Reviews with content warning for Bullying - One by One

While I usually love dual POV, especially in thrillers, this one didn’t work for me. I felt like we kept reading the same thing with the two characters chosen. There wasn’t a lot of depth that could be reached in the story and I felt like using a few more character views could have really helped.

Also, the last few chapters were unnecessary and just really made the story drag on.

I did like the descriptive writing and really felt like I was in the French Alps stranded after an avalanche surrounded by freezing cold snow. It definitely gave me the chills.

I have enjoyed many novels by Ruth Ware, unfortunately this one just fell flat for me.

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alisure's review

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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elenatamsen's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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morganperks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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aakas's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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marlireads's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Entertaining, but not great. I predicted the whodunnit within the first few chapters and the big cast of characters we don’t really get to know. They were just kind of surface level and faceless. So I feel like this story had so much more potential that it didn’t make happen, which is a shame to be quite honest.

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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I stayed up all night reading this book because it freaked me out so much. In case this was ever in question, I will never be going skiing ever. Not even for the hot chocolate. I can get that somewhere less terrifying and avalanche-y.

I try to be upfront about the fact that I'm an idiot about solving mystery/thrillers. My problem is that I'm so suspicious of literally everyone that no single suspect stands out as particularly murderous. It could just as easily have been Sally with the teddy bear in the nursery, for all I know (ok, that actually sounds very sinister... do not sign me up for that book). I'll think I've noticed something highly suspect, and then a character has the same idea almost immediately, a sure sign that it is too blatantly obvious and I am in the process of being outsmarted. The dual POV had my two brain cells working mighty hard trying to recall who knew what (including me, let's be honest). It was a fascinating approach to storytelling, and as those trapped in the chalet are picked off one by one, I found myself glancing backwards at what the two protagonists had seen and heard to try to find gaps and deceptions.

So basically, I was indeed very ~thrilled~ by this novel. I was on edge for almost the entire thing, both before and after the murderer is revealed. I also appreciated the wrap-up/wind down time at the end to see how the surviving characters react to the truth and move forward.

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carissa230's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Erin works in a Chalet in France. She caters to rich peoples whims. She enjoys her job and she is great friends with her co-worker Danny.

Liz is a guest of the Chalet, her previous employer Snoop is hosting a company outing. Liz doesn't work there anymore, however she is still a shareholder.

Snoop is getting ready to go public, but they also have investors interested in buying out the company. The shareholders are split in half and Liz will be the deciding vote. Liz has lived her life out of the spotlight, she doesn't like the attention, and is worse under pressure. The atmosphere is tense due to the nature of the meeting, they all stand to make millions if they sell.

They decide to go skiing. The weather is getting bad and it may be their only chance. Things take a terrible turn when Eva, one of the co-founders doesn't make it back from skiing. Things go from bad to worse when there is a huge avalanche and the chalet loses power.

As everyone struggles to survive the avalanche more bodies start to pile up.

The book was interesting, the app was very interesting. The book could have been a little faster paced for my taste.

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