What a great read. This book kept me engaged from the very beginning. I didn’t have a clue where it was going so every turn was unexpected. The storyline was multilayered and expertly woven. There were a variety of characters introduced but the main characters were not only relatable, but likeable as well. They had their own flaws and I enjoyed how the story helped them to move forward with their life choices and their personal growth as a result.

While this was not a nailbiter, it never drags and the question of who, why, and how are always lurking through each chapter and turn of the plot. I enjoyed the way the story wrapped up and everything was revealed. Not a lot of shock and awe but just the right amount of uncertainty that I found myself thinking, “So that’s what happened!” several times throughout the book.

I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one so settling on 3.5 and rounding down.

While the beginning of the story, with the lake lore and drama between childhood friends sucked me in, by 40% I had a hard time staying interested. Given the number of characters—three childhood friends and their respective significant others and Izzy, the nanny—and unique situation of each character, I would have loved to read from the POV of more than just Julia, one of the childhood friends, and Izzy. It became obvious that the story was being told only from these two POVs because they were the two who were not "in" on anything. That said, the poem about the lake at the beginning and end and the writing style deserves praise. I enjoy Jamie Day's descriptors and past books and look forward to any future stories!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance!

This one definitely captivated me the same way the author’s previous books have. It was twisty, suspenseful, the dual POVs (one written in first person and the other in third) was a good choice… but ultimately, it wasn’t my favorite. The premise was very interesting but getting down to the nitty gritty of what was actually going on left me somewhat unsatisfied and underwhelmed.

this was a summer thriller that takes you back to the good days of vacationing. i enjoy Jamie Day and her covers are so domestic. I love how mysterious this trip was

Set in lake Timmeny, a fictional town in the very rural northern Vermont. It follows three families that grew up together, spending summers at their family cabins. Now they have children of their own, and are heading into their annual lakeside retreat. Although this year, their much needed vacation is shrouded in ominous vibes.

A skeleton was recently unearthed at a nearby construction site. It conjures memories of the local women that vanished without a trace from the banks of the lake. 2 disappearances occurred exactly 30 years apart, with no apparent connection to each other, spawning homespun “Lake Lore” of the lake’s power to “take people”.

Despite the revived urban legends, Julia is especially excited to visit her family’s cabin— she desperately needs this vacation, as life has hit her hard this year. She just wants to relax and reconnect with her childhood best friend, Erika.

Erika is a ruthless NYC lawyer, also visiting the lake with her trail guide, hunter husband. They have nothing in common except for shared concern over their teenage son, and generational ties to the property.

Then there’s David, recently divorced with a set of unruly twins and a hot new girlfriend. He’s hired an even younger nanny, Izzy lied heavily to get the job and is up to something.

The whole vacation is off to an awkward start, and long buried tension simmers when the human remains are found nearby. Then one of them goes missing— exactly 30 years after the last disappearance, reigniting fears of the lake lore, or something more nefarious. The neighbors launch a search and learn way more than they bargained to, about the lake, about each other and about themselves.

It’s a fun summer thriller with an intriguing plot line using cold cases, made even more interesting with the beautiful natural setting.
It balances the serene lakeside getaway with sinister circumstances, and the dreamy warm nostalgia of their idyllic childhood with this nightmarish new version of their future. It feels like a true crime documentary in every way.
It was easy to get absorbed into the storyline, from the mystique of the lake lore, the intricate family dramas and the unlikely disappearance of one of their own. A compulsively readable summer thriller just perfect for a beach day.

Julia, David, and Erika grew up spending vacations and summers at their family lake homes--hence The Lake Escape. As adults with their own families, they continue to meet yearly and forget abut their worldly troubles.

This summer is different. When Julia, her husband, and her daughter arrive, David's familiar lake house has been replaced. Expecting Erika to be equally horrified, Julia is disappointed with her lackluster reaction. David is a divorced father of young twins, and he brings a nanny hired at the last minute as well as his new girlfriend. The surroundings and the people are different, but they still try to recreate the magic and the lore of the lake by discussing the women that have gone missing from the lake exactly 3o years apart.

When David's new girlfriend goes missing, the group bands together to search for her and they soon realize that they don't really know each other or the new additions to the group for the summer. Told from multiple viewpoints, the connections to each other and the missing woman as well as long buried secrets are revealed.

Slow burn domestic thriller with some side plots that all ties together in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Lake Escape was a good summer thriller that quickly got my attention! Julia, David, and Erika grew up at the lake at the Vermont, where two girls disappeared thirty years apart. They have been bringing their families to the lake every year and then this year, there is another disappearance.

There are quite a few names and characters in this book so that took me a while. I liked the changing narration of the plot that happened throughout the book. It was an interesting ending that I was not expecting.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a good multi-layered thriller by a good storyteller. Three lifelong friends gather at their neighboring lake houses in Vermont for their annual two week summer vacations. Julia, David, and Erika have been going since they were small, first with their parents and now with families of their own. I have read Jamie Day’s previous books and enjoyed them. Her characters are relatable. I look forward to reading more by Day.

I tore through this book! It’s an entertaining page-turner that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a mystery.

Erika, Julia, and David have been spending summers together at their families’ respective lake houses for as long as they can remember. Now adults, they arrive one summer with tensions already high. When David’s new girlfriend goes missing, the tension can only climb as their whole lives get turned upside down.

The book moves quickly and the characters are intriguing. During a busy week, I made time to read it and finished it quickly. I’ll admit that I had a pretty good hunch about it would end up, but it still kept my interest throughout. 4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Loved the multiple person storyline which is complicated, but interesting as I love trying to figure out whodunnit and it be super obvious. I also liked the past to present timelines that tie the present storyline to the history of the lake and the people who are attached to it. Julia loves the lake and her family’s home there. Her fondness for the place and the friends that she made there. They’ve been keeping up their summer tradition for their entire lives and although the friends, Julia, Erika and David have their own challenges, another summer vacation is now upon them. Trouble starts almost immediately as David has built a monstrosity of a house which now blocks both Julia and Erika’s view. Beyond that, David’s nanny is related to a woman who went missing 30 years ago and is intent on solving that mystery. Who is cheating? What is the teenagers’ story and their new distance? What is going on with Erika and her hunter husband? So many mysteries to unravel. Thoroughly enjoyed this story.

This book started out very strong and I was really enjoying it, but about two thirds of the way in it lost me. The ending had more good twists, but I wish the middle of the book was more enticing to keep going. I think this would be good for readers who are just getting into thrillers but not for readers who only read thrillers.

A little too long and complicated.
I liked the ending… no spoilers, but left you thinking.
Entertaining but could be condensed.

Get transported to Lake Timmeny in Vermont for summer vacation. Julia, David and Erika have been enjoying the summer here since they were children. Now, as adults they are looking forward to bringing their children and all relaxing. Izzy is David's new nanny and she will be looking after the twins. She has her own reasons for wanting to be here.

The lake has a history as two woman have vanished without a trace and each one exactly 30 years apart. Now, David's girlfriend goes missing. Not everything as it appears to be and secrets have a way of coming out.

I got a kick out of Julia's thoughts and instagram posts with the hash tags provided great comic relief.

There is so much family drama going on behind the scenes. Izzy is determined to find out the truth and get justice. The story telling was masterful and the lake gave off its own creepy vibes.

So badly wanted to love this one, and it started out well. It had my attention at the beginning, but the story seemed to lose momentum for me and unfortunately, this one fell a bit short for me. This ended up being just ok and won't be memorable or a fave for me.

Another great novel by Jamie Day! This book kept me interested from the first page. Tons of suspenseful twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the plot and how it unraveled. 5 stars for me!

I enjoy Jamie Day's books and was eager to get into this one. Very twisty turvy but I do think if you've read her other books you'll be able to figure out how this one ends.

Jamie Day's latest novel, The Lake Escape, is another twisty-turny triumph. As three lifelong friends gather for their annual lake escape, problems arise and secrets are revealed that threaten their friendship and their lives. This book is fast-paced, action-packed and detail oriented...all leading to an ending that contains surprises and intrigue that is sure to please.

I loved the idea of this book. A young girl goes undercover in her job to create her own true crime podcast. I just had a hard time staying involved and following the book. This book was a miss for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

My students might like this mystery, a young woman has disappeared and is it connected to two other women who have disappeared 30 yrs ago. Parts of the book I found interesting, other parts were slow and it felt like parts of the novel dwelled on stuff that was more minor. So as an adult reader, i was ambivalent, i finished it to see the resolution.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day tells the story of Julia, David and Erika childhood friends who grew up at Lake Timmeny in Vermont. They continue to meet every summer hoping their children will do the same. The lake has secrets of women disappearing. All is going well until David’s girlfriend goes missing.

The story is told through Izzy’s POV with alternating chapters with Julia. Izzy is the fill in nanny for David’s children who has her own agenda.

An interesting storyline that kept me reading. I’m not sure how I feel about some of the characters Julia at first seemed wishy washy but got it together at the end.

An easy beach read. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC book.