The Lake Escape is about three adult friends (Julia, Ericka, and David) who reunite every summer with their families at their childhood lake. The story is told from two POVs: Julia and Izzy, David’s nanny looking to solve a family secret. While the premise of the story is solid, a lake with a secret, a missing person, suspected murder, and family drama. However, the story was so slow even though there was so much going on all the time. It’s a shame that the characters weren’t likable because that could have saved the story but I found the majority of the characters annoying. By the time I got to the end, I felt like everything wrapped up too perfectly for all the characters. (2.5/5)

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this book was a “like it, didn’t love it.” Izzy and Taylor were my favorite characters, but the rest of them (basically all the adults) were a bit underwhelming. David the asshole/perv, Christian the reckless drunk, Rich the gruff outdoorsman… the wives weren’t much better. The storyline was interesting but not exceptionally captivating and the “twist” at the end wasn’t extremely obvious but definitely wasn’t shocking either. I did like the mob ties and how the disappearances ultimately had a connection.

4/5 stars.

I love Jamie Day's books so I couldn't wait to read The Lake Escape. Her writing just flows so smoothly for me. Three friends have coming to Lake Timmeny in Vermont since they were born. They've grown up together and their kids know each other well. The lake has a dark past and three women have disappeared each at 30 year intervals. When David's girlfriend disappears all kinds of secrets come out. There are lies and betrayals going back generations. Will the friendships survive this lake vacation? Thanks @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it.

I think this book might have done better as a YA book given the main character's age. This is a dual POV book, and I liked the other adult POV more. There were interesting parts of the mystery but ultimately this one fell flat to me

I've always enjoyed Jamie Day's books so it was a no brainer for me to request an ARC of The Lake Escape, especially after reading the description. Once again Jamie Day delivers an exceptional domestic thriller -- with three main characters, Day provided the perfect amount of backstory/complimentary characters for each and also wove together past and present drama seamlessly. The perfect lakehouse read this summer!

This was an enjoyable thriller set at a lake in Vermont. The novel is told from two perspectives, Izzy, a nanny, and Julia, a mom who has been going to the lake for years. Julia has been going to Lake Timmeny with her best friends, David and Erika, since they were children. They've been through many ups and downs over the years including the disappearance of a girl their age when they were teens. It turns out that two women have disappeared over the past 30 years. This summer David's girlfriend also disappears. There is so much more to discover at the lake as secrets begin to emerge and not everyone is who they say they are.

Julia and Izzy were great characters and I loved that they had two very different perspectives. Even though they were years apart, both were strong females who went through a lot. They really made this book for me. Julia's life is literally falling apart at the seams but I loved reading what she was going to do about it. I also loved reading about Izzy and her attempts at being a nanny. She was a great character who gave a different perspective having come to the lake for the first time. She had an interesting backstory.

This was a wild ride especially at the end. My mouth was hanging open as the mystery was revealed and I found out what was really going on. If you love thrillers I think you will enjoy this book. As someone who has vacationed in Vermont and is from New York, there were some great references that helped me really connect to this novel. I had no problem picturing the setting of this book which made it more enjoyable. A great read for thriller lovers!

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

The first half of this book dragged too much for me, but then a lot started to happen and it improved considerably. Perhaps I just needed to get to know the characters better. I liked the lake setting, the “lake lore” that proposes that the lake takes a woman every thirty years, and the conflict between the main characters, whose families have owned adjacent houses at this lake for years. Julia, Erika, and David are close friends—but there is a lot of tension this summer, and it only gets worse when David’s girlfriend vanishes. Some of the information that surfaces in the second half of the book was unexpected and added an intriguing element to the story. The twists and turns at the end made up for the slow start and in the end I found it a satisfying thriller. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day is a heartwarming novel about Charlie, who retreats to a lakeside cabin to escape her busy life and reconnect with old friends. The story explores themes of friendship, healing, and self-discovery, with a picturesque setting that enhances the emotional depth of the characters. Day’s engaging writing and relatable relationships make it a feel-good read perfect for fans of women’s fiction.

