What Happened That Summer: A BRAND NEW summer page-turner for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid! From Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

Ā· Boldwood Books Ltd
2 reviews
Ebook
288
Pages
Tools
Eligible

About this ebook

THE MUST-READ NOVEL OF THE SUMMER ⭐ From Laura Pearson, the No.1 bestselling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont!An addictive page-turner, full of 90s nostalgia, about fame, first love and the summer that changed everything... ā˜€ļø Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid!

ā€˜This book had me totally gripped' Beth O’Leary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It makes your heart ache' Clare Leslie Hall, author of Broken Country ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The summer AJ Silver died, everyone had something to lose. The world called it a tragedy. Someone knew it was more...

Everyone who was around in the 1990s remembers where they were when they heard that AJ Silver had died. In the summer of ’96, there was no avoiding the story that America's biggest teen pop sensation had plunged to his death on a rollercoaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England.

Now, 27 years have passed, and – even if you’re too young to recall the event – you’ve probably heard AJ Silver's songs topping the charts again. So what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing everyone who was there that fateful day: workers, friends, family... the people who gained from his death, and the people who lost everything.

But you’re going to want to pay attention. Because I’ve found out a secret. One you’re all going to want to know... Perhaps it wasn’t such an accident after all?

A truly unique and unforgettable novel, set in 1990s Los Angeles and rural England, with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. You’ll be gripped!

Everyone is talking about What Happened That Summer!

ā€˜I loved this! Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will devour it, then want to start it all over again, just like I did. Laura Pearson’s best one yet, and that’s saying something!’ Kate Storey, author

ā€˜What a unique story, so well executed, so full of character. I really enjoyed it.’ Beth O’Leary, author

ā€˜A masterclass in storytelling. The mystery is utterly addictive, the love story so tender and exquisitely drawn it makes your heart ache, and all set against a glorious backdrop of 90s nostalgia. I ADORED it. Laura Pearson is a must-read author for me and this is her best book yet.’ Clare Leslie Hall, author

ā€˜I devoured What Happened That Summer. It’s a gripping, heartfelt read... I was genuinely sad to turn the last page!’ Emily Freud, author

ā€˜Wow, what a read this was!... It’s so gripping that I’ve got bags under my eyes from one-more-chaptering into the night. But it’s more than just a gripping story – it’s full of heart too.... I absolutely loved it.’ Fran Quinn, author

ā€˜Definitely my favourite book of the year BY A MILE!!! One of those I wish I could go back and read again for the first time. If I didn’t have to go to work, I would not have put it down. And the twist at the end!!! Didn’t see it coming at all. I know I have used way too many exclamation marks in this review but I can’t stop!! An absolute triumph of a novel.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ā€˜What can I say, other than... WOW! As a fan of Laura’s, this is unlike any other book she has written, and completely blew me away. I devoured every page’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ā€˜This book was so amazing I couldn’t put it down!!... The kind of book that will stay with you forever; one you will read over and over again, so you can pore over every detail just one more time!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE MUST-READ NOVEL OF THE SUMMER ⭐ From Laura Pearson, the No.1 bestselling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont!An addictive page-turner, full of 90s nostalgia, about fame, first love and the summer that changed everything... ā˜€ļø Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid! ā€˜This book had me to...

Discover more

Ratings and reviews

2 reviews
Linda Brown
January 3, 2026
šŸŽ¢A tragic tale unfolding in podcastsšŸŽ™4-4.5🌟 The format of this story, eight chapters, each a podcast, suited the plot, but it was not what I was expecting in a Laura Pearson novel. That's not to say I was disappointed, just intrigued, by this new twist in the author's style. I felt the format, especially when each podcast consists of an interview with numerous people, made the story a bit choppy. But it also raised the suspense level as the podcasts first introduced the ten main players. šŸ‘
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Laura Pearson is the author of emotional, uplifting novels, including the #1 smash hit bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont with award-winning publisher Boldwood Books. She founded The Bookload on Facebook and has had several pieces published in the Guardian and the Telegraph.

Laura Pearson is the author of emotional, uplifting novels, including the #1 smash hit bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont with award-winning publisher Boldwood Books. She founded The Bookload on Facebook and has had several pieces published in the Guardian and the Telegraph.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.