One of Us Is Lying

Five students enter detention, but only four leave alive after Simon, the creator of a controversial gossip app, suffers a fatal allergic reaction. When evidence suggests his death wasn't accidental, suspicion falls on his fellow detention-mates: Bronwyn the academic star, Cooper the athlete, Addy the beauty, and Nate the troublemaker. The investigation intensifies as each student becomes both suspect and potential target. Hidden secrets, complex relationships, and mounting pressure from police and media force the four students to question everything they know about themselves and each other. The story alternates between the perspectives of the four suspects, revealing their individual struggles and connections to Simon. As they navigate accusations and attempt to clear their names, alliances form and long-buried truths surface. Through its exploration of identity, truth, and perception, One of Us Is Lying examines how labels and reputations shape high school dynamics and the ways people present themselves to the world.

Readers describe this as a modern teen take on The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, with enough twists to keep them guessing. Many found the multiple POV narrative style effective for building suspense and developing distinct character voices. Liked: - Fast-paced plot with strong character development - Complex relationships between characters - Successful blend of mystery and high school drama - Satisfying conclusion that ties up loose ends Disliked: - Some found the premise unrealistic - Romance subplots felt forced to certain readers - Initial character stereotypes too one-dimensional - Pacing drags in middle sections "The mystery kept me engaged but the character growth really stood out," notes one Goodreads review. Others criticized "convenient plot devices" and "predictable teen drama tropes." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (857,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (23,000+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (3,900+ ratings)

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🔍 The character archetypes in "One of Us Is Lying" deliberately mirror those from the 1985 cult classic film "The Breakfast Club" 📱 Simon's gossip app "About That" was inspired by real-life anonymous social media platforms that gained notoriety in schools, like Yik Yak and Secret ✍️ Karen M. McManus wrote the first draft of this novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), completing it in just 30 days 🏆 The book spent more than 165 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into more than 40 languages 📺 Peacock adapted the novel into a television series in 2021, with the first season closely following the book's plot and a second season featuring an original story