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Only One Survives
"Rock'n'roll with a dash or two of murder."
—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Home Is Where the Bodies Are
“Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six are in for a treat with this jaw-dropping and completely cinematic thriller!”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word
Becoming the star is easier when the rest of your band is dead…
All drummer Vienna Taylor ever wanted was to make music. If that came with fame, she’d take it—as long as her best friend, guitarist Madison Pierce, was sharing the spotlight and singing lead. And with their new all-female pop rock band gaining traction, soon everyone would hear their songs…
Except, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet’s van careened off an icy mountain road during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
In order to survive the frigid night, the rest took shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolved into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members met a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanished in the night.
What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms?
She doesn’t want to believe it.
But guilty people run.
—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Home Is Where the Bodies Are
“Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six are in for a treat with this jaw-dropping and completely cinematic thriller!”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word
Becoming the star is easier when the rest of your band is dead…
All drummer Vienna Taylor ever wanted was to make music. If that came with fame, she’d take it—as long as her best friend, guitarist Madison Pierce, was sharing the spotlight and singing lead. And with their new all-female pop rock band gaining traction, soon everyone would hear their songs…
Except, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet’s van careened off an icy mountain road during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
In order to survive the frigid night, the rest took shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolved into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members met a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanished in the night.
What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms?
She doesn’t want to believe it.
But guilty people run.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 16, 2024
About the author
Hannah Mary McKinnon
8 books1,639 followersAlso known as Holly Cassidy (romantic comedies)
I was born in the UK grew up in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 2010. Unsurprisingly I love chocolate, mountains and cheese, and books, of course.
My first novel, TIME AFTER TIME, a light-hearted romantic read, published in 2016, after which I moved to the dark side.
My internationally bestselling thrillers include: THE NEIGHBORS (2018), HER SECRET SON (2019), SISTER DEAR (2020), YOU WILL REMEMBER ME (2021), NEVER COMING HOME (2022) and THE REVENGE LIST (2023).
I've returned to my romantic comedy roots with THE CHRISTMAS WAGER, written under the pseudonym Holly Cassidy (2023).
My next thriller, ONLY ONE SURVIVES, will publish in July 2024, followed by a second Holly Cassidy holiday rom-com, THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN, in October 2024.
To find out more please visit:
Website - www.HannahMaryMcKinnon.com
Instagram - www.instagram.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon
Facebook - ww.facebook.com/hannahmarymckinnon
Bookbub - www.bookbub.com/authors/hannah-mary-m...
Ask me questions on Goodreads, too. I love hearing from readers :-)
I was born in the UK grew up in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 2010. Unsurprisingly I love chocolate, mountains and cheese, and books, of course.
My first novel, TIME AFTER TIME, a light-hearted romantic read, published in 2016, after which I moved to the dark side.
My internationally bestselling thrillers include: THE NEIGHBORS (2018), HER SECRET SON (2019), SISTER DEAR (2020), YOU WILL REMEMBER ME (2021), NEVER COMING HOME (2022) and THE REVENGE LIST (2023).
I've returned to my romantic comedy roots with THE CHRISTMAS WAGER, written under the pseudonym Holly Cassidy (2023).
My next thriller, ONLY ONE SURVIVES, will publish in July 2024, followed by a second Holly Cassidy holiday rom-com, THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN, in October 2024.
To find out more please visit:
Website - www.HannahMaryMcKinnon.com
Instagram - www.instagram.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon
Facebook - ww.facebook.com/hannahmarymckinnon
Bookbub - www.bookbub.com/authors/hannah-mary-m...
Ask me questions on Goodreads, too. I love hearing from readers :-)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
July 5, 2024
Oh boy, I couldn’t read any book so far that tells the ugly face of fame so realistically like a sucker punch to your face or dropping ice bucket water down on your head!
This is frightening, intense, heart throbbing, perfectly executed, riveting mystery keeps astonishing you with well thrown, calculated twists on your way at the moments you never expected! Unreliable villanelles, toxic, dysfunctional relationships, surprising revelations keep you at the edge of your seats! This is addictive ride you don’t want to put it down till you reach the perfect ending! It’s so freaking good!
Enter: Vienna Taylor in early twenties, born to be drummer, one of the founders of EmVee with Madison Pierce: her best friend from high school, coming from poor family, never knew her father, living with her verbal abuser mother and her low life boy friend, assigning to take care of her grandmother who suffers from dementia till a sudden tragedy strikes and changes the trajectory of her life, giving her a chance to move to NYC to start their rock band with her best friend Madison with the involvement of three new members called “Bittersweet”
We move back and forth at the first half of the book that telling how Madison and Vienna’s complex, toxic relationship evolved and a tragic accident that results with deaths of their rock band; only survivors are Vienna and a young documentary maker Libby as Madison is suspiciously missing.
Could the tragic incidents the girls faced be an accident or could one of them be an evil incarnated cold blooded killer? As we turn the pages, the fingers already point at one of the members who has been acting selfishly and who can do anything to attract the entire spotlight on herself?
But what if nothing as it seems? What if we’ve been fooled from the beginning. The gripping narration, witted twists, balanced paced attract your attention till the end! This book deserves even more than five stars and earns your entire focus to be chosen by your book clubs.
I highly extremely and absolutely recommend it as a devoted fan of Hannah Mary McKinnon who gives life very complex, flawed, deeply layered female characters as like she did in this book that I congratulate her brilliant writing style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ MIRA for sharing this captivating book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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This is frightening, intense, heart throbbing, perfectly executed, riveting mystery keeps astonishing you with well thrown, calculated twists on your way at the moments you never expected! Unreliable villanelles, toxic, dysfunctional relationships, surprising revelations keep you at the edge of your seats! This is addictive ride you don’t want to put it down till you reach the perfect ending! It’s so freaking good!
Enter: Vienna Taylor in early twenties, born to be drummer, one of the founders of EmVee with Madison Pierce: her best friend from high school, coming from poor family, never knew her father, living with her verbal abuser mother and her low life boy friend, assigning to take care of her grandmother who suffers from dementia till a sudden tragedy strikes and changes the trajectory of her life, giving her a chance to move to NYC to start their rock band with her best friend Madison with the involvement of three new members called “Bittersweet”
We move back and forth at the first half of the book that telling how Madison and Vienna’s complex, toxic relationship evolved and a tragic accident that results with deaths of their rock band; only survivors are Vienna and a young documentary maker Libby as Madison is suspiciously missing.
Could the tragic incidents the girls faced be an accident or could one of them be an evil incarnated cold blooded killer? As we turn the pages, the fingers already point at one of the members who has been acting selfishly and who can do anything to attract the entire spotlight on herself?
But what if nothing as it seems? What if we’ve been fooled from the beginning. The gripping narration, witted twists, balanced paced attract your attention till the end! This book deserves even more than five stars and earns your entire focus to be chosen by your book clubs.
I highly extremely and absolutely recommend it as a devoted fan of Hannah Mary McKinnon who gives life very complex, flawed, deeply layered female characters as like she did in this book that I congratulate her brilliant writing style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ MIRA for sharing this captivating book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 23, 2024
Get ready for a wild ride with "Only one Survives"! This book follows two high school best friends from totally different worlds who come together to form a dynamic two-man band. Fast forward to after high school, and they reunite to create an even bigger, full-cast band.
The story bounces between past and present, keeping you on the edge of your seat. In the present, we witness a deadly car crash and its shocking consequences. Meanwhile, the past unfolds, revealing how every event led up to this intense moment.
What makes this book so captivating is the seamless flick between timelines, making you eager to dive back into the present scenes. The build-up is tense, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, an astonishing twist hits you right at the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for flicking this ARC my way.
This is a thrilling and emotional journey that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It's a definite must-read for anyone who loves a good story with a powerful twist!
The story bounces between past and present, keeping you on the edge of your seat. In the present, we witness a deadly car crash and its shocking consequences. Meanwhile, the past unfolds, revealing how every event led up to this intense moment.
What makes this book so captivating is the seamless flick between timelines, making you eager to dive back into the present scenes. The build-up is tense, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, an astonishing twist hits you right at the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for flicking this ARC my way.
This is a thrilling and emotional journey that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It's a definite must-read for anyone who loves a good story with a powerful twist!
April 19, 2024
An addictive read! Impossible to put down!
Comprised of five women, The Bittersweet is a band on the rise, co-founded by friends Vienna and Madison.
As their fame expands they set off for a event in The Catskills. The band will be accompanied by Libby, a woman assigned to film a documentary of this hot band on the brink of stardom.
But after a devastating crash and its aftermath, not everyone will make it down off the mountain.
I was expecting more of a traditional closed-room thriller but this storyline played out deliciously different. (I just love surprises!) I won’t say more than that as to risk spoilers.🤫
The cast of characters is large. And I was a bit concerned in the beginning, assuming there was no way I’d keep all the names /characters straight. But Hannah Mary McKinnon has such a splendid talent of developing each character and fleshing out enough detail to bring each to life.
Clear your calendar because once you settle in everything around you will fade into the distance until the final chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing
Comprised of five women, The Bittersweet is a band on the rise, co-founded by friends Vienna and Madison.
As their fame expands they set off for a event in The Catskills. The band will be accompanied by Libby, a woman assigned to film a documentary of this hot band on the brink of stardom.
But after a devastating crash and its aftermath, not everyone will make it down off the mountain.
I was expecting more of a traditional closed-room thriller but this storyline played out deliciously different. (I just love surprises!) I won’t say more than that as to risk spoilers.🤫
The cast of characters is large. And I was a bit concerned in the beginning, assuming there was no way I’d keep all the names /characters straight. But Hannah Mary McKinnon has such a splendid talent of developing each character and fleshing out enough detail to bring each to life.
Clear your calendar because once you settle in everything around you will fade into the distance until the final chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing
April 21, 2024
Drummer Vienna Taylor and her best friend, guitarist Madison Pierce are about to take the world by storm. After all, Vienna, Madison, and their their band, The Bittersweet, have just signed a prized recording deal. Now on their way to a party up in the Catskills, it seems that that future is set. Surely, they’ll be playing for huge audiences and hearing their names chanted from the stands in no time at all.
As the group drives through the night, however, the light snow turns into a blizzard and they find themselves lost on remote country roads. Things only go from bad to worse when their SUV’s tires slip on the ice. When Vienna wakes up, she sees that they’re deep in a ravine with no help in sight. But that’s not the end of the bad news. Vienna is horrified to realize that one of her friends is dead and another is badly injured.
Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Vienna and Madison go searching for rescue. All they find, however, is an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Taking refuge within its dilapidated walls, their nightmare only worsens when—one by one—Vienna watches her bandmates die horrible deaths. By the time the sun rises, there will only be two of them left—Vienna and Madison—but when help finally arrives, Madison has vanished into thin air.
What happened after their car crashed? Is Madison to blame for her friends’ deaths? Fame can be a soul-sucking beast, but Vienna can’t believe that her best friend could have it in her. But then, where is Madison? And why else would she run?
Binge-worthy and addictive in the extreme, Only One Survives had me hooked from the very first word. Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & The Six but with a heaping dose of murder as well, the perfectly crafted plot reeled me in and didn’t let go. I mean, the characters were divine and the twists were superb. And with non-stop suspense and sharp writing that allowed me to visualize every scene, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
From the top, the dual timelines meant I became deeply invested in Vienna and Madison’s toxic dynamic as I was granted a front seat to the makings of their friendship and their potential meteoric rise to fame. Add in the supporting cast, and the full picture was simply sublime. From a few thoroughly unlikeable characters to a sweet, little granny, they rounded out Vienna and Madison to perfection.
The plot, however, was what had me riveted to the pages. Part one presented the building blocks. Part two provided the jaw-dropping, gasp-inducing twist. So big, in fact, that my family looked at me like I was losing my mind when I quite literally shrieked “No, she didn’t!” out loud. Dark, intense, perfectly plotted, and with an eerie setting, this entire book won me over hook, line, and sinker as it hit just the right chord. Yes, yes, I know. That pun was completely intended.
Let me tell you, writing this review wasn’t easy. With a twist that rivaled The Silent Patient or The Last Mrs. Parrish, not spoiling the plot was a chore. But fear not, I’ve done my best. Just know that if you love the idea of crazy talented girl bands and fame-hungry characters, this is most definitely the book for you. And let’s not forget, it included my all-time favorite trope—that of a locked room murder mystery. All in all, it definitely hit my Sweet Spot by the time all was said and done. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, HTP Books (MIRA), NetGalley, and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 16, 2024
Trigger warning: dementia, severe car accident, doxxing, mention of: alcoholism, carbon monoxide poisoning
As the group drives through the night, however, the light snow turns into a blizzard and they find themselves lost on remote country roads. Things only go from bad to worse when their SUV’s tires slip on the ice. When Vienna wakes up, she sees that they’re deep in a ravine with no help in sight. But that’s not the end of the bad news. Vienna is horrified to realize that one of her friends is dead and another is badly injured.
Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Vienna and Madison go searching for rescue. All they find, however, is an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Taking refuge within its dilapidated walls, their nightmare only worsens when—one by one—Vienna watches her bandmates die horrible deaths. By the time the sun rises, there will only be two of them left—Vienna and Madison—but when help finally arrives, Madison has vanished into thin air.
What happened after their car crashed? Is Madison to blame for her friends’ deaths? Fame can be a soul-sucking beast, but Vienna can’t believe that her best friend could have it in her. But then, where is Madison? And why else would she run?
Binge-worthy and addictive in the extreme, Only One Survives had me hooked from the very first word. Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & The Six but with a heaping dose of murder as well, the perfectly crafted plot reeled me in and didn’t let go. I mean, the characters were divine and the twists were superb. And with non-stop suspense and sharp writing that allowed me to visualize every scene, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
From the top, the dual timelines meant I became deeply invested in Vienna and Madison’s toxic dynamic as I was granted a front seat to the makings of their friendship and their potential meteoric rise to fame. Add in the supporting cast, and the full picture was simply sublime. From a few thoroughly unlikeable characters to a sweet, little granny, they rounded out Vienna and Madison to perfection.
The plot, however, was what had me riveted to the pages. Part one presented the building blocks. Part two provided the jaw-dropping, gasp-inducing twist. So big, in fact, that my family looked at me like I was losing my mind when I quite literally shrieked “No, she didn’t!” out loud. Dark, intense, perfectly plotted, and with an eerie setting, this entire book won me over hook, line, and sinker as it hit just the right chord. Yes, yes, I know. That pun was completely intended.
Let me tell you, writing this review wasn’t easy. With a twist that rivaled The Silent Patient or The Last Mrs. Parrish, not spoiling the plot was a chore. But fear not, I’ve done my best. Just know that if you love the idea of crazy talented girl bands and fame-hungry characters, this is most definitely the book for you. And let’s not forget, it included my all-time favorite trope—that of a locked room murder mystery. All in all, it definitely hit my Sweet Spot by the time all was said and done. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, HTP Books (MIRA), NetGalley, and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 16, 2024
Trigger warning: dementia, severe car accident, doxxing, mention of: alcoholism, carbon monoxide poisoning
Read
March 16, 2024**AUTHOR'S NOTE about ONLY ONE SURVIVES**
If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d write a thriller about a pop-rock group, I’m not sure I’d have believed you. At that point I hadn’t touched an instrument in decades. I still can’t read music, and my vocals are so horrendous, my eldest son asked me to stop singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” when he was three. I’ve honoured our agreement ever since.
The very first whisper of an idea for ONLY ONE SURVIVES came from an abandoned house a few miles from my home. I drove past it one frigid afternoon, and saw the words "Come Play" written in red paint on the front door, which I found deliciously creepy. The image stuck with me, and I attempted to build a story featuring an abandoned lodge and work colleagues, but it didn’t sit right.
While chatting with my friends, authors Jennifer Hillier and Samantha M. Bailey, about the plot, Sam floated the idea of making the group of people a band. It gave me an immediate "oooh" moment followed by "one of them thinks the band’s worth more dead than alive."
Writing a thriller featuring a female band I named The Bittersweet felt fresh and cool, and while the story shifted quite significantly compared to my initial work colleagues idea, the abandoned house remained a constant.
Although I love music, I don’t typically listen to any when I’m writing as I get distracted, but in between working on the novel I played a lot of tunes, and it was fabulous. Just like books, songs whisk me away in an instant. Nothing lifts my mood faster than one of my favourite songs. This is why I included many different artists in the story, and perhaps while reading the novel they evoke your own memories or help you make new ones.
I always say I write to entertain, and I hope I achieved that again with this book. I'm excited for you to get to know The Bittersweet.
Don't forget to grab your free bonus material (reader letter, playlist, lyrics, book club questions, interview) from https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/book-s...
Happy reading!
Hannah Mary McKinnon
www.hannahmarymckinnon.com
If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d write a thriller about a pop-rock group, I’m not sure I’d have believed you. At that point I hadn’t touched an instrument in decades. I still can’t read music, and my vocals are so horrendous, my eldest son asked me to stop singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” when he was three. I’ve honoured our agreement ever since.
The very first whisper of an idea for ONLY ONE SURVIVES came from an abandoned house a few miles from my home. I drove past it one frigid afternoon, and saw the words "Come Play" written in red paint on the front door, which I found deliciously creepy. The image stuck with me, and I attempted to build a story featuring an abandoned lodge and work colleagues, but it didn’t sit right.
While chatting with my friends, authors Jennifer Hillier and Samantha M. Bailey, about the plot, Sam floated the idea of making the group of people a band. It gave me an immediate "oooh" moment followed by "one of them thinks the band’s worth more dead than alive."
Writing a thriller featuring a female band I named The Bittersweet felt fresh and cool, and while the story shifted quite significantly compared to my initial work colleagues idea, the abandoned house remained a constant.
Although I love music, I don’t typically listen to any when I’m writing as I get distracted, but in between working on the novel I played a lot of tunes, and it was fabulous. Just like books, songs whisk me away in an instant. Nothing lifts my mood faster than one of my favourite songs. This is why I included many different artists in the story, and perhaps while reading the novel they evoke your own memories or help you make new ones.
I always say I write to entertain, and I hope I achieved that again with this book. I'm excited for you to get to know The Bittersweet.
Don't forget to grab your free bonus material (reader letter, playlist, lyrics, book club questions, interview) from https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/book-s...
Happy reading!
Hannah Mary McKinnon
www.hannahmarymckinnon.com
October 4, 2023
It's rock n’ roll with a dash or two of murder in this juicy thriller that delves into the ugly side of fame. Only One Survives is devilishly fun, utterly addictive, and shockingly twisty—further cementing McKinnon as a force to be reckoned with!
