What we Did to Survive by 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?

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A high-stakes survival story at sea where the only thing you can rely on is each other.

Pre-Reading Thoughts
This one starts off slow, building relationships and character dynamics before the real storm hits. I wasn’t sure at first, but once the boat leaves port, it’s impossible to put down - every moment is tense, every decision carries weight. The sailing details are minimal and easy to follow, so you don’t need any nautical knowledge to feel the danger.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
The tension at sea is relentless. Hannah, Jackson, and the others face an escalating series of challenges that push them physically and emotionally. The slow build pays off: by the time the storm hits, the stakes feel terrifyingly real. The relationships and dynamics set up earlier give the peril an extra edge, because we care about who might survive.

It surprised me by…
How grounded the story feels despite the escalating danger. The author doesn’t rely on technical sailing jargon - the focus is on human endurance, decision-making under pressure, and the raw unpredictability of nature. There’s a real sense of grit, exhaustion, and fear, but balanced by moments of connection and bravery.

🎵 Featured Song
“Bury a Friend” — Bury a Friend

🎶 Vibe Album
Trench — Trench

🎧 Artist Recommendation
Chelsea Wolfe

Vibe Check

🎨 Colour Palette: stormy grey, deep navy, bruised purples
🎬 Soundtrack: lashing rain, cracking thunder, groaning wood
🍂 Season: late spring, just as paradise turns deadly
🌫 Mood: tense, gritty, unrelenting
🕯 Scent: salt spray, wet rope, and the metallic tang of fear

Tarot Pull

9 of Wands — Challenges keep stacking, and exhaustion weighs heavily on those trying to survive. The 9 of Wands embodies resilience, vigilance, and fighting against all odds. Hannah and the others are battered, but they keep going, pushing past fear and fatigue to cling to hope.

For fans of

📚 Life of Pi
🎬 Adrift

What We Did to Survive publishes on the 31st of March, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.