One of Us Is Next: The Sequel to One of Us Is Lying Hardcover – January 7, 2020

When it comes to truth or dare, they say to always choose the dare...Since Simon is no longer around to dish out the juicy gossip, several copycat gossip apps have popped up in place of his. None of them provide the same quality gossip Simon could, until now. This isn't your typical gossip app, this is a game, truth or dare, and the whole school is involved. The rules of the game are simple: Once you've been chosen you have 24 hours to choose between truth or dare. Complete the dare and have proof. Otherwise, your truth will be shared with everyone and some things are better kept unsaid. How far will some people go to keep their truth from coming out?I was unsure of how I'd feel about this book following Maeve (Bronwyn's sister) and her friends, Knox and Phoebe, but I absolutely loved it! I loved how the Bayview four were still discussed and made appearances, but it was a whole new story follow new people. I couldn't wait to see who was going to be chosen for truth or dare next and was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if they opted for the dare or waited for their truth to be revealed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good YA thriller! Along with reading the book, I also listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed listening to the full cast of narrators, giving each main character their own narrator. It helps make it easier to follow along when you aren't reading along and makes it more fun! I've read a few books by Karen M. McManus and I have not been disappointed yet. I will be impatiently awaiting the next and final installment of this series, One of Us Is Back!

Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!Book: One Of Us Is NextAuthor: Karen M. McManusBook Series: One Of Us Is Lying Book 2Rating: 5/5Diversity: Gay couples, different races featured prominently throughout the bookPublication Date: January 7, 2020Genre: YA MysteryRecommended Age: 16+ (some mature scenes, violence, slight gore, death)Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young ReadersPages: 377Amazon LinkSynopsis: Come on, Bayview, you know you've missed this.A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one's been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.Until now.This time it's not an app, though—it's a game.Truth or Dare.Phoebe's the first target. If you choose not to play, it's a truth. And hers is dark.Then comes Maeve and she should know better—always choose the dare.But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it's that they can't count on the police for help. Or protection.Simon's gone, but someone's determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there's a whole new set of rules.Review: I love Karen McManus’ books. They’re full of mystery and they really keep you guessing from beginning to end. I thought the characters were developed well and the tension carried from the start to the finish. The book also isn’t reliant on your knowledge of the first book, so it can be read without reading the first one. Although, there are spoilers for the first book if you do that route. The mystery is also very intriguing and will keep readers from beginning to finish.The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like there wasn’t as many hints to the end mystery as there were in the other two books. A big part of a mystery is figuring out whodunit for yourself.Verdict: A well done mystery!

Bayview! Oh it is so rare to enjoy returning to such a toxic place, but I am addicted now to this school and the terrible people at fault for its wickedly deadly games.Reading One of Us is Lying was a treat back in 2018, but coming back to this world with One of Us is Next was doubly rewarding. Not only was the story interesting, but I've come to realize that I absolutely adore this cast, both old and new. It made me so happy to visit the fave couple of Nate and Bronwyn and follow through with their relationship, it was great to see Cooper again and witness how well he's doing despite the hurdles he had to go through, and Luis... Well, Luis was just a treat all on his own. Thank you, Karen McManus, for Luis Santos.Our leading three—Maeve, Knox and Phoebe—hold their own stars. They are so different in personality and yet they bond so beautifully, but Knox stole center stage for me. He's sweet, he's so much braver than he thinks, he's smart, and he has a great deal of self-deprecating humor that I think is completely lost on him. One of the things I like about this series—duology?—is that we follow the leads on their own personal struggles and growths alongside the main mystery. And the three portray that so well, their friendship going through hurdles before ultimately coming back together just when things begin to get dicey.I wasn't surprised by who the big reveal behind the whole plot to bring others down with the Truth or Dare game was. At least, at first. Because I was right, in a way. But the huge unveiling of the ultimate culprit during the last chapter, closing in on just a few pages, left me slack-jawed. Despite it being right in front of me the whole time—and Knox even foreshadows it as he remembers bits and pieces while playing the Bounty Wars video game—I still missed it. I'm delighted by that, however, because it means that the novel still managed to surprise me, which, let's face it, is one of the things that I hope for with a good murder mystery.The mystery itself, I will say, was slightly on the slow side as far as build up. Normally, I would find that annoying, and it would make it seem as if the rest of the book were moving at a slower pace. But, again, the cast of this story makes you forget all that. I was so enamored with almost all of the characters, that I had no problem following the progress at whatever momentum it decided to take. Not once did I find myself bored or wanting for things to just get to the point.One of Us is Next is a cozy and delightful book to curl up. It's a comfort read, and I'm almost sorry that I've finished it. I can say with all certainty that I cannot wait to pick up McManus' upcoming book.