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

[Dev]

@Sarah what really killed me about this book was how bad the actual police/detectives were at their jobs lol like they had no idea what was happening and didn't seem to actually be doing anything to look into the case other than keep calling the kids in to ask them the same questions over and over again like i get that they were trying to 'wear them down' or whatever but also maybe do something productive???

[Kaley]

Ch 1-2

I’m having the same problem I have in every book with a multi-character main cast where (view spoiler)[the action either starts right away or before the book starts (hide spoiler)] I can’t keep the characters straight! Too many characters too fast. I can’t separate some of them from each other. I’m sure it’ll get clearer as it goes on, but it’s so frustrating when this happens because it makes it harder to get into.

[Joanne]

Read up to Part Three

(view spoiler)[
Well I was wrong about Addy, she is not pregnant but right about Cooper, his affair is with a boy, not a girl.

Interesting that on Simon’s page, Maeve found that Cooper’s post is dated later and there’s an encrypted file. Also the steroid rumor looks to be false as Cooper took a test. So something is fishy there. Someone switched out his real secret for a fake one. But who?

I still don’t feel like any of them did it but it looks like the most likely suspect is Cooper.

Loving Addy gaining some confidence now that she’s not with Jake (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Through Ch 3

So I’m pretty sure that the secrets are that (view spoiler)[Bronwym cheated in her class and that Cooper and Addy and having an affair with each other (I mean, Cooper clearly is)... but I haven’t figured out Nate’s yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Joanne]

Finished

(view spoiler)[I thought this was pretty good. Tore through the book really quickly. I didn't want to put it down.

I suspected Simon a bit, but also didn't really know and I usually don't try to figure out the culprit in these types of books anyway. Just go along for the ride.

I really enjoyed Addy's growth as a character, although Bronwyn was the character who reminded me the most of myself. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Really, Joanne? Which aspect of Bronwyn? Did you fall for a beautiful perhaps dangerous motorcycle boy who has bad taste in movies?

[Joanne]

Jenny wrote: "Really, Joanne? Which aspect of Bronwyn? Did you fall for a beautiful perhaps dangerous motorcycle boy who has bad taste in movies?"

🤣🤣🤣 No I just meant I was that nerdy girl who was an overachiever.

[Jenny]

My explanation was more fun. Teehee.

[Joanne]

That WOULD be more fun!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Just started tonight - on chapter 3, it's fascinating so far!

[Jenny]

Enjoy it.

Don't read any of the above spoilers, some of the readers here were very good in their predictions of where the story was going.

And I won't let on about the part where all the mannequins from the mall go on the attack. Oops.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Kaley wrote: "Through Ch 3

So I’m pretty sure that the secrets are that [spoilers removed]"

His is the obvious one. It's kind of like the old Agatha Christie Story and Then There were none where everyone's secrets are revealed, mixed with a deranged version of The Breakfast club

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Jenny wrote: "Enjoy it.

Don't read any of the above spoilers, some of the readers here were very good in their predictions of where the story was going.

And I won't let on about the part where all the mannequ..."

Um on the mannequins?

I just started lucky (or unlucky) chapter 13

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I finished it last night and gave it five stars. Or will in a min, just got up - stayed up pretty much all night for the #reversereadathon and this book

Twist At the End (Spoiler)
(view spoiler)[
I didn't guess the truth of the matter although I was starting to think Jake may be more involved than it was let on (hide spoiler)]

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Joanne wrote: "Finished

I thought this was pretty good. Tore through the book really quickly. I didn't want to put it down.

"

I ended up liking all the four main kids quite a bit. Don't think any of them remind me of myself much though.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Devann wrote: "@Sarah what really killed me about this book was how bad the actual police/detectives were at their jobs lol like they had no idea what was happening and didn't seem to actually be doing anything t..."

Unfortunately I suspect this isn't too far off from the way it would have been handled in real life in some towns. I've read some pretty dismaying investigations

[Kaley]

Through Ch 5

Ok, so now I think that Addy’s secret may be that (view spoiler)[she’s pregnant? What with the nurse’s office, and the trying to wear a sweatshirt out. But I could be reading too much into it. (hide spoiler)]

Also, Jake is (view spoiler)[a total d-bag, excuse my language. If my boyfriend ever said something like that to tel me to go change because he didn’t like what I was wearing... well, he’d hear about it. :-P now I kind of hope Jake is the murderer because I want him to go away. Maybe he knew Simon knew about Addy sleeping with TH (!!!) and he would rather kill Simon than have that secret get out and “embarrass” him publicly. I could totally see that happening. (hide spoiler)]

[Joanne]

Kaley

(view spoiler)[I totally had the same theory about Addy being pregnant for the same reasons you thought. I won't say whether we were right or not ;)
(hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Joanne wrote: "Kaley

[spoilers removed]
"

Glad I’m not the only one! I’m kind of worried this is just the author trying to lead us astray though... :-P

[Maddy]

I just started it, and I agree with Kaley - too many characters too fast, but so far I seem to follow the story okay for now. And you have to agree - the "prank" idea was pretty Genius.

