The Summer Reunion was captivating and thrilling, holding my attention from start to finish. It was filled with numerous twists and turns, although a few stretched credibility. Nonetheless, I found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

A group of friends having a reunion. It's all going well until another old friend shows up and some of the group are not best pleased to see him. Why is he there? What does he wants? It can only mean trouble and sure enough, trouble it causes!

Wonderfully paced, loaded with suspense.. this book really does have it all.
The characters are well developed, and I really did find myself guessing to the end

This was absolutely amazing! I was totally enthralled with this story from beginning to end, I could barely put it down, and when I finally read the last page, the house was dark, I was hungry, thirsty, needed to pee and my neck was stiff. But damn, it was worth it!

The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer was an excellent real-page turner, that was full of twists and turns throughout that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. This book was so good I ended up reading it in one sitting, I was glued to my chair! Leah Mercer is a great storyteller, one of the best!

I highly recommend The Summer Reunion is was an excellent book from start to finish and a great holiday read! Superb!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC

I enjoyed the storyline in this one but I didnt have a connection to the characters. It was a bit unrealistic at times.

This was a very fast paced and easy read, mostly set over the span of a singular day; despite there being a lot of characters it didn’t feel overwhelming. I did stumble upon a few plot holes but overall it was a decent “thriller” read!

I had high hopes given the premise going into this one, but I didn't love any of the characters and the story itself was kind of sad - like the big twist was just super depressing. I didn't hate the book, but it was a very mehh read for me. 3 stars.

Fast paced plot and plenty twists and then throughout although I struggled to connect with the characters. Overall a good read.

This book had lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire book. I enjoyed the story, and the characters were well developed. Yet, I struggled to connect to any of the characters. Usually when I can't connect to any characters, it's hard for me to care what happens to them in the end. I liked the plot, and the fast pace at which it developed, but some parts were very farfetched. This was an ok read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s time for a holiday full of relaxation and fun and to reconnect with old friends. When a man from the past unexpectedly arrives, it changes everything….
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Grab a refreshing drink and settle in for a story that is full of secrets and surprising revelations! 🔐 Get ready for drama and lots of suspenseful moments too. So many secrets are revealed and some of them are quite shocking. 👀 I liked the isolated and stormy setting vibes which definitely added another layer of suspense to the story. This was a quick and entertaining read!

Who else is grieving Summer ?

I need to live beneath a palm tree.

In the mean time, give me all the summery books.... The Summer Reunion.

Leah Mercer, has easily become an auto buy author for me, so when I saw this title pop up, it was a no brainer. I hit request and dug right in.

This book right here sure is a doozy.

Jam packed with twists, secrets and deceit, the whiplash was real.

The Summer Reunion, is a neck breaking thriller that will keep you completely consumed from start to finish. In just under 250 pages, this book Is one that won't even warrant a bathroom break.

Check out this teaser :

Six friends on holiday. A secret worth dying for.

In a gorgeous French stone villa, a group of friends reunite for a weekend of reminiscing and laughter. But as glasses of wine are poured, they find they aren’t alone.

Standing at the door is a man the friends thought they’d never see again. With a ferocious storm raging and roads closed, they have no choice but to let him in. Instantly the dream weekend takes a dark turn.

Because someone invited him here.

Because someone has been living a lie.

And someone wants revenge.

But when the truth is revealed, will anyone make it out alive?

As for the plot, it’s a mix of intrigue and drama. There are many secrets throughout the novel but while there are twists, some of them border on ridiculous. . Some parts dragged on, others were a quick read. . Overall I would recommend but wasn’t at the top of my list. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley.

Six friends reunite for what’s meant to be a relaxing weekend getaway in a beautiful French villa. As wine flows and laughter echoes through the villa, an unexpected visitor arrives—someone they thought they’d never see again. With a raging storm outside and no way to leave, the group is forced to let him in, and from that moment, the dream weekend spirals into a nightmare of deception, secrets, and revenge.

The story hooks readers with an intriguing premise: someone invited this mysterious man, someone has been lying, and someone is seeking revenge. The tension is palpable from the start, as each character harbors a secret, making you eager to uncover what they’re hiding. This is where the book shines, as curiosity about the characters’ secrets drives you to keep reading.

However, while the plot promises an engaging thriller, it stumbles in execution. The characters are difficult to connect with, and their selfishness and unlikable traits make it hard to root for any of them. Vannie and Henry are particularly ruthless, and Jules is frustratingly clueless. Ellie is portrayed as insecure and jealous, while her husband Safet is the only somewhat sympathetic figure in the story. Even the children, especially Ahmed, are portrayed in ways that make it hard to invest in their outcomes.

As for the plot, it’s a mix of intrigue and absurdity. While the secrets themselves are interesting, the way they unfold feels far-fetched at times, and certain twists border on the unbelievable. The pacing is uneven, with moments that drag and others that feel too rushed. The thriller element is diluted by the overwhelming focus on domestic drama, which might appeal more to fans of interpersonal conflicts than those looking for heart-pounding suspense.

Despite these shortcomings, the book does have its strengths. The atmosphere of the isolated, storm-battered villa adds a nice touch of suspense, and the quick pace makes it an easy read. There are a few surprising twists that keep things entertaining, even if they don’t always make sense. Ultimately, this is the kind of book that’s best enjoyed as a light, holiday read—nothing too deep, but engaging enough to pass the time.

While it’s not a standout in the thriller genre, readers who enjoy domestic dramas with a touch of mystery might find it worth a try. If you’re looking for a quick, fun escape with a few secrets to unravel, this book could be just the book for you.

Wonderful. I was absolutely blown away by this amazing book. Brilliantly plotted. Suspenseful. Loved it.

This one had too many stories with it. Everything that could happen in a thriller/mystery, happened in this one. The majority of things was all done by one person and we can't really make any connections until the end.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ whodunit?!
✨secrets
✨ drama




✨six friends get ready for a reunion in a french villa.
Relationship of friendship is being tested when 2nd then is locked in the cellar.
The secrets of 20 years just unfold on 1 afternoon only.
Too much drama and a lot to uncover.
Definitely worth the read. But it’s quite a slow paced.



✨Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this book for a honest review.


🫶🏼shaye.reads

A long overdue reunion for friends turns twisty and turny.

Granted, this book does a lot right, everyone is complex and has a past, everyone has secrets and they all fit together perfectly, but the pace of this book makes all of that seem impossible to keep up with.

Perhaps it was long overdue, but six friends get together for what would ultimately be an unforgettable holiday. The French Villa they have chosen should have been a place where good memories were formed. Instead, it was wrought with trouble almost from the very start.

When two people get locked in a wine cellar, all kinds of theories immediately come to the minds of the other guests. For one thing, years before the two that were locked in the cellar had a relationship, but that was indeed the past. But that’s not the biggest issue at the moment. The biggest issue is how they got locked in the wine cellar and how can they be rescued from what just might be a very dire situation.

While that drama is occurring, there are other issues that are prevalent. For one thing, one couple, Ellie and Safet, have a son, Ahmend, whom they are in the process of adopting from Syria. The young boy has serious issues, and these issues carry their way throughout the story. Then there Jules and Harry, who have 15 year-old twin daughters. They are soon joined by Jules and Harry’s older daughter, Ivy. There is a third couple, Vannie and Nicola, as well. Then, a guest named Frederick arrived, although he did not respond to the invitation, so therefore his arrival was unexpected.

So, with more than one dynamic involving the couples, the older daughter Ivy, and Frederick, the drama in this intense story never once lets up. There is the past to be considered, because it has a very strong affect as to what is going on now. Meanwhile, some serious issues are threaded into this book. One is how adoption can change the family and how a child that has experience great trauma is now acclimating to the situation. Then there is the matter where one of the members of the group has a serious addiction and this impacts what goes on as the story develops.

Lots of drama. Lots of secrets. And more than one surprise twist. The holiday that should have brought joy to the guests did the exact opposite, and this made this latest book by Leah Mercer a thrilling read that was impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This book was a real page-turner! I was hooked from the start with the setting in the stunning French villa and the tight-knit group of friends. The way the suspense builds as secrets unravel and the tension ramps up was masterfully done. I found myself constantly guessing who might be behind the sinister events and what would happen next. The blend of mystery and psychological drama kept me on the edge of my seat, and the dramatic twists were both surprising and satisfying. If you love a good, gripping thriller with deep secrets and high stakes, this one’s definitely worth diving into.