Name: Tali ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆'s review of One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Item: One of Us Is Lying
Rating: 5
Author: Tali ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

Karen M. McManus

One of Us Is Lying

"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 High's 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 wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd 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 who's still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them"--

Izaac Richards

"If you'll admit that insurgent is a cinematic tour de force and you're dying to see it, I'll consider your proposal." 

Nate snaps his head up and gives me a smile like the sun coming out. "Insurgent is a cinematic tour de force and I'm dying to see it." 

Happiness starts bubbling through me, making it hard to keep a straight face. I manage, though, because I'm not going to make things that easy on him. Nate can sit through the entire series before we leave the friend zone. "That was fast," I say. "I expected more resistance." 

"I really do." He sounds regretful, and I almost crack a smile. "I like you more, though. I miss you like crazy." 

I don't know where to look because there's no part of him that doesn't undo me.

But I'm starting to reaize there are some things you can't undo, no matter how good your intentions are.

I hesitate. I'd do almost anything to get out of my head right now. It's the Macauley family way. And everybody already thinks I'm that guy. 

Almost everybody "Can't," I say, pulling out my burner phone and starting to shoulder my way through the crowd. It buzzes before I get outside. When I look at the screen and see Bronwyn's number-even though she's che only one who ever calls me on this phone - I feel a massive sense of relief. Like I've been freezing and someone wrapped a blanket around me.

Kris hesitates a fraction of a second, then leans forward and pulls me roughly toward him, pressing his lips against mine. I close my eyes and the world around me fades, like it always does, when I slide my hands into his hair and kiss him back.

"Bronwyn Rojas, I solemnly sweat not to murdet you today or at any point in the future. Deal?"

She'll surprise you one day with how prety she is. My mother used to say that about Bronwyn. 

My mother was wrong, though. There's nothing surprising ahout it.

So I brought my grades up, and got an A by the end of the year. But I'm pretty sure nobody wants me sharing my strategies with the other students.

I'd never been featured; I'm too squeaky-clean for that. 

There's only one thing Simon might have written about me, but it would have been almost impossible for him to find out. 

My older sister, Ashton, likes to joke that I'm one of those barnacles that would die without its host. It's not actually so funny.

I did not like it. Personally I didn’t really understand the beginning and I thought it was quite confusing 

Blub

Ellie 

“She’ll surprise you one day with how pretty she is. My mother used to say that about Bronwyn.

My mother was wrong, though. There's nothing surprising about it.”

“"If they're still being assholes tomorrow, come sit with me. They wanna talk, let's give them something to talk about?"

It shouldn't make me smile, but it almost does.“

“I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes they're just assholes who screw up because they don't expect to get caught.”

"You realize it's sexist to say man-whore, right? If you have to use the term you should at least be gender-neutral about it."

“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 college. Which I realize is pretty uninspiring, but so is high school dating. For me, anyway.”

Krissy Degarnham

Honestly, I don't care what we do. I just want to stay wrapped around him for as long as possible, fighting sleep and forgetting about the rest of the world

Im Leben geht es nicht darum, die Sprintstrecke zu schaffen  sondern den Marathon durchzustehen 

Kylie Robinson

"The first seven years of the Joshua tree's life, it's just a vertical stem. No branches," she told me while we were hiking. "It takes years before it blooms. And every branching stem stops growing after it blossoms, so you've got this complex system of dead areas and new growth." I used to think about that, sometimes, when I wondered what parts of her might still be alive.

Effie Ewart

My hand hurts within minuet. It's pathetic, I guess.

Kimmy Hobden

"Of course you do, she snaps. "You've been miserable for the past month." 

"Because I was being investigated for murder," I remind her. "Not because I'm single." 

"Course he is," Pop says, still laughing. I watch his face, because I'm pretty sure it's the last time he'll look at me the way he always has. 

“Right?" His eyes slide over to mine, casual and confident, but when he sees my face his smile dims. 

Celine

Anthony Teo

On Thursday 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 High's notorious gossip app. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investi-gators, his death wasn't an accident. On Thursday, he died. But on Friday, he'd 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 just the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

One of Us is Lying

First Impressions & Falling in Love with McManus's Writing

This was my very first Karen M. McManus book, and I can confidently say it turned me into a fan for life. From the first chapter, I was completely drawn in by her writing style — fast-paced, addictive, and packed with tension. She has that rare ability to make every chapter end with a reason to keep reading. Now she’s become that one author I’ll 

 trust: if her name is on the cover, I’m buying the book, no questions asked.

 kept me on my freaking toes! I could barely put the book down — every chapter ended with another twist, another question, another clue that made it impossible not to turn the page. I found myself staying up late, completely consumed by the story and obsessed with figuring out who killed Simon. I literally lost sleep over this book — in the best way possible.

One of the biggest strengths of this book is its characters. McManus does a fantastic job getting inside each of their heads, giving us their thoughts, fears, and motivations. This made them feel 

 much more real and multidimensional compared to how they were portrayed in the TV series. The inner monologues gave me a deeper connection with each character, and I found myself rooting for them, even when they made questionable choices.

