Things are not always what they seem. Especially in the world of social media and especially too-good-to-be-true relationships. Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox are cruisers who have a YouTube channel called "Sailing with the Foxes" which they're trying to monetize while also waiting for the price of bitcoin to bounce back. Once night, after a potluck party with other cruisers in the Bahamas, Sawyer wakes up to Dani missing and no recollection of what happened the evening before.
Royal Bahamas police force inspector Veronique Knowles has been called in to find Dani. She has her hands full trying to keep the investigation on course with all the internet traffic and online "police" getting in her way. Meanwhile, Dani had scheduled posts to the channel which reveal a darker side to her relationship with Sawyer. But is he a killer?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

4 stars

Readers who are millennials, Xers, or earlier will have so much fun shaking their heads at the ills of social media and technology and the general mentality of 'kids today' (shakes a fist in the air with intense enthusiasm) as they tear through this compelling mystery/thriller.

This cover got me. It's June, and I'm feeling those bright colors and calm waves, but that same image also left me anticipating a, well, expected set of characters and outcomes. While the book does begin in this way, I was pleasantly surprised by how it evolved.

Dani and Sawyer are two halves of a couple with ISSUES, and they spend their time cruising because of crypto drama. They also have a social media channel they have recently monetized. Do you already hate them? Good. But also, buckle up. These two find themselves in a precarious situation when Dani goes missing and Sawyer is the prime suspect because, as we all know, it's always the cis het male partner. With their incoming drama, general shadiness, community of fellow cruiser creeps, and what appear to be many secrets, things get sketchier and sketchier.

This is one of my favorite beach reads of this summer (and I've clocked quite a few), and I'm already excited to read more from this authorial team.

This full cast audiobook was a totally bingeable thriller for summer! (Or maybe winter if you're in the mood for a beach vacation.)

This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- influencers behaving badly
- boat life in the Bahamas
- not knowing who to trust

Overall I thought this was a fun read that kept my attention. I listened to it mostly in one day. It was easy to follow on audio with the full cast and well-labeled chapters (POV, timeline, etc.). You won't find many likable characters in this book, but I think that's the point. It's a twisty ride in a unique setting with interesting commentary on social media and true crime.

Rating: I liked it! (3.5 rounded to 4)

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
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Dani and Sawyer have the perfect life, with their YouTube channel titled "Sailing with the Foxes". Perfect, until Dani goes missing and Sawyer becomes the main suspect.
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On the Surface is told in multiple points of view, mainly through Dani and Sawyer and the lead detective on the case. I absolutely love this because you really get into the head of the main characters and see their true intentions. Dani and Sawyer were both absolutely volatile and that made for a fun story. I love that throughout this story, I wasn't sure who I disliked more.
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This is a pretty steady paced read and it has its own cat and mouse style to it. The theme of social media and how one can completely ruin a person's reputation via what is posted and how it will be interpreted was awesome. Everything came together perfectly in the end, and I really enjoyed where she went with this one. I very much enjoyed the boating and summer vibes while reading. It is a super bingeable read and its short enough to finish in a day.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and it had a full cast. Frankie Corzo, Evan Sibley, Chanté McCormick, Savy Des-Etages and David Bendena were great. They made this such a fun listen, I really felt like I was on the Serendipity.
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Overall, this was a fun popcorn thriller. It's not one that requires a ton of concentration. It is also the perfect beach read. So, grab yourself a cold drink and enjoy this by the pool, on the beach, wherever is your happy place. On the Surface releases on 7/9, be sure to check it out. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Rachel McGuire and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 If you enjoy adventures on the ocean with a dose of unease and anxiety, this book is for you! Under the Surface is a beautifully written, gripping thriller about a young couple’s life of adventure abruptly upended when Dani goes missing and Sawyer has no recollection of what might have happened. I am always fascinated by the vastness and temperament of the ocean and Rachel McGuire does an absolute stellar job weaving these aspects throughout her book. The narration matches the beautiful writing, bringing the words to life in this suspenseful tale not to be missed!

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

Crazy and chaotic! I liked this book. It lived up to the description and I appreciate that. It was a quick read because it was very over the top and kept me guessing.

•••𝘿𝙉𝙁 @28%•••

𝘼 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙏𝙪𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨—𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨.

I was so excited to read this book, it had a great premise & setup. Unfortunately, I tried the audio and ebook - neither of them were working for me. I don’t usually like DNFing this early into a book, but I was incredibly losing interest.

I may end up re-attempting to pick this book up again in the future - especially after seeing more reviews… as of now, it’s a DNF for me.

Gone Girls is one of my all-time favorite thrillers, so I was eagerly looking forward to this book after hearing it had that vibe to it… unfortunately, the characters were so off-putting and I just didn’t love the structure of the book.

Again, I might pick this back up later… but I’m going to DNF this one for now.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for the review copies in exchange for my honest review!

ON THE SURFACE started out strong. I was very interested to figure out what was going on with Dani and Sawyer. I found the pace and storyline to be fun and easy to listen to. I also liked the different POV's presented throughout the story. Overall, I found it to be a good debut!

Many thanks to DreamScape Media for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

This was a quick read for me- meaning the writing kept me engaged throughout! The plot has me interested in each characters development and the story as a whole. The audio production was easy to listen to. While I didn’t love the very end of the story, I appreciated and would recommend this book.

