Read a thriller about an expert swimmer who drowns under mysterious circumstances

How to Kill Your Best Friend — Lexie Elliot

This week’s recommendation also comes with a giveaway! Keep reading for your chance to win one brand-new copy of this book just in time for summer reading!

What to Read This Week

How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliot

What It’s About

Georgie, Bronwyn, and Lissa were inseparable in college. They dominated on their college swim team, and they’ve remained strong swimmers and strong friends since. But when Lissa is declared dead—found drowned in Kanu Cove, a dangerous and strange area of ocean—her friends are shocked and confused.

Georgie and Bronwyn reunite for Lissa’s memorial on the island, along with some other friends, but from the moment they arrive, something isn’t right. It seems like someone is tormenting them for past mistakes and past secrets held tightly, and the island doesn’t feel so secure and secluded as they thought.

As things get more dangerous and more real for the women the more they look into Lissa’s strange death, the more they realize they may also be in danger, and it’s up to them to determine why and keep themselves alive on the island.

Why You Should Read It

This is the quintessential thriller that is perfect for reading beach-side (or pool-side)—lots of drama and intrigue that’s easy to jump in and out of. To me, there’s nothing better than these kinds of books in the summer. They’re suspenseful enough to keep you interested and full of characters who are not making the best decisions, which makes them extra fun to read about.

If you loved The Guest List by Lucy Foley or An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher, this should be your next pick for your summer list. Lexie Elliot also has several other thrillers out, including The French Girl and The Missing Years. I also curated a whole list of mysteries perfect for the warm weather if you’re looking for a whole bunch of selections.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Berkley, the publisher of How to Kill Your Best Friend, I have one brand-new paperback copy (with a gorgeous new cover!) to give to a lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post saying you’d like to read this book. If you want a bonus entry, share this newsletter on any social media platform of your choosing, and come back and leave a second comment that you shared it (honor system, folks!).

US residents only, or must have a US mailing address, for shipping purposes. Must feel comfortable sharing shipping address with me (will be shared with publisher for shipping purposes, but nowhere else). Not affiliated with Substack. Must be 13+ years to enter. Entries accepted until 12 AM CST 6/26/2022.

Next Up

Follow on Instagram for more book pics and giveaways!

I just started Dava Shastri’s Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti and am loving it (so much so that you may see it as a recommendation here in the near future), but other than that, I’m not reading too many other things. Here’s a pile of books I received last week for potential consideration, and I’m having a bit of book indecisiveness on what I want to read next. Where would you start? Anything you’d like me to read and review?

More Books

Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations: 

• Read a lyrical historical novel about a young painter

• Read about the longest and loneliest horse race in the world—and the woman who won it

• Read a sad girl summer novel full of LA drama

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