Reviews tagging 'Violence'

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

200 reviews

azileotulp's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I'm gonna say right now that this was soooooo close to being a 5-star read for me. In all honesty, it probably should be because I only had one minor issue that is totally petty and that no one else probably cares about, but I personally can't overlook it. (I'll be discussing that under the spoiler tag later though.)

I do have to say that this was such an engaging mystery. Sadly, I did have part of the ending spoiled for me because one of the reviewers here doesn't know how to use spoiler warnings, but even with that spoiler, I was still able to enjoy it. It was just as much fun to try to figure out why the person responsible did what they did.

I also loved the characters so much. Usually in books with multiple perspectives, there's always that one character's POV that I'm just trying to get through before I can get back to the more interesting characters. This book wasn't like that at all. Even the characters I originally didn't like at first (who I did grow to love throughout the story, by the way) had such compelling perspectives that I was always excited to read them. And I have to say, I am such a Bronwyn and Nate fan...

Which brings me to my only problem with this book. Like I said... it's petty, but I don't even care. Yes, Bronwyn and Nate do end up together in the end, which I'm so happy about, don't get me wrong. But that little period of time at the end when it seemed like they went their separate ways? That hurt. Especially when I started reading the epilogue set 3 months later and saw that Bronwyn was dating Evan??? I actually bursted into tears. That period of uncertainty just went on too long for me, especially after having read another mystery novel where the protagonist and her love interest do actually go their separate ways. I won't say which book that was, but it genuinely made me sick, and I was so scared it was going to happen again. So, like I said, petty reason for not giving the book 5 stars, but amazing author should have thought about that before scaring me like that.

I do also want to talk a bit about my baby boy Cooper.

I had no idea this book had a prominent LGBTQ+ character, but now I'm happy I decided to read it during Pride Month. Y'all, I feel so connected to Cooper and I'm going to be thinking about him for months. We're both southern gays with homophobic fathers, and we have such similar queer experiences. What really got me was that ride home with his father before he came out to his family. When I came out to my mother, I was also fretting over it while in the car with her, and as soon as we parked, I told her. His story just resonated so deeply with me, and I'm so sorry I was hating on him at the beginning for being a cheater. (Yes, he did still cheat, but I favor gay people and his ex seemed to forgive him by the end. Leave me alone.) I love you, Cooper, and I'm sorry I ever doubted your good nature.

All in all, I truly adored this book. I was captivated the entire time I was reading, but especially those last seventy or so pages. I was gasping, shrieking, throwing up (okay, slightly exaggerated on that last one, but I did gag once). I can't recommend it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Outing

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, and Car accident

While I didn't add "eating disorder" as a content warning, one character is described multiple times as becoming much skinnier and seems to lose about 10 pounds in a short period of time. This is most likely due to stress rather than body issues.

beccarox7's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

sydtheogreadingkid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING I JUST FINISHED IT AT 2:29 IN THE MORNING BUT I REGRET NOTHING I LOVE THIS BOOKKKKKKK ❤️ ❤️❤  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Their was no other option for it but by schizophrenia/psychosis it was the best choice for Bipolar

thegreatelise's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I must say I enjoyed reading the book and I thought I'd rate it 4 stars, that was until the ending. I expected a part of the twist but the other part of it was, in my opinion, too far stretched.
Another things is : I hatred most of the characters, the only one I liked was Nate and I didn't like him anymore at the end, it was the other way around for Addy, I hatred her the most and liked her at the end, as well as Cooper, but overall throughout the book I did not like them and I don't know what gave me the want to keep reading, maybe the mystery and me trying to solve it.
I felt like the epilogue and the bonus chapter were really not necessary.
It's a shame because I really liked the book but the ending ruined it for me.



SPOILERS FROM NOW ON


So the ending : I was not surprised to learn that Simon killed himself HOWEVER the fact that Jake was involved in it and his attitude at the end was way too cliché and over the top and that is the reason why the book went under the 4 stars rating for me.
The romance between Bronwyn and Nate felt a bit forced, breaking news : you don't Always need romance in a Book, and this situation would never happen if you're convincted of murder, you have other things to deal with.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Self harm, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Outing

add_a_little_spook's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

matilde66's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Outing

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Self harm, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Alcohol

anwenpullenxx's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This book is so good! Loved it so much! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

emquartz15's review against another edition

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book is so solid. The writing is effortless and real. The characters, their mannerisms, theirs interactions with each other — it all points to masterful work by McManus. 

I felt like some voices were stronger than others, and I’m not 100% head over heels for the book, so those are the only reasons why it’s not 5 stars from me. Maybe I just haven’t read YA in awhile. 

But I breezed through it and loved the writing! Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a mystery with lovable characters (with the added tension knowing you’re not sure if you can trust them). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Violence

annaspeckien's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

After reading The Cousins recently, I was inspired to go through the authors backlist of books. 

This was such a great story that had so many layers! I will admit, I was a little nervous getting around to this very hyped book, but it was definitely worth it.

I never expected who would be the culprit in the 'whodunit' plot and I think it was executed really well.

The characters were fully dimensional and I was invested in all of their stories. 

Nate really irked me in the last few chapters! I felt so disappointed by his decisions, it was just mean.

I think my favourite character was Bronwyn. They all had some really problems in there life but for some reason the internal and external pressures of being the perfect everything really hit me. 

This was exciting, immersive, thrilling and had  lot of depth to reflect on the consequences of spiteful rumours and extremism and radicalisation within education.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail