In the beginning of this book, I thought it was going to be a simple story where all of the main character characters were a suspect, but boy was I wrong. I couldn’t believe all the details that began unraveling and how complicated some of the characters became. You think you know someone, but do you really? The first half of this one is a little bit slow, but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the lake setting and the multigenerational history of childhood friends who grew up together, and homes passed down through the family. Would definitely recommend this as a perfect summer thriller!

Will post on social media closer to pub date

This was a fun read! My first by this author and looking forward to checking out her other books. I loved the lake setting and the mystery surrounding it. I did wish there was a bit less of the family drama as I felt it was sometimes more filler however it was so well written that I absolutely had to give 4 stars!

Thank you for the ARC. I enjoyed The Block Party by this author so was excited to get to read another book. The book kept my attention, but it seemed to drag on after a while. I got to one point that I thought was a satisfying ending only to find out I still had a ways to go in the book. It was pretty intricately weaved when everything came together. I’d still read another book from this author.

This was exactly what I needed and was looking for. This book kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to keep reading. I’d recommend to a friend looking for a thriller

This was a perfect choice to kick off my springtime reading! Going to the lake is normally seen as a peaceful, relaxing, rejuvenating time away from the hustle bustle of everyday life -- except when its fraught with neighbor disputes, unsolved murders, missing persons and secrets! Jamie Day has woven a tale with LAKE DAY that keeps the pages turning.

The story is told from the alternating view points of several characters, but it's not confusing at all and is quite easy to follow. A group of childhood friends, who all have family lake homes, reconvene every summer for a couple weeks of fun in the sun. But this year, things are different. A girlfriend goes missing and its on the 30th and 60th anniversary of two other girls who also went missing at this very same lake. So many secrets are revealed and lives are forever changed.

Take a ride with Jamie Day, as she leads us into a week at the lake that we'll NEVER forget!

2.5 stars rounded up.

I really enjoyed reading The Block Party so I was excited to read this new thriller from Jamie Day. The book started off slow for me and I almost put the book down. I connected with none of the characters and thought they were all unlikable. By the mid point of the book I really could care less about what happened in the book but I did like the twists we read about later on. The end was a bit out there but overall, everything tied in together. This was just an ok read and just not really for me.

In The Lake Escape, Izzy finds a 2 week gig being a nanny at a lake house in Vermont. She has an ulterior motive to want to be there which is explored later in the book. Julia, David, and Erika spent summers growing up next to each other at the lake. They now go every summer for 2 weeks but this year Julia arrives first to see how David rebuilt his house so she doesn't even have a lake view anymore. Tensions rise once David arrives with is new, much younger girlfriend. The next morning his girlfriend is missing which brings up 2 cold cases that happened long ago at the lake. Did the lake take another one?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.25 or 3.5 out of 5 stars (on the fence)

I’ve enjoyed previous books by this author, and this is a good summer thriller! Set lakeside in Vermont, the story is told in dual perspectives by Julia, a mom who has been coming to the lake annually to reunite with her childhood best friends, David and Erika, and Izzy, a college student who lied her way into a job as David’s nanny- but why? When David’s current girlfriend goes missing, the past is dredged up and secrets are revealed.

The good: if you like family dramas, lots of characters and plot lines, twists and turns, and a neatly tied up ending, this book is for you, I didn’t mind all of the secrets and stories going on, my only complaint is that I didn’t really like any of the characters enough to care about them. There is a lot going on, though, so warning if that isn’t your thing. I also thought the first half of the book was slow, but it did pick up a lot in the second half. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, just not my favorite by the author.


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel!

This book was a real page turner for me – with previous missing persons and the current missing person and how they intertwine is very interesting. When its all unpacked – you’re thinking – huh – didn’t see that coming. It kept you wanting to be nosey and find out what’s going on. Thank you for the ARC Net Galley #TheLakeEscape #JamieDay #NetGalley

Jamie Day has done it again. ‘The Lake Escape’ story takes place in a small Vermont lake town, over a forty year span of time. Combine, murder, disappearance, romance and childhood friendships and you have a hard to put down novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns embedded throughout the novel. An enjoyable read.

A dual perspective mystery/thriller that works well. When it all finally unfolds you kind of feel dumbstruck at how well it was woven together.

Who doesn't like lazy days spent at the lake? I'm guessing David's girlfriend, who promptly disappears! Oof, this book started off slow for me then without my even realizing it it sped out of control like a runaway train! I love love loved it! Full of twisty turns right up to the end!

This book had potential but ultimately fell flat. I love the idea of childhood friends navigating maintaining friendships later in life. The twistiness of the story kept me engaged. However I struggled to connect with the characters - or even care about their journey throughout the book.

