From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

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

Karen M. McManus

Start date: October 1, 2017

Finish date: October 31, 2017

Discussion: Stand Alone

Why we're reading this: Won the poll for the stand alone BOTM
[close] Won the poll for the stand alone BOTM

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Stand Alone

* Stand Alone- Better Than Revenge
By Bailey · 2 posts · 28 views

last updated Sep 15, 2025 07:03AM

* Stand Alone- Maybe Meant to Be
By Bailey · 3 posts · 30 views

last updated Aug 18, 2025 12:04PM

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What Members Thought

May 07, 2020 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: susan-s-gcac

I read this 2 years ago and I always rate and review every book I read. The only thing I can think of is maybe my computer glitched and this book fell through the cracks and I didn't notice the rating and review was never given.

I remember loving it and how the person who did the killing came out of nowhere for me. I love the mental illness representation. The mind of a mentally unstable person can go in so many directions and sometimes it's directed inward against themselves and other times it c I read this 2 years ago and I always rate and review every book I read. The only thing I can think of is maybe my computer glitched and this book fell through the cracks and I didn't notice the rating and review was never given.

I remember loving it and how the person who did the killing came out of nowhere for me. I love the mental illness representation. The mind of a mentally unstable person can go in so many directions and sometimes it's directed inward against themselves and other times it can be directed outwards and towards others. Both way are scary and harmful to the one with a mental illness and the ones around them. I have 2 sons with bipolar but they each have other issues that surround them. The older of the 2 has bipolar, severe depression, homicidal and suicidal thoughts, and a severe psychosis. the second son who was my first to be hospitalized and get the first diagnoses at 13 years old is bipolar. IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder) also suffers from depression, and PDD (a form of autism but lower on the high functioning spectrum of autism). Both boys were hospitalized many different times throughout their teenage lives because they became a danger to themselves or the family so I know mental health very well and feel I can say if a book handled the representation of mental illness well and I believe they did. They showed us the unpredictable manner in which their brains work from those who do not have a mental illness (I saw a post that didn't think it had good representation and I disagree). We are all entitled to our own opinions so I will say nothing ill towards the poster of the comment. Her experience may have been different from my own.

I know I love a book with an unpredictable ending in a who dunne it type of book and I was surprised by who it was and how they orchestrated the murder. Hats off to an author who can dupe a longtime mystery reader :)

I wish I could remember more of the other characters to review better but it was 2 years ago when I read this and sadly I just remember the who and how the murder had been done and why. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from her ...more

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Mar 11, 2018 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery

I read this book in one night. Let me say that again, ONE NIGHT. It's been awhile since I've read a book so good that I couldn't' put it down and finished reading it in one go.
Plot: Bronwyn (the brains), Addy (the beauty), Cooper (the athlete), Nate (the criminal), and Simon (the gossip [he runs a tell-all gossip blog About That]) all land in detention one Monday because someone slipped phones into their bags during the school day and the science teacher, which they had throughout the day, auto I read this book in one night. Let me say that again, ONE NIGHT. It's been awhile since I've read a book so good that I couldn't' put it down and finished reading it in one go.
Plot: Bronwyn (the brains), Addy (the beauty), Cooper (the athlete), Nate (the criminal), and Simon (the gossip [he runs a tell-all gossip blog About That]) all land in detention one Monday because someone slipped phones into their bags during the school day and the science teacher, which they had throughout the day, automatically gives them detention if he sees/hears phones in a class. So it's Monday, and they're all in detention, which is weird for most of them because they never get detention. Simon is raving about how he's so thirsty and gets water from the fountain, then there's a car crash outside and they all go to look. SERIOUSLY SPOILERS, YOU SHOULD JUST READ IT. Simon drank his cup of water and he starts to have an allergic reaction, Nate somehow knows he needs an EpiPen. Cooper goes to the nurse's to look for one, but they're all gone. Bronwyn calls 911, and the paramedics come and take him away. They all get out of detention, but get the call later that Simon is dead...he died because he came into contact with peanut oil. That's very weird because he knew he was allergic to peanuts and never touched anything with peanuts and usually drank out of his own water bottle, but somehow it was missing during detention. Now the 4 are looks at with suspicion because why was Simon's water bottle missing? Everyone thinks it was a mistake until a Tumblr post is released that gives details about what happened that no one would know unless they were in detention..letting everyone believe it was one of the 4 (Bronwyn, Nate, Cooper, or Addy). Of course they go through hell, and it gets worse when the police find out the post Simon was going to post the next day (the day after he died) featuring the 4 of them, giving them motive. Simon outs their darkest secrets and it's hell for them. Everyone lawyers up, Nate is left behind though without a lawyer because he's poor, the police find evidence in Nate's lawyer weeks later (even though it was searched before), and goes to jail. The 4 have become friends at this point and have teamed up to find out who really killed Simon since he had a lot of enemies, and Bronwyn and Nate are together so she wants to get him out of jail. They figure out that Simon committed suicide and get his BFF to confess that he planned it. Addy gets Simon's BFF and his co-conspirator (Addy's ex-BF, Jake) on tape and Jake goes to prison, and Nate is released. And Nate and Bronwyn eventually reconnect, thank goodness.

+++Mix of Gossip Girl & a mystery, but it WORKS
+ No obvious plotholes ...more

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Feb 15, 2018 Mindi Poelwijk rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, read-in-2018

I loved this book. I figured out half the ending right away and was pleasantly surprised with the plot twist. Well written.

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Aug 16, 2018 Nicki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a fun murder read full of suspense and mystery! There is plenty of drama as well since it takes place in high school. This book is Young Adult for language and a little content. I would love to read more by this author!

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May 13, 2020 Pam rated it it was amazing

What a twisty book. I grew to love every character (except the ones I was supposed to hate, which I vehemently did!), the writing was great and it was a rush to get through.

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Aug 08, 2019 esmer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

I was hooked from the start!! Such a great YA thriller!!!

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Sep 01, 2018 poot rated it really liked it

fun and cute. lots of secrets unraveled and stuff

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Jan 18, 2021 Heather rated it it was amazing

I loved this one! 😂 It was a super fun, quick read. I finished it in less than 24 hours. The beginning was a little eyeroll-y, with the whole Breakfast Club thing, but it broke fairly quickly from the stereotypes, and I actually enjoyed all of the main characters. Looking forward to reading One of Us is Next!

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