreciate the paranormal aspect and the sapphic romance, but I think there are books that have those things that I would recommend over this one.,

The Drowning Summer was not at all what I expected it to be and there is no way I would have been able to predict it. This book completely blew me out of the water (pun intended)! The mystery felt fresh and a bit mature to be a young adult. Outside of the mystery, it also had a really beautiful side romance. Highly recommend.

3.25 Stars. This was an okay read but it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. I have been really enjoying this resurgence in YA paranormal and horror books, so I was really looking forward to this. Sapphic mediums that are using ghosts to solve a murder mystery, I mean sign me up. Unfortunately, while I did find the read reasonably entertaining, there was nothing that really grabbed me so this falls in just the okay category.

There was a lot of pre-talk going around that this had a Gatsby-vibe, well I didn’t get that at all. I’m human, maybe I missed something, but I didn’t get Gatsby and I started wondering if people were getting this confused with the book, Wild and Wicked Things, that has a Gatsby feel with sapphic witches and also just recently was released. It doesn’t really matter, I just want people to know that you should not go reading this looking for a Gatsby retelling or you might be disappointed.

One of the things I love so much about YA is all the feels. I love the emotional roller coaster most YA books will take you on since everything was so heightened when we were that age. This book had a lot of opportunity for this to happen. You have parents lying, parents accused or murder, and just plenty of ammo to make a super charged book. Unfortunately, that just didn’t happen and instead everything felt dulled and more on the surface. When characters were yelling, crying, and upset, I thought, huh. I don’t want to feel numb, instead I wanted to be feeling those emotions too and hopefully grabbing some tissues.

I was happy with the bi rep of the two main characters, and I also thought that their romance was really cute. On the downside, it did seem like because these two were spending time together, that’s why they liked each other. I’m not really big on proximity romances, so I wish Herman would have built their connection more, but I did think their scenes together were sweet and enjoyable.

I’m such a big mystery fan that I was hoping to enjoy that part but I feel very on the fence about it. I thought the reasoning behind the main mystery was not so great and a little convoluted. While I understood what was happening, there were some parts I just didn’t understand why. Also, the big twist, was kind of a head scratcher. I liked that I did not see it coming, but I didn’t see it coming because it felt so out of left field that I don’t think I really believed it so much. There is more I would like to say here but I just can’t for possible spoiler reasons so I’m just going to stop. I just found certain things problematic so it is what it is.

TLDR: I didn’t mind the read, and I found that the book entertained me for a night, but it really is an average read in my opinion. The book has a cool premise, but it just never really takes off. There is a lot of turmoil that the characters go through, but we never experience it as readers which was disappointing. The sapphic romance was cute, but I wish we could have watched a stronger connection form. I’m pretty down the middle with this one. I think if you are a Herman fan that you might enjoy this one, but if you are new to Herman, you might want to start with one of her other books.

When Mina and Evelyn were ten, three teens in their town were murdered. Six years later, their deaths still remain a mystery, though most of the town suspects Evelyn’s father—though Mina and Evelyn made sure through supernatural forces that he wouldn’t be charged for it.

This was an intriguing story that I had trouble putting down! It’s a ghost story, a mystery, and a coming-of-age story all in one. I loved seeing the main characters’ relationship growing throughout the story. Evelyn’s relationships (or lack thereof) with her family members and Mina’s relationship with hers were also explored well and weren’t static, which I appreciated.

I recommend to anyone looking for a mysterious ghost story with bisexual MCs!!

A love letter to the Long Island Sound and to the ghosts that keep us staring out beyond the water, The Drowning Summer is a story that combines mystery and paranormal elements with teenage crushes and characters who are desperate to prove they are more than anyone gives them credit for. Both its main characters are sharp and rebellious and full of heart, and I loved watching them grow as individuals, as well as together as both friends and then into something more. (And yay for having TWO Bi protagonists!!). I loved the paranormal elements of this story as well, and the way the mediums worked but also the way the ghosts appeared. It was spooky and clever and very cool. And the way this all connected into the Long Island Sound? So cool. I loved that the Sound was truly its own character. Overall, this was a really sweet book, with a great balance of mystery, magic, ghosts and first love.

The Drowning Summer combines an engaging, propulsive story with a concept I, at least, haven't encountered before - the effect of climate change on a paranormal world. I found the blending of the supernatural with the wholly natural a fascinating, cleverly executed conceit, and fortunately it's served well by the compelling story of two girls investigating a six-year-old mystery, handling ghosts and demons, dealing with family trauma, and falling in love along the way. The writing is sometimes a bit clumsy (Evelyn's oceanographical analogies might be accurate, but they're still pretty laughable), but it's a thoroughly enjoyable story nevertheless. Recommended for fans of Erica Waters, Shea Ernshaw, and Taylor Swift's song "Betty."

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was by far one of my favorite ghosts stories I have ever read. I loved the characters and their dynamics especially Evelyn and Mina's relationship. I loved those two together!

I'd definitely recommend this book to my friends!

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

So, it took me a while to get around to this book as I was in the middle of moving, but once I started it I got sucked in and finished it in two sittings!

This was an extremely engaging blend of murder mystery, paranormal investigation, and coming of age story. Two girls who haven't talked since they did something unspeakable as kids get wrapped up in the investigation of a lifetime in their seaside community in an attempt to set things right and solve the mystery of the three teenage murders that took place six years ago.

