The Last Time We Drowned

by Saratoga Schaefer

From Cosmopolitan's Cosmo Reads imprint comes The Last Time We Drowned, a razor-sharp, atmospheric, and impossible to put down locked-room psychological thriller where luxury curdles into terror and survival comes at the highest price.

Six influencers. One luxury yacht. Nowhere to hide.

Charlie Engels is broke and desperate when her bookstagram account lands her the offer of a join Empress, a state-of-the-art yacht houseboat off the Florida Keys turned influencer paradise. Lucrative brand deals and a ready-made "sisterhood" of internet stars—it may not be Charlie's dream job, but she knows she'd be a fool to turn it down.

It's also the perfect distraction; Charlie's eager to outrun her past and a staggering betrayal by her former best friend. Now, aboard Empress, Charlie is surrounded by dazzling women with their own the magnetic but ruthless leader, the spiraling fashion queen, the inseparable twins, the peacemaker with cracks in her confidence, and the memory of the influencer who Charlie is replacing. The same influencer who Charlie keeps seeing on board, even though the others insist she quit.

But when a hurricane traps the group at sea with their billionaire boss, the dream turns claustrophobic. Communications cut. Supplies dwindling. Old betrayals bubbling to the surface. Then the first body drops.

As paranoia mounts and alliances splinter, Charlie realizes the real danger isn't the storm outside—it's the deadly games being played below deck. And if she can't outwit a killer, her past won't be the only ghost that comes back to drown her.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Suspense, Thriller Suspense

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Saratoga Schaefer (they/them) is the USA Today Bestselling and Indie Press Bestselling author of vicious horrors and twisted thrillers. Their books have been featured in Variety, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Glamour, and their writing has appeared in Writer’s Digest, CrimeReads, and more. Originally from Brooklyn, Saratoga now lives upstate with several needy animals and a haunted clown table.

Reviews

[Casey Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this! It's the perfect locked-room (boat) mystery/thriller for going into the warmer weather. There's something about influencer culture and the whole rich lifestyle angle that I just find so entertaining to read about, even if it is ridiculous. Charlie is a bookstagrammer who gets hired to live on a luxury yacht with other content creators to promote the yacht line. When she starts to hear about the girl she is replacing, Charlie's suspicions of the other girls develop. Obviously, I enjoyed the bookstagrammer angle. Content creator culture is something I am both fascinated by, and find ridiculous. I am on the fringe of that with my small potatoes bookstagram account that sometimes gets freebies and cool opportunities, but nothing like the crew in this book! Like I do not, at all, make a living from it. The book definitely serves lifestyles of the young and rich, as well as mean girl culture. Every character is hiding secrets, including our girl Charlie. When a body drops dead and a hurricane has them trapped on board, things really spiral. We definitely get some glimpses of Saratoga's horror writing. I was just thoroughly entertained by it, and found myself wanting to pick it up constantly any time I had to put it down. While it is over-the-top and chaotic, there are snippets of real commentary in there on influencer culture, rich men's attitudes (especially towards women), female competition but also solidarity, and burying guilt and trauma. While I read it early at the onset of Spring, this is going to be a killer summertime thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the ARC. Book releases 6/2/26.

[little reading ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW

OH MY GOD SARATOGA THIS IS AMAZING

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me have an early copy to read!

Okay, so for the last six months, I have stayed away from thrillers bc they’ve been bothering me. This is the EXACT thriller I needed. WOW THIS IS GOOD

I’ve read all of Saratoga’s books, and the level this one is on is a completely different level. The writing is so good I can’t get over it. The twists and turns really kept me going, and at one point I gasped out loud.

As someone with a book account and the fear of big bodies of water, I got goosebumps 10/10

[CamiVreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Saratoga Schaefer for a digital ARC of The Last Time We Drowned in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts are my own.

—
“Julie Chan is Dead” meets “The Woman in Cabin 10” in this new Saratoga Schaefer’s novel!
In The Last Time We Drowned, we’re introduced to Charlie, a rising bookstagrammer who is struggling to make ends meet and living paycheck by paycheck. When the opportunity to live in a luxury yacht with other six influencers arrives, Charlie doesn’t hesitate to accept it. She will have to be part of this cult-like “sisterhood” and share all of her secrets with them and her followers, but how many secrets is too many secrets? And much is she willing to share? Especially when one night, they get trapped in a big storm in the middle of the ocean and are forced to stick to each other👀

—

I really enjoyed this one! Though I’ll be honest, the first half was a bit of a slow burn for me. I wasn’t fully hooked until I got to the halfway mark. But once the plot picked up, I couldn’t put it down (I ended up reading the last 45% of the book in one sitting!) The second half was a whirlwind, full of twists, betrayals, and this almost claustrophobic, locked-room vibe that kept me on edge. I also really admired how the author crafted the characters, each one of the girls felt distinct and had a very unique personality.
I would say, in some parts of the book -especially at the beginning-, the writing felt a teeny tiny too YA (Young Adult). But regardless of this, I had a fun time with this book and I can’t wait to read Saratoga Schaefer’s next book!

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun setting and a tense story. I wasn’t quite sold on the single POV aspect and I think I would’ve enjoyed it a bit more if we perhaps had other perspectives on the story. Being involved in social media I do enjoy a good influencer centered thriller, but this one didn’t quite thrill me like I’d hoped. Overall, I found it more of a fun drama read rather than a thriller with twists and turns.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saratoga Schaefer has quickly become a must-read author for me. Every book quickly hooks me, and I can never put them down.

The Last Time We Drowned is a thriller that follows Charlie, a bookstagrammer, who accepts a job that throws her into a world of luxury influencers. What sounds like a life changing opportunity quickly turns darker when Charlie grows suspicious about the past history on the yacht where they are living. Is there more to the story than her fellow influencers are letting on, or is Charlie the one harbouring secrets of her own?

If you were a fan of “The Compound” by Aisling Rawle, this is a similar vibe.

Thanks to Cosmo Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Molly Shatzkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading dozens (hundreds…) of thrillers over the past decade, I was just about ready to give them up for good. The tropes had gotten old, the writing was getting iffy and I learned that reading paragraphs in italics gave me a migraine. I shouldn’t know who the killer is 20 pages in (in some cases just from the prologue). I had officially become a cynic.

But! when I found out that Saratoga Schaefer was writing a thriller, how could I pass up the opportunity to read the galley? Serial Killer Support Group and Trad wife live in my head rent free and I therefore trust Saratoga Schaefer implicitly. And they did NOT disappoint. I finished the book in two sittings and am still thinking about some of the scenes and asking myself what I think about certain themes (thank you for the existential crisis on friendship, death, and ghosts btw)

Can’t wait to have a hard copy upon release and can’t wait to see what Saratoga will do next!

[Caitlynn Needoba · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A RIDE! I have been on a thriller kick lately and this one just upped the ante for me. The setting? Eerie yet beautiful (how I honestly feel about big bodies of water). The story? Haunting and captivating. The characters? Questionable in the best way. The twists? I still have goosebumps.
This was the first novel by Saratoga Schaefer and now I have to find everything they have written to buy it. Their writing is top tier.

[Stacey (reading2escape) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this author's previous novel, Trad Wife, and loved it so I was excited when I saw that she had a new one coming out!

While I didn't love this as much as Trad Wife, it was still a fun, kind of campy thriller. I love that this author pokes fun in a way toward socal media influencers. In this book, our MC, Charlie, is a Bookstagrammer so that was fun!

This book had interesting characters and a fun plot. I liked how the tension ramped up after the hurricane hit. There were good twists and turns, some of which I guessed, and some that surprised me.

[Lauren Koshak · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

I went in blind just because I love Saratoga- Im a groupie lol. The Last Time We Drowned completely consumed me. I could not stop thinking about this book in between reads, and before I even realized it, I had accidentally binged the entire thing in one day.

The writing was atmospheric, haunting, and deeply emotional in a way that quietly sneaks up on you. The exploration of grief, trauma, memory, and survival felt so raw and human, and I found myself incredibly attached to the characters and their inner worlds.

The pacing leans reflective and literary, which mostly worked beautifully for me!

Still, this story lingered in my mind long after I turned the last page. Melancholic, intimate, and beautifully written, it felt immersive in the best way. If you love emotional literary mystery fiction that leaves a mark on you, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced copy of this in exchange for an on honest review 🙏

[Kerri Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Saratoga is quickly becoming a must read author for me! I’m not a horror girlie, but I’ll devour her thrillers!

I love that a group of social media influencers are the subjects here, so applicable to life these days and also just super interesting. I also loved that our main character, Charlie, isn’t exactly like the other girls but is still hired for the job and joins them on the yacht.

We have suspense, a bit of the paranormal like what exactly is going on here, people dropping dead, a mystery to be solved, and a whole lot of personalities to contend with at the same time.

Character development felt strong to me, and I could really feel how Charlie evolved throughout the book. We also learn enough about the other characters, and they felt like strong enough characters in their own right.

Overall I was obsessed with reading this to find out what in the hell was going on, loved the ending.. chefs kiss! If you haven’t read Saratoga Schaefer yet.. do yourself a favor and pick up one of her books!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me feeling way too confident in my detective skills for absolutely no reason 😆 I guessed one thing early on and thought I had it all figured out, only for the story to keep throwing twist after twist at me. By the end, my detective hat was fully knocked off my head.

I also loved the boat setting. Something about being trapped out on the water makes thrillers feel extra claustrophobic and atmospheric at the same time. The tension just kept building with every secret that came out, and trust me, there are secrets GALORE in this one.

I flew through this book because it was such a fast-paced, entertaining read and genuinely hard to put down. I enjoyed Charlie’s character as a bookstagrammer. However, only four stars because I couldn’t stand the rest of the characters 😭 but honestly? that somehow made the drama even more fun.

Check this one out if it sounds like it’s for you!

[Angelica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I thought the plot could’ve been more exciting and I predicted all the “twists” very early on. It was easy to read and pretty atmospheric, but felt incredibly shallow (pun intended).

[Reisa Bolog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC of this after loving trad wife and I enjoyed this one as well! A quick paced thriller about influencers trapped on a yacht. Perfect summer read.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5!
Very quick read kept me on my toes. I really enjoy the influencer aspect and it was cool seeing a book influencer as the main character. A lot of the characters were definitely not likable but towards the end they do start to grow on you. You kind of do know what happens with the mystery aspect if you read a lot of thrillers but overall it was still a good book. Thank you cosmos read and net galley for an e arc!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

First being introduced to Saratoga Schaefer through their fantastic debut novel Serial Killer Support Group followed by their incredible body horror Trad Wife , so needless to say The Last Time We Drowned was a must-read. Although this third novel is billed as a mystery thriller, the horror influences are ever present turning The Last Time We Drowned into a unique and gripping read.

Charlie Engels is broke and desperate when her bookstagram account lands her the offer of a lifetime: join Empress, a state-of-the-art yacht houseboat off the Florida Keys turned influencer paradise. Lucrative brand deals and a ready-made "sisterhood" of internet stars―it may not be Charlie's dream job, but she knows she'd be a fool to turn it down.

It's also the perfect distraction; Charlie's eager to outrun her past and a staggering betrayal by her former best friend. Now, aboard Empress, Charlie is surrounded by dazzling women with their own baggage: the magnetic but ruthless leader, the spiraling fashion queen, the inseparable twins, the peacemaker with cracks in her confidence, and the memory of the influencer who Charlie is replacing. The same influencer who Charlie keeps seeing on board, even though the others insist she quit.

But when a hurricane traps the group at sea with their billionaire boss, the dream turns claustrophobic. Communications cut. Supplies dwindling. Old betrayals bubbling to the surface. Then the first body drops.

As paranoia mounts and alliances splinter, Charlie realizes the real danger isn't the storm outside―it's the deadly games being played below deck. And if she can't outwit a killer, her past won't be the only ghost that comes back to drown her.

Okay, The Last Time We Drowned is not a horror novel, let me just say that. But if the theme of social media influencing in Trad Wife struck a chord with you, then The Last Time We Drowned is going to be even more for you.

We get a locked-room, well boat at sea, thriller which features social media influencers in a mystery that had me quickly turning the page. Sometimes even when an author dabbles in another genre, their main genre seeps in and I was here for every moment. The reason I say there is a horror influence is the creeping sense of tension and dread I felt from Schaefer's previous two novels. Not to focus too much on the horror of things, but social media influencing in general seems horrific.

Schaefer introduces us to a multilevel thriller with six influencers on a yacht at sea with the focus on our main character who doesn't really seem to fit in. The more gradual first half of the novel sets the stage for the more fast-paced and thrilling second half filled with a few twists, turns, and redemption. Saratoga takes the book in directions and makes character decisions I didn't expect which made the story even that much more satisfying.

You feel for Charlie as the book progresses, but also there are moments you want to hate the bookstagrammer (I won't spoil this). However, the story wraps up with a truly satisfying ending that was a surprise to me when all is said and done.

The Last Time We Drowned is an electrifying entry into the thriller genre for Saratoga Schaefer. While the novel is deeply set in the mystery thriller genre, it has glimpses of horror I would come to expect from the author. Schaefer took chances, made satisfying decisions, and crafted a story that sets itself apart from the crowd.

The Last Time We Drowned hits bookstores everywhere on June 2, 2026 from Cosmo Reads. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Last Time We Drowned” by Saratoga Schaefer is basically what happens when you take influencer culture, trap it on a yacht, add a hurricane, and then throw in a possible ghost. It’s messy, dramatic, a little unhinged, and honestly pretty entertaining (though a bit predictable at times).

The story follows Charlie, a book influencer who’s still reeling from the death (and betrayal) of her best friend. She’s broke, grieving, and not exactly thriving, so when she gets the chance to join a luxury influencer “content house” on a yacht called the Empress, she takes it, even though she clearly doesn’t fit the vibe. The other influencers are all perfectly curated, slightly fake, and very committed to maintaining their online personas, which immediately feels off.

And that’s kind of the point. One of the strongest parts of this book is how it shows just how fake social media can be. Everyone on the yacht is hiding something, and their polished online personalities don’t match who they actually are at all. Charlie sees through it, but she’s not exactly innocent either; she’s an unreliable narrator who lies at times, especially with her own persona online, and is definitely not as morally clean as she wants to seem.

