4 1/4 stars
This summer mystery/thriller is told from two different points-of-view. One of the narrators is Julia who always looks forward to her family's yearly vacation at Vermont's Lake Timmeny. Her lake house has been in her family for years and now her childhood playmates David and Erika have the neighboring homes and spend their vacations today. Something is off this year, though, and the easy camaraderie between the three friends has been replaced by secrets and suspicions.

The other point-of-view is nineteen-year-old Izzy Greene. Izzy has reasons of her own for accepting a temporary job as nanny for David's young twins. She beefed up her credentials to get the job when most of what she knows about being a nanny comes from watching Mary Poppins! I wasn't sure what to think of her at first, but she definitely became my favorite character. She's smart and brave, and I love her honest, funny observations. I couldn't connect with most of the other characters, but I'd love to read more books featuring Izzy!

Izzy, Julia, and the rest of the families find themselves in the middle of a mystery when David's young girlfriend goes missing. Could this be connected to two other women who disappeared from the area? This intriguing set-up was so promising and suspenseful. There were a couple of interesting twists that got my attention and made the story even more engaging. But then for me, the plot became overly complicated and over-the-top which disappointed me. I still enjoyed the book but wish some of the final twists would have been more relatable.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and SMP Early Readers for the advance review copy. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

THIS IS THE JUICIEST SUMMER SNACK I'VE EVER DEVOURED. It was the perfect mid-summer escape with all of the ominous storytelling checkpoints I needed. And yet...I found myself evaluating answers to questions like "How much should a person exhaust themselves for financial security?" and "Should boundary lines be altered in friendships once we've grown up and changed?" "How far should we go to protect those tried and true relationships before enough is enough?"

For as long as they can remember, Julia, Ericka, and David have spent every single summer as neighbors at Lake Timmeny in Vermont. Their friendships have withstood the test of time through thick and thin. Now that they are adults, their kids have even become friends. But this idyllic lake has become a keeper of secrets. Every thirty years, a teenage girl has gone missing, never to be found again. The superstition in the area is "the lake takes them." But now, thirty years after the last abduction, when David's new young girlfriend vanishes after a heated argument, the lake is not to blame. David has also hired a new nanny to watch his twin toddlers, and she seems to have a hidden agenda. As the search for his missing girlfriend launches, these three friends find themselves highly suspicious of one another. After all, secrets can't stay buried forever.

This book has two well-crafted POVs - Julia and Izzy (the nanny). Each POV brings about just the right tilt in perspective for the PERFECT mystery. And it is a RABBIT HOLE of discovery as the book goes on and on. There is no typical structure to be seen in this novel. I know I gasped several times while reading this. I was so engulfed that I felt like I was sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of my lake cabin, observing this drama firsthand. Get ready for some iced tea, y'all!

A special thank you to Jamie Day, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for this delectable summer read in exchange for my honest review.

This was an enjoyable thriller set on a lake in Vermont. I listened to this book and it was the perfect summer read.

This is a two person POV, Izzy, the nanny and Julia, a mom who has been going to the lake for years. I loved both of these characters and they had very different perspectives. Both were strong females who went through a lot. I loved Izzy's attempt at being a nanny. She wants to be a nanny for these kids, because she wants to investigate Lake Timmery and this is her only way to get there. The father (David) that she is working for along with his two friends all vacation at Lake Timmery every year. While at the lake David's girlfriend goes missing. It is apparent that there are secrets at the lake because this is the third women to go missing at Lake Timmery and they all happened 30 years apart.

I really liked the narrators Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. They did a really good job and I didn't get confused with all the characters.

This was a fun read and definitely kept me on my toes. I would definitely recommend this for a good summer read on the water!

Read if you like:
-Lake setting
-Sinister vibes
-Slow-burn mystery
-Childhood friends

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted ALC

Once again Jamie Day as written a multi-narrator suspense novel with plenty of secrets and twists. Julia sets out for her summer lake vacation with trepidation given the state of her marriage and relationship with her daughter, and things only get worse when she sees the "modest" renovations that her neighbor and friend, David has made. She's ready to team up with her friend, and other neighbor, Erika to really lay in to him, but Erika is strangely accepting of this new house. The three long time friends and neighbors are off to a rough start to the summer, then when David's girl friend goes missing, from a lake that is notorious for missing girls, all secrets will be revealed. The mystery is twisty, far-fetched, and satisfying. It's perfect for a summer lake vacation!

Three friends, their families, and a two week’s vacation at a lake where two women have gone missing in years past, what could possibly go wrong?

Jamie Day spans a web of suspense in her new novel The Lake Escape. A fast paced thriller perfect for the summer. Set in Vermont, the story follows Julia, Erika and David, who have been longtime friends, coming together to relax for their annual vacation. After a night of fun, another woman, David’s girlfriend, goes missing.

Day uses multiple perspectives to move the story forward. Shifting between the perspectives, pieces of the puzzle start to emerge. With each puzzle piece, new evidence comes forward as well as more insight to the relationships of the cast of characters.

Overall, it was an enjoyable summer read and kept me on the edge of my seat. I gave it a 4 star. If you have read Jamie Day’s other books or love a summer suspense, then be sure to pick this book up.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025

This mystery / thriller definitely left something to be desired. It felt like the protagonist was just picking men to blame with zero cause, and then even at the end, weighing one crime against another, casting the man in a poorer light when it was a woman who had actually had done the (debated) worse crime. At the very least they were equally terrible. Not a lot of redeeming qualities here.

4.5 but i'm rounding up

The Lake Escape was the kind of book I didn’t want to put down. Told through two POVs—Julia, whose husband is tanking their life behind her back, and Izzy, a fake nanny with a secret agenda—it builds tension with every chapter. And I mean that literally. Each chapter ends on a mini cliffhanger, so you’re constantly chasing answers while getting pulled deeper into the mess.

The women are the stars here. Julia’s storyline hit especially hard—watching her go from financially blindsided to setting boundaries and taking control? Loved that for her. And Izzy starts off unsure of herself, but by the end, she’s stepped into her own in a way that feels earned. The emotional arcs were just as strong as the mystery, which isn’t always the case in thrillers.

Now, the men? They’re mostly walking red flags. Entertaining, yes, but not exactly layered. One of the late reveals also leans a little too hard on coincidence. Still, it didn’t take away from how much I was enjoying the ride.

What worked:
That pacing! Dual POVs and chapter-end cliffhangers kept me hooked
Strong, messy, resilient women at the center of the story
Twists that felt grounded in character (for the most part)
A cold case with emotional weight and generational stakes

What didn’t:
Male characters felt a little one-note
One big reveal relied more on luck than logic

ARC REVIEW (7/15/25): the lake escape by jamie day ☀️ three childhood friends make annual summer reunions at their vermont lake houses, except this time, it takes a dark turn.

my first jamie day novel and it’s a juicy summer thriller full of friends, drama & deceit 🎣 talk about an immersive atmosphere- if you plan on picking this one up, challenge yourself to read it while camping in the woods or lounging beside a lake!

with all of these characters’ messy, interweaving storylines, I wish we had gotten more pov’s. I was loving the first 70% of this thriller but I felt the ending to be lackluster. the addition of a certain element/group (won’t say what bc of spoilers) just didn’t work for me 👀

the dm’s brooke & I were sending back and forth trying to figure out a miniscule detail that wasn’t even related to the disappearances had me DYING. nothing beats sending an *I’m still waking up but need to resolve this problem voice memo at 7:52 am*. your poor hubby was so confused ✨

I dare you to make a splash… thank you macmillan audio & st. martin’s press for the early copies 💦 3 stars!

I just finished reading "The Lake Escape" by Jamie Day. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I chose to read this book because I really enjoyed the last book by this author. This book features three friends who share summer homes on the beach. They are in various stages of life and come to the summer beach houses to see one another. If feels like at the beginnig there is alot of friction between the friends, mostly because the male character David, has, come into money and has decided to build an enourmous home which blocks the views of his two friends. To add suspense and intrigue all the children are teenagers and there is a Nanny of course who is mysterious in her own right. The beginning of the novel focuses on introducing and developing the characters and their relationships.
The mystery begins when we learn that women have disappeared from the lake and while there, one of their own disappears as well.
The book is told from a variety of different perspectives including Julia and Izzy (the nanny).
There are twists and turns and enexpected surprises. What I liked about this book was that it was easy to read and follow. There were certainly surprises and intrigue created throughout the story. What I didn't like was that I didn't buy the friendship between the three longtime friends. I dont know why. I just didn't feel it so I wasn't all that invested in the book.
In any case, it is a good summer read. Entertainig, but not earth shattering or shocking. Somewhat forgettable
.Happy reading

Book Review
The Lake Escape by Jaime Day

What Its Got
✅ mysterious lake
✅ missing women
✅ childhood secrets
✅ friendships
✅ generational trauma
✅ infidelity
✅ Multiple POV
✅ family drama

Characters
Julia, David and Erika- childhood friends from the Lake, whose share past trauma
Izzy- the Nanny

Thoughts
📕 Slow to start, but the last 1/4 flew by
📕 Loads of red herrings, twists and turns
📕 A few predictable pieces balanced with a few surprises kept this read entertaining

Overall
A solid summer thriller

Publishes July 15
Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartins press for my digital copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the storyline and the characters and read it in one day. I had to know what was going to happen. I thought this book was well written. I would definitely recommend this book.

🤍 Book Review – The Lake Escape by Jamie Day 🤍

The Lake Escape is a twisty summer thriller set at a beautiful Vermont lake with a dark past. Three longtime friends and their families gather for their annual vacation, but secrets, tension, and old resentments quickly bubble to the surface, especially after one of them mysteriously disappears.
Told through the POVs of Julia, a mom trying to keep her family together, and Izzy, the new nanny with a hidden agenda, the story moves quickly and keeps you guessing. I really enjoyed the suspense and setting, and the mystery surrounding the lake’s history added an eerie vibe.
The first half had me hooked, and I flew through it. However, the ending felt a little rushed and OTT for me, which took away from the impact. Still, it was an entertaining, fast-paced read with plenty of drama and intrigue. A solid beach read perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

There are beach people and there are lake people… and then there are crazy people 🤪

Three families vacation together every year at Lake Timmeny 🐟💦 They all have their own secrets and struggles, but they always look forward to two weeks of fun and relaxation with each other at their favorite place.

But the lake holds secrets, too… Two women have gone missing without a trace, 30 years apart, and when one of their own goes missing this year, the families wonder just how well they know one another.

I enjoyed the dual POV from one of the mothers and the nanny. While I think a few more perspectives would’ve added to the suspense, the two we had bounced back and forth well. I really loved the first 70% of this story, but I didn’t love the ending. Which is honestly a common theme I’ve had with thrillers lately, so maybe it’s just me. But I haven’t been impressed with how these captivating stories have left me with a lackluster conclusion.

It’s a good summer thriller, but nothing quite pushed it to great for me once all was said and done and the secrets were exposed. Out of all three of Day’s thrillers, this is my second favorite though behind The Block Party, which was a twisty domestic thriller with tons of POVs in a neighborhood murder mystery.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day weaves together old friendships, long-held secrets, and a haunting lakeside past. As tensions rise and a new disappearance rocks their quiet retreat, Julia, David, and Erika are forced to confront what they thought they knew—about each other and themselves. A thoughtful, suspenseful story that keeps you guessing until the end.

Julia, Ericka, and David all grew up enjoying their summers at the lake, and this summer is no different. Julia and her family arrive first, trying to ignore their marital issues and focus on the annoyingly huge house David built in place of his old home. Ericka and her family are next, followed by David and his children, his new girlfriend, Fiona, and their new nanny, Izzy. Everything seems to be going alright, despite Fiona getting a little too drunk at the evening’s gathering and getting into a rather loud argument with David. The next morning, Fiona is nowhere to be found.

This story flips between Julia and Izzy’s POVs, where Izzy has more to her than just being a nanny. For most of the book, I was intrigued and wanted to know what happened to Fiona. The book definitely kept my interest, almost completely binging it in one day. Towards the end, it started to lose me and my focus. I found myself going back often to catch things I was missing. Overall while the end was fun, I think it was a bit far-fetched for me. I think a lot of factors were thrown in for it to make sense, but it just felt a bit jumbled for me. I hope those who read it enjoy it!

Nothing sounds better than a home by the lake. The sound of the lapping water. Being able to fish for your dinner. Making s’mores over a fire. Unless that lake brings terror, as so many do.

Lake Timmeny has been home to Julia’s family for years. Along with her camp crew of David and Erika, Julia has many fond memories of the lake. Even as adults they still plan two weeks at the lake, all three families. But this year something is very different.

David has done the unthinkable and built a three story glass monstrosity that blocks the views from both Julia’s and Erika’s homes. Julia is irate, but Erika less so. Erika claims she is practicing mindfulness, and really, what can be done now. Julia is still seeing red. Her perfect vacation ruined by David’s thoughtlessness. Add in his way too young and rather risqué girlfriend, and Julia isn’t sure she’ll get through this one.

Izzy has come along with David’s family as a nanny to his two young children. Izzy lied her way into the job, but she had reasons for wanting to be at Lake Timmeny this summer. Reasons she can’t share with anyone, especially her mother. She took the job without meeting David, but once in the car for the drive, he gives off creepy vibes.

The lake is home to two previous disappearances. One in the 1960’s and the other back in the 1990’s. Neither girl was ever found. Now there are three young women at the lake that could be the next prey for the lake. After all, this is the sixty year anniversary of the first disappearance and the 30th for the second. As the story goes, the lake takes them.

Well written and suspenseful mystery for a great summer read. Izzy and Julia are full of secrets and suspicions. We see the story unfold from their eyes. It is easy to point the finger at just about anyone, because it seems that all have motives. I loved that this book was written from a young woman’s and a middle-aged woman’s point of view. Two clearly different viewpoints, yet their feelings merge often during the tale.

Some of the characters give off a very bad vibe, but can just as easily turn it around and then seem great. It’s the mark of a good mystery when you struggle to define any one person as the culprit.

Great beach read. Great anytime read.


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Three friends since childhood, Julia, Erica, and David return to Lake Timmeny for summer vacation every year.. This year Julia finds out that David has built a house blocking their view of the lake. When David's new girlfriend disappears; is she still alive or dead. There have been other disappearances at the lake over the last 30 years. Are they connected?

This is a twisty mystery told from multiple viewpoints. The nanny and Julia, David's friend, are trying to find out what is going on? Does Julia know her friends at all? What a rollercoaster ride? Until the end you are left wondering what is going on and who is guilty. This is a great summer beach read. Pick up a copy on your way to the beach.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JamieDay, #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book.
#TheLakeEscape

You know that feeling when you're flipping pages faster than you can read, desperate to uncover the truth, but also terrified of what you'll find? That's exactly what The Lake Escape by Jamie Day delivered, and then some.

From the moment I dove into the seemingly idyllic Vermont lake community, I was hooked. Julia, David, and Erika's summer tradition, stretching back to childhood, felt so familiar, so comforting... until it wasn't. Jamie Day masterfully pulls back the curtain on these lifelong friends, revealing the cracks in their perfect facades. We're talking sullen teens, mortgages, and sex lives that have lost their spark – a relatable foundation that quickly gives way to something far more sinister.

David's newly renovated home, blocking his friends' cherished lake views, is just the first tremor. Add in a much-younger girlfriend and a nanny with a hidden agenda, and you've got a recipe for disaster. When that girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a shouting match, the tension skyrockets. Suddenly, Julia and Erika are left questioning everything they thought they knew about their friend.

But it's not just about the present. The Lake Escape weaves in a chilling past: two young women, vanished decades ago, with no trace. Is the lake claiming another victim, or is something far more calculating at play? As the search intensifies, a tangled web of lies, betrayals, and deceits spanning generations begins to unravel, pulling everyone into a dangerous current. You'll find yourself wondering who to trust, and if anyone is truly safe.

Jamie Day has crafted a suspenseful, mysterious, and utterly compelling read that will keep you guessing until the very last page. If you're looking for a thriller that will haunt you long after you've finished, make sure The Lake Escape is at the top of your must-read list. You won't be able to escape its grip!

"The Lake Escape" is another fabulous summer thriller from Jamie Day. Ms. Day sets the lake scene so well you can just imagine yourself there having a drink at the lakeshore. Her characters are interesting and plot twist keep you at the edge of your seat. There was a lot happening in the last 10-15% of this books so it can be a little overwhelming. Overall, a great book to take on vacation and get lost in.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I’ve read Jamie Day’s previous novels and enjoyed them. The Lake Escape takes place during a two week vacation for long time friends who grew up summering together. There have been young women who have gone missing from the area thirty years apart. Although this intrigued me and had me guessing, it just didn’t hold my attention for long. On the plus side, I liked the fact that the story was told from different perspectives. All in all this was an okay read for me. I’d say that you should give it a try if you like a summer mystery.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.