Status
Available
Collection
Series
Genres
Publication
Delacorte Press (2023), Edition: Reprint, 416 pages
Description
Mystery. Thriller. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:All the secrets of the Bayview Four will be revealed in the TV series now streaming on Peacock! THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY BUZZFEED POPCRUSH Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club (Entertainment Weekly) in this addictive mystery about what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Pay close attention and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview Highs notorious gossip app. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasnt an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, hed planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer whos still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. And dont miss the #1 New York Times bestselling sequel, One of Us is Next! Audiobook Cast of Narrators: Kim Mai Guest - Bronwyn Shannon McManus - Andy Robbie Daymond - Nate Macleod Andrews - Cooper An addictive, devour-in-one-sitting thriller with so many twists and turns you'll be wondering until the very end: Who really killed Simon?Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters "This fast-paced blend of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and classic John Hughes will leave readers racing to the finish as the try to unravel the mystery on their own."Kirkus Reviews"A smart, twisted, and unpredictable YA mystery that will have readers guessing until the very end."SLJ.… (more)
Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (First runner-up — 2020)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Honor Book — 2020)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2019)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2020)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2020)
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2020)
Thumbs Up! Award (Honor — 2018)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2019)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2019)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Teen — 2020)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Honor Book — 2019)
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Honor — 2020)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2019)
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (Recommendations — 2018)
Concorde Book Award (Shortlist — 2019)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — High School — 2020)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — 2021)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2019)
Westchester Fiction Award (Winner — 2018)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2018)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2020)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2020)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2020)
Surrey Teens Read (Winner — 2019)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Young Adult Book Award — 2020)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (High School — 2019)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Top Ten — 2018)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2017)
Young Adult Favorites Award (2018)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Teens (Fiction — 2017)
Project LIT Book Selection (Young Adult — 2024)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017-05-30
Physical description
416 p.; 8.31 inches
Media reviews
Itâs a murder mystery, Breakfast Clubâstyle: five students from different social spheres walk into detention. Only four walk out. Simon, the outcast at the helm of the high schoolâs brutal (and always true) gossip app has been murdered, and he had dirt on all four students in detention with
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him. Brainy good-girl Bronwyn knows she didnât kill Simon, and she doesnât think drug-dealing Nate, everyoneâs favorite suspect, did either. Simon knew something that could ruin homecoming princess Addyâs perfect relationship, but Addyâs always been so timid. And baseball superstar Cooper has a secret, but itâs not what Simon said, and everyone knows Simon was never wrong. Trailed by suspicion, the four team up to clear their namesâand find the real Âkillerâeven as proving their innocence becomes increasingly more difficult. Told in alternating perspectives among the four, this is a fast-paced thriller with twists that might surprise even the most hardened mystery reader. An engaging, enticing look at the pressures of high school and the things that cause a person to lose control. Show Less
This fun, engrossing murder mystery will keep readers guessing until the end. The mystery has many twists and turns, plus romance, social drama, and bullying of all types (verbal, physical, and online).
User reviews
LibraryThing member norabelle414
Five high school students - the brain, the jock, the beauty, the criminal, and the gossip â are all in detention together when the gossip, Simon, accidentally ingests peanut oil, goes into anaphylactic shock, and dies. The other students in detention were the only people in the room, but Simon
I enjoyed this book so much! My only small quibble would be that I donât know what kind of newspaper the Bayview newpaper is supposed to be, but where I come from reputable newspapers donât publish identifying information for minors.
Huge major spoilers for the plot!Originally I was going to quibble with how Abbyâs infraction was so disproportionately minor compared to the other threeâŠbut it turns out that was the whole point! Well done.
One of the things I really liked about the book was that in the end, Simon was truly a villain. He concocted this scheme because he liked the idea of a school shooting but didnât think that would be bad enough. He is not a martyr and his suicide is not glorified. He tried to control the narrative around his death â as many teens do, especially in popular media (Iâm looking at you, 13 Reasons Why!) â but failed, which was a relief to me.
This book contains the best of teen dramas/mysteries like Pretty Little Liars, 13 Reasons Why, Gossip Girl, and even Netflixâs American Vandal (although One of Us Is Lying is not strictly a satire, it does often point out the hypocrisy of parents, gossip, and media coverage of teen scandals). It contains very little of the bad aspects: the narrative isnât a huge mess like PLL, and itâs sensitive to actual economic issues unlike Gossip Girl. However, considering it takes place in Southern California it could have used more cultural/racial diversity.
All in all, the book was extremely enjoyable and engrossing. I actually started writing down my theories as I got toward the end of the book, but even examining every possibility I could think of, I was still surprised! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes YA.
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ran an app exposing the secrets of all of his classmates so everyone had a motive for wanting to shut him up. All four students are lying about something Simon knew that they didnât want getting exposed, but who is lying about killing Simon?I enjoyed this book so much! My only small quibble would be that I donât know what kind of newspaper the Bayview newpaper is supposed to be, but where I come from reputable newspapers donât publish identifying information for minors.
Huge major spoilers for the plot!