The first half is a bit of a slow burn, with lots of tension, weird vibes, and subtle clues about the influencer Charlie replaced (who everyone refuses to talk about ). There’s also this ongoing question of whether the yacht is haunted. Charlie keeps seeing what looks like a drowned woman, and you’re constantly left wondering if it’s a ghost, a warning, or just her grief and declining mental health catching up to her.

Then the hurricane hits, and that’s when everything spirals.

Once they’re trapped at sea with no communication, limited supplies, and a whole lot of secrets, the book turns into a full-on locked-room thriller. The paranoia ramps up, alliances start breaking, and people start dying (not directly murdered, but definitely as a result of their past actions). The tension in the second half is so much stronger, and it really leans into that claustrophobic, “no one here can be trusted” feeling.

Character-wise, most of them aren’t super likable. Viv, the group’s controlling leader, is especially exhausting in a very intentional way. But even though you might not like everyone, the dynamics between them are interesting, and there’s a lot of layered drama going on, like with grief, toxic friendships, guilt, and that constant pressure to perform for an audience.

The mystery itself is a bit predictable at times, but the book still manages to throw in some solid twists, especially near the end. There’s one reveal about Charlie that adds a lot of complexity to her character and makes you rethink everything you’ve seen from her perspective. It really leans into that idea that everyone on the boat, including Charlie, has something to hide.

The ending is honestly one of the stronger parts. It’s satisfying, a little chaotic, and just bittersweet enough to fit the story. There’s some justice, some revenge, and even a bit of female solidarity mixed in with all the mess.

Overall, this is a fun but darker-than-expected thriller with a cool concept. It’s not perfect, like how the pacing at the start can drag a bit, and some twists are easy to guess, but the atmosphere, themes, and character complexity make it stand out.

If you like locked-room mysteries, unreliable narrators, and stories that call out influencer culture while also being a little creepy, this one is definitely worth checking out.

[Gali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hits two of my favorite tropes: locked-room murder and being trapped aboard a ship at sea. The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer is an intense psychological thriller following six influencers in a gripping tale of terror and survival. I expected a light read, as befits the genre, but what I got was a deeper, more layered novel than most thrillers of its kind — and I mean that as a compliment.

Charlie Engels is a queer Bookstagram influencer haunted by her past. Devastated by her best friend's betrayal and death, broke and desperate, she eagerly accepts a life-saving offer to join Empress, a state-of-the-art yacht houseboat off the Florida Keys where six other influencers reside. Aboard Empress, Charlie meets the other women, each carrying her own baggage: Vivienne — the charismatic, ruthless leader and lifestyle content creator; Fiona — the makeup artist; the twins Rachel (a nutritionist) and Ashley (a yoga instructor); and Piper — a fashion-focused content creator.

The plot thickens when a hurricane hits, trapping them at sea with their boss and his friend. Communications are cut, supplies dwindle, and Charlie is haunted by appearances of the influencer she replaced — whom, strangely enough, the others refuse to discuss. It turns out Charlie isn’t the only one with secrets. When the first death occurs, the storm outside mirrors the storm inside, and secrets begin to surface.

Claustrophobic, atmospheric, suspenseful, and sinister, the book slowly drags you underwater and doesn’t let go. It captured my attention from the first page and held it to the very end. The premise feels fresh despite familiar tropes, the characters are diverse and layered, and the writing works beautifully for the genre, perfectly capturing the ambience.

The story is written from Charlie's first-person perspective, and I have mixed feelings about her. I liked her, but I didn’t like that she gave good reviews to all books — even bad ones — and lied easily. It made her an unreliable narrator in my eyes. I didn’t know whether to shake her or hug her at times. I condemned some of her choices and found her a bit hypocritical — first stone and all — yet I still ended up rooting for her. I didn’t like some of the other characters and found Vivienne exhausting, but I appreciated the emotional dynamics between them.

The title fits perfectly, and the drowning motif is central to the story. The novel explores social media and personal branding, loss, grief, toxic friendships, alcohol misuse, moral dilemmas, complex relationships, isolation, and PTSD. Overall, I loved the book and finished it in two sittings. The plot is filled with twists, and although I guessed a couple of them, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment. This is a cut above many others in the genre. Those who enjoy psychological thrillers with bite and complex character dynamics will find it compelling. I highly recommend it and give it full stars!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is glossy and curated until the ocean decides it wants blood—and suddenly your influencer getaway turns into a floating nightmare you can’t scroll past. The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer absolutely pulled me under and didn’t let me come up for air. Published by Cosmo Reads—huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.

I went in thinking I’d get a fun, slightly chaotic influencer thriller—something glossy, a little dramatic, easy to binge. And yes, it delivers that… but it also quietly drags you into something darker. Charlie, our bookstagrammer main character, is running from a past that still has teeth, and when she lands this dream job aboard the Empress, it feels like a reset button wrapped in luxury. Except nothing about this “fresh start” is actually clean. Every girl on that yacht is carrying something heavy—secrets, jealousy, guilt—and the longer you sit with them, the more you realize this isn’t a sisterhood, it’s a pressure cooker.

And the setting? Unreal. You’d think open water would feel freeing, but this book flips that on its head. The yacht becomes smaller with every chapter, tighter, suffocating in a way that made me genuinely uneasy. The dynamics between the women are sharp and messy in a way that feels a little too real—competitive, performative, but also flickering with moments of connection that almost make you trust them… almost. There’s the magnetic leader who knows exactly how to control the narrative, the unraveling fashion queen spiraling just beneath the surface, the twins who feel like they’re always watching, and the quiet peacemaker who might not be as steady as she seems. And then there’s the ghost of the influencer Charlie replaced—the one who may or may not be gone. Yeah… that part? Chills.

“There’s no such thing as starting over. Just new water to drown in.”

That line hit and lingered. Because beneath the bodies, the paranoia, the storm closing in—it’s really about what we carry with us. The mistakes, the betrayals, the versions of ourselves we try to bury. And when everything starts to unravel (and it does, spectacularly), you’re left wondering who deserves to make it out—and if anyone actually will.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re someone who loves a fast-paced thriller with messy female dynamics, a locked-room setup that actually feels fresh, and a sharp little commentary on influencer culture and curated perfection—this one’s going to hit. It’s bingeable, a little unhinged, and perfect for a summer read that keeps you side-eyeing everyone.

Be honest… if you were stuck on that yacht with them, who are you trusting first—and who are you quietly avoiding at all costs? 👀

#TheLastTimeWeDrowned #SaratogaSchaefer #CosmoReads #NetGalley #Bookstagram #ThrillerReads #PsychologicalThriller #SummerReads #LockedRoomMystery #ARCReview #BookReview #InfluencerCulture #WomenInThrillers #SuspenseReads

[Sara Mishkind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC reader copy!!

In a world where authors everywhere are trying to figure out how to shape social media-based plots, this book does an excellent job of integrating it seamlessly.

This book follows Charlie, a popular bookstagramer with dwindling mental stability and plenty of bills. In her desperation for a stable job, she turns to an influencer group based on a yacht called the Empress. Led by Viv, the lavish lifestyle influencer, the Empress group claims to be a family, albeit a dysfunctional one. After a freak hurricane traps Charlie, all her new “sisters”, and their boss, Trey, on board, the happy family image starts to disintegrate. With little food and no internet connection, Charlie starts to find out that this luxury yacht is more haunted than she ever was. While waiting for their uncertain rescue or potential demise, the number of proverbial skeletons only grows, and Charlie is determined to find out just how deep the closet really is.

I personally loved the pacing of this book. I think it’s the best-paced thriller I’ve ever read. It really felt like they cut out a lot of the thriller fat that usually finds its way into books marketed as suspenseful. I will say, some of the tension was a bit weak, probably because of the pacing, but I honestly preferred that to a drawn-out scavenger hunt that only drops the smallest and most confusing clues. I love a good “aha!” moment, but a lot of books spend the entire time working up to that moment, and then the rest of the book ends up being boring. This book definitely had an “aha” moment, but the whole book didn’t hinge on it, which was nice.

I enjoyed the characters a lot, I feel like they were all very likable. I really loved Ashley and Piper. Some of the less important characters, like Rachel or Fiona, had significantly less depth to them, but I didn’t think it particularly took away from the book. Especially with how short the book was, I really applaud the amount of characterization that the author was able to achieve.

I loved the ending, I think it was perfect. It was incredibly, incredibly satisfying. I love a satisfying ending. Also, the bookception going on with the fictional novel of A Song of Salt and Scales was amazing. I’m not a romantasy reader, but I would read that book. A Greek myth retelling where mermaids are the keepers of the underworld? Hello, someone write that right now.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve been dying to read Serial Killer Support Group (no pun intended), so I was really excited to see the author had this book up on Netgalley. I’ll be tuned in to see what else she writes!

[Punkin’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARE YOU kiddinggg meeee!!!?!! SIX STARS!! ⭐️
~
Serial Killer Support Group~ 5/5
Trad wide~ TBR
The Last Time we Drowned 5/5

I have been here reading since the jump and will continue to do so and screamed when I got the approval email for the ARC! This was fanatic and I couldn’t read it fast enough and was a little tiny bit sad when it was over because it was so good haha.
~
Calling all my bookish social media & thriller and locked room mystery bookstagram people!! You’re gonna wanna pick this one up because it sudo- involves us and our online bookish space!! Cue the meme: “ᴡᴀɪᴛ, 𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙪𝙨??”
Not really, no, (okay maybe a little) but as someone who runs a bookish account (@literature_and_love_) I 100% empathized with our FMC Char and the pressure it puts on us to preform /post all the time. This book is more than just about glittery waves, sparkling expensive yachts, and glossy and shiny influencers. It’s what lurks in the murky depths underneath the pretty exterior. What are influencers actually like behind all the high engagement posts and expensive clothes?. Charlie gets the opportunity of a lifetime, she gets to join the Empress and get a peak behind the curtain, but was it more than she wanted?

