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When Claire has the chance to go to Australia for a month of adventurous trips and sight-seeing, she has no idea that ten years later the things that happened that month will still haunt her. Told through two timelines and two perspectives, This Stays Between Us is chock-full of teenage drama and adult drama, that twists and turns itself towards an ending which unfortunately annoyed me a little. Thanks to SOURCEBOOK Landmarks and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This paragraph might threaten to get a little spoiler-y, if you read between my lines, so if you'd like to retain all possible tension for This Stays Between Us, skip to the next one. As the blurb of the novel promises, Claire is stressed about the discovery of Phoebe's remains because she is the one who killed her. I love that as a premise, because girl drama turned into woman drama is ripe for tension and we don't get to see women actually kill out of petty reasons all that often. Not that I am pro-murder, but female characters usually kill because they have been wronged and therefore there is a justification for their actions which leans into the moral. I support women's rights, but I also support women's wrongs, by which I mean that women can be just as irrational, evil, and destructive as men and this too should find its reflection in literature. What annoys me, therefore, is that This Stays Between Us lures me in with the promise of complicated female friendships and murder and then actually keeps turning this on its head, to the point that Claire's guilt remains an eternal question mark until the last page, at which point I was over it. I appreciate that the publishing industry most likely is pushing authors to have as many twists as possible and to retain an element of Gotcha for the last page, so this is a complaint to them as well. I love a reveal in the last few pages, but I do want it to feel earned. If you're going to make me spend hundreds of pages in a character's head, and not make them an unreliable narrator, I shouldn't have to throw out most of those pages in order to appreciate the ending. This is not just an issue with This Stays Between Us, but with many thrillers I've read lately, so I think the idea of the unreliable narrator needs to either be more clearly defined or left to rest for a little.

This Stays Between Us is told through the perspective of Claire in the now and Phoebe's perspective ten years ago. I hadn't expected to get the past through Phoebe's POV but I appreciated it, because it allows us to see the characters through two different sets of eyes. Ten years ago, Phoebe and Claire, along with five others, took part in a study abroad programme through which they got to see all the sights and joys of Australia, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback. They are all fresh adults, which means that they are basically children, and so the drama between them is intensely petty. There is fun in that, but it does also get a bit boring to read about twenty-somethings drinking and sleeping with one another. In the "now", told through Claire's perspective, we're ten years later and Phoebe's body has been found. Now all adults, the group comes back together and I had honestly expected them all to be a little bit more mature. If I guess everyone is roughly twenty in the past, they're now thirty and I would honestly expect a little more maturity, especially from Claire. Since the blurb has given us an awareness that she carries some guilt, I'd expect her to be smarter in how she goes about figuring out what is going on. Especially in the last third of the novel, Claire felt like a headless chicken running around.

This is my first read by Sara Ochs and I enjoyed much of what she did. I like the time jump and the switching POVs and how it reveals the little cracks in the story each of them is telling. With both timelines working towards some kind of clarity, there is also a nice tension throughout the book. I did have issues with the characterisation, though, and especially how certain elements of Phoebe's backstory were employed. In the past storyline, there is a lot of partying, drinking, and sleeping around, which is absolutely fun, but at the same time there is some intense stuff in Phoebe's past which darkens much of this. I think thrillers can be an excellent place to address difficult themes, but here it didn't feel as if Ochs was entirely engaging with the darkness but rather let it serve as something of a shortcut towards letting us appreciate Phoebe's complexity as a character. It also ties into the resolution of the mystery in a way that I would have wished that maybe Ochs and her editor would have gone over it again to make sure it all comes across the way they intend. However, for a mystery thriller, This Stays Between Us largely does what it intends to do. The characters all serve their purpose and, like I said above, the structure of the novel itself is nicely plotted.

I did enjoy parts of This Stays Between Us, especially the nonsense of young adult energies truly released for the first time. We are our best and worst selves at those ages and Ochs runs full steam with those energies. However, in the end it felt a little over the top to me in many ways and Claire let me down as a main character.

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Sara Ochs delivers a gripping psychological thriller with This Stays Between Us, a twisty, sun-drenched tale of friendship gone fatally wrong. Set between the carefree facade of a study abroad trip to Australia and the haunting aftermath a decade later, this novel expertly balances suspense, guilt, and the corrosive power of secrets.

