Book Review: "Five Survive" - Secrets Kill in This YA Thriller

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Rating: 3.75/5

Genre(s): Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary, Crime, Horror, Friendship

Synopsis: Red and her friends are on a road trip to spring break when they’re stranded in the middle of the woods with four flat tires, an empty tank, and a sniper in the woods who’s demanding a secret be revealed. Six friends may be in the RV, but only five are making it out alive.

Review: I couldn’t decide between 3.5 and 4 stars for this book, so I compromised and went right down the middle. I LOVED Holly Jackson’s debut series “A Good Girl’s Guide,” so I was familiar with her YA murder mysteries and was really excited for this new book by her, and it did not disappoint!

For me, the plot took a second to pick up (about 1/3 through the book) and it took me a second to get used to the writing style. I thought it might be difficult following the secrets of 6 different characters, but Jackson makes it clear throughout the novel. Although I didn’t love every character, including the main character sometimes, all of them are distinct and have their own character arcs and plot closures. There aren’t any loose ends. Even though I sometimes guessed some things that were gonna happen by the end, Jackson still manages to maintain that aura of mystery and keep some secrets and surprise until they’re revealed. Overall, a deserving read.

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This Book Review was originally posted on Instagram on January 14, 2023.