Scan barcode
A review by justagirlwithabook
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oh, this was a heartbreaker.
This is a great introduction into the world of mysteries with a good plot twist for YA readers new to the genre. For those who aren't new to it, it still made for a good twisty psychological thriller with YA-aged characters. The story is told from the perspective of Cady who is suffering from a traumatic injury from an event that happened a few summers previous on her family's private island. (Her family, the Sinclairs, are of that old, rich, white money and they give off a level of elitism that wants to make you vomit a bit. But the kids in the family are fairly turned off by it as well, so at least you're in good company.)
What I loved:
I loved the writing style, the short chapters, learning bits and pieces of information of what really happened that night a few summers ago as Cady starts to remember as well, the twist to the plot towards the end when the final truth is revealed, and the appeal of this narrative to YA readers.
What I didn't love:
The Sinclair family (but this was intentional -- they're just not lovable) and the classism and privilege we see in the family (again, intentional). I wish the wrongness of that had been more addressed than it was, but this story I think was more a story of a tragedy than anything else (the characters' inability to learn and change, to be better people than what they were).
What I had mixed feelings about:
The ending ... it's a heartbreaker and, while we know right off the bat that a tragedy has occurred, I didn't realize it would wrench my heart as much as it did, which in and of itself is entirely fine in an ending. I think I wanted a little bit more hope entwined in it as well. I wanted to see characters learn from their mistakes, to see a family working towards change to be better (when instead we saw fully the consequences of a terrible decision that led to families broken apart, lives ruined through substance abuse, and other things - entirely realistic, though, I guess, in that regard).
This is a great introduction into the world of mysteries with a good plot twist for YA readers new to the genre. For those who aren't new to it, it still made for a good twisty psychological thriller with YA-aged characters. The story is told from the perspective of Cady who is suffering from a traumatic injury from an event that happened a few summers previous on her family's private island. (Her family, the Sinclairs, are of that old, rich, white money and they give off a level of elitism that wants to make you vomit a bit. But the kids in the family are fairly turned off by it as well, so at least you're in good company.)
What I loved:
I loved the writing style, the short chapters, learning bits and pieces of information of what really happened that night a few summers ago as Cady starts to remember as well, the twist to the plot towards the end when the final truth is revealed, and the appeal of this narrative to YA readers.
What I didn't love:
The Sinclair family (but this was intentional -- they're just not lovable) and the classism and privilege we see in the family (again, intentional). I wish the wrongness of that had been more addressed than it was, but this story I think was more a story of a tragedy than anything else (the characters' inability to learn and change, to be better people than what they were).
What I had mixed feelings about:
The ending ... it's a heartbreaker and, while we know right off the bat that a tragedy has occurred, I didn't realize it would wrench my heart as much as it did, which in and of itself is entirely fine in an ending. I think I wanted a little bit more hope entwined in it as well. I wanted to see characters learn from their mistakes, to see a family working towards change to be better (when instead we saw fully the consequences of a terrible decision that led to families broken apart, lives ruined through substance abuse, and other things - entirely realistic, though, I guess, in that regard).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Dementia