I simply cannot thank my good friend, Maria, enough for recommending this book to me. I am ecstatic that my first book review will be for a narrative that I truly enjoyed!

Karen M. McManus is a New York Times bestselling author of a few other novels, including Two Can Keep a Secret, One of Us Is Next, and The Cousins, all young adult thrillers. McManus also has a new book coming soon; You’ll Be the Death of Me, which is available for pre-order.

One of Us is Lying begins with five students, Addy, Nate, Brownyn, Cooper, and Simon, in detention for having cellphones in class, when suddenly Simon has an allergic reaction and is rushed to the hospital. Shortly after he arrives at the emergency room, he is pronounced dead. In thirty short chapters, about 10-15 pages each, McManus writes a narrative that has five separate yet intertwined plots. Each student, Addy, Nate, Brownyn, and Cooper, have individual storylines that both complicate and tie to the larger plot of Simon’s murder. Every student has something to hide, including Simon, and each secret extends beyond the detention group but, in the end, brings them closer than ever.

I am a huge fan of young adult fiction, but I know many people are hesitant because many young adult novels center around high school. Which, to some people, automatically means petty drama and gossip. McManus completely challenges that notion by not excluding it but by giving attention to its consequences. In doing so, she writes a compelling narrative that also highlights many mid-2000’s concerns that continue today, like bullying, outing, school shootings, and even police biases.

McManus uses The Breakfast Club’s Nerd, Beauty, Jock, Rebel, and Recluse stereotypes to develop deeper plots for each character. Addy, the Beauty, Nate, the Rebel, Brownyn, the Nerd, Cooper, the Jock, and Simon, the Recluse each live with their stereotype’s social expectations and the consequences that arise when they step outside of those roles. To my shock, McManus doesn’t allow the consequences the students experience to force them back into their stereotypical roles. I think what I enjoyed most about this novel is that McManus writes the characters into acceptance of who they truly are instead of ending the story with the characters regressing to the rigid lifestyles they knew at the beginning. New friendships, relationships, and alliances are formed, which ultimately results in the truth of Simon’s death coming to light.

One of Us is Lying is my introduction to McManus and certainly makes me want to read all of her other novels. Her writing style is accessible, filled with imagery, and easy to follow. I would recommend this novel to those interested in young adult novels and, more specifically, those who enjoy TV shows like Pretty Little Liars.

Thank you for reading,