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 careens off an icy mountain road during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured. To survive the frigid night, the rest must take shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolve into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.
Has Vienna’s closest friend finally decided to take center stage on her terms?
She doesn’t want to believe it.
But guilty people run.

A great read for sure – spooky, ethereal and full of characters that you want to kill and are not sad when they are gone. A great beach read that comes out at the end of July, so be sure to take it to the beach, porch or back yard and enjoy some me time.! #shortbutsweetreviews

At what point is the price of fame too high? Only One Survives is a binge worthy thriller that follows young, talented drummer Vienna & her best friend Madison from high school to their rise-to-fame as a powerful all female 5 member pop rock group. When tragedy strikes just as the band gets its big break, it begs the question who can you really trust?

This book caught my attention immediately and solidly held it. Although a bit too drawn out at times, the premise is unlike other thrillers out there which makes it extremely appealing. I was definitely caught off guard by one of the main twists and could not put it down, just desperately begging for answers to unfold. This is my second novel I’ve read by Hannah Mary McKinnon, and she’s solidly moving up to my must read author list.

Grab your 🍿 & be prepared for an utterly satisfying, must-binge book! Easily worthy of a solid 4.25 ⭐️. Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Only One Survives!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🫀 love Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart
🥁 ever wanted to be a drummer
👀 enjoy an unreliable narrator
🤩 would do anything for fame and fortune

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

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 careens 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 must take shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolve into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.

Has Vienna’s closest friend finally decided to take center stage on her own terms?

She doesn’t want to believe it.

But guilty people run.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Wow! Hannah does an incredible job with this story, setting up the scene in a fantastic way. I wasn’t sure why the story was told the way it was in part one until we got to part two and it finally clicked together, but I loved it! This is definitely a “you had me in the first half” kind of story! Without spoiling it, I have to say, I didn’t totally expect the story to go the way it did, but loved it. I loved how much it reminded me of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart during the latter half of part two as well. All in all, a great novel, and I highly recommend preordering a copy!

I absolutely loved how wild this book was! It was so cool adding the social media elements, making it feel like it was the real thing! I also loved how I thought I knew what was going to happen next BUT WHOAH!! Amazing twists, did not see that coming!!!

Thank you so much Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book! Much appreciated!

Thanks @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow! What did I just read?! I was not expecting the twists in this book, right to the very end. I wondered about one, but not until it almost happened. I loved the different writing elements in here, including social media posts and news articles. @hannahmarymckinnon is one fantastic author! A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 read for me. Check this book out when it’s released in July 2024. #avivaandfriendsrecos

I devoured this book quickly. From the first page I knew I needed to settle in and get ready for something great because it was just descriptive enough to draw me in without losing the good pace it had.

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
The premise of this tale is Vienna and Madison … their story is one of meeting and becoming best friends. Their friendship lasted even after they graduated from high school. They had each other’s backs. They even went on to form a duo – they called themselves EmVee. Their band grew into The Bittersweet, a quite appropriate name, until tragedy struck.
You’ll meet Isabel; Evelina and her sister, Gabi. You’ll meet Roger, the band’s agent. You’ll even meet Libby who traveled with the band as a documentarian. These folks make up such a vast rollcall of characters, each one bringing their own bit of personality to this tale. You’ll even meet Madison’s parents; they’re quite hoity-toity, but essential to this tale. And Guy … can’t forget Guy.
This is exactly the kind of book I enjoy reading for various reasons. Best friends who are like sisters until they’re not. Characters you want to root for but then not.
This is the kind of book that had me thinking – Oh, I know what’s going to happen. Nope – another plot twist. Then again – Oh, I know who did it. Nope – wrong again. I was kind of right about whodunit, but not the exact reasons.
If you’re looking for a tale that you can spend the day with, or maybe a weekend, be sure to pick this one up. I’m sure you’ll enjoy these characters as much as I did. Twisted, sometimes dark, a bit of a love interest which is always a nice touch. And those quiet background characters. I think this is this author’s best one yet!

This story is intriguing, but at times, gruesome. The characters are not likable, but are mysterious. Red herrings kept me guessing. From the moment of the accident, the novel was disturbing. The time lines were somewhat confusing but necessary. Two girls meet, get in trouble, and chaos ensues. This talented author has written a page turner. Thanks Netgalley.

And with that, my 2023 reading season comes to an end, and I present you with my favourite book this year.

You know that feeling when you finish a book that is your new favourite and you just want to go back and change your ratings on every other book because it makes your rating of said book feel like an injustice? That’s me right now. Hannah just blew me away with my last 2 reads of the year and now I need a proper reading break to really just get over the inevitable hangover her greatness just caused.

H O L Y C R A P.

I absolutely loved every single word in this book. What an incredible thriller!
I loved the concept and loved the band even more. This needs to be made into a TV series so I can hear all of the Bittersweet’s hits. Like immediately I need it made into a TV series.

Some chaotic thoughts I had during:
- After the first paragraph i thought it might be a 5⭐️ read
- At 30% in I knew with certainty it was a 5⭐️
- At 50% I physically couldn’t bring myself to put it down and I realized this is going to be my favourite thing that I’ve read this year. Hands down.
- I’ve never wanted someone to get away with murder so badly in my life.
- That ending?! 🤯 didn’t see it coming. None of it. Wow. Fantastic twists.

I’m officially packing it in because nothing will top this. See you in 2024.

