Turning Pages by Penguin Books NZ discussion

Hi everyone,

You may have heard that One of Us Is Next (the sequel to One of Us Is Lying) by Karen M. McManus releases early next year, so we thought it'd be fun to host a readalong of One of Us is Lying to refresh our memories! We're posting this a bit early to give you the chance to dig up your copies of book #1, run to the bookstore, or request it from your local library!

Everyone who participates in the readalong of book #1 can also apply to receive a proof copy of One of Us Is Next (book #2)! More details about this will be at the bottom of this post.

The readalong will run over four weeks in November, at the end of each week we'll have a discussion about the chapters we've read, talk about character and plot developments and guess what happens next. If you've already read the book before, don't worry, you can still participate, just avoid spoilers :) The discussion posts will be open for a week before we move on to chatting about the next set of chapters.

One of Us is Lying and discussions will be split like this:
- 4th to the 10th Chp1-7
- 11th to the 17th Chp8-15
- 18th to the 24th Chp16-22
- 25th to the 1st Dec Chp23-30

Once all the discussions have been posted an application for proofs of One of Us Is Next (book #2) will be posted and if you'd like to see what happens next you can put in an application. We have 20 copies to send out.

Who thinks they'll be participating in this readalong?

- Lauren :)

Ooh we’ll have to see if I can fit it around studying for exams but I am definitely interested! :)

I re read it a few weeks ago so I'm definitely keen

I’m keen!

Cas wrote: "Ooh we’ll have to see if I can fit it around studying for exams but I am definitely interested! :)"

Ah, of course! It'll be exam time. Best of luck with them! :)

Jenthebookishbakernz wrote: "I re read it a few weeks ago so I'm definitely keen"

Ahh, you'll be ahead of us but we'd love to see you in the discussions :)

Carly wrote: "I’m keen!"

Yay!

I just read last month, so I'll take part. 😊

Definitely, I’ve been wanting to read this for ages!

Definitely due a reread, count me in!

Yay! I’m definitely in!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I just read last month, so I'll take part. 😊"

Oh, cool! Did you enjoy it? :)

Sophie wrote: "Definitely, I’ve been wanting to read this for ages!"

I haven't read it before, either, so I'm so excited!

Sam wrote: "Definitely due a reread, count me in!"

Awesome! Curious to know what you thought of it the first time round? :)

Lauren wrote: "
Oh, cool! Did you enjoy it? :)"

Loved it. Gave it 5★. Combination of American High School drama, Agatha Christie & the Breakfast Club. 😊

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Lauren wrote: "
Oh, cool! Did you enjoy it? :)"

Loved it. Gave it 5★. Combination of American High School drama, Agatha Christie & the Breakfast Club. 😊"

Omg, love this description!!!

Lauren wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Lauren wrote: "
Oh, cool! Did you enjoy it? :)"

Loved it. Gave it 5★. Combination of American High School drama, Agatha Christie & the Breakfast Club. 😊"

Should have used it in my review - might just go do a quick edit!

I’m in! 😍

I’m in! 😍

ooooh I loved this book so I'm defs keen!

November = 130 student reports due! but we'll see what happens XD

Oh I'd love to participate if I received a proof copy! Fun!

Oooo yay I’ve read this one but am keen to do a re-read to refresh my memory and see what others think ☺️

This sounds like so much fun! I'm due a reread :) I'll have to dig up my copy!

i haven't read it yet but have heard good things so I am so keen for a read a long

I’m keen to join in too, haven’t read this yet so great time to! 😊

Chloé wrote: "I’m in! 😍"

Oh, yay! :)

Rebekka wrote: "ooooh I loved this book so I'm defs keen!"

Awesome, glad to hear you enjoyed it, I'm so excited to read it :)

Courtney wrote: "November = 130 student reports due! but we'll see what happens XD"

Omg, hope that all goes well! :)

Miz wrote: "Oh I'd love to participate if I received a proof copy! Fun!"

We'll be reading the first book (which is already out) in November and proof applications for book #2 will open in December :)

Chelsea wrote: "Oooo yay I’ve read this one but am keen to do a re-read to refresh my memory and see what others think ☺️"

Awesome! :)

Allyssa (Book Ally) wrote: "i haven't read it yet but have heard good things so I am so keen for a read a long"

I'm really excited to get to it as well, it's been on my TBR for ages!

Becca - beckys.bookish.life wrote: "I’m keen to join in too, haven’t read this yet so great time to! 😊"

Yes! I'm exactly the same :)

I’m keen for a re-read, looking forward to the second one!

Tayla wrote: "I’m keen for a re-read, looking forward to the second one!"

Awesome! :)

im keen!

I've got my copy (from the library.....) so I'm in :) Can't wait!!

Count me in!

I've picked up a library copy. I will skim rather than reread.

I'm waiting in line for mine from the library :(

My library doesn’t have it ):

Started this morning!

found an ebook from the library this evening. i’m not sure if I will be able to keep up, but will start this *fingers crossed* in the weekend

Have read through chapters 1-7 and can’t wait to hear everyone else’s discussion and thoughts!

I finished the chapters too! This is a reread for me, so I don’t want to say much because I’m terrible for accidental spoilers lol, but I am really enjoying going back and seeing little things I missed the first time around

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all enjoying One of Us is Lying so far! Or, if you're doing a reread, that you're enjoying it again.

A couple of questions to start off the discussion (but feel free to pop in any other thoughts/questions you have as well) This is just a starting point :)

- Did you feel immediately gripped by this book or did it take you a little while to get into it?
- Are you enjoying the writing style?
- Did any of the characters become an instant favourite of yours or were you thrown off liking any of them too much as one of them could be a killer?
- Who do you think is guilty at this stage of the book?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and get this discussion going!

- Lauren :)

I couldn’t help but keep reading after chapter 7, but wrote notes after each set of read along chapter sets so I wouldn’t give away any spoilers, it does mean my notes are a bit bullet point like, though!
I found the book to get really good really quickly and was hooked in the first few chapters. I like that all the characters are set up after Simons death - as opposed to before his death/at start of book. So far I don’t think it was any of the 4 main characters, but perhaps someone else? Murder seems so much bigger than these 4 teens and bigger than any crimes/mistakes they have previously been involved in. But then the blog post suggests the killer was there watching Simon die, as well as the peanut oil going in the cup after the water was poured - so I have no idea what to think!
All have such complex and interesting stories and the relationship dynamics in the book are intriguing so far. So many mini stories within the bigger picture, but finding it easy enough to keep up with all the different threads.
I really like Nate as a character and looking forward to hopefully seeing him and Bronwyn develop more of a relationship? Not a fan of Addy, or her boyfriend. Both just grate me the wrong way.

I enjoy the writing in this book because it's easy to read. At this point in the book, I am on team Breakfast Club (that's honestly just what comes to mind with those four) and think it's an outsider messing with them to ruin them. From the start of the book, I assumed it was Simon himself, however, the blog post made me question that theory.

Kylie wrote: "I couldn’t help but keep reading after chapter 7, but wrote notes after each set of read along chapter sets so I wouldn’t give away any spoilers, it does mean my notes are a bit bullet point like, ..."

I felt like that a bit too, oops... I read to chapter 11 and then had to put the book down at that point, haha!

I can totally see what you mean about the development of the characters after Simon's death, it's definitely a good way to do it! I was expecting flashbacks instead of the story carrying on. Or maybe stories while they were being questioned by the police? That was just my first thought but I think I prefer it this way :)

Courtney wrote: "I enjoy the writing in this book because it's easy to read. At this point in the book, I am on team Breakfast Club (that's honestly just what comes to mind with those four) and think it's an outsid..."

Ooh! I think I read an interview with the author that she was really inspired by The Breakfast Club so that's really cool!

I also initially was like "Simon definitely set this up" but the blog posts changed my mind but are really creeping me out hahaha!