"Nothing Bad Happens Here" – A Twisty YA Thriller Set in a Picture-Perfect Paradise
- Kim Bartosch
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
What could possibly go wrong on a dreamy summer vacation to Nantucket? For sixteen-year-old Lucia, the answer is everything. In "Nothing Bad Happens Here", Rachel Ekstrom Courage peels back the polished layers of a seaside escape and reveals a dark, tangled mystery underneath. With moody beachside vibes, a mysterious death, and a found family of messy, magnetic girls, this YA thriller is both emotionally grounded and compulsively readable.
Thank you to the author and Delacorte Press for including me on this tour. Book tour is sponsored by TBR and Beyond Tours. Be sure to read my top 5 reasons to read "Nothing Bad Happens Here" below!
Title: Nothing Bad Happens Here
Author: Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Date: March 18, 2025
Audience/Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Synopsis:
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…
Content Warning: grief
My Top 5 Reasons to Read "Nothing Bad Happens Here" by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
1. A Setting That’s a Character of Its Own
Cobbled streets, upscale summer homes, and moody beaches set the scene. Nantucket never felt so eerie.
2. A Heroine You’ll Root For
Lucia’s grief and instincts make her feel real. You want her to figure things out—even when she dives in too deep.
3. Mean Girls Meets Big Little Lies
Selah and her crew are chaotic, dangerous, and fascinating. If you love morally gray friendships, this is your jam.
4. Twists That Keep You Guessing
While the final reveal might be a touch predictable, the journey is juicy, layered, and totally bingeable.
5. It’s More Than Just a Mystery
Underneath the suspense is a heart—this is a story about loss, reinvention, and learning who to trust (and who to run from).
Whether you’re craving a beach read with bite or a coming-of-age mystery with emotional depth, Nothing Bad Happens Here hits the mark. It’s a great pick for fans of Kara Thomas, Tiffany D. Jackson, or Sarah Dessen’s darker side. Pack this one for your next weekend escape—but maybe keep a flashlight handy. 🔦
About the author:
Rachel Ekstrom Courage is the author of the Young Adult thriller Nothing Bad Happens Here (PRH/Delacorte) and Murder By Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery (Hyperion Avenue/Disney). She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband (the children’s book author Nick Courage) and their dog, Chaely.
By day she’s the founder of Courage Literary, advocating for books and authors that make the world a better, smarter, and more interesting place. As a literary agent, Rachel has represented New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Best Sellers. Her clients include GoodReads Choice Award Winners, IndieNext Picks and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections as well as finalists for the Lambda Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the ITW Thriller Award.
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