we were liars - e.lockhart // review

We Were Liars
E.Lockhart
240 pages
3/5 paws

I literally judged this book by its cover...

I don't typically read YA, unless I have a ringing endorsement. And the cover of E. Lockhart's, We Were Liars came with one - John Green's.  

We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair, a member of the 1% who has a mysterious summer at her family's private island off the coast of Massachusetts. As snobby and elitist as that all sounds, Cadence's character is able to keep the story grounded. For example, she begins to give away all of her personal belongings she deems unnecessary, but then again she also doesn't know the names of the small group of people/staff who work for her family on the island. Since her mysterious 15th summer, Cadence has suffered from debilitating headaches, depression, and memory loss. After spending a few summers away from the private island and her family friends, "the liars", Cadence returns for her 17th summer with the hope of filling in the blanks from the hazy summer 2 years ago.

Besides those details, the story is far too twisty, turn-y, and full of lies and secrets to say much more without giving away the kind of details that are only fun if you discover them while reading... 

I gave Were Were Liars 3/5 paws - good, not great for me. I think a big part of this is due to the way the "twist ending" is revealed. What do you think internet void, did the ending kind of sort of maybe bother you too?

The Wall Street Journal had this to say - "Haunting, sophisticated . . . a novel so twisty and well-told that it will appeal to older readers as well as to adolescents." I wholeheartedly agree. I have read a considerably greater amount of YA lit this last year, probably due to my admiration for the aforementioned front pager reviewer. I am definitely more selective when I decide to read a YA book, though - because I am looking for that element The WSJ speaks of in their review. In my opinion, a good YA book appeals to the adolescent and adult reader because it is a good story and it is told well, period. We Were Liars certainly meets this criteria.

The inside flap of the book suggests that readers lie to others that ask them about the book's ending. I'm a horrible liar, frankly being a good liar requires a lot more creativity than I naturally have- and I'm far too lazy to lie/be creative right now. Also, who asks their friends how a book ends - that seems even lazier than my avoidance of creativity. Read the book and don't lie.

Favorite quote from the book: "I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools."