What do you think?
Rate this book
What We Did to Survive
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens' sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!
Hannah is having an incredible spring break. A week at a resort in Mexico with her best friend Emmy and her family is perfect for de-stressing from senior year, even if it's awkward being around Emmy's older brother, Jackson, who she's had a crush on for as long as she can remember.
Still, the beach is gorgeous. So is the guy they meet in the surf. Except Hannah is now the third wheel in Emmy's vacation romance.
Eager to impress Emmy, her wealthy new boyfriend charters a private sailboat to make the most of their last day in paradise, and Hannah and Jackson are invited along. As the clouds roll in and the skies darken, their boat is the only one leaving the marina. And the further they get into open water, the more unsettled Hannah becomes. A storm is brewing onboard that's as deadly as the one racing toward them. Forget surviving graduation. Who will make it back to land alive?
Hannah is having an incredible spring break. A week at a resort in Mexico with her best friend Emmy and her family is perfect for de-stressing from senior year, even if it's awkward being around Emmy's older brother, Jackson, who she's had a crush on for as long as she can remember.
Still, the beach is gorgeous. So is the guy they meet in the surf. Except Hannah is now the third wheel in Emmy's vacation romance.
Eager to impress Emmy, her wealthy new boyfriend charters a private sailboat to make the most of their last day in paradise, and Hannah and Jackson are invited along. As the clouds roll in and the skies darken, their boat is the only one leaving the marina. And the further they get into open water, the more unsettled Hannah becomes. A storm is brewing onboard that's as deadly as the one racing toward them. Forget surviving graduation. Who will make it back to land alive?
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
59303 people want to read
About the author
Megan Lally
3 books4,134 followersMegan Lally is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of That’s Not My Name. When she’s not writing dark and twisty young adult novels you might find her barefoot at the ocean, drinking one too many lavender lattes, or arguing about the validity of glitter as a favorite color. (It’s absolutely a color, and it’s the best one.) She lives in the Pacific Northwest.
You can visit her online at MeganLallyWrites.com or on Instagram: @Megan_Lally_
You can visit her online at MeganLallyWrites.com or on Instagram: @Megan_Lally_
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 780 reviews
November 13, 2025
I can honestly say that after reading That’s Not My Name, Megan Lally has officially become one of my favorite mystery authors! She knows exactly how to deliver those “what-the-heck-just-happened” twists that make you pick your jaw up off the floor. The moment I read the plot, I jumped at the chance to dive into this adrenaline-pumping survival mystery — and wow, it did not disappoint!
The pacing is heart-throbbingly fast — things escalate almost immediately. There’s tension, drama, romance, resentment, friendship tested to its limits, the irresistible “falling for your best friend’s brother” trope, and a villain so irritating you’ll want to throw the book (in a good way!). It’s the kind of story that captures your attention and refuses to let go.
I don’t want to spoil your reading experience, but let me tell you — there’s a twist that hits you right in the face when you least expect it. I actually gasped out loud. So smart. So shocking. So perfectly executed! Okay, I’m stopping myself here before I give too much away.
Quick plot summary:
Hannah and Emmy are best friends enjoying a dream spring break getaway in a luxurious Mexican resort — spa treatments, beach cocktails, and endless sunshine before college and travel separate them. Hannah’s about to start nursing school, while Emmy plans a European adventure. Everything is perfect… until Hannah’s long-time crush (and Emmy’s older brother) Jackson unexpectedly joins the trip. Hannah’s been trying to forget her embarrassing confession of love to him years ago, but seeing him again — especially shirtless with a crime novel in hand — makes that impossible.
Things get even more complicated when they meet Ben, a charming and privileged stranger who sweeps Emmy off her feet. Suddenly, Hannah becomes the third wheel in their whirlwind romance. When Ben invites them on a private boat trip to make their last day unforgettable, Emmy’s family insists Jackson tags along to keep an eye on them. But as they arrive at the marina, red flags start flying — dark storm clouds are rolling in, and most boat tours have been canceled. Still, Ben insists, and Emmy sides with him, pushing Hannah and Jackson to reluctantly come aboard.
Once they set sail, things spiral out of control fast. A storm brews, tempers flare, and soon the group finds themselves battling for survival in the open sea — testing not just their endurance, but the strength of their relationships and what they’re truly made of.
Can they make it back alive? Or will paradise turn into their worst nightmare?
Overall:
A high-tempo, tension-filled, and completely gripping thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. I’ll admit, Emmy’s character tested my patience at times (selfish, narcissistic, and yes — occasionally punchable!), but that only proves how vividly Megan Lally writes her characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sharing this electrifying survival thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter
The pacing is heart-throbbingly fast — things escalate almost immediately. There’s tension, drama, romance, resentment, friendship tested to its limits, the irresistible “falling for your best friend’s brother” trope, and a villain so irritating you’ll want to throw the book (in a good way!). It’s the kind of story that captures your attention and refuses to let go.
I don’t want to spoil your reading experience, but let me tell you — there’s a twist that hits you right in the face when you least expect it. I actually gasped out loud. So smart. So shocking. So perfectly executed! Okay, I’m stopping myself here before I give too much away.
Quick plot summary:
Hannah and Emmy are best friends enjoying a dream spring break getaway in a luxurious Mexican resort — spa treatments, beach cocktails, and endless sunshine before college and travel separate them. Hannah’s about to start nursing school, while Emmy plans a European adventure. Everything is perfect… until Hannah’s long-time crush (and Emmy’s older brother) Jackson unexpectedly joins the trip. Hannah’s been trying to forget her embarrassing confession of love to him years ago, but seeing him again — especially shirtless with a crime novel in hand — makes that impossible.
Things get even more complicated when they meet Ben, a charming and privileged stranger who sweeps Emmy off her feet. Suddenly, Hannah becomes the third wheel in their whirlwind romance. When Ben invites them on a private boat trip to make their last day unforgettable, Emmy’s family insists Jackson tags along to keep an eye on them. But as they arrive at the marina, red flags start flying — dark storm clouds are rolling in, and most boat tours have been canceled. Still, Ben insists, and Emmy sides with him, pushing Hannah and Jackson to reluctantly come aboard.
Once they set sail, things spiral out of control fast. A storm brews, tempers flare, and soon the group finds themselves battling for survival in the open sea — testing not just their endurance, but the strength of their relationships and what they’re truly made of.
Can they make it back alive? Or will paradise turn into their worst nightmare?
Overall:
A high-tempo, tension-filled, and completely gripping thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. I’ll admit, Emmy’s character tested my patience at times (selfish, narcissistic, and yes — occasionally punchable!), but that only proves how vividly Megan Lally writes her characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sharing this electrifying survival thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
HOLYYYYY HECK, WHAT IN THE WORLD DID I JUST READ????? REVIEW TO COME😱😱😱😱😱!!!!!!!!
🧠❓⏳🔪A vacation in paradise turns deadly🧠❓⏳🔪!!!!!!!
🧠❓⏳🔪A vacation in paradise turns deadly🧠❓⏳🔪!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 3 ⭐️ Four teens are vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, one of them meets a cute and very charming boy who convinces them to go on a boat trip amidst an impending storm. A vacation that was supposed to be memorable turns deadly when things turn sinister shortly after they sail out. While trapped at sea, their interpersonal tensions escalate onboard very quickly and they learn that they must do whatever it takes to survive not just the danger from the storm but also the danger within their group.
What We Did to Survive is an anxiety-inducing YA thriller that is solid and satisfying and will have you flipping pages. It's very fast paced, throwing you right into action where you'll be chasing the tense survival chaos. It will make you nervous and feel claustrophobic, probably will make you sweat but laugh at the same time (there is dark humor in it, which was funny I must admit). It's appropriate for teens, as young as 13+ and they will definitely love it. Hidden motives, sketchy captain, messy and frustrating friendships--what teen wouldn't love this?
The characters are, however, very one dimensional. There is no depth to them, nothing is overly complicated in the story. They are the typical teens who bicker and argue and make questionable decisions. I felt that their created onboard tension fueled the suspense and escalated the sense of dread. It will have you hooked from page one, the middle does lag, but the ending will have teens shocked!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire and the author, Megan Lally for an early copy!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
What We Did to Survive is an anxiety-inducing YA thriller that is solid and satisfying and will have you flipping pages. It's very fast paced, throwing you right into action where you'll be chasing the tense survival chaos. It will make you nervous and feel claustrophobic, probably will make you sweat but laugh at the same time (there is dark humor in it, which was funny I must admit). It's appropriate for teens, as young as 13+ and they will definitely love it. Hidden motives, sketchy captain, messy and frustrating friendships--what teen wouldn't love this?
The characters are, however, very one dimensional. There is no depth to them, nothing is overly complicated in the story. They are the typical teens who bicker and argue and make questionable decisions. I felt that their created onboard tension fueled the suspense and escalated the sense of dread. It will have you hooked from page one, the middle does lag, but the ending will have teens shocked!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire and the author, Megan Lally for an early copy!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**3.5-stars**
What We Did to Survive is a YA Survival Thriller from well-loved author, Megan Lally. I've read both Lally's previous works and was excited to get to this 3rd-book from her.
This story follows best friends, Hannah and Emmy, who while on vacation in Mexico take an ill-fated sailing charter, along with Emmy's brother, Jackson, and her current love interest, Ben, a boy she met at the beach.
The charter is towards the end of their week-long vacation, and the girls only convince Emmy's parents to let them go sailing with Ben, if her older brother, Jackson, also goes along. He's not really jazzed about it.
Emmy and Jackson have their own history, so all-in-all it's an uncomfortable traveling bunch to begin with. As they approach the docks it's clear inclement weather is coming in. They're even warned off by a captain of another boat, but Emmy and Ben insist they're going, and all will be okay.
Against their better judgement, both Hannah and Jackson also agree to go along. We follow their journey from that moment until the very bitter end, and what a journey it is.
This was good. It's very fast-paced and definitely kept me motivated to keep reading. The concept was fun, but I have to be honest, the character interactions were so grating and annoying for me. I would have tossed them all in the ocean if I'd been on this boat.
I had a hard time even believing that Hannah and Emmy would be friends, let alone best friends. They're total opposites, with the only thing holding them together seeming to be their shared history.
Additionally, the whole plot is based on a series of dumb choices, which isn't really bad in and of itself, I just had a hard time connecting with it, or understanding the characters motivations.
That would also be fine in a Survival Thriller if the Survival elements were front and center and kept me engaged. Here I felt the survival part played second fiddle to all of the absolutely OTT-interpersonal drama.
I found all the fighting and yelling so grating. It was like 96% of the character interactions. Also, there was too much 'let's air all our grievances', instead of 'let's come up with a plan' happening for my tastes.
I know this sounds a little doom and gloom, and I don't mean it to be. This still kept me entertained and I did read it quickly, I just don't feel like I had as much fun with it as I have with Lally's previous books.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend it. The action is intense and there is a lot of action. I think if you're just looking for a Popcorn Thriller, if you want to be glued to the pages, if you love stories set at sea; any of things, you absolutely need to check this one out.
As for me, though it's not my favorite from Megan Lally, I'm still glad I read it and I look forward to whatever she writes next. I do love how varied her plots and scenarios have been. She has a lot of creativity and it's anyone's guess what she's going to focus on next.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I enjoyed my time with this one.
What We Did to Survive is a YA Survival Thriller from well-loved author, Megan Lally. I've read both Lally's previous works and was excited to get to this 3rd-book from her.
This story follows best friends, Hannah and Emmy, who while on vacation in Mexico take an ill-fated sailing charter, along with Emmy's brother, Jackson, and her current love interest, Ben, a boy she met at the beach.
The charter is towards the end of their week-long vacation, and the girls only convince Emmy's parents to let them go sailing with Ben, if her older brother, Jackson, also goes along. He's not really jazzed about it.
