Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in One of Us is Lying, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Stereotypes and Unlikely Connections
Gossip, Secrets, and Lies
Wisdom of the Youth
Millennial Problems
Summary
Analysis
Sunday evening, Addy arrives at the small San Diego condo her sister Ashton shares with her husband. Ashton picked Addy up from the police station, and now makes some coffee for Addy. The two sit together on the balcony and talk; Ashton implores Addy to tell Jake the truth about her dalliance with TJ, as it’s bound to get out at some point, and for him to hear it from someone else would be terrible. Addy realizes that her sister is right—after texting Jake to ask if she can come over, she has Ashton drive her back towards Bayview so that she can come clean once and for all.
Addy has been crushed by the weight of her terrible secret for months now. Since other people know about it now, it stands to reason that more will just keep finding out; Addy, encouraged by her sister, decides to get one step ahead of the rumor mill and take responsibility for her mistake at last. Addy doesn’t like living in a world governed by lies, and wants to own up to what she’s done and clear her name.
Themes
Jake’s mom lets Addy into the house and tells her that Jake is waiting for her downstairs in the basement. She finds Jake playing X-box, excited to hear about her afternoon. Addy, though, tells Jake that she has had a “scary day,” and that the detectives think Addy, Cooper, Nate, and Bronwyn murdered Simon. She tells him about the motive—the About That post detailing all four students’ secrets. Addy takes a second to muster up some courage, and then reveals to Jake that she slept with TJ over the summer. Jake is furious, and though Addy insists she loves him and simply made a mistake, Jake tells her that she has ruined everything between them. He orders Addy to get out of his house, and she stumbles crying down the driveway back into Ashton’s car.
Though Addy believed that coming clean was the right thing to do, it’s possible that her love for Jake blinded her to his controlling, manipulative, unforgiving ways; when she confesses the truth, he reacts poorly, and shows no measure of empathy, understanding, or capacity for forgiveness. Addy realizes that her whole social life is about to come crumbling down—in the blink of an eye, she is no longer the stereotypical perfect, popular girl everyone once thought she was.
Themes
