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3.68 AVERAGE


I read this book as part of my book club. I did not want to put it down. Much of it was predictable, but there were a few twists and turns in there. At the beginning there was a little too much back and forth from present to past for my liking, but overall I enjoyed the book.

I couldn’t get enough of this delicious thriller. A bit of a locked room (but not too much which was fine by me), dual timelines, unreliable narrator, mixed media, and centered around a band rising in fame this book had it all.

One thing I loved most about this book is that it didn’t end where I would’ve expected it to. So often books give a big reveal in the final pages and were left jaw dropped and asking but what happens next? Only One Survives answered that exact question and I freaking loved it.

The music aspect of this book was a bonus for me. I haven’t read a ton of books centered around a band and I liked the dynamics, details on the rise to fame, and the struggles.

Both Madison and Vienna were incredibly interesting, dynamic, and complex characters. I loved their depth, back stories, and family dynamics. I had no idea what I could believe and what I couldn’t and I was happy to enjoy the ride!

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that it kept surprising me and that I didn’t really know where it was going. It was unique, fun, and superbly entertaining. I absolutely recommend!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lover Promotions and MIRA for the copy.
mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
dark mysterious medium-paced
Loveable characters: No

"Only One Survives" delves into Vienna's journey as the lead drummer and singer in a band she co-founded with her high school best friend. The narrative takes a tragic turn one night, resulting in the deaths of other band members and Madison's sudden disappearance, leaving readers to unravel the events of that fateful evening.

The initial section of the book captivates with its exploration of the band's dynamics, leading up to the pivotal night. As the plot unfolds, the second part gradually reveals unexpected twists, challenging the initial portrayal of events.

While the latter portion of the book may feel slower due to its focus on developing these twists, it ultimately adds depth to the story. Despite this slower pace, I found "Only One Survives" to be an engaging read, earning it a solid 4-star rating from me.
medium-paced

ONLY ONE SURVIVES by Hannah Mary McKinnon follows the fictional girl band the Bittersweet from their beginnings to their tragic accident in the Catskills one stormy night ❄️ 
 
This book read like a TJR novel, but with all the thrills and tension thrown in! 
 
McKinnon incorporated interview and message board elements and also jumped timelines, which I really enjoyed! 
 
The latter half didn’t fully match up tonally to the first half, but this story will ultimately have you guessing and wondering just who you can trust by the end 👀 

I think I've just read too many books that they all start to seem the same, unless they're by my favorite authors.


This wasn't bad. It started out interesting, then the middle was so... yawn. I fought through and the ending was satisfying but also, similar to all the other thrillers out there.
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The book delivers a couple great twist and was difficult to put down for me! I loved the having the blogpost and other media mixed in. The two timelines were easy to follow, the plot interesting, and the characters had good dimension. Highly recommend this to any suspense lover.

Read if you like
- Bands / rock music
- Easy to dislike characters
- Split timelines
- Hard to guess twist
- Moody settings