One of the things I really liked about the book was that in the end, Simon was truly a villain. He concocted this scheme because he liked the idea of a school shooting but didnât think that would be bad enough. He is not a martyr and his suicide is not glorified. He tried to control the narrative around his death â as many teens do, especially in popular media (Iâm looking at you, 13 Reasons Why!) â but failed, which was a relief to me.
This book contains the best of teen dramas/mysteries like Pretty Little Liars, 13 Reasons Why, Gossip Girl, and even Netflixâs American Vandal (although One of Us Is Lying is not strictly a satire, it does often point out the hypocrisy of parents, gossip, and media coverage of teen scandals). It contains very little of the bad aspects: the narrative isnât a huge mess like PLL, and itâs sensitive to actual economic issues unlike Gossip Girl. However, considering it takes place in Southern California it could have used more cultural/racial diversity.
All in all, the book was extremely enjoyable and engrossing. I actually started writing down my theories as I got toward the end of the book, but even examining every possibility I could think of, I was still surprised! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes YA.
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LibraryThing member VavaViolet
A compelling novel with unpredictable twists and turns. For those who like whodunit stories, you'll enjoy this one, it kept me guessing and switching sides until the last few chapters. I also appreciate that the story touches on issues faced by teens nowadays, such as bullying and depression.
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Cue the comparisons to The Breakfast Club; after all, they are warranted to some extent. One of Us is Lying does involve five students from very different social spheres. It does involve detention among the five of them. While the detention scene itself is but a brief portion of the novel and most
The fun of One of Us is Lying is not in its similarities to that iconic movie but in its differences. It is not just a coming-of-age story; in fact, one might argue that aspect of the story is a side effect of the main plot. Instead, it is an old-fashioned, locked-room whodunit with all of its trademark clues and red herrings but set for the Internet generation. It even has an air of a cozy mystery about it with its surprisingly close-knit community and limited setting. It is an interesting twist to a traditional coming-of-age YA novel and one that is far more entertaining.
Any murder mystery revolves around secrets and One of Us is Lying is no different in that aspect. In fact, secrets are at the heart of the novel and the reason the murder victim is so reviled throughout the school. The secrets being kept by the murder suspects are not surprising; in fact, most readers will be able to guess them well before the big reveal. The reactions to the big reveal are equally expected. What is not so mundane is how each of the murder suspects react once their secrets are public knowledge. Given that the characters are teenagers, one would expect much wringing of hands and angst-fueled monologues. While they do carry on in such fashion to some extent, they mostly act in a fairly adult manner, accepting the publicâs reactions and not letting it scare them away from carrying on as normal. It is a most welcome surprise.
The rest of the novel follows the murder suspects as they attempt to unravel just what happened in the detention room and why. There are some entertaining twists that keep readers guessing, albeit not for long. Most adult readers will be arrive at the answer fairly early into the story, but knowing who the murderer is does not ruin the story. If anything, it adds just a little something extra to the story as it allows you to focus on the clues and piece them together while you stumble upon them rather than after the fact.
One of Us is Lying is not going to make you more intelligent or help you learn something about society or yourself, but it does not present itself as such. Instead, consider it as a hybrid cozy, locked-room mystery and coming-of-age story that is merely meant to entertain rather than teach. It is fun, compelling, and completely satisfying.
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of the bonding occurs outside of the school environment, the five students do learn that there is more to a person than the clique s/he inhabits or his/her appearance.The fun of One of Us is Lying is not in its similarities to that iconic movie but in its differences. It is not just a coming-of-age story; in fact, one might argue that aspect of the story is a side effect of the main plot. Instead, it is an old-fashioned, locked-room whodunit with all of its trademark clues and red herrings but set for the Internet generation. It even has an air of a cozy mystery about it with its surprisingly close-knit community and limited setting. It is an interesting twist to a traditional coming-of-age YA novel and one that is far more entertaining.
Any murder mystery revolves around secrets and One of Us is Lying is no different in that aspect. In fact, secrets are at the heart of the novel and the reason the murder victim is so reviled throughout the school. The secrets being kept by the murder suspects are not surprising; in fact, most readers will be able to guess them well before the big reveal. The reactions to the big reveal are equally expected. What is not so mundane is how each of the murder suspects react once their secrets are public knowledge. Given that the characters are teenagers, one would expect much wringing of hands and angst-fueled monologues. While they do carry on in such fashion to some extent, they mostly act in a fairly adult manner, accepting the publicâs reactions and not letting it scare them away from carrying on as normal. It is a most welcome surprise.
The rest of the novel follows the murder suspects as they attempt to unravel just what happened in the detention room and why. There are some entertaining twists that keep readers guessing, albeit not for long. Most adult readers will be arrive at the answer fairly early into the story, but knowing who the murderer is does not ruin the story. If anything, it adds just a little something extra to the story as it allows you to focus on the clues and piece them together while you stumble upon them rather than after the fact.
One of Us is Lying is not going to make you more intelligent or help you learn something about society or yourself, but it does not present itself as such. Instead, consider it as a hybrid cozy, locked-room mystery and coming-of-age story that is merely meant to entertain rather than teach. It is fun, compelling, and completely satisfying.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Five Bayview High School students walk into Mr. Averyâs room for after-school detention; before the afternoon ends, one of them is dead. And it wasnât an accident.
Who was responsible? Brainy Bronwyn? Beautiful Addy? Delinquent Nate? Athletic Cooper? Simon, the school outcast, had declared his
Told in alternating points of view, the story unfolds as each teen addresses the events surrounding Simonâs death. Peopled with strong characterizations, the narrative offers readers a spot-on depiction of life in high school, and its twisty plot will captivate as the final reveal in this quick read is one readers arenât likely to expect.
Highly recommended.
Who was responsible? Brainy Bronwyn? Beautiful Addy? Delinquent Nate? Athletic Cooper? Simon, the school outcast, had declared his
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intention to post juicy revelations about each of them on his gossip app, making all of them suspects in the teenâs death. Just how far would someone go to protect their own dark secret? Told in alternating points of view, the story unfolds as each teen addresses the events surrounding Simonâs death. Peopled with strong characterizations, the narrative offers readers a spot-on depiction of life in high school, and its twisty plot will captivate as the final reveal in this quick read is one readers arenât likely to expect.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
Five kids meet in a classroom to serve detention. Only four will leave the room alive.
The hook is undeniable - how does a kid die during detention? The kid in question is Simon, a not particularly well-liked kid who maintained a blog that revealed the secrets of Bayview High. Bronwyn (the brain),
The book is not without faults - all four kids are beautiful which is unlikely and annoying and some elements of the plot do not receive as much attention as they should - but an overall fast-paced murder/suspense story that contains a few worthwhile lessons for teens.
The hook is undeniable - how does a kid die during detention? The kid in question is Simon, a not particularly well-liked kid who maintained a blog that revealed the secrets of Bayview High. Bronwyn (the brain),
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Abby (the popular girl), Cooper (the handsome jock), and Nate (the good-looking bad boy) do not know each other well but being suspected of murder and dealing with school rumors, their families, social media, and the press will have a way of bridging their social stereotypes. The mystery around Simon's untimely death will probably be guessed by some readers but the compelling plot employs enough twists, red herrings, and interesting subplots to keep the story entertaining. Issues include the stresses of high school (not so much bullying as the pain of not fitting in), the perils of social media, destructive/manipulative personalities, stereotyping, and the influence of the media.The book is not without faults - all four kids are beautiful which is unlikely and annoying and some elements of the plot do not receive as much attention as they should - but an overall fast-paced murder/suspense story that contains a few worthwhile lessons for teens.
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LibraryThing member arielfl
The author has said that this book is based on the Breakfast Club. Five students: a jock, criminal, princess, and the brain, along with the basket case Simon find themselves in detention. The students claim they were all set up but before they can figure it out Simon dies and they all become
The Breakfast Club is a cultural touchstone. I thought the premise of taking the categories students are pigeonholed into and updating the idea for 2017 was an intriguing one. The students in this book face issues like sexual orientation, partner abuse, and depression that weren't explored openly by teens thirty years ago. In the end though the story fell flat for me. Parts of the story dragged while other parts didn't seem believable. I am probably in the minority and I see a lot of other glowing reviews. Also I am not a teen, only the mother of one so I am not the target audience. My daughter loves the Breakfast Club as I once did. Something about that coming of age film is able to transcend time. I don't think the same will be said of this book.
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suspects. The Breakfast Club is a cultural touchstone. I thought the premise of taking the categories students are pigeonholed into and updating the idea for 2017 was an intriguing one. The students in this book face issues like sexual orientation, partner abuse, and depression that weren't explored openly by teens thirty years ago. In the end though the story fell flat for me. Parts of the story dragged while other parts didn't seem believable. I am probably in the minority and I see a lot of other glowing reviews. Also I am not a teen, only the mother of one so I am not the target audience. My daughter loves the Breakfast Club as I once did. Something about that coming of age film is able to transcend time. I don't think the same will be said of this book.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
The testimony to how much I enjoyed this book was that, even as a teacher with my school year starting up again, and my three year old students now back, I could not put this book down. I was exhausted, and my head was full of lesson plans, but this book had me hooked.
When a group of five students
McManus keeps the twists and turns coming, and the characters are really compelling. I found myself constantly surprised by this book, and having to know what happened next. And I definitely didn't see the ending coming.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what McManus writes next!
When a group of five students
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ends up in detention, only four of them walk out of it alive. As the media and their fellow students spread gossip and rumors, the four suspects must figure out who to trust, and who is lying.McManus keeps the twists and turns coming, and the characters are really compelling. I found myself constantly surprised by this book, and having to know what happened next. And I definitely didn't see the ending coming.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what McManus writes next!
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
Five students who barely know each other are given detention at the same time for things they claim they are not guilty of. One of the five is the author of a social media site that posts things that while mainly true, hurts those that are the subject. In detention this student drinks some water
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and immediately dies. It then becomes a hunt for the killer while all eyes turn on those in the room with him. It was an interesting idea and story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ReadingBifrost
Mature-Content Rating: Violence, Language, Sexual Content, Triggers
As always, I was looking forward to this book when I fist heard about it; wanting a nice mystery to dive in to, but even though it was an okay read I found the story lacking in thrills and too predictable.
The story switches between
Each character was overly cliché, but not necessarily badly executed. They each have their own secret to hide which adds to the thill factor but again, it was a little predictable what their secrets were just by the type-cast roles they were slotted into.
Nate the âbad boyâ is really the only character that has layers of depth. He has a strong back story and a personality that developed and grew throughout the story. Addy also had a character growth, but it seemed more pushed to get her out of her trope and into a more likable character than it was to actually develop the character. Bronwyn and Cooper donât change all that much. They learn a life lesson with their secrets exposed and nod their heads to move along.
Even though I found the book predicable, it still had a very capable plot line for most points. I was more than happy to see police that ran an actual investigation and not just pushed to the side. They were still made to look a bit like idiots, but not as much as I usually see in YA novels.
And, of course since this is YA, thereâs a bit of romance. Honestly at points the book focused more on a budding romance than the fact that they were being accused of murder. Itâs one thing about YA novels that I dislike. Just because itâs YA doesnât mean it needs to involve heavy doses of romance. I would rather have a compelling mystery in my mystery novel.
Overall, One of Us is Lying was an okay read. Not bad, but not something Iâd jump all over either. Itâs a quick and easy read and the average reader will have no problem getting through it in a day or two.
As always, I was looking forward to this book when I fist heard about it; wanting a nice mystery to dive in to, but even though it was an okay read I found the story lacking in thrills and too predictable.
The story switches between
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the four students with each chapter. I think this is partly where the book when wrong. It was easy to discern who the murderer was because each chapter let you in the head of each suspect, and they cannot outright lie to themselves in their own thoughts.Each character was overly cliché, but not necessarily badly executed. They each have their own secret to hide which adds to the thill factor but again, it was a little predictable what their secrets were just by the type-cast roles they were slotted into.
Nate the âbad boyâ is really the only character that has layers of depth. He has a strong back story and a personality that developed and grew throughout the story. Addy also had a character growth, but it seemed more pushed to get her out of her trope and into a more likable character than it was to actually develop the character. Bronwyn and Cooper donât change all that much. They learn a life lesson with their secrets exposed and nod their heads to move along.
Even though I found the book predicable, it still had a very capable plot line for most points. I was more than happy to see police that ran an actual investigation and not just pushed to the side. They were still made to look a bit like idiots, but not as much as I usually see in YA novels.
And, of course since this is YA, thereâs a bit of romance. Honestly at points the book focused more on a budding romance than the fact that they were being accused of murder. Itâs one thing about YA novels that I dislike. Just because itâs YA doesnât mean it needs to involve heavy doses of romance. I would rather have a compelling mystery in my mystery novel.
Overall, One of Us is Lying was an okay read. Not bad, but not something Iâd jump all over either. Itâs a quick and easy read and the average reader will have no problem getting through it in a day or two.
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LibraryThing member thelibraryladies
You want to talk about classic high school movies, one of the assured mentions is going to be âThe Breakfast Clubâ. While I really donât like what happens to Ally Sheedyâs character (as a âbasket-caseâ in high school myself, I didnât appreciate being told that if I just got a makeover
But we actually got so much more than that. While sure, the Brat Pack in that movie each gets their own little piece of vulnerability, McManus has an entire book to explore each of her characters to their fullest extent, and can paint them in complicated and well rounded ways that gives the reader reasons to be invested in all of them. We get four perspective characters in this book. Bronwyn is the brainiac who is carrying an Ivy League dream not only as a legacy, but as a biracial girl whose Columbian side of the family literally pulled itself up by the bootstraps to start said legacy. Addy is a girl who has been taught that her only strength is her beauty, perpetuated by a vapid mother and a controlling boyfriend. Cooper is a star athlete whose family is riding on the idea of him getting a major league offer because of his pitching arm. And Nate, oh my sweet sweet Nate, is a dealer on probation living in a ramshackle home with a drunken father. And all of them have secrets, which is why all of them are viable suspects when Simon, app creator and provocateur extraordinaire, is murdered while they are all serving detention together.
All of these characters had realistic and believable voices, and I saw the vulnerability and desperation in each of them as their secrets started to come to light. It became pretty clear from the get go that none of them were actually suspects to be taken seriously, and while I donât know how I feel about that, it was a delight to be able to see them hide other things instead of throwing an entire barrel of red herrings my way. And while some of them had secrets that werenât that hard to guess, getting to the answers was a heck of a ride, especially since all of them grew and evolved so much as they got there. Addy especially went on a character arc that felt so organic and so heart-wrenching and yet empowering that I was especially happy to get to her perspective chapters. This storyline brings up questions of relationships, romance vs domination, and what sort of value we put on women and girls who are attractive but not encouraged to be much more. I also really liked reading how Nate and Bronwynâs relationship progressed and evolved. There of course was going to be some romance in this book, and of COURSE the geeky girl and the bad boy is a trope thatâs ripe for the picking. But I liked how McManus had these two interact and complement each other without making either feel like they were out of character. I also liked that we got to see Nateâs backstory and how it wasnât the usual âmy Dadâs abusive and thatâs why Iâm a nasty prickâ sob story. It wasnât much more than that, but it did address the struggles of families with mental illness, especially when resources are limited when it comes to getting help.
The big mystery itself though? Well, while I had a super fun time just going with the flow and following it to itâs conclusion, I did find the final answers to be a bit disappointing. True, I did like that our four main characters were pretty much in the clear from the get go, I still think that had there been some more twists and reveals instead of things being pretty easily explained and neatly finished it could have been a seriously stellar mystery. As it was, I was pretty much satisfied with how it all shook out, but it wasnât much to write home about. The strengths in this book were definitely in the characters, and the supporting characters that they each had in their lives. I would have been completely content if there was no murder mystery at all and it was just about a bunch of kids from different groups learning that they could, in fact, become friendsâŠ.. So, basically, âThe Breakfast Clubâ, but without that bullshit makeover scene.
âOne of Us Is Lyingâ was a fun and entertaining read. The side mysteries were fun, the characters were well written, and I would totally read something else from Karen M. McManus down the line. With the right amount of mystery and suds, itâs the perfect read for the dog days of summer.
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boys would like me), I have to admit that the concept of kids coming from different social circles and getting along for one day is really appealing. ESPECIALLY when one of those kids is Judd Nelson, my GOD. So when I heard about this book, and that itâs basically âThe Breakfast Clubâ with a murder mystery to boot, I was TOTALLY IN!!!! But we actually got so much more than that. While sure, the Brat Pack in that movie each gets their own little piece of vulnerability, McManus has an entire book to explore each of her characters to their fullest extent, and can paint them in complicated and well rounded ways that gives the reader reasons to be invested in all of them. We get four perspective characters in this book. Bronwyn is the brainiac who is carrying an Ivy League dream not only as a legacy, but as a biracial girl whose Columbian side of the family literally pulled itself up by the bootstraps to start said legacy. Addy is a girl who has been taught that her only strength is her beauty, perpetuated by a vapid mother and a controlling boyfriend. Cooper is a star athlete whose family is riding on the idea of him getting a major league offer because of his pitching arm. And Nate, oh my sweet sweet Nate, is a dealer on probation living in a ramshackle home with a drunken father. And all of them have secrets, which is why all of them are viable suspects when Simon, app creator and provocateur extraordinaire, is murdered while they are all serving detention together.
All of these characters had realistic and believable voices, and I saw the vulnerability and desperation in each of them as their secrets started to come to light. It became pretty clear from the get go that none of them were actually suspects to be taken seriously, and while I donât know how I feel about that, it was a delight to be able to see them hide other things instead of throwing an entire barrel of red herrings my way. And while some of them had secrets that werenât that hard to guess, getting to the answers was a heck of a ride, especially since all of them grew and evolved so much as they got there. Addy especially went on a character arc that felt so organic and so heart-wrenching and yet empowering that I was especially happy to get to her perspective chapters. This storyline brings up questions of relationships, romance vs domination, and what sort of value we put on women and girls who are attractive but not encouraged to be much more. I also really liked reading how Nate and Bronwynâs relationship progressed and evolved. There of course was going to be some romance in this book, and of COURSE the geeky girl and the bad boy is a trope thatâs ripe for the picking. But I liked how McManus had these two interact and complement each other without making either feel like they were out of character. I also liked that we got to see Nateâs backstory and how it wasnât the usual âmy Dadâs abusive and thatâs why Iâm a nasty prickâ sob story. It wasnât much more than that, but it did address the struggles of families with mental illness, especially when resources are limited when it comes to getting help.
The big mystery itself though? Well, while I had a super fun time just going with the flow and following it to itâs conclusion, I did find the final answers to be a bit disappointing. True, I did like that our four main characters were pretty much in the clear from the get go, I still think that had there been some more twists and reveals instead of things being pretty easily explained and neatly finished it could have been a seriously stellar mystery. As it was, I was pretty much satisfied with how it all shook out, but it wasnât much to write home about. The strengths in this book were definitely in the characters, and the supporting characters that they each had in their lives. I would have been completely content if there was no murder mystery at all and it was just about a bunch of kids from different groups learning that they could, in fact, become friendsâŠ.. So, basically, âThe Breakfast Clubâ, but without that bullshit makeover scene.
âOne of Us Is Lyingâ was a fun and entertaining read. The side mysteries were fun, the characters were well written, and I would totally read something else from Karen M. McManus down the line. With the right amount of mystery and suds, itâs the perfect read for the dog days of summer.
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LibraryThing member cwhisenant11
It was a little predictable but still very entertaining.
LibraryThing member jenn88
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High end up in detention together. None of them are friends and they're all completely different from one another. Bronwyn is the smart girl, over-achiever and she never breaks a rule. Addy is the pretty girl and homecoming princess, and she has the
This was a compulsive read. It was well-written, suspenseful (who killed Simon?!) and had a diverse group of people who all had one thing in common - they have secrets. These characters have a lot of depth. We get a glimpse of them before Simon dies, but then we follow them from school to home to the police station and we see how scared they are, how they're trying to "be normal", we see their families. I thought this book was clever and I loved it!
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hottest boyfriend at Bayview. Cooper is the athlete and an all-star pitcher. Nate is the criminal who is on probation for dealing drugs. And Simon is the social outcast and creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. Simon has posted some very juicy stuff on that app and has hurt a lot of people in the process. He never makes it out of that classroom alive. According to investigators Simon had planned to reveal something major about each of the four people in that classroom the day after he died. So those four students are suspects in his murder.This was a compulsive read. It was well-written, suspenseful (who killed Simon?!) and had a diverse group of people who all had one thing in common - they have secrets. These characters have a lot of depth. We get a glimpse of them before Simon dies, but then we follow them from school to home to the police station and we see how scared they are, how they're trying to "be normal", we see their families. I thought this book was clever and I loved it!
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LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Thought it took too long to get to the ending and didnât like that some of the motivations didnât really make sense.
Would Janae really have framed Nate if she was terrified of Jake? No.
A lot more mature than I expected as well.
A story built on four secrets and a gossip spreading self centred
Probably not going to put it on my shelves. Didnât like all the trashy talk etc. Much more suited for high school.
Would Janae really have framed Nate if she was terrified of Jake? No.
A lot more mature than I expected as well.
A story built on four secrets and a gossip spreading self centred
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jealous boy.Probably not going to put it on my shelves. Didnât like all the trashy talk etc. Much more suited for high school.
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LibraryThing member BethYacoub
pretty great breakfast / murder club mashup "Itâs a great story: four good-looking, high-profile students all being investigated for murder. And nobodyâs what they seem..."
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"Now hereâs your assignment: connect the dots. Is everybody in it together, or is somebody pulling strings? Whoâs the
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I must crow a bit...I KNEW this was going to be awesome WAY before the library loving released it into my anxiously awaiting clutches. It's high school drama with a dollop of Breakfast/ Kill Club mixed in. The writing was extremely laid back which made it easy to devour large portions in a single sitting. In fact that might be my super power of late...capable of tackling great tomes in a single bound...fights off even the worst case of late-night bleary eye.... motto: one more chapter...can't leave things off like that...just a hundred pages til the end...oops, is that the last page?... I know it's long, I'll keep working on it....aaaaand I digress (frequently)...back to the book at hand. One Of Us Is Lying is unsurprisingly easy to consume in absolutely no time at all. After just a few hours I turned to the epilogue and silently swore because it was quickly coming to an end (great sign). The world building was a little sparse but the characters were sufficiently complex though undeniably trite. It was told via multiple POVs which got a bit confusing at times, causing some pack peddling to find out which character's head we were in, but in the end it worked out well. Be warned: There are some heavy triggers (which I will not disclose...no spoilers here but be aware) within BUT the ugly spots are effectively sterilized, lacquered over and buffed to a PG tint. The ending wrapped things up so neatly as to almost be too saccharine....not my thing but right up your alley if you're one who likes their endings nice and tidy for all.
The takehome is: this is a quick, easily addictive read with a minimally showcased, predictable yet insta-love free romance.
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"Now hereâs your assignment: connect the dots. Is everybody in it together, or is somebody pulling strings? Whoâs the
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puppet master and whoâs the puppet? Iâll give you a hint to get you started: everyoneâs lying. GO!"Â
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I must crow a bit...I KNEW this was going to be awesome WAY before the library loving released it into my anxiously awaiting clutches. It's high school drama with a dollop of Breakfast/ Kill Club mixed in. The writing was extremely laid back which made it easy to devour large portions in a single sitting. In fact that might be my super power of late...capable of tackling great tomes in a single bound...fights off even the worst case of late-night bleary eye.... motto: one more chapter...can't leave things off like that...just a hundred pages til the end...oops, is that the last page?... I know it's long, I'll keep working on it....aaaaand I digress (frequently)...back to the book at hand. One Of Us Is Lying is unsurprisingly easy to consume in absolutely no time at all. After just a few hours I turned to the epilogue and silently swore because it was quickly coming to an end (great sign). The world building was a little sparse but the characters were sufficiently complex though undeniably trite. It was told via multiple POVs which got a bit confusing at times, causing some pack peddling to find out which character's head we were in, but in the end it worked out well. Be warned: There are some heavy triggers (which I will not disclose...no spoilers here but be aware) within BUT the ugly spots are effectively sterilized, lacquered over and buffed to a PG tint. The ending wrapped things up so neatly as to almost be too saccharine....not my thing but right up your alley if you're one who likes their endings nice and tidy for all.
The takehome is: this is a quick, easily addictive read with a minimally showcased, predictable yet insta-love free romance.
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LibraryThing member benuathanasia
Wow. Just wow. I was infuriated with this book because of how blatantly obvious the ending was. I was...off. Not by much, but enough for my assessment of the book to completely change. That being said, the plot-flow was the ONLY part that ever gave me pause on this book. The four main characters
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were fascinating, their growth and regression was brilliantly handled, and the tension build-up was almost physically painful (anxiety attack, anyone?). I would LOVE to see this on the big screen someday (edit: Damn! Apparently it's getting a TV series!). No spoilers here, but this is the YA response to Gone Girl. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tiffy_Reads
What a book! If you are fan of YA and Mystery this is a book for you. It definitely has a Pretty Little Liars feel but it kind of reminds me a little bit of The Breakfast Club. Who doesnât love to get caught up in a good mystery involving high school gossip and drama?!?! (I know you do! Donât
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have to hide it from me!) đđŒđđŒ Show Less
LibraryThing member CJ82487
This was one of those books I found on Instagram. I am by far the worst bookstagrammer. I'm not good at taking pictures, I spend more time reading that actually posting about books, and I don't always fall for the up-and-coming bestsellers. On top of that, I have an ancient Kindle Keyboard that
Anyways, a few of the bookstagrammers I follow posted about this book and I was intrigued. The cover alone grabbed my attention but the similarities between this and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is what pulled me in and let me say, I was not disappointed.
This was a young adult novel that could still very easily appeal to an adult audience. Of course, the young adult romance was awkward and embarrassing, but isn't young romance awkward and embarrassing.
There were parts that were completely and totally predictable for me, but I think that is because I am an adult reading a novel for a younger audience. I knew immediately that there would be a romance between two characters and that another two would have a breakup. I guessed a couple of secrets and I even figured out the ending.
But...
It was still a really captivating story. The characters were well-rounded. I could see these kids at school with my son (who is about the their age) and they reminded me of kids I went to school with (aside from the drastic technology differences -- I grew up in the age of dial-up). The kids reminded me that no matter how much changes there are some things that never change. There are always jocks, brains, trouble-makers, and a kid (or two) crying for help.
It was full of those stereotypical high school kids, but I enjoyed it. I guess it was just the right time to take a break from adult fiction. I can see how some would be bothered by that, but, for me, it is what made it interesting to read. If there wasn't the typical "good girl" and the standard "bad boy" surrounded by "jocks" and "troubled kids," the story wouldn't have read the same.
I'm glad I took the chance to read it and all the hype around the book didn't disappoint.
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doesn't look very glamorous in photos, but it works amazing and has been a part of my daily life for years.Anyways, a few of the bookstagrammers I follow posted about this book and I was intrigued. The cover alone grabbed my attention but the similarities between this and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is what pulled me in and let me say, I was not disappointed.
This was a young adult novel that could still very easily appeal to an adult audience. Of course, the young adult romance was awkward and embarrassing, but isn't young romance awkward and embarrassing.
There were parts that were completely and totally predictable for me, but I think that is because I am an adult reading a novel for a younger audience. I knew immediately that there would be a romance between two characters and that another two would have a breakup. I guessed a couple of secrets and I even figured out the ending.
But...
It was still a really captivating story. The characters were well-rounded. I could see these kids at school with my son (who is about the their age) and they reminded me of kids I went to school with (aside from the drastic technology differences -- I grew up in the age of dial-up). The kids reminded me that no matter how much changes there are some things that never change. There are always jocks, brains, trouble-makers, and a kid (or two) crying for help.
It was full of those stereotypical high school kids, but I enjoyed it. I guess it was just the right time to take a break from adult fiction. I can see how some would be bothered by that, but, for me, it is what made it interesting to read. If there wasn't the typical "good girl" and the standard "bad boy" surrounded by "jocks" and "troubled kids," the story wouldn't have read the same.
I'm glad I took the chance to read it and all the hype around the book didn't disappoint.
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LibraryThing member Lauranthalas
I loved this book! A murder mystery meets The Breakfast Club!
Five students are in detention together when one suddenly dies. There are mysterious incidents leading up to the detention - is this a coincidence or part of an intricate plan? The four remaining students all claim they had nothing to do
Five students are in detention together when one suddenly dies. There are mysterious incidents leading up to the detention - is this a coincidence or part of an intricate plan? The four remaining students all claim they had nothing to do
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with the death, but one of them is lying! Show Less
LibraryThing member WolfORourc
A story full of twists and complications to keep things interesting. Love her wordsmithing, with many fascinating turns of phrases. Too many sideshows that let my mind drift off and warranted a star deduction. The constant switch among four different first-person points of view, including within
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chapters, also irritated me. Show Less
LibraryThing member fred_mouse
This was brilliant - I read it through in a single (three hour) sitting, despite the fact that it was late when I started reading. I loved the idea of the book from the first I saw it - starting with the Breakfast Club idea of five very different individuals in detention together, but with a much
It is not a spoiler to say that this is a murder mystery - on my copy, it says so on the front cover, where the Breakfast Club association is hinted at so broadly as to barely qualify as a hint. And the event itself happens in the first few pages. But this book is so much more than that. It is also a pointed commentary on the nastiness of gossip in the social media age, the way that the media can be manipulated to change perceptions of people so rapidly, family dynamics, and gender and sexuality politics.
The plot itself is a bit forced in places - there is a police obsession with the four main characters, to the exclusion of all others that left me somewhat incredulous. The tortured way in which the solution is found, and the way that it is revealed was well into the realm of melodrama. And yet, in someways it was just a more PG version of what I've been seeing (and attempting to avoid) in modern murder mysteries for years - that the way to move the plot forward is to ratchet up the nastiness.
Having said that, the characterisation is fabulous. Told in first person, but rotating through the viewpoints of the four teens who survived the detention, there is such a wealth of detail. The author has done a fabulous job of creating four very different, very well rounded characters, from a range of different backgrounds and positions within the school hierarchy. The majority of the peripheral characters are also done well, although there is the odd one (the cranky teacher who gives detentions for bringing phones to class, for one) who was a little too close to caricature for credibility.
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darker twist. It is not a spoiler to say that this is a murder mystery - on my copy, it says so on the front cover, where the Breakfast Club association is hinted at so broadly as to barely qualify as a hint. And the event itself happens in the first few pages. But this book is so much more than that. It is also a pointed commentary on the nastiness of gossip in the social media age, the way that the media can be manipulated to change perceptions of people so rapidly, family dynamics, and gender and sexuality politics.
The plot itself is a bit forced in places - there is a police obsession with the four main characters, to the exclusion of all others that left me somewhat incredulous. The tortured way in which the solution is found, and the way that it is revealed was well into the realm of melodrama. And yet, in someways it was just a more PG version of what I've been seeing (and attempting to avoid) in modern murder mysteries for years - that the way to move the plot forward is to ratchet up the nastiness.
Having said that, the characterisation is fabulous. Told in first person, but rotating through the viewpoints of the four teens who survived the detention, there is such a wealth of detail. The author has done a fabulous job of creating four very different, very well rounded characters, from a range of different backgrounds and positions within the school hierarchy. The majority of the peripheral characters are also done well, although there is the odd one (the cranky teacher who gives detentions for bringing phones to class, for one) who was a little too close to caricature for credibility.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate were all in detention the day Simon dies of an allergic reaction under suspicious circumstances. Simon ran a school gossip app and his unpublished post has dirt on all four of them. Soon they all find themselves suspected of murder, but they are fairly certain none
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of the four of them were involved. Told by multiple narrators (the audiobook was really compelling), the story is told from the different characters and soon follows the four of them as they begin to communicate and try to figure out what is really going on. Show Less
LibraryThing member foggidawn
A nerd, a jock, a homecoming princess, and a juvenile delinquent walk into detention. Their fifth companion is Simon, sole proprietor of the school's notorious gossip app. Fifteen minutes later, Simon is dead. The circumstances are suspicious: all of the students were busted by a strict teacher for
I found this mystery tightly plotted, with great characters and a compelling mystery. I felt like the bit after the climax dragged ever so slightly, but up until then the pacing was great. The four different audiobook narrators did a great job, and the shift from one voice to another may have helped keep my attention strong. Four is a good number of different perspectives for this sort of book, especially since the author did a good job of sharing out information between the four. If you like YA mysteries, this is a strong one.
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having phones in their bag -- but the phones he confiscated weren't theirs. Simon died of anaphylactic shock due to his peanut allergy, and the emergency EpiPens were missing from the nurse's office. And a post is queued up on Simon's app that reveals the darkest secrets of the other four students in the room. Was one of them willing to kill to keep that information from being revealed?I found this mystery tightly plotted, with great characters and a compelling mystery. I felt like the bit after the climax dragged ever so slightly, but up until then the pacing was great. The four different audiobook narrators did a great job, and the shift from one voice to another may have helped keep my attention strong. Four is a good number of different perspectives for this sort of book, especially since the author did a good job of sharing out information between the four. If you like YA mysteries, this is a strong one.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
Loved this one on audio. Some POVs were better than others, but a very fun addictive read. Five students go into detention and one ends up dead. Itâs Breakfast Club meets a media-frenzy whodunnit. Nate, the burnout bad boy, and Bronwyn, the Yale-bound good girl, have the most dynamic relationship.
LibraryThing member Lindsay_W
Four teens who âwant what everyone wants: to be successful, to have friends, to be loved. To be seen.â But also learning that there are some things that canât be undone. An offhand comment that might seem like no big deal for one person, can be devastating for another. I did have a little
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trouble keeping track of the changing POVs between the characters, but the characters were engaging and kept me reading even when it was clear where it was going. SPOILER AHEAD I am left pondering about recommending this book due to the mental health issues. I donât want to be seen to reward the cleverness of a mentally ill young man. But maybe it will start a conversation about kindness, bullying, mental health and kids who find the only way out is violence, because that would be a good thing. Show Less
LibraryThing member cubsfan3410
What a ride! This is a fantastic teen read.
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