One of Us is Lying is a mystery novel about four high-school students: Bronwyn Rojas, Nate Macauley, Adelaide Prentiss, and Cooper Clay. They each just want to graduate high school without problems, but that’s not possible. One day, the four of them along with another student, Simon Kelleher, get stuck in detention. That same day, Simon dies from poisoning in his drink, and the police suspect it’s one of the four who killed him, especially after news comes out that Simon had dirt on each and every one of them.
This book is so incredibly written. Nothing in the book feels too boring and everything is set perfectly. There are many characters in the book so it can be a little confusing trying to figure out who is who but nonetheless the author does a good job at making sure that we are able to differentiate between them. This is overall a very good book, has a mystery theme, and several plot twists to keep you entertained.
One of Us Is Next is the sequel to One of Us Is Lying. This book follows the same town and now the side characters are the main ones. This one features a dangerous game of “Truth or Dare”.
The Firekeeper’s Daughter was not what I expected. This book follows an indigenous woman who is trying to help herself and her community after going through some pretty horrible stuff.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson is not only the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder but also an intriguing continuation of Pip’s hunt to seek out justice in her town. When her neighbor and former friend Jamie Reynolds goes missing, she is determined to find clues and possible suspects that can lead her back to him.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is SO GOOD. It gives off some Gossip Girl vibes, but itis so much more elevated and extremely intense. I really enjoyed this book because it is dark and mysterious while also being funny and adventurous. It is definitely a unique read and I have never read anything even remotely close to it. It is packed with so many little plots, twists, turns, and epiphanies that I read the whole thing in two days or less. A 100% must-read novel!!
Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli, is a realistic fiction novel. The book is about Simon Spier, a sophomore in high school, who is gay but not out. He hasn't told anyone except Blue, his secret pen pal. Neither Simon nor Blue know each other's real identities and correspond through emails. However, Simon forgets to log out of his email account on a school computer and his secret is threatened.
In Becca’s new town, three girls rule. When Becca is invited to join the pack, saying no isn’t an option. I mean, who wouldn’t give anything to have everything? Every full moon, Becca joins her new friends on the hunt. But they don’t prey on the weak; they only seek out the wicked. After the death of head-of-the-pack Arianna’s boyfriend, tensions begin to rise. Soon, Becca’s left wondering: Is everything truly worth the cost?
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a realistic fiction book about Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a young girl writing her senior project. She decides to write her project about a local murder that took place 5 years ago, using her senior project as an excuse to do her own investigation. Her goal is to prove the innocence of Sal, the alleged killer who was also found dead, and find out who really killed Andie, Sal’s girlfriend.
Normal People follows the story of Connell and Marianne, who in high school were total opposites to the outside world, but secretly the same people. As they grow up, they simply can’t stay away from each other. Now for me, this is one of my favorite romance ‘tropes’. The ‘We hate that we love each other but can’t stay away from each other enough’. If you also like that, I 100% recommend this book.