March 15, 2024
I honestly do not how to begin talking about this book without major spoilers! I was sitting on the train earlier this week, reading away quite innocently when a massive twist happened and I swear the entire train turned and looked my way!! it completely blindsided me and I loved it!!
Hannah Mary McKinnon is a must read author for me. Without fail, she manages to make you believe one thing and then suddenly you doubt everything. That is how a thriller should be. I was thrilled, I was surprised, I was shocked and I was mortified. There are some pretty nasty characters in this book and they will make some awful decisions throughout.
I loved the fact that we had a music theme in this story. The next big thing, The Bittersweet. A girls group that are going far, until they crash their van iin a snow storm and have to fight to survive.
This is a story of friendship, family, fame, pressure and music. It was so freaking good!!
Thank you so much o Hannah, Thriller Book Promotions, HTP and Mira for my very early copy of this book to read. I will absolutely be getting a physical copy for my shelf on release, July 16th.
Hannah Mary McKinnon is a must read author for me. Without fail, she manages to make you believe one thing and then suddenly you doubt everything. That is how a thriller should be. I was thrilled, I was surprised, I was shocked and I was mortified. There are some pretty nasty characters in this book and they will make some awful decisions throughout.
I loved the fact that we had a music theme in this story. The next big thing, The Bittersweet. A girls group that are going far, until they crash their van iin a snow storm and have to fight to survive.
This is a story of friendship, family, fame, pressure and music. It was so freaking good!!
Thank you so much o Hannah, Thriller Book Promotions, HTP and Mira for my very early copy of this book to read. I will absolutely be getting a physical copy for my shelf on release, July 16th.
Want to read
May 6, 2024
ARC received!!! Thank you so much, MIRA!!!
Original:
A blizzard, and musicians and Hannah Mary McKinnon. We're about to be blessed!!!
This sounds right the heck up my alley. I'm so excited!
February 6, 2024
Only one survives starts out with a strong atmospheric scene in which 6 females who have braved a snow storm for a work road trip (working being the life of a rock band), and as a result find themselves careening off a cliff and crashing in the snow.
What you need to know about this book: The majority follows the relationship between two best friends “em and vee”, who meet in high school, start and band, and the events leading up to expanding the band and the present day car crash of a situation (metaphorically and literally).
Secondly, there are multiple formats to this book, scenes set in the past, scenes in the present where the group is attempting to brave the elements of the snow storm and find help and shelter. The third and fourth formats are newspaper articles and radio interviews where the band is being discussed pre and post car accident.
In the post we know these things, one of the girls is missing, two are alive, and the rest are dead. But we don’t know who, how or why until the end.
What I liked about this book: I love snowstorm thrillers which this book features, at some points we also have a locked door element where there is no help around, no cell service and a potential killer on the loose.
I liked the different formats and change between timelines. I liked the dynamics between two friends coming together from different backgrounds (rich and poor), the different pros and cons to their upbringing, the obstacles this caused and the result of those obstacles.
The way the twist dropped towards the end, there wasn’t any warning or gradual build it, it was literally dropped into the readers lap by one single sentence that I had to go back and read 3-4 times to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. The twist really caught me off guard so props to the author for that.
What I wasn’t a fan of: the overall ending I felt was too unbelievable, the author spent so much time on building character profiles that felt very solid, so when everything got jumbled around at the end I struggled to adjust mentally or believe what I was seeing,
This started out as a snow storm thriller and although that aspect was present, the majority of the book was spent in the past and beyond that moment in time. As snowstorm thriller tropes are one of my fave I just wish there was more scenes within that category for me to enjoy the elements of.
Overall this was a good read, my first of this author and likely not my last.
Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin trade publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
What you need to know about this book: The majority follows the relationship between two best friends “em and vee”, who meet in high school, start and band, and the events leading up to expanding the band and the present day car crash of a situation (metaphorically and literally).
Secondly, there are multiple formats to this book, scenes set in the past, scenes in the present where the group is attempting to brave the elements of the snow storm and find help and shelter. The third and fourth formats are newspaper articles and radio interviews where the band is being discussed pre and post car accident.
In the post we know these things, one of the girls is missing, two are alive, and the rest are dead. But we don’t know who, how or why until the end.
What I liked about this book: I love snowstorm thrillers which this book features, at some points we also have a locked door element where there is no help around, no cell service and a potential killer on the loose.
I liked the different formats and change between timelines. I liked the dynamics between two friends coming together from different backgrounds (rich and poor), the different pros and cons to their upbringing, the obstacles this caused and the result of those obstacles.
The way the twist dropped towards the end, there wasn’t any warning or gradual build it, it was literally dropped into the readers lap by one single sentence that I had to go back and read 3-4 times to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. The twist really caught me off guard so props to the author for that.
What I wasn’t a fan of: the overall ending I felt was too unbelievable, the author spent so much time on building character profiles that felt very solid, so when everything got jumbled around at the end I struggled to adjust mentally or believe what I was seeing,
This started out as a snow storm thriller and although that aspect was present, the majority of the book was spent in the past and beyond that moment in time. As snowstorm thriller tropes are one of my fave I just wish there was more scenes within that category for me to enjoy the elements of.
Overall this was a good read, my first of this author and likely not my last.
Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin trade publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
December 25, 2023
Hannah Mary McKinnon quickly became one of my go to authors this years, I’ve read most of her books in a short time. So I had to read this. Needlesd to say, I was not disappointed
I might even say that I am finishing off 2023 with one of the best reads this year. Yep.
That was an excellent read, even though one of my least favourite tropes is it to read about bands/music. I am one of these rare people that don’t care about music, I enjoy silence the most. 🤣 So colour me surprised, but this was soooo good.
Even though they were an unlikely pairing, Madison and Vienna united in Highschool through music. Madison attends college in NYC and Madison follows her.
When their band, the Bittersweet’s, takes off, tragedy strikes and the girls have a nearly fatal crash in the Catskills. They find shelter at an abandoned cabin, but will all of them survive the night? At the end of the night, Vienna is the only survivor, Madison having disappeared…
I was so not prepared for this book! I binged it!
