This was definitely an interesting story. I could guess what was coming next sometimes but there were also moments wheŕe I had no idea. It was entertaining even though I did not like the characters, which happens to me pretty regularly with thrillers. So I can overlook that. I would recommend it even though I've read much better thrillers in the last months.

I thought this was a very creative plot line. I really enjoyed the way this was written and the engaging characters. I would highly recommend reading this thriller. I will be recommending this to my customers.

2.5 stars

It's a quick read and very much in the vein of a Rachel Hawkins book (The Villa, The Heiress). I'm a fan of those so this was right up my alley. It does have a Gone Girl vibe too.

You have two main POVs (Sawyer and Dani) and then several other (sometimes chapters only) POVs which can make it hard to keep track. It mostly works, but there's two really big plot holes that I guess could've detailed the book bc it is actually there but then never brought up again. But these are unreliable narrators in the grandest way.

The only likeable characters are the cops, so that's who I'm rooting for.

Fun little mystery that's perfect for the beach or vacation.

This was an interesting read by an author that I was not familiar with having never read their work before. I always enjoy a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed.
I found the characters interesting and really had a depth to them with lots of details described for me to portray them in my mind and really get inside them.
The story line took me to a place I wasn’t expecting and kept me intrigued right until the end.
I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre and will be reading more.

Being from the desert in the southwest US, I absolutely love to read books about boats, ships, or any water whatsoever! Probably because I don’t have any water near me, it’s a fun ride and this book was exactly that! It was fast-paced, well-written and fun, but it did miss the super twisty/turny point for me. Overall, a good read!

Gritty and intense! Complex and compelling! An edgy mystery full pulse-pounding suspense, damning secrets and one shocking surprise after another! The fast pace of the of the twisted, wildly-captivating plot kept me swiping the pages feverishly long past my bedtime.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for the ARC! "On the Surface" revolves around 2 cruisers, Sawyer and Dani, whose adventures are documented on their YouTube channel.
Things take a dark turn when Dani goes missing after a boat party in the Bahamas, and Sawyer conveniently has no recollection of what went down. Naturally, Sawyer becomes the prime suspect in Dani's disappearance, setting the stage for a narrative filled with predictable twists and turns centered around the lure of money. One aspect I found interesting was the exploration of how social media impacts criminal investigations. It was decently laid out in the book, highlighting the complexities it introduces.

The characters, to be honest, weren't my cup of tea. It was a struggle to empathize with them, which, I suppose, adds a layer to the story. The book managed to keep me engaged, but not exactly on the edge of my seat. Predictability sneaks in, even with the twists.

In the end, "On the Surface" is an decent thriller & I foresee it being popular. The book is slated for release on July 9, 2024, which is the perfect time for a 'beach read'.

The title was definitely the description of this book. I liked this book but it didn’t wow me. The plot was interesting and I liked the writing style. The ending was the part that didn’t wow me. I wasn’t a fan.

This was good book, it didnt thrill me some of my favorite thrillers but the story line was great. I thought the plot was interesting and grew to like the characters, however it was a slow burn thriller. I think the alot of peopl will enjoy this book, it has a good concept but felt that the ending (the final twist) could have been better. 3 stars for me!

I rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4 stars. The title, description, and cover art stood out to me when I was browsing titles. The opening chapter immediately captured my attention; I loved the writing style.

I enjoyed the book's setting in the Bahamas; it was nice to read during wintertime. I kept reaching for the book, wanting to see what happened next. I thought the authors did a fantastic job of nailing the Gen Z lingo that Dani talked with. They did a great job with making the thoughts and life of an influencer as close to reality as possible (I've read books in the past about YouTubers where the author did no research and was happy this wasn't like that!)

One thing that bothered me was that the storyline was so predictable. I guessed what would happen by a few chapters in, and I don't even read that many thrillers. The two main characters, Dani and Sawyer, are highly unlikeable. It was hard to get through some of their perspective chapters because they had little redeeming qualities, but it was unique to read characters like that. It was a risk the authors took, and I appreciated that. Also, I wouldn't say I liked that no Bahama natives had accents or descriptions that made them stand out from the cruisers.

The ending was the worst part. It took away a whole star. I love a clean ending that ties up every loose end, and this was not it. The lack of a proper ending was very frustrating! Despite the negatives, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a friend.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the copy of On The Surface by Rachel McGuire. All opinions are my own.

#OntheSurface #NetGalley #ARC

"On the Surface" has a compelling plot and great cover art, however, the actual story was not what I hoped it would be. The writing was choppy, the plot was slow, and none of the characters were engaging. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book I finished in three days. It was a good twisted psychological suspense book. I enjoyed the different perspectives including the detectives. This book does have some trigger warnings. Manipulation at it's finest.

I kept thinking there was going to be a big twist, but it never came. I was able to predict most of the plot from page 1, and I was disappointed in the ending. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, and the story line really had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t pan out as a thriller. It was very suspenseful, but I was so confused when I realized I was on the last page of the book. I had to ask myself if I missed something. Not going to be a book I recommend, but I will check out other books by this author in the future.

This is a story about a couple who sails and they make influencers videos on YouTube. Sawyer and Dani are living their life, but after one party Dani goes missing. And all eyes are on Sawyer.
It was an interesting story with an interesting plot. I liked the writing style and all the twists. Some of them I saw coming but it was still page-turner.

I liked how the author described social media, and how we never know what actually happens behind the camera. And how dark can be in reality!

It was fun to read in winter. Couple sailing in the Bahamas when here it's snowing😅

I have never read a book where I hated all the characters. I really mean ALL. But that is what it made interesting.
And the storyline was told by days, so you can follow it easily.


Publication day 09 July 2024

I’m not sure where to even start with this one. The characters are all unlikeable. Pretty much every single one. The main characters - Sawyer and Dani - are hideous people who you want to see get what they deserve. But, the book ends … and you’re left with a lot of questions and anger. If I had a physical book, rather than reading on my device, I would have thrown this one … likely in the direction of the nearest trash can.

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

“On the Surface” is an attention grabber keeping the reader engrossed with a cast of characters who do not disappoint. Meanwhile the plot twists and turns like waves on the open sea. A great read….

Good concept, failing execution.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the plot, but the author couldn’t live up to the expectations. I found it difficult to relate to the characters and their issues. The writing was disjointed at times, the plot moved at a snail’s place, and the ending left several holes. It just ended. I’m sure there is an audience for this book, it just wasn’t for me.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for this advance ARC.
This wasn't my favorite book-unlikable characters, a slow burn, and ultimately just not a story that kept my attention or interest.

A YouTubing cruiser couple sails the world living their best life—until one of them goes missing and their whole world capsizes, in this captivating psychological thriller perfect for fans of Something in the Water and Saint X.

Very tense and claustrophobic. I was on edge the whole time. Well done!

On the surface (see what I did there), a young couple looks to have the perfect life sailing around the world and documenting it on their YouTube channel. But when Dani goes missing after a party on another boat, all signs point to her boyfriend Sawyer, suspicions escalating when thousands of internet sleuths join in on solving the mystery.

As much as it pains me to say this about a debut author, I had a hard time getting through this one. Bare bones, there’s some good material here, but the execution and delivery need work.

First, what I liked… the setting, and the exploration of the influencer culture and what someone would do for attention were intriguing.

What I didn’t love… while the storytelling was decent (except for the ending), the writing itself felt awkward. I found myself rereading phrases, having stumbled over them in my mind and needed a redo. Just try and read it out loud and tell me the flow of the prose isn’t a little herky-jerky. It was also pretty obvious the authors weren’t of the Gen Z generation and were giving a voice to someone they didn’t relate to on that level.

It’s possible the intent was to create a whole cast of unlikeable characters, and if so, that just didn’t work for me in this instance. The characters who weren’t awful people just felt flat and the ones who were awful weren’t bad in an interesting way. The mid-book revelation was unsurprising and because of the lack of sympathetic characters, and general predictability of the plot, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the ultimate conclusion. If I had been invested, I likely would’ve been disappointed by the abruptness at which the story ended but alas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.