Reviews with content warning for Death - One of us is next

Reviews tagging 'Death'

One of us is next by Karen M. McManus

155 reviews

katie_hg's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book constantly kept me second guessing myself due to all of the dramatic twists and turns. It was nice to see the old characters from the previous book reunited and pop up within the novel. The ending had me shell shocked. A fun read for anyone feeling nostalgic and needs an escape.

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_polly's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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tsnhjhn's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was not expecting to like the sequel (or more of a spinoff, since this book focuses on a different cast of characters related to the Bayview four) as much as I did.

18 months after the events of the original story, comes a knockoff Truth or Dare game inspired by Simon's page. I was initially disappointed that the sequel wouldn't be focused on the original loveable cast, but I quickly grew to love this new cast: Maeve (Bronwyn's younger sister), Knox (Maeve's ex and best friend), and Phoebe. All of the cameos from the other four were super satisfying.

Bronwyn is at Yale and she and Nate are now in an on-and-off relationship

but they are endgame omg so so good

, Cooper is amazing at college baseball and is still with Kris, and Addy is still in town and her sister, Ashton, and Eli (the lawyer from Until Proven) are getting married!!

The mystery part was, admittedly, not as thrilling as the first book because we spend time just catching up with old characters and reading all the drama play out between the new ones, but I honestly didn't mind at all. McManus is GOOD at fleshing out characters and making you root for them, and there was no shortage of character flaws here (Addy and Phoebe are foils to each other in their questionable actions), but the character and relationship development (not just romantic, but platonic ones--Phoebe and Maeve, Maeve and Knox, etc,--and familial ones--Phoebe and Emma, Knox and his dad--were done so well).

This book was also just a step up from the last one in terms of humor and writing; there were some moments in the last one that just felt slightly dated and cringe, but this book was not like that at all.

Now for the actual mystery plot twist oh boy:

Jared being the one sending Eli death threats but also being Unknown and Intense Guy was just wow. I admit, I kinda didn't like that he wasn't a Bayview student bc I was like what is the point then, but his motives made sense, and Emma kinda satisfied that itch of having a traitor in the midst. And the brief moment where everyone was like oh no is Phoebe really the one is she not who we thought she was--THAT got me I absolutely did not want that to be true and I'm glad it wasn't. BUT OMG WHO saw the Owen thing coming?? The whole bizarre/bazaar thing--my jaw dropped when I saw that, now THAT was an amazing plot twist and one that needed few words (only a single one) to reveal who continued where Emma left off. I am just so so sad for their father that was a tragedy that never should have happened and tbh? Brandon's death felt like an eye for an eye and a part of me felt satisfied. But Phoebe is way more mature than me when she was like no that wasn't right. The other thing is that these kids are really emotionally mature for their age regardless of the mistakes they make at the beginning, and it's nice to read.

Honestly, I just really appreciate all the full circle moments McManus adds to tie up every loose plot thread because she never adds a single little scene without it having some greater significance later on (e.g. endgame, bazaar).

Can't wait for Book 3!!

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dariana12's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

WOW!! I think I like this book better than the first. I love that the characters from the last book are involved and they are more relatable and likable in this book. I loved all the characters so much and the ending!! I seriously could not believe it. I love the relation ship between Knox and his sisters and I love the whole book and the concept of the truth or dare game. I laughed out loud many times

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nataliapassos's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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luxxltyd's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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joanaroque's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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literallyliterature's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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gurnoor's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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sunfalls's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was alright. It wasn't anything special. I don't have anything particular to say about it. I liked it; it was a good and easy read, very easy to get through. I don't think the plot warranted all the build-up; there was barely a mystery. The twist revealing the ending was very expected. When I found out the impetus for the

new Truth or Dare text game

, I was not really very surprised. The particular details might have been unique to this story, but the overall arc of the story did not seem like anything new enough to be interesting. I think this book is pretty forgettable overall, due to how much of it seems to be exactly the same as other books or at least how much of it is almost exactly the same as the first book. There really isn't much to say about this. At least, it was mostly well written. If you're looking for a cheap entertainment to pass time that is relatively well written, I can definitely recommend this book. It isn't very memorable, but it is mildly entertaining. I enjoyed the budding romance aspects, as well as the character development. I probably will not remember this book in a year or so, unless I look back at this review or see it in my GoodReads or StoryGraph shelves.

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