This was a very fun thriller! The dual timeline kept me hooked thru the whole book! The ending was tied up so nicely and then the epilogue blew it up LOL. I love it when that happens. Over all, a very fun thriller!

**Special thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this for an honest review via Netgalley!**

WOW WOW WOW. I have gotten really into thrillers this year, and because of that, it's getting harder and harder for me to really get that *shock factor* from a thriller book, ya know? A lot of plot twists really start to feel copy/paste, and I feel like I know exactly who did what way too early on.

That was NOT the case with This Stays Between Us! There were times where I was pointing fingers at everyone, I swear. I changed my mind on what happened and who was responsible every other chapter, and THAT is what makes a good thriller to me! My mouth was literally like 🫨 at the end.

I also really loved the two different timelines and how each timeline was actually told through a different POV. It made for a really interesting way of storytelling that I don't really see all that often and kept me engaged from the very beginning.

Finally, as someone who studied abroad in college, this one got me even more. I can't even imagine if something like this had happened while I was studying abroad.

If you love thrillers and are looking for a unique read this fall, don't sleep on This Stays Between Us. This book SHOULD NOT just stay between us if you're reading this review. It's really that good.

Meh. DNF at 28%

Same old story just a different setting. Group of ppl. Someone’s dead. Everyone is lying. Got it.

A reunion in desolate Australia to try to solve an old murder...what could happen to this friend group getting back together? Unexpected and definitely kept my attention to the end.

"This Stays Between Us" by Sara Ochs is a gripping and emotionally rich story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Ochs creates deeply relatable characters whose struggles and secrets make the plot compelling and authentic. The pacing is well-crafted, with just the right amount of suspense and tension to keep readers engaged. The writing is both heartfelt and immersive, drawing you into the characters’ lives and dilemmas. Overall, it’s a powerful and satisfying read that lingers in your mind long after the final page.

This dark and gripping psychological thriller expertly unravels a decade-old mystery wrapped in friendship, secrets, and betrayal. The author skillfully contrasts the sun-soaked allure of an Australian study abroad trip with the chilling aftermath of Phoebe’s disappearance, pulling readers into a web of tension and suspicion. As Claire returns to confront the past, the story delves deep into guilt and deception, with twists that keep the truth tantalizingly out of reach. The complex characters and haunting revelations make this a compelling read about how far one will go to bury the darkest secrets—and the price of living with them.

Read if you like:

Thrillers
Unreliable narrators
Dual timelines
Messy characters
Friend groups with a secret

My thoughts:

This Stays Between Us is the perfect summer thriller, full of messy characters, dark secrets, and twists you will never see coming. Readers will be on the edge of their seats right up until the jaw-dropping last sentence.

This Stays Between Us is full of characters you will love to hate. This friend group is messy, to say the least. Every character has a complicated history, showcased perfectly with the dual timelines. 'The mob,' as they affectionately dubbed themselves at the start of their summer abroad program, brought together a group of people from varying places, cultures, and economic classes. While this group never would have formed under different circumstances, they bonded during their time together and created unlikely friendships and romantic entanglements. 

Claire and Phoebe, being the two narrators, are the most well-developed characters but that's not to say that the rest were under-developed. To be honest, every character, no matter how minor, felt fully fleshed out and well-formed. I felt that there were some side characters added in solely as red herrings but even those plot points were wrapped up neatly by the end.

The dual points-of-view, between Claire (present day) and Phoebe (past), show a remarkably clear picture of how things started, how they all went so very wrong, and eventually, how they ended. Neither girl had the full story so both were quite unreliable narrators. Readers will question almost all the information and have to piece together a lot of the story as they go. It's full of so many twists that just when you think you've got it all figured out, you'll be proven completely wrong. I never saw the end coming.

I also fully immersed myself in this story by listening to the audiobook while reading along to the ebook. The narrators did a fabulous job, with pacing, sense of urgency, and a plethora of accents. While some of the voices for the male characters weren't perfect, I can't really complain too much. With such a large cast of characters, they did an especially good job differentiating between them all.

Overall, This Stays Between Us is a quick, easy read of a thriller that reader can devour in one sitting. I will be adding Sara Ochs' other books to my TBR after loving this one so much!

TL;DR

This Stays Between Us is a dark, twisted tale full of lies and betrayal. Told in alternating points-of-view with a dual timeline, the pacing is fast and the characters are extremely messy. Readers won't know who to trust when it comes to these unreliable narrators and a cast of characters full of secrets. This is one of those books that will leave you guessing, right up until the very last word!

Unfortunately I have decided to DNF this one, it wasn't for me.
I will continue to check for future books from this author as I like to give author's a second chance and I won't be put off from DNF this one for my future reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was such a solid thriller. Just an all-arounder in terms of plot and craft. I don’t normally like dual timelines or POVs, but I think the decision to write it this way was an excellent one, and it was satisfying to have the reason why confirmed in the author’s note at the end. What this book excels at is a tightly coiling narrative, one that amps up the tension and keeps you hooked because you just have to know when the everything’s going to snap. My only big disappointment was the decision the author made in the epilogue, but I’m just going to pretend that doesn’t exist!

Writing style was perfectly bingeable. I have faith that this author can put something out for the below average reader like me (self burn). I typically shy away from group setting books like this, because unless the characters really stand out, my mind just makes them into a conglomerate. None of these characters were special to me, so I had some trouble keeping them straight. Also, didn’t love the ending.

The overall plot was *chef’s kiss though.” I love it when there’s an uncomfy reunion after estrangement. And I would still pick up a book by this author, depending on the plot summary.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Ochs and Sourcebooks for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty fun and adventurous mystery. I love the idea of people coming back together for a reunion of some sort and then getting picked off. This is similar and I loved how there was more than one mystery happening at once. I loved hearing about Australia and the outback so much as well! It really was its own character with its very real and scary set of twists.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

A sun-drenched study abroad thriller with a sinister undercurrent, This Stays Between Us explores the fragility of memory, the weight of guilt, and the dangerous allure of secrets. Sara Ochs delivers a taut, dual-timeline mystery that interrogates the bonds of friendship and the consequences of silence.

- Memory and Moral Ambiguity: The novel hinges on Claire’s unreliable recollections and her internalized guilt over the disappearance of her best friend Phoebe. Ochs uses fragmented memories and shifting perspectives to blur the line between truth and self-preservation.

- Group Dynamics and Power: The “Mob”—a nickname for the eight students on the trip—functions as a microcosm of social hierarchy, privilege, and emotional manipulation. Their relationships are fraught with jealousy, lust, and betrayal, echoing the claustrophobic tension of Lucy Foley’s The Guest List.

- Dual Timeline Structure: Ochs alternates between the idyllic yet volatile summer in Australia and the present-day reunion, where the discovery of Phoebe’s body forces each character to confront their past and the secrets they’ve buried.

Ten years ago, Claire joined a study abroad program in Australia that promised adventure and cultural immersion. Instead, it became a whirlwind of parties, fractured friendships, and the mysterious disappearance of Phoebe, her glamorous and troubled best friend. Now, with Phoebe’s remains discovered, Claire and the surviving members of the Mob are summoned back to Australia. As investigators probe deeper, old tensions resurface and Claire must reckon with the truth she’s tried to forget—because only she knows what really happened that day.

Claire is a compelling narrator—introverted, haunted, and morally conflicted. Her evolution from a passive observer to someone forced to confront her culpability is the emotional spine of the novel. Phoebe, though absent in the present timeline, is vividly rendered through flashbacks as both magnetic and volatile. The supporting cast—especially Kyan, the wealthy playboy, and the rest of the Mob—are sketched with enough ambiguity to keep readers guessing about their motives and secrets.

This Stays Between Us is a slow-burning, emotionally resonant thriller that asks: how far would you go to protect a secret? Ochs deftly balances suspense with introspection, crafting a story that lingers long after the final page. It’s ideal for fans of Society of Lies, The Guest List, and anyone drawn to the darker side of travel and memory.

This is a tense, sun-drenched thriller that unearths long-buried secrets from a tragically wrong study abroad trip. With a dual timeline and a cast of flawed, unforgettable characters, Sara Ochs spins a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and the haunting consequences of silence. It is perfect for fans of destination thrillers with emotional depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this ARC!

4 stars...but really a 3.5

This book was soooo entertaining. I was loving the reunion of these friends and the mystery behind everything. I also loved that we knew from the start that Claire was not an innocent main character.

I had a strong 4 star feeling from the beginning until the big twist was revealed. It was just an okay twist and not what I was hoping for. This may be a tiny spoiler but I felt like we really didn't know much about the "villain" and then for it to be revealed like it was just left me with multiple questions.

Really enjoyed this story and I think it would prompt a really good book club discussion.

Woah, loved this one! The premise was FANTASTIC. Can't remember the last time I've read a book set in the Australian outback, so totally jumped on this one. I felt that the characters were easy to get drawn into and none of the twists felt over the top. The suspense was *chef's kiss, and so well-timed. I FLEW through this book!! Highly recommend. Can't wait to read her next one!!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

This was a pretty fast paced and easy to read thriller. I enjoyed the dual timelines it was perfect for this storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ten years ago during a study abroad program, Claire's roommate, Phoebe, went missing. Now their group of friends has reunited because Phoebe's body has been found. The friends retrace their steps to figure out what happened to Phoebe and how it all went wrong.

I enjoyed this fast paced thriller. The dual timelines was perfect for this story. The evolution of these friendships over a decade was so interesting to watch unfold. You can't trust anyone. Sometimes not even yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of This Stays Between Us.

I started reading this and couldn't get into it! I found the characters too vapid and silly. It was a great concept, but I think it needed a little more depth and personality!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This was a good summer read for me. The pacing was great, I enjoyed the characters as well and how we have multiple timelines and POV’s. I love a good dark twisty fast paced thriller and this delivered. If you love all of these things and also love suspenseful edge of your seat what is happening reads this is a good one to pick up.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Dark And Twisty, Fast Paced, Secrets And Lies, Suspense, Mysterious, Guilt And Betrayal, Dual Timelines, Multiple POV, Complex Dynamics

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark

What a wild ride! This story had a little bit of everything: twists, tension, and atmosphere. And who could you trust? These characters seemed to all have something to hide. This story had me guessing until the very end. The weaving between past and present and the different POVs is what kept my attention. You really got a chance to connect with these characters.

Reading a book by Sara Ochs is like taking a vacation to a place you didn’t know you needed to visit. If I never get to Australia, at least I visited there through this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eArc of This Stays Between Us. Definitely add this to your end of summer reading list!