Reviews - The Lake Escape | The StoryGraph

177 reviews for:

The Lake Escape

Jamie Day

3.53 AVERAGE

ccreadsss's review against another edition

4.0

Release: July 15, 2025

Author: Jamie Day

Publisher: McMillan Audio

Rating: 4 ★

Julia, David, and Erika have been spending summers together at their lake houses in Vermont since they were kids. Now, as adults juggling strained marriages, moody teenagers, and the weight of adulthood, they return once again — but this year is different.

David is especially eager to show off his flashy home renovation (which conveniently ruins his friends’ lake views) and his much younger girlfriend. He’s also brought along a nanny, though no one realizes she has her own hidden motives.

Things take a dark turn when David’s girlfriend suddenly goes missing after a heated argument. With the memory of two other women who vanished from the lake decades ago still looming, everyone begins to wonder: is the past repeating itself?

As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the group is forced to confront just how little they really know about each other — and just how far someone might go to keep the truth buried.

This was such a fun, fast-paced summer thriller — exactly the kind of book you want to bring to the beach or devour on a lazy weekend. I loved how the story balanced a twisty mystery with layered characters and old friendships that feel real, messy, and full of secrets.

The premise is great: three longtime friends — Julia, David, and Erika — reunite at their family lake houses in Vermont, a tradition since childhood. But this summer, the vibe shifts when David’s girlfriend goes missing. With the lake already haunted by past disappearances, tensions rise and trust begins to unravel.

The multiple POVs (especially Julia and Izzy, the nanny) added depth, and I appreciated how each character came with their own baggage — divorce, teenagers, secrets, you name it. Izzy’s backstory, in particular, had me hooked. I didn’t love all the characters (some of the guys were definitely eye-roll-worthy), but that actually made it more fun — watching everything spiral out of control was part of the ride.

The plot does get a little tangled in the middle, but I stayed engaged, and the structure made it easy to follow all the moving pieces. And the ending? A little wild, maybe even implausible, but entertaining. I was totally holding my breath during parts of it.

If you’re looking for something atmospheric, suspenseful, and easy to binge, The Lake Escape is a solid pick. Especially if you love domestic thrillers where everyone’s hiding something — and the women take charge by the end.

Favorite Quote:

"we all carry burdens, but it's the people we share them with who make them lighter."

cindy429's review against another edition

3.25

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Jamie Day’s books are fun, light mysteries, and The Lake Escape is no exception.

bsjohnson80's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

tinman2's review

4.0

This was the first book of Jamie Day's that I have listened to. The book was really good. The narration was goid. I will be looking up more of this authors books to to listen to.

savisaurous's review

4.5

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jillwedemeier's review

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"The Lake Escape" is a twisty domestic thriller that is perfect for summer. It's hard to believe Jamie Day only stepped onto the scene a couple of years ago, because she has written some solid suspense/thriller books. This was another intricate novel full of secrets, lies, and family drama. The book started off strong, and I was hooked. Around the halfway mark it lost its momentum a bit, but the pace picked up again toward the end with several surprising twists. There are a lot of characters in this story—many of whom are quite unlikeable—and it was hard at first to keep track of who was who. I really enjoyed the dual perspectives of Julia and Izzy, which created a lot of tension and suspense. I also loved the immersive and atmospheric lakeside setting. While this was not my favorite from Day, I liked it overall and think it will definitely make a great lakeside or beach read this summer.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole. They both did a great job bringing the characters to life and building suspense through their narration. They were able to expertly convey the appropriate tone and emotion. Strole's voice was a nice contrast to Larsen's. The audiobook was well-produced, and I especially enjoyed the sounds of the lake's waves lapping the shoreline, which created an immersive experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

holdmethrillme's review against another edition

4.0

This book is going to be a summer hit! We have lake vacation vibes, true crime, podcasting, missing people, deception, and murder! What else could you possibly ask for on your summer tbr? I tandem read the book and audiobook and I’ve got to say, I really loved the narration, especially since the story is told from multiple POV. Author @jamiedaybooks does an excellent job with themes of family drama so if you’re into that you’ll want to pick this book up!