Perspective is built from context in One of Us Is Lying through the main characters, whose thoughts and emotions help readers understand the meaning of the story, which is focused on the harmful effects of social media, the issues of stereotyping, the distortion of truth, and the naivety but also the cleverness of youth.

Context is the setting and the background of a written work that helps the readers understand the meaning of the book and the main point and message of the writer. One of Us Is Lying is set in Bayview High School, near San Diego, sometime in 2017 and tells the individual stories of four students who become the main suspects in Simon Kelleher's death. McManus includes historical and social context by highlighting the power of lies and secrets and showcasing how easy it is to spread a harmful rumor or false information and cause someone harm (be it physically or mentally) in the modern social climate.

Perspective, on the other hand, is the way the readers view the events and characters in the novel and the way they connect with the thoughts and emotions of the characters and the setting of the events, which tie in with the main context of the book. One of Us Is Lying is told from the first-person point of view of the four main characters: Bronwyn Rojas, Nate Macauley, Cooper Clay, and Addy Prentiss.

The perspective is built upon the context of the story, and through the individual perspectives of the four students, the readers learn about the message of One of Us Is Lying and uncover the intentions the author had for writing the novel.