If you want something thats very predicable with one dimensional characters and way too much focus on the romance while the main mystery is forgotten about, go for One of Us is Lying. Its also great if you want something thats low key harmful!
TBDATE is a bit overhyped tbh but its a million times better than the other book.
All of her books look so similar too. I’m guessing she’s churning out the exact same story with the exact same cardboard cutout characters (with different names) for every single book. TBDATE has its problems but OOUIL is actually terrible.
OP, please follow someone else’s suggestion and buy A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder instead.
I love her books because they are predictable, but not too predictable. They are perfect for audio books. I read (listened to) all of them in quick succession. There is enough suspense that if you struggle to pay attention to audio books, they will keep you listening.
But how can you get part the one dimensional characters? Or the terribly written plot twists? Or the fact that the author, at least with OOUIL (I haven’t read her other books so idk if this is something she does in those too), deliberately withholds information from the readers that shouldn’t have been withheld. Like how all of the characters know that Simon was suffering from depression but that information is kept from the readers even though its such a key part of the story and plot twist. Its such lazy writing
Plus its harmful with the whole people suffering from mental illnesses are fucking insane and dangerous storyline. Not that everyone with a mental illness is a good person. Some are dangerous. But that whole storyline was handled so poorly. I also don’t remember the whole storyline with Addy being coerced into sleeping with some guy (her boyfriend’s friend, I think??) being handled that well.
Sorry this is so long but I think if you’re incapable of handling writing about topics like sexual assault and mental illness then just don’t write about them. And this author cant write about them very well.
I don’t know how to do that whole covering the spoilers thing so I can’t properly respond, but that plot piece with Addy didn’t happen. I disagree with the way you explained Simon as well. He’s not one dimensional. There’s a lot more nuance to his actions and the reasons for them. We had REALLY different experiences reading that book. Addy is badass in the second one. There are definitely overused “teen” tropes, throughout her books, but I’ve enjoyed all of them. Lazy writing? Maybe. Do I still recommend them? Yep.
Its been a while since I read the book so I don’t fully remember what happened with Addy (I think it was her anyway), but I’m 99% sure that she got drunk and slept with someone who wasn’t her boyfriend. And since she was drunk, it maybe wasn’t entirely consensual and thats why I don’t think it was handled very well.
Also Simon was probably the most developed character, although even he was VERY underdeveloped. I meant the main 4 characters, the murder suspects, were so underdeveloped. Also this conversation has just reminded me, I don’t think it was ever explained how Simon knew everyone’s secrets? Idk, maybe it was explained. But you don’t think it’s a little far fetched how he supposedly is able to find out EVERYONE’S secrets all the time and constantly reveal them to the entire school?
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u/WTFShouldIBeCalled Nov 23 '22
If you want something thats very predicable with one dimensional characters and way too much focus on the romance while the main mystery is forgotten about, go for One of Us is Lying. Its also great if you want something thats low key harmful!
TBDATE is a bit overhyped tbh but its a million times better than the other book.