A heart-pounding thriller told in a mix of narrative voices and found documents from the bestselling author of The Honeys , perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, E. Lockhart, Karen McManus, and Rory Powers! >Something is wrong in paradise. Ollie Veltman is finally coming home to the quaint island of Anchor's Mercy after a year away while his mom battled cancer. It should be a celebration -- his mom is cancer free, and she's determined to have the best summer ever -- but Ollie's (now ex) best friends think he abandoned them, and he's returning with a lot of questions. Because for a place that's perfect on the surface, a secret rots below the waves. A secret that could explain his mom's illness, and the illness of so many other locals. Ollie's desperate search for the truth turns life-or-death when a storm descends upon the island. In its wake, a long-sunken horror rises . . . Now Ollie is being held in isolation aboard a military hospital ship in the harbor. They say he's a survivor, but they only know half the story. The truth is more monstrous than Ollie ever believed, and he suspects his saviors aren't here to save anyone. Only Ollie can stop what's coming, but that means getting back to Anchor's Mercy before it vanishes, taking with it everyone he has ever loved. Praise for The Dead of Summer " The Dead of Summer is like a Mike Flanagan movie: visceral and unsettling. The perfect creepy read!" -- Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Blood "La Sala is back with a fresh new freakshow! Not only is The Dead of Summer a terrifying, fast-paced, maritime body horror, it's a timely plea to embrace your community when you can no longer trust those in charge. This is one beach read that will have you sprinting away from the ocean!" -- Adam Sass, award-winning author of Your Lonely Nights Are Over "A blistering tale of seaside horrors unleashed upon a beloved queer community, The Dead of Summer combines intricate plot with unforgettable characters. Every Ryan La Sala book is a gem." -- Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting "Ryan La Sala's The Dead of Summer is a coastal New England fever dream that is equal parts heart-rending and horrifying. As in his previous work, La Sala masterfully balances elements of humor and horror to create a story that is as propulsive as it is poignant. Often told through a chilling epistolary lens, the truth behind what happened to the residents of Anchor's Mercy is pieced slowly together, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions in a way that will keep them guessing up until the breathtaking end." -- Kelly Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Made of Death "Ryan brings their A-game with The Dead of Summer. As much a work of art stylistically as it is structurally, Ryan's sharp, signature prose reminds us all of the siren-song power of their craft. An engrossing read that'll absolutely pull you under." -- Kosoko Jackson, USA Today bestselling author of The Forest Demands Its Due " The Dead of Summer contains La Sala's signature multitudes: sometimes delightfully campy, always stomach-turningly horrifying, with dread rising like the tide. The perfect beach read to really get that adrenaline going." -- Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture "La Sala's story puts the 'gore' in 'gorgeous prose.'" -- Washington Post ★ "A propulsive paranormal thriller." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) ★ "La Sala once again demonstrates extreme prowess for integrating themes of belonging, grief, and yes, even queer joy into this horrifying and fresh approach to a zombie apocalypse." -- Booklist (starred review)★ "A deeply human, absolutely riveting, and expansively inclusive marine biology nightmare." -- School Library Journal (starred review) "An original, page-turning horror story that emphasizes the importance of queer community." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for The Honeys "A dark and redolent tale of familial bonds, grief, and a secretive summer camp tucked away in the heart of forests vast and dizzyingly wild. The Honeys creeped me out and I loved every moment of it." -- Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrow ★ "La Sala gives real-life fears a supernatural twist, cleverly using folk horror and psychological-thriller elements to heighten Mars' understandable tension and infuse this idyllic location with dread.... The eerily ambivalent conclusion is pure horror gold." -- Booklist (starred review) ★ "La Sala's slow plot reveal is gripping, and the narrative's lush prose crafts both deliciously creepy horror scenes and a nuanced, self-assured protagonist consumed by grief and longing for acceptance." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) * "This layered, complex, and at times truly disturbing novel creates an ever-heightening level of suspense, ratcheting up to an explosive conclusion t