Thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the
ARC
Summary: A study abroad program like no other: a month-long trip of education and adventure, exploring everything Australia has to offer. And at first, it's everything best friends Phoebe and Claire, and the rest of the student group expects: sunshine, whirlwind romance, and all-night parties. But it isn't long before cracks begin to form within the group.
10 years later Phoebe's body is discovered reopening her case and bringing the group back together. Is the killer one of them?
I enjoyed this thriller, loved the Australian setting, the diverse cast of characters who met as college students during a summer abroad, lots of good suspense, just when you thought you had the killer figured out there was a fun twist that kept you guessing till the end.
I would recommend for anyone looking for a fun fast paced summer thriller

Set in dual time periods, this story is one of mystery and deception. Unfortunately, there were so many twists that after a while, I lost interest. Some people who enjoy twist after twist may enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t for me.

All in all, this destination thriller completely delivered and may have just introduced me to a new favorite author. The story—centered around a study abroad trip gone sideways—was packed with everything I love: a vivid setting, layered secrets, shady characters, and just the right hint of romance. The pacing was spot on, the characters felt real, and the ending wrapped things up in a way that truly satisfied. It read like a summer blockbuster, and I couldn’t put it down. If you’re into twisty, atmospheric thrillers, this one’s absolutely worth the read. Solid 4.5 stars—easily rounded up.

This book was a great thriller set in Australia and I loved every minute of it. When a group of friends return to Australia a decade after their missing friends body was discovered, the cops have some questions for them.
As this group of friends relive what happened the night Phoebe went missing, you start to find out that they each have a dark secret where none of them can really be trusted.
There were some characters I really loved, and others I truly hated. The twist at the end in the epilogue really got me, I so was not expecting that extra little ending. This is the perfect thriller to read over the summer and I highly recommend it.

Ochs brings Australia vividly to life, from the sun drenched beaches to the oppressive heat of Jagged Rock. The Outback almost becomes another character: beautiful, isolating, and unforgiving. The dual timeline structure maintains suspense, with well placed red herrings and clues that keep readers guessing. The story escalates steadily, culminating in a twist‑heavy epilogue.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🌴 island setting
🌴 group of friends who-dun-it
🌴 summer camp
🌴 murder
🌴 dual timelines
🌴 multi-POV
🌴 1st person POV

I really liked the format of this thriller!! The killer was revealed right at the very beginning of the book, and then the story was worked backwards from there 🩷🩷 It made it very suspenseful and exciting, and I couldn’t put it down right from the very beginning!
I tore through this book in 1 single day, that’s how much I enjoyed it 🩷🩷
I love the jumping back-and-forth between the 2 timelines; it keeps the story very exciting, and also allows me to piece the story together slowly as the clues are revealed 🩷
There was a bunch of characters in this one but it was very easy to keep track of them all; that’s super important to me when reading a multi-POV book.
I found myself rooting for Claire and Declan, even though Claire is kinda the bad guy? I did not hate any of the characters like I usually do with these who-fun-it murder mysteries 🤪🤪 which is strange to me because I can usually sense out the killer pretty quickly.
I really thought I had the killer figured out after reading so many of these murder mysteries, but boy was I wrong!!
This was my favourite read in a while; I really really enjoyed this one!! Thank you so much to Sarah Ochs and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕

This author!! I was so excited to get a copy of this one after reading The Resort and it did NOT disappoint. I hope this one gets more attention, I haven't seen it at all!

Ten years ago, a group of college students dubbed "The Mob" went to Australia for a study abroad program. Filled with adventure, none of the students expected danger until one of them went missing. In the present, "The Mob" returns to Australia for a reunion and also to be questioned by the police. But is "The Mob" innocent, or is one of them a murderer?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the eARC for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are mine alone. "This Stays Between Us" by Sarah Ochs is widely available now.

Oh my, did I enjoy this gripping and twisty thriller! I had the hardest time putting this book down, and I gobbled it up in two days.

First, let me tell you that I originally decided to read this because I fell in love with Ochs' incredible storytelling last year when I read "The Resort." Ochs has a way of transporting her readers to her exotic travel destinations. She did just that in her newest novel, taking us along for the adventure with this group of college students. It was so much fun!

Now, let's talk about the thrilling mystery. It was twisty, and I was pulled in so many directions by all the flawed characters, some more than others. You literally couldn't trust anybody from "the mob" of friends.

There's some group drama involved with "The Mob," too! We're talking about mean girl drama and love triangles. I mean, we are talking about college kids here. Of course, I ate all of it up. I don't personally like being involved in drama, but I sure as heck like to hear about it.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers. Happy reading!

I loved the setting and getting to know each character. I thought the MC made some pretty silly choices (you know, like wandering into the Australian desert alone) but I also understood her tenacity to get to the bottom of her friend’s disappearance.

