Well Imagined..
Martha’s Vineyard- the playground of millionaires and where Holly has been working and living amongst the jet set. Now Holly is missing.. and, it appears, no one there is remotely concerned. Even the police are uninterested. Her sister Claire has other ideas and sets out on a mission to find Holly, no matter what. Immersive and compelling, a solid mystery with twists aplenty and a plot populated with a credible cast in a well imagined setting.

This is my first time reading this author & I can tell I’m going to be a fan. The writing and the characters were superbly written. When Claire’s sister hasn’t answered her phone in a few days, she sets out for America at Martha’s Vineyard. Holly hasn’t been seen nor heard from in a week & nobody seems to be bothered by this. So Claire takes it upon herself to start her own investigation. This had a great pace & engaging dialogue. Plus, a twist you never seen coming. Can’t wait to read more by her.

📚Book Review 📚
The Summer Girl
by Jenny Blackhurst
Pub Date 7/13/23

Claire’s younger sister, Holly, travels from the UK to Martha’s Vineyard to work for the summer.

Holly isn’t answering phone calls or texts from Claire and their cousin, Jess. The last message was definitely not written by Holly.

Claire contacts the police, they do a welfare check but aren’t taking Holly’s disappearance as seriously as Claire and Jess think they should.

Claire travels to Martha’s Vineyard and discovers another girl Holly’s age disappeared five years ago.

This book has a twist until the end. I never knew who to trust throughout. An easy to read mystery to entertain.

Thank you @netgalley @jennyblackhurstauthor and @canelo_co for an electronic book ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Holy crap this book had me hooked! I really, really enjoyed this one. It definitely kept me on my toes the entire time!

When Claire’s sister Holly leaves England to work in Martha’s Vineyard, Claire is upset and hurt, but then Holly disappears and Claire’s entire world gets turned upside down. The story is told in dual timelines from both Holly and Claire’s perspectives. This book was a slow burn for me as it gained momentum toward the final conclusion. I loved that the ending caught me off guard and didn’t leave any questions still hanging. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller!

4 ⭐️ THANK U to NetGalley for an advanced copy ☺️ so this was my 1st by this author and it definitely won’t be the last! Just my kinda thing, super quick read, loads going on all the time! Not the biggest twist to ever hit the thriller world but still a good one. Really felt like I was in Martha’s Vineyard !

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Canelo for the read and review of #TheSummerGirl by #JennyBlackhurst. They was a first read of this author for me. I was really impressed. I loved the book and the twist ending was great.

How far would you go to find out the truth? What would you do to protect someone you love? These are the questions that I asked myself as I read 'The Summer Girl.'

After her mother died, Holly leaves England and her sister Claire to spend the summer working and living on Martha's Vineyard. Claire, feeling abandoned and drowning in grief, doesn't understand her sister at all, and Holly leaves for America without her sister's blessing. After a couple of weeks on the island, Holly hasn't called home and cannot be reached. This raises red flags for her cousin Jess. When Jess finally receives a text from Holly, she knows in her gut that something is wrong. When Claire called the police on the island, she was brushed off and told that everything was fine, even though no one has seen Holly in days. Now Claire must go to Martha's Vineyard and discover what happened to her sister. Along the way, Claire is told that the island is safe and there is nothing to worry about, which makes the island feel sinister. What are they hiding? Who are they trying to protect? Does Holly's disappearance have any connection to the young girl who went missing five years ago?

Most thrillers promise twists, but this one delivered! I cannot stop thinking about this book, and I read it a couple of days ago. Told in dual POV and dual timeline, the events leading up to Holly's disappearance unfold, creating a thrilling narrative that will make you think twice about ignoring those gut feelings. While this book is an engaging thriller, it is also a book about grief. There seem to be two approaches to grief: one is to live life more fully, and the other is to slowly let it eat at you. While the content seems heavy, this book was a fast-paced, enjoyable read, and I will definitely be picking up more from this author.

CW: Sexual violence, murder, workplace sexual harassment, assault, cancer, suicide, grief, mental illness, alcohol usage, underage drinking, references to underage sexual relations, references to blood and vomit

I received the digital ebook from NetGalley and I am voluntarily providing an honest review.

"The Summer Girl" by Jenny Blackhurst is a captivating and suspenseful mystery novel that delves into the secrets and complex dynamics of a family set amidst a picturesque summer on Martha's Vineyard. With its intriguing premise and skillful storytelling, Blackhurst takes readers on a thrilling journey as a young woman uncovers the truth behind her sister's disappearance and confronts a community determined to protect its darkest secrets.

Claire, the determined protagonist, becomes increasingly alarmed when her sister Holly, enamored by the glamour of Martha's Vineyard, mysteriously disappears. The police and the locals brush off Claire's concerns, believing that a message Claire received from Holly is proof of her well-being. However, Claire knows deep down that her sister would never send such a message, leading her to unravel the deceit that lies beneath the surface.

Jenny Blackhurst's writing effortlessly transports readers to the captivating and deceiving world of Martha's Vineyard, immersing them in the beauty of the setting while adding an undercurrent of foreboding. The author skillfully crafts a palpable sense of suspense, leaving readers on edge as they navigate through the intricate web of secrets and hidden motives.

The character development in "The Summer Girl" is a strength of the novel. Claire is a compelling protagonist, driven by her love for her sister and her determination to uncover the truth. As she delves deeper into the island's community, readers witness her growth and resilience, even in the face of danger. The supporting cast, including enigmatic locals, adds depth and complexity to the narrative, keeping readers guessing about their true intentions.

Blackhurst adeptly constructs a fast-paced and engrossing plot, expertly balancing tense moments with intriguing reveals. The author masterfully weaves together past and present, intertwining the disappearance of Claire's sister with the secrets from the past. The pacing remains steady, culminating in a gripping climax that ties all the threads together.

While "The Summer Girl" follows elements of the mystery and suspense genre, Blackhurst's skill lies in her ability to create layers of intrigue and keep readers guessing until the final revelation. The exploration of family dynamics, loyalty, and the lengths one would go to protect their secrets adds depth to the overall narrative.

In conclusion, "The Summer Girl" is a captivating and suspenseful mystery that showcases Jenny Blackhurst's talent for crafting engrossing narratives. With its vivid portrayal of Martha's Vineyard, well-drawn characters, and skillful plot twists, this novel is highly recommended for fans of thrilling and immersive mysteries. Prepare to be enthralled as you delve into the dark underbelly of a seemingly perfect summer community.

A good summer mystery by one of my favourite authors. Wealth and privilege mean nothing in these circles! I really enjoyed this one.

Overall, The Summer Girl was a solid and fast-paced read with relatable characters and a great summer setting in a place that keeps the “crime rate down by denying there’s been a crime” .

If you ❤️ ➡️ Martha’s Vineyard, sibling relationships, prominent untouchable families, the impact of grief, and desperately seeking justice then check this book out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After their mother died, Claire's younger sister Holly made the decision to live life to the fullest, and began by moving to the United States for a job servicing the needs of the highly-privileged in the summer playground of Martha's Vineyard.

Somewhat reluctantly, Claire accepted her little sister's decision. But now Holly is missing, and the local police appear to have dismissed the case as that of the typical summer girl simply moving on to other things.

But Claire and her cousin Jess know better. The latter first alerted Claire after Holly became inactive on social media. Frustrated at the authorities' lack of progress, Claire decides to go to to the place where Holly was last seen.

What she finds is a community of locals the keeps to itself and relies on the summer folk to keep the economy well-oiled, a family so privileged that everyone looks away from their less cleancut pastimes, and a local police force that is reluctant to take action that could rock the boat.

Claire also discovers the mysterious disappearance of another girl a few years previously, and how she was found dead shortly afterwards. Could Holly's disappearance be connected to whatever happened to that girl?

This is a gripping story about missing girls, the corruption of power and privilege, the strength of sibling bonds, and how the pain of loss can fuel the search for answers. Recommending it, as I found the novel an absorbing and poignant read.

This book sounded fantastic, so I had pretty high hopes. I was expecting more of a twisty, fast paced thriller. This felt like more of a “mystery” book. It was still enjoyable and well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC opportunity!

This was an entertaining, easy to read mystery that is about a woman who travels from England to Martha’s Vineyard to find out what happened to her sister.

There were not only moments that were twisty and mysterious, with you wondering who to truly trust, but sad moments as well. There were moments that were believable but sad, such as the “rich and untouchable” being more concerned about their reputation and image than what might be true, which was both frustrating and believable.

I will definitely check out more books by this author!

"She is not the first summer girl whose course will be forever altered by the thousand small actions that led to them both being here tonight, and tragically she will not be the last."

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book!

Holly, the little sister of Claire, has been working on Martha´s Vineyard. Going to parties, flirting with rich boys. She is now missing and no one seems to care, including the police. Claire´s cousin Jess received a message which seems to prove that she is okay, but Claire knows for a fact that Holly didn´t send it.

This thriller was good, but I felt it lacked the plot twists I desire when I´m reading a thriller. It was enjoyable and a fast read but I didn´t fly through it. The ending I feel was a bit rushed. The beginning a bit too dragged out.

I gave it 3 stars.

3.5

Jenny Blackhurst (she/her) is an author that I don't think I'd heard of before picking up The Summer Girl, but I think that she has really good potential to become an author I find myself reading more of in the future.

This one is a very solid thriller that I can't fault. It follows the typical tropes and bonus point, it's set on a small holiday island where the sister of our main character goes missing. It could definitely be a 5-star read to others, but due to the fact that I read so many thrillers, this one wasn't one that blew me away, but it was still a good one.

It did have somewhat of a slow start but once it got to the point, it was a fast read all the way through, but not without the odd confusing part here and there, but what's new for me? I had a load of theories as to what could have happened, and while a lot of reviews are saying it was predictable, I personally don't think it was until the actual lead-up to the reveal. Speaking of the reveal, I wasn't the biggest fan of how it played out, but I did like how every tied back to the past.

Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 🌟

This was an enjoyable, easy to read thriller. It didn't 'wow' me, and I didn't find it particularly gripping in an intense kind of way, but it was a good read nonetheless!

Holly travels to Martha's Vineyard from the UK after the death of her mother to live and work in a new, exciting environment. Her sister Claire stays behind and becomes worried when nobody can reach Holly. She has stopped turning up to her job, she isn't answering her phone and nobody has seen her. When nobody seems to be taking her seriously, Claire flies out to see if she can find out what has happened to her sister.

I loved the setting of this book. The daydream environment of Martha's Vineyard, the friendly community, the typical rich circle that nobody can touch. It all made for a really good story setting.

It is written from both Holly's and Claires' point of view. Holly, before she goes missing and Claire in the present day.

On the whole, it's a good book! I was taken aback by the ending, I certainly didn't guess it!

I didn't like a certain aspect of what happened to Claire on the beach, I personally found it a little vulgar and not essential to the story. It was just a little bit uncomfortable!

Other than that, there wasn't anything I didn't like about it. It was a good, easy read!

I really enjoyed this. It was perfect to read sitting at the beach. I thought I had it all figured out but I definitely did not. Loved the characters and the writing. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Jenny Blackhurst, and the publisher for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Claire's little sister Holly, determined to live life to the full after their mother's untimely death from cancer, has headed off to take a summer job in the affluent island community of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Claire herself isn't doing too well, drinking to excess after her shifts working in a bar, and not doing much else with her life. But when Holly goes uncharacteristically incommunicado for a few days and nobody seems to be taking it seriously, Claire has to get on a plane to the US and find out for herself what's going on. Where is Holly? And is her disappearance in any way linked to that of another girl five years earlier?

This was a very readable story which kept my attention throughout. I did guess a major aspect of where the plot was going as regards one character and their motivations, but that didn't spoil it in any way.

I liked the Martha's Vineyard setting, which was interesting and well drawn. (On today's episode of Things I Should've Known But Didn't: I never realised till now it was actually an island.) The local police don't always come out of it particularly well, though, failing to adequately investigate the rich and well-connected. And I really liked the character of Claire, a flawed but determined protagonist.

All in all a great read. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

I wanted a quick read while I was away on a short vacation. This did not keep my interest very long. A murder tied in with a previous murder on Cape Cod, shades of the Kennedy's and the difference between the summer people and the local people on the island. I will not be recommending it.