This was a very solid thriller! I liked the setting and the overall vibes. I will say it got a little bit predictable. I was able to tell the big plot twists ahead of time but overall I enjoyed it and had a good time reading! Probably a 3.5 rounded up for me :-)

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a quick popcorn thriller. A missing girl, secrets, money, and a creepy island. We get 3 POVs. I found it predictable but still entertaining enough to keep reading.

Orla returns to sell her parents house fifteen years after her best friend Alice went missing. The two of them and David were close that summer. Faith who is the girlfriend of David who notices how her boyfriend begins acting oddly the second they arrive. Henry who was accused but never found guilty of Alice’s murder who likes to watch people from his telescope on his little secluded island.

3.5 rounded up

Great premise but unfortunately this was underwhelming and predictable. This is my first novel from Jessa Maxwell, but I will give her other novels a chance! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

4⭐️s-This was a solid thriller. The cast of characters reminded me a bit from Succession. Wealthy family with lots of drama and a father that fits the Brian Cox mold. Quick page turner that will be a hit summer beach read for sure. I did not guess some of those twists there at the end - little rushed but interesting! Recommend for thriller fans and out in July!

Expected release: 7/22/25

✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

3.5 stars for me. I really enjoyed the twists and turns and I loved the different POVs because they were all so different that you got a lot of information from a lot of different view points. I even liked the pacing of this thriller. it was long enough to keep me invested but long enough to have created a really compelling storyline. I enjoyed this and will be looking for more to read from the author!

As someone who has enjoyed Jessa Maxwell’s previous novels, The Golden Spoon and I Need You to Read This, I was excited to dive into Dead of Summer—and it did not disappoint. This latest thriller delivers the same gripping storytelling and atmospheric tension that made her earlier works so compelling.

The novel follows Orla O’Connor as she returns to Hadley Island, a secluded New England community, after being away for a decade. Her reason for coming back is practical—she needs to prepare her family’s beachfront home for sale—but the island holds painful memories. Ten years earlier, her best friend Alice mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind rumors and questions that were never answered. As Orla revisits her past, she becomes caught up in a new mystery that threatens to expose the island’s long-buried secrets.

Maxwell’s ability to create a vivid and unsettling atmosphere shines throughout the book. The isolation of Hadley Island, combined with the sense that everyone is hiding something, adds to the suspense. Each character feels layered and complex, with personal secrets that gradually come to light as the mystery unfolds.

The pacing is just right—every twist and revelation arrives at the perfect moment, keeping the tension high. Maxwell’s writing is smooth and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story. Themes of friendship, betrayal, and the lingering effects of past trauma are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding emotional depth to the mystery.

Dead of Summer is another strong addition to Maxwell’s body of work. Readers who enjoyed her previous books will find plenty to love here, and it also serves as a great starting point for those new to her writing. It’s a suspenseful, immersive read that kept me guessing until the final pages.

Fast paced.
Multi POV.
New England Summer.
Old Money.
Secrets.
Lies.

Perfect summer thriller that will have you completely captivated!

I loved it, this is my fave book by this author and I personally feel like it’s her best work yet.

Small coastal town full of gossip, tourists and the obscenely rich who think they can get away with murder.

I loved how the chapters are split into different characters POV. For me Henry was the star of the show no question.

Perfect fast paced thriller for summer time!

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Publish date - July 22nd

Although a bit of a slower burn, the storyline was enjoyable - intriguing twists, the second half is actually quite a page turner.

The story-telling me reminded me a lot of Harlan Coben - a series of complex characters and ties to each other past and present. Overall, an enjoyable easy read.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed the plot of the story and found the characters enjoyable and engaging. I was immediately drawn into the story from the beginning and found myself trying to guess what would happen next. There wasn’t a dull moment. I will recommend this to other people who enjoy the genre.

