NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE is an impressive YA debut by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. Sixteen-year-old Lucia is drowning in grief and loneliness after witnessing her best friend's death, which has turned her world upside down. A summer in Nantucket seems like the fresh start she and her mother need, but as Lucia steps into this new world of cobblestone streets, pristine beaches, quaint shops, and extreme wealth, she realizes that danger lurks everywhere, and no place is immune to tragedy.
When Lucia arrives on Nantucket, she meets her mom’s new boyfriend and his college-aged son, Eric. The summer promises beach outings, parties, and a part-time job. While in town, Lucia encounters three young girls who mesmerize her with their wild, luxurious, carefree lives. But these girls are outsiders, and their presence rubs the locals—and regular island visitors—the wrong way. During a family beach outing, Lucia stumbles across the dead body of a young girl, but no one in town can identify her, and media coverage is minimal. Who was she, and what happened to her? Lucia decides to investigate, embarking on a mission to uncover the truth. But as she digs deeper, she questions whom she can trust and whether what she believes is truly possible.
NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE is an engaging escape with a young protagonist dealing with grief and seeking justice for a young victim. The setting of Nantucket provides an atmospheric backdrop where murder is in juxtaposition with the serene, tranquil environment of the island. There’s a mystical element that enhances the mystery while not overpowering the plot and taking it too far in a different direction. The story is filled with wealth, intrigue, danger, deception, sea myths, yachts, and stuffy dinner parties with entitled teenagers. Lucia is the empathetic voice of reason, and as she seeks out clues, she tries to keep her mom off her back and her goal in mind. Good action propels the plot, intense encounters enhance the suspense, and a nice twist rounds out this impressive debut novel. NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE will enchant, thrill, and entertain readers as they journey with Lucia to find a murderer hiding in this tranquil place.
“Part mystery, part thriller... and absolutely pitch-perfect! A summer in Nantucket you won’t forget!” —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake House
A carefree New England vacation is just what sixteen-year-old Lucia needs to chase her sadness away. At least, according to her mom, who whisks them away for the summer with her ridiculously wealthy new boyfriend. Nothing bad happens in Nantucket, a charming island with cobblestone streets and million-dollar cottages.
But when Lucia stumbles upon the body of a teenage girl on a beach, the discovery reopens old wounds from her past. With the dead girl's identity a mystery, Lucia takes it upon herself to investigate and crosses paths with Selah and her pack of devil-may-care besties. The three girls are beautiful, chaotic, and a little wild—and they help Lucia forget her crushing sense of grief and loneliness. But as Lucia becomes a part of their shimmering world, she begins to suspect that there are dark secrets hidden in this quiet enclave, and that uncovering them may be the key to solving the dead girl’s murder. Not everything on this island is what it seems…
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