Ten years ago, Claire and her best friend Phoebe embarked on the adventure of a lifetime—part travel fantasy, part college rite of passage. But what starts as beaches, booze, and bonding quickly curdles into something darker. Tensions simmer, friendships fracture, and then—Phoebe vanishes. Now, with her remains finally discovered, Claire and the surviving members of their group are summoned back to the scene of their shared nightmare.

Ochs excels at weaving dual timelines, teasing out the mystery with meticulous pacing. The “then” chapters shimmer with the reckless energy of youth, slowly giving way to a rising dread as the group’s dynamics shift and darken. The “now” chapters are more methodical and claustrophobic, filled with interrogations, flashbacks, and the slow unraveling of Claire’s carefully maintained lies.

And it’s Claire—our unreliable narrator—who holds the novel’s center with a chilling grip. Her guilt is palpable, her fear almost suffocating, and her need to keep the truth buried at any cost adds a sharp edge to every interaction. As she returns to the place where it all went wrong, the reader is pulled deeper into a psychological maze of deceit, self-preservation, and moral ambiguity. The tension lies not in whether Claire did it—we know that much from the start—but why, and what she’s willing to do now to keep it buried.

Fans of Lucy Foley, Ashley Elston, and Megan Miranda will find much to love here—secluded settings, fractured friendships, and buried truths with deadly consequences. But Ochs brings her own unique voice to the genre, particularly in how she juxtaposes the bright, carefree backdrop of Australia with the darkness of human nature and the damage of unresolved guilt.

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📚: This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

Ten years ago, a group of study abroad students in Australia find themselves navigating a month together with explosive dynamics amongst each other. At the end of the program, Phoebe has gone missing, and is assumed to have run away. Now, a decade after, the group plans a reunion, and - coincidentally - Phoebe’s body is found.

This was an unexpectedly quick read! Finished almost #inonesitting, this was more of a page ripper than I thought it would be going in. A bit of predictability in the ending — even with a final page twist. This was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ for me.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This Stays Between Us is out now.

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A terrific, well structured book which covers two points in time and explores what happened. I really loved the inclusion of the Australian trip and the author captured well the sense of mystery which regional areas of Australia can elicit. It’s the sort of book that sucks you in quickly so don’t expect to be able to set it aside and read bit by bit - you’re going to want to power through this one.

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4.5* "Ten years later, they each receive a call. They've found Phoebe's body. And now it's time to return."
You know it will be a tense destination thriller when the cast must return 10 years later to resolve a murder. It is set in Australia with six students studying abroad. These are typical students with adventure in mind as well as alcohol, sex, tempers flaring and personality clashes. As the story is narrated by Claire, we know she admits to killing her friend Phoebe, but we don't know why or how it came to be, so the breakdown in past tense of Phoebe's story and Claire's present situation as the truth narrows and shifts some mind-blowing scenes. There are more than these two that are untrustworthy. All of the characters appear to be guilt ridden and responsible for the past as the blame shifts and the police call them back to be questioned. Not the ten year reunion they had quite hoped for. My biggest downfall in reading is if there are a lot of characters to define and organize into the murder scenes I lose the trail and must find my way back and this one was no exception. Well written as far as the scenes shifted and a well thought out process. This was a great beach read while vacationing on the beach so as the tensions rise so does the temperature.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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When Claire gets an invitation for a 10 year reunion in Australia with her exhange group her first instinct it to decline. She doesn’t want to relive those times even though the people were some of her closest friends. When the body of her best friend is discovered she decides to take the trip and try to figure out exactly what happened to her all those years ago. Not knowing whom she can trust Claire soon becomes part of a cat and mouse game that leads to a very satisfying ending.

This was such a good quick read for me that was very enjoyable to read. The characters were all so imperfect that it just added to the story and the ending was a nice twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. I did not like the main characters (although maybe I wasn't supposed to). So because of that it was hard for me to read this book. I still want to read more by Sara Ochs in the future, but this book wasn't my cup of tea.

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3/5⭐️

Happy pub day to Sarah Ochs and This Stays Between Us! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this one.

A group of seven college students study abroad in Australia. One of them doesn’t return home, and 10 years later, her body is found. Who could be responsible?

This one was not for me. The first 75% was very drawn out, to the point where I started to not care what happened to Phoebe, the missing friend. Then, there was so much whiplash in the last 25% (red herrings, confessions, shared secrets) that it was too much.

I enjoyed Ochs’ The Resort, so hopefully this was just a one off miss for me.

