3.75 stars

Saltwater is a slow burn. Much of the beginning is getting to know the characters through multiple viewpoints. Helen is the child of the very rich Lingate family. On a trip to Capri, she is determined to get out from under the family so she can live her own life. In addition, she wants to learn more about her mother - suspected to have been killed by Helen's father, but officially ruled a suicide.

Enter Lorna - Helen's uncle Marcus' assistant, who takes the trip with them. When a mysterious necklace is delivered to Helen on Capri, a whole new mystery enters the picture.

With twists and turns, Saltwater shows the dark side of money - and how different are we all really from each other when we're desperate?

I enjoyed this book - particularly the character building. I do wish we had some insight from a couple of the characters that were missing, but I really liked the multiple viewpoints telling the story. If you like thrillers, this could be a good one - just be aware it's not entirely fast-paced, but is satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Although there were alternating points of view along with alternating timelines and a a slow start this book became very interesting. With multiple twists this book provided a wow factor.

Going in, there are so many elements you anticipate. The mystery of is it murder, suicide, or accident? Can you trust anyone? Money does strange things to people. I enjoyed this book. I didn’t trust anyone and wonder what made people choose their choices.

This book was crazy but in a good way! At first, I did not like any of the characters at all, but as the story progressed and we continued to dive into the past and the mystery surrounding the past, I was invested! I love the rich people behaving badly! I love the twists and turns that I did not see coming! The characters were believable in that even when they were behaving badly you understood why they were doing what they were doing. Essentially we have a women who dies, we do not know if she killed herself, she was murdered, and if murdered was it a stranger or a close family member. There are secrets and love stories and discoveries along the way, but in the end everything gets resolved in a way that makes the heart happy. I will for sure be recommending this book and I will be looking for more books written by this author! SO GOOD!

Saltwater by Katy Hays is more of a family drama than a mystery/thriller, but it’s a captivating and atmospheric read nonetheless. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, the novel delves into complex family dynamics, secrets, and personal growth. The lush descriptions of the island add to the immersive experience, making you feel like you're right there with the characters. While it may not deliver the suspense some might expect, the emotional depth and exploration of relationships make it a rewarding read for fans of introspective dramas.

Going between the past and present, this book follows the mysterious disappearances of 2 women associated with the same family spread decades apart at the same vacation home. This book was so entertaining and I genuinely couldn’t figure out what was going to happen!

I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book but it didn’t quite do it for me. Fans of deeply rooted family drama, tension, and secrets will really enjoy this story.

I thought the story itself was written well and the alternating characters and timelines kept it interesting but I just don’t get much out of rich family drama.

I do have to give credit where it’s due, and I did enjoy the ending. There was one twist in particular that I really liked but won’t spoil that here.

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book was a slow burn for me. A very, very slow burn. While the twist/s at end made up for the pacing (albeit a bit hard to believe), it wasn’t enough for me to love (or care about) the story and build up from the rest of the book.

So overall, was it great? No. Was it bad? No. It was just fine for me.

I do want to add, this is a good book for summer, and I started this at the end of summer/beginning of fall. I might’ve liked it a bit more if I had been reading it on the beach.

Thank you to Ballantine/Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Saltwater by Katy Hayes
I really enjoyed the story. Back in 1992 is found dead at the bottom of a cliff the island of Capri.
the family has gone back on vacation every year. On the 30th anniversary the necklace she was wearing that night is mailed to her daughter Helen.
What happened 30 years ago? Everyone is a suspect.
I loved the writing. The story line was slow to start but then kicked off in high gear.
The twists and turns I did not see coming.
I highly recommend this book!

.5⭐️ This book had a really slow start and I even considered DNFing it. I’m glad I stuck around because it did pick up.

This follows Helen whose mother is mysteriously killed on Capri thirty years earlier. Her family’s assistant Lorna also mysteriously disappears from the island in the present.

I enjoyed the back and forth timelines in this story and the different perspectives from each of the characters.

However, the big twists felt really unbelievable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for this e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars

DNF at 70%

This book is too long, has too many timelines, and too many characters to keep track of. Last night, I realized I don’t really care what the outcome is so I’m throwing in the towel..

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

DNF at ~30% for now. I'm still not interested in the story and the characters, although the setting descriptions are beautiful and immersive. I may pick this up again, but as of now it's really not working for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was pretty good! I read it fairly quickly. I really enjoy a good thriller. This was a good one!

A wealthy family’s involvement in someone’s death during their annual vacation is again under suspicion as the family does their utmost to maintain their public profile in Saltwater by Katy Hays.
The Lingate family is old money and accustomed to upholding a particular lifestyle, including their annual summer vacation to Capri; however, in 1992, Sarah is found dead and there are lingering suspicions that the family was involved in her death given how she and her husband had fought earlier in the day, but her death was eventually ruled an accident and the family returns to Capri every year to maintain the perception of their innocence. With the arrival of the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, Sarah’s daughter Helen has prepared and set off a series of events, with the assistance of her friend and her uncle’s assistant Lorna, and the timely arrival of a damning, iconic necklace of Sarah’s, that might just prove to be the key to the unraveling of the family’s long-kept secrets.
Depicting a family’s dysfunction and the secrets kept between and from one another in relationships, a narrative rife with a sense of control, or a lack thereof, and being trapped is revealed, primarily through the perspectives of two women, as the Lingate family secrets begin to make their way to the surface from the murky depths they’ve been submerged beneath. While mostly told from Helen and Lorna’s perspectives, there were a few sections of the story that were from Sarah and an insertion from Renata, Naomi, and Marcus, which provided additional context to round out the narrative; however, though providing additional information, these add-ons slowed the pacing of the story even further and the gradually building tension without adding much and it wound up rapidly diffusing the built-up tension in the process. The descriptions of the picturesque setting were well-written, easily evoking an enviable Italian summer vacation that many might dream of taking, which served as a good contrast for the unlikeable characters who take the majesty of the location and opportunities presented to them for granted as their rightful due.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK! This book is definitely a top read of the year.

The suspense kept me reading late into the night, the twist had me shocked, and there were parts towards the end that literally made me gasp.

This was a great "who done it" that keeps you guessing till the end. I could easily see this as a movie one day.

Thank you, NetGalley, Randomhouse Publishing Group, and Katy Hays for the ARC edition of the book. I can't wait to make all my friends read it once it is published.

I'm not a huge murder/suspense reader unless I need a nice little cleanse from my romance. And let me tell you, this was a great cleanse! I absolutely enjoyed feeling like I was in Capri.. very atmospheric. There are secrets, betrayals, murder, and LOTS of money. Naturally you have a very wealthy (old money) family that is haunted by secrets in their past. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and timelines and felt that helped set up the many twists.

I really enjoyed this book and trying to figure out who had killed Sarah! The life and carelessness of the rich was Hollywood perfect!

The perfect mystery to take to the beach! I could not figure it out and was on the edge of my seat the entire time! The cover is beautiful, but the inside is even better!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Saltwater tells the story of the wealthy Lingate family. Sarah died under mysterious circumstances 30 years on Capri. Her daughter Helen was 3 at the time and has been brought up without any true freedom. She wants to change that and has found an ally in her uncle’s assistant Lorna. The family returns to Capri, as they do every summer, and there things escalate quickly.
The book is a true page turner; I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, and more importantly, what had happened in the past. Unfortunately, for me, it all fell apart at the end. The resolution was just too far-fetched (and does everyone look the same??). Also, rich people are truly horrible and I struggle to find compassion for any of the characters. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the first 80% of the book.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.