**Actual rating is 4.5 stars**

Five Survive is a multi-layered and razor-sharp standalone YA thriller full of suspense, terrible secrets and intense paranoia. Like, the twists and turns of the story had me hooked from the start. I could never guess what was going to happen next, and I read the whole book in one sitting. It was just impossible to stop reading it until I knew how it ended.

The atmosphere is spot on, as the RV setting provides a forced proximity setting to an already tense situation. The countdown aspect of the story also helped make me feel the tension seeping out of the pages.

Red is a great protagonist. She’s a well written character, who has both negative and positive aspects of her personality which will make it easy to connect with her. But it was not just Red that was a sympathetic character, most of the cast had me come to care about them. Except for one character, because that character truly embodied the word d*ckhead. But the still served a purpose so I can’t be mad that they’re in the story. But yeah, overall - a great cast of characters that all added an aspect and layer to the story.

Not to mention the way everything tied together at the end was really satisfying! All the little bits and bobs, just seemed to wrap up so nicely. It was like you finally saw the whole finished puzzle after putting together puzzle piece after puzzle piece without having any idea what it should look like. It’s exactly the kind of thriller book that I love.

I absolutely adored the AGGGTM series, so when I saw Holly had a new book coming out and it was a closed door / locked-in scenario, I requested immediately! With that said, this one felt a bit too long and a bit boring in the middle. This book all takes place in the span of 8 hours, so knowing that, does all to the thrill level of it. By the time the surprise twist ending hit, I was almost too over the length of the book to be shocked or to care as much as I could’ve. I didn’t feel any specific connection to any of the characters so didn’t really care what would happen or what was going to happen to any of them. Overall, I did like the book for what it was and will read anything that Holly writes, but it did not live up to the hype I had built up for it in my head.

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC.

{2.5 stars rounded down} I was hesitant about the premise - long-distance shooter thrillers are boring to me. But I thought if anyone could make it interesting, it would be Holly Jackson. I loved the “Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” books (book 3 not as much).

If the book’s pacing hadn’t moved the story along quickly, I probably would have DNF’d this one. It seems like it could’ve just been a short story? Also, by the end there was one character that I was actually rooting for to be shot. They were so obnoxious that I wanted to finish the book so I didn’t have to read about them anymore.

Bonus points for very good PTSD rep though.

I’m a big fan of YA suspense and this book didn’t disappoint. It was fast paced and full of action. I couldn’t put it down because wanted to know what was doing to happen and honestly, I had no idea who was behind everything and the why…when revealed I definitely was surprised. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I definitely recommend.

Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

What a ride! For a novel that's set in an RV, spanning eight hours through the middle of one night, these three words seem fitting! Looking back at my review for A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, it also seems that I only have these words to begin my every review for Holly Jackson's works, HA!

Oh boy, Jackson knows no chill! I practically inhaled this book in a day and a half. This was one fast-paced thriller that made me hold my breath, literally.

I would've rated this one four-stars, but the ending made up for it. I didn't expect it to be emotional that I shed a few tears. How I wish this could've been adapted into a movie or a series.

Thank you to Delacorte Press, NetGalley and the author for providing me my early copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson is a tense and fast-paced thriller that takes plan in a short period of time. The story is told through Redford Kenny's POV and she is an unpredictable character. Despite the promising theme, I felt this story lacked the uniqueness that you find in Holly's debut series. This is a very plot-heavy story that doesn't give you the chance to get to know the characters. The secrets were given a lot of build-up but ended up being very predictable. The characters fell flat and most of them didn't have a strong presence. The ending felt very rushed and left me unsatisfied. I would not recommend readers pick this up if they are new to this author's works.

What a road trip gone wrong!🫣

I liked how the overall book is told through time stamps.
While I guessed some twists there were still 𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗧 that I didn’t see coming. The ending to me was definitely unexpected & will leave you shocked! 😱
I highly enjoyed being in the head of Red which gave off unreliable narrator vibes.
I don’t recommend reading this heart pounding, chilling, suspenseful book at night. It will leave you 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬 spooked!
Otherwise I do recommend it to those who have read her other books, 𝘈 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭’𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 series. It’s much different than those but if you’re a Holly Jackson fan then I do think you’ll love this book!🤌🏼

I haven't read a thriller in a while and this one is definitely going to bounce me right back into the genre. This is a great situational thriller that has so many layers to it. I am new to Holly Jackson, I know I know I still haven't read A Good Girls Guide to Murder and I really need to, and I am definitely hooked. I love her writing, it is a great mix of suspense, great characters, and background plot. The characters were all very strong, which is impressive since there were 6 main characters. Red was a little all over the place but I think that added to the chaoticness of the story and I truly enjoyed her character. There were some characters I wish I could have been the one to kill (cough Oliver cough). The setting of the RV trapped on a road is interesting and provided some unique situations for the characters which I thought was creative. Overall, I really enjoyed my first Holly Jackson read and I will be promptly reading A Good Girls Guide to Murder!

WOAH! This book was an absolutely WILD ride from start to finish!!! Extremely fast-paced, super high-intensity! You could read this in one sitting because there’s never a lull and you just have to know what’s coming next!!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! My suspicions change with every chapter and I have yet to figure out every aspect of Holly Jackson's books. I really enjoyed it! (Besides some of the language, but that's a personal preference).

Five Survive
Author: Holly Jackson
Genre: suspense/mystery
Rating: 4⭐️
Pub Date: November 29, 2022

Synopsis: Red and five of her friends are on a road trip in a 31 foot RV, driving to Spring break from Pennsylvania. Everything is going great, until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere because the wheels were shot out. There no cell reception to call the police and warning shots have been fired. One of the friends has a secret the sniper is willing to kill for.

What I Thought: This was a quick read for me. I loved Holly Jackson’s Guide to Murder series, and this standalone is just as good. The story will keep you hooked and second guessing until the very end. The only thing I didn’t like was the unwrapped ending. I wanted to know what happened to the other survivors.

Read if:
* You loved A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series
* You love a good twist
* You don’t mind the same scene taking place throughout the whole book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I LOVED this one! After the 3rd installment of AGGGTM, you could see that this author was moving darker- well, she continued that way with this book.

It is so fast paced and so full of plot spins- I can’t even count how many times my mouth fell open 😮
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It’s about a group of teens on a trip in an RV. They get stranded in the middle of nowhere…. they think it’s an accident…but then they realize it was all planned, and they are in grave danger 👀
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I love the direction this author is going and can’t wait to see what she writes next!

"Eight hours. Six friends. One sniper..."
Red and her friends set off for Spring Break. Although they have a long trip ahead of them and they are tightly packed in an RV, their spirits are high. Until they break down that is. In the middle of nowhere with no cell reception, and each wheel shot out, they come to realize this was intentional. There's a sniper watching their every move and there's something he wants: A secret one of them holds. But who? With tensions running high and ugly secrets surfacing, the group desperately tries to figure out what the key to their survival. Is everyone willing to let their secrets out? How far is the sniper willing to go to get it out of them?
Overall I really enjoyed this read. It was an intense, claustrophobic thriller and I couldn't wait to see how it all played out. I did find certain parts of the story were a little too detailed and far-fetched, but I still enjoyed the wild ride. The narrator, Emma Galvin, did a great job bringing this story to life. If you're a fan of YA thrillers, check this out!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and Edelweiss+. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book was such a wild ride and I LOVED EVERY SINGLE MINUTE. Holly Jackson is a QUEEN!!!! For sure a must read. I devoured this book in a day.

I will start off by saying that Holly Jackson is truly brilliant at creating suspenseful page turners. From the very start of the story, the writing style captured my attention and left with me an incredible desire to know more. Though I had a hard time liking many of the characters, they definitely made an already horrible situation even more intense. The main character, Red, was pretty bland in the beginning, but as the night went on, more of her personality came to light and she became a much more sympathetic character. The same cannot be said for all of the other characters. I loathed one of them so much that I wanted to reach into the book and slap him. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil anything. As I have come to expect with a book written by the brilliant Holly Jackson, this book will stay with me for a while!

This book deals with some very intense situations. Please make sure to check trigger warnings.

3.5, rounded up. Holly Jackson's first book outside the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy is pretty solid, if maybe drawn out a little too long. Some of the reveals are telegraphed a little too much, and there are a couple of loose strings I'd have liked resolved a little better, but I didn't see the exact ending coming. It's an interesting group of characters, and Holly Jackson is excellent at writing YA characters who feel authentic.

THANKS TO HARPER REACH AND TBR AND BEYOND TOURS FOR REVIEW COPY AND FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THIS TOUR, RESPECTIVELY.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is one of my favorite mystery trilogy. I knew that I had to read Five Survive, the instance I got to know about it.

This is not the kind of story which grabs your attention from the very first line. It is also not the kind of story that throws you in great turmoil at the start. It is that kind of story that gives you small glimpses of the twists and then suddenly shuts them down, and it is that kind of story that made you yearn for more information. It started so ordinarily and I started to doubt myself as it was entirely opposite from other books of Jackson.

The story happened in 8 hours and in an RV. Six people- some are friends, some are relatives, some are in relationships, some are in unlabeled relationships- who think they know each other and most of all they can trust each other. The writing was so simple and real that it made me feel I was in that RV too. I don't even remember how many times, I forgot to take the next breath as I was way too much involved in the story of a character and I forgot the count of events that made me so angry. It is really a mystery how Holly Jackson penned down 6 main characters and made me feel differently for each of them throughout the book. All of the characters are complex and have so many layers, but you have to wait to witness each of their layers. This book is suitable for those people who are not in rush. I was on the edge throughout the book because obviously there was a sniper outside and you don't know when a bullet will come from any direction. I got so comfortable in the RV that I forgot that there is going to be unexpected development. The story got wild in the last 100 pages, all of the twists and turns blew me away.

I love it when authors don't rush the ending for the sake of the thrill. The author took the time to wind up the story. It gives me immense satisfaction when I know in which direction all of the characters are headed to. Congratulations Holly Jackson. You made me emotional, never thought a mystery will be able to do that.

➽ <b>I have a feeling I might be falling out of love with Holly Jackson’s books.</b> I loved the first two A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder books, but the series finale left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Nevertheless, I had high hopes for Five Survive, Jackson’s newest release. Unlike her previous books, this one is a Thriller and I loved the premise! Six friends are trapped in their van when they are attacked in the woods on their way to Spring Break. With tensions running high and a killer watching their every move, this had the potential to be a chilling and suspenseful read. <b>I appreciate that the author was trying to create a stifling and tense atmosphere within the van, especially once it becomes apparent that one person has a secret the sniper is willing to kill for</b>. So before we get into the negatives let me say that the setup and idea were fantastic, and some parts of the book were genuinely thrilling and gripped me.

➽ <b>Where do we start? I think my main problem was the characters.</b> Apart from our narrator - Red - all of them were lackluster and fell flat. With six different characters and only one book, you need to give them some depth and background information, even if not all of them get a POV. After reading the book, I’m wondering if it might not have been a better idea to include a few more POVs, even just two more would have helped. Sadly, almost all the characters felt stereotypical. I liked Simon’s attempts at humor and Arthur’s gentle support, but I still struggled to remember all the names just a couple of weeks after reading this. Maddie and Reyna sadly barely had any personality and I didn’t see how Maddie and Red were such good friends. A lot of background information was missing here, which would have made the characters feel more authentic.

➽ <b>Oliver deserves his own point because he got on my nerves SO much.</b> He’s supposed to be an unlikable character, I get that but there was nothing redeeming about him. Since none of the characters challenge him much or stand up to him, we’re left reading about him taking charge and doing whatever he wants. It just spiked my anger and frustration. <b>It’s one thing to have a character that’s very selfish, entitled, and condescending. That adds tension and drama. But you need someone to challenge and oppose them in some way, otherwise, your readers are stuck with an unbearable character getting away with all his bad decisions</b>. It was baffling to me that not one of the five remaining characters is willing to call out Oliver’s arrogance and pure incompetence. The scenes where someone goes against him are few and even when he does horrible things, it gets swiftly ignored with no consequences. As a reader that made me really mad and the book a drag to get through, as I’m forced to read through pages of Oliver being a jerk and all the other characters being incredibly passive.<spoiler>I’m glad he was the one who died in the end, but the others don’t even overthrow him in the end!! <b>I was waiting for someone to turn on him and restrain him, as he put everyone in danger. But nothing happened</b>. He gets shot by the police officer by accident and that’s the end of it.</spoiler>

➽ <b>Red’s narration and the writing style grated on me from the beginning.</b> I was ready to give the book the benefit of the doubt because sometimes it takes a while to get into the story. Yet <b>Red’s constant repetition of mundane details, the memory loss, and her scattered thoughts grated on me</b>. If the story had more explicitly addressed the trauma of losing her mother and why this might have changed her thought patterns, this would have been fine. But the story only glosses over what I’d consider a possible PTSD. I’m left guessing that her memory problems and scattered thoughts are due to trauma and that’s just not enough exploration for me. Red’s focus on details and cycle of getting stuck in memories made the story drag a lot. <b>Some of the things she keeps going on about are never resolved</b> <spoiler>such as the pattern of the curtains in the van that Red cannot figure out and why she prefers to sleep on one specific side</spoiler> and just felt like they were thrown in there without any thought of relevance to the story.

➽ <b>While I was engaged in the beginning, the story dragged so much, that by the end I was eager to just finish the book.</b> The whole setup is that the friend group is trapped in the van and cannot leave due to the sniper, but I sometimes wonder if confining the story to this setting made it super slow. The tension within the group dynamic is supposed to be the big focus of the story, but since I didn’t care much for anyone, this didn’t appeal to me. <b>I also felt like the ending was very rushed and all the secrets and twists were revealed so quickly, it was hard to keep up.</b> I got the impression that the characters were just monologuing everything, so the reader understood the web of lies and twists.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC!

The premise of this book is really unique, it’s hard for me to really enjoy a mystery/thriller, because I can always somewhat guess the plot twist. But one thing about Holly Jackson, she definitely knows how to keep me engaged. I finished this book in practically two days because I needed to know how this ended. This is a fast-paced thriller that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat, and let me tell you, I was reading this at 2AM, and I was scared. Literally shaking under my covers because I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I did think that the plot twist was slightly disappointing, because of how great the build up was, but I can’t down play how much I enjoyed this book, despite the predictable twist.

I’m so glad I got to read this amazing thriller by holly Jackson !!!! The twists and turns kept coming and I truly didn’t figure it out until the very end !!!