I don't necessarily love playing favorites, but I have to admit that of the three books by Jamie Day, this was by far my favorite. (Don't get me wrong, though- I really enjoyed the other two, as well!). This book has it all though- a beautiful, serene setting; a mysterious disappearance/possible murder; two ACTUAL murders from years before; marriage problems and secrets; secrets amongst friends; familial drama.... and I could keep going. It's told in alternating chapters- in first person through the eyes of Izzy, the nanny and third person from the prospective of Julie, one of three now-adult friends who spent their childhood summers at the lake. When David's beautiful new girlfriend, Fiona, disappears, secrets come out of the woodwork like termites. What I enjoyed most was how, in the end, everyone truly got their just desserts.... despite the fact that I didn't see ANY of the reveals coming. I like to think I'm smart (a genius, in fact) especially when figuring out how a book will turn out, but Jamie Day got me. And being got was a while lot of fun.
Definitely plan to recommend this- obviously! And definitely plan to read anything else Day writes. For my purpose- which was to be entertained- this easily bags 5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher, and to NetGalley, for allowing me to read this early in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Man oh man did this book hook me but then 75% in and it just took a nose dive. I could not understand the friendship between Julie, Eliza and David and what held them together as friends. When the reveal with Taylor occurred I just shook my head as it was so outlandish and the reactions did not make sense. Rating this book is tough because I just enjoyed the beginning so much and not the end.

I'm giving this 4 stars based on the fact I think it is one of the authors better novels. I dove into it thinking psychological thriller (not sure why I was in that mindframe) but it is more of a mystery than anything. It has all the ingredients needed for a mysterious story. Entertaining to read, I finiahed it quickly.

Thanks to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend to some.

A girl who takes a job in search of answers from the past.
A woman stuck between the things she wants and has: for her marriage, her friendships, her daughter, the lake home of her memories.
A couple that seems bonded closer than most.
A wealthy friend whos' fortune seems shrouded in mystery.

Two women have gone missing by the lake each 30 years apart. Now, almost as if on cue, one guest of the visiting party has gone missing for a third time after 30 years. Is the lore true?

I'm glad I got to read this thriller/mystery set in a lakeside setting as the weather here is starting to get better.
I enjoy books with mutiple POVs and the character changes provide layers to the story that build onto the mystery aspect of the story well.
There are a number of conflicts occuring externally and internally for all of the characters to give them depth - alcoholism, debt, estranged parents, parental death, young love, tragic disappearances.... I found the pacing and build-up for the story well developed.

I didn't find any of the twists or turns predictable which is good for this genre of book. Nothing is graphic or extreme, but it still manages to set enough expense. I don't have any major criticisms for the book and would recommend it to anyone!

Sometimes books like this go in a completely unexpected direction and I end up finding it too unbelievable/not what I signed up for.

Julia, David, and Erika have been vacationing around the lake together since they were teenagers. Despite the changing landscape of their families -- deaths, divorces, marriages and births, they have always made the time to be together for this summer escape.

Their routines haven't changed even with the disappearance of two young women around the lake, thirty years apart. That timeline means another woman is due to go missing this summer -- but it almost feels unbelievable when David's young new girlfriend Fiona is nowhere to be found after their first night of vacation.

Told between the alternating viewpoints of Julia and Izzy, who has been hired as a nanny to David's young kids, the suspense and the drama definitely builds in a natural and compelling way throughout this book.

I can honestly say this book kept me on my toes in the best possible way! I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and it kept me completely engaged until the end. Would make a great summer beach read when it releases later this year.

I enjoy anything Jamie Day writes. This book is perfect for that summer weekend getaway! I couldn’t put it down, it captivated me from the very beginning. Thank you NetGalley, Jamie Day and St. Martin’s Press for this digital arc.

Three lifelong friends & their families go to their lake house to unwind every summer. This summer, everything is different, filled with secrets and tension.