While the TV adaptation has its moments, the book delivers a much richer, more nuanced experience. The internal conflicts and emotional depth just don’t come through on screen the way they do in the novel. In the book, I actually liked the characters — I understood where they were coming from and felt like I was growing with them through each chapter.

 is everything I want in a YA mystery: suspenseful, character-driven, and impossible to put down. It’s smart, twisty, and emotionally engaging from start to finish. If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing — and make you lose a little sleep in the process — this is the one.

Karen M. McManus has officially earned her place as one of my go-to authors, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books.

Tali ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

First Impressions & Falling in Love with McManus's Writing

This was my very first Karen M. McManus book, and I can confidently say it turned me into a fan for life. From the first chapter, I was completely drawn in by her writing style — fast-paced, addictive, and packed with tension. She has that rare ability to make every chapter end with a reason to keep reading. Now she’s become that one author I’ll blindly trust: if her name is on the cover, I’m buying the book, no questions asked.

A Plot That Refuses to Let You Go

The mystery in One of Us Is Lying kept me on my freaking toes! I could barely put the book down — every chapter ended with another twist, another question, another clue that made it impossible not to turn the page. I found myself staying up late, completely consumed by the story and obsessed with figuring out who killed Simon. I literally lost sleep over this book — in the best way possible.

Complex, Relatable Characters

One of the biggest strengths of this book is its characters. McManus does a fantastic job getting inside each of their heads, giving us their thoughts, fears, and motivations. This made them feel so much more real and multidimensional compared to how they were portrayed in the TV series. The inner monologues gave me a deeper connection with each character, and I found myself rooting for them, even when they made questionable choices.

Book vs. TV Series: Why the Book Wins

While the TV adaptation has its moments, the book delivers a much richer, more nuanced experience. The internal conflicts and emotional depth just don’t come through on screen the way they do in the novel. In the book, I actually liked the characters — I understood where they were coming from and felt like I was growing with them through each chapter.

Final Thoughts

One of Us Is Lying is everything I want in a YA mystery: suspenseful, character-driven, and impossible to put down. It’s smart, twisty, and emotionally engaging from start to finish. If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing — and make you lose a little sleep in the process — this is the one.

Karen M. McManus has officially earned her place as one of my go-to authors, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books.

Bruh. no like the reveal was shocking i didn’t expect it but it was Lame to me personally like i really wanted it to be one of the four 

Kind of 'meh' for me, at the start it was good. Kind of kept me on the hook and can't put the book down, but the ending is disappointing. I mean, as a suspense thriller girly the twist just fell flat for me.

prachi priyadarshini

this was interesting and cute! i would have enjoyed it more if i were younger though 

taylor

It really does keep you on your toes and questioning things. At the end I kinda figured it out but I wasn't surprised by the plot twist. Overall, it was good.

Tsu 💙

I really hoped that this book would end with bronwyn and Nate ending up together as a couple which makes me sad about how the book ended. I guess I just wish that all the characters got their happily ever afters and I feel like this book in a way kind of did it for these two since they are at least friends again but I wish they would have ended as a couple. I also think that this book was very slow even though the writing for me was easy to read overall I give the book 3 stars. 

Chulandon leanday Bradley 

This book was able to get me back into reading. I couldn't put the book down at all. The ending was a bit predictable but that didn't take away from the book at all. The characters were enjoyable and I liked being able to see each persons perspective and how they felt about the events happening. The main characters were able to show growth and change through-out the book. It flowed well too. Overall I would recommend the book to anyone who wants to get back into reading or anyone who wants an introduction to mystery and thriller with a touch of romance!

trix

Amazing read. Couldn’t figure it out the whole time! 

Kamie Cato

Loved loved loved! Kept me interested and the ending was not what I was expecting at all!🤯

Kaylin Caldwell

I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read. I was really in the mood for some kind of mystery and this book was perfect. I did guess who did it like halfway through the book and I can’t believe Bronwyn couldn’t have thought of that earlier. Overall pretty good and I’m excited to read more by this author. 

Maggie Hotmer

i’m probably a bit too old to read and enjoy something like this because the main characters are all teenagers. it was a nice read anyway, great to keep things off your mind. 

mirta <3

'Tightly plotted and brilliantly written, with sharp, believable characters, this whodunit is utterly irresistible' - HEAT THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Five students go to detention. Only four leave alive. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond. Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again. He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects. Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them. _____ 'Twisty plotting, breakneck pacing and intriguing characterisation add up to an exciting single-sitting thrillerish treat' -THE GUARDIAN 'A fantastic murder mystery, packed with cryptic clues and countless plot twists. I could not put this book down' - THE SUN 'Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club' - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

the bestselling thriller

One Of Us Is Lying

A great teenage book, there’s an interesting plot twist but it is easy to find it by yourself in the middle of the book.

I appreciate the romantic plot, it’s kinda cute

Ecnamreh

A great teenage book, there’s an interesting plot twist but it is easy to find it by yourself in the middle of the book.

