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A review by bibliomania_express
Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I've been saving this book for the colder months, and I'm so glad I did! Only One Survives by Hannah Mary Mackinnon is a dark and twisty thriller about toxic friendship, fame, and the power of narrative.
After a car crash that leaves one member of The Bittersweet dead, the others shelter in an abandoned cabin to wait out the snowstorm. By the morning, only two people will be found: drummer Vienna Taylor and the documentary researcher who was following the band. Vienna's best friend and bandmate, Madison Pierce, will be missing, and the rest of the band dead. But what truly happened to The Bittersweet?
This book is told in two parts, the first following the events of the crash interspersed with flashbacks following Vienna and Madison's friendship and news excerpts and social media comments about the incident, and the second following the aftermath.
I love the way Mackinnon plays with narrative in this book, pitting perception against truth both through the two part structure and the social media reactions and side-taking. This book challenges the reader to think about what they read and see, to look through the bias of the narrator to the truth.
It also grapples with friendship, fame, family, and abuse. Vienna and Madison both have terrible families, but in different ways. There's elements of class and economic status that shape the way each girl is treated by her parents and how they deal with it. Libby's character adds another interesting element to the discussion of fame and ambition, and asks, where do we draw the line?
I do wish the other band members had a bit more prominence, since they mostly felt like they were there to make the plot work. I think a part of that is the narrative perspective, but I feel a bit like they were bodies rather than women.
Content warnings for physical and emotional abuse, toxic friendship, assault, murder, gaslighting, arson, internet doxxing.
After a car crash that leaves one member of The Bittersweet dead, the others shelter in an abandoned cabin to wait out the snowstorm. By the morning, only two people will be found: drummer Vienna Taylor and the documentary researcher who was following the band. Vienna's best friend and bandmate, Madison Pierce, will be missing, and the rest of the band dead. But what truly happened to The Bittersweet?
This book is told in two parts, the first following the events of the crash interspersed with flashbacks following Vienna and Madison's friendship and news excerpts and social media comments about the incident, and the second following the aftermath.
I love the way Mackinnon plays with narrative in this book, pitting perception against truth both through the two part structure and the social media reactions and side-taking. This book challenges the reader to think about what they read and see, to look through the bias of the narrator to the truth.
It also grapples with friendship, fame, family, and abuse. Vienna and Madison both have terrible families, but in different ways. There's elements of class and economic status that shape the way each girl is treated by her parents and how they deal with it. Libby's character adds another interesting element to the discussion of fame and ambition, and asks, where do we draw the line?
I do wish the other band members had a bit more prominence, since they mostly felt like they were there to make the plot work. I think a part of that is the narrative perspective, but I feel a bit like they were bodies rather than women.
Content warnings for physical and emotional abuse, toxic friendship, assault, murder, gaslighting, arson, internet doxxing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol