A review by jillwedemeier
The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "All the Missing Girls" and "The Last House Guest," comes "The Only Survivors," a gripping mystery about former classmates who reunite each year on the anniversary of a tragic accident.
Ten years ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine, claiming the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. Nine students were the only survivors, and their lives were forever changed. After one of the survivors commits suicide on the first anniversary of the crash, the remaining members make a pact to come together each year at a house on the Outer Banks. By the tenth anniversary, one of the survivors, Cassidy, has tried to distance herself from the tragedy. She plans not to attend this year, but on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary of another survivor. Grief-stricken, Cassidy heads to the Outer Banks. When she arrives, something feels off, and Cassidy is the first to notice that Amaya, the annual organizer, has disappeared. Then, as a storm heads toward the Outer Banks, the group faces closed roads and surging waters, again. With only seven survivors remaining, this locked-room mystery is told from Cassidy's point of view over a span of seven days, with flashbacks to the seven hours prior to their rescue on the day of the accident.
Megan Miranda has spoiled me. This book was an enjoyable read, but it just didn't blow me away like her other books did. It was definitely a slow burn, and there were so many characters that I started getting confused about who was who. I loved the setting and the storyline, though, and there were a lot of unexpected twists and big reveals at the end that made it worthwhile. It was a quick and easy read, making it a perfect beach read this summer.
Also, can we take a moment to appreciate that BEAUTIFUL cover?!
Ten years ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine, claiming the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. Nine students were the only survivors, and their lives were forever changed. After one of the survivors commits suicide on the first anniversary of the crash, the remaining members make a pact to come together each year at a house on the Outer Banks. By the tenth anniversary, one of the survivors, Cassidy, has tried to distance herself from the tragedy. She plans not to attend this year, but on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary of another survivor. Grief-stricken, Cassidy heads to the Outer Banks. When she arrives, something feels off, and Cassidy is the first to notice that Amaya, the annual organizer, has disappeared. Then, as a storm heads toward the Outer Banks, the group faces closed roads and surging waters, again. With only seven survivors remaining, this locked-room mystery is told from Cassidy's point of view over a span of seven days, with flashbacks to the seven hours prior to their rescue on the day of the accident.
Megan Miranda has spoiled me. This book was an enjoyable read, but it just didn't blow me away like her other books did. It was definitely a slow burn, and there were so many characters that I started getting confused about who was who. I loved the setting and the storyline, though, and there were a lot of unexpected twists and big reveals at the end that made it worthwhile. It was a quick and easy read, making it a perfect beach read this summer.
Also, can we take a moment to appreciate that BEAUTIFUL cover?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse