I liked the concept of this book from the moment I read about it, eager to devour a mashup of The Breakfast Club and what turned out to be Agatha Christie meets Gossip Girl.

Despite the variety of characters we're introduced to right off the bat, I found that I was able to get a sense of each individual narrator as they took their turn sharing their side of the story early on. As the story unfolded I was along for the ride, a rare experience as I'm usually trying to figure out "whodunit" before the characters do.

I was pleasantly surprised by the unusual reveal, and the context of that reveal has definitely left me thinking days after I finished the book. The story definitely scratches at some interesting physiological points.

I was surprised by the amount of romance in the story and will admit that sometimes I thought the main romance of the story felt like it was a separate story from the one I wanted to be focusing on! solving the hows and whys of the murder. That being said the levity that romance brought was a nice change from the heart-pounding thrillers I most often read.

This was a well-paced, well constructed multiple pov story, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery.

Five students were sent to detention under mysterious circumstances and one ends up dead. Everyone, even those in detention, want to know what happened and figure out who killed their classmate.

I enjoyed the multiple perspectives. The story didn't focus on the mystery, but the scandalously delicious details of the students in detention. I typically do not like novels like this, but I was compelled by the characters and their misdeeds.

For fans of Paula Stokes, murder mysteries and romance!

This book follows the complicated journey of 4 students who are involved in the murder of a fellow student. 5 enter detention, but only 4 walk out.

What I liked:
I like the story's development. How each of them got equal attention and all of their POV.

I really liked Nate's character and his story. How he sees the good in one person and is drawn to it (not saying who to not spoil it).

It definitely keeps you wondering what happened. It could have used a bit more suspense, but it was still enjoyable.

I would've liked to see more action in the end and the truth revealed more dramatically.

Overall, it was a satisfying read. I will say. With that character's outcome, to give teens (and people) encouraging words. For them to know that they are not alone and that there are peoole who are willing to be there for them.

PS. There are LGBT characters.

Five high schoolers walk into detention. Only four walk out. Cooper the star athlete. Bronwyn the brains. Addy the it girl. Nate the criminal. And Simon the gossip. A crime with countless suspects and no leads. Who did it?

Did this catch your attention? Yes? Good. If you need more convincing on picking up this mystery keep reading.

The book grips you from the very beginning. It is fast-paced and the events happen one after the other and leave you no time to even think of what happened. Each character has a point of view so we get the events from multiple perspectives and we are able to get inside their heads and learn a little bit more about them. But let’s meet them shall we?

Cooper: the golden boy baseball athlete wanted by the best universities. He is popular, he has an amazing and supportive, not to mention totally hot, girlfriend and his career only seems to be following one road and that is upwards. So why does he feel like he’s missing something?

Bronwyn: the smartest of them all ready to be accepted to Yale like the rest of her family. After all it’s a tradition. She can’t afford letting her father down. Not after everything he’s gone through to establish himself in the business field and the difficulties he’s faced as a Latino. She is the perfect example of a star pupil right?

Addy: the girl who always comes second. The one who never speaks up, the one who follows. She has an amazing, supportive boyfriend so what esle should she need?

Nate: the drug dealer. With an alcoholic father and an MIA mother there’s not much he can do to turn his luck-and fate- around. It’s not like he actually needs love right?

Simon: the outcast. He’s always been on the outside but by creating his gossip blog About That people at school seem to be afraid of him. Because he never post lies.

Tell the truth you’re sold right? RIGHT? What no? What if I told you all the main females are strong and independent? What if I told you there is latinx rep and lgbtq rep? Still nothing? Not even if I mentioned the amazing character development every character undergoes? Or the sibling bonding? Or the cutesy romance? Ok last chance. The book has the one and only trope that matters: young, troubled, beaten by fate, handsome boy who seems tough but has a heart of gold. Yeah I knew that would be the dealmaker.

It wasn't his allergy to peanuts that allegedly killed Simon it was his thirst for gossip and his longing for popularity.

If you think high school is bad , imagine what it would be like with an app that lets everybody know what everybody else is trying to hide. Wouldn't you want to make it disappear? or make the boy who created it go away....forever.

Unfortunately we have all heard of similar gossip apps which encourage anonymous rumour spreading both at school and university, making the lives of students even harder. In her book Karen M. McManus gives the readers food for thought.

This novel is undoubtedly one of the best whodunit YA books of the year. It has everything: likeable suspects, a gripping plot, romance, betrayal and revenge. You just won't be able to put it down .

The story is narrated from four different perspectives and all the chapters are equally appealing, which is not usually the case in novels with so many narrators.
The author created and developed the characters skilfully and it's hard not to feel you have something in common with all of them despite their flaws, which are by the way, what make them regular high school students.

The ending will satisfy most readers. I somehow saw it coming because it made sense in a way. What I really loved though, was that after the truth was revealed, the story kept going a little bit more so that we knew how life had changed for the main characters.

I wasn't expecting to like One of Us is Lying to be completely honest with you all. I've read some of the hype (even one of my favorite authors liked this book), looked at the rating on goodreads, and was ready to hate the book. It seems to be the way this goes for me; I usually hate books that everyone else raves about.

Umm. No. That is not what happened. Instead, I read this book in one sitting (well, laying. I was laying in bed and refused to do anything else until I finished this book). I was hooked, riveted even. This book is amazing.

One of Us is Lying tells the story of 5 different teens who end up in after school detention. Only one of them doesn't leave detention alive. What follows is a twisted, convoluted story in which the other teens try to prove their innocence and get back the control over their lives. In the journey to this, secrets get exposed and lives are changed forever.

We'll get this review started with the elephant in the room: Yes, this book is very comparable to The Breakfast Club and it even makes an allusion or two to the iconic film. However, this didn't bother me at all. Partly because the audience this book is actually meant for has probably never head of The Breakfast Club in an un-ironic way. Or, if they have, and if they're cool like me, then they'll just enjoy the allusions and enjoy the ride. Don't hate, appreciate.

First of all: yay for a description actually being accurate to what the book is. There are no lies; what the cover and blurb say is actually what the book is about. Thank you for that, whoever was in charge of that decision. It's nice to meet a book with honest intentions.

Second of all: yay for embracing modern technology in an appropriate manner. Also refreshing.

Third of all: I actually liked all of the characters. Each of the 4 students get their own moment to shine, their own journey to go through. And each journey is different, and even better, each of the characters grows and changes. I actually grew to like each of the characters and, while I had a definite favorite character (love you tons, Bronwyn!), I enjoyed each chapter, no matter who was narrating.

So, after all of my gushing, why only 4 stars? Well, there were a few plot holes that you could drive tractor trailer though. [For example, while it's cute and heartwarming that Yale tweets to Bronwyn after her cheating is revealed, I refuse to believe that there were no major academic repercussions for her actions. Also, Yale is still going to accept her after that? Yeah, don't think so.

Overall, this is a great book. It's a quick read that has a few plot twists and turns. Is it a little predictable? At times. Are there plot holes? You bet your booty there is! Neverthless, One of Us is Lying is a great read and shouldn't be missed.

One Of Us Is Lying is without doubt one of the best YA mystery stories I've read so far this year. This is unreliable narrators and plot twists at its best; I did kind of guess part of the ending early on, but there is no way this story won't at least partly surprise you. The story starts out strong and it sets the tone for the rest of the story. The main characters start out as high school cliches, but as you continue reading they slowly start to evolve and their development is very well executed. Despite the cliches it's really easy to connect to the four suspects and they are one of the reasons this story works so well. My favorites would be Cooper and Bronwyn, but all four have their charm. The plot twists are excellent and definitely make you wonder what is true and who is lying; the ending wasn't a complete surprise but was still satisfying. If you like the genre and you're up for a healthy dose of high school secrets and excellent twists, One Of Us Is Lying is the book for you!

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It was pretty slow for me at first and I was having trouble distinguishing the different characters voices. But when things started picking up about 20% in, I was completely hooked. I guessed who the killer was about halfway through but I was never quite sure, it kept you guessing the whole time.

I usually hate multiple POVs but this was done well. I didn't feel there were too many characters, though in my opinion Bronwyn was the main character. We saw more of her and I was definitely more invested in her, and her love life, more than anything. I wish we had seen a bit more of the others.

This book had you guessing and second guessing what you thought and what all of the characters were telling you.

4 stars!

*

One of Us Is Lying is a pretty engrossing YA Mystery novel. Told in multiple POVs, it has great writing, a fantastic set of characters, and a beginning that will hook readers right away. The mystery is executed very well, with twists and turns that catch you by surprise.

Karen M. McManus is a new author worth keeping an eye on. Her debut novel is refreshing and well-written, breathing new life into Contemporary YA novels. The plot is compelling, but the characters are what makes this story great.

At the beginning, One of Us Is Lying seems like a remix of The Breakfast Club. It does not take long for me to realize that that isn’t true. McManus might use the concept of students stuck in detention and high school stereotypes to help tell her story, but she smashes them right out of the gate.

Each POV character, Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper, is fleshed out and layered. They each have unique voices and personalities, providing glimpses into the story. They are the ones who pull the reader in and keep things interesting as the plot progresses, secrets are uncovered, and truths are exposed.

There is also a little bit of Gossip Girl thrown in. McManus incorporates social media into the story, making it a very interesting part of the mystery. It adds another layer to the plot, which she explores very well. It does bring up a few difficult themes, though.

I also have to mention the romance and heartbreak. There is a little bit of both in the story, but it is developed and well-paced. There is no instalove in this book, and the romances are also written. One in particular I found super realistic, especially with the way it ended.

In the end, One of Us Is Lying is a entertaining and engaging book. It has great characters, an interesting mystery to solve, and the pace is steady. It is very easy to lose yourself while reading it, which only makes things better. Recommended to YA fans who like mysteries and unconventional groups of friends.

I liked this premise a lot, and the writing and characters were really enjoyable. Ultimately I thought the story was sort of boring to read through, unfortunately. Not as exceptional or suspenseful as I had hoped. A solid book though, especially for those without a lot of mystery thriller experience to compare it to.

When Simon dies from ingesting peanut oil while in detention, there are only four suspects. All four have reasons to hate Simon, because Simon was about to post their dirty secrets on his gossip blog. There's Bronwyn, the valedictorian he accuses of cheating; Cooper, the star baseball player who might be "enhanced"; Addy, the perfect girlfriend who cheated on her boyfriend, and everyone's favorite scapegoat, Nate, the one with a prison record. As the media frenzy hits and more details emerge, including new blog posts bragging about getting away with murder, the four students find themselves trying to unfurl the mystery. With each entry from their point of view, the reader must also decide: is one of them lying? Or are all of them?

Despite there being no point where I actually thought any of the four accused had killed Simon, this was still a twisting mystery thriller. There were so many other characters who knew Simon in other ways and had been hurt by his blog, and each of the four students was in fact hiding something, even if it wasn't exactly what Simon was about to accuse them of. Fans of [book:The Lying Game|8428069] and [book:Pretty Little Liars|162085] will enjoy this one, but it would have appeal to both girls and boys.

Parental advisory: Some strong language, discussion of drugs and sex.

