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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I know I’m lucky to have positive, healthy female friendships in my life. Probably why twisted, messy dynamics fascinate me in books. Only One Survives is a part snowed-in locked room mystery, part a story of two musicians with a complicated friendship.
Drummer Vienna and guitarist/vocalist Madison and their band The Bittersweet are on the verge of their big break when a car accident in a snow covered isolated location derails not just their careers but also their lives. Not all band members make it out alive. But what really happened that night?
I loved the dual timeline storytelling and the multimedia concept (radio interviews, articles, online comments) - it gave the story an extra dimension. It’s a thin line between fame and infamy, especially when there are unexplained deaths involved. The first part of the book is more focused on the history and dynamic of Vienna and Madison’s friendship. The second part is where things get wild in the best possible way possible!
Hannah’s writing made Vienna and Madison come alive - in all of their shades of grey! This was a very memorable, interesting story with characters that’ll make you feel all sorts of complicated feelings! If you are a fan of twisty murder mysteries, you will want to make sure you read this one!
A huge thank you to Thrillerbookloversthepulse, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA Books, NetGalley and Hannah Mary McKinnon for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I know I’m lucky to have positive, healthy female friendships in my life. Probably why twisted, messy dynamics fascinate me in books. Only One Survives is a part snowed-in locked room mystery, part a story of two musicians with a complicated friendship.
Drummer Vienna and guitarist/vocalist Madison and their band The Bittersweet are on the verge of their big break when a car accident in a snow covered isolated location derails not just their careers but also their lives. Not all band members make it out alive. But what really happened that night?
I loved the dual timeline storytelling and the multimedia concept (radio interviews, articles, online comments) - it gave the story an extra dimension. It’s a thin line between fame and infamy, especially when there are unexplained deaths involved. The first part of the book is more focused on the history and dynamic of Vienna and Madison’s friendship. The second part is where things get wild in the best possible way possible!
Hannah’s writing made Vienna and Madison come alive - in all of their shades of grey! This was a very memorable, interesting story with characters that’ll make you feel all sorts of complicated feelings! If you are a fan of twisty murder mysteries, you will want to make sure you read this one!
A huge thank you to Thrillerbookloversthepulse, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA Books, NetGalley and Hannah Mary McKinnon for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
I need to divide this book in two halves to review it. Before the twist and after the twist. Before the twist this book is a solid 4 stars and has done the high school friendship where one is rich with controlling parents and the other is poor with an alcoholic mom and abusive step father trope done perfectly!
I really enjoyed the dynamics of the two friends but then the twist happened and I just couldn’t buy in to any of it. It felt forced to right till the end. The idea that fame corrupts just wasn’t fleshed out and believable. I can’t say more without giving spoilers so I’ll stop here.
I think if you’re looking for a palette cleanser or a book you can get through quickly, then give this a read.
I also think that because I read an arc book that I received from NetGalley and Harlequin (BIG THANKYOU!) that was not formatted correctly for the kindle that spoilt my reading experience somewhat.
I really enjoyed the dynamics of the two friends but then the twist happened and I just couldn’t buy in to any of it. It felt forced to right till the end. The idea that fame corrupts just wasn’t fleshed out and believable. I can’t say more without giving spoilers so I’ll stop here.
I think if you’re looking for a palette cleanser or a book you can get through quickly, then give this a read.
I also think that because I read an arc book that I received from NetGalley and Harlequin (BIG THANKYOU!) that was not formatted correctly for the kindle that spoilt my reading experience somewhat.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
This is a thriller about two best friends in a pop rock band. Their names are Vienna and Madison. These two characters are multilayered and their relationship dynamic was interesting to follow.
The author’s writing is accessible making this book really easy to binge. I read the last bit in one sitting. The short chapters also contribute to keeping my attention and engaged. There is mixed media sprinkled throughout the book from new articles to emails.
The middle of the book was a bit draggy which is why this book ends up getting a 3.75 star instead of a 4. I would still encourage people to check it out.
This is a thriller about two best friends in a pop rock band. Their names are Vienna and Madison. These two characters are multilayered and their relationship dynamic was interesting to follow.
The author’s writing is accessible making this book really easy to binge. I read the last bit in one sitting. The short chapters also contribute to keeping my attention and engaged. There is mixed media sprinkled throughout the book from new articles to emails.
The middle of the book was a bit draggy which is why this book ends up getting a 3.75 star instead of a 4. I would still encourage people to check it out.
Came for the murder mystery, stayed for the exploration of friendship and what it's like trying to make it big in New York City.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vienna Taylor is a member of The Bittersweet, an up-and-coming girl band when a car accident with all of her band mates in a snowstorm derails their success. They are left to survive the night with no cell signal and not knowing where they were.
This story is told in Vienna's point of view in the present, the very past and during the night of the accident and after. We get her background in meeting Madison during her senior year of high school, leading them to becoming best friends. She is the rich girl while Vienna is the poor girl with a terrible mother and her worthless husband, and a grandmother with dementia. Madison is part of the band, too. She hasn't always been the best of friends to Vienna in her actions.
This book was definitely interesting. It's one where you go back and see things that happen in a different light. An "a-ha" moment. I had more than one of those while reading this book. Surprises...I love it. I also enjoyed that it didn't end with the major reveal. There was more to the story and we got a lot of it in Part Two of the story. I didn't know what or who to believe. It was great!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Mira and Thrillerbookloversthepulse for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is told in Vienna's point of view in the present, the very past and during the night of the accident and after. We get her background in meeting Madison during her senior year of high school, leading them to becoming best friends. She is the rich girl while Vienna is the poor girl with a terrible mother and her worthless husband, and a grandmother with dementia. Madison is part of the band, too. She hasn't always been the best of friends to Vienna in her actions.
This book was definitely interesting. It's one where you go back and see things that happen in a different light. An "a-ha" moment. I had more than one of those while reading this book. Surprises...I love it. I also enjoyed that it didn't end with the major reveal. There was more to the story and we got a lot of it in Part Two of the story. I didn't know what or who to believe. It was great!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Mira and Thrillerbookloversthepulse for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first time reading from this author, and I would pick up more work from her! This was a thriller I didn’t expect. The whole first half was excellent, working its way to a 5 star rating. I was surprised at the character development and loved reading about Vienna and Madison’s friendship and upbringing and how they formed their band. I also loved the mixed media blog posts and newspaper articles sprinkled in. It’s funny, because I enjoyed the past chapters more than the flash-forward chapters the day of the incident at the cabin. Part 2 fizzled out for me, and I feel like the story went on too long. The crime was tied up too quickly for me, and I didn’t enjoy reading about the aftermath as much. What happens in part 2 was very predictable to me, and I wish the entire book could have been as perfect as the first half.
This was my first time reading from this author, and I would pick up more work from her! This was a thriller I didn’t expect. The whole first half was excellent, working its way to a 5 star rating. I was surprised at the character development and loved reading about Vienna and Madison’s friendship and upbringing and how they formed their band. I also loved the mixed media blog posts and newspaper articles sprinkled in. It’s funny, because I enjoyed the past chapters more than the flash-forward chapters the day of the incident at the cabin. Part 2 fizzled out for me, and I feel like the story went on too long. The crime was tied up too quickly for me, and I didn’t enjoy reading about the aftermath as much. What happens in part 2 was very predictable to me, and I wish the entire book could have been as perfect as the first half.
adventurous
medium-paced
This book was disturbing and toxic. I loved it! The plot twists kept coming. You didn’t know which character to root for. Are Vienna and Madison friends or frenemies ? This is the 3rd book I’ve read by this author and I have yet to be disappointed.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complementary ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complementary ebook in exchange for my honest review.