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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
This book needed an editor, badly. The characters were unlikable, and the storyline was ridiculous. It would have been better to have a true dual timeline narrator, instead of Julia and Izzy. Julia's relationship with her husband, Christian, was cringey.
The Lake Escape was an easy thriller to fall into. I enjoyed the mysteries and the neighbor dynamics. I was intrigued by the past disappearances and the current one. This book was often more about the issues within families than the actual mystery but I enjoyed that. The disappearances unravel in the very end. There are some hints throughout the story but the ending really tells it all. The multiple POVs helped to tell the story. I didn’t love how it all came together in the end but I appreciated how it was all related and connected. The ending was very over the top. This is the perfect book for people who like thrillers that aren’t open ended.
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Lake Escape is a summer thriller that promises the perfect lake vacation vibes: sun, swimming, fun, and a little bit of nostalgia. Set at a gorgeous lake in Vermont, Julia, Erika, and David, meet for their annual 2-week vacation. What they don’t anticipate is David’s girlfriend going missing. Lake Timmeny has a mysterious past – two women have disappeared 30 years apart and now another woman disappeared without a trace.
As the suspense builds, the story unfolds revealing secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping twists. Day skillfully uses multiple POVs to allow you to see different aspects of the story and how complex each person really is. Unfortunately, I thought this story was confusing and had too much going on. The twists seemed forced and rushed at the end. I also didn’t understand why no one was concerned about Fiona going missing. While this was an enjoyable read, the last third of the book was tough for me to get through.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my eARC!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This one starts off like a peaceful summer getaway—childhood friends reuniting at a Vermont lake house with their families—but you can feel right away that something is off. There’s this tension simmering just under the surface: everyone’s putting on their best face, pretending things are fine, but they’re all clearly dealing with their own issues.
I really liked the way this explored long-term friendships—how much history you can have with someone, and how that history can sometimes cover up a lot of dysfunction. The dynamic between Julia, Erica, and David felt real: nostalgic, complicated, a little bit messy. And once the story hits the halfway point, it picks up fast. I flew through the second half.
Izzy, the nanny, was also a standout character. She has her own secret reasons for being at the lake, and her investigative thread added a really compelling layer to the story.
My only gripe? The constant references to Instagram captions and social media. I get what the author was going for—this whole “appearance vs. reality” theme—but it started to wear on me a little. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall experience too much.
I listened to the audiobook and thought it was really well done—the pacing, the narration, the tension, all of it worked. I’d definitely check out more of Jamie Day’s books after this one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re in the mood for a summer thriller that slowly twists its way into something darker and more layered—with secrets, tension, and characters you won’t know whether to trust—this one delivers.
I really liked the way this explored long-term friendships—how much history you can have with someone, and how that history can sometimes cover up a lot of dysfunction. The dynamic between Julia, Erica, and David felt real: nostalgic, complicated, a little bit messy. And once the story hits the halfway point, it picks up fast. I flew through the second half.
Izzy, the nanny, was also a standout character. She has her own secret reasons for being at the lake, and her investigative thread added a really compelling layer to the story.
My only gripe? The constant references to Instagram captions and social media. I get what the author was going for—this whole “appearance vs. reality” theme—but it started to wear on me a little. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall experience too much.
I listened to the audiobook and thought it was really well done—the pacing, the narration, the tension, all of it worked. I’d definitely check out more of Jamie Day’s books after this one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re in the mood for a summer thriller that slowly twists its way into something darker and more layered—with secrets, tension, and characters you won’t know whether to trust—this one delivers.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Three best friends meet for their annual lake trip to their family summer homes. Lake life is suppose to be fun and relaxing. Or so this trio thought. Not only does the lake lore talk of two missing young women (30 years apart) BUT another woman’s goes missing while the families are enjoying s’mores and bonfires. Secret never stay quiet, and we watch the childhood trio begin to mistrust, fear and scheme.
This book is the perfect summer thriller, maybe just not read it at a lake house. I enjoyed the dual POV Julia and Izzy. Readers were given a well rounded view with these two MCs. I enjoyed the drama, the betrayal and the mystery of this third missing woman. I gave 4 stars specifically because the epilogue felt a little too forced and long winded.
Bingeworthy and fun for the summer.
Thank you Macmillan Audio the advanced listening copy.
