What We Did to Survive Summary: A YA Vacation Thriller by Megan Lally
TL;DR: A Quick Snapshot
The story follows three friends on a graduation trip to Mexico that goes wrong after they board a private sailboat against local warnings.
Three recent graduates take a private sailboat trip in Puerto Vallarta despite storm warnings.
A drunken captain and a violent storm leave them stranded, and a dangerous companion turns the survival situation into a fight for their lives.
- Hannah, Emmy, and Jackson are best friends on a graduation trip.
- They meet Ben, who pushes them to charter a sailboat.
- A storm capsizes the boat, and the survivors must reach shore.
- The story includes a major psychological twist about grief and trauma.
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What We Did to Survive Summary: The Full Story
SPOILERS AHEAD. This section recounts the entire plot, including the ending and major twists.
Read the Full Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown of What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally
Hannah, her best friend Emmy, and Emmy’s older brother Jackson are on a graduation trip to Puerto Vallarta.
Hannah has been hiding a long-time crush on Jackson, made awkward by an embarrassing moment during winter break that both of them pretend never happened.
At the resort, they meet Bennett Mulholland, a wealthy and charismatic stranger. Emmy is immediately drawn to him.
Ben convinces the group to charter a private sailboat called The Be-Yacht-Ch, even though locals have warned that all professional tours are canceled because of incoming storms.
The boat is run by Captain Keith, an unprofessional sailor who drinks heavily. As the first storm hits, Keith is passed out drunk. Ben breaks Keith’s nose in a fight.
When Keith threatens to press charges, Ben releases the wheel during a massive wave, causing the boom to knock the captain overboard.
Hannah, a trained lifeguard, dives into the churning water to save Keith but cannot reach him.
Keith disappears into the Pacific. After the captain’s death, Ben threatens the others, saying that if he goes down for murder, he will take them with him.
Jackson and Hannah realize Ben is dangerous and lock him in the boat’s small bathroom.
A second, more violent storm strikes.
The mast snaps, and The Be-Yacht-Ch capsizes.
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Hannah wakes up alone on the side of the hull, which is mostly submerged. She rescues Emmy from an air pocket inside the cabin.
Shortly after, Hannah spots Jackson floating on a life ring and pulls him to safety. The three reach a remote beach on an inflatable life raft.
For several days, Hannah cares for Emmy’s infected arm and rising fever while believing Jackson is helping her. A mysterious figure stalks them, stealing food and sabotaging the raft.
Hannah follows the saboteur into the jungle and finds a camp belonging to Ben Mulholland.
Ben reveals that Jackson died on the boat. During the storm, Ben stabbed Jackson in the neck after Jackson chose to tie an unconscious Hannah to the boat rather than save himself.
Hannah’s “Jackson” was a hallucination born of trauma, exhaustion, and grief. She has been surviving on the beach alone with Emmy the entire time.
In a final struggle on a cliffside, Hannah defends herself against Ben, who falls to his death on the rocks below. Hannah and Emmy are rescued by helicopter.
A year later, Hannah is in nursing school, still grieving but healing. She and Emmy plan a trip to Italy together, this time with no boats.
The ending of What We Did to Survive reveals that Jackson died on the boat and that Hannah hallucinated his presence on the beach. Hannah defeats Ben, is rescued with Emmy, and a year later plans a boat-free trip to Italy while still grieving Jackson. Yes, Jackson dies in What We Did to Survive. Ben stabs him in the neck during the storm after Jackson ties an unconscious Hannah to the boat instead of saving himself. Ben is the main antagonist in What We Did to Survive. He causes Captain Keith’s death, kills Jackson, and later stalks and sabotages Hannah and Emmy on the remote beach. The twist in What We Did to Survive is that Hannah’s “Jackson” on the beach is a hallucination caused by grief and trauma. Jackson actually died during the shipwreck, and Hannah has been surviving alone with Emmy the entire time. What We Did to Survive is a standalone YA thriller by Megan Lally. It is not part of a series, though the author has written other standalone YA thrillers. Read Also: The Vacation by John Marrs Summary: Lies, Secrets & Deadly Escapes! 
Characters in This Book
Character Role Hannah The protagonist and narrator, an aspiring trauma nurse and lifeguard whose medical knowledge helps the group survive. Emmy (Emelia) Cole Hannah’s adventurous and impulsive best friend who is eager to see the world before college. Jackson Cole Emmy’s older brother and a criminal justice student who dies trying to save Hannah during the shipwreck. Bennett (Ben) Mulholland The antagonist, a wealthy and manipulative teenager whose fear of consequences leads him to murder and sabotage. Captain Keith The negligent owner of The Be-Yacht-Ch whose drunkenness sets the disaster in motion. 
Frequently Asked Questions
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