Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - One of Us is Lying

This was pretty good!! I enjoyed the buildup a lot and I loved how the characters ended up becoming really close by the end of the story. I wasn't really shocked with the plot-twists, because it felt kind of obvious. But still, it was really good and a great read.

would most likely reread, but not definitely ☑️

Content Warnings

emabelle's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

lauren_ward's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

what the hell

i’m so mad, why did it turn like that!!?? how- who-
DIVERGENT REALLY?? They could have chosen a better film franchise please…
I- i don’t have words, i was a scared freaked out, on my toes the whole way and then that happens!?
The character development was amateur at best and the only ones i truly liked were Connor and Kris. There were too many people, too many dramatic story lines and that might sound stupid and naïve to say but imo it’s too much.
i can’t believe i’m giving this rating and yet i still want to try the sequel…

yeah- that’s all i have to say.

Content Warnings

thebookshelfofjess's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious fast-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

4.75

Very cliché, but still good. Pretty predictable from the beginning but still enough drama to keep you reading. Definitely young adult style

Content Warnings

hafsa08's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

Content Warnings

classicpseudonym's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

again, writing this immediately after finishing the book so i don't forget anything so i'm still sort of in shock. i read two can keep a secret by mcmanus a few years ago so i've had this on my to read ever since (but never particularly wanted to read it until i didn't have time to find another option at the library). but woah that was definitely something.

i feel like i was more hooked than i'm willing to admit because this was a typical ya book about high school and murder (except by peanut oil i guess), but i still wanted to read on even though this doesn't exactly align with my book tastes. and the build-up of everything was pretty well executed, so props to mcmanus on a thrilling debut.

on the other hand, i'm looking back immediately after and i feel like i didn't really get anything out of it? if that makes sense. i wasn't a big fan of the hold that romance and relationships had on the plot and the book overall, but that's just how high school is portrayed in general, and i'm not a big romance person so i'm probably just biased. me saying "i didn't get anything out of it" isn't to say that the psychological themes and the perspectives/narration of each of the characters wasn't interesting, but i just feel like i wouldn't want to read this book again. like the case with two can keep a secret (which i don't remember anything about, then again its been years) i don't think i'd remember anything about the book besides the ending (which will haunt me even though i felt it coming) in a few months.

now that i'm thinking about it, simon's character is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. from the reference to the omniscent narrator at the beginning of the book, to the way he planned on dictating "his story" even from the grave... chilling. god.

so if you want fast paced, thrilling, and haunting in a ya sort of way read, i'd recommend. there are a lot a lot of trigger warnings though, so i'd recommend that people keep that in mind if they read. if you tend to stay away from ya thriller/mystery books like i do, maybe still give it a read if you're bored because i feel like it's decently well done, but it wasn't my favorite book personally and it might not be yours either. then again, i think it's just because i think too much and i gravitate towards books that are really deep and get my mind all jumbled on the issues of society. but that's a me problem. pretty good book overall though.

Content Warnings

abbyycadabbyy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.5

This book... when I first started it, I thought it was going to be good, I never thought it would be as good as it was. Once I started the book, I didn't want to put it down.

The author does an amazing job at making each person look as guilty as whoever the actual murderer is. Each person has their own reason for why they would have killed Simon. Throughout the book I kept changing who I suspected might be the killer, yet I was never on the dot. Currently this is one of my favorite authors. I love her ability to make you second guess everything you thought you knew.

The author does a really good job at making all the characters relatable and loveable. Out of the main four Nate has to be my favorite. The way his family life is reminds me of my own. The relationship that blossoms between him and the other three shows a lot of character growth from him.

This book had me lying in bed screaming "WHAT!" so many times. Exited for the second one!

I gave this book 5 stars when I read it, it was one of the first books I had ever read. I really think it is a good book but I don’t think it is as good as my other 5 star books. Therefore, I will be bumping it down to a 4.5 stars.

Content Warnings

More...