I've been on this journey of reading Jessa Maxwell's books since her debut The Golden Spoon came out, and what a beautiful journey it's been! Her sophomore novel I Need you to Read This was in my top 10 books of 2024, and after reading Dead of Summer, I fully expect her to appear in my top 10 for 2025 as well! The popcorn-thriller pacing and beautifully atmospheric summer setting had me gripping those pages! The isolated setting was eerie enough to give me goosebumps. This thriller is a dream for us rabid readers who can't get enough of the rich people behaving badly trope. Definitely recommend this one, friends! Out 07/22!

*Dead of Summer* by Jessa Maxwell is a deliciously eerie murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive summer camp. With its mix of nostalgia, dark secrets, and an unsettling atmosphere, the story keeps you guessing until the very end. Maxwell’s sharp writing and cleverly woven twists make every chapter more addictive than the last. If you love suspenseful thrillers with a hint of summer nostalgia, this one is a must-read.

This is definitely a quick little popcorn thriller with a the summer atmospheric vibes. Old money, power, status, secrets. A remote island in New England? Loved all of that.

I was a bit bored at times and things felt a bit predictable to me.

A bunch of smoke and mirrors and a very thinly veiled plot. But it makes for a quick summer poolside thriller.

Expected Pub Date - 07/22/25

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria publishing for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jessa Maxwell, and Atria Books Publishing for this ARC !

This was a quick read. I quickly got sucked into the mystery and did not want to put it down. Some parts I did feel were repetitive and took away from the storyline. Overall enjoyed.

This book just didn’t do it for me. I found it to be pretty slow, and had trouble getting into it. At the end, it did start to heat up but I found it predictable

ARC review • pub date 07.22.25

Faith is on an island with her boyfriend, David, and hopes he will soon be popping the question. Orla hadn’t been back to the island since she was a teenager and her friend Alice went missing. Back then, both girls were after David. And then there’s Henry, a lonely old man living in isolation after the whole island puts him at fault for Alice’s disappearance.

I thought this was a decent read, but not my favorite from this author. It took me about 25% to really get into it, and figure out who was who and their story. The chapters would go back and forth from present day to past and sometimes was confusing as to which timeline I was on. I figured out all the twists in advance. I still wouldn’t discourage the read, but I enjoyed her first two books more.

3⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC

Set against the haunting backdrop of Hadley Island, this novel is a captivating blend of suspense, nostalgia, and simmering tension. When Orla O’Connor returns to her family’s beachfront home, she is forced to confront the unsolved disappearance of her childhood best friend, Alice. As she navigates old memories and local whispers, a new disappearance sends shockwaves through the isolated community.

The novel expertly weaves multiple perspectives—Orla, Faith, and the reclusive Henry—each offering a unique lens into the island’s chilling secrets. The atmospheric descriptions of the island’s desolate beaches and abandoned houses heighten the sense of unease, while the characters’ mounting paranoia keeps the suspense taut.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately fell flat for me. I had a hard time adjusting between the two timelines. Loved The Golden Spoon by Jessa but this one missed the mark. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for advanced copy.

I’ve read Jessa’s other two books and enjoyed them both. All of her books have unique premises and keep you guessing, but they are all missing something that I can’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s lack of character growth - I have never cared much as to what happens to any of her main characters to have me fully invested. Still hard to put down and good yet predictable twists.

Jessa Maxwell’s *Dead of Summer* delivers an eerie, captivating thriller that mixes nostalgia, tension, and the weight of the past. Set on the isolated Hadley Island, the story follows Orla O’Connor, who reluctantly heads back to clean out her family’s summer home. But returning means facing unresolved issues, like the mysterious disappearance of her best friend, Alice. Plus, there’s David, her childhood crush, and his perfect girlfriend, Faith.

As Faith starts digging into the island’s secrets and town recluse Henry watches from afar, the tension really ramps up. When another person goes missing, the plot thickens with buried secrets and shifting suspicions. Maxwell’s writing brings the island to life, making it feel both beautiful and creepy, and adding to the suspense. Although it follows some familiar thriller plots, the sharp execution and pacing keep you on your toes.

Overall, *Dead of Summer* is a gripping read that stays with you after you finish. With its haunting setting and complex characters, Maxwell proves she’s great at crafting psychological thrillers.