This book was disappointing.

We follow Claire, who’s sister Holly is in America and is missing. No one is taking Claire seriously, so she is determined to figure out where her sister is herself.

I found this book to be very boring. I wasn’t engaged, and the “twists” were very predictable. I also thought the twist was so unrealistic. It didn’t make sense with the character development we had been shown throughout the book. I found Claire to be slightly annoying, and couldn’t bring myself to really care about what happened to Holly. Overall, a dud of a book.



Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

Name of Book: The Summer Girl
Author: Jenny Blackhurst
Publisher: Canelo Suspense
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: July 13, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Pages: 290


It has been some time since I read "Before I let You in" a Jenny Blackhurst thriller, and was anxious to read this story.

This story is told from the POV of sisters Holly and Claire – then and now.
Claire and Holly both were born and raised in England; however, Holly decided she wanted a summer job in the US and goes to Martha's Vineyard.
Now she is missing.
Claire has tried to communicate via text but her messages go unanswered, Holly finally sends a short text apologizing for being out of communication. The message does not sound like one Holly would write so Claire is off to Martha’s Vineyard to find her sister. Once Claire is there it appears no one really cares what happened to her. The police know Holly was involved with two wealthy playboys and relatives to the Kennedy’s. It seems rich guy’s bad behavior is overlooked by police. Not the case with Claire she is going to find out what happened!

Author, Jenny Blackhurst did not disappoint! A twist I should have suspected but didn’t!!!

I love mysteries and also love Nantucket and Martha Vineyard stories. One would never guess that I live on the west coast 12 miles from the beach and yes we do have great Laguna Beach stories but not the same as the ones from these two icon islands.
Now looking forward to Ms. Blackhurst’s next story!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Canelo Suspense for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 13, 2023.

"Holly and Ryan would never be more than a drop in the ocean of one another’s lives."

What would you be willing to do in the name of justice? How far would you go to protect your secrets?

The Summer Girl addressed these questions and more as Claire was determined to find her missing sister, Holly, on Martha's Vineyard and the illusion of the safety of the island nestled in paradise began to crumble. What dangers and risks might underlie the false sense of security in this small town? What were the costs of perfection?

Had the prologue been eliminated or moved to a later part of the story, this book could have been a suspenseful thriller but it only takes a few pages before finding out what had happened to Holly and it felt rather anticlimactic. Instead, the story followed the progression of events as Claire struggled to catch up while the reader also learned the events that led to that fateful day on the island from Holly's perspective. Chapters were narrated alternately between Claire and Holly but the use of the third person for Holly instead the first person as used for Claire created a disconnect from the narrative. Furthermore, the language was off-putting in the ways British wording was often used even by characters who did not hail from England.

I would have liked to see a trigger warning for sexual assault mentioned in advance and that was lacking here. In many ways, this story seemed to be just another recycled cautionary tale set in the spirit of the MeToo movement. Of course, this was a very important message to send but it also greatly reduced the tension and the suspenseful nature of the twists through its predictability.

There were, however, other positive aspects of this book that made it worth reading. I liked the focus on the different ways people grieve, on how they deal with the pain and guilt inherent in grief and loss based on their individual experiences. I also liked the look at the dynamics and complexities of sibling relationships and the idea of living one's life to the fullest without any regrets.

How do we hold people accountable for their actions?

Power, privilege and entitlement were key issues throughout and they made a statement on class structure and societal imbalance. In the quest to solve the mystery behind Holly's disappearance, most characters were not what they seemed and discovering their lies and secrets kept me interested in continuing to read. Culminating in an ending that could certainly be deemed controversial, I was left unsure if I was truly satisfied with the way justice was ultimately served.

"So why did he feel he had to take her life? And to that I’d say because he could."

** Special thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available July 13, 2023. **

I was skeptical about this one because I thought it was going to be a typical summer thriller. Well, I was surprisingly wrong! It had so many twists & turns that I didn’t see coming! I love a good ending that I didn’t predict! I give The Summer Girl four out of five star! I recommend reading this one!

Claire's little sister Holly has been working on the millionaire's playground Martha's Vineyard for the summer, all barefoot parties and flirting with the local rich kids/ But now she's missing and none of the locals seem to care, including the police. They think a message Claire received is proof she's safe. But Claire knows for a fact that's impossible. What will she have to risk to find out the truth? who are the locals protecting? And what does it have to do with another girl who went mising five years ago?

The pace was on the slow side for the first half of the book. The story is told from Claire and Holly's perspectives. Claire was upset when Holly left England to work in Martha's Vineyard. But when Holly disappeared, it turned Claire's world upside down. I never knew who I could trust in this twisted read. There is some dry humor which made me laugh. The story has a dual timeline - Holly tells us about the days leading up to her disappearance and Claire tells us about her search for her sister. I was kept guessing and the ending was interesting.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #JennyBlackhurst for my ARC of #TheSummerGirl in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer Girl by Jenny Blackhurst is a wonderfully written page-turner with well-developed characters that keep you guessing until the very end.
The characters are interesting and the pacing well timed.
This is tense, gripping and completely addictive read.
I’ve read and enjoyed Jenny Blackhurst’s previous titles and her newest story was no different.
A great story hooking you in from start to finish and with some fab twists along the way.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Canelo for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book was such a rollercoaster, so many complex characters and a great plot.

There were so many potential suspects and just when you think you know who is guilty something happens and it makes you question everything.

The twists towards the end were very unexpected and reading this book has made me excited to read more books written by this author!

I absolutely loved this riveting thriller. Another win from Blackhurst. Riveting plot! Check!!!! Amazing Characterization Check!!!!

Review for : the summer girl by Jenny blackhurst

When a young girl goes missing and no one seems to care, her sister has to travel across the world to find her. Paradise on earth? What secrets are the residents of “paradise “ hiding.

This book gave me “where the crawdad sings” vibes but a little more intense and more British.

Y’all know I tend to judge my books like this based on if I can figure out the plot twist or not and I didn’t figure it out! I had it half figured out. But it was very well done, from beginning to end. This would be the perfect book for a beach trip! Coming out just in time for summer.

Very enjoyable! There were a few moments that definitely made my stomach twist in not such a good way but it was well written and understood why those parts were there. I’ll have to go back and read her other books now since I’d never heard of her before I ran across this book on NetGalley❤️

Wow! Jenny does not disappoint! She sure knows how to write a missing persons crime novel! My third book by the author (clearly in my autobuy list!)

Perfect for those that love dual timelines told from the misp & the seeker!
I also randomly got gossip girl vibes from it too 🤣

Overall 4.5* rounded to 5!
Thank you x

Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for an Advanced Reader Copy of The Summer Girl!

This is a thriller novel following Claire, whose sister disappeared at Martha’s Vineyard. It’s dual pov, showing Holly’s (the sister) perspective the night she disappeared. Claire is on a mission to find her sister and the truth.

From the start of the book the prologue HOOKED me. I loved the setting of Martha’s Vineyard and it was so picturesque. If you’re gonna get murdered it might as well be at a pretty place.

However, this book just didn’t scratch that itch in my brain. Ya know what I mean? The beginning slowed down and it was hard for me to binge it. But the last 100 pages really picked up and I couldn’t put it down.

My dad did spoil part as this book is ~based~ off of a true crime story I didn’t know about. So when he asked what I was reading about, he spilled all the tea. However, even if you’re cultured unlike me- the book has its own twists.

Overall, this book was a nice cozy summer mystery and I’d recommend it even if it wasn’t my favorite book ever. I rate this book 3.5 stars! ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This was an easy breezy read. It had every aspect of a good thriller and kept me wanting to read it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Great read full of twists and turns and a real page turner. Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is the first Jenny Blackhurst book I have ever read and I look forward to more books by the author. The book is set at Martha's Vineyard and follows Claire the elder sister of Holly who was working at Martha and enjoying the beach parties and cute boys. Holly disappears and the message she has left behind is not proof but a clue that something is wrong. An intriguing read narrated from different characters POV and perfect for the ones in need of a summer thriller that will have you wishing for a vacation.

Actual rating: 3.5

⚠️ trigger warnings ⚠️
violence
sexual assault
drugs / drugging
loss of family members
grief

🪦💔😮🔍

4.5 stars

i absolutely loved this book. its such a great feeling reading a thriller you literally cannot put down. this was kindly sent to me on netgalley as an ARC so i had it on my kindle, and i took my kindle everywhere. even whilst sat in the car waiting for my friend to get in i would read a page or two. any spare second.

this book had everything you want from a thriller. it was fast paced, it had plot twists, it had characters you learn to love and characters you quickly despise, characters you misjudge at first and learn to like. i loved almost every second of reading this book.

i felt emotions with the characters, there were scenes in this book that made me physically cringe and tear up to, jenny blackhurst has the ability with her writing to make you feel the anger and uncomfortability with the characters.

i will admit there are some scenes that are a tough read, so please do be mindful of that, especially if you struggle with reading topics such as violence and sexual assault.

the only reason i didn’t give this five stars is because i am very picky when it comes to rating books that high. five star reads are saved for books that change my mindset or perspective of things and really stick with me.

loved this book, loved the twists and loved the ending. read this book!!!

❔what’s your favourite thriller you’ve read?

Great book, loads of twists, turns and heart pumping suspense.
I don't know quite how I feel about the ending, if I agreed or feel it was unrealistic but it was still an amazing thriller, mystery.

Summer time in the Hamptons! Summer help mixed with the rich kids, parties, boats and bonfires.
Holly flies over for the summer from the UK to work at a marina in Martha's Vineyard only to go missing. Claire is Holly's sister who flies to town in search of her sister, the story picks up pace and interest at about 20% in, give it time it's worth it.

4/5 Because of the mistakes in words not used in the US, there was quite a few of them like Mum, Lads, certain saying and foods we don't use etc... but it's understandable knowing the Authors mistake.

This book surprised me in the best way.

I devoured it in one sitting, something I hardly ever do, and the mystery just kept tugging me deeper and deeper, and it was further enhanced by the characters being multi-faceted and enjoyable to read about.

The writing style was simple but delightful. I loved how the book shifted from first-person to third-person when tackling flashbacks, it added a necessary barrier while revealing an inch of the plot at a time. It's something I wish I saw more in books.

And the ending... I quite liked it! I won't spoil it but I found it rewarding if not 100% satisfying.

Overall, it was a wonderful read!

Thank you, Netgalley! For the advanced review copy.

wow i didn’t see that ending coming, the story line had me hooked from page one. a new author for me and one i would recommend to others. now to go look what others books they have written!

I had the privilege of reading this book early thanks to Canelo & NetGalley. I honestly devoured this book! The flow was perfect. Character set up was great! Just when you think you had figured it out, you found out you were wrong. I will gladly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author! Well done!!!

Jenny Blackhurst was a new author to me until she was chosen as author of the month in my online bookclub, this was the beginning of June and this book is the 3rd I've read in the month. I think I've found another go to author.
This book centres on Holly who travels to picturesque Martha's Vineyard to work during the summer, but when her cousin Jess and Sister Claire get no response from phone calls and messages they are worried. Claire travels there but the locals and Police are very dismissive of her suspected disappearance. And when Claire meets Gina, whose sister Natalie died 5 years previously, they join forces to discover the truth.
It's a very well written thriller told from Claires and Holly's perspectives. Can't wait now to read Jenny's next book.