From the Bookshelf of Albany Public Library…

One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)

Karen M. McManus

Start date: July 22, 2020

Finish date: August 17, 2020

Why we're reading this: August Forever YA book discussion title
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Apr 05, 2018 Alicia rated it it was ok

Shelves: multiple-povs, female, dark, glbt, mystery-thriller, male, retelling

Reading it after hearing a few rave reviews from students reading it/being introduced to it by their teacher. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's akin to April Henry's mysteries, but I can appreciate the true mystery of the whodunnit that might turn some students on to mystery in general.

What I didn't like was the over-reliance on tropes to get through the book though I'm assuming that's an element for which the book would be admired and plotted around. Yet, I found most of the characters unapp ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Mirkat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Five high-school students in the San Diego suburb Bayview are given detention for having cell phones in their bags. But the odd thing is the phones are not theirs. One of the students, Bronwyn, tries to make this point by holding up her actual phone, which was stowed in her locker when she was nabbed for having the other in her bag. Simon, widely hated for running a gossip app called "About That," makes the point that they are teen-movie clichés (even the blurb references The Breakfast Club). Br Five high-school students in the San Diego suburb Bayview are given detention for having cell phones in their bags. But the odd thing is the phones are not theirs. One of the students, Bronwyn, tries to make this point by holding up her actual phone, which was stowed in her locker when she was nabbed for having the other in her bag. Simon, widely hated for running a gossip app called "About That," makes the point that they are teen-movie clichés (even the blurb references The Breakfast Club). Bronwyn is the honor student who is certain to replicate the family tradition of going to Yale. Cooper is the star pitcher with Major League Baseball in his future. Addy is the beautiful blonde homecoming queen. Nate, a known drug dealer, fulfills the Judd Nelson The Breakfast Club role, only he's way cuter.

Detention is cut short when Simon, known to have a peanut allergy, goes into anaphylactic shock. The epipen that Simon normally carries is nowhere to be found, and the stock kept in the nurse's office cannot be found. Medical assistance arrives, but is too late to save him.

How was Simon exposed to peanut? Did one of the other students in detention set up the detention as well as Simon's death? The four remaining students are soon considered suspects, and are unwittingly thrown together from a mutual need to discover what really happened.

This was a fairly solid mystery read for me. I was interested in listening to it unfolding. While listening, I was on my way to giving this book four stars. I enjoyed the characters' interactions, as they became a support group of sorts. But ultimately, it became one of those "once I really think about this, I question its plausibility too much." Also, the epilogue section, while involving all four protagonists, is told from just one character's perspective--and I would have enjoyed hearing from the others directly in that final wrap-up.

I will also mention, as a plug for the audiobook, that there are four separate narrators, so each literally has a distinct voice. This is something I've come to appreciate in audiobooks. ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Susan D'Entremont rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-club, ya

Read this for the "best-seller" week of my library's adult summer reading club.

Wouldn't want to spend time with most of the characters, despite most of the teens being described as beautiful, and the ending was disappointing, but spent a hot and stormy summer weekend reading the whole thing from cover to cover, so obviously I enjoyed it. Not very deep or meaningful, and includes some lazy tropes, but a fun, fast read. ...more

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Oct 28, 2017 Melissapalmer404 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Book #83 Read in 2017
One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

This was a good young adult mystery. Five students are assigned to after-school detention; only four leave. Simon is killed and the four are under investigation for his murder. There are many layers to each student's story. Did one of them kill Simon? Will the truth come before all of their lives are ruined? This book will keep readers engaged and guessing......I recommend it. ...more

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