What do readers think of Summer's Never Over by Darby Bozeman? Write your own review.

I loved this book. It's the first in a while that truly became a page-turner for me—pulled me in quickly and made me genuinely want to keep going. While it's not as immersive for me as fantasy, it was still completely compelling and hard to put down.

I'm a fan of dual timelines, and this one used the structure well, alternating between Greer returning to her childhood summer camp for her mother's funeral and the final summer before everything changed. The tension is strong from the start and never really lets up. I also got strong atmospheric echoes of Dirty Dancing and God of the Woods, which added to the mood.

I was invested, surprised, and really appreciated the satisfying, well-wrapped ending. The ensemble cast works as a whole rather than through standout individuals, which fits the story well. No real criticisms—just an enjoyable, gripping read.

Secrets abound in this suspenseful mystery set at a remote summer camp ringed by dark woods. Alongside the eerie setting, the story captures a girl's uncertainty as she tries to figure out where she belongs and what she wants, while long-buried truths from years ago begin to surface. It raises an unsettling question: do we ever really know who someone is—especially when we are still learning who we are ourselves? I found it to be a page-turner, and with so many plausible suspects, I did not guess who was behind the events and only knew as they were revealed.

This mystery grabbed my attention from the beginning, and it was definitely a page turner for me. The characters were well developed and relatable, and their backgrounds and connections were explained well. Switching between the two timelines helped build the suspense. The setting of summer camp, teen angst, friendships, creepy woods, and plot twists also added to the suspense and mystery.

My first impression was that this book was short and I feared it would feel too rushed. I was pleasantly surprised! I love the past & present story lines and I enjoyed the manner in which the story unfolds. Excellent character development. The characters were very relatable and it was easy to visualize their respective roles in the storylines. I loved all of the details about spending time at summer camp, from a few different perspectives. It definitely left a lasting impression on me. Although I never attended a summer camp, after reading this book I feel like I just did. Bravo!

Summer's Never Over by Darby Bozeman is an engaging debut that blends mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. Told across a dual timeline, the story explores complicated family dynamics, lifelong friendships, lost loves, and the lingering impact of secrets, truths, and lies.

I really enjoyed how the narrative slowly builds tension while also digging into relationships at its core. It has a reflective, almost nostalgic tone at times, but there's an undercurrent of suspense that keeps you turning the pages. The shifts between past and present add layers to the story without feeling confusing, and each piece feels purposeful.

What stood out most was how the author balances the emotional elements with the thriller aspect – it is not just about what happens, but how it affects the people involved. I look forward to reading more from this author!

"Summer's Never Over" by Darby Bozeman is set at Dread's Cove, a family owned and operated summer camp in the North Georgia mountains. The story is narrated by Greer, whose mother, the camp's owner, has just died. There are two timelines, including present day where former campers and staff are gathered for the memorial service, as well as five years earlier when one of camp counselors is killed in a devastating fire.
There is so much to like about this book. The writing is clear and evocative. The threads of several mysteries are woven together with those of female friendship, grief, coming of age, and romance to form a page-turning thriller. I couldn't put it down.

This was my June BOTM selection. I was in the mood for a thriller/mystery when I chose it and got that when I read it. It’s a highly addictive story and when it stormed as I read it, I had the added magic of Mother Nature to get me into the mood.

Greer Olsen is mourning her mother, Anita’s death, just days before the grand reopening of Dread’s Cove, five years after a tragic fire destroyed it and killed Stephanie “Steph” Bennet. A summer camp for middle school kids, the camp was a legend in Georgia for its beautiful setting and great camp experience. Greer left after the fire vowing never to return but because of Anita’s death and the grand reopening she’s returned - after all the place is now hers. Among the guests and mourners are a number of exes (childhood sweetheart, Wes; boyfriend, Trevor; and girlfriend, Chelsea) as well as a frenemy, Margo Porter, who wants answers on what happened five years ago. As the grand opening and memorial service play out, Greer finds things that cause her to want answers too. What really happened that last summer and what about that fire?

The book toggles between “now” and the past or “so many days before the fire.” The “now” chapters explore Greer’s grief and her survivor’s guilt as the camp reopens and makes her question all over again what happened that summer, especially when she learns about a mysterious woman who had befriended her mother and then disappeared. The “days before the fire” detail Greer’s enchantment with Steph and the strange happenings that were going on at the camp - spooky sightings, lost campers, near drownings. When answers start emerging, tensions rise with a really surprising ending.

I enjoyed most of the book. I felt at times it dragged a bit and Greer got a little weird. But overall the book kept me on task to find out the answers that were so troubling Greer. I think you will find that too if you read this debut book.

This is ideal for a beach read - the title alone hints at that.

A tragic fire at Dread's Cove led to the destruction of the camp and the presumed death of one of the counselors. When, five years later, the camp is ready to open again the death sets the stage for renewed questioning and intrigue.

The camp setting is a fitting cauldron for it compresses relationships between former counselors, campers, and the staff as their feelings roil. It also provides a dark and scarey woods to heighten the tension. The characters are realistically depicted. Rivalries for friendship, lingering hurt feelings, towering anger, and shifting allegiances aptly carry the novel along the path to resolution.

I enjoyed witnessing the young adult counselors move more surely into the adult roles and relationships across divide of five years.

For more mysteries set in summer camps read The God of the Woods (Moore) and The Bone Thief (Lilllie).

Thank you to BookBrowse for providing a pre-publication copy of Summer's Never Over by Darby Bozeman.