Not my favorite - but I would definitely pick up another Jamie Day book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Read this if you like:
-scenic summer escapes
-secrets and lies that span years
-a tied up ending

I enjoyed this mystery. For me it started off on a slower note but came together nicely in the end. A great summer read!

Thank you to Net Galley, Jaime Day, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved Jamie Day’s debut work, and ever since, I have eagerly anticipated her latest mystery installment. As a fan from the very beginning, my expectations might be a bit high, almost like chasing a unicorn, and I haven't found the same gripping, popcorn-worthy intensity that characterized her first book. However, The Lake Escape offered some interesting and tangled plot threads that were intriguing to unravel.

Julia, David, and Erika return to their family's lake houses for their annual vacation, each harboring their own secrets and reasons for coming back. Their trust in one another is also superficial at best. A few new characters join this year's vacation: Fiona, David’s current girlfriend, and Izzy, the hired nanny for two weeks. Unbeknownst to the original group, these newcomers have their own hidden agendas. When Fiona goes missing in a manner reminiscent of two other young women, each disappearing thirty years apart, the plot thickens.

I particularly enjoyed the last third of the novel as the narrative threads came together. I agree with other reviewers that there were some lulls due to unnecessary backstories for minor characters. While I understand the intention was to provide depth and character definition, it ultimately distracted from the thrill of the plot. Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery filled with numerous twists.

How well can you know even your best friends when everyone hides their darker side. One teen with a love for true crime crosses the path of a trio of friends vacationing at the site where buried bones have been found. With so many gathered, each hiding something explosive, you can feel the foundation of this friendship shifting from the moment that the first car pulls into the driveway. The secrets fall like dominoes, leaving echoes that will change everyone's life. Day masterfully weaves together at least eight different bombshells in this thriller that center around the disappearance of one of their group, but expands to include the identity of the bones unearthed close to their vacation site. I could not put this book down, reading it pretty much in one sitting. I have to thank Erica Martirano of St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book that reads like the most sinister true-life podcast. There are so many twists and revelations, that you can't help but question everyone's intentions. I can't say that I am completely satisfied with the outcome, but it sure was a thrilling read!

This was alright, nothing groundbreaking. The mystery was engaging, but there were some small gripes that I had. I got a little frustrated with one of the characters' preoccupation with imagining everything as an IG post and caption -- didn't really add much for me. Similarly, one of the characters kept using terms I associate with being British (I guess her dad was Irish, so maybe that makes sense?) -- row, shag, rubbish. Still, the book was overall enjoyable.

I've been a fan of Jamie Day's books thus far so was excited to read this book! I enjoyed it unexpected twists along the way!

I've been a fan of Jamie Day since her first and second books the block party and one big happy family. Her third book doesn't disappoint at all. I love it. From the start you are taken though a plethora of amazing characters many with secrets that will reveal themselves throughout the book.. This book was honestly amazing, filled with twist and turns. As you continue to read the book, the more invested you get. with the characters. I picked this book due to reading her previous books and it is amazing. you will keep guessing until the end who killed who and the ending was heartfelt and amazing. Love Ms. Day and her books. I would say a 4 star book review. Amazing novel. Can't wait until the next.

I loved Jamie Day’s Block Party book so I was excited when I was approved to read this book by NetGalley. It was an enjoyable book and I did not guess the twists in the story. Julia and Izzy were both awesome main characters to read. I loved how they got more confident as the story went along.

My Thoughts

David, Erika and Julia have been Vacationing at Lake Timmeny Vermont together from childhood through adulthood.

The lake is a place of refuge for Julia, a place to stay that has always brought her peace.
Peace that she needs more than ever this summer in particular.

Izzy has come to the lake with an agenda far different than just taking care of her employers’ children.

Told from these two women’s point of view we have a beautiful location with a cast of friends that are not at all what they portray themselves to be and as their different memories unfold and their secrets are revealed certain things that come to light are shocking for the characters as well as readers.

For me what stood out most is how much goes on behind the scenes in setting up how past and present come together.

What starts out as a way to reconnect with each other soon takes David, Erika, Julia and their families on a very different path.

A path that reveals secrets none of them wanted to see the light of day.

Julia Crawford, husband Christian, 18-year-old daughter Taylor, their elderly Lab mix Nutmeg, David Dunne, his five-year-old twins Becca and Brody along with his girlfriend Fiona, new Nanny Izzy Greene, Erika Miller, her husband Rick and their son Lucas were fleshed out pretty well for their respective roles in the story.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.