We Were Liars

Beautiful. Heartbreaking. One of my favourites and I will re-read forever.

I didn't expect the twist at the end. The writing style just seems to drag a bit.

This book is hard to finish and it’s kind of a slow read. You’ll want to give up. Please, don’t. The ending is the most heartbreakingly shocking outcome. I’m glad I stuck it out and finished this book. It ended up being really inspirational for me.

A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. An accident. Every summer Cadence and her extended family spend time on their private island. And although these summers have been the highlight of four friends, summer of fifteen will be the last time they share these memories together. After an accident that leaves her with trauma and memory loss, Cadence begins to tell her story of what happened before and what she remembers after. While that’s little, she works hard to get back to spending summer with her cousins and gain her memories back. Finally getting the chance to go back to the island after missing last summer, Cadence starts the summer off by starting a spreadsheet above her bed, writing down what she remembers, questions she has, and things that start come back to her as she spends more time on the island. Ashley she begins to remember on her own, Cadence begins to learn the truth. The truth about a beautiful distinguished family. A private island. An accident. Lies. While this book was short it definitely lacked a punched. I was not ready for what was to come. This book had me feeling irritated, frustrated, confused, and by the end crying. There are not a lot of novels that have made me cry but I can add this one to the list. I recommend this book if you like family affairs and secrets with a good twist of fate. I think this book is also a good one if you are trying to get into reading as it’s shorter in length but still has all the aspects that a longer novel would have. The only thing I would add to that is that the writing style is sort of different but I think that’s what makes it unique. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Oh, my god this book!!! After reading this book let's say that you're going to need some time to process it, because there’s not even a Scrabble word for how I’m feeling right now…" But I absolutely recommend this book, for many reasons: it's very easy to read, it's fast pacing and it's very compelling.
'We Were Liars' is a YA novel, that delves into the secretive world of the American oligarchy. “We are liars. We are beautiful and privileged. We are cracked and broken.” This short, yet powerful book, follows the story of Cadence, the eldest granddaughter of an immensely wealthy family, The Sinclairs, as she grapples with love, loss, and a haunting mystery on their private island.
This family draped in opulence, spend their summers on a secluded island, each member shielded from the harsh realities that plague even the most privileged families. Tragedy lurk beneath their polished exteriors, veiled by an unspoken agreement to conceal their vulnerabilities. Cadence is a teenage girl that navigates the complexities of her family dynamics, only to find herself entangled in a web of events that shatter her world. The mystery revolves around Cadence's memory loss following a traumatic incident two summers ago. E. Lockhart skillfully weaves a cunning plot, revealing a shocking secret at the end of this story, that surpasses expectations in its nastiness and shock value. (I mean, I wanted to throw this book of the window near the end, only to find out latter that the final revelations were even worst than anticipated; it's a truth very hard to digest!)

It's very interesting the way of Lockhart's writing, that mimics this unique family, because instead of presenting us a refined elegance, she presents a fractured and messy reality, whereas the characters lack the expected depth, and the prose mirrors the disordered thoughts of a girl attempting to piece together her shattered life. The author's decision to deviate from the expected polished style adds authenticity to Cadence's narrative, creating a raw and emotional atmosphere.
"We Were Liars" is not just a mystery; it's a poignant exploration of privilege, the consequences of hiding behind a facade of perfection, and the profound impact of unspoken pain. The dispassionate gaze the novel casts on the American oligarchy is both cool and bitter, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about societal hierarchies.
In conclusion, this is a masterfully crafted non-traditional YA novel, transcending its genre, it's thrilling novel quite childish, at some points, yet very disturbing. The author delivers a thought-provoking commentary on privilege, family dynamics, and the cost of hiding behind a veneer of perfection.