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This Stays Between Us is a smart, fast-paced psychological thriller that blends sun-drenched scenery with simmering secrets—and delivers twist after twist until its final, jaw-dropping page. Set against the backdrop of a once-idyllic study abroad trip to Australia, the novel reunites a fractured group of former friends ten years after the mysterious disappearance of one of their own, Phoebe. Now that her body has finally been found, the group is forced back together, and what begins as a search for answers quickly spirals into a tense unraveling of lies, guilt, and betrayal.

Told through dual POVs—Claire in the present and Phoebe in the past—the story slowly peels back the truth about what really happened during their month abroad. The shifting timelines are initially a bit abrupt, but they ultimately work to build suspense and gradually deepen the mystery. Ochs excels at creating a cast of flawed, often unlikable characters whose murky motives and hidden pasts keep you guessing at every turn.

Though there are a few too many side characters and tangled subplots, the novel’s core tension and well-timed reveals more than make up for it. The final act, in particular, lands with real force—featuring a final twist that redefines everything that came before it.

Dark, gripping, and utterly bingeable, This Stays Between Us is perfect for fans of destination thrillers like The Reunion or The Villa. With a strong sense of place, plenty of moral gray areas, and secrets that won’t stay buried, it’s a beach bag must-read for thriller lovers looking for something sharp and unsettling.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Happy Pub Day to This Stays Between Us! Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. Here are my quick thoughts:

What Worked -

The premise and setting both appealed to me, and were intriguing. The pacing and how the overall mystery unfolded were on point (great building of suspense!) And I couldn’t completely figure out who the “bad guy” was until the big reveal, which I always appreciate.

What Didn’t Work (For Me) -

There wasn’t anything all that special or standout here. It was your textbook thriller - fun but lacking substance. Which honestly would have been fine, except that the last chapter kind of ruined it for me. It utilized a trope I really dislike and it took away from any enjoyment I was feeling before. Which was kind of a bummer note to end on. Still that’s a personal preference, so this might work more for you!

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Ten years ago Phoebe died at a summer abroad program in Australia. But so did Tomas. And that is glossed over for a good portion of the book. That is the first thing that confused me. Then I couldn't tell Josh and Declan apart. I recognize that the author was trying to build and keep suspense, but at points things were so vague as to just muddy the story for me. There was another part that just plain didn't make sense, but that would be a spoiler. In real life this story would never have ever played out the way it did. In fiction, it was a quick low commitment read.

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March 22, 2025
ARC for review. To be published July 15, 2025.

2 stars

Ten years ago friends Phoebe and Claire went to Australia to study abroad for a month, but Phoebe disappeared. Now, Phoebe’s remains have been discovered and the rest of the study group returns to Australia (um, why?) All of them have secrets. Especially Claire. Because she killed Phoebe.

But, of course, it’s most complicated than that. The shifts in POV between Phoebe and Claire were a little confusing for me. Oh, and Phoebe only becomes an acceptable human being when she loses weight, which is awesome. Ugh.

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This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Who knew that a summer study abroad in Australia could turn deadly? Phoebe sure didn’t! Six college students from different countries come together to learn about Australia – it’s history and culture! However, these college students are more interested in having a grand ‘ol time the college way.... with alcohol, drugs and other activities! Before the trip ends though, one of them goes missing – Phoebe! She had a troubled past, so the group just assumed she left on her own. However, ten years later, her body is discovered, and cause of death is homicide! Now, the detective in charge is calling the rest of the group to return to Australia for questioning and the prime suspect if Claire, who was the closest out of the group with Phoebe! But there are four other students, plus a few other extra suspects. What ensues is a race against time for Claire to try and prove her innocence...if she even is innocent!
This was a fast-paced mystery thriller you won’t want to miss! Perfect for a summer read, it’s AVAILABLE July 15, 2025!

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Unfortunately this book was pretty disappointing since I loved her previous book, The Resort, and had high expectations for another exciting travel thriller. It's another whodunit, but set in Australia during a very short study abroad program that sure caused a lot of problems (and murders!?) It was only a month-long program but everyone (who survived) became life-long friends that kept in contact for 10 years? I could have believed that if it had been a semester, but one month felt implausible.

The characters and setting felt flat. I found myself fighting to get through the book and wasn't excited until the climax, despite all the attempts at intrigue in the middle. The whole story just kind of failed to capture my interest. The ending okay but by then I was just ready to move on. Chilling little epilogue at the end - kind of like in her previous book.

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This book jumps between past and present from the POV’s of the two main characters Claire and Phoebe. We go between what happened ten years ago and what everyone is hiding now. There were so many secrets that I never know what was coming next nor could I have guessed it. If you love mystery and suspense you’ll enjoy this book. The author had me feeling as if I was in Australia and on this trip. I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time.

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It's been a WHILE since I was this captivated by a book! A group of college students are studying abroad when one of their peers, Phoebe, goes missing. Ten years later, the case is revisited, requiring all of the former students to return and figure out what really happened that night.

What a BOOK! Ochs sure knows how to create a setting, and her characters were interesting yet relatable, which I feel isn't always easy to do! They had plenty of chemistry and development with the plot keeping you constantly guessing - I can often see a lot of things coming, but not this one! Told in dual-timeline POVs of Phoebe and Claire, it keeps you wondering what the truth really is. The writing style makes for quick pacing, reminding me of Lucinda Berry or Freida McFadden books!

Still not sure how I feel about the ending, but it didn't stop me from truly loving this book. Thanks so much for the ARC!

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I was riveted to this story from the first page to the last!

A group of students are awarded a place in a study abroad program in Australia. As with any group of young people who are far away from home for the first time, there is lots of drinking and sexual encounters among the group. They are all there to have the time of their life. One of these students, Phoebe, has a troubled past, crippling insecurities, and a very dark secret that she is terrified of being discovered. But the program is cut short after Phoebe goes missing. Ten years later, the remaining students are summoned back to Australia when Phoebe is found dead and the police are investigating what they suspect could be a murder. These students will be forced to face the secrets, lies and deceptions that have been haunting them all for the past decade. And it is possible that one of them may be Phoebe’s murderer.

Sara Ochs is now one of my favorite destination thriller writers. I loved her book, The Resort, last year which took place in a tropical location. This book captivated me and transported me to all the dangerous wonders of Australia. Her mysteries are complex but simple to follow and her characters are fully fleshed out. I can’t wait for her to write another novel!

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 15, 2025

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Ten years prior, a group of students did a study abroad program, in Australia, which ended with one of the students dead, and one of them missing.

When the body of the missing student, Phoebe, is found, ten years later, the group of remaining students gets together to reminisce and answer the police officers lingering questions.

Most of them seem guilty, all of them are keeping secrets, and who committed the murder is a total mystery.

I enjoyed the dueling POV perspectives of the story, that alternates between Phoebe, the murdered student, from the past, and her best friend and roommate at the time, Claire, in the “now.”

The story is fast paced and has lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, however the massive amount of characters makes the story, at least at first, very difficult to follow. None of the characters are enjoyable either, which I guess is kind of the point in a “anyone could have done it” mystery, however they were all so unlikable it was hard to care about any of them.

The ending was wild, and surprising, but not for a good reason.

All in all, I did enjoy reading This Stays Between Us, the short chapters and cliffhangers made the story fly by, but it was my no means my favorite thriller I read this year.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy popcorn thrillers, similar to books written by Freida McFadden and John Marrs.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Sara Ochs, and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book publishes, July 15th, 2025.

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Ten years ago, six college students went to study abroad in Australia for the summer. A chance to explore the beauty and culture the country has to offer. But after drama and jealously lead to an accident of one of the students, everything changes. And then Phoebe goes missing. Now, their secrets are coming to light and someone knows what happened to Phoebe and will do what it takes to make sure that secret doesn’t get out.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital e-arc.*

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A summer abroad. A disappearance. A body found ten years later. The friends return. Secrets revealed. Justice served?

Ten years ago, Claire embarks on a summer abroad trip of a lifetime. Studying and living in Australia, when she’s been sheltered her entire life? Sign her up. Claire’s roommate Phoebe is electric, if not a bit toxic. While she is the fun girl of the group, she’s made some enemies, including at times Claire herself. After a night of drinking, Phoebe disappears, and Claire’s been keeping some secrets about their relationship.

Ten years later, Phoebe’s body is found, and the police call the students back for questioning. They’ve made it clear: someone on this trip hurt Phoebe, and Claire just hopes she can fall into the background with her secrets close to her chest.

I thought this book was quite decent, but I’ve become a tough critic these days. I’ve read too many summer-abroad-gone-wrong, murder mystery type books, and while this was good, it wasn’t anything special. In fact, the details are already somewhat forgettable.

I won’t tell you NOT to read this, because I do think it’s a good pool-side thriller, but it just didn’t stand out among a sea of other, similar thrillers for me.

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