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Bad Summer People

A scorchingly addictive summer must-read

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Bad Summer People

By: Emma Rosenblum
Narrated by: January LaVoy
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

A whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue, set against an exclusive summer haven on Fire Island

None of them would claim to be a particularly good person. But who among them is actually capable of murder?

Jen Weinstein and Lauren Parker rule the town of Salcombe, Fire Island every summer. They hold sway on the beach and the tennis court, and are adept at manipulating people to get what they want. Their husbands, Sam and Jason, have summered together on the island since childhood, despite lifelong grudges and numerous secrets. Their one single friend, Rachel Woolf, is looking to meet her match, whether he's the tennis pro-or someone else's husband. But even with plenty to gossip about, this season starts out as quietly as any other.

Until a body is discovered, face down off the side of the boardwalk.

Stylish, subversive and darkly comedic, this is a story of what's lurking under the surface of picture-perfect lives in a place where everyone has something to hide.

'Delicious: such gossipy, naughty fun. Cancel all plans while reading - I inhaled this darkly hilarious book over one weekend and resented everything that kept me away from it' LUCY FOLEY


©2023 Emma Rosenblum (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Contemporary Cosy Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Holidays Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Marriage Sports
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Critic reviews

Delicious: such gossipy, naughty fun. Cancel all plans while reading - I inhaled this darkly hilarious book over one weekend and resented everything that kept me away from it (LUCY FOLEY)
Bad Summer People is a great summer page-turner packed with sun-soaked secrets, outrageous scandals and salacious gossip. Its cast of gloriously terrible one-percenters and the caustic wit dripping from each page make this a perfect rich-people-behaving-badly beach read. Loved it! (ELLERY LLOYD, AUTHOR OF THE CLUB)
Mark your calendars, this is going to be HUGE. It's whip-smart, gossipy, beachy vibes, with page-turning thrills. Like Rivals meets Malibu Rising with Nancy Mitford-esque observations. The ultimate beach read with edge. Loved it (GEORGINA MOORE, AUTHOR OF THE GARNETT GIRLS)
[A] cracking debut . . . Brilliantly written, wryly funny, excitingly paced
Entertaining. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty
What could be more fun than the misfortunes of a gilded group with more money than morals? This irresistible satire set on Fire Island, the summer playground for super-rich Manhattan families who indulge in back-stabbing and casual cruelty along with barbecues, bake offs, talent shows and tennis lessons, has distinct "White Lotus" vibes - beginning with the discovery of a dead body. Who is the unfortunate whose summer has come to a sticky end, and who was responsible? There's fun to be had finding out. Rosenblum clearly knows her territory, this is pure pleasure. (THE BOOKSELLER (EDITOR'S CHOICE))
Awful rich people on their summer holidays having affairs and secret money worries, it is DELICIOUS
This roiling beach community satire serves up wicked, clever fun that is White Lotus sharp. Emma Rosenblum gets to the comic heart of these nasty, nasty people. When I say she is unsparing and they are dreadful I mean it as the highest compliment. It is sinfully good like a summer cocktail you want to keep refilling. I found myself laughing out loud as I read and staying up way too late with this fabulous book (KEVIN KWAN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CRAZY RICH ASIANS)
An intelligent, stylist, and compelling read that you won't be able to put down. Packed with gossip, slander and bad bad deeds and I enjoyed every salacious word of it. Fans of The White Lotus will devour this in one sitting
Need a post-Waystar fix? Get your eyes round Bad Summer People
All stars
Most relevant
The best I can say about this novel is that it is beautifully narrated. The trouble is the author appears to have decided that “bad people” equals “interesting people” and has made little effort to create nuanced believable characters that a reader might care about.

There was no one to “root” for in this interminable tale of the super-rich tennis set. There weren’t even any compelling details about how the rich spend their money. We could at least have enjoyed some gorgeous designer labels and delicious dinners! Nothing.

A ploddy read with the thinnest of plots.

Disappointing

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Great truly awful characters, subtle plot, excellent narration, brilliant insight into a privileged, warped world.

Excellent listen

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An easy summer listen. Bad rich people telling their story of their summer in their exclusive playground of Salcombe near new year. Told from the perspective of all the characters.

A little predictable…. But entertaining

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Loved it - perfect mix of ghastly glamorous characters soaked in luxury - will look out for more by author

Brilliant Summer Book

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Highly entertaining! Not slow, kept the interest. Was almost a little disappointed towards the end of the book, but then was not, given the unexpected twist.
Brilliant narration, a key contributing factor towards the enjoyment. Enabled me to form images of scenes and characters. Made me think about the psyche of the main characters. Did get a bit confused with some of the other names of characters, as there were so many, but wasn’t confused by the main characters.

If you like Desperate Housewives and/or The Real Housewives series, you’ll love this!!

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