Five Survive is Holly Jackson at her finest. Skilfully written with an original plot, so many twists you feel dizzy and a cast of characters who each have their own story and who you can relate. It's a story with many layers and it's exciting to peel them back as you read.

A great edge of the seat book this was
Plenty of twists and turns
And you’ll not want to put it down
A definite rollercoaster of a read
Thanks NetGalley

Many thanx as always to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Although what seemed to be an interesting concept, unfortunately, I did not enjoy the book on this occasion. It started off very confusing, and the writing became highly repetitive. It did pick up in the second half and ended well though.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Having read all of the author’s previous books and absolutely loving them, I was very excited for this new release. However… perhaps my expectations were too high!

I liked that it was quick paced and thrilling, but it was so predictable and repetitive, and at times, seemed to drag. The characters were so unlikeable. Red was so absentminded I wanted to shout for her to just FOCUS! The blurb really sold it for me but it unfortunately fell very flat.

When 6 kids go off to spring break initially its hard to see how it could go so wrong!
Red as the main character is a little different, initially I wondered if she was on the spectrum but as the story works through and we learn more it feels like she's just not overly likeable. I don't know why but she just annoyed me.
The supporting cast are all all largish characters due to their personality and little more which when you get to the end makes more sense.
I really enjoyed this book but just not Red.

A twisty, turny YA thriller that throws the reader straight into a tangled Web of secrets and lies on a road trip from hell. This was incredibly fast paced read, easily read in one or two sittings and had an easy writing style too. Once you pick it up, you'll find it hard to put down. Although prepare to expect anything and everything. The plot certainly takes a turn to the wild side.

However, I do think the pacing means the character development suffers as a result. There's a lot of talking, a lot of action, but no emotional depth, which is omly compounded when we only get Red's point of view. And Red has a lot of very convenient plot devices up her sleeve to ensure the secrets remain secrets until the perfect moment. She makes really stupid, infuriating decisions and it made it really difficult to get on board either her as a character. To the point where I didn't care if she lived or died.

Fast paced, but superficial characters and a plot that does end up going off the rails towards the end. If you can suspend your disbelief, you'll probably enjoy this though.

For a fast-paced and tightly constructed action filled tale, you can't beat a good Holly Jackson. Five Survive is full of tension and pretty razor-sharp characterisation. Takes a lot of the tropes and intensifies them. Entertaining.

I don't know the last time that I DNF'd a book but that's exactly what I had to do with this one.
The concept of the book sounded really intriguing and right up my street and when there is action it had me gripped. However, other than those brief moments, this book really dragged for me.
I didn't expect it to bore me but sadly it was a real struggle to keep reading, even when I knew something was going to happen or be revealed.
The cast of characters are all pretty insufferable too, which makes it difficult to root for them.
I made it to just over 50% and as this is a new year and one of my resolutions is to stop when I feel like I'm pushing myself just to pick a book back up again, I decided to leave this unfinished.
Am I curious to see who is behind everything? Yes but not so much so that I'm willing to give up hours of my life to find out.
I have heard great things about Holly Jackson's other books so I will maybe need to try some of them but sadly this was just far too slow.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read for me because of the building suspense and all the secrets that were just waiting to be exposed

This book was compulsively readable. It was impossible to put down and had me on the edge of my seat (and a little bit creeped out) the whole time.

I was concerned that this would feel too American and wouldn’t have the same charm that A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder did, but it was just as charming and isolated.

The dynamic between the six characters was really well balanced and, though it was a little bit dramatic at times (Oliver,) I really didn’t mind it because it was so fun to read.

I found most of the twists pretty predictable—I think the breadcrumbs were a little more heavy handed than A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. That didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all, though, and I didn’t guess the big twist at the end.

I know they’re not for everyone, but I love Holly Jackson’s ever so slightly ambiguous endings and this one was great.

Overall, this was such a fun read and I can’t wait to see what Holly Jackson does next.

Content warnings: <spoiler>Blood, violence, gore, death of a parent, murder, conspiracy, PTSD, panic attacks, weapons (guns/knives,) discussions of fire, assault, brief mention of alcoholism.</spoiler>

<I>Thank you to Electric Monkey for the review copy. All reviews are 100% honest.</i>

FIVE SURVIVE is a tense thriller of claustrophobic proportions as six teens are trapped in a RV by a sniper.

The title heavily implies one person is going to die, and that adds a lot of tension to the story as you wonder who is not going to make it, and how and why. Plus the story is set over a very short eight hour period, from 10pm to 6am, with each section counting away the hours. This adds a ticking clock feel, rushing toward the finale.

This is a frantic tight paced tale that really utilises the sense of being trapped in a very small space. The sense of safety that space gives is slowly striped away across the book as the threat of the sniper gets more immediate (and more horribly demonstrated!) There's also the break down of the group inside the RV.

Several of them have pretty major secrets they're hiding, and the suspicion about who and what wears on them. It fractures them into infighting instead of figuring out how to survive. The worst person for breaking them up is Oliver.

I hated him so much! He is basically an entitled, rich man who is determined to take control and protect himself. He blames everyone that isn't him, refuses to listen, demands they follow his suggestions, takes everyone for granted when they do something helpful (particularly the girls), gives risky jobs to others rather than do them himself, and then insisted he's not at fault for his secret. Oh, and he's also violent and refuses to do as he said he would when things don't go his way.

In short, he was the one I spent the entire book hoping would be killed. He made for a great secondary antagonist tearing the group apart and adding another level of danger to the situation. He was unpredictable and violent when angry. He made it feel as unsafe inside as outside and put them all at risk. it was a great use of a character who readers will intensely dislike.

This would be a great book for fans of No Exit by Taylor Adams and All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban.

I absolutely adored the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series so I was incredibly excited when I found out that Holly Jackson had a new book coming out.

I will say full disclosure upfront that when I first read the blurb for this book, beyond the author, I didn't think that it would be to my tastes as I not generally a fan of isolated thrillers where we have a very small group of people but more on that later. But then I saw the marketing and was immediately sucked in by the brilliant concept of a book which takes places over the course of 8 hours that is intended (or maybe it's that it can be) read over the course of 8 hours.

First off, I definitely want to acknowledge that Jackson has shown real range with this book and managed to write something that is quite different to the series that she debuted with. I have a lot of respect for what she has done, especially as I feel like it could have been very easy to continue writing books in a series that has been proven to be incredibly successful. She has definitely shown range with this book.

I mentioned upfront that I didn't think that I would enjoy this book and unfortunately that was ultimately the case. I will say that the final hour of the book (as in from 5am onwards) was absolutely masterfully done and on that section of the book alone I would gladly rate it 5 stars. What I don't like about isolated thrillers is that there is a limited number of suspects for the reader to draw theories about and that is the case here but at the same time that wasn't exactly what didn't work for me.

My primary issue with this book is that the pacing felt off for me and I think this is where I question whether this book was written with the intention of it being read in the same time period as it takes place or whether it was a coincidence of the final work and was used as a clever piece of marketing. The timing of the book doesn't quite line-up anyway as 2am (i.e. 4 hours in the events) in the book is a fair amount before the halfway point, it's somewhat close but not quite perfect. If I assume that it was very intentional that the book is to be read in 8 hours then that goes some way to explaining the pacing issues that I had because the time needed to padded somehow and this was done pretty noticeably towards the beginning of the book by taking great detail to describe somewhat mundane actions like changing a tire and someone urinating. Whilst taking the time to detail these tasks works in one sense from a timing perspective, the impact on my reading experience was that the start of the book when you really want to be pulled into the story ultimately dragged. I think it was as a result of that rocky start that I found myself not enjoying myself as much as I could. I will say that the pacing of the story was a lot snappier once the action began but even then, when there was lulls in the action, I felt as though it really dragged. This is the kind of story that it definitely feels as though it should be going at full throttle from near enough the start to the end but instead found much of its journey chugging along in the slow lane with its tires shot out.

I very much enjoyed the way that the secrets of the group were slowly teased out and the reader was able to slowly build a picture of somewhat of a butterfly effect through the impact of the individual secrets. Jackson also left some really clever breadcrumbs that I am sure I will enjoy picking up on re-read now that I know how the events play out. As a result of the secrets being teased out slowly and them building upon one another, there wasn't a lot of scope for coming up with theories however I don't think this aspect of the story hindered my enjoyment as I found there was a good balance between the active shooter situation and the group's secrets.

Will I read another Holly Jackson in the future? Definitely! I feel as though my issues with this book aren't so much as a result of the writing but are a lot more reflective on the reader that I am and the tastes that I have. It is possible that the fact that I am a slow reader and hybrid reading was the only way I could complete the book in the 8 hours was another factor in my problems with the pacing. I definitely would recommend this book to fans of Holly Jackson and the books I mentioned at the start of the review.

Two reviews.!

Twisty, fast paced, kept me guessing and intrigued. A solid entertaining page turner.

My 16 year old LOVED TGGGTM series and she was almost apprehensive picking this one up, that it wouldn't be as great. Her fears were unfounded. She devoured this in a day and loved it, so much so she went out and bought it in paperback to read again. Absolutely one to add to the stocking for the teenager in your life or anybody who enjoys a great page turner / YA/ fresh original engaging writing.

4 star from me.
5 stars from my daughter who is definitely more the target market.

We are looking forward to Jackson's next book already.

Bookseller shame: I haven't read Holly's fantastically popular series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. There's no particular reason, I just haven't got to it - we know how many books are out there, don't we! So this is my first experience reading anything written by her.

I loved the concept. Six people trapped in a tiny space, trying to figure out what their captor wants and how to get out without being shot? Tense, exciting stuff. That part of the story was great - watching the plans and counter plans and trying to outthink each other was very interesting.

I didn't really like the choice of POV character, though. Red kept losing time and going on tangents and missing things, and it made for a very disorienting read. (If that was the aim, then Miss Jackson is brilliantly skilled!) I found I was putting the book down much more often than I normally would just to get my breath and my balance back for a while. Besides that, Oliver was a terrible character. He was so completely unaware of everyone around him, so arrognat and up himself. And even when everything he tried failed, people kept going along with him? Why? Because he shouted louder than everyone else?

Spoiler below:

The villian inside the RV was communicating with the outside consiprators by using a remote control to flash a light in code. When this was discovered, the remote was smashed up, and Villian then said they couldn't communicate anymore. Why not flash the headlights? We know they were working!

The tension is really good, though, and the way it ramps up as time goes on is brilliantly written. Definitely one of the high points of the book.

I can see why people like Holly, there are traces of something great here and I did enjoy it, but I think I could have enjoyed it more. It's a shame but I'm sure other readers will enjoy it far more than I did.

This one made me think of yet another film where youngsters get lost go to a creepy campsite in the back woods and all get picked off one by one. Whilst I was reading this I felt like I’d read and seen something similar before. I did get bored with it but, managed to finish it. Not my favourite book this year. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson
I give this 4.25 stars

Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip but the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident.
There’s a sniper out there. He’s watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for.
As a game of cat-and-mouse plays out, the group desperately tries to get help. Buried secrets are forced to light and tensions within the group reach deadly levels.

A well written, gripping, read with great pacing.Set over 8 hours and full of terror,tension and secrets.A pressurised and confined setting,with group dynamics, involving friendships,lies and trust.The tense atmosphere,shocking revelations and plot twists make this a real page turner.
Will they work together or turn on each other..A race against time that kept me guessing……..6 friends on a trip and five survive to tell the tale!
With thanks to Netgalley,Holly Jackson and Farshore, Electric Monkey for my chance to read and review this book.

