We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart, an intriguing novel that balances a perplexing mystery with relatable teenage experiences, is sure to appeal to many young adult readers. The book revolves around protagonist Cady Sinclair and her extended family who spend every summer on their private island off the coast of Massachusetts. One summer, after a presumed swimming accident, Cady is found washed up on the beach of the island unconscious with no recollection of the events of the summer or how she ended up there. After two years of endless migraines and doctor’s appointments, Cady returns to the island where she hopes to regain knowledge of what happened before her accident. Her family, however, refuses to tell her the truth, leaving Cady on her own to piece together the events of that summer.
Although this book is a very easy read, that does not take away from its ability to tell a suspenseful story that pulls readers in, wanting them to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and could not put it down once I started reading. The plot is also a little bit slow in getting to the climax and normally this would make me want to stop reading a book; however, Lockhart does a great job in keeping readers engaged. I’m glad I stuck around for the plot twist. Also, at the beginning of the book, it is hard to keep track of the many characters being introduced with little to no descriptions, so I found myself having to go back and reread who was who.
Going into this book, my expectations were high after seeing all the attention it was getting on social media, and I was not disappointed. Overall, I would rate this book 4.5/5 stars.