Described by Entertainment Weekly as “Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club”, One of Us Is Lying follows five high school students who walk into detention on a Monday afternoon—but only four walk out alive.
It turns out that Simon, the victim and creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app, had plans to post juicy secrets about his four high-profile classmates on Tuesday, which makes each of them a suspect in his murder.
Either one of them is a killer, or they’re just the perfect scapegoats for a murderer who’s still on the loose.
Now a TV series streaming on NBC’s Peacock, Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying has been a hit among YA thriller fans, so we’ve rounded up a list of books with similar themes that we think you’ll enjoy.
Books Like One of Us Is Lying
Below are 8 books like One of Us Is Lying that combine elements of mystery with lies, secrets, murder, and more.
1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A wealthy, seemingly perfect family spends each summer on a beautiful private island near Martha’s Vineyard. But the summer Cadence is 15, she suffers a serious head injury and loses most of her memories of that summer.
When she reaches out to her cousins they ignore her, and rather than spending the next summer on the island, Cadence’s mother forces her to go to Europe with her estranged father. Why does everyone refuse to talk about what happened in Summer Fifteen?
2. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Five years ago, high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. The case was closed, and Sal then killed himself.
But something about the case doesn’t sit right with Pip. She knew Sal since she was a child, and he didn’t seem capable of that kind of violence.
She starts her own investigation, but when she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might prove Sal innocent, it becomes clear that someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip digging for answers.
3. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
On September 5, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio get a call from Death-Cast, notifying them that they are going to die today.
Although they’re complete strangers, Mateo and Rufus use the Last Friend app to meet up for one last adventure, and to live a lifetime in a single day.
4. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily worked hard to leave behind her small town in Maine, move to Boston, and start her own business. When she meets a gorgeous neurosurgeon, everything seems to be falling perfectly into place.
But while Ryle Kincaid has a soft spot for Lily, he’s still averse to relationships, and Lily can’t help but wonder why. And when her first love suddenly reappears, Lily has more questions than ever.
5. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Grambs had her own plans for a better future: study hard, earn a scholarship, and get out. But luck intervenes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, whom Avery has never even heard of, dies and leaves her a fortune.
To access her inheritance, Avery has to move into the sprawling Hawthorne House, which is full of secret passages and Tobias’s four disgruntled grandsons. With danger around every corner, Avery will have to play the game wisely just to survive.
6. All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Four teens can’t believe their luck when they meet their favorite novelist, only to find that she had an agenda all along to use them as her next muses.
Miri, Soleil, Penny, and Jonah find their darkest secrets in the pages of Fatima Ro’s new book, and there will be devastating consequences.
7. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo is an aging and reclusive Hollywood icon who’s finally ready to tell her story—the story of her scandalous and glamorous rise to fame, her 30-year career, and the 7 husbands in between.
To everyone’s surprise, Evelyn chooses an unknown magazine reporter, Monique, for the big scoop. As Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the silver screen legend, she also realizes that her life intersects with Evelyn’s in some tragic ways.
8. Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten
Kate O’Brien appears to be a Have-Not, but she’s determined to change that. After all, she’s book-smart, street-smart, and a skilled liar. As a scholarship student at Waverly, Kate plans to climb the social ladder by finding her place among the school’s “it” girls, especially the mega-wealthy but deeply damaged Olivia.
When the handsome and clever Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration as head of fund-raising, he quickly charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives, growing especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s determined to keep to herself. Mark has his own plan for a brighter future, but how close can Kate and Olivia get to him without having to share their dark pasts?
More Great YA Books
Young Adult (YA) novels often deal with all the drama and highs and lows of being a teen or young adult, which makes them exciting reads.
And the best part is that, despite the genre’s name, there’s no age limit on who can enjoy YA novels! For more great reads that explore the intrigue and thrills of young adulthood, check out this list of the best YA series.
Have you read One of Us Is Lying? Tell us what you thought in the comments below!
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As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
