The Bittersweet is on the rise with their song Sweet Spot when a car accident in the snowy Catskills derails everything. One member dead, another member critically injured, the other three girls and a tag along documentarian all hope to find help and survive, but only Vienna and Libby survive. Madison has disappeared, suspected of murdering sisters Evelina and Gabi.

This was such a chilling, twisty book! The first half of the book, you're sympathizing with Vienna, who has lost her beloved Grams, has been kicked out of her house by her stepfather, and finally her life seems to be back on track when she and her high school best friend land a last minute gig at a bar that launches them into the music realm. But then the accident and the murders happen, but Vienna somehow manages to turn trauma into fortune and her damaged star is back on the rise....
And then the tone of the book shifts abruptly and it just gets delicious. I really enjoyed the heck out of this book--I've been reading too many thrillers lately where it feels like editors are like "hey there are these loose ends you should tie up. Put it in an epilogue" instead of actually going back and weaving the threads back into the story. This one instead just puts all those loose ends out on display and tells you exactly what is going on. Don't worry, this does not ruin the story at all, as it leaves room for even more intrigue and we follow along with Vienna's journey and watch her descend into paranoia and anger. I think Madison probably could have used a little more fleshing out and characterization on her on, vs what we learned from Vienna. I'm not really sure if Madison was the super jealous, controlling person we were told she was, or if that's just whar Vienna wanted us to know.
I also kind of really need someone to write (though I watched a book club with McKinnon and I think she said she wrote the song?) and perform Sweet Spot because it was hyped up so much in the book lol

Amazing read! This is my second book from this author and I loved every second of it. 10/10 recommend

I loved this book! I thought that I had the plot figured out but I was wrong. What a twist! And not just one! There were multiple!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOWZA!!! This profoundly compelling, extremely intense and darkly twisted psychological mystery thriller promises a rock and roll ride packed with a maze of toxic friendships, secrets and lies, jealously and betrayals, murder, and the cost of fame!! The gripping suspense, insane tension and shocking twists leave you guessing until the explosive finale! This is my first ready by Hannah Mary McKinnon and it exceeded my expectations, leaving me eagerly anticipating more of her work. I highly recommend this incredible read and it has secured its spot among my favorite thrillers for 2024!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

*4.5 stars rounded up to 5*

An absolutely addicting page turner that came at th e perfect time for me! Loved every minute of this interesting and fun fast paced read

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Hannah Mary McKinnon for an ARC of Only One Survives. Before this book even finished, I was adding all of her other books to my wish list. OHMY this was fantastic. I was gripping my kindle so hard, I lost sleep, I couldn’t focus on anything but this book. What an AMAZING thriller. This had me going for a long time waiting for the shoe to drop.. and then the other shoe. I clued into one part and knew how this may end, but that did not take away from the story at all. I’ve already told anyone who will listen to grab this book as soon as it comes out. I loved Hannah’s writing and how it would go back and forth in time and the snippets from online postings and transcripts. This book will keep you on your toes and keep you from remembering you have responsibilities. This is one of those books I will think about for years to come.

Vienna Taylor, a self-learned drummer, all she cares about is making music. Music has been her life since her Gram introduced her to 70’s and on music. That gave her life when all other hope was lost when she lived with her mom and Rick. Vienna didn’t care much about fame, she just wanted to play drums and get lost in the music. Vienna met her best friend Madison Pierce in her senior year in high school and even though they didn’t start out on the right foot, they found they both love the same music and sound really good together. They found other members to join their band and they became an all-female pop rock band. They were gaining traction and they could see the stars in the near future. On their way to an event, their van lost traction and crashed due to the snowstorm. One member is instantly dead and the rest aren’t doing the best. They must find shelter because there is no way they can withstand being out in this snowstorm for a full night before they can even think of finding help. They find a cabin and once they think everything is going to be okay, a nightmare unfolds. One by one Vienna’s friends are meeting their end. But Madison is never found - she’s reported missing. Vienna can’t believe her nightmares and worries Madison took the fame to a new level. What really happened that night? She can’t possibly believe Madison would go this far for fame.

A gripping thrilling! I very much enjoyed the pacing and the plot of this book. I love stories set around bands and this was a different sort of band book than I’m used to but I loved it.

This book was great! I loved reading about a band and all the drama surrounding it. Fame can do crazy things to people. I was definitley kept on my toes with this one. The beginning of the books goes through the story of Madison and Vienna and how they became friends seeing them through high school and college and eventually the formation of the band The Bittersweet. They are heading to stardom and get invited to this big party and have to travel through a snowstorm. When their car veers off the path and one member ends up dead and another badly injured, Vienna and Madison venture off and find a cabin. We then get to hear from Vienna, the only surviving member and how she has been coping with this tragedy with Madison missing. There were some twists and turns here, I had some point figured out how this could end but I did not have all the details figured out. This was a great read!

My First Hannah Mary McKinnon book and it will not be my last. This was a solid read. Honestly, it fizzled for me in parts and I wanted more for the ending.

She did a great job with twists to entice you to want to continue reading. I would definitely read another book by this author.

“Even a small taste of fame will do stuff to you that you won’t like. It’ll change you, make you ruthless.” Diabolical is the word that comes to mind after reading McKinnon’s novel.
Toxic friendship, sociopath or caring friend with a jealous streak? When you think you know someone, but really don’t know them at all, it’s anyone’s guess.
McKinnon’s plot and writing is captivating and reminiscent of Megan Miranda’s thrillers. She spins two stories at once, until they swirl together, then back out again, and my jaw was on the floor more than once. The characters are just amazing, and I mean that in both a good way and bad! The music and girl band aspect kept me in mind of Daisy Jones and the Six, but this has a completely different tale surrounding it. This was an unputdownable thriller that I highly recommend for your summer reading list!

Wow! Plot twists make this a great read! I never expected the ending. It left me thinking, did I miss something somewhere? I would recommend this book to anyone that like suspense and a good psychological thriller!

This book started off strong but the pacing fell off awhile in. The twist in the middle of the book felt out of left field (not in a good way). The ending was lacking. Overall I was entertained but annoyed at parts. I think it could have been much shorter.

Book: Only One Survives
Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
I never could get into this story. It seemed slow to me and was very predictable. Still love this author…this book just wasn’t for me.

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 couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

I kinda wish the characters would have been fully introduced a bit earlier so it would have been easier to follow in the beginning but it was a great thriller. A who-done-it in the beginning and a fast paced "can you get away with it" for the second half. Loved this book and can't wait to read more from this author.

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon is a twisty mystery thriller about a girl band called Bittersweet. When their van crashes off an icy mountain road, only one band member ends up surviving. But what actually happened? What happened at the cabin in the woods? This is an unputdownable thriller that was very entertaining to read. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

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!

An enjoyable read for fans of Yellowjackets. I felt truly immersed into the wilderness with these characters

The story is set in dual timelines; pre- and post-accident. Main characters Vienna and Madison met on their first day of their senior year of high school, and the book continues as a coming of age-ish storyline. They go on to form a girlband and were on the verge of stardom when they had a horrific car accident in a blizzard in upstate New York.
This is my first book by this author. This is a good story and held my interest throughout, with a good cast of characters. Recommended!