The Only Survivors
by Megan Miranda

Summary
Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remaining. Who would you save?
A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.
To keep one another safe.
To hold one another accountable.
Or both.
Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy and from the other survivors. She’s changed her mobile number. She’s blocked the others’ email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven—and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief—and suspicion.
Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, the annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn’t raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they’re facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters…again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they’ve been through, she wouldn’t willfully make them worry. Would she?
And—as they promised long ago—each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won’t they?
My Review
This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I thought it was a solid mystery. I listened to the audiobook, which featured a full-cast narration that I really enjoyed. With so many characters in the story, having different narrators helped distinguish who was who, especially since it could get a bit muddled and confusing at times.
This story alternates between past and present, and I enjoyed piecing together how past events influenced the present. The presence of unreliable characters kept me on edge, as I felt I couldn’t trust anyone. I appreciated the multiple layers to the story and how it didn’t solely focus on the past accident. The author’s restraint in avoiding turning it into a friend drama was a nice touch. However, it was a slow burn with not much happening in the first 50% of the book. I craved more action to keep me engaged, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters, as there was little development of them.
I enjoyed the beachy setting with the beach house. The big storm that hits adds a dark and ominous atmosphere, which I find really engaging. I love stories that create a strong mood and have a touch of creepiness. If you’re looking for a summer thriller or a great beach read, this one would be perfect for the season.
There’s some language in the book, but no spice or wokeness. If the premise appeals to you, it might be worth checking out, but keep your expectations low. I’m interested in reading more from this author to see if her other books might be more to my liking.