McManus, Karen M. --One of Us is Lying informal buddy read starts July 22, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is open to discuss One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus.



Synopsis

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them."

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

res

[Michelle]

Oh, I’ve wanted to read this for a long time. In for Team Draco!

[Elen]

I'm in. Team Hermione Granger.

[Vicki]

I just read this in December. I'm on Team Hermione Granger, so if I participate in the discussion will my team still get points if I'm not currently reading it?

[Devann]

i think the rule is 6 months since the last reread so by july you should be good

[edit] oops i thought you meant you were going to reread it, i'm not sure if you get points if you are just doing questions but have already read it. although that is a good question just in general!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I'm in - if my library puts this off hold by then!! :)

[Jenny]

I'm in as well. Team Remus Lupin. I read this when it came out, and wouldn't mind doing it again.

[Joanne]

Hoping I get this one in time from the library. Team Draco Malfoy

[Laura]

Vicki wrote: "I just read this in December. I'm on Team Hermione Granger, so if I participate in the discussion will my team still get points if I'm not currently reading it?"

Hi Vicki; here's the answer to your question. ( copied and pasted from the captains group; Faq's)

◈ Q: One of the scheduled upcoming Buddy Reads is a book I recently read a couple months ago. I realize that I can't get points for this book since I read it prior to the challenge start date, but if I participate in the discussion can I get points for participating in a Buddy Read?
A: To try and keep things simple points count for BRs and BOMs once the book is marked as "read" by the member. This would mean the answer to your question is 'no'.

As Devann said above ; you would be good to re read again in July if you wanted the buddy read points.

[Christina]

I read this one only in April or so so will only snoop around to find out what you think about the book. Can't wait to hear your theories!! ;)

[Apoorv]

Eh? When did the start date change from July 2nd to 22nd?
The NBRC BR Spreadsheet still says July 2nd.

I got my book, and started with it yesterday. And I'm sort of hooked, don't want to stop for 18 more days! :O

[Elen]

It hasn't changed, it was always 22 July. I think Mods put in SS wrong date.

[Maddy]

Hello! Team Minerva McGonnagall

I have been waiting to read this for a while now. Might as well be in July. Can't wait! Supposedly it is quite good :)

[Abbey]

I've had this book sitting around since December, so this is the motivation I'll need!

Team Draco Malfoy for Tower Teams.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Good news! I was able to grab a copy of this book and will be able to join in. It looks interesting.

[Devann]

i read chapters 1-7 today

pretty interesting so far, some random thoughts

addy (view spoiler)[i absolutely hate her mother [telling her that she should always say yes to sex so her boyfriend doesn't get bored. yuck] and also her boyfriend [bitch let her wear what she wants]. i hope she's not the murderer just because she seems mostly sweet lol (hide spoiler)]

bronwyn and nate (view spoiler)[i totally hate the nerdy girl / bad boy trope but they're actually not as annoying as i thought they would be. interested to see if that's actually where this is going or if maybe they introduced the trope to knock it down. this book seems very aware that it's using a lot of stereotypes. (hide spoiler)]

simon (view spoiler)[no idea who did it at this point. i'm thinking someone is probably setting them up but idk who. my totally out there theory is that simon killed himself and had set up the tumblr stuff to post on a schedule but at this point in the book i'm usually just thinking up the most ridiculous thing i can because we don't have much information yet lol (hide spoiler)]

anyone else started yet? i'm hoping to finish it by wednesday

[Joanne]

Haven’t started yet but hope to soon.

[Apoorv]

Team Gilderoy Lockhart

I had started reading the first couple of chapters 20 days ago, only to realize that the start date was wrong. So, I was holding onto dear life for the calendar to flick to the 22nd, so I can devour this book because I was certainly hooked with the premise of the story.

So, I restarted this today and for now, all I want to say is I am on page 178 and I can't for the life of me figure out who has done it. The book has its issues, but I like that Karen McManus is aware of them, and works through them; all while slowly peeling off the layers of the mystery.

I am normally not the biggest fan of multiple narratives, because they can very easily go astray; but here we have them tightly weaved around each-other to keep the drama flowing.

Alright, not sure if I made any sense there but I am going back to reading this, I need to solve this mystery today.

[Devann]

i have noticed that even though the POV switches are clearly marked there have been a few times where i've forgotten who is narrating for a few pages, although honestly i have trouble with that a lot so it might be my own issue and not the author's writing

[Apoorv]

I can see why that would happen, Devann, especially if the continuation of the previous scene happens from a different perspective, which is more common with Nate and Bronwyn's stories. And that back-to-back narration between those two has happened a few times in the book now.

[Jenny]

I personally wish that different POV narratives had different fonts for the different voices. Just not italics. I hate reading italics for some reason.

[Joanne]

Just read chapter one.

I think the description said if you read carefully you might be able to figure out who did it. But I haven’t come across any clues yet. Excited to get more into it tomorrow.

[Apoorv]

Joanne wrote: "I think the description said if you read carefully you might be able to figure out who did it. But I haven’t come across any clues yet. Excited to get more into it tomorrow."

I have been trying really hard to analyze who did it. And I am so ashamed of myself for not having a clue (I normally do fairly well in this regard), but I am also pretty excited to see what happens next.

[Elen]

Just finished Part one: Simon Says [Throught chapter 9]

I really like this book so far as I have a pretty free day today, I will read as much as I can, maybe even finish it today.

I would agree to comment below. This book has so many stereotypes, but they somehow are really enjoyable and not too much.
Also, I like the different POV's and it's not distracting or confusing me :)

Bronwyn and Nate - I like this couple [Usually not really]

Addy - (view spoiler)[I hate her control-freak boyfriend. Without him, she is/ would be much better and her own personality. Also, her mum - WHAT - she has really bad thoughts about how the relationship works - have sex when a boy wants and don't think about yourself - WHAT... (hide spoiler)]

Cooper - He is very likable

The theory about Simon death - (view spoiler)[I don't think any of four did it. So it should be someone outside this four people, which isn' really doable. So I think Simon committed suicide as like Devann said too (hide spoiler)]

[Devann]

@Elen i'll laugh so hard if i'm right about that. it seems like the only time i ever figure out whodunnit is whenever i just say it as a joke and then it turns out to be true [i did this with the murder on the orient express movie and couldn't stop laughing]

[Jenny]

I am doing this as a reread, and I am loving the theories on whodunit so far!
I should finish it today as well, and I am enjoying the book for a second time. Knowing what I know, I am picking up on a clue or two that I missed the first time.
I do agree that the characters are mainly sympathetic and likeable, even though they are such stereotypes, which shouldn't work as well as it does.

[Devann]

read up through chapter 15

gotta say i'm still not sure who did it unless my original theory pans out. another possibility i guess would be (view spoiler)[the teacher who hates technology, but honestly murdering some kid because he runs a gossip website and you hate kids being on their phones is like scooby do levels of 'what a convoluted plan' (hide spoiler)]

surprised by how much i continue to like nate and bronwyn's relationship

also really loving how addy is coming out of her shell more (view spoiler)[i love when she goes to get her hair cut and they don't want to do it and she's just like 'do you cut hair here or not' lmao you go girl (hide spoiler)]

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Jenny wrote: "I personally wish that different POV narratives had different fonts for the different voices. Just not italics. I hate reading italics for some reason."

I hate italics too, especially if they have a dream that lasts several pages.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I will hopefully be starting this one this evening.

[Elen]

Devann wrote: "@Elen i'll laugh so hard if i'm right about that. it seems like the only time i ever figure out whodunnit is whenever i just say it as a joke and then it turns out to be true [i did this with the m..."


Most of the time I figure out who is guilty, but not always.
I have been watching crime TV shows since I was a kid [My mum didn't like it, but I still watched them] and then I started reading crime too. :D

[Elen]

Finished!

I really liked it. It was typical YA mystery, which involved teens, but the story and writing style was well done, so it was much more enjoyable than I expected.

Bronwyn and Nate - (view spoiler)[I really liked their relationship and dynamic in it, but I was really pissed off when Nate rejected aka "broke up" with her after she did for him. I understand that you need time after being in prison and being suspected for murder, but you can still be friends or just say hello when you see that person, but not just walk away, like this person doesn't exist. But I liked that he gets past his presumptions that he is too bad for her. And they try one more time! (hide spoiler)]

Addy - I really loved how she grew from the beginning until the end.
(view spoiler)[the scene where she cut her hair was just SO badass. Also, that she doesn't get a new boyfriend right away like her mum says to, but she thinks about herself and what she really needs. (hide spoiler)]

The ending aka Simon's death - (view spoiler)[Devann, we were right!!
He wanted to leave a mark in history by doing what he did, but in the end, I think everyone will just forget him as fast as they can.
But what he did by for "four of them" was just cruel, but yeah. (hide spoiler)]

Jake - (view spoiler)[I knew that he is control-freak and not really good, but that I was not expecting from him at all. He really hated Addy and used her for a long time [he knew everything way back already] (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Just finished. Don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished!
(view spoiler)[ I love the fact that a few of you called it! When I read it the first time, I thought that somehow it was Jake, but that was mainly because I didn't like him. I hadn't figured out how he did it, and that he was working with the others.

