First published 2021
The friends have grown up together in the same small town. Now they face their last summer before heading off to college. They spend their days hanging out, exploring new romances, and making plans for what comes next. During one of their adventures, they accidentally spark a forest fire. The flames spread quickly through their hometown, destroying everything in their path and killing people they know. Terrified of the consequences, the group agrees to stay silent about their role in the disaster. They promise each other that no one will ever learn the truth. But keeping such a massive secret proves harder than any of them imagined. The lie starts to unravel as guilt and paranoia take hold. When one member of their group suddenly vanishes, the remaining friends find themselves under suspicion. Each of them becomes a potential suspect in the disappearance. The story reveals how a single moment of carelessness can destroy multiple lives and test the bonds of friendship.
Genres: fiction, drama, mystery, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: friends-to-lovers, secrets, unreliable-narrator
Setting: College, Hometown
Period: Last Summer
372 pages · Paperback · Penguin
Content warnings: death, violence