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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
medium-paced
So very unique! The writing is great. Plot twist at the end kinda blew my mind. Excited to see what the sequel has in store!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve already told Ryan La Sala he’s responsible for my therapy bills after this one—I'll never be able to hear guns n roses without crying. You're foul for that, ryan 😰
I started reading and enjoying horror after discovering The Honeys, and Dead of Summer just proves that La Sala continues to grow and sharpen his craft with every new book. The coral zombies—known as Weepers—were both breathtaking and utterly terrifying. The imagery will stay with me for a long time.
But what I loved most was the friendship between the Suds. Their chemistry was unparalleled. Even when they fought, even when the world was ending around them, they never stopped showing up for each other. Their bond felt real, raw, and unforgettable.
Ryan La Sala has such a gift for queer horror, and Dead of Summer is another standout—equal parts beautiful, gruesome, and emotionally resonant.
I’ve already told Ryan La Sala he’s responsible for my therapy bills after this one—I'll never be able to hear guns n roses without crying. You're foul for that, ryan 😰
I started reading and enjoying horror after discovering The Honeys, and Dead of Summer just proves that La Sala continues to grow and sharpen his craft with every new book. The coral zombies—known as Weepers—were both breathtaking and utterly terrifying. The imagery will stay with me for a long time.
But what I loved most was the friendship between the Suds. Their chemistry was unparalleled. Even when they fought, even when the world was ending around them, they never stopped showing up for each other. Their bond felt real, raw, and unforgettable.
Ryan La Sala has such a gift for queer horror, and Dead of Summer is another standout—equal parts beautiful, gruesome, and emotionally resonant.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this!
After 10 months away, Ollie and Gracie Veltman return to their home and popular tourist destination, Anchor’s Mercy. Upon returning home, things go south quickly. A suspenseful mystery filled with so many twists and so much secrecy. Can Ollie and his friends save their home?
This book was absolutely brilliant. From the eerie sense that something terrible was going on right outside our allotted knowledge, to the constant whiplash of the plot twists, and the beautiful sense of found family, I was absolutely hooked.
The weepers were definitely a new and interesting concept that chilled me to the bone. Also the losses in this book were absolutely heart wrenching. AND THAT ENDING!!! MY JAW WAS ON THE FLOOOOR! I seriously cannot wait for the next book.
After 10 months away, Ollie and Gracie Veltman return to their home and popular tourist destination, Anchor’s Mercy. Upon returning home, things go south quickly. A suspenseful mystery filled with so many twists and so much secrecy. Can Ollie and his friends save their home?
This book was absolutely brilliant. From the eerie sense that something terrible was going on right outside our allotted knowledge, to the constant whiplash of the plot twists, and the beautiful sense of found family, I was absolutely hooked.
The weepers were definitely a new and interesting concept that chilled me to the bone. Also the losses in this book were absolutely heart wrenching. AND THAT ENDING!!! MY JAW WAS ON THE FLOOOOR! I seriously cannot wait for the next book.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book ruined my life and everyone should read it and have their lives ruined too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gore, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
A teen fighting to survive a deadly summer in a queer resort town off the coast of Maine after it is put into lockdown to contain a mysterious, supernatural plague rising from the sea.
Ollie and his mother are returning to their home for “the best summer ever.” Ollie’s mother is in recent remission from cancer and Ollie, a teenager, is going through a lot of (understandable) Big Emotions. It is frustrating to perform constant positivity for his mom, the pressure to always perform, along with the anxieties of moving back home and being forced to confront the people he left behind.
The Island, their home, has always allegedly been cursed. The mysterious sickness that breaks out over the island shortly after Ollie’s return only seems to prove it.
When you look up Summerween, this book is going to be the picture next to the definition. From the ocean rot to the island setting to the continued ocean based horror, it just screams summer. It will suck you in. I read this in a single setting and, honestly, forgot to take notes after the 40% mark.
There are dual timelines- Ollie being incarcerated on a naval ship in the present day, being interviewed about what happened on the island and the past, where we see how the plague took over the island.
There were so many beautiful aspects to this book. Small queer towns, queer love (platonic, familial, etc), and found family. I am haunted by several of the scenes from this book.
When I read this ARC on my kindle, there was some formatting issues. I tried not to let that impact my impression of the book but I’m worried it may have.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I can edit this tomorrow I will but I’m so grateful for NetGalley giving me an ARC of this masterpiece.
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where is the sequel, Ryan??? Ryan, the sequel??? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE SEQUEL PLEASE RYAN???
You guys may think I’m joking BUT I’M NOT. This book had everything, funny business names a la Bob’s Burgers, a hermit crab named Crabigail, and a secret government conspiracy/cover up. Ooooh plus if you like Last of Us but can’t in good conscience support it, support this instead! Literally the weepers (like clickers but swap cordyceps for coral) were so scary I actually had nightmares. NIGHTMARES! Do you know how rare that is as an avid horror lover???
That’s all I’m saying, if you don’t read this book when it comes out I’m going to tell the ocean on you. 😡
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
You guys may think I’m joking BUT I’M NOT. This book had everything, funny business names a la Bob’s Burgers, a hermit crab named Crabigail, and a secret government conspiracy/cover up. Ooooh plus if you like Last of Us but can’t in good conscience support it, support this instead! Literally the weepers (like clickers but swap cordyceps for coral) were so scary I actually had nightmares. NIGHTMARES! Do you know how rare that is as an avid horror lover???
That’s all I’m saying, if you don’t read this book when it comes out I’m going to tell the ocean on you. 😡
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated