⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I really loved this one! I know many people aren’t fans of open endings, but I love them! It’s about two Youtube “cruisers” - one day the girlfriend goes missing and the whole world believes the boyfriend killed her. That’s all you need to know going into it!!

From the beginning this seemed like modern twist on the film L'Avventura (1960) about the disappearance of a young woman during a boating trip, so I was hooked. Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox are young, trendy social media darlings who are sailing around the globe posting their adventures - when Dani disappears. Thanks so much for the ARC/audiobook dear NetGalley!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. The storyline was very catchy and I was hooked. It was giving me pieces of other real mystery cases that I’ve followed in the past. But as the book hit 65% in I thought it went down hill and started becoming childish. The ending was rushed and expected.

This book held so much promise, but failed to deliver. I found the characters annoying and the story moved very slow. The book left so many things unresolved at the end. I cannot go into any details without giving spoilers, but I had really hoped for something more exciting.

Gripping from the start - great read to prioritize for the summer for any setting. The physical copy and audio copy are great picks here, but my favorite was the audio.

This book captured my interest from the beginning and the rest of its entirety held some good twists. While one component was expected, won’t add any spoilers here, it didn’t detract from an otherwise great read. Majority of the cast were terrible people, but in a good way. The ending left much to the imagination, but I think it worked well here.

🎧 This book was narrated by an awesome cast! Frankie Corzo, Evan Sibley, Chanté McCormick, Savy Des-Etages, and David Bendena did a great job being us through this story. I always love a full cast, but this group really brought a cinematic quality to this popcorn thriller. I think they aided in my experience here and really helped paint the picture of our characters which may not have been the same by the physical copy.

Thank you #NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for an ALC and to @rachelmcguireauthor for an ARC of #OntheSurface in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of On the Surface and thought it was a fun listen with talented narrators.

I was immediately drawn into the story & while it utilizes some existing thriller themes, I was entertained! There were a few twists and turns, along with some unreliable narrators.

I thought the POVs were really well done and appreciated that there was a different actor for each POV- it really added to the story. Sometimes if there are multiple POVs, it can be hard to follow in audiobooks, but everyone’s voice in this audiobook was really different and easy to tell who was who.

I enjoyed the social media themes explored throughout the book, it really makes you think a bit about how we use social media in these situations and how it can positively/negatively impact those in the situation.

I also liked that the setting was in the Bahamas, it felt tropical and beachy, which was nice to listen to during the summer season. There were a few slow spots, but overall I would recommend this audiobook/book to fans of thrillers, especially psychological!

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author Rachel McGuire for the gifted ARC copy of this audiobook.

Two horrible people with an Instagram following, what could go wrong? It's not new territory and all the characters are pretty unlikeable, but it's fast-paced and does the job for Summer beach reading!

I think Gone Girl in the Caribbean or Gone Girl on a Boat is a fair summary of this story. The characters were unlikeable, and the story was a bit predictable but entertaining.

Oh this was fun! The narration was fantastic!
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.

"On the Surface" by Rachel McGuire, narrated by a talented cast of actors is a psychological thriller perfect for fans of twisty plots and unreliable narrators.
As a fan of true crime podcasts and thrillers, I was immediately drawn to the story of Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox, a young couple who document their sailing adventures on YouTube. On the surface, their life seems idyllic - they've escaped the chaos of land to live on their 42-foot sailboat, exploring the world and sharing their experiences with their followers. But when Dani vanishes during a party in the Bahamas, everything changes.
The investigation that follows is complex and multi-layered, with Inspector Veronique Knowles from the Royal Bahamas Police Force trying to untangle the truth from the web of secrets and lies. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Sawyer and Dani's relationship was far from perfect, and that both of them have secrets they're hiding.
I loved how the audiobook was produced, with multiple narrators bringing the characters to life. It added a level of depth and intimacy to the story, making it feel like I was right there with Sawyer and Dani as they navigated their lives on the high seas.
The plot is expertly woven, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved how the author explored themes of social media, fame, and the pressure to present a perfect image online. It's a timely commentary on our society's obsession with social media, and how it can distort our perceptions of reality.
Overall "On the Surface" is for fans of psychological thrillers. It's a gripping and suspenseful listen that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The narrators are excellent, the plot is twisty and engaging, and the themes are thought-provoking.

