This Stays Between Us (Margot McGovern, Penguin)

Margot McGovern’s second young adult novel, This Stays Between Us, may have taken seven years, but it’s worth the wait. This gripping thriller, set in the year 2000, is a feminist homage to 1990s horror movies and the ‘final girl’ trope. The story unfolds at St Augustine’s annual Year 11 retreat in the woods. Four girls share an isolated cabin: Priya, Raffi, Mack, and Shelley, who is a newcomer to the school. Priya plans to sneak over to the boys’ cabin to hook up with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Raffi and Mack aren’t speaking – things have been weird since they kissed. Shelley, who has just gotten her period, feels terrible and is behaving strangely. Rumours swirl that the ghost of Smiling Jack haunts their cabin, and Raffi plans to hold a séance for fun. But when the séance feels far too real, the girls soon realise something truly menacing is happening in their secluded cabin. Is it really the ghost of Smiling Jack, or is there a more physical threat tormenting them? McGovern (Neverland) once again excels in crafting multidimensional characters. In This Stays Between Us, she balances the characters’ individual struggles with their collective fight for survival, creating a tightly woven narrative that is both terrifying and compelling. With four captivating young women trying to survive the horrors of Smiling Jack, this novel is as chilling as it is well-written. Perfect for readers aged 13+ who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or are fans of classic scary movies, this thriller is guaranteed to leave you breathless.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer and bookseller at Readings Kids. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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