A You Tube couple cruise on their sailboat and make videos of their time sailing. Sawyer and Dani are a couple.
The book starts out with a woman scuba diving and her equipment failing. Next thing we are on this sailboat cruising and learning about Sawyer and Dani. I didn't like Dani from the start. She is a slob and is very selfish and everything is about her. They meet up with other boaters and they party. One night after a party Dani disappears and looks like Sawyer had something to do with it. Detectives find out some things about Sawyer's past that makes it look like he is not a nice person. I didn't mind Sawyer but Dani got on my nerves. Sailing sounds like a lot of fun if you have the money to support that lifestyle.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC to read.

Entertaining holiday read!



Dani and Sawyer are living their best life. Their home is a boat, currently staying at the Bahamas. But money is tight and Dani is vloging about their cruiser life to earn their living. But not everything is roses between them. After a party with fellow cruisers Dani goes missing. She uploaded videos on her YouTube channel which suggest that Sawyer is abusive. And because it is always the boyfriend, Sawyer is the main suspect in this case. Web sleuths are threatening him and interfere with the police work. But nobody knows what happened to Dani.



Living on a boat and waking up in paradise every morning sound like a dream come true. But this live also comes with a price and when you don’t have a lot of money you have to find a way to make ends meet. And producing content for internet platforms is also a lot of work. So, Dani gets creative. At first, I was not sure where the story was heading. It seems very straightforward but don’t be fooled. There are some twists and developments and there is not a likeable person in sight except maybe Veronique, the police inspector. This is a popcorn thriller, maybe a bit slow paced but still entertaining. A perfect summer read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my E-ARC. This one was a quick read told from several POVS with some twists and turns, some of which were very predictable. The tale of a missing young female Youtube influencer, the ongoing police investigation, and the unlikeable characters held my interest. I would have preferred a different outcome; however a good overall summer thriller read.

Title: On the Surface by Rachel McGuire
Publication Date- 07/09/24
Publisher- Crooked Lane Books
Overall Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Story Review: I feel like it’s been a minute since I found a thriller I really enjoyed and had a good easy, breezy time with; On the Surface is that book. This is a story about influencer culture and its intersection with true crime obsessions. There’s a big trigger warning for domestic violence, make sure you’re okay with that before you read this.

Under the Surface is a really fun and unique thriller. Maybe the commentary on influencer culture and true crime obsession isn't, but this take on it and way of story telling is. We have a couple who is sailing around the world, when the woman mysteriously disappears. We get to hear multiple perspectives looking at this case which really added to the enjoyment.

Something I complain about a lot is when books have too many twists that don’t make sense or when they use plot points of convenience. This book didn’t do that. It was well thought out and realistic. I think because of that some people won’t like the ending. If you want something super shocking this isn’t that, it’s not a popcorn thriller. It's more a look at humanity under the circumstance of disappearance.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the time the author took to show that people really go far on social media to “make it.” She points out how a lot of the content we see is faked. I know we all know this, but do we really believe it? Not often. Rachel McGuire demonstrated simple ways people can fake their content and I found that really interesting.

All in all this was really fun, very enjoyable, an entertaining summer read with a controversial ending. Highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Out of 5 stars, I would only give this book a 2.5. After doing more research, I discovered that the book was actually written by two people working together. This explained so much. There are times when multiple writers can come together to write a great novel but often times, and in this case, it does not work out. Each writer's tone was different and it really shown through.

As an ARC reader, I am no stranger to grammatical errors or semantic errors. It's only human nature to make mistakes. I try not to count it against the book when I come across these issues, but when the same error keeps popping up, it makes it harder to ignore. For example, there is a catamaran named Aboat Time. There were been several times that the authors would write About Time instead of Aboat Time. There was another another consistent error I saw in the naming of the boats. This boat was called the Nauti Buoy but at other times was referred to as the Nauti Boy.

Also the vocabulary that was used throughout the novel felt a bit ambitious. Terms like "glug", "laypeople", "bupkis", "anathema", among others were at contrast with the storyline in my opinion. Yes, some of the characters went to private school but numerous times they denounced their education and honestly, no one uses terms like those in normal speech. I also had the same issue with the sentence structure throughout the book as well. For example, "I hadn't expected him to cotton on to my hustle so fast." I am hoping things like these were fixed in the final edit but goodness, it definitively took away from the story line.

