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.

Read if you like
🖤Unreliable Narrator
🖤Fame/ Music
🖤Atmospheric Scenes
🖤LOTS OF TWISTS BABY

Whatttttt. Guys, I was addicted to this book. I COULD NOT STOP READING. It starts with an atmospheric winter scene. 6 ladies in a rock band are driving in the storm to get to an event and they get in a tragic accident. We know two are alive, two are dead and someone is missing. Told in before the accident , day of accident and after accident, we are about to go on a roller coaster journey of rock n roll and one heck of a mystery. The story mainly focuses on the friendship of Vienna and Madison who are best friends and originally started a band.
Once part two started my head was spinning. My jaw was to the floor. This was my first Hannah Mary McKinnon book and it most certainly won’t be my last! Definitely an auto buy author for me now!

Excellent book which I highly recommend! A page turner. Once again Hannah Mary McKinnon outdid herself.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Thank you MIRA and Hannah Mary McKinnon for the gifted copy!

Holy smokes did I fly through this one. It is SO good and fast-paced, I absolutely had to know how everything was going to end. I loved that the central point was the car accident and the alternating timelines were either before or after the day of the crash.

There were sooo many crazy twists I did not see coming and then one more got thrown in for good measure at the end! I am such a huge fan of McKinnon and this book definitely showcases why.

You are going to want to get those pre-orders in for Only One Survives - Pub Date July 16!

I excitedly requested an ARC of Only One Survives based on my prior reviews of Hannah Mary McKinnon. I was intrigued by the description as well, it gave off a Daisy Jones and the Sixes murder mystery vibe. Overall, I loved Only One Survives. I loved the setting, loved the characters, and loved the plot. I truly could not put it down and am waiting anxiously for McKinnon's next book already!

Well isn’t this BITTERSWEET

“Red’s my favorite color”
Q- What’s yours?
A- Mine is purple

Dark, binge worthy, twisty, suspenseful, unpredictable, toxic, dysfunctional, edgy MUST I go on?!

This story was captivating and had a unique mash up of genres as well as unique elements of social media to it for this day-in-age.

👉🏼 Becoming the star is easier when the rest of the band is dead.

•Jawdropping•

I loved this novel!!! It was a great twist on the snowed in at a cabin story. I will be purchasing a copy for my personal library.

The all-female rock group the Bittersweet are on their way to the Catskills to attend a party hosted by their record label when their SUV skids off an icy road and crashes in a remote area. In the aftermath, three of the band members are dead and one is missing, leaving only drummer Vienna Taylor alive with the truth of what really happened on that terrible night.

Whew, this is one twisted, wild ride! I was entertained from beginning to end! This rock-and-roll thriller delves into toxic female friendships and the dark side of fame. The multiple timeline structure gives us not only the chilling atmosphere of the accident and the creepy cabin in the woods, it also goes back in time to show us Vienna and Madison’s best-friendship and the growth of their musical career. Just when I thought I saw where this story was going, Hannah Mary McKinnon says, “oh no you don’t!” and throws in one heck of a midpoint twist that turns the whole thing upside down in the very best way! The second half of the book focuses mainly on Vienna coping with the aftermath of the accident, and the twists and turns come in hot and don’t let go until the very end.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA Books, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Only one survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon

This book was a whirlwind from the get go, it follows the story past and present of Vivienne Taylor who when she was younger came from a life with very little to the lime light of being in a band with her best friend Madison Pierce. While Madison’s parents didn’t approve of their friendship, they lasted through the thick of times, school, boyfriends, Etc.
this story show the ugly side of fame and how it can change a relationship into something you never saw coming.
This book is a Fantastic add to my favorites list for this year! What a spinning tale of treachery and insanity!
Thank you Goodreads and Harlequin Trade publishing!

I have been a fan of McKinnon since tearing through Never Coming Home and The Revenge List. The first 50% of this one was a total whirlwind but it went downhill after. I thought it was going in a totally different direction and to be honest I would have preferred that to how it actually ended.

This book is an addictive ride that you don’t want to put down till you reach the perfect ending! It’s so freaking good! Vienna Taylor and Madison Pierce meet in high school and become fast friends. Vienna likes to play drums and Madison sings. They form a group called EmVee. The first half of the book goes between the past. of Madison and Vienna’s complex, toxic relationship and how it evolved, and the start of a new band called The Bittersweet, and a tragic accident that results in the deaths of their rock band members. But what if nothing as it seems? What if we’ve been fooled from the beginning? The gripping twists, and fast pace keeps your attention till the end!

#netgalley

This book was a wild ride. I loved the contrast between Vienna and Madison's characters and how the author made us clearly hate one then the other. I couldn't imagine losing pretty much everyone in an accident like that and trying to pick up the pieces afterwards! Vienna's journey from victim to villain was a surprise to me, but I'm glad that justice prevailed in the end.

McKinnon puts together a great book that uses past and present narratives to describe the relationship between bandmates of fictional group 'The Bittersweet' with an emphasis on the friendship shared between the two leads. I went into this expecting more of a snowy thriller, perhaps with some survival elements, and while those did exist, the majority of the book focused on the past and present narratives from one bandmate's perspective. Without going into spoilers, I really enjoyed how the author set up one of the big twists, and I found myself rereading a passage because I was just so surprised. Although there are a few moments I wasn't overly convinced by in the span of events leading up to the ending, it was an enjoyable ride and I found the story satisfyingly wrapped up. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a twisty read and wants to curl up with a page turner.

"Only One Survived" by Hannah Mary McKinnon is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. McKinnon's writing style is superb, drawing readers into the story with vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists. The pacing is perfect, creating tension and suspense in all the right places. McKinnon masterfully explores themes of betrayal, trust, and the consequences of secrets, making for a thought-provoking and engaging read. Overall, "Only One Survived" is a brilliantly written novel that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

In this captivating thriller, the involvement of musicians enriches the narrative, infusing it with a layer of complexity and intrigue. The storyline unfolds with a series of twists, keeping the audience engaged and guessing. The dynamic interplay between the characters and the world of music adds a unique dimension to the traditional thriller, creating a symphony of suspense that is both involving and twisty. The incorporation of musicians not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also cleverly contributes to the unfolding mystery. This music-infused thriller is a compelling journey that seamlessly weaves together the artistry of music and the suspense of a gripping plot.