I found this such a fun read. Set in the early 2000s and follows two best friends, Laura and Dee, as they head to Long Island for a J1 summer working at a country club. While they expect a season of New York glamour and romance, the story actually opens with them standing over a dead body, a secret that eventually drives them apart for over twenty years.

The book is a clever blend of "noughties" nostalgia and a suspenseful mystery. It captures the specific chaos of being a young Irish woman abroad during that era—complete with the fashion, the music, and the questionable men of the time.

Our Deadly Summer- Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

The girls are baaaack with a literal bang. I could not believe my luck when I saw this ARC approvals drop into my email inbox. I am a huge fan of these 2 ladies, having DEVOURED the Aisling series and been utterly devastated when it came to an end, I was thrilled that the ladies have not retired their pens just yet.
This latest offering is certainly different to the Aisling series but has the lovely comforting Irishness and nostalgia that played a big part in the popularity of the Aisling novels.

This novel centres of the friendship between Laura, a well off worldly young lady and Dee, her wonderful culchie friend who met in college and are embarking on a J1 adventure together to America. A real right of passage in Irish culture and an experience so many(sadly I am not counting in this statistic) can identify with.
The 2 girls find themselves on Long Island, working in a country club, where Dolly, a real Mammy type character, shows them the ropes. The summer tests their friendship in more ways then one and quite literally tests the "I'd help you bury the body" promise we have all often made in jest to our close gal pals.
I loved every minute of this book and there were some definite shocks and twists and turns amongst the pages, right until the closing pages.
I cannot recommend this book enough and am so grateful that @emerthescreamer and @sarahjaybee friendship and writing relationship has continued past the Aisling series and seems stronger than ever and has hopefully not been tested to the extent of Laura and Dee.
Thank you as always to @netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review and to @bloomsburypublishing for approving me. Book comes out in May 2026. One for the preorders for sure. Guaranteed to be one of 2026's hottest poolside read 📚

Very much enjoyed this, it will really tickle readers who loved the Aisling books, the trademark warmth and laughs are there aplenty. The New York setting is a nice change and well handled, told from the Irish (country girl and city girl) perspective. I enjoyed it very much, thank you for the advance copy.

A really enjoyable black comedy about 2 friends, during the biggest summer of their lives and the events that lead them to be standing over a body…
Dee and Laura are excellent characters, and their chapters are easily distinguished from each other which isn’t always the case in dual POV stories. I also loved the character of Dolly, as well as the other girls with whom they share Deuce over the fateful summer.
The ending was satisfying, if a tiny bit predictable, and I was very happy with how things turned out for the girls. A great read