I appreciate the romantic plot, it’s kinda cute

Linara K.S

Nominiert für den Deutschen Jugendliteraturpreis 2019

ONE OF US IS LYING

Rebecca Hurd

WOW!! Great read…amazing mystery…crazy twist!! Love that it’s told from multiple points of view!!

Erin G.

My first YA thriller/mystery, such a pleasant surprise. Fast pacing, engrossing premise and characters who spoke and acted like legit teens. Will definitely read the sequel.

Cori

It was good but I figured out the ending sooo yeah

Bria

Elisavet Rozaki 

I'm curious why there's a sequel and I'm intrigued to read it but also know I'm going to hate it.

started in 2020 only got like barely half way and just finished. I was like “oh my god why did i stop this” for maybe like 100 pages then i got reminded why i put it back down in the last like 70 it was like dragged i guess? i don’t even know how to explain it i just didn’t like the characters even though i was supposed to. good plot twist though just needed to be shortened. I think the only reason i don’t like this is it was too based in the four, same reason i hated final girls: how are you going to have a book mainly about the characters and then have the characters not developed well.

melanie

All the secrets of the Bayview Four will be revealed in the TV series soon to be streaming on NBC's 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 High's 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 wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd 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 who's still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. And don't miss the #1 New York Times bestselling sequel, One of Us is Next!

ingrid 

five stars bc it was addictive and actually had a satisfying ending- could not put it down 
also Nate is so hot god help me

Megan

In general, this was a very good book. The back cover tells you from the beginning that this is a book you won't be able to put down. I find that to be incredibly true. I started reading two or three days ago and in three sessions, I've completed the book. It's a whirlwind of a story. You dive right in at the very beginning and the twists and turns don't stop until the last chapter. This book deals with so many things, depression, sexuality, relationships and more. The ending however, is kind of predictable. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading it. If I had known the ending from the beginning, I still would have picked up this book. That being said there's still some downtime in this book. There are some scenes that feel kind of unnecessary and clunky. I could do without some of the scenes. The dialogue is snappy and everything said is for the most part important. McManus does a great job of building character relationships. I felt like I really knew each of the characters, even though there were quite a few to keep track of. For the most part, this was a good read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's a fan of YA drama!

kait

this was so predictable. i felt like this would have been good as a short story because i genuinely do not believe this needed to be this long. which isn't good because this was only like 300 or 350 pages if i am remembering right so i don't think this really hit me like i wanted it to. i am definitely disappointed. the second book does sound better but if it is anything like this i will probably not be reading more of this.

Eine Geschichte über vier Schüler einer Highschool, bei dem während des Nachsitzens ein Schüler von einer allergischen Reaktion stirbt. Die Polizei ist von der festen Überzeugung, dass es Mord war und das es einer der vier Schüler sein musste, doch wer war es wirklich? In dem Buch begleitet man die vier Schüler, wie sie versuchen selbst auf den Mörder zu kommen. 

War sehr spannend, in der Mitte manchmal uninteressant aber die Idee wurde gut umgesetzt, weil der Schluss auch realistisch war und nicht nur dieses typische, dass der Mörder jemand war an dem man nicht gedacht hätte. 

Mariam Raji

Eine Geschichte über vier Schüler einer Highschool, bei dem während des Nachsitzens ein Schüler von einer allergischen Reaktion stirbt. Die Polizei ist von der festen Überzeugung, dass es Mord war und das es einer der vier Schüler sein musste, doch wer war es wirklich? In dem Buch begleitet man die vier Schüler, wie sie versuchen selbst auf den Mörder zu kommen. 

War sehr spannend, in der Mitte manchmal uninteressant aber die Idee wurde gut umgesetzt, weil der Schluss auch realistisch war und nicht nur dieses typische, dass der Mörder jemand war an dem man nicht gedacht hätte. 

buny

** spoiler alert **
           i literally went from "i find every single one of you annoying" to "nate, i will love you forever" by the end of the book lol he was just so !!!!!!!!!!!! i think why bronwyn and nate work so well, even w the typical goodgirl x badboy trope is that nate isn't actually Bad hes just a bit misguided and cool as hell... hes kind and uncaring yet honest abt EVERYTHING. which in my pov is better than being pretend good. bronwyn is pretentious at times but shes very supportive of ppl she holds close to her heart so she gets plus points for that 

addy and cooper both cheat on their partners at some point and that part of their character makes me a bit. unnerved. cos no matter what, cheating is never okay but the book never actually makes it seem like its a bad thing ???? by this point, i should just be happy that at the Very least, addy regrets doing it. bec cooper on the other hand, never even actually acknowledges it😭

what i feel for simon is a bit complicated. he freaks me the fuck out but then i also think that maybe if everyone didn't treat him the way they did, he wouldnt have went that far. but then, they all treated him like shit was exactly bec of his creepy behaviour, he scared the hell out of everyone bec who knows when he'll post something abt one of them and ruin their entire lives? i just wish he couldve gotten help earlier :! cooper's words stick with me, that even though simon planned it all out maniacally for months, the moment it actually happened, he regretted it.

Anthony Teo &
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

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One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus