Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - One of Us is Lying

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

70 reviews

stungbythewood's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a reread after my first time read around the same time in the beginning of last year.

I really enjoyed this book on my first read through and still enjoy it just as much on my second although I do have a few minor complaints.

There are a few points of misogyny that are just :/

And after rereading the ending, it all felt way too convenient.

I do find Jake being an accomplice to be a LITTLE suspect even if he was controlling of Addy. I do not like the guy at all but he never gave any signs of being so upset with Addy that he’d stoop to setting her up for murder. Though I suppose that’s the point of it being a murder mystery.

I get that it was supposed to mainly be focused on the bay view four as suspects in Simon’s murder but Jake’s involvement felt too out there within the whole story.

Also did Jake not recognize Cooper’s car in front of Janae’s house? You’d think if he was looking out for her parents car, that’d be something he’d notice.

I was not anticipating the twist outcome on my first read through so I was genuinely surprised by that.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nate and Bronwyn’s storylines as well as Addy’s. Cooper’s was fine but I’m not all that interested in sports so his storyline didn’t interest me for the most part.

Nate and Bronwyn’s relationship hits home as someone who’s felt the same high academic achievement expectations and have been interested in guys like Nate.

Bronwyn and her desire to fix things head on as they come along in her relationship with Nate is so relatable that I genuinely felt as if I lived their story (without being accused of murder, of course) and I think their relationship is very realistic, especially toward the end when Nate ducks out of Bronwyn’s life because things got too real for him. It’s an experience I know all too well, but luckily, Nate gets his act together and realizes that self isolating isn’t the solution to what he’s feeling.

He actually listens to advice given to him by Addy and attempts to make things work with Bronwyn and COMMUNICATES HIS FEELINGS!!!!!!!!

Thank you Karen M. McManus for writing men that actually work on improving themselves for the women in their life.

Their relationship is so sweet and I love seeing their love and care for each other grow!

The good girl x bad boy trope is my beloved.

I love love loved seeing Addy grow and find herself after her relationship with Jake and realizing that he actually wasn’t good for her and isn’t the end all be all of her life.

Her finding her footing and place in this world is something that I relate to a LOT myself.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick but fun mystery to read.

I’ve already read the second book and am not sure if I’ll be going a reread of it but I am looking forward to reading the third installment!

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eoleary821's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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austin_lakes's review against another edition

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4.25

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liagatha's review against another edition

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mysterious

2.25

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prairieraven's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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confessionsofabibliophile's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

🔴Might contain spoilers.🔴

Upon reading the first few chapters of this book, I was sucked in. It gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes with a splash of The Breakfast Club thrown in. Unsure if in the future when the "Bayview Four" are named the Murder Club if this was McManus paying homage to the 80s classic, even if it wasn't a little Easter Egg it made me laugh.

The book takes place in an area of California, I know all too well. Which gave me the ability to immerse myself more into the read. We follow in the first few chapters 5 students: Bronwyn Rojas; very girl next door, top of the class and squeaky clean or so we think, she reminded me of Molly Ringwalds character in The Breakfast Club. Adelaide "Addy" Prentiss; miss popularity dating star athlete the perfect pair, everyone knows who she is by name and by who she is dating but not who ADDY is which let me tell you at the start I really didn't care too much for her she seemed like filler until her story and personal development begins to unfold. She gave me a mix of Hannah from PLL. Cooper Clay; all American golden boy, with the perfect life, grades, MLB scouts pick and the perfect girl, but Coop is hiding a secret that he is worried might end his perfect facade. He is the male counterpart to Emily from PLL. Next, we have Nathaniel "Nate"' Macauley; is the bad boy, down on his luck, guy from the other side of the tracks the only one without a squeaky clean past. He screams a hybrid of Caleb Rivers (PLL) and John Bender (TBC)! Lastly we have Simon Kelleher, he is the school gossip app specialist, secret digger and lie detector. The homecoming court prince that no one seems to think much of. Simon screams A from PLL!!! We start with 5 then someone dies and then the Bayview Four is born and our Murder Club strangers become the unlikely friends that solve the mystery behind the murder.

The characters were well written and I felt connected to them. I think Addy was one of the best character development progressions I have seen for a character set up like Addy. The plot flowed well with no holes that I could find. The story had a good pace, it felt smooth and effortless as it progressed and you begin to unravel the truth about the murder and the Bayview Four. With that being said the ending that was supposed to be a twist and shock, it was to an extent but I had thought about the possibility earlier on in the story, though it didn't change my Oh My God moment.

All in all it was a great quick read that took about a day. Definitely going to read her other books in the series and absolutely will watch the tv show! I totally recommend this YA murder mystery/thriller with a slice of life setting!

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creativeworld's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

An easy read and a fun mystery. The ending was satisfying, although I hate Nate the rest of the characters are good. Exactly the kind of book I was looking for.

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