Read this if
🤩 you like fame
🤩 love an unreliable narrator
🤩 love yourself some girl power
🤩 you want to grip your seat and be blown away.
The atmosphere was eerie and creepy and unpredictable, especially when reading this in December with snow pulling up. The characters were fabulous, love them or hate them. So buckle up for a wild ride and watch out for Hannah Mary McKinnon!
I received a free ARC and was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own.
Publication 16 Jul 2024 by Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA
January 2, 2024
Vienna Taylor and her band, The Bittersweet have a tragic wreck in the Catskills. They all wanted fame and fortune but some worse than others. Not all survive and fingers are pointed.
This was a great story that was very gripping. It had plenty of twists and turns. Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC that will be released July 16, 2024!
This was a great story that was very gripping. It had plenty of twists and turns. Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC that will be released July 16, 2024!
April 25, 2024
At first, I was completely hooked. Drummer Vienna and her bestie Madison, rocking out in their pop rock band? Sign me up! But then, tragedy strikes when their van crashes during a blizzard. It's like my heart plummeted along with them.
McKinnon's knack for suspense had me on the edge of my seat, especially with that unique twist of blending thriller elements with the music scene. It was like nothing I've read before, and I was totally here for it.
But then, things hit a bit of a snag. The pacing started to drag, and I found myself craving more backstory on the band and its members. Like, who are these people and how did they come together? I needed to know!
And don't even get me started on the ending. It felt like the buildup led to this big moment, but then it just kinda... fizzled out. Some of the twists were predictable, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
"Only One Survives" had its ups and downs. It's definitely worth a read if you're into thrillers with a unique premise, but just be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride along the way.
McKinnon's knack for suspense had me on the edge of my seat, especially with that unique twist of blending thriller elements with the music scene. It was like nothing I've read before, and I was totally here for it.
But then, things hit a bit of a snag. The pacing started to drag, and I found myself craving more backstory on the band and its members. Like, who are these people and how did they come together? I needed to know!
And don't even get me started on the ending. It felt like the buildup led to this big moment, but then it just kinda... fizzled out. Some of the twists were predictable, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
"Only One Survives" had its ups and downs. It's definitely worth a read if you're into thrillers with a unique premise, but just be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride along the way.
April 24, 2024
Music runs a very close second to me, only to books. So any book that encompasses anything about music has definitely got me interested. Only One Survives is many of the things I love in a book- music (obviously), dual timeline, interview type/mixed media format, and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed Hannah Mary McKinnon’s writing style & felt that this was a very good story. I will add I’m usually good at predicting the twists and I did not see this one coming. If you liked Daisy Jones & The Six (forever a favorite for me), you would enjoy this book!
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for an ARC copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for an ARC copy of this book.
March 26, 2024
Only One Survives is a gripping addictive thriller. It's what a happens when Daisy Jones And The Six has dead people.
It's a blend of music, the amazing friendships we cultivate in young adulthood and the freedom of finding our way in our own. It's complicatedly layered with jealousy, selfishness and the quest to be known.
It makes you wonder what you would do on your rise to the top.
It's a blend of music, the amazing friendships we cultivate in young adulthood and the freedom of finding our way in our own. It's complicatedly layered with jealousy, selfishness and the quest to be known.
It makes you wonder what you would do on your rise to the top.
July 3, 2024
Hannah Mary McKinnon (favorite author) returns following The Revenge List with her knock-out thriller and ninth novel, ONLY ONE SURVIVES. From murder, rock n roll, mystery, toxic female relationships, and mayhem, prepare for a highly entertaining rockin' adventure!
Wildly delicious! In this intense, addictive, and flawlessly executed tale, the author cleverly explores the fame (the rise and fall) of an all-female pop rock group, Bittersweet. After a fatal car crash on icy roads, one of the members decides the band is now worth more dead than alive in this atmospheric, thrills-by-the-minute suspense.
About...
Set in Portland, Maine, New York City, and a remote cabin in the Catskill mountains, we meet Vienna Taylor, the drummer. She has always wanted to make music with her best friend, guitarist, Madison Pierce.
With their female additions to the band, Isabel Riotto, and sisters Gabi and Evelina Sevillano, they were the perfect blend of powerful women who sang, played, and wrote their own tracks. They were a killer rock group known as Bittersweet and soon became a whirlwind sensation among music fans.
However, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet van careened off an icy mountain road in the Catskills during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
They took shelter in a nearby abandoned remote cabin to survive the frigid night. But soon, their dreams of stardom turn into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.
Alternating from how Madison and Vienna's early complex relationship evolved to the tragic accident, leading up to (before and after), and the team member's deaths. The only survivors seem to be Vienna and the young documentary maker Libby since Madison seems missing.
Who is most desperate for fame, recognition, and checking social media constantly? What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms? Who among them is a cold-blooded killer? Their motive? Who will be the only one to survive?
My thoughts...
ONLY ONE SURVIVES is electrifying! Binge-worthy with a jaw-dropping shocking twist. A deep dive into female friendships, envy, and the price of fame.
McKinnon is at the top of her game with a creative killer murder mystery suspense thriller, twisty plot, well-developed characters, the writing of the impressive lyrics of Bittersweet for all the songs, a playlist, plus two alternating parts, commentary, blog posts, news articles, radio transcripts, and social media which enhances your reading experience.
Atmospheric, the cabin scene is bone-chilling. I adore the Catskills and could envision this vivid setting and the snow and ice. From unreliable narrators, toxic relationships, greed, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists! You must read to find out who escaped the Bittersweet tragedy and how. What price will they pay for fame?
Topics: Jealousy, revenge, greed, envy, fame, betrayal, family, love, and friendship.
The author takes us back to Vienna's complex early days in her twenties, coming from a poor family with an abusive mother and her boyfriend, an absent father while trying to take care of her grandmother with dementia. Her best friend, Madison (rich), and her chance to move to NYC and their rock band.
Wildly entertaining! Nothing is as it seems in this riveting, creative, twisty thriller! An ideal choice for book clubs, music lovers, and further discussions. Be sure and check out her awesome book club kit!
I am a huge fan of the author and have read all her books. I highly recommend this book! It is one of the summer's hottest titles, and you do not want to miss it.
Recs...
For fans of the author as well as Jenova Rose, Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six and Emma Cline's The Girls!
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Chat with Hannah and ONLY ONE SURVIVES! Behind the book and the author (July 25th).
Thanks to MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early review copy!
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
July 2024 Must-Read Books
July Newsletter
Wildly delicious! In this intense, addictive, and flawlessly executed tale, the author cleverly explores the fame (the rise and fall) of an all-female pop rock group, Bittersweet. After a fatal car crash on icy roads, one of the members decides the band is now worth more dead than alive in this atmospheric, thrills-by-the-minute suspense.
About...
Set in Portland, Maine, New York City, and a remote cabin in the Catskill mountains, we meet Vienna Taylor, the drummer. She has always wanted to make music with her best friend, guitarist, Madison Pierce.
With their female additions to the band, Isabel Riotto, and sisters Gabi and Evelina Sevillano, they were the perfect blend of powerful women who sang, played, and wrote their own tracks. They were a killer rock group known as Bittersweet and soon became a whirlwind sensation among music fans.
However, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet van careened off an icy mountain road in the Catskills during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
They took shelter in a nearby abandoned remote cabin to survive the frigid night. But soon, their dreams of stardom turn into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.
Alternating from how Madison and Vienna's early complex relationship evolved to the tragic accident, leading up to (before and after), and the team member's deaths. The only survivors seem to be Vienna and the young documentary maker Libby since Madison seems missing.
"Be warned, even a small taste of fame will do stuff to you that you won't lie. It'll change you, make you ruthless. It already has."
Who is most desperate for fame, recognition, and checking social media constantly? What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms? Who among them is a cold-blooded killer? Their motive? Who will be the only one to survive?
My thoughts...
ONLY ONE SURVIVES is electrifying! Binge-worthy with a jaw-dropping shocking twist. A deep dive into female friendships, envy, and the price of fame.
McKinnon is at the top of her game with a creative killer murder mystery suspense thriller, twisty plot, well-developed characters, the writing of the impressive lyrics of Bittersweet for all the songs, a playlist, plus two alternating parts, commentary, blog posts, news articles, radio transcripts, and social media which enhances your reading experience.
Atmospheric, the cabin scene is bone-chilling. I adore the Catskills and could envision this vivid setting and the snow and ice. From unreliable narrators, toxic relationships, greed, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists! You must read to find out who escaped the Bittersweet tragedy and how. What price will they pay for fame?
Topics: Jealousy, revenge, greed, envy, fame, betrayal, family, love, and friendship.
The author takes us back to Vienna's complex early days in her twenties, coming from a poor family with an abusive mother and her boyfriend, an absent father while trying to take care of her grandmother with dementia. Her best friend, Madison (rich), and her chance to move to NYC and their rock band.
Wildly entertaining! Nothing is as it seems in this riveting, creative, twisty thriller! An ideal choice for book clubs, music lovers, and further discussions. Be sure and check out her awesome book club kit!
I am a huge fan of the author and have read all her books. I highly recommend this book! It is one of the summer's hottest titles, and you do not want to miss it.
Recs...
For fans of the author as well as Jenova Rose, Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six and Emma Cline's The Girls!
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Chat with Hannah and ONLY ONE SURVIVES! Behind the book and the author (July 25th).
Thanks to MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early review copy!
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
July 2024 Must-Read Books
July Newsletter
May 5, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 16, 2024
Vienna Taylor loves playing drums and making music alongside her best friend, Madison. It seems like fate when Vienna and Madison meet three other women and they form a female punk rock band, “The Bittersweet”. Their debut single takes off and soon, the five women are driving to the Catskills to sign a record contract…………until their car careens off the road. Now, three are dead and Madison is presumed missing, leaving Vienna the only survivor. But there is a small portion of Bittersweet’s followers who believe Vienna played a role in the death of the band, all to increase her own infamy and popularity. But that’s impossible, no one would kill all of their friends just to be famous—would they?
Hannah Mary McKinnon’s newest release, “Only One Survives”, is like a deliciously twisted version of “Daisy Jones & The Six”, complete with murder and intrigue.
Vienna is the protagonist and the story is told in reverse order (for the most part), starting on the day of the accident and working backwards, right up until the very end. There is non-stop action and an endless supply of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages! Vienna and Madison have a toxic and co-dependent relationship that was definitely going to turn ugly fast, as they both struggled with their own ambitions and desires to be famous. But what actually happened on that snowy night? Only Vienna knows and not all parts of her story match up. Somehow, I managed to actually like Vienna and I almost (almost) cheered for her long after I should’ve stopped doing so. McKinnon wrote a character I grew unexpectedly attached to, and that was just another one of many surprises in this story!
“Survives” has epic twists but none more epic than the final one- which was completely unexpected. There were so many different routes McKinnon could’ve taken to get to the ending, but I’m glad she went in the direction she did. An all-girl band is bound to generate some drama, especially with young and ambitious musicians battling for the spotlight, but McKinnon takes it to the next level, making “Survives” an absolute must-read that I was unable to put down!
Expected publication date: July 16, 2024
Vienna Taylor loves playing drums and making music alongside her best friend, Madison. It seems like fate when Vienna and Madison meet three other women and they form a female punk rock band, “The Bittersweet”. Their debut single takes off and soon, the five women are driving to the Catskills to sign a record contract…………until their car careens off the road. Now, three are dead and Madison is presumed missing, leaving Vienna the only survivor. But there is a small portion of Bittersweet’s followers who believe Vienna played a role in the death of the band, all to increase her own infamy and popularity. But that’s impossible, no one would kill all of their friends just to be famous—would they?
Hannah Mary McKinnon’s newest release, “Only One Survives”, is like a deliciously twisted version of “Daisy Jones & The Six”, complete with murder and intrigue.
Vienna is the protagonist and the story is told in reverse order (for the most part), starting on the day of the accident and working backwards, right up until the very end. There is non-stop action and an endless supply of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages! Vienna and Madison have a toxic and co-dependent relationship that was definitely going to turn ugly fast, as they both struggled with their own ambitions and desires to be famous. But what actually happened on that snowy night? Only Vienna knows and not all parts of her story match up. Somehow, I managed to actually like Vienna and I almost (almost) cheered for her long after I should’ve stopped doing so. McKinnon wrote a character I grew unexpectedly attached to, and that was just another one of many surprises in this story!
“Survives” has epic twists but none more epic than the final one- which was completely unexpected. There were so many different routes McKinnon could’ve taken to get to the ending, but I’m glad she went in the direction she did. An all-girl band is bound to generate some drama, especially with young and ambitious musicians battling for the spotlight, but McKinnon takes it to the next level, making “Survives” an absolute must-read that I was unable to put down!
January 17, 2024
Well, that was confusing.
Only One survives is a lot of plots and subplots in one book and it confused me more than really excite me or engage me.
What is this story about?
The story is about a girl band, Bittersweet. On the way to an event, the Bittersweet’s van careens off an icy mountain road during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
They seek shelter in a cabin to get to safety and seek out help.
But can the girls really trust each other? Especially when one by one the band loses members and one of the girls is the suspect.
This sounds amazing, right? I thought the whole book will be about these events. I thought it will be atmospheric and scary and I will feel that blizzard, even in the coziness of my home.
I felt the cabin-part of the story was a means to an end and it was written to the point without building a climax or even suspense. A larger part of the story was about the past of drummer Vienna and her best friend and bandmate Madison. You follows these girls in the past and later on you follow Vienna after the cabin incidents.
The story starts to drag at that point and for the purposes of shock there are some twists.
I wished the story stayed at that cabin.
2 stars.
ARC kindly received from Netgalley
April 2, 2024
〰️Loved how the story was told through 2 parts
〰️action packed!
〰️FULL of vindictive women!
〰️Loved the girl band storyline!
〰️Twisty ride!
〰️Justified ending!💪🏼
〰️action packed!
〰️FULL of vindictive women!
〰️Loved the girl band storyline!
〰️Twisty ride!
〰️Justified ending!💪🏼
June 24, 2024
4.5/5
I’ve read all of the authors books and I think this is my new fave! There was something addictive right from the start, I was instantly drawn into the story and read this in record time. There are quite a few characters at the beginning and I thought I would be confused but I settled in quickly and had no issues. The suspense started right at the beginning and really never waned for me, things just kept happening and there were some really great twists that threw me for a loop too. One in particular really shook things up and made me race to finish the entire thing to see wtf would happen next. Loved this one and definitely recommend it!
I’ve read all of the authors books and I think this is my new fave! There was something addictive right from the start, I was instantly drawn into the story and read this in record time. There are quite a few characters at the beginning and I thought I would be confused but I settled in quickly and had no issues. The suspense started right at the beginning and really never waned for me, things just kept happening and there were some really great twists that threw me for a loop too. One in particular really shook things up and made me race to finish the entire thing to see wtf would happen next. Loved this one and definitely recommend it!
February 26, 2024
This was a great read!! Perfect if you’re a fan of snowed-in murder mysteries and unreliable narrators!
This book follows the story of a band of five girls who are in a car crash in the Catskills during a snow storm. They seek shelter in an abandoned cabin.
There are lots of different writing platforms: the four years leading up to the crash where the two founding band members become best friends, to the day of the accident, and the months following, as well as tv transcripts, news reports, and social media follower comments.
The day after, only one band member emerges from the cabin and we get her POV from past and present.
This is my first book by this author, and I was absolutely sucked in to the story. I will recommend this one for sure! How the story unfolds, the character development, the epilogue.. chef’s kiss!
I would recommend if you’re a fan of
-girl bands
-unreliable narrator
-toxic friendships
-murder mystery
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book follows the story of a band of five girls who are in a car crash in the Catskills during a snow storm. They seek shelter in an abandoned cabin.
There are lots of different writing platforms: the four years leading up to the crash where the two founding band members become best friends, to the day of the accident, and the months following, as well as tv transcripts, news reports, and social media follower comments.
The day after, only one band member emerges from the cabin and we get her POV from past and present.
This is my first book by this author, and I was absolutely sucked in to the story. I will recommend this one for sure! How the story unfolds, the character development, the epilogue.. chef’s kiss!
I would recommend if you’re a fan of
-girl bands
-unreliable narrator
-toxic friendships
-murder mystery
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 29, 2024
The Bittersweet rock band consists of 5 women and it is heart-pounding with twists all over the place that you do not expect. When you think something is going to happen, think again. I was thrown off so many times and wow what a wild ride this book was! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this thriller but then I love all books by Hannah Mary McKinnon.
March 13, 2024
HMM has done it again ! She has stomped me with a twist that I just didn’t see coming . It’s hard to write about this without any spoilers so I Weiner say much …
It is more suspense though so dont go in expecting a domestic thriller type of story
4.5 ⭐️
It is more suspense though so dont go in expecting a domestic thriller type of story
4.5 ⭐️
April 6, 2024
""𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆."
-𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒃"
Special thanks to @hannahmarymckinnon @thrillerbookloverspromotions @htpbooks @harlequinbooks @htp_hive & @netgalley for this #gifted eARC.
👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️
MY REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my 1st Hannah Mary McKinnon book, and it CERTAINLY won't be my last.
👏🏼I👏🏼LOVED👏🏼THIS👏🏼BOOK!👏🏼
The story was very real life, and the TWISTS. My god, it's like it slapped me in the face and shook me awake cause I swore I had to reread it to believe it.
I mean, first off, who doesn't love music?! Then add some jealousy, plenty of lies, and an itch for fame & snow storm in a deserted mountain - you've got yourself a deadly equation.
Friends will do anything for each other, but when fame is involved - all gloves are off. Make sure you keep your eyes open, and your secrets to yourself.🤫
This is a must-read for 2024! Add this to your TBR NOW!!!!
PUB DATE:
Jul 16, 2024
QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ Who is your favorite band/singer?
.
.
.
#mysteryandthrills #thrillerbooklover #thrillerlover #booklover #bookcommunity #booklove #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #onlyonesurvives #hannahmarymckinnon #htpbooks #harlequinbooks #netgalley #musicsensation #leaddrummer
.
-𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒃"
Special thanks to @hannahmarymckinnon @thrillerbookloverspromotions @htpbooks @harlequinbooks @htp_hive & @netgalley for this #gifted eARC.
👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️
MY REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my 1st Hannah Mary McKinnon book, and it CERTAINLY won't be my last.
👏🏼I👏🏼LOVED👏🏼THIS👏🏼BOOK!👏🏼
The story was very real life, and the TWISTS. My god, it's like it slapped me in the face and shook me awake cause I swore I had to reread it to believe it.
I mean, first off, who doesn't love music?! Then add some jealousy, plenty of lies, and an itch for fame & snow storm in a deserted mountain - you've got yourself a deadly equation.
Friends will do anything for each other, but when fame is involved - all gloves are off. Make sure you keep your eyes open, and your secrets to yourself.🤫
This is a must-read for 2024! Add this to your TBR NOW!!!!
PUB DATE:
Jul 16, 2024
QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ Who is your favorite band/singer?
.
.
.
#mysteryandthrills #thrillerbooklover #thrillerlover #booklover #bookcommunity #booklove #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #onlyonesurvives #hannahmarymckinnon #htpbooks #harlequinbooks #netgalley #musicsensation #leaddrummer
.
April 9, 2024
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.
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.
February 11, 2024
This is a rock and roll story, not just a thrilling locked room horror..
Vienna Taylor meets Madison Pierce in high school. They are polar opposites and Madison runs wild with a very wealthy net below her while Vienna has no support or resources at all. Against the odds they create a band that garners attention and a deal. The Bittersweet is formed with the addition of a three new members and the band is on their way to an event when their van crashes on an icy mountain. One by one, the band members die, finally leaving only Vienne behind while Madison disappears. What really happened to the band Bittersweet? Did Madison leave them all behind?
McKinnon provides flashbacks, current story as well as portions of websites and commentary to build atmosphere. The crash itself is so real and so gruesome, but you cannot look away. This story will get in your bones and never let go. Grab Only One Survives, turn on the light and plan to read all night long!
.#harlequin #thrillerbooklovers #thrillerbookpromotions #onlyonesurvives #hannahmaymckinnon
Vienna Taylor meets Madison Pierce in high school. They are polar opposites and Madison runs wild with a very wealthy net below her while Vienna has no support or resources at all. Against the odds they create a band that garners attention and a deal. The Bittersweet is formed with the addition of a three new members and the band is on their way to an event when their van crashes on an icy mountain. One by one, the band members die, finally leaving only Vienne behind while Madison disappears. What really happened to the band Bittersweet? Did Madison leave them all behind?
McKinnon provides flashbacks, current story as well as portions of websites and commentary to build atmosphere. The crash itself is so real and so gruesome, but you cannot look away. This story will get in your bones and never let go. Grab Only One Survives, turn on the light and plan to read all night long!
.#harlequin #thrillerbooklovers #thrillerbookpromotions #onlyonesurvives #hannahmaymckinnon
February 27, 2024
Vienna and Madison meet in high school and become best friends despite their differences. They create a band and end up getting into a horrible accident on an icy road. After they survive the crash and go look for help they stumble across the creepy cabin. At this point the story is interesting. What is going to happen? Is this a closed door whodunnit? Is this a creepy serial killer book? Is this a story about fame gone wrong? What is going on here.
I really enjoyed the character build up and the first 25% of the book. Then as the story morphs into something else I feel like it falls flat. The book is too long and it rehashes everything too many times. I honestly was bored by the 70% mark. The structure of the story did not work for me.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book. These are solely my opinions. I encourage you to read the book and see what you think.
I really enjoyed the character build up and the first 25% of the book. Then as the story morphs into something else I feel like it falls flat. The book is too long and it rehashes everything too many times. I honestly was bored by the 70% mark. The structure of the story did not work for me.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book. These are solely my opinions. I encourage you to read the book and see what you think.
February 15, 2024
Totally bingeable, Dark, twisty, sinister, fuck with your mind amazing
Holy shit this one is next level mind blowing! My new favourite by Hannah Mary McKinnon. I love the past and present timeline. The past leading up to the accident and how Madison and Vienna became EmVee turning into bittersweet and then after the accident the fallout of everything and getting twist after Marvellous twist my mouth hanging opening to my jaw hitting the floor
This is one spectacular written thriller filled with pop rock culture and references, suspense, friendship, hate, lies, revenge and dare I say a bittersweet ending the only question remains are you #teamvienna or #teammadison only time will tell…
Holy shit this one is next level mind blowing! My new favourite by Hannah Mary McKinnon. I love the past and present timeline. The past leading up to the accident and how Madison and Vienna became EmVee turning into bittersweet and then after the accident the fallout of everything and getting twist after Marvellous twist my mouth hanging opening to my jaw hitting the floor
This is one spectacular written thriller filled with pop rock culture and references, suspense, friendship, hate, lies, revenge and dare I say a bittersweet ending the only question remains are you #teamvienna or #teammadison only time will tell…
December 10, 2023
Only One survives was a fun read!
The book follows two different timelines: backstory of Vienna and Madison meeting and forming a band with 3 other women; then flashing to the night of their bus accident and their night spent in a cabin during a snow storm.
I enjoyed the book! It was a quick, fun read. Some parts of it felt a little YA. Some of the twists were predictable and could see coming miles away but it didn’t necessarily take away from the journey getting there.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and MIRA in exchange for my honest review!
The book follows two different timelines: backstory of Vienna and Madison meeting and forming a band with 3 other women; then flashing to the night of their bus accident and their night spent in a cabin during a snow storm.
I enjoyed the book! It was a quick, fun read. Some parts of it felt a little YA. Some of the twists were predictable and could see coming miles away but it didn’t necessarily take away from the journey getting there.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and MIRA in exchange for my honest review!
March 17, 2024
I loved the concept of the all-girl rock band getting in a bad accident, trapping them in a creepy, run-down cabin in the middle of a snowstorm. I also enjoyed the dual timelines before and after the accident where we get deeper inside the head of Vienna and a better understanding of her bandmates, especially her friendship with Madison who is her opposite in many ways. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoiling the wonderful twists and the carefully built layer of suspense.
November 28, 2023
I love McKinnon's books and this was a solid 5-star read for me! It begins with a car crashing and members of the band, Bittersweet inside. Protagonist, Vienna is rescued by the cops and another member, Madison is missing even though there's a horrible snowstorm. Written in a "now" and "then" format, the novel depicts the band's formation when the girls meet in high school, rise to fame, and fight their way to stardom (some more than others)! Needless to say, it's a gripping story of jealousy, greed, betrayal, and blackmail. I powered through this book as it's heart-pounding and sucks your breath away!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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