This is less of a thriller and more of a suspense/ murder mystery. It kept me intrigued the whole time even though it was a slow burn and I really enjoyed it! If you’ve liked other books by Jamie Day, I think you’ll like this one too!

Unfortunately, this never managed to spark much excitement for me. The pacing drags, dialogue is awkward, and the writing made it tough for me to stay invested. If you really like the popcorn thriller formula and don’t mind the writing style it might work for you, but this one was a slog for me to get through.

Energy: Petty. Suspicious. Diminutive.

🐺 Growls: The story meandered from one half-baked twist to another. The characters were underdeveloped and annoying (one POV came across as whiny and entitled but was written like we’re meant to sympathize with her). The constant bickering and over-explaining bogged everything down. A lot of random plot points were thrown around but introduced without depth or development. It read scattered and I got bored.

🐕 Howls: Contrived twists overshadowed any genuine suspense. The dialogue was stilted and flat, everyone sounded the same. Chapters ended on cliffhangers then jumped into a different POV, usually to reveal a half-hearted fake-out, which killed the momentum.

Scene: 🇺🇸 Lake Timmeny, Northern Vermont, USA
Perspectives (2): A spouse and parent who grew up along the lake and inherited the cottage; they are pissed a neighbour / friend renovated and changed their view of the lake. A recently hired nanny who has ulterior motives for taking the position of overseeing twin kids for a single parent at the renovated cottage property.
Timeline: Linear. Mid 2020s. ☀️ Summer.
🔥 Fuel: Will Julia be able to stir up sympathy after her neighbour modernized his cottage? Why is Izzy lying about why she took the nanny position and why does she want to be in the area this summer? What happened with the cold cases in the area? Is someone’s missing girlfriend connected? What is going on with Julia’s husband and the family finances?
📖 Cred: Suspend all disbelief

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Glass house. Sunsets over water. Fresh air. Fire pit. Loons calling. Country and rock tunes. Wind through leaves. Sunscreen.
• Overhearing character conversations and thoughts, reader kept in the dark (third person and first person)
• Simplistic, verbose writing style
• Summer cottage vacay domestic drama
• Nanny in over her head
• Frenemies feuding and scheming
• Foolish, insufferable, self-righteous characters (maybe a likeable one here or there)
• Cold case revisited
• Corruption, crime, fake-outs, feuds, indecision, lies
• Missing girlfriend
• Relationship on the rocks
• Did-he-or-didn’t-he doubts
• Amateur journalism sleuthing
Content Heads-Up: Alcohol (partying, recreational; intoxication). Alcoholism (in treatment, relapse and recovery). Financial insecurity (failing business, bill collectors). Gun violence. Infidelity, serial cheating. Loss of parent (as teen; brief mention). Organized crime. Parental abandonment (as child; brief mention). Pornography (mentions). Pregnancy. Sexual harassment (from employer).

Rep: American. Cis. Hetero. Olive, fair, pale, and golden skin tones.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley

This is one of those books where you can easily see it as a movie. From the nanny who isn’t really a nanny to the three childhood friends who meet at their lake houses every year. A rich man’s girlfriend goes missing and the mystery snowballs into an amazing who done it or where is she, story. Very good!

This is a slow burn. Recent events and questioning those from 30+ years ago start things unraveling. The story is told from multiple POVs. There are lots of crumbs and twists, and enough intrigue to keep you reading to discover just how all the pieces were woven together.
Might not be my favourite Jamie Day title but I liked it.
Thank You to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the invitation to read this ARC.

This book started off a little slow, then exploded! There was so much going on, it was a little hard to keep up. The characters (other than Taylor and Izzy) were not very likable, so it was difficult to feel much empathy for them as they kept making poor decisions. There were a few decent twists, but fairly predictable. That being said, this would be a fun lakeside read during the summer! The setting sounds delightful, and the descriptions of summertime cookouts made me hungry! Thanks so much to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!