One of Us Is Lying

I think I went off on the wrong foot with this book; I wrongly and mistakenly assumed that this book wasn’t for me – boring, full of high school dramas and teenage angst which, to tell the truth, were not my thing at the moment. It indeed took a while for this book to grow on me. As I mentioned earlier, except for the first chapter where Simon, a notorious gossip mastermind of Bayview High, mysteriously died from a severe peanut allergy, I spent a huge chunk of the first half frustrated and feeling detached from the story. I knew the book was in the middle of build up, but what I thought endless, too detailed descriptions about the four suspects – the four students – and their backgrounds and emotional conflicts were a bit too much for me. I was expecting more of the mystery – whodunnit – elements (as this book is supposedly YA mystery), definitely NOT high school dramas involving drama kings and drama queens where they whine and go on and on about what they have done wrong. To be honest, I wasn’t remotely interested in such kind of stuff. It may sound harsh, but I was pretty close to giving up on this book. But I didn’t want to. So I tried to throw all my preconceived ideas about this book and start over with a clean slate, seeing this book as a mere YA contemporary rather than a YA mystery. And I’m glad to say, it worked. It actually took me another 20% of the book to get me fully invested in this book, it worked nonetheless. I think it was where a big secret of the Mr. Nice guy was finally out and how it leads to a debacle of his future, friendship and familial relationship. The grim undertone reeled me in the story in the true sense of the word – for the first time – and I realized this book might call for readers in the right frame of mind and being patient. Your opinions might differ from mine and you may have been hooked by this book straight away, but it wasn’t the case for me. It needed me to read this book with the same approach that I usually take when reading YA contemporary/romance. Anyways, from then onwards, I found this book pretty unputdownable; I enjoyed all the elements in this book. Friendship, budding romance, suspicion, and emotional struggles and guilt from what they have done. Such elements are really well-integrated and gelled with the main plot, and I definitely enjoyed the thrills and excitement as I was inching towards the end, as I got closer to the revelations to the whole plot. Although I might have made this book out to be devoid of the mystery elements earlier, it isn’t true. The disturbing and mysterious ‘Tumbler’ posts which were not ought to be published because of Simon’s death certainly got me curious to know who actually killed Simon. Was it either of the four students? Or is there an accomplice?? The plot twist which I didn’t see it coming took me by surprise but this book doesn’t end there – there’s actually another important key to this murder case and I thought it was really well done. I read the last 30% in one sitting – I was kept on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t put it down. The characters, especially the main four characters are all well-fleshed out. Their issues, secrets and consternation from unexpectedly embroiled in the murder case are well delineated with the solid writing and alternating multiple POVs, getting me emotionally close to them. I especially enjoyed how the four characters begin to close ranks to get down to the bottom of the case, supporting each other despite the fact they were not really friends nor particularly close before it happened. When the story, or the situations surrounding the main character(s) spin out of control, multiple POV style works really well, giving readers enough glimpse of their emotional process and what is going on in their minds. It adds a lot of tension and intrigues, a sheer delight of reading. Karen M. McManus certainly pulled off in that regard. She’s also brilliant at messing with our emotions – getting our hopes up and then crushing them on the next second. I went through this agony especially in Bronwyn’s chapters. I personally Bronwyn and Cooper’s chapters are outstanding compared to the ones of the other two characters. I might be wrong, but I felt that way anyway. I appreciate this book ends on a light, hopeful note. The four characters have gone through their own nightmares and debacles, it has also made them stronger and be honest to themselves. This book left me with warm feelings, wondering what their future holds for them. Apart from the depictions of police procedural being pretty shoddy (I was like, ‘Come on, they couldn’t be this sloppy, could they?’), I am quite satisfied with this book. This is surprisingly emotionally charged, well-written book. I am glad I ended up liking this book in the end. Another lesson NOT to easily DNF a book; Story CAN pick up where you leave off.

A very engaging, readable YA novel. When I pre-ordered this book, I didn't realize it was Young Adult but once I started reading I couldn't put it down. SYNOPSIS Overachiever Bronwyn, star athlete and overall good guy Cooper, beautiful homecoming / prom princess Addy, mysterious bad boy Nate and gossip monger Simon all end up in detention together one day after school. Sound a little like '80's hit movie Breakfast Club? Five stereotypes who have very little to say to each and really nothing in common until... the unimaginable happens and Simon goes into anaphylactic shock. He has a well-known, severe peanut allergy, yet his epi-pen isn't in his backpack and no one can find any in the nurses office. By the time the ambulance arrives, it's too late. What really happened to Simon? Was this an elaborate plan to get rid of the school's biggest gossip? Did he have something on one of the people in the room big enough for murder? All four swear they had nothing to do with Simon's death. Who is lying? Are they all lying? Can they trust each other? Can they trust anyone? As the remaining four deal with the fall out of Simon's death, they begin to see each other for who they are beyond the surface, they realize who their friends really are, they deal with the possibility of losing everything and each one is forced to reach within themselves for the strength to survive. WHAT I LOVED Very well-written book. It's been a long time since I was in high school, but I thought Karen McManus captured the essence of the experience. The angst, the social divisions and the fear everyone had of stepping out of line and ending up being banished. The tides turn so quickly and so randomly that with one wrong move, even the most popular can find themselves completely friendless. Although I guessed a couple of the key plot lines/ twists, I did not see the final twist coming. The final puzzle piece was not who I expected. Great twist. I loved how all the characters ended up being more 3 dimensional than expected. Each having unseen challenges, pressures and secrets. WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE Not much to not love. A couple parts were fairly predictable but still a great book. OVERALL Great read for both teenagers and adults. I would probably say it's more for 14/ 15 and above. There are some mature themes/ references (language, drugs, depression, mental illness, alcohol, sex and homosexuality), none of it gratuitous, no over blown descriptions but it is in there.

Engaging debut thriller! The description for One of Us is Lying is accurate. This novel reminded me so much of one of my favorite movies, The Breakfast Club. I haven't read nor watched Pretty Little Liars but now I know I want to. The story begins when five kids are sent to detention but only four leave the room alive. There's Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, Cooper, and Simon. Bronwyn is the good student. Her destiny is Yale. She's an overachiever. Addy is the homecoming princess who's dating the perfect guy. Cooper is the star athlete. The one being scouted by the major leagues. Nate, the drug dealer who's on probation already. Last, there's Simon who's a threat to everyone because he's the mastermind behind the gossip app who has destroyed several lives at Bayview High. When Simon dies, the rest of the kids are the main suspects. Is one of them lying? Did they plan it together? Or is it one of them the culprit? Worse, is someone else framing them? These are all valid questions which Karen M. McManus does a beautiful job at disentangling them. I was hooked from the first chapter. Surprisingly, I ended up liking all the suspects but my favorite one was....you know it...bad boy Nate. Nate has been given a bad deal. He comes from a broken home with an alcoholic father and a no-present mother. He has raised himself and he made the wrong decisions to pay the bills. He's in trouble with the law already. His future as a suspect looks grim. Bronwyn was my second favorite. She's smart and protective of her younger sister. Her character grows as I was turning the pages. Her loyalty and dedication towards another character won me over. Addy's life crumbles in front of her eyes when Simon's death affects her perfect relationship. She looks for solace in her family, specifically her older sister who supports her no questions asked. I was glad she had her. Addy's was the character that grew the most and who developed a backbone when she needed it the most. I was not sure what to think about Cooper at first. I thought he was shallow but I soon realized he was the one under the most pressure. He was hiding things that if known, could affect the rest of his life. Even when his future is threatened, he has time to do small things in support of the other suspects. One of Us Is Lying played in my head just like a movie. It had the perfect combination of suspense, intrigue and captivating characters. The plot, as well as the dialogue, was well developed and entertaining. I won't hesitate to read another book by Karen M. McManus. “Unless one of us is lying. Which is always a possibility.” Cliffhanger: No

Character development: 10/10 Great read. Sometimes you just browse through tiles and pick one out, this was an unexpected yes!

It grabs you right away and keeps you guessing until the end! Couldn’t stop reading it! It had a new twist on the killer that was surprising.

When I first started this book I was really enjoying it. The book was suspenseful and laid out really well, but about three fourths of the way through it seemed to begin to drag. As there were some interesting plot twists that sort of kept the interest of the reader in the last bit of the book, the ending was sappy and everything was wrapped up all nice and pretty for all of the main characters.

"You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions.” Brian had it right when he wrote those words in the adored and highly quotable letter at the end of The Breakfast Club. The passage continues on to say: “But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal. Does that answer your question?" *Inserts fist pump into the air while fighting the urge to blast “Don’t You Forget About Me” throughout the living room.* Nostalgia aside, I bring this up because the idea of labels and what lies underneath them is not only the plight of seemingly every high school movie, book, and experience, but also the core of the readability of One of Us is Lying. The book’s murder mystery hook – aided by the Pretty Little Liars/Gossip Girl comparisons – probably lured you in along with the rest of us, but the characters and their development are what keep you invested. And it’s a good thing too because I correctly identified the killer during the opening scene. And if solving the murder was the only thing this book had going for it, I would have been extremely disappointed. But for me, the question was never who, but rather why? Why did Simon have to die? Why – and how – were the Bayview Four involved? Of course I can’t tell you the answers, but trust me when I say that McManus is able to keep you intrigued while you simultaneously fall for the brain, the athlete, the princess, and the criminal who all had motives and additional secrets to hide. Narrated and told via alternating points of view, One of Us is Lying is full of intricate characterizations and sometimes predictable twists on the classic tropes. I often found myself highlighting one-liners from this debut author that accurately nailed and effectively portrayed the personalities of the “Murder Club” members. From the sensible brainiac, Bronwyn, (“Mostly I thought Evan and I had potential to be a solid couple until graduation, at which point we'd break up amicably and head to our different colleges.”) to the dealer from the bad part of town, Nate, ("Rigging detention sounds like work, and everything about Nate -- from his messy dark hair to his ratty leather jacket -- screams Can't be bothered. Or yawns it, maybe.") you’ll find yourself relating to or remembering people that fit these molds. Ultimately that’s what I enjoyed so much – getting beneath the surface. We all have people in high school that we knew on a superficial level that were probably remembered via their clique. One word descriptions. Nothing more. Nothing less. This book is yet another reminder of what can happen when you choose to dig a little deeper and stop caring what your friends think. If you’re looking for an entertaining and quick read for the beach this summer, I’d highly recommend giving this novel a shot. Of course I could be lying, so you’ll have to judge for yourselves. XOXO...

One of Us Is Lying was is just outright one of the most addictive books I’ve read all year, if not longer. From the moment I picked it up and started reading I found it incredibly hard to put down; I read on my way to and from work, on my lunch hour, after dinner and right up until I could keep my eyes open no longer! One of Us Is Lying tells the story of five high school seniors; Gossip Girl-esque Simon who runs a gossip blog, popular baseball player Cooper, serious and studious Bronwyn, loveable drug dealer Nate and pretty girl Addy. Each one finds themselves suddenly in detention after having a cell phone mysteriously placed in each of their bags. Whilst trying to convince the supervising teacher that none of the phones belong to them and that someone must be pulling a prank, they all suddenly hear the sound of a crash outside. Whilst the teacher and four of the students rush to the window to see what is going on, one student, Simon, hangs back and when they all return to their seats Simon begins to choke. As Bronwyn, Nate, Cooper and Addy all try to get help for Simon, unfortunately, it arrives to late and he is pronounced dead at the hospital – from anaphylactic due to a peanut allergy. So who killed Simon? Well here is the tricky part. No one knows, but there are plenty of people who would want to. Simon has a lot of enemies due to his gossip blog that he runs, filled with the rumours and secrets of just about everyone in the school. But since he was in the room with just the others in detention, they quickly become the focus of the police investigation into Simon’s death and the ensuing media circus that threatens all of their reputations and futures. Each character bears the brunt of everyone’s judgement from both family and friends, is pressured to turn on the others and most importantly, has one last secret about themselves revealed on a tumblr blog which continues to post following Simon’s death. Who killed Simon? Who is still posting their secrets? Who wants them all to be destroyed? Who is lying? One of Us Is Lying takes you on a rollercoaster ride of some serious character development, highs and lows of emotion and an all-important final twist. It gave me a classic who-done-it scenario, all the of drama you would expect from a high school filled with rampant hormones, a newly budding romance, a secret romance and an incredibly satisfying finale. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced, addictive read, not to mention this is now set to become a tv series after being picked up by E!

Muito bom o livro

Good price

It was a fun read

Absolutely superb. This book kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Five kids enter detention and only four walk back out... and one of them is lying. This is a who-dun-it with a touch of romance, and even though you don’t know who to trust as secret after secret comes out, I was fascinated by the characters and sat up late to keep turning the pages to finally find out the truth. A fantastic story, highly recommend.

Super