[Ashlee]

I'm just starting this today for Team Draco. I'm hoping for a good read.

[Abbey]

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..."

@Devann - You are awesome! (view spoiler)[ I'm so impressed you basically guessed it early on! I started to get an inkling of it halfway through (I was between Simon and Mr. Avery, because they kind of just let him go without any suspicion), but your "out there" guess was incredible! (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

@Abbey with these kind of books it seems like i either guess immediately or have literally NO idea the entire time lol

[Abbey]

I've been camping since I started the book (and finished it the same day), so I've been impatiently waiting to discuss the book!

Overall, I really liked it! I've been recently looking for a book that I could read in one day and this book fit the bill. The writing was clear and simple enough to breeze through as if I were watching it unfold.

I do agree with those who have said it that, that the multiple characters gave a lot of insight, but I did find myself confused a few times. I think it was more due to the POV switches happening in the middle of pages vs. a new fresh page like it's a new chapter. That seemed to allow me to sort of skim over the POV switch and only go back to check when I get confused. Probably more of a me-thing because I sometimes skim read without noticing.

Throughout the book, I became to like all of the characters as they grew and developed after this tragedy. I found myself rooting for all of them to be in the clear, as I thought each of their stories and confessions to the reader were authentic. (view spoiler)[ I was going to be so so so disappointed if it turned out one of the narrators was lying this whole time about the murder (hide spoiler)]

The only part I wanted a bit more description on was of the teacher, Mr. Avery. He was brought up only occasionally, but a true investigation would have included him more.

I loved seeing the guesses for the book, as they were very much my thoughts too! So glad this buddy read got me to read the book I've had on my shelf since December!

[Maddy]

Oh wow. Finished part 1.

Simon - (view spoiler)[ I don't think he was a very pleasant guy. All that gossip. He ruined lives for popularity. But then again Addy's descriptions of Simon's and Jake's friendship was interesting. As Jake said - if people stopped doing the secret and shameful stuff, Simon wouldn't have anything to post. So they are just asking for it, so to say. So I am not sure if Simon was really a bad guy or if he just hated the lies and tried to help people in some weird way. (hide spoiler)]
Addy - (view spoiler)[ a tricky one. One the one hand I feel sorry for her because of her family and stuff. Must be a lot of pressure. Then again Nate has it worse, doesn't he? On the other hand, I hate meek and submissive heroines. Absolutely hate them. The way her boyfriend told her to change into something sexier and risk getting pneumonia and she just listened. The way she just became useless in stressful situation, the way she is lying to the police and her boyfriend. And I hate cheating, so there is that. Not a lot of points in her favor right now. (hide spoiler)]
Bronwyn -(view spoiler)[ that feels foreboding. But pretty predictable. The smart girl will turn out to cheat in tests to get a better score? Having relationship with teacher would be pushing it a bit too far, but since there are so many cliches in this book... And funny enough, I do not want her to end up with Nate. She is definitely hiding something. (hide spoiler)]
Nate - (view spoiler)[ I like Nate. I have soft spot for bad boys, what can I say. Now he is having real struggles as far as I am concerned, not like Addy's "what will I do when my boyfriend leaves me?" and I really hope he will stop with the drug-selling and have a nice life after this. A bit too cliche for my taste that the bad boy should go for the geeky girl, but it is YA, so... (hide spoiler)]
Cooper- (view spoiler)[ I think I said it already, but again - hate cheaters. They ruin all my romantic fantasies. And the worst thing is that Cooper is really easy to like and stuff, but they we find out he is a liar and a cheat, and possibly on steroids, because those hints about his super fast growth from 88-93 was weird and suspicious. (hide spoiler)]
And overall this book is making me suspicious of everyone!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Maddy wrote: "Oh wow. Finished part 1.

Simon - [spoilers removed]
Addy - [spoilers removed]
Bronwyn -[spoilers removed]
Nate - [spoilers removed]
Cooper- [spoilers removed]
And overall this book is making me..."

Yes it was hard to know who was what at first. Hope you enjoy it!

[Kaley]

Through Ch 8

I feel so bad for (view spoiler)[Nate. I'm guessing he didn't do it because he'd be the most "obvious," but also because I feel like he has the "least" to lose, even though he has the most to lose. He could go to jail, of course, but only if he gets caught dealing (whereas the rest would be ruined by reputation and a drug test) -- and unfortunately with how his life has gone, I think he pretty much assumes he'll end up in jail anyway. But in Bronwyn's family, academics are life. Jake is Addy's "life." Cooper seems like he's dead set on a sports scholarship. But Nate just seems like he's given up...so I really don't think it's him.

