Only One Survives

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.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Genre: Suspense

Types and Sources: ebook from publisher via NetGalley & 

Trade Paperback from publisher at OLA 2024

Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin)

First Published: July 16, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.