Review: We Were Liars

Written By:  E. Lockhart

Published By:  Delacorte Press an imprint of Random House/May 13, 2014

Length:  240 pages

Source:  Advanced Reader Copy

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Cadence Sinclair Eastman, or Cady,  is part of a very privileged old money family.   They summer on a private island of the coast of Massachusetts.  Cady, her mother, her mother's two sisters and their children, and her grandparents Harris and Tipper Sinclair.  They built each daughter a house and the island was full of children, noise, boating and fun.  Johnny and Mirren are her cousins, close in age, and Gat is a family friend.  The family calls them the Liars, because every summer they are in some kind of trouble.  The younger cousins are affectionately referred to as the Littles. 

The writing in this book is so fluid and comfortable, it draws you in just as the small waves along the shore beckon you to wade in.  Told in past and present story lines we learn much of Cady's life, her parents divorce, the Aunt's divorces and the beautiful life they still have. 

We Were Liars is about wealth and privilege and growing up, and I was absolutely drawn in by page one. Lockhart's picturesque language pulls in you, keeps you turning pages and questioning exactly what is happening in Cady's life.  Cady keeps referring to an accident, and she always tells the story in terms of which summer it's been.  Something tragic happens during the fifteenth summer, but Cady is told to pull it together, to act normal, because she can.

I've probably told you too much, it's best to read this one with no expectations and let the story unfold for yourself. I highly recommend We Were Liars, you won't be sorry!  I've found that I really enjoy some YA, and I'll be picking up some more of E. Lockhart's back list.  Please visit her website to learn more. 

Thank you to Vero Beach Book Center for letting me rummage through your galleys and picking up this book.  I love Indie book stores, and this one is the bomb!