A couple are living on a boat in the Bahamas and one goes missing. That’s all I want to say about the plot because it was so fun to go into this with the bare minimum of knowledge and get swept along until the last page.
Neither of the leads are particularly likeable and I didn’t find myself ‘rooting’ for anyone but the plot was so engaging I was totally gripped.
I loved the detail and up to date knowledge of crypto, social media and the true crime community, I often find it mentioned in books but never really hitting the mark but that wasn’t the case here.
Loved the narrators, can’t wait for more!

on the surface by rachel mcguire 🌊 a slow burn psychological thriller where a youtubing cruiser couple sails the world living their best lives until one of them goes missing and their whole world capsizes 🛥️

binged in less than 24 hours! this was the exact book I needed to mindlessly listen to while at work. on the surface was a slow burn, psychological thriller that kept me constantly intrigued! although predictable, I ate up this summery bahamas setting while being in the minds of two unhinged & unlikeable characters.

I loved that we got pov’s from both of the mc’s, stuck-up yacht friends, comments from strangers on social media & the police! however, if you like your conclusions fully spelled out, this might not be the one for you. the perfect book to suspend your belief and listen to at sea 🪸

I’m always down for a full cast audiobook ☀️ thank you for an advanced audio copy, dreamscape media! 4 stars 💕

3.5 stars, rounded up

We are thrust into the lives of two young, glamorous YouTube stars, Sawyer Stone and Dani Fox. Sawyer and Dani are living life as cruisers, aboard their 42-foot sailboat, Serendipity. They are sharing their journey with their viewers for likes and subscribers and the importance of social media to this couple, especially Dani, is a major part of the story.

Everything seems to be perfect for this couple. Sailing around the Bahamas, taking daily ocean swims, fishing, napping, cruising and partying with the other cruisers.

After one night of some excessive partying, Dani disappears. After her disappearance, her YouTube videos continue to post, as she prescheduled them. These new series of videos show cracks in her relationship with Sawyer.

What happened to Dani, is their life all as it appears? Is Sawyer dangerous, or a victim in all of this?

The book is a little slow, and a little predictable (although there are some surprise twists as well). I loved the setting, it’s a unique story and I did enjoy reading it.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the book #OnTheSurface by #RachelMcGuire. I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a couple that sail around and and posting it all on YouTube “Sailing with the Foxes”. To everyone else they look like the perfect couple. That is until Dani goes missing and all eyes are on her boyfriend Sawyer. She disappears after a party and everyone thinks she’s drowned. Was Sawyer responsible?

Dani Fox disappears one day....did she plan it? Did something happen to her? Who would want her to disappear? It was ok, but the ending was amazing! I don't know that I would have been able to finish it had I tried to read it vs listening to it, but I would look for more by this author.

Sawyer and Dani are #couplegoals influencers, but absolutely nothing is as it seems. So fun for fans of villain-narrated thrillers!

Premise - Dani Fox is a gorgeous young cruiser and Sawyer Stone III is her silver spoon boyfriend, boating around the Bahamas with her and chronicling it via their fledgling YouTube channel ‘Sailing with the Foxes.’ They anchor to wait for crypto to go up so they can afford to continue their journey, but after one particularly rowdy party Dani turns up missing. After Dani’s bloodied dress is found, Sawyer is suspected of murder.

I loved how this ping-ponged between the various characters - it never got repetitive and every single character was fun to spend time with (some in a Walter White ‘the mind of evil’ kind of way, and some because I actually rooted for them). This kept me just off-kilter, but always fully engaged!

I listened to this one as an audiobook while working out/doing errands/etc and I highly recommend experiencing it this way. The narrators were all so talented, so lovely to listen to, and the Bahamian accents really sold the island vibes. My to-do’s flew by!

In conclusion, I guess I’ll have to add Rachel McGuire to my automatic buy list *SIGH.* Audible needs a frequent flyer program, stories are my sole (but severe) addiction!

Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dani is a YouTube Star with her boyfriend Sawyer who goes missing in the Bahamas. Sawyer is quick to be accused after Dani discloses with her friends and followers that he is an abusive partner and she is scared of him. The problem, Sawyer claims he has never raised a hand to a woman and has no idea what she is talking about.

Sawyer is convicted according to the public opinion and works to prove he’s innocent and figure out the bizarre behavior from Dani before it’s too late.

A story with social media themes, gaslighting, con job, and more. It flips between perspectives and follows detective perspective too as they work out if it is a real crisis or con job.

I did the audiobook and all of the narrators did fine and were expressive. I found myself drifting in and out of the story in the beginning and wasn’t super engaged in the writing style and work. By 30% in, I was hooked and it really came together well.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Book is out July 9!

🎧Song Pairing: Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter

💭What I thought would happen:

LOOOVE this cover. I am hoping it’s awful rich people at a resort or maybe a shark attack 😂 chomp chomp

📖What actually happens:

Attempting to become insta famous > boat life > Bahamas > influencer goes missing > boyfriend is the suspect > drama & manipulation

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Hmmmm okkkkk. I can tell this is the author’s first go at it and she did a good job. The story was shorter with intrigue the whole way through.

HOWEVER, I saw the plot and “twists” a miiiiile away. It is basically the exact same book as a very popular thriller which was made into a movie. It hardly strayed from that plot, colour me disappointed.

I zoom zoomed through this one I got approved and finished all in the same day 😂 I need a new hobby

Anywho, cover rocks! Lots of drama, unlikeable characters but bye bye bye.