Would I recommend this to fellow readers? Honestly, no. There's too many questions and not enough answers. I won't count the semantics away at the moment because it could have had one last good edit before going to final print. But I can't discount the fact that I did not enjoy the storyline at all. It had great potential but I think there were too many variables that took away from what it could have been.

"On the Surface" by Rachel McGuire offers a slow-burn thriller centered around a YouTube cruising couple anchored in the Bahamas. The story kicks off with the mysterious disappearance of Dani Fox, a rising social media star, following a boat party. Her boyfriend, Sawyer Stone III, becomes the prime suspect due to his murky past and the incriminating pre-scheduled videos of Dani that continue to surface. The plot thickens as internet sleuths dive into the case, complicating the search for answers. Told from alternating perspectives of Dani and Sawyer, with additional insights from characters like Local Inspector Veronique Knowles and fellow cruiser Sonja, the narrative explores the facades of social media and the harsh realities behind them.

While the novel boasts a captivating premise and complex characters, it suffers from a sluggish pace and an abrupt, inconclusive ending. The depiction of the cruisers' lifestyle and the commentary on the pretense of social media are well-executed, but the unlikable main characters and predictable plot twists detract from the overall experience. Despite good writing and a compelling setting, the story's slow progression and lack of resolution leave much to be desired. Fans of unique settings and open-ended conclusions might find some appeal, but others may find it challenging to stay engaged.

If you’re heading to the pool or the beach on a vacation this summer…you’re gonna wanna read this one!

The prologue had me interested immediately. I could not put this one down. Is everything as it seems…on the surface?

Fancy boats, the Bahamas, & a missing beautiful young girl. Where is she & what happened to her?

On the surface, Sawyer & Dani seem to have it all…a great life, doing the things they love, in beautiful places. But as each chapter takes place & each POV sheds a different perspective…did they really have it all? Or was it about making social media followers THINK they have it all?

Hope you’re ready to unpack all the drama in this suitcase 🧳 . Grab a cold beverage 🍹& a pair of sunglasses 😎 & dive into this one. It’s certainly not a thriller you wanna skiff 🤣🥁

Huge thanks to @rachelmcguireauthor for this ARC. Another book that I enjoyed & also has an absolutely stunning cover that I will need on my bookshelf

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sawyer and Dani are living aboard his sailboat in the Caribbean. They are currently stuck in the Bahamas because Sawyer made a bad investment in crypto that they hope will turn around, so they have no money. Meanwhile Dani is trying to drum up interest in their youtube channel by posting content of their experiences. One night at a party with other cruisers, Sawyer gets drunk and Dani goes missing and of course all signs point to Sawyer.

I obviously loved the setting of this book. Who doesn't want to read a book set in a beautiful sunny climate? Overall I liked the book, but I didn't love it. Both main characters were not at all likeable. I think we found out what was really going on too soon and there wasn't enough mystery around it, it was more of waiting for it to play out. There were some reveals late in the story that were interesting and I didn't feel like we got enough resolution, but for a first novel, it was good. I would read more from these authors.

Dani Fox and Sawyer Stone are cruisers on an around the world adventure. Dani enjoys filming their adventures and posting them on You Tube for her followers. She is trying to increase her following to make money. Sawyer is very worried about money since the crypto currency he had invested in crashed taking their savings. The boat needs some repairs but he can’t afford to get them done right now. Currently, he seems to be angry at Dani especially as she tends to be a bit of a slob.

The cruisers tend to be close to other boats making friends. One night, another cruiser gave a party and Sawyer got quite drunk which is very unusual for him. Someone helped him and Dani back to their boat but when he woke up the next morning, Dani had gone missing leaving her belongings behind. When the police are called in, they suspect Sawyer to have done something to her. But did he?

This book is quite good as we delve into the past of both Sawyer and Dani which explains quite a lot making the reader want to learn more about this duo. Dani’s postings that she had put on You Tube make Sawyer look very guilty leaving him stunned. Don’t miss this book. It’s amazing how some people turn out to be as rotten as they are. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

On the Surface is the perfect twisty thriller for summer. Part destination thriller, part whodunnit, all pure entertainment.

I love a book filled with rollercoaster twists and unreliable narrators, and this book serves on both fronts. When you think of easy, fun, summer reading this is the type of book you want - fast paced enough to hold your attention, action and tension that keep you glued to the page, and plenty of WHOA moments that suck you in over and over again.

Not to mention, any story set on a boat is absolutely my jam lately - it's atmospheric in a very unique way that I just cannot get enough of.

I don't want to say too much because hints will spoil this one entirely, so go and enjoy the ride - you won't regret the fun.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy!

3.75 stars

This one was a quick read told from several points of view with some twists and turns, some of which were predictable. However, this tale of a missing young female Youtube influencer last seen in her boyfriend’s sailboat after a night of partying, the ensuing police investigation, the parallel true crime cyber sleuthing, and really unlikeable main characters kept my interest. I also found the setting - an island in the Bahamas, living on a boat - to be a nice change from the usual land-based thriller. There was, in my view, a satisfactory ending, but I can see where some readers may have preferred a different outcome.

Overall, a light, enjoyable thriller read for the summer.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Right from the beginning I knew that I wouldn't like this book because the characters were so annoying to me. I'm not sure if that is how influencers are or if that is how the author sees them but it was driving me nuts. I couldn't connect with the characters and therefore, I didn't care to finish the story.

I hope others love this one but it wasn't for me.

Dani Fox is a struggling YouTuber with her own channel Sailing with the Foxes. Her and her boyfriend, Sawyer Stone III, are sailing around the world, but now are moored in the Bahamas, partying with the cruising community.

During one of those parties, Dani goes missing, and Sawyer becomes suspect number one.

Inspector Veronique Knowles investigates the case, and she soon discovers that Sawyer had an angry streak and money issues.

Would he kill Dani? Or is the truth more complicated than that?

I loved this book!

I adore twisty psychological thrillers and this book offered many twists and turns. Everyone is lying and you can’t trust anyone.

I enjoyed discovering the complexity of Dani and Sawyer’s relationship. She came from quite a disadvantaged background and was a little bit younger than him. Sawyer came from old money, but he made some bad investments along the way.

As I got to the end of the book, I realised that everything was premeditated and really well thought out.

I cannot wait for another book from this writing duo.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

I have to admit, I can spend many hours "flipping" through youtube videos to keep myself entertained. ON THE SURFACE takes a young influencer couple who have set their life into a youtube edition of a night time soap opera. Just the kind of thing that generates a fan club that will quickly turn into judge and jury when one of the characters disappears and circumstances point at the other person as the main suspect. In this case, Sawyer Stone and Dani Fox set themselves up as "the couple most likely to" and let their fans decide likely to what? Gone Girl vibes set on a 42' sailboat in the Bahamas was entertaining as we watched Sawyer twist on the hook. A debut to remember.

A maritime thriller set in the Bahamas featuring a cast of interesting characters. Enjoy novels set on board and although I guessed one of the twists early on, the story get me hooked til.The end.

I was slow to become fully engaged with this read but about half way through the plot came together and from there is was a fast, fun and entertaining read. The main characters were easy to like and the story line was well put together. I just wish it wasn't such a slow build up, explosive few chapters then a rushed conclusion. But, a good read overall.

I was so excited to read On the Surface by Rachel McGuire!
The perfect summer read an intriguing social media influencer thriller.
This was such an incredible read! The suspense was absolutely pulse-pounding.
As tension builds the story keeps that level of suspense until the very end.
I devoured this book as it hooks you immediately and never lets go.
Completely riveting….

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Ooweeee! Talk about some unlikable and deplorable characters! This was a fun summer thriller that kept my interest. It definitely reminded me of a massively popular thriller but I don’t want to spoil it by comparing. Books set on boats are always intriguing and I enjoyed seeing how the cruisers interacted with each other. The ending was left open and I loved it but if you like a tightly wrapped bow then you might find yourself more frustrated.

This book was a slow burn with a big payoff later on. Sawyer and Dani are fascinatingly complex characters. This story is very well crafted and well executed. The twists were very shocking. I won't say anything more about this exciting read in order to avoid spoilers.

The story begins when a couple goes scuba diving, and one of them dies. In the following chapter we meet Sawyer and Dani, and I was like wait! What just happened? Go back to the person who died! This is what grabbed me, and kept me going throughout the book because I needed answers. Then Dani disappears, and that had me turning the pages even quicker than before.
This book was wild! When the main character is some type of Influencer they always have a wild beginning, middle and end, and this is no exception. Join the ride when this book publishes tomorrow!