Bad Summer People: A Novel

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * Emma Rosenblum's Bad Summer People is a whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue, set against an exclusive summer haven on Fire Island.

"This roiling beach community satire serves up wicked, clever fun that is White Lotus sharp." —Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians and Sex and Vanity

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER 2023: Bustle, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, PopSugar, Bloomberg, Vogue, and more!

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.

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Published May 7, 2024

272 pages

Average rating: 5.87

244 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Larry Burns
Oct 27, 2023
7/10 stars
Full of colorful people and their distrustful behavior.
KelSpinski
Jan 09, 2026
8/10 stars
similar feel of elin Hildebrand book but on Fire Island and with a heavy Tennis community feel. since I enjoy tennis, this book kept my interest. typical rich beach community drama with all the twists and lies.
postcoffeepoop
Oct 21, 2025
2/10 stars
DNF @ 39%

Finally had to put it down and say "I honestly do not care." We're not even halfway in and we're already introduced to like the 15th POV. It's very hard to be engaged with a story where every chapter is a new POV.

Not to mention the repetition of the story. If there were three characters in one scene, you'll hear that same scene 3 times with not a whole lot of differing perspectives. Just the same scene repeated 3 times.

Not worth the read.
de23bach
May 28, 2025
Met at merit coffee 2/25/24
Jjcgp26
Feb 01, 2025
4/10 stars
I hated every character and wanted bad things for all of them.

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