I really loved this story so much the plot and the Who did it was pretty awesome. My favorite character is most definitely the bad boy, whom is not as bad as he would want you to believe, and that would be Nate. I really am a sucker for a bad boy!!!!!
I really loved that I didn't figure out who did it, until the reveal, even though I thought it could be that person or persons at one time. But I couldn't understand why it would be that person, so I changed my mind.
I even loved the ending, and the main four characters, even though Addy was my least favorite of the four. Coop, I knew his secret from the very beginning. Bronwyn I felt a connection with, more than I did with Addy.
Now let's talk about Simon!!!!!! He was one screwed up individuals, that I read about in a book, in a very long time. He was really cray, cray, that's for sure. And things he did were not nice at all. So as you learn about him, and what his done, then you might begin to understand why someone would want to kill him. Even though I am not saying that killing a bad person is the thing to do, that isn't for me too decide.
I am definitely going to have to do a re-read later this year, and I will even have to say that this will be one of my favorite books that I read this year. So I would definitely recommend this book to my family and friends. Awesome, awesome book.

If the Breakfast Club had more murder and internet access…

The premise is good – five students and a teacher in detention, a student dies, who did it?

The characters could’ve been a little more fleshed out. Everyone is sort of typecast and then stay there with a couple exceptions that can’t be mentioned here to avoid spoilers. There aren’t any major pushbacks against those stereotypes other than who some of them choose to date.

It’s part mystery, part young love, part ‘oh the drama of high school’. The story overall is decent, not crazy suspenseful but we follow the characters through the death, the social fallout that follows, the legal troubles and new bonds. The ending wasn’t a major shock but it was still good.

My biggest issue with the book was that there are multiple points-of-view and there’s not enough of a change in the “voice” of each to make it seem like different characters. There are chapter headings so you know who is supposed to be the narrator but without those, it’s anybody’s guess.

Overall, it’s a quick read that keeps your attention.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free advanced copy for review. One of Us is Lying will be released on May 30, 2017.

This was a good read and hooked you right from the beginning. The final reveal was done well and surprising. I gave this 4 stars on goodreads.

This book was incredible! I couldn't put it down because it was so addicting and I wanted to know what happened to Simon. Even though when I wasn't reading it I kept thinking about it.
Even though it has those stereotypical american teenagers (the cute girl, the golden boy, the smart geeky girl ans the bad boy) I think their back story is so interesting and it added more ti them. And also their character development throughout the story is something I really enjoyed of the novel.
Also the author did a great job at keeping me at the edge of my seat. It's a very good mysyery YA book, and I'm really surprised it's a debut novel.
And the ending was nothing like I imagined, so kudos to that too.

"Everybody's got secrets," he says. "Right?"

This book was a pleasant surprise! It was refreshing and a change from the usual young-adult contemporary.

Bronwyn, Nate, Cooper, and Addy are suspects for murdering the school's gossiper, Simon. When the 5 of them were in detention, the last thing they expect is for Simon to drop dead... Unless someone of them planned the whole thing.

The story is told from their POVs. The nerd, the bad boy, the jock, and the princess are the most common high school stereotypes. Until you start to see they're more than that. Bronwyn has the highest grades, Nate was (is?) a drug dealer, Cooper is the best baseball player in school, and Addy is used to being popular, true, but they're more than that. Soon, you sympathise with them but at the same time, you can't neglect anything they do/think. Everyone has secrets that they'll do anything to not let them see the light, but to what extent?

Everyone is flawed. We see them transform from 1-dimentional character to teens with more developed personalities as they try to deal with everything.

Even though the mystery wasn't hard to figure out, it was still fun. I'm sure it's because we're seeing the bigger picture, everyone had a piece of the truth. Yet, you can't help but feel skeptical, I shouldn't like this character, he looks innocent but what if?

One of the things I liked is how this book rely on social medias, something many books set in our days ignore. It's not logical, social media is a part of everybody's life. I liked how Karen used it to create a good story. How our lives, privacy, secrets are violated. How it's so easy to uncover anything.

This was a quick read, even if I have to admit that it stretched a bit too much eventually, it was fun and a page turner. I highly recommended if you're looking for something new in the YA contemporary genre. It has a bit of everything, even a little romance.

This book would make a great movie! Karen M. McManus did a great job for a debut book, I'm already looking forward to her future books.