Emmy and Jackson have their own history, so all-in-all it's an uncomfortable traveling bunch to begin with. As they approach the docks it's clear inclement weather is coming in. They're even warned off by a captain of another boat, but Emmy and Ben insist they're going, and all will be okay.
Against their better judgement, both Hannah and Jackson also agree to go along. We follow their journey from that moment until the very bitter end, and what a journey it is.
This was good. It's very fast-paced and definitely kept me motivated to keep reading. The concept was fun, but I have to be honest, the character interactions were so grating and annoying for me. I would have tossed them all in the ocean if I'd been on this boat.
I had a hard time even believing that Hannah and Emmy would be friends, let alone best friends. They're total opposites, with the only thing holding them together seeming to be their shared history.
Additionally, the whole plot is based on a series of dumb choices, which isn't really bad in and of itself, I just had a hard time connecting with it, or understanding the characters motivations.
That would also be fine in a Survival Thriller if the Survival elements were front and center and kept me engaged. Here I felt the survival part played second fiddle to all of the absolutely OTT-interpersonal drama.
I found all the fighting and yelling so grating. It was like 96% of the character interactions. Also, there was too much 'let's air all our grievances', instead of 'let's come up with a plan' happening for my tastes.
I know this sounds a little doom and gloom, and I don't mean it to be. This still kept me entertained and I did read it quickly, I just don't feel like I had as much fun with it as I have with Lally's previous books.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend it. The action is intense and there is a lot of action. I think if you're just looking for a Popcorn Thriller, if you want to be glued to the pages, if you love stories set at sea; any of things, you absolutely need to check this one out.
As for me, though it's not my favorite from Megan Lally, I'm still glad I read it and I look forward to whatever she writes next. I do love how varied her plots and scenarios have been. She has a lot of creativity and it's anyone's guess what she's going to focus on next.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I enjoyed my time with this one.
![Profile Image for ivy ꕤ [mental health break].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1752167654i%2F163591977._UX200_CR0%2C25%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 13, 2025
3 stars
this was a really fun and interesting! I stayed in my bed and finished this in less than a day, megan’s writing is so addicting.
the characters | they were all so crazy wtf 😭 i swear the only person i was rooting for through the entire book was hannah, she was literally the heart, soul, and brain of the whole group. emmy and ben made me so mad, especially emmy because wdym you whole-heartedly trust this guy that you’ve known for 1 day.. The way she would constantly neglect weird things that he did and choose him over her own brother and best friend was insane. boy crazy friends are the worst istg.
the plot | it wasn’t bad, but i have to admit i did get bored at some times. I wish we got to see more of why ben was like that, though. that didn’t really get wrapped up in the end - are we just supposed to assume that ben is a crazy psychopath?? Because when we first met him he was completely normal.. And why was keith willing to take them in the ocean during a storm? Other than that, it was fine.
overall, read if you want a gripping thriller with a.. sad plot twist at the end.
thank you to netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
☆ ── preread ⊹
looking for a good thriller 🤞🏻
⌗ fall book #7.
thank you to netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this was a really fun and interesting! I stayed in my bed and finished this in less than a day, megan’s writing is so addicting.
the characters | they were all so crazy wtf 😭 i swear the only person i was rooting for through the entire book was hannah, she was literally the heart, soul, and brain of the whole group. emmy and ben made me so mad, especially emmy because wdym you whole-heartedly trust this guy that you’ve known for 1 day.. The way she would constantly neglect weird things that he did and choose him over her own brother and best friend was insane. boy crazy friends are the worst istg.
the plot | it wasn’t bad, but i have to admit i did get bored at some times. I wish we got to see more of why ben was like that, though. that didn’t really get wrapped up in the end - are we just supposed to assume that ben is a crazy psychopath?? Because when we first met him he was completely normal.. And why was keith willing to take them in the ocean during a storm? Other than that, it was fine.
overall, read if you want a gripping thriller with a.. sad plot twist at the end.
thank you to netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
☆ ── preread ⊹
looking for a good thriller 🤞🏻
⌗ fall book #7.
thank you to netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2025
Who doesn't love a survival story? A broken sailboat, some bad weather, a group of idiots lost at sea... What could possibly go wrong? (I'm so excited for you all to find out!)
November 27, 2025
I’m a sucker for survivalist stories, and I truly enjoyed that part of the book. The main character came across as very resourceful and I loved that about her. The last part of the book was the best part, as tensions grew and there was always some new hurdle to overcome. The last part also made me feel a lot, and I regretted finishing it at a public place because it was hard to hold back my emotions.
The start wasn’t my favorite however. It dragged a bit and I didn’t adore her way of thinking, but I guess it fits for a young woman somehow.
Overall the last part of the book was very memorable and it really moved me. The first part could have been better, but the ending made up for it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
The start wasn’t my favorite however. It dragged a bit and I didn’t adore her way of thinking, but I guess it fits for a young woman somehow.
Overall the last part of the book was very memorable and it really moved me. The first part could have been better, but the ending made up for it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Want to read
March 26, 2025another megan lally thriller??! SIGN ME UP
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally
PUBLISH DATE:March 31, 2026
WHAT DID I JIST READ??!! I finished this book feeling completely speechless.
I was not prepared for how intense this story would be, especially for a YA novel. From fairly early on, the suspense grabbed me and continued to grow. Every time I thought the tension might finally ease, something else happened. The final stretch was absolutely relentless.
This story centers on survival under extreme circumstances, and it does an incredible job of making you feel the pressure, fear, and uncertainty right alongside the characters. The biggest twist completely blindsided me. The payoff was both shocking and heartbreaking and caught me off guard.
What made the ending work so well was how the author circled back and reminded the reader where the clues had been all along. You realize you weren’t lied to. You just didn’t see the full picture. That kind of reveal is so satisfying.
Hannah and Jackson felt like genuinely good people, which made the emotional impact even heavier. Emma annoyed me throughout the book, but I still found myself empathizing with her. She’s a teenager in an impossible situation.
The ending absolutely ripped my heart out. The story doesn’t give you the kind of neat, comfortable ending you might want. Instead, it leaves you feeling the weight of it, even after the last page.
I highly recommend this book, but emotionally prepare yourself. This is the kind of YA thriller that hits hard, escalates fast, and and it left me emotionally wrecked.
Content Note:
Strong language (frequent use of the F word), intense peril and survival situations. The book is otherwise clean and does not include sexual or intimate scenes.
BOOK TITLE: What We Did to Survive
AUTHOR: Megan Lally
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 2858
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
PUBLISH DATE:March 31, 2026
WHAT DID I JIST READ??!! I finished this book feeling completely speechless.
I was not prepared for how intense this story would be, especially for a YA novel. From fairly early on, the suspense grabbed me and continued to grow. Every time I thought the tension might finally ease, something else happened. The final stretch was absolutely relentless.
This story centers on survival under extreme circumstances, and it does an incredible job of making you feel the pressure, fear, and uncertainty right alongside the characters. The biggest twist completely blindsided me. The payoff was both shocking and heartbreaking and caught me off guard.
What made the ending work so well was how the author circled back and reminded the reader where the clues had been all along. You realize you weren’t lied to. You just didn’t see the full picture. That kind of reveal is so satisfying.
Hannah and Jackson felt like genuinely good people, which made the emotional impact even heavier. Emma annoyed me throughout the book, but I still found myself empathizing with her. She’s a teenager in an impossible situation.
The ending absolutely ripped my heart out. The story doesn’t give you the kind of neat, comfortable ending you might want. Instead, it leaves you feeling the weight of it, even after the last page.
I highly recommend this book, but emotionally prepare yourself. This is the kind of YA thriller that hits hard, escalates fast, and and it left me emotionally wrecked.
Content Note:
Strong language (frequent use of the F word), intense peril and survival situations. The book is otherwise clean and does not include sexual or intimate scenes.
BOOK TITLE: What We Did to Survive
AUTHOR: Megan Lally
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 2858
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 17, 2025
Never trust people. Or boats.
I like this plot.
I’ve always been a fan of the whole “stranded at sea” thing, particularly in movies. So I was pretty happy to read a book about it.
I just can’t help but love the imagery my brain creates from reading about big storms over the ocean.
(I know that it actually terrifying. But in my head, it looks cool.)
This is a young adult thriller, so I wouldn’t say there is anything overly crazy or dark.
But, I think it was pretty good for what it is. It gave me the vibes that I was looking for.
No spoilers, but there is a psychological twist.
Which is always my jam, but I particularly liked this one.
It actually did surprise me, which gets bonus points.
I think my only complaint is that it started to drag a bit at a certain point.
I feel like that is odd to say, since this is quite short. But, just reading about people trying to survive when there is no real action going on can get old a bit quickly.
Luckily, the low action scenes don’t last a super long time.
I have to comment on how seriously frustrating Emmy was.
She does get better as the story progresses, but for a while there…
I was totally not rooting for her.
I mean, trusting a guy you met like 2 seconds ago, instead of your best friend and your brother?
Come on girlie. Let the guy obsession REST.
Random notes:
- Infections don’t set in immediately after you get a wound.
- I feel like a few of these characters were really smart! Way too smart for this entire situation to have happened to begin with.
- Why was Keith my favorite character, by far? I NEEDED MORE KEITH LORE!
- The problem-causing person in this story. What… was their plan exactly? Like, I am racking my brain trying to figure out how this was supposed to work out for them?
Overall, it’s good.
I liked the vibes, and it reaffirmed my decision to never get on a boat. Like, ever.
Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and author Megan Lally for providing me with the eARC of “What We Did to Survive”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
I like this plot.
I’ve always been a fan of the whole “stranded at sea” thing, particularly in movies. So I was pretty happy to read a book about it.
I just can’t help but love the imagery my brain creates from reading about big storms over the ocean.
(I know that it actually terrifying. But in my head, it looks cool.)
This is a young adult thriller, so I wouldn’t say there is anything overly crazy or dark.
But, I think it was pretty good for what it is. It gave me the vibes that I was looking for.
No spoilers, but there is a psychological twist.
Which is always my jam, but I particularly liked this one.
It actually did surprise me, which gets bonus points.
I think my only complaint is that it started to drag a bit at a certain point.
I feel like that is odd to say, since this is quite short. But, just reading about people trying to survive when there is no real action going on can get old a bit quickly.
Luckily, the low action scenes don’t last a super long time.
I have to comment on how seriously frustrating Emmy was.
She does get better as the story progresses, but for a while there…
I was totally not rooting for her.
I mean, trusting a guy you met like 2 seconds ago, instead of your best friend and your brother?
Come on girlie. Let the guy obsession REST.
Random notes:
- Infections don’t set in immediately after you get a wound.
- I feel like a few of these characters were really smart! Way too smart for this entire situation to have happened to begin with.
- Why was Keith my favorite character, by far? I NEEDED MORE KEITH LORE!
- The problem-causing person in this story. What… was their plan exactly? Like, I am racking my brain trying to figure out how this was supposed to work out for them?
Overall, it’s good.
I liked the vibes, and it reaffirmed my decision to never get on a boat. Like, ever.
Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and author Megan Lally for providing me with the eARC of “What We Did to Survive”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
October 30, 2025
This was unexpectedly captivating, engaging, and fun. I never knew what was going to happen next. And while I was pretty sure, most of the time, what was happening towards the end, I wasn't completely sure, and I loved that. This had my heart racing, it had me wanting to reach through the pages and shake a couple of characters, and most of all, it had me turning the pages wanting to know how it all came together.
I loved this so much in fact, that I plan on looking up the author's other work and reading more from her.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I loved this so much in fact, that I plan on looking up the author's other work and reading more from her.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
November 24, 2025
"Unrequited love, thou art a bitch."
It took me a while before I actually read anything by Megan. Her books seemed too good to be true. Typically, I steer clear of books that generate a lot of hype because the ones that people rave about often aren't for someone like me. However, after reading her first novel, I was hooked and jumped at the chance to read all of her new works.
