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destiny � howling libraries's Reviews > One of Us Is Lying
One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)
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** spoiler alert **
I feel like one of maybe four people in the world who just... really did not enjoy this book? I've been putting off this review for weeks because I just don't know where to start. I have so many friends who raved about this book to me, so I was so disappointed by it.
These are only my opinions, and I would never dream of disrespecting anyone who disagrees with my review, so please show the same courtesy and don't hate me for what I'm about to say. �
This is a very quick read; if I had enjoyed it, I'm sure I would've knocked it out in one sitting. As it was, it still felt like it moved pretty quickly.
The main romance is fairly cute. Incredibly trope-y "goody-two-shoes smart girl falls for the brooding bad boy!" stuff, but, I mean, their interactions are fine, and I was rooting for them by the end of the book, which is a big plus. I would say I was more attached to the budding relationship between them than I was to any of the individual characters in this story.
Nate, 'the criminal', is a very likable character. He's got a really dark and twisty back story that explains away a lot of his motives, and I definitely enjoyed his perspectives of the story the most. He just feels like a really authentic teen who's trying to muddle through a hard, screwed-up life, and I loved that about him. Whenever it was any other character's POV, I definitely found myself rushing to get back to his sections.
This book is so problematic and most of it is NEVER challenged. First of all, can we talk about the immense amounts of slut-shaming? I could handle it if it was coming just from the characters and/or was actually being challenged consistently, but 1) it isn't challenged every time in the dialogue, and 2) the author contributes to the slut-shaming narrative regarding women cheating.
We have two characters in the story who are cheaters; one is a female character, who does it one time, while drunk; the other is a male character, who carries on an emotional and physical affair for MONTHS. We spend a tremendous portion of the book focusing on the girl's one-night-stand, while the text literally does not ONCE actually name the boy for what he is: a cheater. There's no remorse shown, and there are no consequences whatsoever for him. It also seems kinda gross to me that the girl who's guilty of cheating is a "pretty, vapid, popular girl" type - can we please stop with these cliches?
Also, can we please NOT make the only queer character in the cast a horrible character who cheats and hurts people? AND can we not make the character's coming-out scene a bigger twist than the actual murderer reveal? This book also does some serious vilifying of mental illness, but I won't get started on that rant.
Beyond all of that... honestly, the writing is just not that good, and the "twist" is so predictable it hurts.
All in all... I almost hated this book. If it hadn't been for the quick pace and how much I enjoyed Nate, as well as his relationship with Bronwyn, I absolutely would have DNFed this. As it stands, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book, and I will probably not be picking up any future releases from this author.
—Ĕ�
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These are only my opinions, and I would never dream of disrespecting anyone who disagrees with my review, so please show the same courtesy and don't hate me for what I'm about to say. �
� what i liked �
This is a very quick read; if I had enjoyed it, I'm sure I would've knocked it out in one sitting. As it was, it still felt like it moved pretty quickly.
The main romance is fairly cute. Incredibly trope-y "goody-two-shoes smart girl falls for the brooding bad boy!" stuff, but, I mean, their interactions are fine, and I was rooting for them by the end of the book, which is a big plus. I would say I was more attached to the budding relationship between them than I was to any of the individual characters in this story.
Nate, 'the criminal', is a very likable character. He's got a really dark and twisty back story that explains away a lot of his motives, and I definitely enjoyed his perspectives of the story the most. He just feels like a really authentic teen who's trying to muddle through a hard, screwed-up life, and I loved that about him. Whenever it was any other character's POV, I definitely found myself rushing to get back to his sections.
� what i didn't like �
This book is so problematic and most of it is NEVER challenged. First of all, can we talk about the immense amounts of slut-shaming? I could handle it if it was coming just from the characters and/or was actually being challenged consistently, but 1) it isn't challenged every time in the dialogue, and 2) the author contributes to the slut-shaming narrative regarding women cheating.
We have two characters in the story who are cheaters; one is a female character, who does it one time, while drunk; the other is a male character, who carries on an emotional and physical affair for MONTHS. We spend a tremendous portion of the book focusing on the girl's one-night-stand, while the text literally does not ONCE actually name the boy for what he is: a cheater. There's no remorse shown, and there are no consequences whatsoever for him. It also seems kinda gross to me that the girl who's guilty of cheating is a "pretty, vapid, popular girl" type - can we please stop with these cliches?
Also, can we please NOT make the only queer character in the cast a horrible character who cheats and hurts people? AND can we not make the character's coming-out scene a bigger twist than the actual murderer reveal? This book also does some serious vilifying of mental illness, but I won't get started on that rant.
Beyond all of that... honestly, the writing is just not that good, and the "twist" is so predictable it hurts.
� final thoughts �
All in all... I almost hated this book. If it hadn't been for the quick pace and how much I enjoyed Nate, as well as his relationship with Bronwyn, I absolutely would have DNFed this. As it stands, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book, and I will probably not be picking up any future releases from this author.
—Ĕ�
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One of Us Is Lying.
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Reading Progress
April 22, 2017
– Shelved
April 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
September 5, 2017
– Shelved as:
mystery-thriller
September 5, 2017
– Shelved as:
ya
October 24, 2017
–
Started Reading
October 27, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 87 (87 new)
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Mary
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Oct 27, 2017 04:49PM
I'm in agreement. I quit reading it after a few chapters and I hate giving up on books.
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Mary wrote: "I'm in agreement. I quit reading it after a few chapters and I hate giving up on books."Thank you! I'm glad it's not just me. I was really just so disappointed. I did finish it, but I don't feel like it was time particularly well spent, lol.
I agree, I gave it 2 stars and was very disappointed!!
malin 🌻 wrote: "I agree, I gave it 2 stars and was very disappointed!!"Yep! It's funny because I was discussing it with a friend this morning and realized I may lower it to 2 stars because I am just so frustrated with certain aspects of it.
Definitely not just you.
Figgy wrote: "Definitely not just you."I'm glad it isn't just me, lol!
i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation
Zohal wrote: "i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation"Agreed 100%. :( I wanted to get into my thoughts on the mental illness rep, but honestly, it hit too close to home with how often news media blames killings and stuff on mental illness, so I decided to just stop myself from going there. But trust me, I am 100% with you on that.
I'm with you I disliked how the Cooper's sexual orientation is used as a twist than revealing the murderer mystery itself.
Justine wrote: "I'm with you I disliked how the Cooper's sexual orientation is used as a twist than revealing the murderer mystery itself."Yeah, for sure! :/ Yikes.
Zohal wrote: "i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation"Yeah, absolutely! Just another way to encourage the divide between those who do have and understand mental illness and those who do not.
Justine wrote: "I'm with you I disliked how the Cooper's sexual orientation is used as a twist than revealing the murderer mystery itself."
Right? When I was reading it, and I sensed that was what was coming, I said to my partner "if that's the 'twist' I will be so pissed. In 2017, that is no longer a 'twist'" and it is a little insulting that this would be considered okay by the publisher and other readers.
Figgy wrote: "Zohal wrote: "i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation"Yeah, absolutely! Just another way to encourage the..."
So well said on both parts, Figgy.
I agree with absolutely everything you said. I felt the exact same way
C wrote: "I agree with absolutely everything you said. I felt the exact same way"Thank you! I feel like I heard almost no negative reviews before posting this, so I was so worried it was just me, and it's been oddly relieving to find out I'm not the only one!
Figgy wrote: "Zohal wrote: "i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation"Yeah, absolutely! Just another way to encourage the..."
Thaat is sooo true! And I find it a bit offensive how mental health is represented here. Like it should be feared, it antagonizes mental health. It feels like we're taking a step backward instead forwards.
Justine wrote: "Figgy wrote: "Zohal wrote: "i didn't like it. I thought the reveal could have been complex, instead it was a cop-out and ended up with harmful representation"Yeah, absolutely! Just another way to..."
Agreed. :/ Honestly, it's WAY too reminiscent of how, every time there's a mass murder or something here in the US, the news media jumps to say the killer was mentally ill or something. Uhh, last I checked, my depression and anxiety don't make me want to murder and/or ruin the lives of innocent people, so could we STOP with that narrative please? I don't need to find it in my YA books, too...
I'm just entering the third act, and had I not committed to this book so far because of Nate's character, I, too, would DNF for all the reasons you mention and more. This book is so full of tropes it makes me sad.
Belinda wrote: "I'm just entering the third act, and had I not committed to this book so far because of Nate's character, I, too, would DNF for all the reasons you mention and more. This book is so full of tropes ..."That was me 100% - I kept wanting to DNF it but Nate kept me like, "UGH, I GUESS I'll see how it ends..." Sigh.
I don't think the murder is at all the central plot, either. I'm normally not a big YA reader and this book is on the bestseller list so what do I know?
Belinda wrote: "I don't think the murder is at all the central plot, either. I'm normally not a big YA reader and this book is on the bestseller list so what do I know?"I don't think it is, either. If it makes you feel any better, 95% of what I read is YA and I still don't have a clue why this is on the bestseller list!
Belinda wrote: "I don't think the murder is at all the central plot, either. I'm normally not a big YA reader and this book is on the bestseller list so what do I know?"I agree, it's not. The main story is to do with the "breakfast club" feel and message, but with the murder as a catalyst.
Y I K E S that sounds extremely gross and I'm so glad that I read your review before picking this one up,,,, why do books still have this crap
I really don't see Breakfast Club, either, though that's its marketing gimmick. I see Gossip Girl and 13 Reasons Why, which I also couldn't stand. I just read an article that says Hunger Games inspired her, which is great that she was inspired, but Hunger Games was amazing. This, not so much.
Figgy wrote: "Belinda wrote: "I don't think the murder is at all the central plot, either. I'm normally not a big YA reader and this book is on the bestseller list so what do I know?"I agree, it's not. The mai..."
Agreed.
Rachael wrote: "Y I K E S that sounds extremely gross and I'm so glad that I read your review before picking this one up,,,, why do books still have this crap"That's what I'm saying :/
Belinda wrote: "I really don't see Breakfast Club, either, though that's its marketing gimmick. I see Gossip Girl and 13 Reasons Why, which I also couldn't stand. I just read an article that says Hunger Games insp..."I could see that, about GG and 13RW, 100%. I honestly haven't seen The Breakfast Club since I was really young, so I haven't remembered it well enough to make any comparisons, but I could see these. THG, on the other hand... I mean, I love THG, so I'm biased for sure, but I don't see a connection between that and this :/
Having never watched or read GG or 13RW I can't comment on those connections. In terms of Breakfast Club, I do mean it as just the scenario, almost.A group of five wildly different teens who spend time in detention together and their parents either treat them badly or don't know who they really are.
Both this book and the movie have the jock, the princess, the brain, basket case, and criminal...
And they all form a kind of friendship as a result of the events in detention.
Figgy wrote: "Having never watched or read GG or 13RW I can't comment on those connections. In terms of Breakfast Club, I do mean it as just the scenario, almost.A group of five wildly different teens who spen..."
Ahh, that makes sense, then. Thanks!
The Hunger Games is, by far, my favorite YA series. I also loved The Dust of 100 Dogs. Have you read that?
Figgy wrote: "Having never watched or read GG or 13RW I can't comment on those connections. In terms of Breakfast Club, I do mean it as just the scenario, almost.A group of five wildly different teens who spen..."
Totally, and I think that was intentional on the author/marketer's part. My issue is that The Breakfast Club was about kids discovering they were more than their stereotypes during the course of detention. One of Us affixed the labels to a different group of similar kids today, but detention was only the scene during which Simon dies, and there was no exploration by these kids of their deeper selves, at least not on the John Hughes level.
Belinda wrote: "My issue is that The Breakfast Club was about kids discovering they were more than their stereotypes during the course of detention. One of Us affixed the labels to a different group of similar kids today, but detention was only the scene during which Simon dies, and there was no exploration by these kids of their deeper selves, at least not on the John Hughes level."Oh, I completely agree. I wasn't saying it was done WELL, just that it was the theme I could see in the book most clearly.
Figgy wrote: "Belinda wrote: "My issue is that The Breakfast Club was about kids discovering they were more than their stereotypes during the course of detention. One of Us affixed the labels to a different grou..."Belinda wrote: "Figgy wrote: "Having never watched or read GG or 13RW I can't comment on those connections. In terms of Breakfast Club, I do mean it as just the scenario, almost.
A group of five wildly different ..."
Well said - both of you!
This one is behind me now. I need a true crime palate cleanser :-)
Belinda wrote: "This one is behind me now. I need a true crime palate cleanser :-)"Good luck! :D Find a good one!
Lol my gutt feeling screams dnf it altogether and I haven’t even really started? Last year I was so excited to read it but I kept puling it off.
Laurie wrote: "Lol my gutt feeling screams dnf it altogether and I haven’t even really started? Last year I was so excited to read it but I kept puling it off."Oh noooo! :( I'm sorry, Laurie, it really is awful when you're excited for a book and then it doesn't pan out quite like you hoped it would. If you do continue it, I hope you like it more than I did!
YES YES YES SAY IT LOUDERRRRRRR
Evelyn wrote: "YES YES YES SAY IT LOUDERRRRRRR"Thank you 😂
SAMESIES! So many people just love it and I got hung up on the same things. Not to mention I'd figured out the ending after like, two chapters per character. But... just... the cheating and slut shaming was so drawn out and man it was hard to read.
Definitely not just you. I liked the same things you did, but then hated how stereotypical the characters were and the fact that they did complete 180 degree switch arounds by the end of the book. This was a big disappointment for me and I also gave it 2 stars
Louder for the people in the back! I'm someone who usually read books fairly quickly but this was a dragggg! I just finished it and was just staring blank faced like wow, thts how it ends?! After all tht putting it off? I think the min thing that got me was the murder reveal. I think I was expecting something wild tht ould really make me gasp. But as it was budding to the reveal i was just like oh, okay when it did happen. Thanks for your review!!!
Deanna wrote: "Louder for the people in the back! I'm someone who usually read books fairly quickly but this was a dragggg! I just finished it and was just staring blank faced like wow, thts how it ends?! After a..."thank you, Deanna! I'm sorry it wasn't an enjoyable read for you, either!
I completely agree that his coming out was bigger plot twist than the murder reveal. It’s kind of funny, how predictable it was.
Ivona wrote: "I completely agree that his coming out was bigger plot twist than the murder reveal. It’s kind of funny, how predictable it was."It really was so predictable! :/
I'm with you. I was promised Breakfast Club and this was nothing of the sort. Did not get the hype AT ALL lol
Whitney wrote: "I'm with you. I was promised Breakfast Club and this was nothing of the sort. Did not get the hype AT ALL lol"Hahaha thank you! Nope.
Yes! It took way too much effort to finish this book because it felt cheap and half-butted. Honestly would have read it if Addy, Cooper, Jake, Keely, etc. weren’t there and it was just a book about the formation of the relationship between Bronwyn and Nate.
Kiran wrote: "Yes! It took way too much effort to finish this book because it felt cheap and half-butted. Honestly would have read it if Addy, Cooper, Jake, Keely, etc. weren’t there and it was just a book about..."Right! Like, I feel like this author could probably write a pretty decent contemporary romance, but a thriller... eh. 😂 I'm hearing some people say her new book is better but I'm not ready to risk it.
Everything about this novel was just based on stereotypical YA-HS-thriller tropes. The characters were boring and cliche, the mystery itself wasn’t even that good. Half the book basically focused on Bronwynn/Nate’s romance which was typical and completely irrelevant to the plot.
