Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

131 reviews

jake_mccarthy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

The book is very confusing for the first 50% and really goes nowhere. You will have to sit through it. The second half is better but the twist and climax didn’t hit home for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

sailormegan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Review for We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Writing Quality 5/5

The unreliable, first-person narrative has a very poetic, fluid pace to it, and then we are snapped out of the trance by the abrupt and graphic intrusive thoughts of our MC, Cady. It’s believable. Her emotions were written in a way that I could feel them with every intense description, staccato wording, or lyrical paragraph. The relationships between the characters are realistic.  I did not see the plot twist coming until I was there but it made sense and looking back the hints were all there.  Lockhart’s writing made me ache for every single character.

Characters 4/5

Overall the characters are convincing, each showcasing their flaws and strengths. Cady uses beautiful adjectives to describe her group of Liars.  I didn’t give 5 stars only because the Sinclair family is a hyper-rich, snobby family (mostly) that kind of annoyed me.  This obviously is not a fault of the author.  Just my reaction to how well-written and realistic they are. 

Plot 5/5

Unique and riveting. Following Cady on her journey to find out what happened during Summer 15 on Beechwood Island was so intriguing. I was always trying to figure out what happened. And when I thought I had the answer something would come along and change that.  I honestly was not expecting the plot twist, but it made. So. Much. Sense.  

Post-reading Rating 5/5

This is a book I will think about for a long time and recommend to everyone.  I finished this, and then continued reading the author’s annotations because I needed to know how and why and what’s next.  

Who Should Read This

-Can I say everyone? 

Final Rating 4.75/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Racism and Sexual assault

karen_lo's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Unwell is the word that describes how this book left me.
So so good. I liked the way it is structured, it resembles a chaotic mind and rushed, teenage thoughts.
I very much appreciated the map and family tree, otherwise, my reading experience would've been very unpleasant.
I also loved how easy it was to immerse myself in Sinclair's island and activities; now I want to make ice cream and go tubing. 🥲
And I thought about all the plot twists possible but the one that happened. WTF.

Oh, and loved the extra notes and content from the author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Drug use and Alcoholism

Minor: Abandonment

kenziemj9's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this book in two sittings. I felt like I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely had to know what happened. The ending was devastating with a completely unexpected twist. I hated it. So naturally 5 stars.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

esterix's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Death

Moderate: Drug use and Injury/Injury detail

beaky's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

i know this book can be divisive but i really didn’t hate it that much. i found the story really intriguing and the main character cady was likeable at points. i did NOT expect the plot twist and it was good but it was definitely not a very lighthearted book. e lockhart’s writing style is very capturing, i really loved the sometimes poetic chapters and the mix of fairy tale like moments.  although i sometimes struggle with their themes i do like to read lockhart’s books. also - mirren was my fave character . 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Drug use

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Racism

readingberry's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This book put me in a reading slump - I was confused and the plot was slow and uninteresting. I felt most of the time I was trying to force myself to read it. After Part 4 (150 pages in) the plot finally picked up and I did enjoy it but I think this book was overhyped for what it was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cursing

ellagewerwhite's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

brenna_b's review against another edition

challenging emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, and Drug use

chipsqul's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i loved the plot twist at the end, it didn't make me cry but it was surely heartbreaking. something that would give you a reality check about how bitter life actually is

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Grief, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism