TESSA TALKS BOOKS

Summer reading is my happy place that I got to do in my happy place at the beach. This June and July were packed with stories that took me from dark forests to magical universities to sun-drenched beaches with a mystery or two. I’ve grouped everything by genre for easy browsing, and each book gets its moment in the sun with a quick two-paragraph review. Let’s dive in!

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🔍 Mystery & Thriller

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

This was the definition of a juicy summer suspense read. Old friendships, simmering resentment, and a lake that keeps secrets? Yes please. The story follows Julia, David, and Erika—three childhood friends turned slightly dysfunctional adults—who gather for what’s supposed to be a relaxing getaway. But when David’s much-younger girlfriend vanishes and a past mystery resurfaces, the whole thing takes a dark and twisty turn.

I loved the slow unraveling of secrets and the way the lake itself felt like a character. The tension builds with each chapter, and just when I thought I had it figured out—bam!—another twist. I gave this one four stars for its clever plotting and summer-perfect setting.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell

Talk about atmosphere! This one gave me full-body chills. When Faith visits her boyfriend David’s family island estate, things get claustrophobic fast—and not just because it’s an isolated island. Everyone has secrets, and Faith looks eerily like a girl who drowned there years ago.

The tension simmers until it boils over in the final act. I was flying through pages, needing to know what happened to Alice and why everyone seemed just a bit… off. This one was a four-star, fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing (and made me deeply suspicious of everyone).

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey

This was a dark, dual-timeline thriller that was just dripping in eerie vibes. We follow Van, a cold case agent with her own demons, as she investigates a decades-old case known as the Laughing Dead. The pacing was fantastic and the way the two timelines intertwined kept me totally hooked.

I especially loved Owl, the dog—yes, he gets full character status in my book. Van’s journey was emotionally raw, and her character growth gave this cold case mystery unexpected depth. My only knock? It could’ve been trimmed down just a bit. Still, four strong stars.

The Trap (Alias Emma #3) by Ava Glass

I’m obsessed with Emma. She’s smart, gritty, and endlessly resourceful. This installment had all the espionage, high-stakes action, and clever plotting that made me fall in love with the series in the first place. The pacing was relentless (in a good way), and the twists were top tier.

But what really elevated this book was Emma’s development. She’s making compromises, learning from past missions, and becoming someone entirely new—and it’s riveting to watch. Five stars and fingers crossed this series continues!

Codebreaker by Jay Martel

Mia’s world turns upside down when she’s thrust into danger after her father’s death—and yes, there’s treasure hunting, hidden codes, and a dash of romance. Think National Treasure but with a teenage heart. I was hooked from the first page.

The mystery is smartly plotted and the stakes stay high. Mia and Logan were both relatable, and I loved how their bond developed naturally even with all the danger around them. 4.5 stars for this thrilling, heartfelt debut.

The Last Wizards’ Ball by Charlaine Harris

This book marks the end of the Gunnie Rose series, and what a ride it’s been. The world-building remains phenomenal and the pacing never slows. But the ending? I had to sit with it. While it stayed true to Gunnie’s character, I felt like Lizbeth’s arc lost some of its power.

Even with that caveat, I loved the world and the action. It’s a four-star finale that wraps things up—just maybe not in the way I had hoped.

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🧙‍♀️ Fantasy

A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

If you loved Legendborn, you need this book. It’s dark academia with teeth, complete with secret societies, moral gray areas, and a fierce heroine named August. She’s determined to find her brother, even if it means diving headfirst into a world full of literal monsters.

The world-building is top notch and the writing is vivid. I especially appreciated the character complexity—no one is purely good or evil here, and that made their choices all the more compelling. Four stars!

Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker

This one was unlike anything I’ve read. In a post-WWIII world, your soul’s past lives determine your future, and Sivon’s soul turns out to be… complicated. The premise hooked me immediately, and the way the story unfolded kept me fully invested.

Sivon’s growth, her inner struggles, and the questions the book raises about identity and morality—chef’s kiss. It was thrilling and thought-provoking all at once. Five easy stars.

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan

Witches fighting Nazis? Sign me up. Lydia is an underdog heroine who finds herself in the middle of a magical war effort in WWII-era Britain. The stakes are sky-high, and Lydia’s journey is both harrowing and inspiring.

I loved the magical relic hunt, the layered world-building, and the slow reveal of Lydia’s true power. It’s a historical fantasy with real emotional heft. Five stars!

Steel & Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth

Pandora Small is hiding some serious magic, and Ellis Beacon—a guard with magic-sensing abilities—is the first to notice. This Regency-inspired fantasy had all the charm, mystery, and simmering tension I wanted.

The dual POVs worked really well and the emotional weight of Pandora’s backstory gave the sparkly magic some gravitas. I did want more attention paid to a few plot threads, but overall, it was a lovely four-star read.

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📅 Historical Fiction

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White

This book is Southern storytelling at its best. It weaves past and present together through the voices of Phoebe and Celeste—two women brought together by history, family, and a few long-buried secrets. The depiction of dementia and how it impacts an entire family really hit home.

The writing was so vivid I could hear the narrator like it was an audiobook. The layered characters and emotional pull made this an unforgettable five-star read.

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💕 Romance & Contemporary Fiction

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman

Emma Page is a romance writer in a family of “serious” literary snobs—yikes. I was immediately rooting for her. The story starts slow but blooms into a touching journey of self-acceptance, legacy, and love. And yes, there’s a charming bookshop involved.

Once the pace picked up, I was all in. I loved the exploration of how different generations view literature and the emotional arc of Emma embracing who she is. Four stars!

Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster

Told in two timelines (1965 and 1978), this novel explores womanhood, motherhood, and family secrets. It’s a slow burn, but one with purpose. The story of Virgie—a senator’s wife raising daughters against the grain—and her grown daughters reckoning with the past was touching and quietly powerful.

It didn’t quite hit five-star heights for me due to pacing, but I loved the themes and emotional payoff. A strong three-star read.

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Let me know which of these books you’ve read or want to add to your TBR! And if you made it this far, tell me your favorite summer read in the comments. Happy reading! 🌞📚

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