A review by theblushbookworm
Five Survive by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book is like a Lifetime movie, thrilling and entertaining but incredibly cheesy. The beginning was slow for me and had me questioning if I enjoyed locked room thrillers. When the action picked up, I got more into the story, but I feel like the mafia aspect was handled in the most cliché way possible. I also found all of the characters to be irritating and pretty one note. The suspense and plot twists did have me hooked. I was going to give this three stars for being entertaining but not particularly artful, but the cringe of the ending knocked an additional half star off.  Overall I get why people might enjoy this, and I think I did a little just in more of a guilty pleasure hate read sort of way.