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The Only Survivors: A Novel

A New York Times Bestseller
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick

They were nine survivors. Now, a decade later, only seven remain...how long can they keep the promise made that night? Don’t miss this “gripping thriller” (CrimeReads) from the Reese Witherspoon Book Club selected and New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda.

A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.

To keep one another safe.
To hold one another accountable.
Or both.

Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy and from the other survivors. She’s changed her mobile number. She’s blocked the others’ email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven—and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief—and suspicion.

Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, the annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn’t raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they’re facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters…again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they’ve been through, she wouldn’t willfully make them worry. Would she?

And—as they promised long ago—each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won’t they?

A propulsive and chilling locked-box mystery filled with the dazzling hairpin twists that are the author’s signature, The Only Survivors is New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda’s best novel yet.

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Published Mar 12, 2024

352 pages

Average rating: 6.6

215 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Only Survivors* by Megan Miranda is a gripping thriller with a compelling premise that hooks many from the start. Reviewers praise it...

natreaads
Dec 02, 2025
6/10 stars
3 stars | I really liked the concept of this story, as I felt connected to my own high school class after witnessing a tragedy in our community. When I learned that this book had a similar premise, I had to pick it up. There were many eerie events that piqued my interest early into the story as I delved into the book, but the high amount of characters suddenly introduced (with not enough depth and development) led to confusion. I found myself skimming to get to the next chapter, lost in the words. I was entertained enough to keep reading but not necessarily enjoying the actual plot. I almost put it down but pushed through because I was so curious to see what the mysterious notes, cryptic texts, and other strange happenings meant. I'm glad I did because the ending was very surprising and gave me that "oh shit" moment I craved. Overall not sure if I would read The Only Survivors again, but I don't regret picking it up either.
Rose G
Jul 17, 2025
8/10 stars
Had a great, twisting ending but took a little long to get there.
HelloTanyaLyn
Jul 10, 2025
2/10 stars
DNF ❌ after 80 pages. Just No.
Anne-Marie Eberhardt
Jul 02, 2025
10/10 stars
Whoa! So good and an ending I did not see coming!
Jessica.Page
Jun 26, 2025
4/10 stars
I wanted to like this more than I did. The pacing was very, painfully slow and the changing POVs and time jumps didn't really add anything to the story. It was well written and I will probably read more from Megan Miranda in the future. The story was good, but just wasn't my favorite.

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