So, we’ve got four suspects. The golden boy baseball player. The pretty popular girl who ceases to exist when her boyfriend isn’t around. The uppity overachiever. And the drug dealer on probation with a rough home life.

So four stereotypes. Well, at first.

The murdered kid was not very popular - he kept a rumor mill app that exposed peoples deepest darkest secrets (dun dun DUNNN)(on a related note, I am so glad I got out of high school before smartphones were a thing. Social media was a thing but it wasn’t everywhere. I could go home and just ignore it, it was awesome). Plenty of people have reason to hate this kid, especially the four who just conveniently get put in detention with him. App-kid has a fatal allergic reaction. Someone put peanut oil in his cup. WHO DID IT? Someone’s lying. WHO IS IT?! Uppity? Baseball? Girly-girl? Drug Dealer?

I am not sure how I can discuss this book without spoiling the whole thing, so I’ll do my best to be vague, but I will warn for spoilers. SPOILERS!! It seems to me like some writers are wary to have bad things happen to their characters - or have their characters do bad, unspeakable things. The name of the book is “One Of Us Is Lying” - I was really expecting one of them to be, well, lying. We’re promised a whodunit with four unreliable narrators except…well, our narrators turn out to be pretty reliable. It was a bit disappointing. END SPOILERS!!!

Anyway! So far as YA murder-mysteries go, this one was a fun, entertaining read. The characters are all well-developed and believable as teenagers.

Recommended for:

YA murder mystery fans, YA fans, someone looking for a less-intense cozy-type mystery.

Not recommended for:

Hardcore mystery genre fans.

This was a quick and fun read, however, the character development was way more fun than the actual mystery, which I half figured out before the end. A fun read nonetheless.

This is such a good book! I love that this book is both a contemporary and a thriller. There are parts that are just cute and about friendship and others that put your heart speeding up to know what’s going to happen!

The book follows Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper. They were put in detention after being found with phones in class, that turned out, weren’t theirs. Someone clearly set them up and they have to discover why because in that same room in detention was Simon – the school gossiper – and he had an allergic attack to peanut oil after drinking just a cup of water and died. Now, the four of them have been made suspects and a lot of secrets are going to come up!

Our characters couldn’t be more different from each other! But I love that as the book goes on, their friendship develops, and without what happened, they would have never been friends.

I absolutely loved how the secrets were unraveled and how realistic the whole situation felt. The writing was really good and made the book incredibly gripping and the different pov’s, which usually I’m not a fan of, were really nicely done and easy to follow.

I can’t stop thinking about this book! It was just so good and although I was kind of expecting already what happened at the end, it still managed to surprise me in many ways!

I would love if this book was ever turned into a movie – preferably a really good adaptation. It would be such a good – slightly cute – thriller! And they should also keep that cover because it’s gorgeous!

I loved this book and I would most definitely recommend it!

I couldn't put it down. I was a little worried that it would be too similar to This Is Our Story, which I read early this year but it's way different.

I did guess, to an extent, who did it, but that in no way took away from the book. I needed to know the WHY.
The way that the story was woven through all 4 of the remaining detention victims was amazing. McManus did a great job of making me feel for each character and also doubting their innocence.

There's a little romance in the One of Us Is Lying, which was just the right amount for me. Enough to have me swoon a bit, but not enough that I felt like I was reading a romance instead of a thriller.
I seriously loved all of the characters, faults and all. Of which there were many, but that just made them all that much more real.

One of Us Is Lying also addressed quite a few issues, not only for the characters but also how unfortunately some things play out in a high school setting (high school kids aren't always the nicest). It was also a good showing on true friendship and the impact you have on other peoples lives.

My only complaint is a few of the things that happened at the high school. A few of the things are a big fat NO on the high school front, but I enjoyed the story so much that in the end it didn't matter. A spoiler because it's not in the blurb, but not really a spoiler because it's mentioned very early on: They end up in detention because their teacher caught them with cell phones. He searched students bags for them. That is a HUGE NO. You can't just search students bags. There were other things, but this one was big for me.