The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala follows three friends dealing with an outbreak that’s quickly impacting their friends and family on their island home. Ollie Veltman is returning home to Anchor’s Mercy after being away for a year while his mom, Grace, fought cancer. His homecoming should be joyful since his mom is now cancer-free, and she is determined to make this summer the best ever. However, Ollie’s two best friends, Elisa and Bash, are wary of his return. When his mother had cancer, Ollie had shut down and distanced himself from their friendship.
Ollie comes back with many questions about the island. He feels that the island might somehow be causing his mom and others to get sick. His search for the truth becomes dangerous when a storm hits the island, revealing long-buried secrets.
This is the first book in a series. I didn’t realize it initially, but it is a series, and the book ends on a cliffhanger. I’ve read the author’s previous book, “The Honeys,” and was excited to read this one. The writing is very vivid and descriptive; at times, I felt like I was experiencing the outbreak firsthand. However, I thought some characters acted more childish than their actual ages. I also wish the author had ended the first book differently. It didn’t feel like there was enough material for a second book, especially since the first moved quite slowly at times. Overall, I found the novel to be a decent read, but I’m not sure I was invested enough to see what happens next.
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