I don't get the feeling that it's Cooper either, but then again I don't know for sure.

I was worried this would turn into an "it's everyone," but I feel like the fact that that's already the police's theory means it won't be. Unless the author is leading us awry. I guess I'll find out. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

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..."

See I almost feel like it could be (view spoiler)[Addy because of how strung up on Jake she is that she'd do anything not to lose him.

But then there's her reaction to finding out about the About That post which seemed like genuine shock.

But then again, maybe she's an unreliable narrator. Or maybe Simon had told her in person of his plans so she decided to kill him, but she didn't realize he'd written up a draft post.

Though, she does seem sweet in the sense that I don't think she'd be cruel enough to be writing all those Tumblr posts about her plans. I feel like she'd be more in a panicked state where she did it but never told anybody.

Guess I'll see! (hide spoiler)]

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Kaley, some people guessed the end kind of, but I didn't - and didn't try to - it's fun to have the twist revealed instead and go back and forth with different theories.

I really liked both Nate and Cooper's stories too - the girls had interesting stories as well but I felt sorrier for the guys in general.

[Abbey]

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Kaley, some people guessed the end kind of, but I didn't - and didn't try to - it's fun to have the twist revealed instead and go back and forth with different theories.

I really liked both Nate a..."

Erin, I felt the same way! I empathized more with Nate and Cooper than I did for Bronwyn or Addy. I felt the guys had more of the stereotypes working against them, and had further to go to defy what their outward appearances portrayed.

I also really wanted Bronwyn to finally talk about why she is such perfectionist (because of her sister, so that she can basically "protect" her by doing enough of the achieving for the both of them), because I feel she was just looking for some validation and someone to tell her she doesn't need to be perfect for her sister to be protected. I was really hoping her reasoning would get blurted out when she told her parents about the (view spoiler)[ cheating (hide spoiler)] or during some of the other tense moments, but it never really did. So I still feel bad for Bronwyn that her reasons for perfectionism wasn't really able to be addressed.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Abbey wrote: "Erin, I felt the same way! I empathized more with Nate and Cooper than I did for Bronwyn or Addy. I felt the guys had more of the stereotypes working against them, and had further to go to defy what their outward appearances portrayed. "

Yeah they all had difficult situations, but the two guys - yikes!

[Kaley]

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Kaley, some people guessed the end kind of, but I didn't - and didn't try to - it's fun to have the twist revealed instead and go back and forth with different theories.

I really liked both Nate a..."

I've accidentally accurately predicted the endings of a few others recently (I don't know how...and I'm not particularly trying... my brain just goes WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS and it's been right.)

Maybe I'll manage to be wrong this time :) It's always nice to be surprised by a twist.

[Maddy]

Shut the front door...
Finished second part and let me just say - I DID NOT expect that to be Cooper's secret. Some cheating or past scandal or something. But not that.
And I am still not rooting for (view spoiler)[ Bronwyn and Nate getting into a relationship. Although they are cute and all, I still think it too much of a cliche. But oh well. On a side note - go Addy and her newfound backbone! She was my least favorite at the beginning, but I think I might actually like this new Addy. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddy]

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Kaley, some people guessed the end kind of, but I didn't - and didn't try to - it's fun to have the twist revealed instead and go back and forth with different theories.

I really liked both Nate a..."

I don't even try to guess it, I just go with the flow. It will be revealed at dome point anyway, and reading about all those secrets is pretty entertaining :)

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Maddy wrote: "Shut the front door...
Finished second part and let me just say - I DID NOT expect that to be Cooper's secret. Some cheating or past scandal or something. But not that.
And I am still not rooting..."

I know, that was a huge twist and one reason I liked him so much with his story later

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Maddy wrote: "I don't even try to guess it, I just go with the flow. It will be revealed at dome point anyway, and reading about all those secrets is pretty entertaining :) ."

Agreed. I'm kind of the type of reader who doesn't try to figure some of this stuff out as I'm reading it.

[Kaley]

Through Part One

Starting to take back my theory about (view spoiler)[Addy being the murderer and her reasoning. She told Jake much too easily for that to have been a motive for murder. (hide spoiler)]

I wanted to laugh out loud when Jake said (view spoiler)[he treated Addy like a queen. Yeah, sure, making passive aggressive comments about her clothing choices to make her feel insecure is reaaaaally treating her like a queen. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlee]

Just finished Part 1:

Although there are many, I am enjoying the differences among the characters.

I am usually one to go for the underdog, so with that said, I feel bad for Nate. Well, I feel bad for all of them, especially when the police keep pulling them in to get them to talk.

I haven't yet figured out who I think it may be, but I'm sure that it was one of the 4 in the room with Simon.

[Kaley]

I forgot to say this earlier, but I did go back and try to read to see who was left alone with (view spoiler)[Simon’s cup. I’m pretty sure Nate was when the outside car accident happened, but again, seems too obvious.

The car crash was 100% a distraction in my opinion though. Like whoever the murderer was had outsidehelp to get the teacher out of the room. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Through Ch 17

Whaaaat? (view spoiler)[So Nate’s mom is alive? I can’t rmemeber if HE said she was dead or just other people did. I thought he did, but maybe he didn’t. Or maybe he was lying. Or maybe he really thought she was. I guess I’ll probably find out as soon as it gets back to his POV, but dang! (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Through Part Two

Man, so Cooper wasn’t lying when he said (view spoiler)[ Kris with a K was a guy. But man, didn’t see that coming! (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Through Ch 21

I’m with Bronwyn. (view spoiler)[I think Janae is acting SUPER sketchy. Not just a normal, grieving friend. Plus, she totally just set Addy up by asking to come to her house, asking for a drink so Addy left the room, and then leaving as soon as Addy got back. (hide spoiler)]

Edited to fix Ch #

[Maddy]

Kaley wrote: "Through Ch 17

Whaaaat? [spoilers removed]"

Nate (view spoiler)[ He actually never said it outright, I think. He said it once upon a time, then he stopped saying anything at all about it and people just repeated and spread it wider. I could be wrong, but I do not remember him outright saying that. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddy]

Kaley wrote: "Through Ch 21

I’m with Bronwyn. [spoilers removed]

Edited to fix Ch #"

Oh yeah. that scene at Addy's house was a dead giveaway :D

[Maddy]

Yay! I finished! :)

It was a good story. I finally guessed how it happened around 70-80% in. But still interesting :)

The ending felt unfinished sort off. No idea what happened to the guilty one and how it all died off with school and such. Some details were shared, but I expected a different ending I guess.. Plus still not a fan of B&N. It reminds me a lot of Cross My Heart, like really super similar. But I didn't enjoy B&N so much as Cross my heart, so I stay skeptical.

I was surprised how much I really liked Addy in the end. She (view spoiler)[ really grew during the story, from Jake-obsessed doormat to this strong, free thinking person who finally got some real friends, backbone and personality. I hated her meek and shallow at the beginning, but at the end she was my second favorite. I still have a soft spot for Nate, of course, so he is still nr.1. (hide spoiler)]
And I have to agree that from all the stories and lies that got shared, the guys - Cooper and Nate- got the worst of it, and I sympathized with them the most.

[Kaley]

Through Ch 22

Now I'm wondering if (view spoiler)[Keely is really the one who killed Simon, since it came out that Cooper's secret was replaced. Maybe she didn't want to be embarrassed so she killed Simon and then hid the info?

I'm just stuck on the fact that it's so WEIRD that the info was still on there. Why would it be in an encrypted file instead of ... like... deleting it so no one could find it. Unless the person wanted it to be found. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddy]

Oh the suspense... Marvelous isn't it :D

I can answer at least one question-(view spoiler)[why not deleted. It is Simon. He collects knowledge and gossip like a water fountains collects coins. Once in a while his coins get collected and given back to public. It is the same as to why he knew about Bronwyn cheating in March,but published it in September\October. He is a collector. Deleting something would be against his views. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Maddy wrote: "Oh the suspense... Marvelous isn't it :D

I can answer at least one question-[spoilers removed]"

That's very true! I'm just stuck on (view spoiler)[if Cooper had done it like the cops thought or if whoever had done it did it to protect Cooper from that info coming out, why on earth would the cops think he or whoever would put it in an encrypted file instead of deleting it? Like if that was the logic...you'd think he'd delete it. I'm not sure there's logic here at this point though! Haha (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

I just finished the book. I had figured out who dunnit pretty quickly. Not the why's. (view spoiler)[All of that is the freaky stuff in the nonsensical, sensational high school suicides meant to leave a legacy. (hide spoiler)]

I was a bit frustrated with the large number of stereotype characters...all seem to be represented. Also, that seems to spill out on some stereotypical parents, as well (including the self-absorbed, the absent, and the jock parent). So much in the novel points to the damages of our fascination with gossip and even the way we seem to be attracted to scandal in the lives of others like flies to manure. But in opposition to this subtle/non-subtle highlight of the damage caused by gossip was the fact that the author highlighted so much these stereotypes...which seems in a way gossipy. Highlighting our differences seems to add to the "us vs. them" mentality.

I like that each of the four major characters in the novel were able to bust out of the sterotypes we have created for people of their "type" and there was more of a blending of all of them in the end. Loved the growth of the characters!

[Maddy]

Kaley,the cops are made super stupid in this one so don't be surprised :D