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A review by bakingbookworm
Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
What a wild ride!!!
Only One Survives is an addictive, bingeable read that's a great blend of genres and themes. There's tense suspense, family dysfunction, the adverse side of fame and toxic relationships, oh my!
I got some wonderful vibes of a few other books I've enjoyed in the past. The focus on a band reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six, the darker side of fame hinted at The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the devastating wintery car crash was reminiscent of the tense and emotional book, In An Instant. I loved the overall tone of this story and how perfectly McKinnon blends these themes into a story that totally captivated me.
The story is told using two timelines - the tragic wintery car accident that strikes a young female band who is on the cusp of making it big, and an earlier timeline that shows how Vienna and Madison's friendship began and continued as they started to make their mark on the music world.
I won't go into details and ruin it for anyone, just know that this story is a fantastic blend of psychological suspense, dysfunctional and toxic relationships with shocking revelations and jaw-dropping twists will keep you quickly turning the pages.
This is a riveting story with flawed characters that digs deep into the dark and addictive side of fame and is McKinnon's best book to date!
Note: Make sure you check out the Only One Survives playlist on Spotify!
Books mentioned above:
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by TJR
In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for my complimentary advanced copies which were given in exchange for my honest review.