Reviewed by Becky Reid for the Unconditionally Her Book Club

Some friendships are built on shared memories. Others are built on survival.

In Tiffany Crum’s debut novel, This Story Might Save Your Life, best friends Benny Abbott and Joy Moore have spent years telling people they have been saving each other’s lives since the day they met. But when Joy suddenly disappears—and Benny becomes a suspect in her possible murder—their friendship takes on an entirely different meaning.

This This Story Might Save Your Life review comes with one especially enthusiastic recommendation: Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook!

What Is This Story Might Save Your Life About?

Benny and Joy host one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Each episode features an extraordinary survival story, often finding unexpected and life-affirming humor within someone’s brush with death.

The podcast began with Joy sharing her own experience of living with severe narcolepsy. Since then, Benny and Joy have become the best friends everyone wishes they knew. With Joy’s husband, Xander, carefully managing their growing success, the trio has built a devoted audience and a lucrative media empire.

Then Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s home one morning to record their next episode. Instead of finding his friends, he discovers shattered glass and an empty house.

The only clue is an unfinished and previously unseen draft of Joy’s memoir. As Benny searches desperately for answers, the police begin viewing him as their prime suspect.

Their millions of listeners believe they know the real Benny and Joy. However, as the investigation unfolds, hidden truths begin to surface. It soon becomes clear that even the closest friendships can hold secrets—and that the stories people tell publicly may be very different from the lives they live privately.

Why You Should Listen to the Audiobook

Anything narrated by Julia Whelan immediately goes onto my to-be-read—or, more accurately, to-be-listened-to—list. She has never let me down, and her performance in This Story Might Save Your Life is no exception.

Sean Patrick Hopkins is a perfect match for her in every way. Their banter feels natural, free-spirited and entertaining, particularly during the podcast portions of the story. Listening to their performances made Benny and Joy feel like real people rather than fictional characters.

The audiobook also includes podcast recordings, tip-line messages featuring guest readers—including author Tiffany Crum—and a bonus podcast episode that does not appear in the printed book. These additional elements create a wonderfully immersive listening experience.

This is one of those rare cases in which the audiobook format does more than simply tell the story. It brings the entire fictional world to life.

More Than a Traditional Thriller

I am not usually a big fan of thrillers, but this book felt different.

Tiffany Crum blends the suspense and mystery of a thriller with complicated relationships and genuine emotion. That combination gave the story more depth and kept me wanting to discover what would happen next.

I finished the audiobook in just a couple of days because I did not want to turn it off.

The story explores how the choices we make can have consequences we never expected. It also asks thought-provoking questions about friendship, trust, public personas and how well we can ever truly know another person—even someone we consider our closest friend.

Characters Who Feel Real

What I enjoyed most was how authentic and relatable the characters felt. Their personalities and emotions came through particularly well in the audio version.

The book also includes plenty of unexpected moments. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, another twist changed everything.

Joy’s narcolepsy is thoughtfully woven throughout the novel, showing how the disorder affects her daily life and her relationships. I read a review from someone who lives with narcolepsy, and she felt the author had done her research and portrayed the condition with respect and realism. That kind of care and authenticity is not something readers encounter often enough.

The relationships, personal struggles and emotional conflicts give the mystery greater weight. The characters’ choices matter because the people themselves matter.

Is This Story Might Save Your Life Worth Reading?

Absolutely—but I recommend listening to it if you can.

This Story Might Save Your Life is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy suspenseful stories that also offer something meaningful to consider. It is engaging, emotional and filled with enough unexpected turns to keep you guessing.

It may also leave you contemplating some important questions: How closely do we pay attention to the people and situations around us? How much do we truly know about our closest friends? Can one choice—or one story—really change the course of someone’s life?

In This Story Might Save Your Life, the answer just might be yes.

Becky’s recommendation: Listen to the audiobook for the complete experience.