This book is out July 15, 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
The Lake Escape
by Jamie Day
4/5 ⭐
The Lake Escape is an entertaining summer thriller that packs in all the right elements: nostalgia, suspense, and corruption. In true Day fashion, the story presents a full cast of characters—each one well-developed, layered, and just suspicious enough to keep readers on edge. The dual timelines weave together childhood memories with present-day tensions in a gripping way. The mystery builds steadily, constantly leaving you guessing about who can be trusted and what really happened.
The graphic audio version of the book adds an immersive quality, enhancing the plot, and the narrators make the characters come to life. Although I did feel like there were some holes in the present story, and some far-fetched details in the past. The Lake Escape is a perfect read for those who love thrillers that keep you turning pages on a summer night.
by Jamie Day
4/5 ⭐
The Lake Escape is an entertaining summer thriller that packs in all the right elements: nostalgia, suspense, and corruption. In true Day fashion, the story presents a full cast of characters—each one well-developed, layered, and just suspicious enough to keep readers on edge. The dual timelines weave together childhood memories with present-day tensions in a gripping way. The mystery builds steadily, constantly leaving you guessing about who can be trusted and what really happened.
The graphic audio version of the book adds an immersive quality, enhancing the plot, and the narrators make the characters come to life. Although I did feel like there were some holes in the present story, and some far-fetched details in the past. The Lake Escape is a perfect read for those who love thrillers that keep you turning pages on a summer night.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was okay. It took me awhile to get into it. I listened to the audio version. The narration was fantastic, but it took me a bit to get going with the story. It wasn't bad at all, just couldn't quite get into it.
This story surrounds a group of friends who have been meeting at their respective summer houses year after year since they were young. Now, all adults with their own children, they arrive for another summer. This time around, things don't go so well. There are marriages on the rocks, teens with issues, and it just so happens to be twenty years since the lake claimed a "victim".
I won't tell you more because I'll ruin it for you if I do. This book is good and once you can get yourself firmly into it, you'll likely enjoy it quite a bit.
This story surrounds a group of friends who have been meeting at their respective summer houses year after year since they were young. Now, all adults with their own children, they arrive for another summer. This time around, things don't go so well. There are marriages on the rocks, teens with issues, and it just so happens to be twenty years since the lake claimed a "victim".
I won't tell you more because I'll ruin it for you if I do. This book is good and once you can get yourself firmly into it, you'll likely enjoy it quite a bit.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
4.25⭐️s : Really enjoyed the narrators and dual points of view for this story. Highlight was the goosebumps I got a little over halfway through the book (nanny narration). Lowlight was Julia’s last narration talking about breath & meditation seemed a little too forced & cheesy. And I’m practicer & advocate of the benefits of breathing & meditation. Just seemed a little too quick & easy. I had to laugh.
Found it to be a quick listen. Yes, there are quite a few characters, but still fairly easy to keep track of them and the story. No more complicated than any other story with a friend group. I’m not sure how many characters I found 100% likable, but that didn’t seem to matter as I was still really invested in the story.
Enjoyed the twists & turns. And how smaller details were accounted for in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for a free ARC of the audiobook.
Found it to be a quick listen. Yes, there are quite a few characters, but still fairly easy to keep track of them and the story. No more complicated than any other story with a friend group. I’m not sure how many characters I found 100% likable, but that didn’t seem to matter as I was still really invested in the story.
Enjoyed the twists & turns. And how smaller details were accounted for in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for a free ARC of the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting
Set against a gorgeous lake backdrop, this twisty mystery unravels a 60+ year old cold case in just a matter of days — and everyone has something to hide. 👀
We’ve got Fiona who vanishes, Izzy with her secret agenda, Julia who's mad at the world, Christian being shady, David—ugh, the worst—and Taylor acting sketchy AF. The drama is delicious.
Told through multiple POVs, the character work is so sharp and layered. Lies, secrets, emotional landmines… it's all there, tangled up in the kind of tension that makes you second-guess everyone.
We’ve got Fiona who vanishes, Izzy with her secret agenda, Julia who's mad at the world, Christian being shady, David—ugh, the worst—and Taylor acting sketchy AF. The drama is delicious.
Told through multiple POVs, the character work is so sharp and layered. Lies, secrets, emotional landmines… it's all there, tangled up in the kind of tension that makes you second-guess everyone.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Jamie Day has the best summer suspense books! The lake setting of this one is the ideal summer getaway location. I was intrigued by the mystery and couldn't figure out who was to blame. Jamie always has a great web of characters. It unfolded really well! Audio was excellent! Thanks to netgalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy.