HOLY MOLEY, SWEET MOTHER OF MILKSHAKE MAKING MURDERERS! I don’t know where to begin, I love everything!

THE CHARACTERS! The book is in a quartet alternating PoV among Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper. I’ve warmed up to Bronwyn almost instantly. I love her spunk and how she tries so hard for even the most mundane of things. Nate has this mysterious air about him that made me read more about him just so to discover what’s his deal. And then Addy surprised me with her transformation from an “airhead homecoming princess turned badass ninja investigator”. And even Cooper whom I thought had a personality of a cardboard became interesting and even turned into a kind of a superhero in the end.

THE FRIENDSHIP! Just like I don’t like insta-love, I also hate insta-friendship. “One of Us Is Lying” is gladly nothing like that. The book showed a dynamic and complex forged connection among the four main characters. Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper are the contradictions of each other’s images. They have no interest whatsoever on becoming friends even the day after the whole Simon incident. How could they, when they are all murder suspects? But then the investigation becomes more and more oppressive that they have no choice but to rely on each other. So they start sitting on the same cafeteria table after their own cliques ditched them. They sneak out on abandoned construction projects and hold “murder club” meetings in order to piece together the puzzle that is Simon’s death. Did they become friends even then? Well, to paraphrase Cooper’s words: they are not exactly friends but not nothing either.

THE ROMANCE! Just like in the iconic John Hughes movies this book is loosely made after, two of the “murder club” members start being attracted to each other. As expected, their romance has a forbidden love element to it and I love how their relationship is so well-developed and made me wish for a happily ever after for them. There are also two romantic sub-plots that are too cute for me not to mention.

THE SISTERLY LOVE! I am a sucker for books with large helpings of sibling love and let me tell you, the sister affection meter went off the charts with this one. Bronwyn has this feisty younger sister Maeve, whom she is so protective of. Addy has this older sister Ashton, whom supported her through and through with the whole Simon thing. Then there’s this one time when Addy casually invited Bronwyn and Maeve over for a “sisters’ night” and I am like beyond ecstatic with the whole idea of these four girls hanging out! OMG, I can’t get enough! Something came up tho and the sisters’ night did not happen in canon. But in my mind, sisters’ night happened after the book’s timeline and became a regular thing among them.

THE DIVERSITY! The diversity of characters is not just there in order to tick off a box in a checklist. The diversity bears an importance with the story. It also helps, in a way, to move the narrative forward. For example, in Bronwyn’s case, being half-Colombian means avoiding association with Nate because her father hates the Colombian drug cartel related stereotype. And Mikhail Powers being a gay investigative journalist, eventually helped our main characters to sway the public opinion to their favor.

THE DETAILS! The author’s attention to details are just astounding. I cannot think of another contemporary YA that takes notice to the littlest of things such as this book. For example, there are these things that were mentioned just in passing that made the characters real and relatable: Addie checking for her period, dealing with a pimple, and the chore of maintaining a pixie hair cut. Cooper’s Southern accent is also a character nuance that is effectively detailed. When the narrative is in his PoV, his dialogues are mostly straight and un-accented but when the narrative’s PoV is on the other three, Cooper’s accent is visibly accented. And the blurb does not joke when it said pay close attention so you can keep up with solving the murder. Just a hint: take note of the characters’ hair and eye color.

THE WHODUNIT ELEMENT! So as not to give away a lot, let’s just say that I am beside myself guessing who the murderer is. Who among the four main characters is lying?! The ending is just brilliant. It’s not much of a shocker but it is extremely satisfying.

“One of Us Is Lying” is “The Breakfast Club” on steroids!!! If you’re a fan of the iconic movie, this book is that and so much more.

I really liked the characters and enjoyed the mystery set up. However, the ending really ruined it for me and makes me hesitant to recommend it. It adds to the idea teens have after reading/watching 13 Reasons Why that suicide is a form of revenge.

What a nice surprise!I haven't read this author before and I find this story so clever!This book completely drew me in and I found it hard to put it down.It really reminded me of Pretty little liars, and I love this series!

I'm in the middle of a bunch of really great modern classics of the fantasy and sci fi persuasion that I'm enjoying very thoroughly, but somehow I can't stop picking up lightweight YA stuff and whipping through it in the background. This week's installment of Sharon Off Track is the upcoming One of Us Is Lying, by Karen M. McManus, and a hat tip to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

It starts out all Breakfast Club, with five very different kids in detention, then takes a twist toward (according to the blurb) Pretty Little Liars, with one of them dead and the other four suspected of his murder. The police are pretty sure they conspired to do it.

But here's the thing: all four are first person POV characters. We spend time in each of their heads--including during the incident--so the only way for one of them to have done it is for them to be actively lying in their narration of the story.

But...there's no framework for their accounts--these aren't diaries or confessions or anything. They're straight narrative which would make that kind of lie really cheap, a cheating form of unreliable narrator. Which leaves us with--who did it?

If I sound intrigued by this book, I completely was, maybe more than it deserved. It is a straight-up high school story whose drama takes place mostly in the halls and classrooms (and teenagers' bedrooms and family rooms, plus the police station). This is usually not my jam. And it's a straight-up whodunit, so if I was expecting anything, it was really trashy pleasure.

But I ended up intrigued by the story. There were a ton of secondary characters, all very easy to keep straight. All four characters had friends and love interests and families at one level of involvement or another. There were secrets--SO many secrets; the victim ran a gossip blog and had a lot of enemies.

But there was something so much more human about this story than the description offers. This book contained not one but TWO sets of fiercely loving sisters who support each other. There was a cathartic breakup, and one that just seemed sad. There were loyal friends and partly loyal friends and crappy friends and crappy friends who are maybe also evil, and there are adults who do not have it together (and, of course, bungling police--I mean, that's just a detective story inevitability, right?). There are loving parents and indifferent parents and absent parents and parents who are trying but going about it all wrong and those who have been wrong but will maybe make it right. Guys, there was so much uplift of the human spirit in this book, right beside the salacious gossip!


When it comes to the end--no spoilers--I'm torn. On one level, it was very satisfying--the information was all there but not pointing right at it. As a mystery ending, it was very good. On the level of humanity, on which the book was so surprisingly successful, it was a little weaker--more soap opera and less human condition. I would love to discuss the ending with someone and its implications, but it's not necessary--it's the ending the story needed.

And that's what this comes down to; you've got a readable book that was so compelling that I was explaining the plot to my husband and he was trying to figure out whodunit with me. That's a success story if I ever heard one.

A very interesting concept by turning The Breakfast Club into a murder mystery!
Definitely a page-turner. I highly recommend it!

2.5 stars?

I am all over books like this. I'm a huge fan of a whodunnit and coupled with this synopsis and a sort of nod to The Breakfast Club, I was excited to start it. Sadly, I spent most of the book bored.

There are 4 MCs and they all take turns getting a POV. While it is helpful to find out everyone's side, all of their inner monologues sounded the same. I did like Bronwyn and Nate. They were the strongest characters and most of the reason I kept reading.

There are a lot of background characters, yet instead of creating a pool of suspects, it was just noise. I never got that layer of tension and suspense I was expecting. The pacing is slow without a build up or explosion and the few reveals fizzled.

Overall, it was a promising idea, but this just wasn't for me.

**Huge thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

The synopsis made me curious and I saw lot 5 star rating on Goodreads so I read this with high expectation.
So, Simon, Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper got detention then Simon died at the end of detention. By Monday, we find out that Simon has dark secret about Bronwnyn,Addy,Nate and Cooper that can ruin their high school life, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder.
Who is/are the murderer/s?

The story told by 4 narrators: Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper.

The writing is good and the mystery and clue that revealed one by one made me wonder who is/are the unreliable narrator/narrators (depend how many the murderer is/are, whether if it is one person or group). But the title is one of us is lying, so I kinda guess there is only one. But let's see..I won't tell you whether my guess is right/wrong. It is better to read and find out yourself. Hehee

I praise the author for make Bronwyn and Addy's voice distintive enough that made me easy to recognize them. Unfortunately that not the case with Nate and Cooper's voice/perspective. Their voice do not distinctive enough to make me know that it is them who talking. I had to go back several time to check who is the narrator.

The twist quite shocking and I did not see that coming!
But I did not like the ending. I feel it is lacking something that I don't even know.
So 3 star

I really enjoyed this book. I love that it took on the concept of the breakfast club and turned it into a murder mystery. Throughout the whole book I was trying so hard to figure out the murderer before the cops could and I was having so much trouble (although I must admit, I don’t think the cops were doing a very good job of it themselves.) I swear at one point I probably thought every single one of the main characters was a suspect.

I read this book in one sitting because I just had to know who was the real murderer.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Will update with links to where I posted my review online closer to the release date. (Final review might change slightly but will have the same basic message).

One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

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

My thoughts:
4.5
First off if you like the movie The Breakfast Club then you might like this , because in some ways it kind of does remind the reader alittle bit of that movie, which is why I requested it from NetGalley in the first place​ and I want to see how much was like the movie. And while there is a little reminder it's total different . The Breakfast Club:
1: athlete
2:beauty/ princess
3:criminal
4:brain
5:outcast
Now for the differences and the reminders
Reminders
1:And just like the movie they end up in detention and of course the teacher that's o watch over the detention hall leaves the room
Differences
The brainy
Outcast
LQTB character

The same:
Reble/ criminal
beauty/ princess
athlete
Plus this story has a lot of twist and turns and secrets that have a way of coming out, with that said I would like to say thinks to NetGalley for giving me the chance at reading this in change for my honest opinion, on that note to see and find out what the secrets are, as well as who is the LQTB character , who's dating who and what happened to Simon and what he was going to tell everyone at school ,well you're​going to have to read this for yourself.

Wow. Well this book was a pleasant surprise, more than I hoped and a fantastic edge of my seat read. I didn't figure it all out before the end and I loved discovering new things around every corner just like the characters. This is a story that starts off quickly and grabs the reader. Five kids are serving a detention for having cell phones in class (those darn phones!) and they are upset because the phones aren't there phones. While in detention, one of the characters dies and the story that continues is full of mystery, intrigue and lies. The story is told from all four perspectives of the kids who are still alive. Bronwyn the outstanding student, Nate the drug dealer with a single alcoholic father, Cooper the baseball star and Addy, the perfect popular girlfriend. No one know who is responsible for the death of the other student, Simon, who has created a gossip app that has caused (and continues to cause) a lot of damage to his peers.
Through the story, each of the characters is developed with great care and their secrets come to light, changing the way that they are viewed by others and the way they view themselves. There are friendships and relationships that are tested, as well as family dynamics that add to the tension and drama of the story. I couldn't put this book down and I loved reading it. I know my high school students will love this book too!

Excellent! Giving ups to social media and high school life. This book has something for every person who is dealing with or trying to deal with teens and their willingness to let social media lead their lives. I like how the author let you make your own assumption through out the story, only leaking small bits about the "Who Dunit" aspect of the story. This is also one of the few books that would work well as a young adult group read. .

This book is incredibly addictive and fun! I thought I would be able to solve the mystery before the end but the twists and turns kept me off track. The characters are all very dynamic and realistic. Such a fun read, it's no wonder everyone keeps talking about this book prior to its release! I received a free copy through NetGalley but will definitely order for my library and recommend to my students.

Intriguing, and kept me on edge from start to finish!

"One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide."

This blurb from GoodReads really boils down the essence of this book into a nice, concise statement.

When the four main characters are each found with a cell phone in their bag, they earn an afternoon detention. Oddly, the cell phones didn't belong to them, and while they are serving their time, one of the attendees, Simon, dies. It all appears to be a tragic accident, until the police begin investigating them for murder. The investigation uncovers some incriminating evidence. It seems Simon was planning to publish each of their darkest secrets under the guise of juicy gossip. This reveal turns them from witnesses into suspects.

This was such a great reading experience for me. The story pulled me in from page one, and I just wanted to keep reading and collecting clues. I did develop a hypothesis, which ended up being correct, (*pats self on back*) but that's half the fun when I read a mystery. I have seen that this was pitched as "Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars" and I have to say, that is a great description for this book.

"'She's a princess and you're a jock,' he says. He thrusts his chin toward Bronwyn, then at Nate. 'And you're a brain. And you're a criminal. You're all walking teen-movie stereotypes."

Each of the four main characters do fall into one of those typical high school cliques, but as the story plays on, we find out that there is a lot more beneath the surface of each character. They were all quite layered and well constructed. They all had such depth, and I thought McManus did a great job developing them throughout the book. I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters as they dealt with the investigation and their secrets being revealed.

I know having your deepest, darkest secrets unveiled publicly is not a positive thing, but the outcome for these characters was. Each of them was forced to admit the truth ,and face the consequences of the fallout once others learned of it. One character found her inner strength and independence, while another was able to feel more comfortable in his own skin. Two found love, while most of them found acceptance on some level. Some developed a reinforcement or renewal of family ties, but all of them experienced growth, and it was a positive growth. All four characters were a better version of themselves at the end of this book, and I always find that the mark of great YA story.

Another great outcome, was that the four bonded together. This group of disparate teens became "the Bayview Four", and they were there for each other. In their quest to clear their names, they found friendship and more.

And yes, there is a romance. *heart-eyes* Sorry, not sorry, but I always want a little romance. I don't care what kind of book I am reading, a little romance is always a good thing. This was a wonderful and meaningful romance, and by no means took away from the overall plot. It was well integrated, and a ship worth shipping. Seriously, at one point, about 63% through the story, the heroine goes on this rant about why she wants to try dating the hero, and it is the cutest, most adorable thing ever. I liked her already, but I loved her after that outburst.

Overall: A riveting mystery filled with twists and turns, which had me hooked from page one.

Nearly every review you read about this book will compare it to The Breakfast Club, that iconic, coming of age, John Hughes film from the 80's - stereotypical high school students sentenced to detention. As with the characters in that movie, the characters in One of Us Is Lying are so much more than what they appear on the surface, and as this story progresses, their layers are gradually peeled away and you discover none are quite what they appear on the surface.

Early on I was sure I knew who'd killed Simon - and then I'd decide it was someone else. Which is one of the best things about this book - it keeps you guessing with its twists and surprises. With the story told in four different perspectives, each character's inner thoughts, viewpoints, and feelings regarding their lives and Simon are revealed. The character development is outstanding, with one character in particular undergoing a considerable transformation.

I couldn't quite buy into the way law enforcement was portrayed - leads not pursued, obvious questions ignored, and assumptions without investigation. Suspension of disbelief is required in some areas.

Clever, gripping, and unpredictable, this is a suspenseful YA mystery and one of my best reads this year so far.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow, this book is well done. I'm seriously impressed. It's been a long time since I wanted to keep reading something so much that I found random moments throughout my day to pick up the book. The premise is five people go into a classroom for detention, and only four come out. The person who was killed had serious dirt on the other four people in detention. Who killed him? This was fast paced and kept me on my toes. I had no idea how it would end until everything was revealed.

Cover:
I love this cover, with the cut out faces and sharpie it looks like a defaced yearbook and it is great.

Characters:
All the characters are unique, and their voices are distinct. I did find my self most drawn to Bronwyn's POV but since I relate most to her that's understandable. I like that they all begin to defy their stereotypes throughout. And that their is diversity sprinkled through without a big deal being made about it. Everyone has different home lives, and not every character is straight and white. I liked he side characters and sibling relationships a lot. And I like that the romances were varied, none the main focus, and nine were instalove or an instant fix to anyone's problems.


Plot:
There is foreshadowing like crazy and I loved it. The story is fast paced and intriguing all the way through, and lots of little details and side plots for each character really tie it together. I guessed part of the ending before he characters did, but not the whole think, and I like that it was able to surprise me. I had some issues with the legality of some of the police actions and certain things that seemed overlooked by adults irked me, but these were all things addressed later on in the story and it was good.

I was fully engaged throughout this entire novel. The description is spot on, and I was guessing till the end. Definite purchase.

**Thank you Netgalley, for giving me this awesome book, in exchange for an honest review.**

... I LOVED this book ...

It is by far the one of the best thrillerish/suspense novels I have ever read (LOL I've only read like three.) And is definitely one of my favorite releases of the year, y'all are going to LOVE this one ... hopefully.

Karen McManus, you my friend, are an absolute mastermind.

Plot:
One of Us Is Lying starts off with five high school students who have been placed into detention due to a cell phone scam. All five have been caught having phones that weren't their's and their real phones were in their lockers or never confiscated. It's apparent that their detention was a set up and hoax, and no one knows why. Then one student, Simon, goes to get some water during his detention time, and DIES. This all happens super fast, and you're instantly thrown into the crazy storyline.

We have a jock (Cooper), modern day Mean Girl (Addy), the typical nerdy goodie goodie (Bronwyn), and bad boy (Nate.) These four have all witnessed the death of fellow class mate, Simon and only one can be the killer. But they all have their own secrets. DUN. DUn. Dun. dun.

SOUNDS AWESOME RIGHT?? BECAUSE IT IS. These characters are so diverse and come from crazy different backgrounds and go through a lot of crazy crap due to the death of Simon. And just WOAH, this was a masterpiece. I honestly figured out the ending pretty early on in the story, but then a lot of things happen, and your opinion will change, and then go back and UGH I WAS EVERYWHERE TO BE HONEST.

The characters will pull you along the story though. They are such well thought out characters, and they seem so real and relatable. Nothing in this book seemed far fetched at all, because I could easily see this stuff happening in any high school. You get relationship drama, and just stupid teenagers. And honestly, I live for this stuff.

Something that made these characters great, is that the author breaks the boundaries of your typical high school students. The classic blonde girl who you expect to be shallow and dumb, is actually very intelligent and well rounded. She wasn't this idiot who ruined the story. The classic Jock is just ... just read it to figure it out because you won't be expecting the plot twist with him. The nerdy girl ... okay she was pretty much the typical goodie goodie. But the typical bad boy as well wasn't a complete jerk to everyone. He had depth and character, and he had a heart and I loved seeing the barriers being broke in this book.

There is some slight romance in this book but it was GOOD AND WELL PLACED. It didn't seem pushed and a horrid plot device. I will go down with my ship in this series, just saying. It was perfect.

Also, I know that this has been compared to the Breakfast Club .... and I've never seen that soo I definitely cannot say that it's true to that hype. BUT STILL READ IT BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this when it comes out because it is a MASTERPIECE!!!!!