Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Five Survive

Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

5 reviews

beightmana's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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xvicesx's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Solid performance by Holly Jackson, but not up to the level of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

I think the pacing of the second part of the book was much better than the beginning. This took a very long time to clear its throat, metaphorically speaking, and I was quite bored with everything by the time things really started to get spicy.

That said, the mystery was very well done, and the ambiguous ending was quite good to my mind.

For those worried about Red's apparent rambling thoughts, I'd likely say she's got ADHD. It sounds like it, with the fixations and the lack of object permanence. Just go in with an open mind and a bit of kindness.

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nniamhh's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

*2.5 stars*

being a HUGE fan of the AGGGTM series i was so excited to read this and let me tell you the dissapointment i feel,,,,,,

i am not a fan in general of stories that take place over the one night,, especially one that’s almost 400 pages. the story was so dragged out that i remember saying multiple times to my flatmates that the sniper can kill all of them for all i care. it was a struggle to finish which is so sad bc the climax was fun to read <//3

SPOILERS AHEAD

the whole plot at the start of the book is so unnecessary. the whole “oh no we have a flat and don’t know why!!” doesn’t work when the reader knows why they have a flat. like many parts in this book,, this was wayyyy too long for what it was,, the thriller plot didn’t even start till about 100 pages in. i know thé purpose was to show the group dynamics and set the scene but it could have been done in a much more concise manner.

the characters all fell flat. red is infuriatingly passive,, renya had one arc and then so little importance,, why was simon even there and oliver was just annoying for the sake of being annoying. one thing i will say is i love arthur but that’s to be expected from me.

the whole mafia plot like felt so out of place. it was obviously gonna be a bigger plot point as it was mentioned repeatedly which completely killed any suspence around it. it was also very obviously going to be tied to reds mums death,, which was also played to death [no joke meant]. i just think that if you take a group of six teenagers,, there’s not gonna be: one murdered,, someone that’s helping them cover up a murder,, a mafia member etc

here’s my main issues from my real time notes page rants:

after the couple is shot,, why are they not more horrified that someone would rather kill two people than reveal whatever secret they had??
it took 215 pages for thr to actually introduce some sort of secret
if i see thirty one feet one more time i will snap [edit: IT WASNT EVEN IMPORANT???? WHAT WAS THE POINT IN THE CURTAIN THING ASWELL LMAOOO]
red being insistent that arthur doesn’t like her makes sense to an extent - but him not looking at her while she strips and she thinks that’s bc he doesn’t like her????? he is very obvious characterised,, at least up to that point,, to be a morally good guy,, why would he now change and ogle at her when she takes her top off!?
maddy and red are supposed to be friends but we have literally no proof of that. maddy doesn’t seem caring about red AT ALL despite all the exposition we’re given,, i don’t beleive it
the sniper saying “i’ll start shooting around random if i don’t get my secret soon” like no you won’t????? you need the person who knows the secret alive bc you want the secret so bad to KILL,, you would not endanger that perosn - why are none of them figuring that out????
arthur being involved somehow makes complete sense for her stories - he was too perfect to not be hiding something big??
after such a long winded mystery,, arthur’s letter was not sufficient enough an ending for me. did red meet him?? does she forgive him?? i understand what holly jackson was going do but us having the whole book from reds POV then just not knowing the end from her POV?? jarring

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goldyyy's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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laurenevlyn's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Holly Jackson has quickly risen on the list of my favorite authors with the agggtm and now this. I love the way everything that’s been building up comes together at the end, even though there’s so much. Other authors struggle with plot twists when’s there’s more than a few in a row, but I think it was done wonderfully here. Even though it’s a standalone, I find myself wanting more of Red and Arthur’s story. Also great job making the most insufferable character I’ve ever read (on purpose I know), and keeping his, and the other characters’ flaws consistent throughout. All in all a wonderful read, although it seemed a bit drawn out at times. Great first book of the year!

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