renpuspita's reviews
1353 reviews

 Buku ini masuk kategori YA, tapi entahlah gue merasa dari segi usia tokoh2nya saja sudah diatas YA. Okelah tokoh utama, Ceony Twill itu 19 tahun, tapi dengan setting cerita di awal abad 20 umur segitu benernya sudah dianggap dewasa. Belum lagi love interestnya Ceony, Emery Thane, usianya dah 30an lebih. Lebih tua dari Ceony 12 tahun! Kalau dari segi cerita ya memang ini bisa juga masuk YA karena termasuk sederhana juga world building. Walaupun magic systemnya tuh unik! Pengendalian akan material di dunianya Paper Magician itu hanya terbatas pada materi buatan manusia, seperti besi, kaca, karet, plastik, kertas dll. Jadi yg bukan buatan manusia ga bisa? Bukannya ga bisa, tapi pengendalian akan material di luar buatan manusia seperti katakanlah darah, akan membuatmu jadi Penyihir Pembelot atau penjahat deh. Sistem sihir yang unik ini emang mau ga mau ngingetin gue sama salah satu author yg juga bikin magic system dari hal2 sederhana. Siapa lagi kalau bukan Brandon Sanderson? Ternyata waktu gue baca bagian acknowlegdment, Charlie N. Holmberg bilang kalau Sanderson itu salah satu mentornya di kelas menulis. Haha pantesan kok rada - rada familiar penggunaan sistem sihirnya, walau Sanderson jauh lebih detail lagi jelasinnya ketimbang Holmberg.

Walau awal - awal ceritanya agak slow dan kita diperlihatkan sama Ceony yg kesel banget gegara ga bisa jadi Pengendali Besi dan harus jadi Pengendali Kertas, cerita mulai seru saat Emery diserang dan jantungnya diambil. Vibe awalnya emang kayak cerita daddy long legs, apalagi Emery jauh lebih tua dari Ceony. Walau Ceony kesel, toh dia pasrah juga mau jadi Pengendali Kertas dan diajarin sama Emery macem2. Menurut gue kelebihan cerita ini emang di proses Ceony belajar sihir Kertas yang ajaib banget! Gue yakin tiap orang yg abis baca buku ini jadi pengen belajar origami. Nah saat jantung Emery diambil dan Ceony pergi sendirian buat nyelamatin si jantung, alur ceritanya mulai cepat dan cuma hitungan hari karena jantung sementara Emery yg berasal dari kertas ga akan bertahan lama. Di bagian inilah akhirnya Ceony tahu masa lalu Emery yang kompleks termasuk hubungan Emery dengan Lira, dimana Lira ini ada Penyihir Pembelot yang mengambil jantung Emery.

Untuk segi romansanya sih tipis-tipis ya dan kelihatan banget Ceony yang jatuh cinta duluan sama Emery walau alasannya karena pas dia tahu Emery yg kasih beasiswa buat belajar dan juga gegara lihat masa lalu Emery itu agak kurang kuat buat gue. Tapi ya orang mau jatuh cinta itu kadang alasannya macem2, lol. Romansanya sendiri ga terlalu fokus kok dan ceritanya emang lebih ke upaya Ceony buat nyelamatin Emery. Ceony sendiri emang berbakat ya karena dia bisa menguasai sihir kertas dengan cukup bagus walau bagian yang susah seperti membuat anjing dari kertas itu baru Emery yang bisa. Menarik buat tahu gimana Ceony nanti akan berkembang jadi Pengendali Kertas yang sesungguhnya.

Terjemahannya sendiri rapi meski ada beberapa typo. Sayangnya, hurufnya kecil - kecil BANGET dan mayan bikin gue spaneng. Edisi asli buku ini tuh 222 halaman sementara diterjemahkan jadi 236 hal. Hemat kertas banget ga tuh? Ironis mengingat kertas juga jadi fokus utama cerita ini, hehehe. Kekurangannya memang di bagian awal yang agak slow karena setelah Ceony masuk ke jantung Emery itu ceritanya mulai oke dan gue kagum sama cara Holmberg menganalogikan kenangan dan impian manusia itu di jantung. Dalam bahasa Inggris, jantung itu heart, sementara heart di bahasa Indonesia juga berarti hati; tempat kenangan berasal. Menurut gue ini cukup puitis dan lebih bisa diikuti ketimbang pakai bagian otak misalnya 😆.

Untuk sebuah debut dan buku pembuka sebuah series, The Paper Magician ini cukup seru dan cukup bikin penasaran karena ceritanya emang masih berlanjut. Cocok juga buat yg nyari fantasy ringan dengan jumlah halaman yg ga terlalu banyak. 

 The last time I read historical romance that didn't have supernatural/gothic/time travel elements was apparently 8 years ago (!). I admit, I rarely read this subgenre and prefer historical romance with some fantasy aspects but I remembered that back then I like Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen. Earls Just Want to Have Fun is the first book Covent Garden Cubs with some interesting premise because the heroine, Marlowe is a thief from Covent Garden gangs. But Marlowe is not a mere thief. She's believed to be Lady Elizabeth Grafton, the lost daughter of Marquess Lyndon that got abducted when she was 5 years old. So, imagine the building headache that our hero, Maxwell Derring, Earl of Dane have because he must teach Marlowe the nobles etiquette while also fight his growing attraction to the hellion.

What make Earls Just Want to Have Fun, although the earl that want to have fun is just one person so forget my limited grammar, interesting is Galen's view about class systemic and hierarchy regarding the nobility, working class and especially the poor. Dane have a classism views. He disdain the poor and want to pass the bill in the Parliament about the treatment of the poor because he believe the poor are lazy. Such a jerk. Galen manage to redeem him through Marlowe, and as corny as the power of love concern, Dane really change for the better because Marlowe change his perspective. In order to help Marlowe to free from her thief gang leader, Dane agree to follow Marlowe's plan and in the process Dane's eyes were open when he go to the rookeries. I think the change are well written and show that even start as a jerk, in the end Dane become a better person.

Another thing that make me love reading this book is Marlowe. While she was a noble but through the story, Marlowe think herself as a thief, the lowest of the class. That where it's so amusing to read when reading her try to adjust with the noble's lifestyle. Some parts can be comic reliefs and I assure you, the genre of this book is not a comedy. But the way Galen write it definitely make me laugh a bit because of Marlowe's antique. Marlowe also the epitome of confidence and naivety, mix in one package. She didn't hesitant to go one on one with men because all her life she just try to survive to life, while she's also naive in the love (and sex) department. Marlowe is truly the gem of this book although I got some difficulty to read her dialogue because Galen try to differentiate Marlowe's dialogue with the rest of Dane's family because of Marlowe's upbringing in the rookeries. As for the sex scenes, it's steamy but also have tender moments as well. The story itself pretty much fast paced and the romance itself can be categorized to insta (because happen in days), but I don't mind it.

If you love a rags to riches tropes and some interesting take regarding the class system in Regency historical romance, I will suggest to read this one. 

Apparently, the key to exorcise demon that roamed in your neighborhood is the female friendship. Better yet, the female friendship between housewives

Nope, not kidding. I know those sentences sounds like shonen anime or manga slogan, but the main theme for Suburban Hell is the friendship between the suburban housewives in Winchester, Illinois. Suburban Hell is Maureen Kilmer's debut horror book and honestly this book have some debut's weakness. But, I'm having fun while reading this although some things can be glaring. More about that later.

Suburban Hell told entirely from Amy's first PoV. Together with her "outcast" housewives neighbor, namely Melissa, Jess and Liz, they create a place just for them to relax without spouses or children distribution. Little they know when they toast above She Shed (the place), Liz got possessed by demonic entity and things going downhill. Balancing housewives duty, social life and paranoia induced by demon-Liz attacks, Amy got her hand full. Luckily, she still have Melissa and Jess, although she need to encourage them to join her cause in order to save Liz.

This book kinda remind me of Southern Book Club Guide's to Slaying Vampire by Grady Hendrix. The premise is the same, outcast housewives club that facing an evil force in order to save their family and neighborhood. But, Suburban Hell's horror vibes are lighter compare to the former. Yeah, there's demonic appearance, but it's slightly spooky and creepy. Not the kind that give me heebies jeebies. The story can be mundane to read since you will read Amy do her housewives responsibility and caring for her children, so some chapter can be too slow to read. However, the chapters also shorts, providing a fast read and the mystery also suspense will make you glued to the page.

I like how Kilmer portrayed the friendship between Amy, Melissa, Jess and Liz; and make them all different in personality. Melissa is strict but come from a religiously fanatic parents and she is the hardest to convinced while it come to saving Liz. Jess is a carefree and also the youngest of the four, often provide comic relief with her snarky remarks. Liz is...kind and we only get a glimpse about her from Amy's PoV because she being possessed for 99% amount of this book. Then, we will delve into Amy, since she is the main character, how she still grieving for her sister's death and her drive to save people she loved is what make her determined to save Liz rather than sold her house and moving away in order to protect her children. 

However, I think the demonic entity's explanation is the weakest link of this book. I don't get why the demon come to possess Liz now rather than years ago and the reason just explained by Amy's deduction. The demon didn't bother to explain themselves and just focus to wreak havoc in the neighborhood. I don't know how the demon become the demon at all, lol. More like a vengeful ghost, but then later they become a demon? The conclusion behind the exorcism feel anticlimatic, although hints for something sinister to come in the future. But, since this book is apparently a standalone, that left to reader to interpreted it. Anyway, I like the way Kilmer write the spouses in this book. I prepare myself to read about cheating spouses especially when Kilmer write Amy's husband often do overtime and business trip. BUT, Mark (Amy's husband) is far from cheating husband! He's so supportive to Amy even he didn't believe 100% when Amy explained there was a demon possessing Liz. Even Melissa's husband and Jess's boyfriend seems cool. It's refreshing to read when there's no cheating husband or wives, lel.

I will recommend Suburban Hell if you want to read a light horror with demonic possession and female friendship among the housewives of suburban. 

 If judging by cover alone, I expect a cute contemporary romance feature Desi characters. Even the blurb said so. What I don't expect after finish reading is rather than a conrom, Partners in Crime more like romantic suspense. With angst, LOT of angst. I had read Alisha Rai's title before and I forget that she can write a delicious angst.

I like both Mira and Naveen, since both in their thirties so they are already mature and no unnecessary or prolonged drama OR third act breakup. Before the story began, Mira matched with Naveen, only to let her insecurities about her shady family and past that make her broke things up with Naveen via text. Ouch. I like the second chance trope that Rai write because not only Mira have a huge emotional baggage, Naveen himself also just recently sober and also failed in the romantic department. I think both Mira and Naveen suit each other, they compliment each other with Mira who is savvy enough to face their enemies while Naveen also support her emotionally and also smooth things over with his communication skills. Truly a partners in crime. In the end Mira manage to face her past and pursue her happiness in the future with Naveen.

The story is fast paced and full of adrenaline. The suspense keep me reading especially regarding the jewels that Mira's late father stole and the identity of the villain named Cobra. Not only Mira and Naveen race through time because Cobra threatened Mira's sister life, they also go to many states and also do heist. The romance itself maybe not much and more like angst, but the amount of romance and angst are well balanced. However, the twist regarding the Cobra identity and another character from Mira's past left me dumbfounded. A true Bollywood moment, lel. Just like your usual Asian centered story, the story will be no complete without meddling parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc. 

If you love your romantic suspense with heist element, well balanced angst and romance, family theme and a nonstop chase with a slight mystery, I will recommend Partners in Crime! 

Is the story funny? Sadly, not really.
Is the writing tedious? Sigh, yes.

Terminal Alliance is another case "it's not the book's fault, it's me". I buy the ebook version because it was on sale and I pick up this to read because I expect the story will be humorous like Scalzi's (even I only read Kaiju Preservation Society). The premise of the "janitors in space" is pretty unique as well. However, the funny things is just how the way human rename themselves like the men choose name Marilyn Monroe, Doctor Curie or Anna May Wong, while the women have name like Wolfgang Mozart. Also, the main character, Marion Adamopolous aka Mops love Jane Austen's books. The other humorous part are basically a pun of sewage and excrement from alien, because you know, the main characters are part of cleaning service. I admit, I don't find it funny.

I actually applause Hines's decision to not info dumping in the first chapters, rather than reveal it bit by bit. But, I admit I'm kinda lost and then my interest just keep waning by each chapter. Mops characterization feel bland, just like your usual captain and I can't find myself to warm and feel connected toward her. The others are 0kay and actually I like Wolfgang (aka Wolf), the glacidae, Grom and Mops' AI monocle, Doc. You can tell that I lost interest because I'm not bothering to thinking why it's only Mops and her janitor crews that save from the virus that turn other human crews in Pufferfish ship to be a mindless zombie (or feral) while the said virus is supposed to be airborne. Maybe it's just for..plot. The last part is actually entertaining to read, despite my waning interest in the book.

Do I want to read the next book? No, I don't think so. The problems that Mops and her crews face in this book is concluded nicely while still open other problems left unsolved. But, since it's hard for me to enjoy the first book and I forced myself to finish Terminal Alliance, I guess me and this series is just don't mean to be. 

 

 Honestly, this is pretty..disappointing? Meg Cabot is an author whom books I read when I'm searching for light and feel good books. I love her Heather Wells series and The Boys series. Sadly, Enchanted to Meet You feels like a mismatch of plot. Yeah, sure the cozy feeling is there, but I don't get why make a Chosen One trope then there's Bringer of Light? I'll be like...what? Also the ending of the story feel anticlimatic as well. Like, you banished the demon of the rift that threatened to engulfing West Harbor in a chaos and destruction just by

delivering a speech? Really Meg Cabot? Really????? Even if this one written as YA instead of adult, that seems overkill you know 

 

I don't get the chemistry between Jess and Derrick, seems sudden. Why differentiate the PoV between Jess (1st PoV) and Derrick (3rd PoV), I have no slightly idea because I think the story might be better written from all Jess's PoV but that's just me of course. I feel like Jess is less snark and more like two-goody person. It's not that bad, but I REALLY HOPE, Jess's nemesis, Rosalie get her comeuppance. Like really regret her wrongdoings. Rosalie is a bully to the core and her redemption is just barely there. I don't get why Jess can be so forgiving to Rosalie because Rosalie deserve the worst.

Story is not that memorable and I admit, I'm slugging while reading this. Maybe I like Meg Cabot when she write about con-rom or murder mystery, rather than the supernatural ones 

 EASILY ONE OF MY TOP READS FOR 2024

I can write so many things why I have a blast while reading The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, beside I REALLY LOVE The Daevabad Trilogy. But, one thing that I want to highlight is discussion about faith. It's rare to read a Muslim character in fantasy novel. It's also rarer to read a pirate Muslim woman. While Amina is a Islam practitioner from the moment she was born, she is what I called in my Indonesian slang, Islam KTP, lol. See, in her pirates era, Amina drunk alcohols, kill many people, steals, flirting with men, etc etc. I will not shocked if she eat pork, hahaha. So, when she finally retire, she try to atone for her sins. She doing her sholat, dzikir and much more, although still somehow fall into her past misdeeds. Like, maybe stealing one or two or appreciate men's physique (at last, Amina is a honest woman!). Nah, I will not condemn her so. I find Amina's faith fascinating because...it's resonated with me. I'm right now in my lowest state regarding my Islamic faith, and there's a reason behind that. Nope, I'm not drink wine or alcohol and eating pork, or stealing so my sins maybe not that big like Amina was, but who am I to judge myself since I rarely doing my sholat, rarely pray to Allah and maybe many other sins that maybe will make me go through the far deepest pit of hellfire? I think maybe that's why I love this book because how Chakraborty write about Amina and her faith, how Amina is still a human, prone to sins and to mistake, but still try to atone and searching redemption!

