At Willow Creek High, blonde, blue-eyed cheerleaders are disappearing without a trace. The once vibrant school is now clouded with fear and uncertainty. For 21-year-old Emily Carter, the disappearances hit close to home-her younger sister, Ashley, was the latest victim. Determined to uncover the truth, Emily takes matters into her own hands. She dyes her naturally brunette hair blonde and goes undercover, joining the cheer squad to find out what really happened to her sister.
Emily quickly notices something sinister: the school's bad boy, Cole Matthews, seems unusually interested in her. With his brooding looks and dangerous reputation, Cole has always given Emily the creeps, but now he's watching her more than ever. As he persistently asks her out, Emily's suspicions grow. But when her older brother, Jake, a 25-year-old police officer, suggests she take the risk and go on the date-armed with a hidden tracker-Emily agrees.
What begins as a simple date soon turns into a nightmarish ordeal as Cole drives her deep into the woods. At a secluded cabin, Emily uncovers the horrifying truth: Cole has been abducting and murdering cheerleaders, including her sister. With her brother and the police closing in, Emily must use every ounce of strength and courage to survive the night and bring Cole to justice. But the scars of what she uncovers may never heal.
Two boys. One secret. And a summer that changes everything.
Morgan always knew her mother's love came with conditions-and an expiration date. As CEO of the Jones Hotel empire, Alice Jones has never let motherhood get in the way of her ambition. So when she announces a move from their New York City penthouse to Beacon Beach-her sleepy hometown on the coast-Morgan dares to believe it might be their chance to start over.
But just days before Morgan's eighteenth birthday, her mother is gone again-off to Europe to open her first international hotel-leaving Morgan behind to face the summer before senior year completely alone.
Or so she thinks.
Everything changes when Morgan meets Jake: the charming boy-next-door who runs the local bookshop and makes her feel like maybe this place could be home. He's steady, kind, and safe in a way Morgan has never known. But just as she begins to fall for him, she meets Cam-Jake's opposite in every way. Brooding, reckless, magnetic. The boy with a reputation, a past, and a way of looking at her that makes it hard to breathe.
What Morgan doesn't realize is that Jake and Cam share a secret. One that runs deeper than rumors. One that has the power to change everything.
Now, torn between the boy who grounds her and the boy who sets her on fire, Morgan must decide where she stands-between light and shadow, comfort and chaos, the truth and the lies they've buried.
Because in Beacon Beach, nothing stays hidden forever.
Trigger Warning:
Verbal and physical aggression
Alcohol and drug use by minors
Sexual assault
Gun violence