On The Surface by Rachel McGuire is an absolute thrill ride! Set in the stunning Bahamas, this thriller pulls you into the glitzy yet tumultuous life of YouTube sailing stars Sawyer Stone and Dani Fox. When Dani mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind a trail of jaw-dropping video revelations, the tension skyrockets. With a colorful cast of characters, a plot full of unexpected twists, the perfect mix of suspense, and social media satire!

As much as I enjoyed the book I was a little disappointed in the abrupt ending… While it didn’t necessarily end in a cliffhanger, I wish it would have wrapped up more thoroughly! Otherwise it’s a perfect read for anyone who loves a good, twisty thriller!

**Does contain some MA content

Huge thank you to #netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook copy!

It’s pretty ballsy to write two asshole characters and expect me to care what happens to either one of them.

“This twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller will keep readers gripped all the way through the final satisfying turn.”

I expected more thrills and a proper mystery but we get away from that pretty fast and it’s more just a study of horrible people and social media. Where were the turns and twist. I think if you have read more than one thrillers there’s not going to be many surprises in this one.

As a Swede, listening to X number of attempts at a Swedish accent was painful, what the heck was that? Also, think Sonja called someone she suspect, possibly of murder, a fån. It really bugged me.

SPOILER: Gone Girl on the ocean. How is this different? More focus on social media sure but, feels the same and it was easy to guess what would happen next.

Also… maybe I should start a YouTube channel.

2,5 rounding up.

The premise of the book, with the level of worth we place on social media influencers, and how much they in-turn place on their monetization was intriguing and drew me in. I enjoyed the characters the way I enjoy reality TV, trash TV that's hard to turn away from. Mix this into one of my favorite genres and I was eager to jump in.

On the surface (yes, pun intended) the plot has potential to be a gripping thriller with twists and turns that one doesn't see coming. In reality though, much as with surface beauty and your social media feed, it's all fake. None of the characters have much depth, even when details of their past are given it feels detached from the story. Not a single character made me like them - and the storyline from the prologue felt forced, almost like an afterthought that was added to fix some plot holes in the later stages of editing.

If I were reading a digital or physical copy of the book I would have struggled to finish, but my curiosity on how if there would be a surprise twist, plus the skill of the narrators in the audiobook, kept me going. I'd recommend this as a library read or Kindle Unlimited (if it's on there), but not one to buy yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dreamscape media for the gifted audio-book ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this if you like: Missing woman, vacation gone wrong, dual POV, slow burn

Whatttt. I did not know what to expect from this. It seems like it will be a regular missing while on vacation type thriller. This a debut of two authors under a pen name. I i really enjoyed it. I wanted a bit more for the end, but still I highly recommend this.

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Rachel McGuire, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.

The narrators of this audiobook are Frankie Corzo, Evan Sibley, Chanté McCormick, Savy Des-Etages, and David Bendena. I love it when each POV character has their own narrator. It adds richness to the story. It also helps the reader to keep the characters separate, which can be a challenge in an audio narrative like this. In this case, while there are multiple POV characters, there's also posts on social media narrated in with what sounds like a unique narrator. Most likely, the social media posts are narrated by the POV narrators just using a different tone. It was very well done, and it really feels like the listener is experiencing these posts in real time. I can not stress enough how much I love the production value of this audiobook.

This is my favorite kind of domestic thriller. Unfortunately, I can't really compare this to any other comparable novel because that would give too much away. This is a story best enjoyed with as little revealed as possible.

This has unlikable POV characters, annoyingly idle trust fund brats, nosey neighbors, a somewhat tight-knit community, and the disappearance of a barely up and coming YouTuber, something for everyone. 

Dani & Sawyer belong to a set of global nomads who travel the world while living full time on their sailboat. This is a tight-knit community that looks out for each other. Like a small town, they gossip ruthlessly, butt into each others business, and have very open attitudes about sex. Ok, maybe the attitudes about sex don't fit the typical small town, but I think it does fit a global nomad lifestyle. 

