Book Review: Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

By georgelthomas on 25 Jul 2025 • ( 0 )

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Emma Rosenblum’s Bad Summer People.

Bad Summer People was published in 2023 by Penguin Random House and is 254 pages long.

The Plot
Bad Summer People explores the relationships of a wealthy group of friends who flock to their summertime playground on Fire Island each year, ready for sun-drenched days and martini-filled nights. However, beneath the shiny veneer, secrets churn; there’s backstabbing, affairs, and petty, sharp jabs that keep the social hierarchy intact, for the most part. Plus, there’s a body.

Characters
Lauren
At first, Lauren is presented as a fairly pleasant, passive woman who allows her husband to steamroll over the decisions about where they’ll buy a holiday home; Lauren wants to go to Miami, while her husband wants to go to Fire Island, where he spent his youth.

However, throughout the book, she becomes more assertive and even begins an affair with the new tennis coach.

Jason
Jason is married to Lauren, even though he has been in love with his best friend’s wife for years. The two begin an affair, which intensifies when they head to the beach town of Salcombe on Fire Island for the summer.

Sam
Sam is Jason’s best friend. The two have been close since they were small and spent much of their youth at Sam’s parents’ house on Fire Island. Sam’s life begins to unravel when he learns from an old friend that his wife is having an affair—although she won’t say who with—and to top it all off, he gets suspended from work after being accused of unacceptable behaviour.

Jen
Jen is Sam’s wife but has been having an on-and-off affair with Jason since they first met years ago. Throughout the story, Jen realises that she doesn’t actually love Jason. In fact, he is just the latest in a string of men she has been using for her own amusement.

Rachel
Rachel is the only singleton in the group, though she’s in love with Sam—and has been since they were young. She is a needy, insecure gossip, often feeling left out when she sees her friends coupled up. Her need for Sam’s attention leads her to tell him about his wife’s affair, though she refuses to tell him that the man is his best friend, Jason.

Robert
Robert, the tennis club’s new coach, is brought in for the summer to replace the previous coach, who was fired for drinking and stealing from the tennis club. Robert finds himself immediately drawn to Lauren, and they begin an affair. He also finds himself drawn to the money side of things when he, too, starts to steal from the tennis club.

Susan
Susan’s role in the book is minor but vital. She is an older resident of Salcombe with high morals and standards. Throughout the story, she becomes suspicious of Robert. She eventually discovers his stealing, which sets things in motion for a tragic ending.

Writing Style
The writing style is a little gossipy—secrets abound, and from the very start, you’re compelled to keep turning pages to find out who discovers what.

Although the story is compelling overall, I did find it a little dull in places and a little far-fetched, but then again, I think it’s supposed to be. I got ‘Desperate Housewives’ vibes from the story—and I mean that in the best possible way.

The characters fell a bit flatter than I would have liked, although they were still intriguing. I especially enjoyed the characterisation of Rachel. She seemed to be the only one with real substance. She had actual wants and needs that weren’t as frivolous as the rest, such as wanting to be loved.

The book’s pacing felt a little stop-and-start for me, although I thought the dialogue was very well-written and realistic for a group of people who have been friends for years. I also enjoyed how the town is described—I’ve never been to Salcombe (it is fictional, after all), but I feel like I could have.

Final Thoughts
Overall, the story was good, if a little slow in parts, and some of the characters were a little less rounded than I like. But on the whole, I enjoyed it. If gossipy, beachy towns full of morally dubious characters are your thing, then yes, pick up a copy of Bad Summer People. If you prefer a book with a bit of pace, I’d skip it.

I just discovered there is to be a TV series adaptation based on the book, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Perhaps the medium of TV will give the story a bit of zest.

I’m giving Bad Summer People a 4/10.

Have you read Bad Summer People? What did you think?

Thank you, as ever, for stopping by to read my review.

Until next time,

George