On the Surface
Rachel McGuire
7.9.24

Seriously, books with unlikeable characters got me raging lately! Luckily, this plot had all the saving Grace to pull me through.
I love that the theme throughout is focused on SM influencers and the lengths they’ll go to in order to gain views and sponsers but there’s a big twist and that I won’t reveal.

The setting is the most enjoyable part, the idea of sailing around the world in a sort of never-ending vacation is a tad appealing to me – the rest, not so much.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to companion read/listen to this – I think the audio gave additional depth to some of the more shallow characters.
Definitely a twisty beach read that will appeal to fans of the genre!

My thanks to @CrookedLaneBooks and to @Dreamscape_Media for these gifted copies!

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

Do you ever think about just getting in a boat and sailing away from it all? Living on a boat, just the water, wind, and sky for your most dependable company as you hop from port to port all around the world? 

If you loved Gone Girl but also the drama and suspense of at-sea thrillers, then I think you might love Rachel McGuire’s On the Surface (which has such a pretty cover, perfect for a summertime beach read). This releases on July 9th. 

The first half of this book isn’t as solid as the back half, but I’m telling you that the back half practically flies by. I also had some issues with the character building of the law enforcement officers in this book because it seemed a little forced, as if McGuire didn’t completely believe in the veracity of her own characters, but when it came to the rest of the cast the character building was absolutely fascinating. 

🍒You Got🍒

💣 Youtubers who are attempting circumnavigation of the globe but ran out of crypto
💣 Partying in the Bahamas with Boomers
💣 I’m too pretty to go to jail
💣 Main characters with dark pasts? Please and thank you
💣 Is it malignant narcissism or is it Maybelline?
💣 Is he a psychopath or just apathetic? Or is he just an a$$hol3?
💣 Users gonna use, every dang time
💣 Internet sleuths ruin lives
💣 Amateur sleuths ruin investigations
💣 Utilizing Perverts for Your Own Endeavors 101
💣 PR crisis management for when your life goes to hell? Don’t worry, I got you
💣 Very mild spice for one scene
💣 Mild TW for addiction
💣 Mild TW for mention of CSA
💣 TW for description of SA (from victim POV)

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Domestic Thriller/Murder Thriller/Suspense Thriller

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Rachel McGuire and Netgalley.
I loved this book! Right up until the ending. Bummer dude!
Fast paced. Intriguing as hell, Everything I love and appreciate in a great story. Yet? That ending was a bit bothersome.
I'm not sure if I hated that ending or was just a bit worried that it may end up a duopoly.
Still, I was entertained! I didn't like anybody, but the writing was compelling as anything.
So, even with that damnable end, I'm still giving this 4 stars.
I enjoyed the neck outta this one.

Just what is the price of fame? In today’s world where social media influencing is recognized as a legit profession, and where a random video posted by a no-name person has the potential to go viral, launching them into stardom, it seems like everyone is driving down the road to fame, many without a map.

Rachel McGuire’s (pen name for writing duo Rachel Graham and Lee-Ann McGuire Whitlock) debut novel On the Surface features a protagonist who is driving down one such road, but she most definitely has a firm grasp on the map that will take her there. Dani Fox, alongside boyfriend Sawyer Stone III, are part of the cruiser community, a group of wealthy boaters who spend their days sailing around the globe, docking at various ports, and simply enjoying life and all it has to offer. Dani would give anything for her YouTube channel, Sailing with the Foxes, to take off, and she puts herself in increasingly risky scenarios (often wearing next to nothing) in an attempt to go viral and gain an easy following, much to the dismay of Sawyer, who wishes Dani would tone it down for the cameras just a little bit.

However, Dani has no idea that the moment she will become famous is the moment she will go missing. After a wild rager one night, Sawyer awakes to find Dani gone and missing without a trace. It should be no surprise to him that he is the police’s prime suspect, because it is always the boyfriend or husband who is responsible when a beautiful young woman goes missing … right? As Sawyer works to clear his name and find Dani, he must battle an online community of cybersleuths, as well as the actual authorities, who are convinced he knows more than he is telling. Just who is responsible for Dani’s disappearance and what are they hiding?

I picked up On the Surface because it seemed to be written in a similar vein to the Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie story, and interestingly enough, this case is mentioned in the novel, albeit only in reference to the hashtag used by the young couple in their attempts to go viral, #vanlife. Like the tragic Petito-Laundrie case, this novel features a story that is captivatingly compelling, taking readers to the far reaches of the world, where everything seems perfect and tranquil on the surface, but where something more sinister is lurking underneath.

I found this book to be easy to read and get lost in - it is a perfect story to while away some summer hours … especially if that time is spent on a beach or some other tropical location! This book is both scintillating and menacing at the same time. While I found it fairly easy to figure out, the motives behind characters’ actions were a surprising mystery to me, and I quite enjoyed the unfolding of this book’s secrets.

Absolutely phenomenal summer read. Pick this one up and take it to the beach and just sit and enjoy. You will find yourself lost in the pages and on the edge of your seat.

When one of a famous YouTubing influencer couple goes missing, the search is on to find her.

