4.5 stars!

Another great thriller from Sara Ochs! This one set in Australia (a place I’ve always wanted to visit!) with a murder 10 years ago, several suspects, and twists at every turn. I loved the short chapters and alternating POVs and timelines. Kept me flipping the pages and guessing what would happen next.

And the very last chapter…ooooh man. Loved it!

A mystery with morally ambiguous characters. A few of the storylines are far fetched but the writing goes at a good pace and is quite engaging.

A haunting mysterious plotted murder. The characters relationships need to be unraveled to solve the mystery and the goings-on between the characters is extremely complicated. I love how deep it goes and it had me on tender hooks. The suspense is real!

One of the best thrillers I have read in a while! I loved the character relationships, which had me guessing the whole time. This is my first read by Sara Ochs and I will be picking up The Resort next!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Enjoyable thriller with plenty of suspense in a fun setting.

This was so good! The suspense was right on and loved figuring out what happened. It was mysterious and fun

This was an enjoyable thriller! Lots of twists and turns with a fun setting. Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC!

This is a very exciting thriller with a lot of twists and turns. It's a quick read that I devoured!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Now I want to visit the outback! So many twists and turns. A great page turner. Would recommend to any thriller/mystery lover.

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for access to the e-ARC of This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs!



This Stays Between Us follows a group of friends returning to the Australian Outback for a reunion (minus a couple who will not be able to be in attendance). The story drew me in and kept me interested until the very end. And that finale? *Chefs Kiss*



Highly recommend for anyone looking for a quick thriller read as you won't want to put this down!

This Stays Between Us is such a good read! So many twists and turns that kept me wanting to read page after page. Great mystery and fantastic thriller of a book. I would have never guessed how the book would end, but wow!


Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Sara Ochs “This Stays Between Us” is a solid page-turner following MC Claire in the present day coming to terms with the fact that she may have killed her best (?) friend Phoebe 10 years. She’s joined by her prior during an Australian adventure program.

Even typing that last part reminds me that this novel, while a page turner, is corny and silly more times than not — I rolled my eyes fairly often especially around sections that mentioned Tomas and chapters that follow Phoebe, which take place in the past. Oh Tomas… what is up with the Australian adventure program and why did it continue even a minute after what happened to him? Suspending some belief in between giggles and more eye rolls.

Focusing on our second MC, Phoebe, for a second. Her sections also suffer with one of my least favorite components of thrillers (though it happens in other genres): telling instead of showing. So much is “I’m going to do this thing” instead of doing it. Instead, the author slowly reveals elements between the present and past chapters. By the time the “big” reveal happens, you’ll either know the truth or will be glad the book is over.

Speaking of, I can’t say I enjoyed the ending (again, silly) as the story is wrapped up in a tight little bow. But that doesn’t even compare to my distain for the epilogue. Without heading into spoiler territory, it feels unlike the character we’ve been following and almost retreads what they’ve learned over the course of the book. If I’m being extra picky, it also doesn’t make sense given it contradicts statements and feelings from earlier in the book. Doubt it’s possible but I hope it isn’t included in the final printing (reminder, I’m reading an advance copy in Feb 2025 ahead of the July 2025 release.)

While this novel is about remembering the past and coming to terms of our actions, I doubt I’ll remember this book in weeks time. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

A group of older students gather in Australia for an adventure expedition. One is missing and the mystery begins. Who killed her and why? Good description of the Outback.

I loved this book! From the first page I was sucked in to the mystery. The two timelines kept me guessing until the big reveal. I hope Sara Ochs continues to release thrillers of this and her debuts caliber. I will say this book make me decide as a parent to never let me child study abroad in Australia!

Sara Ochs is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. A college trip to Australia gone wrong, This Stays Between Us is a thriller that keeps you on your toes.

Such a good book with so many twists and turns a must read! I highly recommend to friends and family!

I recently had the pleasure of reading an ARC of “This Stays Between Us” by Sara Ochs, courtesy of Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. As a fan of her debut thriller, “The Resort,” I had high expectations, and I am thrilled to say that this book exceeded them in every way.

From the very first page, Ochs masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot is intricately crafted, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own secrets and motivations that add depth to the story.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Ochs’ ability to create a palpable sense of tension. The atmosphere is charged with suspense, and the pacing is perfect, making it impossible to put the book down. The writing is sharp and evocative, drawing the reader into the world of the characters and making every moment feel real and urgent.

“This Stays Between Us” is a gripping thriller that explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. It’s a must-read for fans of the genre and a testament to Sara Ochs’ talent as a storyteller. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Ok WHAAAT!? This mystery had me hooked with its wild twists and turns! It seamlessly flips between present day and the past, where a dream trip for a group of twenty-somethings takes a fatally wrong turn. Witty, clever, and packed with the messy angst of young love, jealousy, and the lure of adventure—this one had me flipping pages at lightning speed. An absolute thrill ride! Thank you for the advanced read, Net Galley!

Do you ever get to the end of a book, just have to sit it down, and process it? Yeah, that's what happened with "This Stays Between Us". There were several moments during the book that I thought for sure I knew who the culprit was. Was I ever right? Absolutely not. Then we get to the last few pages, and my mind was blown. While Phoebe was the victim AND the villain in this story, I completely related to her as an introvert who was just trying to fit in during school. Overall, loved this book!!

A month studying abroad in the outback turns deadly. But who is to blame?

The book begins with a 10 year reunion trip. Claire does not want to go, to relive the trauma of her time there, knowing what she did to Phoebe. Then, a body turns up locked in a mine and she feels like to must return for the investigation.

I could not put this book down. Short chapters kept me intrigued and questioning everything I thought was happening.

With this group of college kids there are all the things you’d expect: sex, drugs, alcohol, mayhem!

This book is told in dual timeline from multiple points of views.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Look for it to be published on July 15, 2025!