Review: One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

I picked up a copy of One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus after seeing it everywhere on social media and I’m so glad I did. The best way to describe this book is Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl, which is very, very me!

The novel opens with five high school students making their way to detention, but only four make it out alive. Simon, the outsider and creator of a notorious gossip app, dies mysteriously with the finger pointing at the four remaining pupils.

My favourite part about One of Us Is Lying is the four-way narrative. I thought I’d struggle with this structure and find myself flipping back to recall who’s perspective I was reading from, but this wasn’t the case at all. Instead, McManus manages to tell four different stories that become interwoven as the novel progresses. This seems to mirror the development of the characters and plot too, which demonstrates McManus’ admirable and seamless storytelling.

The characters are all really likeable and you can’t help but feel for them, even while trying to work out who the murderer is. I resonated with Bronwyn the most, which made her a personal favourite. I also loved how the character of Addy developed over the course of the book, creating a fabulous ‘me too’ inspired moment that I adored.

In short, One of Us Is Lying is a fast-paced, YA thriller that tackles contemporary issues and keeps the reader gripped. I guessed the ending relatively early on, which was a tad disappointing, but otherwise, I loved it. It’s easy reading, utterly binge-worthy and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it pop up on Netflix some day soon!

Goodreads rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