Freshman Delany Clay is reading “The Cousins” by Karen M. McManns.

“[I picked this book] because it is a mystery,” Clay said. “I really like mysteries.”

“The Cousins” is a young adult thriller about three cousins who are invited to work at their grandmother’s expensive island resort. As the summer progresses, they begin to discover dark family secrets and the truth about their parents being disinherited years ago. The three cousins face many twists and turns as they learn about their family history. 

“[My favorite part of the book is] probably the love story in it,” Clay said. 

Karen M. McManns is a young adult author best known for her first novel, “One of Us Is Lying,” and its sequels, “One of Us Is Next” and “One of Us Is Back.” McManns has been nominated for multiple Goodreads Choice Awards and Edgar Awards. 

“[I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone else because] it’s very boring,” Clay said. 

The book highlights themes like the burden of secrets, lies, and the weight of family legacy.