All of the main characters grow throughout this story, but my favorite story arc was Addy's. The fact that she realized how screwed up her family and boy friend were, and started to assert herself, was way cool. (hide spoiler)]

One big thing I took away from this book, and from others like it, is how glad I am that I went to high school in the 80s. Yes there were cliques, but no social media, no 4chan, honestly I didn't know anyone with a peanut allergy. Also, most people waited until college to have sex. Way fewer complications. We dealt with relationship drama by talking for hours on the phone (with a long cord to get as far away from the parents as possible), with a friend. As a result, I liked high school. I don't think I would like it now. Way too easy to have a mistake or misstep, or embarrassing moment spread throughout the whole school. Ouch.

[Devann]

i went to highschool from 2004-2008 and even then it was nothing like this lol although honestly i have always found books/movies about high school from any era to be completely off the wall compared to my experience. i think really you just have to like ...make your own experience. i mean if you don't want a bunch of sex related drama then don't hang out with people who are sleeping around or else just make it clear you aren't interested in hearing about it etc. and i was by no means 'popular' but i found that by high school people were pretty much over like overly 'bullying' people and most people just kept away from people they didn't like. like i've never seen someone shoved into a locker or something lmao

[Lexi]

Devann wrote: "i went to highschool from 2004-2008 and even then it was nothing like this lol although honestly i have always found books/movies about high school from any era to be completely off the wall compar..."

I graduated from high school in 2003 and my brother six years later. It was a very different version of cyber bullying and just the prevalence of online presence. I know people who were hurt, physically and verbally. You can't always stay away. I will note I have never heard of anyone shoved in a locker and not sure when that became the stereotype for high school bullying.

Now back to the book, so far, I am not finished, but it is like a soap opera. I don't think it intends to be realistic as everyone has both secret and is a walking stereotype. Even with that, it has been quite enjoyable so far and surprisingly well written.

[Devann]

apparently i just went to a super chill high school because i can remember like maybe two actual physical fights ever taking place that i heard about

[Jenny]

I was bullied in grade school, but not high school. By then, I pretty much got along with everyone. I was in choir, theater, read science fiction, was an A student, and a cheerleader, so I didn't fit into any particular box. There wasn't physical bullying at my HS either, that I recall, but definitely snubbing, back stabbing, name calling, etc. Generally though, people were midwestern-nice. Like Devann noted, if there were people you didn't like, you could just avoid them.

In grade school, there were a few bad apples. You could tell early who the mean people were. Makes you wonder about nature vs nurture. As an adult, I wish I knew about the upbringing of the bad apples. Was their family life horrible, or were their brains just that way. Hmmm.

[Lexi]

So read more on the train home. (view spoiler)[ I am beginning to wonder if this is a suicide and was all set up to send out at regular intervals. I may be completely in left field though. I also think Copper is gay. (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

I should have the book from the library in a couple of days and will begin my read then!

[Lexi]

Jenny wrote: "Just finished. Don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished!
I love the fact that a few of you called it! ..."

I finished it. (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed even though I saw much of the plot twists coming. The charterers were just done so well. Abby had the greatest growth and I like how she gets to be her own person and doesn't immediately date again. Copper was sweet but they never dealt with violating his civil rights. Anyway, fun read and outside of my normal reading habits. (hide spoiler)]

[Devann]

@Jenny yeah i had a lot more trouble with bullying in grade school and by high school it seemed like everyone had just chilled out [and also i had totally stopped caring what people though so it was all like eh whatever to me anyway lol] unfortunately i didn't get to read more of this today but i'm hoping to make more progress tomorrow

[Kaley]

Looks like some people are still reading this one and my copy just came in from the library so I'm going to jump in! :) From Team Bellatrix.

ETA: I just realized this only started a few days ago (I was looking at the spreadsheet which says July 2) so yay for not being too far behind!

[Sarah]

I had to read this before the buddy read started as the library snatched back my copy, so I can't join in with all the guessing about whodunit.

Devann wrote: "i have noticed that even though the POV switches are clearly marked there have been a few times where i've forgotten who is narrating for a few pages, although honestly i have trouble with that a l..."

Yes! I had trouble with this as well. I suppose it shows that the characters were all similar in spite of their outward differences … or the author just didn't give them distinctive enough voices.

[Sarah]

Like a few have commented, I think my favourite story arc was (view spoiler)[Addy. I loved how she finally realised how messed up her mom's advice was and how toxic her relationship with Jake was, and made changes for the better. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Scrolling through the comments, I'm wondering (although it seems we all enjoyed it), (view spoiler)[how successful this is as a mystery, as so many of us guessed whodunit.

I don't usually guess, after all, and I did with this. Maybe the characters were all too likable - or too dense/wrapped up in their own worries to see what was right in front of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Devann]

i got through chapter 24 today which is a horrible place to stop lol it's right when (view spoiler)[nate gets arrested (hide spoiler)] so i might try to finish it tonight.

my general theory remains the same although (view spoiler)[i guess simon would have to have someone to post the stuff for him after he died if he did in fact commit suicide and my money is on his only friend, janae i think? it would explain why she's losing so much weight and seems so weird [i mean beyond just being upset that he died] (hide spoiler)]

i am continuing to really enjoy each of the character's story line and how the author is using a lot of well known high school tropes and inverting them. i was worried this would be like 'too YA' before i started it but it's really very enjoyable.

[Devann]

ok i finished it! i really enjoyed it overall

a few spoilery thoughts (view spoiler)[someone asked whether it was successful as a mystery since so many of us guessed the ending. for me i actually like mystery books more when i figure them out [although i guess i did do it a bit faster than normal for this one] because 1. it makes me feel smart and 2. i hate when the explanation is super over-complicated and the author has to spend like an entire chapter info dumping the solution because there's no way for anyone to actually figure it out so i honestly prefer it to be 'easier' to figure out, and really the characters drive the story for me more than the mystery anyway but that might be why i don't read a lot of mysteries.

also someone said they wanted jake to be involved just because he was such an asshole and i admit i had the same feeling lol. like it might not be 'nice' to hope some dude ends up in jail just because he's a controlling asshole to his girlfriend but i hated him from the moment he was introduced so actually pretty glad he was involved.

the thing with nate and bronwyn at the end bothered me a bit because like ...he just totally blew her off and now she's going to go back to him but i guess she is just hanging out as a friend first and not just dropping her entire life for him and also i understand why he freaked out so i still think they'll do okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Joanne]

Devann wrote: "i read chapters 1-7 today

pretty interesting so far, some random thoughts

addy [spoilers removed]

bronwyn and nate [spoilers removed]

simon [spoilers removed]

anyone else started yet? i'm hopi..."

(view spoiler)[I was also wondering if it could be Simon who set it all up to frame them, but then thought killing himself would be going a bit far for revenge. I am definitely suspicious that it's someone other than our 4 main characters though.

I'm up to Chapter 9 and it seems like in addition to the secrets that Simon was going to publish, they have additional secrets. I suspect that Addy got pregnant after her one-night stand with T.J, since she was drunk and may not have used protection. That is why she didn't want to admit she was in the nurse's office that day. Cooper is having an affair and I wonder if maybe it's with a boy instead of another girl, which could be why he is so worried about it getting out. I can't think of anything additional for Bronwyn or Nate though.

Glad to see that those who have finished it seemed to have liked it, judging by the stars that show up next to your names (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Devann wrote: "ok i finished it! i really enjoyed it overall

a few spoilery thoughts (view spoiler)[someone asked whether it was successful as a mystery since so many of us guessed the ending. for me i actually like mystery books more when i figure them out [although i guess i did do it a bit faster than normal for this one] because 1. it makes me feel smart and 2. i hate when the explanation is super over-complicated and the author has to spend like an entire chapter info dumping the solution because there's no way for anyone to actually figure it out so i honestly prefer it to be 'easier' to figure out, and really the characters drive the story for me more than the mystery anyway but that might be why i don't read a lot of mysteries. (hide spoiler)]"

(view spoiler)[Ha ha, yeah, I do like a mystery I can't figure out (I don't usually try, but sometimes it is so obvious). So - I'm not sure how I feel about the mystery - even though the story was good enough that I didn't mind working it out.

I guess really it bugs me when the "detective" doesn't see what is staring the reader in the face. And as the characters weren't really trying to be detectives until the very end, I can forgive them. (hide spoiler)]