Compared to Daevabad Trilogy, Amina al-Sirafi is lighter in tone. Daevabad is full of political intrigue and secrets regarding the daeva and their mythology. Amina al-Sirafi is about adventure! A swashbuckling story that left me breathless and pouring over the pages, impatiently want to know what will happen with Amina and her merry band of crews of Marawati ships. This book also heavy in found family troupe and all of the characters are in their 40-ish, including Amina. I think this book also have a same premise with the Bone Maker, in which the main character that already in their 40-50-ish become hermit and estranged from their friends. But I can assure that the execution is different. I enjoyed both The Bone Maker and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.

If you have read Daevabad, then you know that Chakraborty did a vast and massive research while writing her books. In this book, Chakraborty also provide her source regarding the pirates world especially in 12th century. While the book is fictional, some of the elements can be traced to its origins. I like the myth behind the Moon of the Saba and snickered when knowing the real explanation behind the artifact. Reading this book is never a dull moment! The story told entirely from Amina's first PoV in a form of her telling her story (and pursuits) to a young scribe named Jamal al-Hilli. So, basically some part can be tongue-in-cheek to read. I'm not kidding when said that the book's tone is light although there's some life and death moments, problems just keep coming for Amina and her crews and also Amina try to keep her daughter, Marjana, safe from harm.

The found family trope is well wonder and I like that Amina and her crews reunited and they are also eager for any chance of adventure. Amina's crews also diverse, from Dalila, a Christian woman famed with her poisons and hail from Banu Sasan. Amina's first mate, a gay Hindu man named Tinbu that managed to keep Marawati in a good shape and almost got hanged because of brigand crime but saved by Amina and Dalila. There's Majed, a navigator that already in his third hajji, a big brother figure to Amina and while he already have family, his longing to make a map of world is stronger so he decide to go with Amina in retrieving the kidnapped granddaughter of wealthy woman in Aden who also threatened Amina if Amina can't bring the said granddaughter back. Do I forgot to said that Amina also have four husband?? Not in the same time, mind you, but the fourth husband, Raksh is an actual demon that want to make Amina as a legend, but also cunning. He's also father of Marjana, but Amina still keep that fact to herself so I wondering how long Raksh will keep in the dark regarding Marjana and what is his reaction if he knew he's a father. I also still wondering, what is exactly Raksh. He's not a marid for sure, and also not a peri. If he's an ifrit, since he said he's a being of discord, I remember that ifrit is nastier while Raksh feel like...a himbo, lel. He's also still married to Amina although Amina left him in the chest 10 years prior to the story, and still married in the end of the book. So yeah, curious about them, although I assure there's no romance. The love aspect is more like Amina's mother love for Marjana and I think she has none for Raskh since that demon also responsible for her late crew's death.

I can go on and on about The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi but know this that I really love this book and will recommend it if you searching for a fantasy with adventure, treasure hunting, found family trope, mysterious artifact, treacherous creatures and interesting thought regarding religion and faith. 

 With a "Halloween" in the title, you might be wondering why release it in March? I'm wondering about that too and I just know that The Witch Queen of Halloween planned to be released on Halloween last year, but got delayed. At this point, I don't want to sounds whiny because we are lucky that Cole release it in just few months late compared to Munro that delayed for so many years, lel. Also, this is just me, but I'm surprised to find that this one is a novella rather than a novel. I mean (yeah, I may sound whiny again), with the price (6,99$) I expect a full novel NOT a novella. The fault is mine tho since I don't did my due diligence and the fact that it's a novella didn't affect my ratings. It's something else.

Look, from I don't know how many books, Cole already tease about Ascension. How the event is near and then there's this threat from another plane called The Morior. Do this novella bring some hints about Ascension? I'm afraid, not. The Witch Queen of Halloween pretty much a Halloween read. The only hint about Ascension that I got is just from prologue that feature our batshit crazy Valkyrie soothsayer, Nix and two Witches Queen, Loa and Dorada. A tidbit about maybe the fate of Furie and Kristoff? Nope and nope, lel. The ending promise some new threat though, but just that.

