Published by PUSH, Scholastic Press Genres: Fiction, Horror, LGBT, Mystery, young adult
Format: ARC, eBook
Eerie, creepy, atmospheric, mysterious, and horrific! The Dead of Summer is a YA horror book which takes place on Anchor’s Mercy, an island off the Maine Coast. Anchor’s Mercy is a haven for drag queens, locals and tourists! It sounds like a lovely place to visit except for the fact that the locals seem to get sick….
Ollie, a gay teenager, and his mother, Grace, have been gone from their home on Anchor’s Mercy for a year as she battled Cancer. But now she is Cancer free, and they are back home. It should be a time of happiness but, well, things are complicated. Ollie’s friends (Bash and Elisa) think he has abandoned them, and he has met Sam, another young man and piano player on the ferry over from the mainland. As Ollie is trying to reconnect with those in his life, a storm descends…
Three weeks later Ollie is being questioned on a military ship. The Dead of Summer gave me strong “The Fog” vibes. I enjoyed the eerie vibe, the cast of characters, and the way the author wrote the book though the story and interviews on the military ship. This is a YA book, and it has just the right number of thrills and chills without being scary. I found this book to be highly original and unique. There were a few twists in this book with one reveal which shocked me. I love when that happens.
This series is off to a good start. Again, this book is YA, and I have a feeling that it will be a hit with its target audience. This book might have you looking at the beach and ocean in a different way! I did want to know more about the history of the island and more about Elisa’s mother.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book which piqued my interest and has me wondering what will happen next!
Thank you to Scholastic | PUSH and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
