Reviews tagging 'Grief'

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

39 reviews

kccool12255's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

What. The. Actual. Heck. It has been a while since I was so completely mystified by a book’s ending, but this one managed that. I’d maybe even dare to say this ending is better than the first, because everything’s up in the air. I do mostly prefer Bronwyn and Nate to Luis and Maeve, but I think that’s majorly because I love enemies to lovers (and bad boy x nerdy girl). Maeve and Knox’s friendship was AWESOME, I love friendships like that. I didn’t see ANY of the plot twists coming. The point is, we got our ships, and that is what matters. I LOVE this series, and the author is a genius. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first book, and murder mysteries.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Infidelity

Minor: Grief, Cursing, and Sexual content

violetbentbackwards1036's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Vomit, Medical content, Cancer, Sexual assault, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Violence, Misogyny, Bullying, Addiction, and Death of parent

matidareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cancer, Violence, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Blood, and Alcohol

libraryghost's review against another edition

dark 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Sexual assault

Minor: Mass/school shootings

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This book is very slow for the first 60%. There is a lot of focus on drama unrelated to the underlying mystery and characters that don't matter past the initial burst of drama. There is somehow not enough focus on any of these characters to pull off a red herring maneuver. You can basically figure out the plot by the 70% mark aside from a few details that were mishandled, in my opinion. There is also a romance between a 17 year old and someone who is old enough to have graduated college.

There is a character blatantly introduced at the 90% mark. He is mentioned two to four times throughout the book but only in passing as the "intense guy." To no one's surprise he is one of the three culprits and not at all a red herring. There are three culprits: Emma, Owen, Jared Jackson. Jared Jackson made a deal with Emma in a revenge board. Emma did this through the use of her sister's phone as she had conveniently lost hers. Emma admits this all from the hospital bed where she is suffering from the effects of alcohol poisoning. When Emma backs out by ghosting on Jared, Owen (the little brother) steps in, steals the pseudonym, and pursues revenge against Brandon for the death of his father. Emma and Phoebe agree to act like Jared fabricated Owen's messages to protect him.

The reveal right at the end of the book is a very cheap gimmick and though it was executed properly, it feels unrealistic to how someone of that age demographic would respond to the info they'd acquired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Sexual assault, Death, Alcoholism, Murder, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, and Cancer

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child death, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, and Racism

There is a subplot of a bomb but only one person is injured and they survive but will have scars. There was also a subplot of a corrupt police officer who framed and blackmailed someone for drugs.

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

dariana12's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual harassment, Grief, and Death of parent

franticfreya's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Moderate: Alcoholism, Stalking, Sexual assault, Grief, Bullying, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

literallyliterature's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, and Cancer

Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Murder, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Homophobia

aamelia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol