“Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends: Red’s best friend, her older brother, his perfect girlfriend, a secret crush and a classmate. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they soon realise that this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead. With eight burst until dawn, the six friends must escape, or work out which one of them is the target. Buried secrets will be forced to light and tensions inside the RV will reach deadly levels. Not all of them will survive the night…”
What is the book about?
Red Kenny and five of her friends are off on a road trip for spring break in a cramped RV. They all think that this will be a fun and relaxing trip, but, after a few wrong turns, they soon find themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. They think they have found a way to get back to civilization, however they realise that they didn’t end up stranded by accident – everything has been planned by a killer who is watching their every move and will kill them all if they run away. They only way out is to find out which of the 6 of them has a secret that the sniper wants, a secret worth killing for. As they try to find out the truth of what this person wants from them, Red and the others start to fight and turn against each other as tensions rise. Soon the RV won’t be any safer than the sniper and the darkness they’ll find outside. They must reveal their biggest, deepest secrets and find the truth or they will all die…but it is clear that not all of them will survive, but the question is which one of them will be the one to step into the unknown.
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
I first found out about Holly Jackson and her books one day when I was in the Works in town and spotted A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on the shelf. This title attracted me more than I care to admit and I soon found myself in possession of the whole trilogy and the short prequel to go with it. After reading the first book I already knew these books were going to be strong favourites of mine. As soon as I finished all of the books I began to search for other books by the same author and soon I found Five Survive and just knew I had to have it, so I literally purchased it in that exact moment. Before I started to read I had been scared at what I would think of the book. I knew the writing and the plot were going to be incredible, but I had just come off reading the Grishaverse books, which left me feeling like I could never read any other books those. I was in a crazy bad reading slump, but I decided to give this book a try because if any book could get me out of a slump it would be an exhilarating mystery novel. Of course, I was correct and as soon as I started to read I knew I was going to love the book. It was impossible to put down and I finished it in one night, reading until 2 in the morning because I needed to find out what happened next.
Who was your favourite character and why?
My favourite character would probably have to be Red because I didn't really like any of the other characters in the book as they all had some very clear flaws or I didn't fully know them or what they were like. Red also had some flaws and had an extreme lack of self-confidence that meant she didn't really think she was ever doing anything right or that her ideas were ever good, however I also really liked her for this because she was able to get past all of that and help her friends and other people that might've gotten hurt. My favourite thing about her was how kind-hearted she was despite all that she went through and how, after seeing certain people in danger, all she thought of was how no matter what she wasn't going to let them be in her position and end up suffering like her. She put herself in danger many times all because she was worried about someone else and what would happen if they were hurt just like the people she lost. I also loved how smart she was and how she used every bit of knowledge she had to try to help her friends and try to get out of the terrifying situation they ended up in.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
If I’m being entirely honest I have no clue what my favourite part is and I seriously couldn’t pick one if you put a gun to my head. This is mainly because of how fast I read the book (I mean I literally read it in one sitting and most of it was in the middle of the night when I was ridiculously tired), however it’s also because of how I really loved the whole book and enjoyed every part. If I had to say something I suppose my favourite parts were those that made me hold in my breath as I tensed knowing that something big was coming, like a secret or another round of bullets. I loved those parts because they made me truly forget I was reading and I actually believed I was in the story and that my life was also at risk. Five Survive had a lot of those parts and I always knew something more was coming and I would once again end up on the edge of my seat, rushing through the pages wanting to know what happened next. Most of the time I read pages so fast I was pretty much just skimming the book and I usually had to go back and reread certain parts as I realised that I missed something. I just loved this book so much and I can’t really say there was a specific point I could call my favourite.
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, I loved Five Survive and found every second of it thrilling and exciting. One thing that I specifically loved about the book was how easy it was to read and how the plot was so intriguing that I couldn't put it down. I honestly finished this book in one night and kept telling myself just one more chapter as it quickly got later and later and I then realised it was 2 in the morning and I had finished the book. The main reason for this was Holly Jackson's incredible writing and plot. She managed to make a story so interesting and so full of secrets that it was impossible to put it down because I always had new questions that needed answering. I had experienced the same thrill when reading her other books and was so happy to find that I had once again fallen in love with one of her books. Five Survive kept me on edge for the whole time I was reading and I was always holding my breath, just waiting for the next big secret to reveal itself. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the ending. So much happened at the end in so little time and yet it was so easy to follow. I still had questions when I got to the end and didn't know for sure what had happened, however the last few pages managed to not only answer those questions but also give me some information about what may happen to the characters in the future. My favourite bit about the ending was how the ending was told through a letter from one character to another and I got most of the answers I needed through that correspondence. I really liked this because it was something that the author also did at the end of As Good As Dead, where I was able to see what the relationship between the characters was like and what their future had in store for them through only one text message. This was so similar and so emotional because it changed from me only being able to see things through Red's point of view to me being able to understand someone else's experience. It was such a nice ending and I know that Holly Jackson is one of those authors who I can trust with a great ending. One last thing I enjoyed about the book was the fact that, despite it being told from the perspective of the person with the biggest secret of all, nothing was ever revealed until the end and I didn't see any of the secrets coming. As a whole, Five Survive was an incredible read and I devoured it in one sitting. I just loved this book and I know that as soon as Holly Jackson publishes a new book I will be ordering it and reading it instantly.
Would you recommend this book?
I think this book is perfect for readers over 14 years of age who love mystery, thrillers and a bit of horrifying death. I definitely recommend you read this book, but I warn you: you will not be able to put it down and it will steal your time away.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A thrilling mystery that leaves you on the edge of your seat and is impossible to put down.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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