I thought McManus did a great job showing Cooper’s struggle with coming out to his family and friends, and how his relationships changed as a result. It’s important that literature reflects society there should be more GLBTIQQ+ characters in mainstream literature. Here’s Cooper’s big reveal: the All-American, golden boy athlete is (gasp!) gay. Bronwyn never breaks a rule? You’ll be shocked to learn she has-and it involved her grades! Addy’s picture-perfect? Guess what, she’s not! Nate’s a bad boy on probation? Well he *secretly* has a heart of gold! I’ll cover Cooper and Simon’s secrets separately, because I think the book does a disservice to their characters. My problem is that each kid’s secrets really aren’t that surprising, especially given the teen tropes. That’s actually not that far off, since McManus has stated she drew inspiration from the beloved ’80s film. Got it, so this is The Breakfast Club with a little murder thrown in. Don’t continue if you haven’t read the book!Ĭooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.Īnd Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. So what’s the problem with the gossipy drama? While it touches on worthy issues, it rarely sees them through.īelow are major spoilers for One of Us is Lying. One of Us is Lying is a fun read that touches on many social issues facing teens today. And it’s likely to make its way back to that list once its sequel, One of Us is Next, is published in January 2020.

Combine secret romances, shoddy police work, and juicy gossip with the fast-paced plot rife with surprises, and it’s no wonder the book spent 79 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.

What follows is an addictive read a murder mystery where everyone has motive and you can’t rule out anyone. Before they’ve had a chance to settle in for the afternoon, one student winds up dead. Described as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us is Lying is the story of five teens from different social groups who wind up in detention under mysterious circumstances. It’s easy to see why Karen McManus’s debut novel, One of Us is Lying, has been popular since its debut in 2017.

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus