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annarella's review
4.0
I read another book by Christine Lynn Herman and appreciated the style of writing and the storytelling.
This is a good mix of thriller and paranormal, I enjoyed it even if I expected a stronger horror side.
The plot is well developed, the characters are interesting, and the world building is excellent.
I recommend this story that I throughly enjoyed.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is a good mix of thriller and paranormal, I enjoyed it even if I expected a stronger horror side.
The plot is well developed, the characters are interesting, and the world building is excellent.
I recommend this story that I throughly enjoyed.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
jesticulate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
leahkuntz's review against another edition
2.0
This book, in theory, should be something I love; The Diviners vibes, sapphic mediums, and ghosts all sound amazing. However, I just couldn't help myself from comparing this book to her other duology, The Devouring Gray and The Deck of Omens, both of which I adore, and Drowning Summer didn't hold up on its own. I wanted so much more out of this.
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
4.0
*I got this book for review*
I think this was a fun and erries and creepy read with a fun witchy elements in it.I loved the rep in this book as well. I also really enjoyed the friends to more romance between the two leads. I think it was a great late summer read!! It was a super quick read. I do wish the voices of the characters were a bit more unique to tell apart. It also think the plot was not as clear as it could have been!! But i enjoyed it and hope to read mor by this author in the future
I think this was a fun and erries and creepy read with a fun witchy elements in it.I loved the rep in this book as well. I also really enjoyed the friends to more romance between the two leads. I think it was a great late summer read!! It was a super quick read. I do wish the voices of the characters were a bit more unique to tell apart. It also think the plot was not as clear as it could have been!! But i enjoyed it and hope to read mor by this author in the future
klara42's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
leolikesbooks's review against another edition
TW: biphobia
This was okay, but it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be.
Based on the blurb I expected a darker story, and this wasn't nearly as dark as I'd hoped it would be.
For a book about witches, there's also not a lot of witching. I feel like there should've been so much more focus on magical rituals etc.
The characters and their romance were lackluster. I didn't really get any chemistry between the mcs.
Something that stood out to me was the way characters were introduced. The author would usually write something like "Character A entered the room. She was Mexican American." or "Character B's boyfriend is a Japanese American guy". It’s great that there was diversity, but I felt like it was written a little clumsily.
Now another thing that threw me off was the comparison to The Great Gatsby. I did not get any Gatsby vibes. At all. The one similarity I could find was a character being named "Nick", and I was really grasping at straws there.
Now to what I liked: the pet snake.
So overall I'd say this was an okay read, but my expectations going into the book were rather high and it couldn't live up to them.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
This was okay, but it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be.
Based on the blurb I expected a darker story, and this wasn't nearly as dark as I'd hoped it would be.
For a book about witches, there's also not a lot of witching. I feel like there should've been so much more focus on magical rituals etc.
The characters and their romance were lackluster. I didn't really get any chemistry between the mcs.
Something that stood out to me was the way characters were introduced. The author would usually write something like "Character A entered the room. She was Mexican American." or "Character B's boyfriend is a Japanese American guy". It’s great that there was diversity, but I felt like it was written a little clumsily.
Now another thing that threw me off was the comparison to The Great Gatsby. I did not get any Gatsby vibes. At all. The one similarity I could find was a character being named "Nick", and I was really grasping at straws there.
Now to what I liked: the pet snake.
So overall I'd say this was an okay read, but my expectations going into the book were rather high and it couldn't live up to them.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
maeganisreading's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 4.25⭐️
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Mina and Evelyn who used to be best friends until six years prior during The Drowning Summer. Evelyn’s dad was accused of the murders but the girls summoned a ghost to help clear his name. Six years later, Evelyn summons another ghost for selfish reasons and drags Mina back into her life when the mysterious sand dollar reappears on Mina’s wrist. Both girls must now work together to figure out what’s happening to the ghosts and who actually murdered the Cliffside Trio six years ago, while also confronting their feelings for each other.
I really liked this mystery story. It was an easy read and kept my attention the whole way through. I like the addition of the ghosts and the mediums to the mystery. It added an extra element that fit really well. Both Mina and Evelyn were strong characters who changed throughout the story. The author did a great job highlighting their mental health and how the murders have effected their families over the years. They both have different ways they cope but they still seem to relate to each other. Their transition from friends to a little bit more than friends was well done. It wasn’t the whole point of the story which I appreciate. It was ok the back burner while the mystery unfolded.
I really like when mysteries are set in small towns like this one because we get to meet different people in the town as they sometimes have things to lend to the investigation. The side characters were likeable. It would’ve been nice to see more of what happened to the trio before they were killed but it was still an interesting development.
The ending was a little predictable and I was able to guess the murderer by the end of the book.
Overall, this was a solid YA mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
allyem_reads's review against another edition
3.0
5.71 on CAWPILE
The best thing about this book was the oceanside atmosphere, by far. I liked how Evelyn thought in marine-biology metaphors, whereas Mina thought more in fashion metaphors. It was a fun way to keep them separate in their POVs.
The best thing about this book was the oceanside atmosphere, by far. I liked how Evelyn thought in marine-biology metaphors, whereas Mina thought more in fashion metaphors. It was a fun way to keep them separate in their POVs.