This particular book was heavy, and I felt like my heart was about to explode. It was intense and action-packed, leaving me unsure of what to believe or who to trust. My mind is still spinning after finishing it. There was no waiting for the story to gain momentum. It immediately became intense, and I wasn't prepared for how everything unfolded.
"What We Did to Survive' was one hell of a roller coaster ride. The writing was phenomenal and the characters were just what the story called for. It was an all around great read. It really showcases why she is one of my favorite authors. Not sure about you but I'm not one to typically trust people or boats, so I think I'm in the clear.
It took me a while before I actually read anything by Megan. Her books seemed too good to be true. Typically, I steer clear of books that generate a lot of hype because the ones that people rave about often aren't for someone like me. However, after reading her first novel, I was hooked and jumped at the chance to read all of her new works.
This particular book was heavy, and I felt like my heart was about to explode. It was intense and action-packed, leaving me unsure of what to believe or who to trust. My mind is still spinning after finishing it. There was no waiting for the story to gain momentum. It immediately became intense, and I wasn't prepared for how everything unfolded.
"What We Did to Survive' was one hell of a roller coaster ride. The writing was phenomenal and the characters were just what the story called for. It was an all around great read. It really showcases why she is one of my favorite authors. Not sure about you but I'm not one to typically trust people or boats, so I think I'm in the clear.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to netgalley, Megan Lally, and Sourcebook fire for providing me with this arc
3.75☆ rounded up
okay, this is my second time trying to upload this, but anyway, this book was really intriguing and kept my interest the whole time
-plot
the beginning and the ending were a bit too fast-paced, and I wish they were slower so we could properly see what happened, but the rest of the book kept me soo hooked. The ending was diabolically crazy like what the actual hell?!
-hannah
she was such a good, strong character, and she would definitely survive a horror movie. She was such a good friend like Emmy did not deserve her at all
-Emmy
she was such a bad friend to Hannah throughout the book, and her redemption arc wasn't even that great. She is also pretty strong but stupid at the same time
-jackson
all I can say is sorry
-ben
this man pmo throughout the whole story. I just can't understand how someone could be so annoying.
-overall
this book was super and would definitely be a good beach read during the summer
3.75☆ rounded up
okay, this is my second time trying to upload this, but anyway, this book was really intriguing and kept my interest the whole time
-plot
the beginning and the ending were a bit too fast-paced, and I wish they were slower so we could properly see what happened, but the rest of the book kept me soo hooked. The ending was diabolically crazy like what the actual hell?!
-hannah
she was such a good, strong character, and she would definitely survive a horror movie. She was such a good friend like Emmy did not deserve her at all
-Emmy
she was such a bad friend to Hannah throughout the book, and her redemption arc wasn't even that great. She is also pretty strong but stupid at the same time
-jackson
all I can say is sorry
-ben
this man pmo throughout the whole story. I just can't understand how someone could be so annoying.
-overall
this book was super and would definitely be a good beach read during the summer
December 9, 2025
I received a free copy of, What We Did to Survive, by Megan Lally, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Hannah is a teenager on vacation with her best friend, Emmy and her family, and she even meets a cute boy. This read was a little anxiety inducing, these kids needed to stay out of the water and alive, a bit of a crazy read.
October 16, 2025
Yea, no. I can't do 4th grade reading level books.
What not to expect: common sense, depth, plausibility, intelligence, natural dialogue, charm/intrigue/joy/excitement/thrill/fear, satiation..
What you can count on: a handful of ignorant, petulant, sanctimonious jackasses.
What not to expect: common sense, depth, plausibility, intelligence, natural dialogue, charm/intrigue/joy/excitement/thrill/fear, satiation..
What you can count on: a handful of ignorant, petulant, sanctimonious jackasses.
March 18, 2026
You go on spring break with the goal of having fun and it turns into your worst nightmare. You and your best friend and her brother , who is forever your crush go together on spring break in Mexico.
Your best friend meets a guy who she falls for right away and decides that all four of you should go take a boat tour, the problem starts here because this is where it all goes down.
Eventually, you start questioning what’s real and what’s not. I could not put this book down. It was just that good !! Castaway meets horror.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the Author for providing this ARC. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for this book to come out.
Your best friend meets a guy who she falls for right away and decides that all four of you should go take a boat tour, the problem starts here because this is where it all goes down.
Eventually, you start questioning what’s real and what’s not. I could not put this book down. It was just that good !! Castaway meets horror.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the Author for providing this ARC. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for this book to come out.
January 2, 2026
This is my second book by this author and boy does she know how to pack an emotional punch in a thrilling story.
Overall, I liked the book and finished it in less than a day. It kept me interested enough that I did not want to put it down. I felt it could have been a bit more thrilling / mysterious but it was a YA thriller so maybe I was expecting more of an adult thriller? I don’t know. I ended up feeling emotional by the end with how I felt about certain characters and their relationship with one another. I will definitely read more of this author’s work.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for my gifted copy and be on the lookout to add this one to your 2026 tbr as it releases in March.
Overall, I liked the book and finished it in less than a day. It kept me interested enough that I did not want to put it down. I felt it could have been a bit more thrilling / mysterious but it was a YA thriller so maybe I was expecting more of an adult thriller? I don’t know. I ended up feeling emotional by the end with how I felt about certain characters and their relationship with one another. I will definitely read more of this author’s work.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for my gifted copy and be on the lookout to add this one to your 2026 tbr as it releases in March.
November 23, 2025
4.5 stars
When I tell you 1. I read this YA thriller in 2 sittings and 2. I will never be able to get on a boat again you BETTER hear me. This book is so well paced and tense and Omigod how does anyone ever sail in the ocean to begin with?? I absolutely had no idea what was going to happen to this group who chose to take an ill advised trip during a storm but I PROMISE you I did not see this ending coming. I know people say Megan Lally is YA Freida McFadden but I implore you this YA is for *anyone* who loves a good mystery thriller.
I also LOVED the Powell’s bookstore callout!
When I tell you 1. I read this YA thriller in 2 sittings and 2. I will never be able to get on a boat again you BETTER hear me. This book is so well paced and tense and Omigod how does anyone ever sail in the ocean to begin with?? I absolutely had no idea what was going to happen to this group who chose to take an ill advised trip during a storm but I PROMISE you I did not see this ending coming. I know people say Megan Lally is YA Freida McFadden but I implore you this YA is for *anyone* who loves a good mystery thriller.
I also LOVED the Powell’s bookstore callout!
December 12, 2025
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.5 stars
okay so i just binged this in mostly one sitting.... insane. like i was literally saying "what the hell" every other page omg. so many twists and just characters who pmo SO bad. only 2 decent people and ugh that ending IM CRYINGGG
this was genuinely one of the best thrillers ive read in a while + adding megan to my must read in 2026!! her backlog on my priority tbr 👏
this book comes out in march & u should add it to your tbr!!!
thank you so much to raincoast + sourcebooks fire for sending me a physical arc !!
okay so i just binged this in mostly one sitting.... insane. like i was literally saying "what the hell" every other page omg. so many twists and just characters who pmo SO bad. only 2 decent people and ugh that ending IM CRYINGGG
this was genuinely one of the best thrillers ive read in a while + adding megan to my must read in 2026!! her backlog on my priority tbr 👏
this book comes out in march & u should add it to your tbr!!!
thank you so much to raincoast + sourcebooks fire for sending me a physical arc !!
November 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Some parts dragged, but in the beginning I couldn’t put it down! I finished it in a day practically.
I sort of can’t stand books where everything could be solved by just not making ONE incredibly stupid decision, which was the case with this book. I know there wouldn’t be a book if they were smart, but I feel like they still could have gotten into that situation without doing it to themselves.
Hannah was a great main character. I related to her in a lot of ways, and she was the only sane one there!
Emmy was beyond annoying, I’m sorry. At times I was like why have they even been friends for so long? There was no friendship chemistry and nothing about Emmy made me want to root for her.
Jackson had a personality of a doornail. There was nothing charming or good about him at all. There was no romantic chemistry between them either. There was a big issue between the two of them that happened over Christmas, but when we found out what it was, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. There were so many times when I was like, does Hannah even actually like him? Because they bickered a lot. Which I am not saying couples can’t do that, but it seemed like it was coming more from a place of she was angry at him and not just joking around.
Ben was a sort of a cartoonish villain. He was just a bad person and did insane things to keep on being just the worst. There wasn’t really a rhyme or reason for him being the way he was, other than he was just rich and thought he could get away with it. It was kind of weird he only started showing red flags when they got on the boat. But I suppose he was laying on the charm for the rest of the days prior.
I was taken aback at the end of the book I will admit! People could have maybe figured out the end, but I had no idea!
Slight spoilers in this next paragraph: Most of the book I thought Jackson was working with Ben secretly or was actually behind a lot of what was happening, so I never would have guessed what actually happened. I was too set on him being the other bad guy. Maybe I thought that because I didn’t like him. I figured there would be a plot twist at the end of the book, so I was trying to figure it out, but I never would have thought what actually happened.
I was tempted to raise it a star rating after that revelation, but I was still pretty over the rest of the book at that point, so I will keep it at 3 stars.
This is still better than her second book, but “That’s Not My Name” still takes the cake.
Some parts dragged, but in the beginning I couldn’t put it down! I finished it in a day practically.
I sort of can’t stand books where everything could be solved by just not making ONE incredibly stupid decision, which was the case with this book. I know there wouldn’t be a book if they were smart, but I feel like they still could have gotten into that situation without doing it to themselves.
Hannah was a great main character. I related to her in a lot of ways, and she was the only sane one there!
Emmy was beyond annoying, I’m sorry. At times I was like why have they even been friends for so long? There was no friendship chemistry and nothing about Emmy made me want to root for her.
Jackson had a personality of a doornail. There was nothing charming or good about him at all. There was no romantic chemistry between them either. There was a big issue between the two of them that happened over Christmas, but when we found out what it was, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. There were so many times when I was like, does Hannah even actually like him? Because they bickered a lot. Which I am not saying couples can’t do that, but it seemed like it was coming more from a place of she was angry at him and not just joking around.
Ben was a sort of a cartoonish villain. He was just a bad person and did insane things to keep on being just the worst. There wasn’t really a rhyme or reason for him being the way he was, other than he was just rich and thought he could get away with it. It was kind of weird he only started showing red flags when they got on the boat. But I suppose he was laying on the charm for the rest of the days prior.
I was taken aback at the end of the book I will admit! People could have maybe figured out the end, but I had no idea!
Slight spoilers in this next paragraph: Most of the book I thought Jackson was working with Ben secretly or was actually behind a lot of what was happening, so I never would have guessed what actually happened. I was too set on him being the other bad guy. Maybe I thought that because I didn’t like him. I figured there would be a plot twist at the end of the book, so I was trying to figure it out, but I never would have thought what actually happened.
I was tempted to raise it a star rating after that revelation, but I was still pretty over the rest of the book at that point, so I will keep it at 3 stars.
This is still better than her second book, but “That’s Not My Name” still takes the cake.
December 3, 2025
This book was intense! A story of survival, betrayal, secrets and young love. The beginning of the story warranted a lot of eye rolls but you have to remember the main characters are in high school, so selfish and immature decisions are the norm. I was hooked from the 1st page and was not disappointed. What I didn’t expect was for such an emotional ending. I predicted the last plot twist but that didn’t make it less impactful in my opinion. This is my 1st book by this author and I will absolutely be reading more!
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 ½ stars
First, thank you to NetGalley for giving me my first arc! Alright now to the review
This book devastated me. You wanna know why? Well guess what I’m not gonna tell you. You just gotta read it for yourself 😁
Tell me why this was genuinely the most confusing books ever. Like, I would go from being happy, to frustrated, to giggling and then wanting to rip my eyeballs out. It was messing with my feelings.
I thought it was gonna trigger my thalasophobia but it wasn’t that bad. ALTHOUGH I will say it was SUPER stressful. The amount of times I was leaning in my seat was- well it was a lot. I read it super quick. Almost one day 😁(it was also the first book i read on my new kindle)
But oh my gosh the characters 🤦specifically Ben. Istg I’ve never hated a book character more then I hated this dude. He is literally the definition of an idiot. Everyone else who was on a boat with him must be WAY nicer than me because I would’ve thrown his ass off so fast. LIKE WHAT THE HECK UGHHH HE WAS SO FREAKING ANNOYING
Emmy was annoying too. At least in the first half of the book. It literally took her “boyfriend” choking her best friend for her to finally stop defending him. Like girl wdym you’re planning a trip AND defending a stranger that you’ve known for one day, over your best friend that you’ve known like most of your life. She was so dramatic too.
Hannah was cool I liked her. I was rooting for her the entire time, because girl has got major survival instincts.. I loved Jackson though. Actually, I LOVED him. He was so sweet. Him and Hannah were so cute together 🥺
NOW WHO WAS GONNA TELL ME THAT I WAS GOING TO SOB MY EYES OUT WITH THIS ONE. AND I CANT RANT TO ANYONE BECAUSE THE BOOK HASNT CAME OUT YET AND NO ONE HAS READ IT!!! The end was so devastating, I can’t even explain it. I felt sick because I was so sad and devastated 😭call me dramatic idgaf, it was sad.
Summary: Hannah goes on a trip with her best friend Hannah and her family. On the last day of the trip they go on a boat with a stranger named Ben. Little did they know that, that one trip would change their lives forever…
Sorry that sucked 😭
Characters:
Hannah- she actually has a brain. Surprising for a fmc. My heart breaks for her
Jackson- my poor baby 🥺
Emmy- she’s a poor judge of character. She’s annoying
Ben- go to hell. And stay there you mf
Final thoughts:
Again thank you for NetGalley for giving me this arc! I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read and I sped through it, but warning the ending is sad. Definitely recommend though. Anyway LOVE YALL thanks for reading!
First, thank you to NetGalley for giving me my first arc! Alright now to the review
This book devastated me. You wanna know why? Well guess what I’m not gonna tell you. You just gotta read it for yourself 😁
Tell me why this was genuinely the most confusing books ever. Like, I would go from being happy, to frustrated, to giggling and then wanting to rip my eyeballs out. It was messing with my feelings.
I thought it was gonna trigger my thalasophobia but it wasn’t that bad. ALTHOUGH I will say it was SUPER stressful. The amount of times I was leaning in my seat was- well it was a lot. I read it super quick. Almost one day 😁(it was also the first book i read on my new kindle)
But oh my gosh the characters 🤦specifically Ben. Istg I’ve never hated a book character more then I hated this dude. He is literally the definition of an idiot. Everyone else who was on a boat with him must be WAY nicer than me because I would’ve thrown his ass off so fast. LIKE WHAT THE HECK UGHHH HE WAS SO FREAKING ANNOYING
Emmy was annoying too. At least in the first half of the book. It literally took her “boyfriend” choking her best friend for her to finally stop defending him. Like girl wdym you’re planning a trip AND defending a stranger that you’ve known for one day, over your best friend that you’ve known like most of your life. She was so dramatic too.
Hannah was cool I liked her. I was rooting for her the entire time, because girl has got major survival instincts.. I loved Jackson though. Actually, I LOVED him. He was so sweet. Him and Hannah were so cute together 🥺
NOW WHO WAS GONNA TELL ME THAT I WAS GOING TO SOB MY EYES OUT WITH THIS ONE. AND I CANT RANT TO ANYONE BECAUSE THE BOOK HASNT CAME OUT YET AND NO ONE HAS READ IT!!! The end was so devastating, I can’t even explain it. I felt sick because I was so sad and devastated 😭call me dramatic idgaf, it was sad.
Summary: Hannah goes on a trip with her best friend Hannah and her family. On the last day of the trip they go on a boat with a stranger named Ben. Little did they know that, that one trip would change their lives forever…
Sorry that sucked 😭
Characters:
Hannah- she actually has a brain. Surprising for a fmc. My heart breaks for her
Jackson- my poor baby 🥺
Emmy- she’s a poor judge of character. She’s annoying
Ben- go to hell. And stay there you mf
Final thoughts:
Again thank you for NetGalley for giving me this arc! I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read and I sped through it, but warning the ending is sad. Definitely recommend though. Anyway LOVE YALL thanks for reading!
March 1, 2026
4.5 overall!
I absolutely loved Lally’s previous two books and was so excited for her new one. It’s safe to say that I also loved this one, which no surprise there. I was instantly hooked from the start and found myself not wanting to put it down. The chapters end on little cliff hangers which makes me want more and need to know what’s going to happen next. I loved Hannah and her sarcastic banter and I found myself relating to her so much at times. Lally always has a twist you don’t see coming in her books and this one was no different. I do have to say I was sad about it but that’s just because I wanted it to end differently not because it wasn’t good. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away.
Overall, I highly recommend this YA thriller especially if you liked her other books and it’d be a perfect summer thriller read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I absolutely loved Lally’s previous two books and was so excited for her new one. It’s safe to say that I also loved this one, which no surprise there. I was instantly hooked from the start and found myself not wanting to put it down. The chapters end on little cliff hangers which makes me want more and need to know what’s going to happen next. I loved Hannah and her sarcastic banter and I found myself relating to her so much at times. Lally always has a twist you don’t see coming in her books and this one was no different. I do have to say I was sad about it but that’s just because I wanted it to end differently not because it wasn’t good. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away.
Overall, I highly recommend this YA thriller especially if you liked her other books and it’d be a perfect summer thriller read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
December 4, 2025
🛟Teenage Tragedy at Sea
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Two best friends and the brother's best friend—the one she's secretly in love with—are thrown together on a thrilling, mysterious trip? I was immediately hooked!
Having previously been captivated by this author's storytelling in That's Not My Name, I knew I needed an ARC for her latest. She specializes in crafting the most captivating and mysterious teen dramas/thrillers.
One thing I always look for in a book is the ability to keep me on my toes. I avoid predictable or in-your-face plots, and that is truly this author's specialty. She presents a seemingly straightforward situation, only to introduce so many unpredictable twists and turns that you never know what's coming next.
With this story, as with her previous work, I was convinced everything would turn out fine... until the plot made a final, heartbreaking turn at the end. I absolutely could not put this book down. The narrative is fun, fast-paced, and carries a palpable sense of fear and helplessness. I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head, constantly wondering if the characters had any way to escape their dire circumstances.
The plot was excellent, and while the characters made me want to scream and swear at them for their decisions (a sign of great writing!), the author absolutely delivers on the suspense. This is a highly entertaining and emotional read!
Recommendation: Highly recommend to fans of young adult mystery and high-stakes thriller with excellent pacing.
Disclosure: I was granted an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Two best friends and the brother's best friend—the one she's secretly in love with—are thrown together on a thrilling, mysterious trip? I was immediately hooked!
Having previously been captivated by this author's storytelling in That's Not My Name, I knew I needed an ARC for her latest. She specializes in crafting the most captivating and mysterious teen dramas/thrillers.
One thing I always look for in a book is the ability to keep me on my toes. I avoid predictable or in-your-face plots, and that is truly this author's specialty. She presents a seemingly straightforward situation, only to introduce so many unpredictable twists and turns that you never know what's coming next.
With this story, as with her previous work, I was convinced everything would turn out fine... until the plot made a final, heartbreaking turn at the end. I absolutely could not put this book down. The narrative is fun, fast-paced, and carries a palpable sense of fear and helplessness. I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head, constantly wondering if the characters had any way to escape their dire circumstances.
The plot was excellent, and while the characters made me want to scream and swear at them for their decisions (a sign of great writing!), the author absolutely delivers on the suspense. This is a highly entertaining and emotional read!
Recommendation: Highly recommend to fans of young adult mystery and high-stakes thriller with excellent pacing.
Disclosure: I was granted an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the ARC!!! I am a Megan Lally fan, so when I saw... "A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens' sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller" I WAS HOOKED. Lally didn't disappoint. I will admit, I was a little worried towards the final length of the book, but of course, she comes in with turns no one might expect. Must read for all Lally fans!
October 29, 2025
As someone with a deep fear of open water and being on boats, this was a horror novel to me. This book did tension so well, and was so fast-paced that I never wanted to pause and put it down. My only real complaint was that some of the characters frustrated me - but in one case, they were meant to, and in the others, their motives became more clear and eased that irritation.
I also found the side romantic plot in this enjoyable! Often in thrillers, it can feel like an unnecessary or under-developed addition, but in this, I felt it was done really well.
At the end, I could kind of feel a certain twist/reveal coming, but it was still a gut punch when it was was dropped. It did in fact make me cry.
I can't believe this was my first time finally reading something by Megan Lally. I can't wait to catch up on everything I've missed from her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
I also found the side romantic plot in this enjoyable! Often in thrillers, it can feel like an unnecessary or under-developed addition, but in this, I felt it was done really well.
At the end, I could kind of feel a certain twist/reveal coming, but it was still a gut punch when it was was dropped. It did in fact make me cry.
I can't believe this was my first time finally reading something by Megan Lally. I can't wait to catch up on everything I've missed from her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
December 31, 2025
Megan Lally is back with another intense YA thriller! I love the way she combines both the psychological and suspense sub-genres to create thrillers that not only keep you guessing, but also keep you questioning. Nothing ever is as it seems in Lally’s story and I love how her plots challenge me to guess the twists and figure out the mystery.
What We Did to Survive is a rollercoaster full of anxiety, with superb pacing, excellent character development, and plot twists you won’t see coming. This story is sure to keep you gasping, make you devastated, and leave you hanging on for more. Another hit from Lally!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
What We Did to Survive is a rollercoaster full of anxiety, with superb pacing, excellent character development, and plot twists you won’t see coming. This story is sure to keep you gasping, make you devastated, and leave you hanging on for more. Another hit from Lally!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2025
Thank you to netgalley for this arc! I really enjoy megan lallys writing. I found myself getting bored at times I am probably not the age group to read this in but I would definitely recommend if your looking for a fast paced survival story just wasn’t the story for me. Thank you again to netgalley for the arc!
November 8, 2025
I was pissed off at pretty much everyone in this book tbh. Ben was the actual worst and he should have died sooner but I was not even surprised that a roach like him managed to survive until close to the end. I'm even more angry at the fact that Jackson didn't make it, because while every survival story has its sacrifices, it shouldn't have been him. This was still fun and fast paced, though.
Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
I love a good survival thriller. What We Did to Survive was exactly that. Think Cast Away but with teens on a boat and not as much man vs nature (you shall see). So, I guess not exactly like it, but it has the same vibes… You get the point.
The book is fast-paced, full of emotion, and kept me on my toes the entire time. The characters are well written and it was so easy for me to get attached to them.
I mean, was it the most logical plot line ever? Absolutely not. Like, all it would’ve taken to prevent this whole story was the parents looking at the sky and saying “there’s a whole storm brewing, so no way y’all gonna go on that boat today.” But yk what? I ate it up anyway. I had a fun time. And the twists?? Jaw. Dropped.
If you enjoy survival/thriller books, particularly media involving sea and/or deserted island settings, you’ll like this. I highly recommend you pick it up in March 2026!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The book is fast-paced, full of emotion, and kept me on my toes the entire time. The characters are well written and it was so easy for me to get attached to them.
I mean, was it the most logical plot line ever? Absolutely not. Like, all it would’ve taken to prevent this whole story was the parents looking at the sky and saying “there’s a whole storm brewing, so no way y’all gonna go on that boat today.” But yk what? I ate it up anyway. I had a fun time. And the twists?? Jaw. Dropped.
If you enjoy survival/thriller books, particularly media involving sea and/or deserted island settings, you’ll like this. I highly recommend you pick it up in March 2026!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 780 reviews