I was really excited about this one because I enjoyed the authors last two books quite a bit. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me. I liked Izzy, although she was a little naive. I liked Taylor and Lucas, but we barely got to see them. Julia was kind, but suuuuchhh a pushover. The majority of the rest of the cast was icky or barely involved. This book has a LOT of moving parts and quite a large cast of characters. It took me a while in the beginning to get everything sorted. I was intrigued at first but then things went completely off of the rails and I lost interest. I will continue to read Day’s books, however. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea. I wouldn’t say there is anything inherently wrong with it, it just isn’t my favorite type of storyline and the characters didn’t keep me interested.

Jamie Day is an auto-buy author for me since I like her contemporary settings and characters. The Lake Escape - just like her two previous novels that I've read- immediately was interesting and made me want to continue to read more and more pages. Day's novels have enough characters to make plot twists and turns unpredictable but not so many characters that a reader must make a manual list in order to keep track of everyone. In addition, the characters are believable: a 19-year-old needing a job and thinking that anyone can fake it and be a nanny; another female enjoying life but sometimes more concerned about her social media presence (my life is blessed); workaholics; people making bad investments on trendy ventures; children of divorced parents; and new-found wealth turning a buddy into a showoff.
What I liked best about THE LAKE ESCAPE was the initial issue of selfishness, making David someone who can lie or buy his way out of zoning laws. The blocking of views is very much a real concern to many in areas where water views of any kind are highly prized (and priced.)
Book clubs are sure to have plenty to discuss when it comes to the initially likable versus unlikable characters.Is Fiona, David's hot girlfriend, going to continue to be as self-impressed and snarky as she is right off the bat with Izzy ? This is a book i will enjoy gifting to friends who like a fun fiction novel just as soon as it hits the stands on July 15.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a great summer mystery/thriller. I loved the family traditions. I know people are going to really like this one.

This book is one of those quick, easy-to-read thrillers for one sitting. We have dual POVs alternating each chapter, which sometimes leaves you on short cliffhangers. We have three sets of families, each harboring their own struggles and secrets. Mix in town lore and alcohol and you get a solid thriller. The whodunnit part is pretty predictable, but there’s one twist/theme that enters the book about 2/3 in that feels so left field, it almost doesn’t fit the vibe of the book, but kudos to the author for creating a different thriller.

Unfortunately this one did not work for me. The characters were uninteresting. The writing style felt jumpy and didn't flow well.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day is thriller with many twists and turns. This is one of those books where you can easily see it as a movie. Almost all of the characters are flawed but it's a compelling book.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.

The opening page grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Throughout its gripping and yet nail-biting journey, I was fully invested until the very end, which I never wanted to see. A true page-turner that I highly endorse! For real, you need to read this book. It was perfect.

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.