Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

7 reviews

abicaro17's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Once again a fun read! As a sequel, this book was fighting any preconceived notions from One of Us is Lying. I can say that this book, although not as good as the first, is a solid sequel. One of Us is Next brings in Brownyn's sister Maeve, a computer genius, Maeve's ex boyfriend and current best friend Knox, a law intern, and Phoebe, a waitress at the restaurant that everyone hangs out in. As a new gossip fueled game, Truth or Dare, starts up 18 months after Simon's death and creates drama and danger. I really enjoyed the new characters in Phoebe, Knox, Maeve and Luis. I think this is a true strong point in this story. I appreciate how this story keeps the basis of the first story while changing almost everything else. The original characters are involved but it's not about them, the location is the same but there are new ones too, and the mystery is entirely different as well. My problem is that I didn't care as much. The beauty of the first book is that Simon dies in front of the original four and its pretty much the first chapter. This means that the mysterious death is the forefront and the game is more secondary. It is the reverse in the sequel. I feel like this means the story is harder to get into and is less of a meaningful twist. I think the first was hard to follow and although this book stops short it is a fantastic mystery either way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Blood, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Bullying, Cursing, Alcoholism, Cancer, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Racism, Sexual assault, and Stalking

kshertz's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is such an interesting sequel. It was nice to see previous characters and learn more about precious side characters. I love the twists and turns and when everything gets explained. An excellent sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Violence, Child death, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Body horror, Blood, and Chronic illness

taelights's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

Personally I didn't like this one as much as the first book until the very end because I just disliked all the characters so I just couldn't get into it. I think this author is just not for me and I should just stick the the tv adaption but i will be giving the next book a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cancer, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

brookey8888's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this! Not as much as the first, but it was still really good. I just really like the characters she writes and I love that we got to see the characters from the first in this. Also how the events of the first book effects this one. Now it didn’t get interesting plot wise for the first like 50%(I don’t really care because I like the characters and relationships). The last part of this book I did not see coming my jaw dropped. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Body shaming, Grief, and Sexual assault

msradiosilence's review

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Tldr; the plot was heavy on the character study and light on the murder mystery, which made it overall pretty boring. A disappointing sequel to a great first book.

Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/one-of-us-is-next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Homophobia

hannah__12's review

emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book is absolutely amazing. I could not stop reading it!

I totally thought that it was Phoebe behind everything since she was so adamant about Maeve not looking at the revenge forums. I was very surprised to find out it was Emma (her older sister). Then I found out it was Owen!?!? By the last chapter, I was sure that the plot twists were over so I was not prepared to find that out. I wonder if anyone else will find out that it was Owen that continued the messages.

This book has a lot of great twists and turns.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking

Minor: Addiction, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

sarahsbookss's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Death

Minor: Sexual content, Medical content, and Gaslighting