THANK YOU to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for the opportunity to read this delight before it was released.

I liked this story it was well written and well plotted and was like Daisy Jones and a thriller had a baby . It was really good
Thanks for the Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book

Wow, this was a twisty ride! A good one, but twisty. An unexpected ending for sure. I have seen where this book is compared to Daisy Jones and the Six but I’m not sure I agree with that. Yes, it’s good and yes it centers around a music band but this has thriller written all over it. I will admit that characters are not very likeable but that’s the storyline. It’s a story of “ be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”, and all that goes with getting it. A good read. Would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hannah Mary McKinnon for an ACR in exchange for my honest review.

Thriller and pop music! Does it get any better?? This book was filled with so many twists and turns and grabbed my interest from the very beginning!

This is the perfect winter read following Vienna and her bff who are fighting for center stage.

Hannah Mary McKinnon's 'Only One Survives' is an absolute page-turner that I simply couldn't put down! From the very first page, I was completely immersed in this gripping tale that follows drummer Vienna Taylor's journey. All she ever wanted was to make music with her best friend, Madison Pierce, in their all-female pop rock band. However, when tragedy strikes during a blizzard, leaving one band member dead and another injured, the story takes an unexpected and chilling turn.

As the remaining band members seek shelter in an abandoned cabin, the night transforms into a heart-pounding nightmare. One by one, they meet gruesome fates, and Madison mysteriously disappears. McKinnon's storytelling is so masterful that I found myself on the edge of my seat, unable to tear myself away from the suspense and intrigue. I was genuinely invested in uncovering the truth behind the unfolding mysteries.

'Only One Survives' is a must-read for anyone who loves a thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. My experience reading this book was nothing short of thrilling, and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I turned the final page. McKinnon has crafted a truly captivating and unforgettable story that will leave you breathless and eager for more.

Thank you to the Publisher for my arc.

I really wanted to enjoy this but the pacing ended up being super weird and I didn't enjoy it enough to keep reading. Plus the characters seemed very bland and one sided.

Oh, the raw portrayal of fame's dark underbelly in this book hits you like a punch to the face or a sudden drenching of ice-cold water – an unparalleled realism that leaves you reeling! This mystery is a harrowing, intense, heart-pounding experience, expertly executed with riveting twists that catch you off guard at the most unexpected moments. Unreliable characters, toxic relationships, and jaw-dropping revelations keep you on the edge of your seat, making it an addictive ride you can't bear to put down until you reach the perfect ending. It's simply phenomenal!

Meet Vienna Taylor, a drummer destined for greatness, a co-founder of EmVee alongside her high school best friend Madison Pierce. Born into poverty, raised by a verbally abusive mother, and grappling with the challenges of caring for her grandmother with dementia, Vienna's life takes a drastic turn after a sudden tragedy. The opportunity to move to NYC arises, allowing her to form their rock band "Bittersweet" with Madison and three new members.

The narrative gracefully shifts between the past and present, unraveling the complex and toxic relationship between Madison and Vienna. A tragic accident claims the lives of their bandmates, leaving only Vienna and the documentary maker Libby as survivors, while Madison mysteriously goes missing. Was the tragedy an accident, or is one of them a cold-blooded killer seeking the spotlight?

As you flip through the pages, suspicions fall on a particular band member with a penchant for selfish actions. But what if everything isn't as it seems? What if we've been led astray from the beginning? The gripping storytelling, clever twists, and well-paced narrative demand your attention until the very end. This book is not just deserving of five stars; it warrants your book club's undivided focus. I wholeheartedly and emphatically recommend it, celebrating Hannah Mary McKinnon's exceptional talent in crafting complex, flawed, and deeply layered female characters. Kudos to her brilliant writing style!

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for generously sharing this enthralling book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Hannah Mary McKinnon does it again! Be prepared to cancel all plans when you start this book because you won’t want to put it down! I think my neighbors heard me yell, “wait, what!”. Fast-paced, crazy twists and turns, and unputdownable!

Hannah Mary McKinnon has created a suspenseful gem. I was on the edge of my seat through this whole book and loved every minute of the ride.

Only One survives was a fun read!

The book follows two different timelines: backstory of Vienna and Madison meeting and forming a band with 3 other women; then flashing to the night of their bus accident and their night spent in a cabin during a snow storm.

I enjoyed the book! It was a quick, fun read. Some parts of it felt a little YA. Some of the twists were predictable and could see coming miles away but it didn’t necessarily take away from the journey getting there.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and MIRA in exchange for my honest review!

I have a fear of red heads…

My dad used to tell me as a kid if I looked a red head in the eyes they would steal my soul. This was even more terrifying being my cousin who was more like a sister had fire engine red hair. She locked me in many bathrooms, she beheaded my dolls but I mean… maybe it was out of love??

Madison, with the bright red hair, reignited my fear. I was instantly #teamvienna .

Only One Survives

This is a book that will cause your head to snap right off your neck with the whiplash of twists that greet you at every corner.

Hannah my little smushy bear, you have fully orchestrated the worst kind of mean girls and brought them to life. This book is what nightmares are made of.

How far would you go for fame? Could you put a price tag on friendship?

Teaser :

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 careens 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 must take shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolve into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.

Has Vienna’s closest friend finally decided to take center stage on her own terms?

She doesn’t want to believe it.

But guilty people run.

This was an enjoyable read. I did get a bit lost at times with all the characters and fell a bit flat at points but this was a fun ride!