Do I like Poppy and Rok? Umm, yeah, I think they are okay. They are not my favorite IAD couple, but they are also not that bad. Except maybe I got annoyed by Poppy because she's sometimes playing hard to get and her jealousy can be too much to read. I like Rok, he's one of the oldies but goldies of Cole's alpha heroes. Honestly, if there's no mention of Cadeon, I kinda forget who is Rok at the first place, lol. His ability as a smoke demon is unique but also make things complicated especially in romance department. I know that some of Poppy's jealousy about Rok's past lover/FWB that can summon him as they please because of pact that they formed, is justified. But didn't mean I like to read it. For an immortal and a hundred year and more witches, Poppy's act like a teenager when it come to romance. By the way, I still like Poppy and Rok's witty banter, another Cole's trademark for sure. The sexual tension is of course rocketing although I just wish their first love making didn't happen in the castle of the horror and their fate is in peril. I mean, you can be horny in those situation and conditions? I'm really sure that I'm not, lol!

The strength of this novella is the horror and macabre nightmare come to life. Cole really know her homework and she write so many horror movie creatures. The mystery behind the Raven castle is pretty light and the reason behind Poppy's curse is easily solved. I mean, the entire novella is pretty simple and straightforward story that focusing more in how Poppy and Rok make their relationship work. So, after all the misunderstanding cleared and Rok admit that Poppy is his mate and he start attempting (aka boning), all is well. 

The Witch Queen of Halloween is perfect for a light and fast read without too much angst. It's not the best of the IAD series, but not the worst either. I still manage to enjoy reading it, although I hope can we get through Furie and Kristoff story already before Cole add so many new characters and the story will never reach its ending? *sigh

PS: I read some reviews, both from this novella and Munro, and there's a wild speculation that both Munro and Witch Queen written by a ghostwriter because the lack of Cole's signature. I'm not really sure maybe because even I read all IAD books, the interval between the book release is a year or so and don't forget that Munro got delayed for almost 5 years! I think, maybe Cole don't get her mojo back yet? Both Munro and Witch Queen still have some Cole's trademark and still feels like IAD novels. Or maybe, because with Munro, Cole now go in self publishing route so the quality of the book is not the same with her old novels? Only time and the next book release will tell, though. 

 It's been 10 or more years ago when I read Clean Sweep for the first time so I don't know if the graphic novel version is true to its original version. Since I know that with different media, there's will be change here and there. Reading this graphic novel make me want to do a re-read to compare the story.

Art wise, the art is not my favorite although the lineart is clean and defined. Plus point, the illustrator, Shinju Ageha is an Indonesian like me! I like that many Indonesian illustrator know work for webtoon, and I'm glad that Shinju Ageha got chosen to bring Clean Sweep characters and story into webtoon format. I don't remember much the novel version, but this webtoon version is pretty much humorous with some of tongue in check dialogue. The book also just covered episode 1 to 25 that published online first in Tapas. I hope volume 2 will be published too in 2024 so I can read book vol 1 and vol 2 back to back.

A nice addition for Ilona Andrews fans and also nice introduction to new reader to the world of the Innkeeper Chronicles 

 Cuma bisa bilang: GILA!!

Gue ga mau bandingin One of Us is Lying sama A Good Girl's Guide to Murder aka AGGGtM yg gue udah baca dulu padahal gue dah punya buku ini duluan sejak lama, hahahaha. Meski sama - sama YA dengan unsur misteri, thriller & suspense, keduanya beda dari segi tema dan eksekusi, tapi menurut gue keduanya SAMA BAGUSnya dengan cara yang berbeda. AGGGtM lebih kental sisi whodunnit dan investigasinya, sementara One of Us is Lying lebih menguak ke sisi kelam dunia remaja sekolah Amrik dengan segala lika likunya.

Dari segi karakternya sendiri emang typical film remaja, seperti yang dibilang oleh si korban, Simon Kelleher. Bronwyn itu cewe cerdas di sekolah, Nate cowo bandel yang lagi dihukum masa percobaan karena jadi pengedar narkoba, Addy cewe populer dan putri prom, sementara Cooper atlet dengan masa depan yang cerah. Keempatnya bersama Simon disatukan di ruang detensi yang berujung pada tewasnya Simon karena alergi yg dideritanya dan nasib para remaja ini berubah 180 derajat hanya dalam sehari. One of Us is lying, salah satu dari mereka bohong. Masalahnya, siapa yang BERBOHONG? 

Buku ini ditulis dari PoV Bronwyn, Nate, Addy dan Cooper, semuanya pakai 1st PoV. Dari pemilihan 1st PoV aja gue udah nyadar, ceritanya bakal bias & subjektif karena pakai sudut pandang masing - masing. Tapi jangan khawatir, alur ceritanya sendiri lurus bak jalan tol, bukannya maju mundur, mengingat baca empat PoV orang pertama aja udah mayan harus konsen ya. McManus sendiri dengan lihai membuka sedikit demi sedikit fakta - fakta yang berhubungan dengan Simon dan aplikasi gosipnya, About That. Keempat remaja ini dicurigai dan punya motif semua, tapi dari sudut pandang mereka pun, gue juga dibuat bertanya - tanya, siapa yang BOHONG? Mereka berempat emang ada kebohongan yang dimana nantinya mereka terpaksa harus jujur dan menerima konsekuensinya, tapi apa hubungannya kebohongannya mereka dengan meninggalnya Simon? Di sinilah menurut gue cukup plot twist dan mindblown meski gue cukup bisa menebak kenapanya, karena red herringnya jelas terpampang nyata tapi gue malah nyari2 siapa yang bohong dari keempat tersangka XD.

Untuk ukuran debut, buku ini cukup rapi ditulisnya (dan ya, mau ga mau jadi inget Holly Jackson sama AGGGTM yang juga debutnya). Awalnya menarik dan tegang, tapi mayan kedodoran di bagian kedua sebelum akhirnya mencapai momentum di akhir. Menurut gue, ketimbang sebagai kasus misteri whodunnit, McManus lebih ingin menjabarkan kebobrokan dunia remaja yang tidak melulu berfokus sama sex dan narkoba. Segala permasalahan remaja, utamanya yang berhubungan dengan nilai pelajaran, prestasi olahraga yang cemerlang, interaksi dengan orang tua dan juga pencarian jati diri (termasuk preferensi seksual) dibahas dengan cukup tuntas dan thought-provoking. Pembaca bakal diajak mikir dan bersimpati sama tokoh - tokoh di buku ini. Plus, bahwa sesuatu yang kamu lakukan, yang menurut kamu harmless, bisa aja bikin orang lain sakit hati dan akhirnya berlaku desktruktif

Dari keempat remaja ini, gue paling salut sama Addy. Addy yang awalnya cewe penurut dan bergaul sama cewe2 populer lainnya, setelah dicampakkan sama pacarnya bernama Jake, jadi cewe yang akhirnya mandiri dan tidak mempedulikan pendapat orang. Sementara untuk Nate & Bronwyn, walau mereka akhirnya dapat jatah hubungan romantis, gue udah pernah baca hubungan serupa antara cewek cerdas dan cowo bandel di Perfect Chemistry jadi ga menawarkan sesuatu yang baru, hehe. Walau gue sendiri menikmati membaca interaksi Nate dan Bronwyn. Untuk Cooper, dilema terkait seksualitasnya cukup menarik dibaca tapi menurut gue spotlightnya juga agak2 kurang dibandingkan Addy dan yang lain. Eniwei, terkait dengan si korban yaitu Simon, gue jujur ga terlalu simpatik meski tahu alasan dibalik pembuatan aplikasi About That. Apa yang dilakukan Simon itu selain bullying, juga tanda - tanda power syndrome. Gue tahu Simon "ingin dilihat" dan karenanya dia bikin About That. Tapi, apa hak Simon buat menghancurkan hidup orang lain, apalagi remaja yang masa depannya masih lama. 

Endingnya sendiri mengesankan kalau masalah udah selesai dan ceritanya selesai. Tapi ternyata ada buku 2 dan buku 3 (yang belum diterjemahkan). Gue penasaran, bakal ada kejadian mengerikan apalagi yang menimpa siswa - siswa SMA Bayview? Yang jelas, kalau kamu suka YA misteri tapi lebih fokus ke interaksi tokoh - tokohnya, One of Us is Lying ini bener2 gue rekomendasikan!