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.
This book is very much so a lie, a secret, a trick of the mind.
So much that upon receiving my reviewer copy in the mail, I was presented this:
There’s also a note on the first page of my copy with a few words from VP of Delacorte Press telling me to give the book to a friend once I’m done because the urge to talk about it is going to be unbearable. He’s right; I’ve been pressuring my sister the past hour. I think she’s caving. I’m not sure.
I’ve been told to lie about this book, but quite frankly, I don’t know how to, because We Were Liars is hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read. I can’t tell you all how long it’s been that a novel has been so enjoyable, so strategically plotted, so craftily written, so outright perfect.
But, now, we’re left with the question of how I’m going to write a review about We Were Liars when, well, I’m supposed to lie to you about all of it, and the only real way I see going about this is by telling you what We Were Liars isn’t.
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This book isn’t your typical young adult mystery. Our main lead isn’t Nancy Drew, she isn’t Buffy, and she isn’t any other YA character you’ve ever come across. She’s something else entirely, someone much more intriguing. The Liars aren’t your typical teens, the usual fictional kind of clique you’ve gotten used to after all those years of Sarah Dessen and John Green. They aren’t just any group of friends; they’re something much more valuable. The family is not ordinary. The characters, as a whole, in We Were Liars aren’t ordinary.
E. Lockhart’s writing isn’t premature or undistinguished. It is not rusty or unethical. Her plot isn’t full of holes and flaws. But there also isn’t the kind of explanation you’re looking for.
There aren’t truths. There aren’t backgrounds. There aren’t full stories. Things present in your average weekly read aren’t here. They just aren’t.
This book isn’t a coming of age, or any story about a girl and the boy who has the power to change her, no, no, no, this isn’t We Were Liars. You won’t expect any of the things that are coming. You won’t believe any of the things you are told. And you won’t believe any of the facts, even once they’re proven.
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E. Lockhart works to weave a tale never told before, and you’re going to love every second of it.
Rating: 10/10
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