This was a decent thriller. I did find at times that it was a bit slower than I usually prefer my thrillers to be and I tended to tune out a bit when the crypto talk came up, but obviously that's just a me thing. I didn't expect the ending to go the way it did so I was surprised. I look forward to reading more by these authors.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sawyer and Dani are sailing the ocean as influencers on YouTube.

Dani seems to be very spoiled and their relationship volatile at best.

One night during a party, Sawyer gets drunk and Dani ends up missing. This isn't the first time that a woman connected with Sawyer has something happen to them. His wife ended up dead on an excursion.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this book and I didn't see the final twist coming.

Recommend for anyone looking for a suspenseful read!

On the Surface by Rachel McGuire. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox chronicle their sailing lives in their YouTube channel. When Dani goes missing, the posts keep coming and do not shed Sawyer in a nice light.

A great debut thriller for the summer! I found the life of cruisers fascinating and the plot was super unique with the influencer lifestyle mixed in. I had a feeling from the beginning what was going on, and I was right, which was revealed very quickly but there was so much more that happened so I was quite pleasured with the surprises.

“My classmates have put their Advanced Bullshittery skills to good use in selling IPOs and congressional testimony. For me it comes in handy during police interrogations.”

On the Surface comes out 7/9.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut thriller by the writing duo known as Rachel McGuire, wonderfully narrated by a full cast. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Sawyer Stone and Dani Fox are a young couple who spend their time documenting their "cruising" lifestyle. They have a 42' sailboat and are documenting their adventures for their YouTube channel, Sailing with the Foxes. Anchored in the Bahamas, they are partying with their fellow cruisers when Dani vanishes after a boat party. Sawyer has no memory of her disappearance so becomes an instant suspect.

I thought this was a great read - while it was a good mystery story as to what happened to Dani, it was also an introspection of the dark side of social media. Dani's disappearance was perfect viral fodder too - gorgeous young blond, boyfriend who was drunk and doesn't remember what happened, and enough speculation and accusations to go around. Liked the twists and turns and will be anxious to read more from this writing pair!

Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox are what is known as "cruisers"...people who live on their boat and spend their time circumnavigating the globe. They have a YouTube channel called Sailing with the Foxes, that is semi-successful, but they are broke thanks to all of the boat repairs and Sawyer's cryptocurrency schemes. They have a very volatile & contentious relationship, at least in part because of all of the stress. One night, after a boat party with some fellow cruisers, Sawyer wakes up to find Dani missing. He got blackout drunk at the party and has no memory of even getting back to their boat, much less anything that happened after. When Dani's closest cruiser friend goes to the authorities and reports her missing & tells them that Dani has been abused by Sawyer for years, and then videos start posting on the Sailing with the Foxes channel with Dani looking scared & hinting at being afraid of Sawyer, the investigation turns towards him. Royal Bahamas Police Force Inspector Veronique Knowles has her hands full trying to keep the investigation on course as the story of the American woman missing in the Bahamas goes viral and the internet sleuths run rampant over the investigation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, right up until the very end. At first Sawyer & Dani both seemed to be unreliable narrators, and then when I found out what was really happening, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would all play out. I really did not like Sawyer or Dani. Neither one of them had any redeeming qualities. My favorite character in the book by far, had to be Inspector Knowles. She did not put up with anything, you couldn't get anything past her, and I loved her investigative process. I was disappointed with the ending however. Inspector Knowles had spent almost the entire book working tirelessly on the case, and then the book just ended, without her getting the evidence she needed, the guilty person going free, no repercussions for all the time and resources wasted. It almost felt like reading the book had been pointless. Except for that, this was a very enjoyable & suspenseful read, that would make the perfect addition to your beach bag!

Look at that Cover!! This book is awesome while sitting under swaying palm trees and watching sailboats gliding across the water, but if you don't have that No Worries it is a great summer read. It is fast-paced and the kind of thriller that will make a great movie!! What a debut!!
Dani Fox loves her YouTube channel "Sailing with the Foxes". As she sails around the world with Sawyer Stone, she videos her status and locale. The social media loves her...or the men do. While partying at one of the islands in the Bahamas, Sawyer and Dani leave together in a drunken state. The next morning, Sawyer awakens with no memory of their night and Dani is gone, but left behind a pre-scheduled video revealing a darker side of Sawyer. Inspector Veronique also reveals a shady past of Sawyer's that may steer the investigation towards him.
This beautiful scenery carries the mystery into the dark waters that Dani was swimming in and thought to have drowned. The glamorous couple become an even larger than life on social media as the ratings soar even with her gone. Inspector Veronique needs to find her as the public outcry for this American couple wants answers.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good social media influencer thriller and this one was so much fun!!! A perfect beach read, this book has an ambitious Bahama boat influencer faking her disappearance in order to increase her following. Told from multiple POVs, this book explores the realm of intimate partner domestic abuse, the power of online followers and a twisty police procedural wrapped into one fast-paced thriller that was especially great on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

On The Surface by Rachel McGuire follows two "cruisers", Dani Fox and Sawyer Stone III as they make a name for themselves enjoying life on their sailboat currently anchored in the Bahamas. A few people who know the couple well suspect there is trouble in paradise and go to the local authorities when Dani is missing. Soon, Dani's disappearance goes viral, and internet sleuths are searching for Dani and digging up dirt on Sawyer.

The setting in the Bahamas and the background information of the "Cruiser Community" helped make this an interesting book. Unfortunately, it's bogged down by too many unlikable characters and improbable circumstances. The plot may seem familiar at first, but this story has a few twists to make it unique. Even though I couldn't connect with either Dani or Sawyer, I really liked the Royal Bahamas Police Force Inspector Veronique Knowles. She didn't let pressure from her superiors, the media, or the community get in the way of conducting a thorough investigation into Dani's disappearance and the aftermath. She was so likable and worked well with the officer assisting her with the investigation. Unfortunately, before things could be fully wrapped up, the book ended abruptly with an ambiguous ending which was disappointing. 3.5 stars

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Oh this was fun!
That ending though - I was still breathless to hear more!
A perfect beach read, guilty pleasure and entertaining read.
I loved these unlikable MCs, their rich friends and the police.

This took me a minute to get through but was a fun and entertaining read. The main couple was definitely unlikable but I enjoyed reading about their scheming and secrets. I think the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, but overall a good book!

DNFed this one, I could not get into the writing at all, the word choice was bizarre and felt like a thesaurus was used to help while writing . Anything involving crypto currency is a solid no from me.

Sawyer and Dani are cruisers - living on their boat and filming their adventures for their YouTube channel. After a night of partying with friends, Dani goes missing and suspicion falls on Sawyer, especially after he wakes up battered and bruised with no memory of the night before. Did he do it? Where is Dani? And who IS Sawyer anyway?

If you like an unreliable narrator, this book has that in spades - in fact, can you trust ANYONE'S side of the story at all? Told through Dani and Sawyer's perspectives plus some of the cruisers and local police as well as a blast from Sawyer's past, you'll be hanging out to find out what happens, who's the bad guy and do they get what's coming to them.

I found the pacing a little off here - the beginning and end were both super fast-paced while the middle dragged a bit but there was enough to keep me reading.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed this one. It was twisty and combined all the negative parts of social media to tell an enthralling story. I did not like Dani, but she was written for her role very well.

⛵️📸Book Review:
Title: On The Surface
Author: Rachel McGuire
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3.5 stars (rounded up)

Oh, that Dani Fox is definitely a sneaky one. In today's world of social media, it really wouldn't be surprising for a situation like this to happen. Or maybe it has? I really enjoyed the beginning and middle of this plot, but I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. Realistically, why would Sawyer take her back? Even if it was fake?
Okay, I'll stop giving out too many details now!

Living their life on the water as "cruisers," Dani Fox, and Sawyer Sloane III are trying to make a success with their YouTube channel showing off all of their adventures. But they just can't seem to hit the number of followers that will bring in all the money. This is unacceptable to Dani, who believes her look is exactly what will make her famous. Then she disappears.

The number one suspect is the boyfriend, of course. But what if he actually has nothing to do with it? Even with his shady past, his volatile temper, and accusations from Dani herself, of physical abuse? Dani is determined to be seen, missing or not. How far will she go to achieve the fame she so desperately desires?

Published: July 9th, 2024

Thank you, @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars, rounded down.

This is a slow burn mystery, it starts in an exciting way, then has somewhat of a Gone Girl vibe until things change yet again. I listened to the audiobook and the full cast, multi-narrator format really works for the unfolding of the story.

Dani Fox and her boyfriend Sawyer Stone are full time "cruisers", part of a community of nomadic people who live aboard their sailboats and yachts. Currently they are anchored off the cays in the Bahamas, ramping up their YouTube channel with hopes for monetization for much needed income. However, after a party, Sawyer wakes up the next morning to Dani's absence, and what she has been telling people seems to indicate that Sawyer is abusive and may have had a hand in her disappearance. As the police, including inspector Veronique Knowles begin to investigate, they are joined by a bevy of internet sleuths and everyone has their opinions about what happened. Who is telling the truth? Is anyone?

While some parts of this book went exactly the way I was expecting, other twists were a surprise and helped me to enjoy my experience with the book. I wasn't incredibly enamored with the ending, which made me round my rating down rather than up. It felt rather jarring after the long leadup.

I loved the Veronique character, and her narrator was fantastic. I also liked how this book captures the insidious nature of social media and influencers. There have been many books lauding the input of web sleuths, but this book shines the light on the various ways these people can impede investigations and cause real problems with police investigations and prosecution. There's real caution to be had here, and one main takeaway is to be very careful about what you believe as everything can be manipulated and curated.

For all of the positives, the characters seem more like caricatures than real people. They aren't as well developed as they could have been, and possibly having so many POV characters was a drawback. I think if it was just focused on Sawyer, Dani, and Veronique, it would have been a bit stronger as a narrative.

Overall, this is a decent, fast-paced read. It's a little predictable, but it has enough unique qualities to make it worth reading, especially in the warm days of summer by the water.