Vienna is the drummer for the all girl band Bittersweet. As her band is driving through the Catskills, their vehicle skids off the road and down the mountainside. The accident leaves one band member dead and one severely injured. Having no cell signal, the girls find shelter in an abandoned cabin for the night. Only one band member survives that night, and another one remains missing. What happened that night in the cabin that left Vienna the only surviving member? Where is Madison? Is she to blame for what happened to the band members who were in the cabin?

Only One Survives is a thriller told in two parts. Part one the story toggles between the past and how Vienna and Madison became friends and formed their band and the night of the car accident. Truth be told, I didn't understand why we kept flashing back so much until we got to part two of the story. Part two of the story focuses on Vienna and her life after the car accident. This is where the story ramps up to a whole new level of crazy. I thought the events at the cabin were twisted, but this part of the story was absolutely shocking! You're not getting spoilers from me, though! This story explores toxic relationships, the overwhelming need for popularity, and has my favorite, an unreliable narrator. Your head will be spinning because you will not know who or what to trust or believe. If you're looking for a crazy twisted thriller with great story building, this is definitely the book for you.

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.

So this book right here....is one of the best thriller novels I’ve read it quite some time. Crazy twist after crazy twist...

If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole ride, this is it.highly recommend!

Thank you netgalley and publisher
All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influence by anyone else

I love Hannah’s writing style and the characters she creates that you love or are not sure if you can trust them depending on who they are. I’ve been a fan of her books for awhile and know I’m in for a good read when I pick up her books. This is the story of a band that met a tragic end under somewhat of a mystery. Vienna and Madison meet in high school and could not have more different backgrounds. Vienna had a hard life and Madison came from money. Neither were happy in their situation and became friends. Told in dual timeline from the day of the accident to the years leading up to the accident we read about Vienna and Madison’s relationship and personalities. I loved how the past timeline crept closer and closer to the accident timeline - like a countdown. If you love psychological thrillers you won’t want to miss this one! This is a standalone novel.

"𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦"

You are supposed to be able to trust your best friend….right? When Vienna and Madison met in detention no one had any idea what danger loomed ahead. This cabin and band filled mystery had me on the edge of my seat. I developed a strong bond towards the characters and was completely shocked by the ending! Everything I thought I knew went out the window and fast! Told in the past/present format. Creating a band is supposed to be fun until jealously comes into play.

Thank you @thrillerbookloverspromotions @hannahmarymckinnon @_mira_books_ #partner for the free ebook!

The talented Hannah Mary McKinnon does it again! This is my second by this author (the first a romcom) and I am telling you I will continue to grab her books!

In this thrilling story we follow inseparable best friends, Vienna and Madison. From the time they met they were a bit of “opposites attract” friends with Vienna being more of an outsider in high school. All she has dreamed about is being a drummer in a band and when their paths cross in detention one day the stars seem to align. As they get older, their lives take different paths for a bit but when they cross again it seems fate has other plans! The band is back together AND they grow to a group of 5. It is as if it was meant to be and their plans all are working out! One night after a gig their van careens off the road and it leaves one band mate dead. They seek shelter in a cabin and soon others die, one goes missing which leaves Vienna the last standing band member. What really happened that night on that cold icy road?

It is no surprise “Only One Survives” in this book but the way in which it happens is just astonishing! This shocking tale of betrayal had me completely thinking one train of thought through the entire book and I was wholeheartedly blown away realizing I was wrong! (I love it when that happens!) This is most certainly a case of “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” and “just how well do you know someone?!” 👀 I don’t want to give any spoilers but I will say it’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I had such strong feelings one way for a character and then like whiplash felt the exact opposite by the end! This is one you definitely want to add to your summer TBR as it is not to be missed!

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.

Fantastic! I had a very hard time putting Only One Survives down and now I want to read anything and everything that Hannah Mary McKinnon has written and will write in the future!

I loved Daisy Jones and the Six and I love psychological thrillers so this book seemed like a perfect fit. I will say the first part of the book was very intriguing. I liked to see how the relationship between Vienna and Madison grew. Vienna also has such a rags to riches story you can't help but root for her. The second half of the book and the ending fell flat for me. I felt the ending was somewhat predictable. I give it 3 stars because I do like the idea of the book. I just wasn't a fan of how it ended. Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Hannah Mary McKinnon is quickly became one of my go to authors this year. This story will get in your bones and never let go. This is one spectacular written thriller filled with pop rock culture and references, suspense, friendship, hate, lies, and revenge. Highly recommend this to any suspense lover.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP books for providing me with this digital reviewer copy.

Madison and Vienna start playing music in high school together. Dreaming of the day that they would make a record and be famous together kept moving them forward. Now they have formed an all female band The Bittersweets and they have a number one song. It seems that their dreams may just come true.

Then a car crash changes everything.

How far are you willing to go to get fame? Some will be willing to kill for it? This is a great fast paced twisty thriller of chasing your dreams and fighting for what you want at all cost. She truly captures your attention in this one as I didn't want to put the book down. She is master of suspense. You can almost hear the epic music playlist as you read this book

This was by far one of the best thriller novels I’ve read it quite some time. It ropes you in from the very beginning. I loved All of the crazy twists . Each turn was so perfectly thought out by the author. I was Left speechless at times unable to even wrap my brain around what happened. If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole ride, this is it. Masterfully written and highly recommend!

There is a reason this author is one of my favourites and this book is a great example . She writes the best “ evil” characters and I’m always finding myself thinking “ what just happened !?!!”

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 ⭐️

Madison & Vienna, after an altercation in their high school canteen, spent time cleaning up the canteen, they found out that they love the same music. Friendship was made and not long they also made a duo band called EmVee.
Madison comes from a wealthy family while Vienna comes from a broken family, spiteful stepfather, but a lovely grandma.
I love the past and present timelines, both are full of suspense. The past present the story leading up to their car accident in an icy mountain road during the blizard storm , and how the EmVee turned into Bittersweet, a group band of five.
The present and future told the story when and after the accident happened, as the band members died one by one, and only one survives!

I highly recommend this book, it totally blew my mind. It's dark, disturbing, and showing how far someone can go for a fame?

"But be warned, even a small taste of fame will do stuff to you that you won't like. It'll change you, make you ruthless."

Since high school, Vienna and Madison have been best friends. Over the upcoming years, their friendship grows stronger as the two begin a musical duo named EmVee. Eventually they hire other female performers, becoming Bittersweet; swiftly increasing their stardom and fame. On the way to an event in the snowy Catskills, their van careens off the road, leaving the girls to face a grim scene. But when only one band member returns, she must face the music as to why she was the only one who survived. For fans of Lisa Jewell.

This is a jaw dropping and intense thriller. Six of them were going to a holiday party in the Catskills from Brooklyn. But an unfortunate accident happens and only one among them survives. Someone set them up? Was it all planned or it is just an unfortunate accident?

The police is investigating the case. While author takes us back in the past and gives a glimpse of their relationships/bond. The author drops clues like the one piece of puzzle at one time. The narration was gripping. Author has shared the insight of the day of the accident and before that. The book is addictive and unputdownable. So many things happens in the plot. The vibe of the book is suspenseful and plot twists were unpredictable.

I am grateful to the Publisher , Author and Netgalley for giving me access to this book.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Only survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon.

This book was a strong 4 stars until about 2/3 of the way through. I love closed door mysteries where what happened is vague and unreliable narrators. This book was delivering on all of that. I also liked how it alternated between the past and the present. I found Madison and Vienna’s back story to be interesting and liked the band aspect of it. Then the book shifts and it went downhill. There was little background into how the current band formed and the characters that were with them in the car accident. The ending felt rushed and the suspense was lost. I would still read more by this author.

The band Bittersweet is on the way to an event when the car crashes in the middle of a snowy forest. Madison and Vienna, the founding members have a long friendship going back to high school. After the accident the members fight for their survival. Madison disappears and eyes are on Vienna with theories on her part in the accident.

This was a great read! I did not see any of the twists or turns coming, and loved the use of news articles and podcast interviews to add layers and context to the story. Great book for music lovers and fans of “And Then There Were None” type mysteries.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Best friends forever, great bandmates, a shot at success—what could go wrong? Maybe almost everyone ending up dead? With its intricate characters and the dysfunctional families they long to leave behind, "Only One Survives" captivates you throughout. The narrator’s convincing and gripping account immerses you in the story, assuring you foresee the upcoming twists, but you can’t. McKinnon’s skillful distortion of logic creates an engrossing commentary on the obsession with social media, fame, and the resulting illusions for our ego. This results in an exceptionally enticing, don’t look-away thriller.