This is what I want more of. These thrillers with (ghostly elements?) are my jam and I highly recommend this to anyone who’s a fan of the genre! Like I said though; once you start you’re going to want to finish it one sitting. It’s addictive.

🌊Very vauge potential plot spoilers read at your own risk!
I loved the stark difference in personality vs performance with our influencer girls and I also loved the references to mermaids and sirens. The scene where all the girls are talking on the boat together surrounding Char and getting her to talk about her trauma reminded so much of that mean spirited mermaid clip of Wendy in Peterpan. I could just see this book playing out in my head like a movie. The setting is described in such a way; it could be taken at face value or slightly ominous and I thought that was poetic.

🌊Trope Tags🌊
Locked in mystery
Toxic relationships
The pretty& ugly side of influencing
Slightly maybe paranormal
Book within a book

₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was chaotic, addictive, and super entertaining! I love a locked-room/isolated thriller, and Schaefer is slowly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors out there!

The Last Time We Drowned delivered exactly what I want from a locked-room thriller. There’s high tension, messy, questionable characters, and that feeling that something is very, very wrong beneath all the glossy surface-level perfection. The premise alone hooked me: six influencers trapped on a luxury yacht during a hurricane? Immediate yes. Plus, it captures the toxicity that comes with influencer culture really well.

Charlie is an interesting main character, especially because she’s not entirely innocent herself. She’s observant, a little guarded, and clearly running from something, which made peeling back her layers just as enjoyable as uncovering the central mystery. The dynamic between the women onboard was one of my favorite parts because it’s equal parts found family and cutthroat competition, with secrets just under the surface. You never quite trust anyone, and honestly, you probably shouldn’t.

The atmosphere really shines here. Once the storm hits and they’re stranded, the yacht transforms from a dreamy escape into something claustrophobic and eerie. Personally, a yacht in general sounds like The Worst, but at least that made the book better! The isolation, the paranoia, the way tensions escalate all felt sharp and immersive, and when things start going wrong, they go very very very wrong. Bodies drop, alliances fracture, and the story spirals into full-blown chaos.

I also appreciated the subtle commentary woven throughout on influencer culture, wealth, power dynamics, and the complicated nature of female friendships. It never feels heavy-handed, but it adds depth beneath all the twists and drama. My only critique is that the story can feel a bit over-the-top at times, especially toward the climax, but honestly, it kind of works!

This is a fast-paced, wildly entertaining thriller that kept me hooked the entire time. This will be the perfect read for the summer… preferably somewhere far, far away from open water or yachts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the eARC!

[E W · Rating 4 out of 5]

—A big thank you to Net Galley and Saratoga Schaefer for the opportunity to read and review this unreleased ARC

The Empress — a dream come true or a floating nightmare?

After a traumatic betrayal leaves Charlie jobless and emotionally wrecked, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity falls into her lap: a glamorous job marketing a luxury yacht alongside six elite influencers. It feels like fate. A reset. A dream.

But dreams built on curated perfection rarely survive a storm.

What starts as nonstop partying and aesthetic perfection slowly turns volatile as tension builds between the women onboard. And when a hurricane hits, the real unraveling begins. Because that’s the thing about storms — they don’t just shake the boat. They expose everything.

As one line perfectly puts it:
“That’s the thing about storms. They bring what was hidden under the sand up to the surface, tossing the truth to the waves.”

This wasn’t a slow burn — it was a storm system building in the distance. The tension rises steadily until everything collides.

The story reads like a glamorous whodunit wrapped in a ghost-story atmosphere — eerie, claustrophobic, and charged with the sense that something isn’t right long before the truth surfaces. It’s the kind of book that makes you afraid to look behind you, even in broad daylight.

Vivienne, the calculating ring leader.
Feona. Rachel. Ashley.
And Piper — gorgeous, magnetic, and impossible to read.

Six beautiful influencers. Zero trust.

What I loved most was the exploration of curated online personas versus who people really are when the filters come off. The toxic sisterhood dynamics felt sharp and believable. Trauma bonding, betrayal, shifting loyalties — no one is innocent here, including Charlie.

The atmosphere is glossy on the surface but deeply unsettling underneath. You can practically feel the salt air… and the dread creeping in as the storm traps them together.

If you love glamorous thrillers with messy female dynamics, mounting tension, and a haunting whodunit edge, this one delivers.

Small circle. Big secrets. Trust no one.

Happy reading — and brace for impact.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A luxury yacht. Elite influencers. Endless parties. Big money. Doesn't sound all bad, right? As soon as I saw the main character was a 'Bookstagrammer,' I knew I had to dive into The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer.

It begs the question: If you were invited to join this elite inner circle and make a life-changing amount of money, would you step on board? Even if you knew everyone on that guest list was hiding a life-changing secret?

My Thoughts on The Last Time We Drowned:

In our world where influencers, well, influence our every day lives, I was intrigued to read what life might look like if there were six of them on a yacht living together. I pictured the yacht like the one on the television show Below Deck - luxurious, well-equipped, and living the life of millionaires. What I didn't picture was the toxicity that existed between the characters. Schaefer did a great job of creating characters that all had secrets to share.

The tension among the characters is what kept me reading. We see influencers and think they are living perfect lives. On this yacht, that is the opposite. With an Agatha Christie vibe, mixed with the feeling of drowning in grief and sorrow, I needed to find out what really happened at the end.

Schaefer highlights the stark contrast between being a 'book lover' and a 'content creator.' Seeing Charlie, the bookstagrammer, struggle to keep her love for reading alive while being forced into the high-glamour, high-toxicity world of lifestyle influencers was one of the most interesting parts of her character arc for me.

I enjoyed the first part of the book and the last part of the book. The middle, however, is when things started to get weird. Some parts felt forced to keep the story alive, and the ending was summed up a little too quickly for my taste. I kept waiting for that "gotcha" moment that I love in thriller books. It reminded me a lot of the show The White Lotus. Intriguing and strange at the same time.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because I didn't love it nor did I dislike it. It was a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cosmo Reads, and Saratoga Schaefer for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Brittany | Lady in Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I've had Trad Wife on my TBR for such a long time now that when I saw The Last Time We Drowned available as an ARC, I jumped at the chance to read it. I've not officially read anything else by Saratoga Schaefer before this, but I will say that their voice is definitely intriguing.

The Last Time We Drowned focuses on a sometimes-writer and sometimes-book influencer named Charlie who's grieving the loss of her best friend, Sage. What we learn is that Sage passed away shortly after publishing her first novel - one she actually stole from Charlie. Charlie tries to move on from the betrayal by accepting a job as an influencer on a big, fancy yacht called Empress with several other women. Charlie doesn't really fit into Empress's vibe because she's bookish and admittedly doesn't look like the other model-beautiful women. While she's struggling to get her footing as a new member of the team, Charlie finds out that the "family" she's walked into has some not-so-hidden baggage.

A lot of this novel is Charlie playing detective after thinking she sees a ghost on the yacht. She finds some other concerning items that don't belong to the current Empress influencers and decides to do an investigation into why the girl she's replacing left.

While the novel is well-written and does keep my attention (it's definitely fast-paced), I found most of the plot to be a little too predictable, and there aren't too many likable characters to root for. There were times they would make decisions that seemed a little goofy or far-fetched for how they presented themselves.

Overall, this book was good. I didn't love it, and that's okay. I'm still excited to read Schaefer's other works, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this one.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Cosmo Reads, and Saratoga Schaefer for this eARC. This review contains my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't necessarily the follow-up that I was expecting after Saratoga Schaefer's recent 'Trad Wife,' but I did love it none-the-less. While there are definitely some spooky elements present and the overall atmosphere is claustrophobic and eerie, I found the tone of the novel to be much more mysterious and dramatic than its predecessor, with a lot more heart at the center of the story. It is hauntingly beautiful.

Schaefer brilliantly marries the tropes of the unreliable narrator, influencer culture and stolen identity. It brought to mind some similar reads that I've also enjoyed- 'Yellowface,' 'Julie Chan Is Dead,' ‘Chlorine’ and 'The Writing Retreat,' and I definitely think the audience for 'The Last Time We Drowned' would overlap with those novels. Though the story was pretty straightforward and one can mostly assume where it's going, Schaefer still does an excellent job of weaving the thread of doubt and keeping the reader engaged in the plot the whole way through. Their writing just has a certain magnetism - dynamic character work, vivid settings and imagery, and a natural yet fast-paced flow to their words.

Rather than rehashing a plot that you can easily find elsewhere online, I will tell you the main message I reflected on during and after reading: If we were all defined by our worst or weakest moments, would any of us be considered "good?" If you're interested in exploring this question further along with themes of cyclical abuse, 'eat the rich,' and/or found family, this will be a super satisfying read!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher (Cosmo Reads) and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an arc! The book is set to release 6/2/26 and I predict it’s gonna be a hit!

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨 If you love influencer drama + locked-room chaos + stormy, slightly unhinged thrillers… this is your next binge.

The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer is giving luxury yacht meets social media meltdown—and I was completely along for the ride.

Charlie, a low-key bookish influencer (honestly relatable), gets the opportunity of a lifetime: an invite aboard the Empress, a lavish yacht owned by a billionaire and staffed with a curated group of influencers. Each one sells the fantasy of elite, 1% living—but Charlie is stepping into a role that belonged to someone else… someone who mysteriously disappeared.

With her best friend gone and her life feeling stuck, Charlie takes the chance. But between the glossy posts, curated personas, and the creeping feeling that something is very off, it quickly becomes clear this trip isn’t what it seems.

✨ Think:
• influencer culture meets psychological thriller
• a confined, high-tension setting
• secrets, shifting dynamics, and major storm energy

This book is pure popcorn thriller goodness. Yes, some twists are a little predictable—but honestly? That didn’t take away from the fun at all. It’s fast, addictive, and once things start spiraling (hello, hurricane season on a yacht with no real captain?!), I could not put it down.

The characters lean a bit archetypal, but they totally work for the vibe. And if you’ve read Schaefer before, you’ll catch those subtle horror undertones creeping in 👀

📚 Bottom line:
If you’re in the mood for a wild, twisty, slightly chaotic thriller that you can devour in a couple sittings—add this to your list.

And the best part? We’re getting more from Saratoga Schaefer soon… and I am READY.

Thanks, NetGalley and Cosmo reads for the ARC. Booked to be published June 2, 2026.

[b00kishbritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A yacht full of influencers with various niches living together, promoting their brands? It’s like reality TV, except it has the potential to be beneficial."

"If watching reality TV has taught me anything, it’s that putting a bunch of young, hot people together in one location is the perfect recipe for drama."

What happens when you put a bookstagrammer on a yacht with a bunch of other influencers?
Hallucinations, hurricanes... murder?
Charlie is haunted by her past & thinks shes landed a once in a lifetime opportunity to turn a new leaf & get back on track.
Except she's not the only one with a past & a secret. The boat has secrets too, & they won't stop haunting her until she gets to the bottom of it.

"People are not the pages of a book, written in black and white, cleanly spelled out and stylized so that you know who is good and who is bad. Maybe that’s the point."

This was a good, "who done it" kind of murder mystery book! It was especially relatable because the FMC is a bookstagrammer 😅 super cool how she integrated social media into the story so flawlessly. & really touched on how "staged" influencers can be.
"What is influencing if not lying a little bit, all the time?"
The storyline kept me intrigued & wondering the whole time, but I was never prepared for the plot twist at the end!
Also I hated Viv & Trey, so the ending was especially satisfying 👌
“A deal with the devil. I’m familiar with that trope. I do read a lot, you know. You offer fame in exchange for our souls. No big deal.”

Will definitely be reading more Saratoga Schaefer! TradWife is already on my tbr & I'm looking forward to it 👀
Thank you Netgalley for this arc copy!

[Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Time We Drowned is a fast paced, popcorn thriller easy to follow and quickly pulled me in from the first page!

Main protagonist, Charlie Engel is invited aboard The Empress with an elite group of influencers. Unlike the others, she doesn’t quite fit the glamorous mold but she has no job and no steady income and accepts the invitation. She has a bookstagram with over 50K followers but has been struggling with content lately after the passing of her best friend Sage.

Almost immediately, something feels off when she boards The Empress. There are whispered conversations, lingering secrets and Charlie begins seeing ghostly apparitions of a girl she suspects may have been the one she replaced on the trip. She was told she left o pursue other opportunities but other than that, no one seems to want to talk about her.

Charlie herself is hiding a troubled past and tragedy, which she shares with the group. She was not aware what she shared with them would be exposed online without her consent. Before she can assess the damage done on social media, a hurricane hits, cutting them off from all communications with the mainland. As the storm intensifies, people start dying and Charlie becomes determined to do whatever it takes to survive.

This is a gripping locked-room thriller set on a luxury yacht. The vivid descriptions bring the setting to life and even though the characters aren’t particularly likable, they’re easy to get to know and follow. This one is a quick, engaging read I found hard to put down. This was the first book I have read by Saratoga Schaefer and will not be the last, I enjoyed their writing style!

[Mikey ಠ◡ಠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be clear, this wasn't a BAD book. However, I've read a lot of thrillers in my day so when I say I was able to call all the plot beats & twists from the second & third chapter, I am not flexing on anybody. That's just how many thrillers I've read!

Predictability (for me) aside, there was a lot I liked about this book. I'm someone who still isn't tired of social media focused stories so I found the idea of 6 influencers stuck on a yacht in a hurricane pretty fun. I liked following our MC Charlie who runs a bookstagram. Even tho she hated her account so she barely talked about it. Womp womp. Omg also, when she said she gave EVERY book she read 4 stars even if she hated the book I was AGOG! Girl, how do people trust your reviews? How did you get 50k followers!?

I also really laughed in the beginning about this book that literally everyone was reading called A Song of Scales and Salt. It was basically an ACOTAR parody except instead of horny faeries (I think that's what ACOTAR is? Idk I haven't read it and frankly, I never will.) it's horny mermaids. Like SORRY but that's funny, I see you Saratoga!

And I really like the ending! Charlie is haunted by her past, and I won't tell you what happened because that's a spoiler. But during the epilogue I was like right but...this thing happened, how tf are you just moving on from it? And the last line actually blew me out of the water, pun intended!

All in all, a fun read. I think if you're not someone who tends to read a lot of thrillers, you might find this pretty darn thrilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.