I won't lie, I did struggle a bit connecting with the two main characters regarding their romance, and so many of their issues and the way they went about things were so Teenagey, but I'm in my twenties and they're 16 and I know in my heart that's not a fault of the book, but just part of growing up LOL. Sure, I cringed when they talked about bi pride eyeshadow and the over-attention to how each other looked and dressed all the time, but it's very teenager. Very teenage sapphic.

The plot itself was very fun. Never quite spine-chilling enough to be YA horror, but a solid mystery that blends true crime and the paranormal. I enjoyed watching them struggle with their powers and I genuinely loved trying to figure out the mystery with them— and was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists that added some depth to it!

I think if you're an adult reading this, it's important to remember this is YA and try and put yourself back in teenage you's shoes for some parts of this, but ultimately I enjoyed myself.

And I know that this book would've been EVERYTHING to me as a sapphic teen, and I hope sapphic teens now find some solace reading a genuinely engaging mystery and paranormal story about two sapphic teenagers.

Well worth a try :) And what a GORGEOUS cover!

Great sapphic romance/mystery featuring ghosts, secrets, and the impact of parental relationships.
Mina Vanetti is used to suppressing her emotions and tries to be the perfect daughter to the single mom who gave up so much for her.
Evelyn Mackenzie keeps to herself for fear of being ridiculed over her father's involvement in the drowning summer murders.
Both girls will have to acknowledge their own unhealthy coping mechanisms, and try to fix the relationships at the root of them, if they are ever going to have the clarity to pursue the romance budding between them. All while dealing with their developing medium abilities and trying to solve the mystery surrounding the "Drowning Summer."
I thought the characters and their struggle to be understood and acknowledged by their parents relatable. The mystery unraveled at a good pace, though I felt the revelation of the person behind the murders came a bit out of nowhere. The story still would have worked without this person's involvement, in my opinion, but their motivation fit thematically. Loved the medium and ghost elements--not too scary or gross, but the threat was definitely well defined. Overall, highly recommend.

really enjoyed the main characters. This book had me guessing the whole time. I did not see that plot twist coming. Love queer representation.

I loved the premise of this book, and the writing was immersive and propulsive enough, but there was something about it that just didn't work 100% for me. It was still a solid YA novel, though, for sure.

**4.5 rounded up**
**Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc!**

Six years ago, three Long Island teenagers were discovered murdered, with sand dollars placed over their eyes. Evelyn Mackenzie's father was the main suspect until Evelyn summoned a ghost to clear his name, with the help of Mina Zanetti. She swore to never call a spirit again, but when she finds herself in a bind that could drastically impact her future, she breaks her promise. Mina Zanetti's family is a family of mediums that uses the ocean's power to guide the dead to their final resting place. But with Evelyn's summoning, sea levels rising, Mina being shut out of her family's business as mediums, and ghosts becoming more dangerous than ever, they must work together to solve the mystery behind the drowning summer before the ghosts grow too powerful to stop.

I haven't read many ghost stories, but I really enjoyed this one! I thought the way Christine Lynn Herman weaved this story together was very well done. There were a lot of different aspects that came together to solve this mystery, and while I did find a couple of things to be minorly confusing, overall I think she did a great job keeping the reader invested and working to solve the mystery along with Evelyn and Mina. Speaking of those two, the relationship between them developed so perfectly, and I was so happy to see two bisexual main characters! The growth that the two girls go through throughout the story was well-paced and very realistic. I also appreciated the strong focus on the familial and platonic relationships that are incredibly important in this story. Mina's relationships with her mother, uncle, and cousin, and Evelyn's relationships with her father, sister, Nick, Kenny, Luisa, and Amy, were so essential to the story and also to the girls' growth and development as characters. Mina's ability to stand up for herself and believe in her worth and Evelyn's ability to let others in and allow herself to feel connected to others would not have been possible without these additional relationships playing a key role in the story. Overall, this was a wonderful story and I definitely want to read more by this author in the future!

Christine Lynn Herman knocks it our of the park again with another queer horror perfect for fans of Riverdale and the Fear Street movies. The characters are so well rounded they literally feel so realistic and jump off at the page. I stayed up all night because I couldn't stop reading once I got past the first 2ish chapters setting everything up. The sapphic relationship is to die for ;)

The Wicked Deep meets Rules For Vanishing in this book. It's a fun, light read with a great aesthetic and a gorgeous cover. The plot keeps you invested and overall it's a good read. Check it out, and thank you to NetGalley and Christine Lynn Herman for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest and constructive review!

the cover perfectully encapsulates the magical energy that this book holds. slow paced, beautifully written, and so lovable, this is a book that touched my heart.

A YA mystery with supernatural overtones. Interesting premise – two girls with supernatural powers must work together to solve the mystery of 3 teenagers murdered six years prior. The girls used to be friends and share a mutual attraction. The romance angle didn’t detract from the story. It was realistic and slow-developing.

The Drowning Summer tells the story of two characters. We have Evelyn Mackenzie, who summoned a ghost six years before the beginning of this book to clear her father's name after three teenagers died. Then we have Mina Zanetti, who comes from a long line of mediums that use the ocean to show spirits to their final resting place. Evelyn performs a summoning spell that goes wrong that brings her back to Mina, her former friend. Together, they work to find out what really happened to the three teenagers before it happens again. I loved this book, it was such a good mix of spooky and mystical. If you're a fan of Blue's family in The Raven Boys, you'll definitely like this book. I love a book where there's ghosts and teenagers playing detective, is there anything better? This is an excellent book to start off your summer reading plans, go preorder it now!