Sun. Surf. Secrets. And one dead best friend.

Sara Ochs delivers a masterclass in slow burn tension with This Stays Between Us, a chilling, time jumping thriller where paradise isn't just lost... it’s a crime scene.

Ten years ago, Claire and Phoebe were inseparable. Study abroad soulmates. Until one of them vanished under the blinding Australian sun. Now, a decade later, bones have been found, and Claire is forced back to the scene of the crime, to the outback trails, hostel bunks, and boozy nights that changed everything. But here’s the kicker: Claire knows exactly what happened. Because she’s the one who killed her best friend.

What I loved most? It’s not just about the murder. It’s about the layers, how grief, guilt, youth, and memory can twist into something lethal. It’s about what we hide from others, and worse, what we hide from ourselves.

Ochs builds the pressure like a storm front, thick, breathless, inescapable. I could feel the humidity, the paranoia, the ache of a friendship gone violently wrong. And that ending? I read it twice. First to absorb, second to admire.

If you like your thrillers with a touch of wanderlust, a hint of nostalgia, and a whole lot of "Oh my god, what did she just say?", pack your bags. You’re going to Australia, and trust me, you won’t come back the same.

Just don’t tell anyone. This stays between us

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of This Stays Between Us. This book definitely kept me on my toes as I was trying to figure out throughout the whole book what happened to Phoebe and who killed her. I don't know how I feel about it being someone that idolized her brother that treated her so badly. It felt very random. But I didn't guess Josh as being the one that killed her and I did love the last chapter that showed us that Claire DID in fact see Phoebe in the mine that night and just left her there. That got me! I think thriller readers will enjoy the ride.

A quick, easy read that simmered with rising tension and dread, This Stays Between Us had me riveted from the very first attention-grabbing page. With a messy cast of characters seen from dual timelines and dual POVs, it was both a breeze to follow and even easier to get sucked in. After all, thanks to both this crew’s complex group dynamics and their enigmatic past, it was hard to slot everyone’s intentions into place before bodies started dropping like flies. And trust me, once their secrets and lies began to unravel, there wasn’t a thing you could do to pull me away from this novel. Dark, twisty, and mind-blowing, I never knew who to trust, which definitely pleased me to no end.

Evenly paced and with plenty of finely tuned suspense, I was wowed by the exploration of betrayal and guilt as each of characters’ stories were revealed one by one. Feeling both true-to-life and easy-to-believe, Ochs tapped into the psychology of blame, regret, and remorse with the skill of a master. But the series of twists were what hooked me again and again. Repeatedly shifting the storyline just enough to make me question what really happened, it was a plot that came together with complete and utter precision. After all, with an earth-shattering twist on the very last page, I was left gleefully open-mouthed once the truth was revealed. Bravo, Ms. Ochs, you shocked me but good.

All said and done, thanks to a storyline that was nigh on perfection, I’m sure that I just found a new favorite author. From the well-developed personas to the dead-on perfect conclusion, this immersive tale of a study abroad trip gone wrong won me over in spades. You see, this destination thriller had everything you could want in a unputdownable novel: untrustworthy characters, a strong sense of place, long-buried secrets, and even a bit of romance. Altogether, they formed a book that read like a blockbuster for this thriller lover. So if you’re looking for your next favorite summer read, be sure to grab a copy today. After all, I guarantee that you’ll be riveted by this one just like I was. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Ten years ago: A study abroad program like no other: a month-long trip of education and adventure, exploring everything Australia has to offer. And at first, it's everything best friends Phoebe and Claire, and the rest of the student group expects: sunshine, whirlwind romance, and all-night parties. But it isn't long before cracks begin to form within the group. Ones that lead to Phoebe's disappearance…

Now: It's the call Claire has been waiting for years for. Phoebe's remains have been found. It's time to return, for her and the others to go back to Australia. But as Claire retraces their steps and tries to piece together exactly what happened to her best friend all those years ago, it quickly becomes clear everyone in the group has secrets. Including Claire.

Because only she knows what really happened that fateful day ten years ago. The day she killed her best friend. And she'll do anything she can to keep the others from learning the truth.

Thank you to Sara Ochs and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

#ad much love for my advance copy @bookmarked #partner

🆃🅷🅸🆂 🆂🆃🅰🆈🆂 🅱🅴🆃🆆🅴🅴🅽 🆄🆂
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴜʟʏ 𝟣𝟧, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧
< @saraochsauthor >
^ Seriously, one of the sweetest authors ever - I 🫶🏻 her so much! Give her a follow 💕

Okay not today but tomorrow is pub day - preorder now - trust me 🥳

If you haven’t read this author yet and love thrillers, she’s a must read! I loved her debut book The Resort so so so so so so MUCH! As soon as I finished the book I knew she’d be an auto-buy author of mine. In fact, I was so excited I ordered her UK books - which are just the same as the US (just different titles) 😂😂 Best mistake ever.