Anyway, in this somewhat niche community, everyone knows everyone environment, you add booze, nudity, monetized social media, and a worrisome disappearance, then stir and bake at 350!

I thoroughly bought into the story, and at the same time, the story felt familiar. I'm guessing if you like this genre, you've both read the book and seen the movie this book reminds me of. For me, that turned out to be a good thing, and I enjoyed the build-up as much as the reveals. 

Thank you to Rachel McGuire, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Living on a boat with the love of her life, sailing to picturesque places, spending the days swimming, fishing, and enjoying company of other cruisers; what more could a girl want?

Dani Fox is an up and coming YouTuber, documenting her daily adventures with her boyfriend, Sawyer Stone- even though he loathes the idea. After a wild night with some other “cruisers” docked together, Sawyer becomes suspect number one when Dani goes missing.

Enter Courtney, internet sleuth and armchair detective with a special interest in finding Dani. She introduces more doubt on Sawyer, while trying to clear his name. The Internet sleuths are all over the case and fighting against the Royal Bahamas Police and FBI.

The story was well written but follows another popular storyline that is well known. It’s far from identical, the different POV, mixed media of Internet use, and of course the ending was different. I enjoyed it and listened to in within 24 hours. The ending left it open to a sequel, or end as is.

I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ALC. The narrators were enjoyable to listen to and the story flowed flawlessly.

A young couple circumnavigating the globe on their sailboat for their YouTube channel is enjoying life in the Bahamas until the woman suddenly disappears. As the search for her begins, dark secrets are revealed about their relationship and suspicions arise about the man's involvement in her disappearance.

What an exciting and captivating mystery! The intricate plot kept me on the edge of my seat as secrets were slowly revealed. I particularly enjoyed the use of multiple narrators in the audiobook, which added depth and kept me fully engaged. I was so engrossed in the story that I may have neglected some of my responsibilities just to keep listening. The unexpected twist at the end left me pleasantly surprised and wanting more. Overall, this audiobook is a perfect summer listen that will keep you entertained from start to finish!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated expertly well by Narrated by Frankie Corzo; Evan Sibley; Chanté McCormick; Savy Des-Etages; David Bendena! Highly recommend the audiobook!

Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox are a young couple who spend their time "cruising" in the Bahamas on their 42-foot sailboat and documenting their journeys for their fledgling YouTube channel, Sailing with the Foxes. While waiting for Sawyer's failed investment in cryptocurrency to rebound, the couple spend their days filming their sailing and their nights partying with their fellow cruisers. On the surface, the couple's life looks perfect. But after partying one night, Dani vanishes. Sawyer has no memory of her disappearance and becomes suspect #1.

This is a twisty, psychological thriller that hooked me from the start. I was expecting a shallow thriller about youtubers gone wrong. This is an expertly written, multi-layered thriller about where we are today with social media. I think I suspected several different outcomes and then the story would take a sharp left! Very well written, engaging and sharp story about the deceptions of social media. Loved it!

Sawyer and Dani are cruisers who spend their time on a boat, going from place to place. They’ve lost money in crypto and both have troubled pasts they are running away from. After one cruising party goes awry, Dani is missing and Sawyer seems responsible. Could he be to blame?

I have wanted to try to listen to more audiobooks and had a beach vacation, so this book seemed like the perfect travel choice. I really enjoyed it! The production was excellent, and it was different from other audiobooks I’ve listened to because there were multiple narrators. This really made me feel engaged in the story and made it easy to tell whether Dani or Sawyer was narrating. The book was thoroughly enjoyable as well. It definitely was reminiscent of one of my very favorite thrillers (but I don’t want to say which one because it would give away too much of the plot). However, it takes a different spin on it with the social media twist and I still enjoyed it despite the similarity with the big reveal. I really love unreliable and unlikable narrators and this definitely has both. This was a great read, I loved the audio, and I look forward to checking out the author’s future work!

Thank you to Rachel McGuire and Dreamscape for the ALC copy for early review.

Much like my love for airplane thrillers, I am now a yacht thriller girlie!
This was riveting, entertaining and actually fairly thrilling.
I enjoyed my time in this story!