Didn’t realise this was a YA book but it was really great fun. Loved the scenario of having to live on your wits to survive. Really paced with lots of twists and turns.

Five Survive - Holly Jackson

Being is big Holly Jackson fan I was so excited to read this new addition to her collection. The story is really well paced and had plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through. This was a perfect YA thriller, with a good reveal at the end. Thank you Netgalley, Farshore & Electric Monkey for the e-arc in return for my honest opinions

I loved the AGGGTM series, so I was super excited to get my hands on an early ARC of this one!

The story pulled me in straight away and I was immediately invested in Red’s character. The plot spans over 8 hours, so it’s fast paced and exciting throughout.

It’s also got a very chaotic and claustrophobic feel to it all with them being stuck in the RV for the whole time - it’s quite stressful to read in parts.

The characters were well written, each with their own distinct voices and personalities. Some I loved, others not so much - I mean Oliver was unbearable and I couldn’t stand him!

The twists were plentiful and clever, and even though I’d guessed quite a lot of them, it didn’t deter my enjoyment. The plot thickens as the story develops and gets twistier and more messed up as it goes - ending in one explosive ending.

For fans of Holly Jackson’s previous work - this is a great addition and I’m sure you’ll love it. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a pacey, locked-in style thriller.

Five Survive is an exceptional YA thriller, surpassing my super-high expectations to deliver a riveting story expectedly playing with intense paranoia, suspense and earth-shattering secrets.

It is no secret that Holly Jackson is one of my all time favourite authors. Her ability to meticulously plot a razor-sharp thriller, packed full of twists and turns, is unparalleled. Every time, she knocks it out of the park and always manages to surprise me. Five Survive is no exception to this rule, providing a twisty standalone mystery that had me utterly glued to its pages.

The claustrophobia of the setting of the RV serves to heighten the already thickening tension that much more. When you know everyone is hiding something but they literally cannot move beyond these small confined spaces, the atmosphere is incredibly fraught. It is intense and makes for gripping reading, as every little moment counts. Tempers fly and explosive revelations are made. There is a point in the book where things really kick into a higher gear in a deadly, blood-soaked scene that is just heart-wrenching. You can see it coming but it still shatters your heart. For me, it was just how unnecessary it ultimately was and reminds you of the stakes at hand here. The countdown aspect of the story also served to heighten this further. I read the novel across eight hours, wanting to mimic some of that experience. You can feel your heart racing as time runs ever closer to the finale and the slowly revealed layers to the central mystery are jaw-dropping. There are so many factors at play here and watching them all come together is sensational.

The paranoia and increasing suspense are second to none. You start to question everything you are presented with and every character, including Red herself. I really enjoyed Red as a protagonist. Her sharply felt grief still affects every aspect of her life, constantly replaying previous events and having this consummate sense of guilt alongside it. Jackson’s portrayal of grief felt nuanced and realistic, showing that fluctuating circle of emotions and long-term effects. Red’s trauma presses deep into her bones, changing her perspective on life entirely. However, she is also determined, loyal and practically useful. Her skill set really feeds into the desperate attempts at survival. The coping mechanisms and defence strategies she has placed around herself are also broken down in really interesting and often unexpected ways. For example, some of the most shocking moments are deeply intimate and tie into the tangled web of interpersonal connections on this RV.

Of course, it helps that Jackson is deftly skilled at creating three-dimensional characters that all have something distinctive to draw you into them. You usually either love or hate them passionately. Every one of them is guarding a life-changing secret and their exposure completely flips the narrative on its head. You are thrown down so many different paths and Jackson’s juggling of these plot strands is fascinating. It becomes an enjoyable challenge trying to work out what will happen next and you will probably be wrong at every turn.

Five Survive is a relentless thrill ride from the queen of YA thrillers. This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year.