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A review by bookswithlauren
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
I was so disappointed after reading Five Survive because the premise has so much potential; and I love the Good Girls Guide to Murder series. However, this book fell completely short for me for many reasons.
Firstly, none of the characters actually seemed to get along with each other which made me wonder why they were taking a trip together.
Secondly, the plot and plot twists just became more ridiculous as the book went on. Personally, each twist and turn seemed to be going for the shock factor more than anything else, no matter how much it actually made sense within the story.
Thirdly, the character of Oliver. He completely changed from this ambitious, slightly bossy, older brother, there to supervise the group to this horrible, violent and manipulative person. The personality change just did not make any sense to me at all. I understand that the entire situation the characters find themselves would generate panic and stress but this just seemed completely unnecessary.
Now this might not bother some people but it really bothered me. Fourthly, throughout the entire book, the shooter/gun is referred to as a sniper by multiple characters. Then, all of a sudden, the shooter/gun is being referred to as a rifle. I understand you can get sniper rifles but this term was never used.
I might be too old for this kind of YA book now but I just did not enjoy it at all. It was over-dramatic, unrealistic even for a YA thriller book and there was no real character development to allow that connection to form between the reader and the characters.
Firstly, none of the characters actually seemed to get along with each other which made me wonder why they were taking a trip together.
Secondly, the plot and plot twists just became more ridiculous as the book went on. Personally, each twist and turn seemed to be going for the shock factor more than anything else, no matter how much it actually made sense within the story.
Thirdly, the character of Oliver. He completely changed from this ambitious, slightly bossy, older brother, there to supervise the group to this horrible, violent and manipulative person. The personality change just did not make any sense to me at all. I understand that the entire situation the characters find themselves would generate panic and stress but this just seemed completely unnecessary.
Now this might not bother some people but it really bothered me. Fourthly, throughout the entire book, the shooter/gun is referred to as a sniper by multiple characters. Then, all of a sudden, the shooter/gun is being referred to as a rifle. I understand you can get sniper rifles but this term was never used.
I might be too old for this kind of YA book now but I just did not enjoy it at all. It was over-dramatic, unrealistic even for a YA thriller book and there was no real character development to allow that connection to form between the reader and the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Confinement, Gore, Death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, and Death of parent