This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs is an unputdownable mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The storyline alternates between the past and current times and both will keep you fully entertained.

Ten years ago a special group of students were selected for a month-long trip to Australia to study abroad. But not all the students came back. Now it’s ten years later and the group has come back - they have secrets, and someone close to them has now disappeared. Now the police want to interview them.

Phoebe, the girl who never made it back home - her remains have been found. Now everyone wants to know what happened to Phoebe. Claire, Phoebe’s best-friend, thinks she’s the one hiding the truth, but is she really?

Oof! Ochs’ writing is out of this world fantastic. I get so lost in her words that I forget there’s a world even happening around me. If you read and loved The Resort it’s safe to say you’ll also love this book.

Loved it. Won’t forget it. You need to read it.

Cannot wait to see what’s up next for this author.. it’s safe to say I’LL BE READING 👀

The narrative takes place between “then” and “now” as you learn the secrets. This read had me questioning a lot of things. Like, what really happened that summer? I enjoyed the suspense and the characters are well developed.

Happy Thriller Thursday! It feels like I haven’t really gotten into a thriller in a while, and I am excited to share about this one which published last week. Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
After really enjoying The Resort, a vacation thriller set in Thailand, I was eager to read This Stays Between Us, a vacation thriller set in Australia. It can be hard for a second book to live up to the hype I create, but this one surpassed my expectations. The book kept me entertained on my long flights last week, and even though it is 400 pages, it felt like it breezed right along because I was so swept into the Australian setting, especially the outback. I've haven’t been to Australia, and after reading this I am even more eager to visit.
This Stays Between Us involves a college study abroad program - but instead of a semester- or year-long program, it’s a one month opportunity over the December holidays for a small group of students from all over the globe to come to Australia and be exposed to as much of the country as possible, with a focus on “adventure” activities like bungee jumping. Now, you wouldn’t catch me bungee jumping, but I would totally go for the rest of this program. Ten years ago, this group got to know each other very well on their trip, but there is a reunion being hosted by one of the members who remained in Australia, and the police happen to find the body of one of their group members at the same time as the reunion. It’s foreshadowed pretty early on that there were two fatalities in this small group during the program (and that the program ended immediately after - big surprise!). While the members are questioned in this homicide case, their RA is found dead, too. So we have three deaths and a lot of secrets and shady situations to find out about. As the book switches POV and timelines, the rest of the trip’s happenings and the details of the deaths are slowly revealed. While it might sound confusing to jump between POV and timelines, the chapters clearly note who/when and I found them extremely clear to follow.
If you want to experience an Australian tour from your couch, definitely pick this one up. I noticed it’s available on Hoopla through my library, so you might want to check it out there. I highly recommend reading it!

This book is a brilliantly crafted thriller that keeps your heart racing until the final page. The twists are clever and genuinely surprising, making it impossible to predict what’s coming next. The characters are richly developed, adding depth to the suspense. Every scene crackles with tension and urgency. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves intelligent, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

Well this one went by quickly! I absolutely could not put this one down!!!! It was just so addicting! I also enjoy multi POVs, there’s two in this book and also a dual timeline. I just really thought the suspense building was just so incredible. The characters are hard to describe. They are a little unlikable but I feel like flawed is a better way to describe them, to me. The hint of secrets to be revealed was so annoying and equally addicting at the same time!!! I also enjoyed the story of these people who joined up from all different places and took and adventure together for only a month and made all these memories and secrets together and then coming back together to basically reveal all of their hands! This was just a really fun binge-worthy book! The setting of Australia was really fun as well! I def felt like I was in these places with the characters!

Ten young college students go to Australia for a month to do an adventure abroad. Things didn't go as planned and only eight returned. Ten years later Phoebe's body has been found and the police requests everyone to come back to be questioned. This story has a dual timeliness and is told from Claire's and Phoebes pov. This is a great mystery with lots of twists and will keep you reading with no ability to take a break. Just when I thought it was all done and I knew everything that had happened the author had one more BIG surprise in store. I really enjoyed trying to figure this one out as I was reading.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this fabulous ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It took me awhile to fully get into the novel. I didn’t resonate with the characters. That said, I like unlikeable characters — they’re more real. Trying to figure out who was responsible for Phoebe’s death. I did come to like Claire more. The setting was described well and added to the overall read. I have many students who will enjoy this book. I’ll definitely add it to the list for our library and book talk it with my students.

This was just ok! I liked the idea of this plot but all in all, it just felt messy. Too many characters. Too many little twists that didn’t do anything in the end.