A review by bookthief
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
WOW! Just WOW. This book was incredible. I am quite literally lost for words. It had everything you wanted for a YA thriller. Fast paced, loveable characters, unexpected plot. This was definitely a 5 star read.
RED : She was a loveable and brave character. She had amazing character development, as she she learnt how to stood up for herself and finally forgave herself and her mum at the end. I was shocked that she was the witness for the Gotti case but I was even more shocked that she wasn’t actually a witness but was just being paid to pretend like she was. I was really rooting for her and Arthur to get together, but that is very unlikely and now I just hope she can forgive him. When the cop shot her at the end i thought she would have died and I’m so glad she didn’t!
ARTHUR: I don’t know where to begin. At the start of the book, he was sweet, kind and caring. The definition of many peoples dream partner. He always looked out for Red and stood up to Oliver when she couldn’t. I was stunned that he was working with the sniper who turned out to be his brother. And even more shocked that he originally intended for Red to be killed. Even though he was part of the plan he still cared for Red.
OLIVER : The character I most hated in this book. He was selfish, arranging and always had to be right. The way he literally threw Red out of the RV to be killed was absolutely disgusting, and how Maddy almost bled out to death because of him was just down right evil. So many people died or almost died all because of him and ( I can’t believe I’m about to say this) I’m glad he died in the end.
MADDY : I feel soo bad for Maddy having to live with Oliver. She never got a say in anything and she always had to follow Oliver’s demands because he was always ‘right’. I’m glad, in the end, Maddy raised her voice against Oliver instead of letting him walk all over her. The way Oliver made Maddy walk out of the RV pretending to be Red and then she got shot was just cruel. It was never going to work, but Oliver was grasping at straws so he could survive. I’m super glad that Maddy didn’t die and survived.
REYNA : Poor Reyna. She was with someone who verbally abused her and who killed the person who she was in love with. At the beginning of the book, you could tell something was wrong with her relationship with Oliver, but, of course, she had no power or control to do anything about it. I’m so glad she saved Maddy at the end with her skills and expertise.
SIMON : I felt so bad for Simon. He was just kind of there. He didn’t really have any importance to the snipers. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m so glad he didn’t get hurt and he survived.
I was completely shocked that Catherine Lavoy killed Red’s mum. It was very unexpected considering Red’s mum and Catherine were best friends for years.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read this again!
RED : She was a loveable and brave character. She had amazing character development, as she she learnt how to stood up for herself and finally forgave herself and her mum at the end. I was shocked that she was the witness for the Gotti case but I was even more shocked that she wasn’t actually a witness but was just being paid to pretend like she was. I was really rooting for her and Arthur to get together, but that is very unlikely and now I just hope she can forgive him. When the cop shot her at the end i thought she would have died and I’m so glad she didn’t!
ARTHUR: I don’t know where to begin. At the start of the book, he was sweet, kind and caring. The definition of many peoples dream partner. He always looked out for Red and stood up to Oliver when she couldn’t. I was stunned that he was working with the sniper who turned out to be his brother. And even more shocked that he originally intended for Red to be killed. Even though he was part of the plan he still cared for Red.
OLIVER : The character I most hated in this book. He was selfish, arranging and always had to be right. The way he literally threw Red out of the RV to be killed was absolutely disgusting, and how Maddy almost bled out to death because of him was just down right evil. So many people died or almost died all because of him and ( I can’t believe I’m about to say this) I’m glad he died in the end.
MADDY : I feel soo bad for Maddy having to live with Oliver. She never got a say in anything and she always had to follow Oliver’s demands because he was always ‘right’. I’m glad, in the end, Maddy raised her voice against Oliver instead of letting him walk all over her. The way Oliver made Maddy walk out of the RV pretending to be Red and then she got shot was just cruel. It was never going to work, but Oliver was grasping at straws so he could survive. I’m super glad that Maddy didn’t die and survived.
REYNA : Poor Reyna. She was with someone who verbally abused her and who killed the person who she was in love with. At the beginning of the book, you could tell something was wrong with her relationship with Oliver, but, of course, she had no power or control to do anything about it. I’m so glad she saved Maddy at the end with her skills and expertise.
SIMON : I felt so bad for Simon. He was just kind of there. He didn’t really have any importance to the snipers. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m so glad he didn’t get hurt and he survived.
I was completely shocked that Catherine Lavoy killed Red’s mum. It was very unexpected considering Red’s mum and Catherine were best friends for years.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read this again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Grief, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Police brutality, Murder, Confinement, Death of parent, and Violence