“We Were Liars” Review: Pretty Little Lies Keep You Reading

The Sinclairs are many things. Pristine, athletic, gorgeous, and intelligent. The Sinclair family is not a hair short from perfection. Or are they?

“No one is a criminal. No one is an addict. No one is a failure,” says young Cadence Sinclair, sharing three desperate lies created to cover up the Sinclair family’s perfect imperfection. Unraveling the web of lies that are slung around the Sinclair family is what E. Lockhart’s psychological thriller “We Were Liars” is all about.

Off the coast of New England, the wealthy Sinclairs own a private island called Beechwood that they attend to every summer. Harris Sinclair and his deceased wife Tipper built four houses for their three careless daughters (who drink alcohol and feud over who will get the largest inheritance), and their six rebellious grandchildren. Mirren, Johnny, and Cadence, three of the six grandchildren, are liars.

Then there is Gat, another liar. Gat is not a Sinclair family descendent, and is looked at like boat scum by Harris Sinclair. Gat is a dark-skinned outsider in the eyes of Harris, but to the liars, he fits right in, like a piece that completes the puzzle. Gat is a charismatic, empathetic, and compassionate young man who saw the world through grey-colored lenses. To Cadence, Gat is perfect, and to Gat, Cadence is flawless. The moments shared on Beechwood Island among the liars are ones to be treasured for a lifetime…or until summer ‘16 when a revolution transpires. Or could it be considered a tragedy? Either way, after that summer, nothing would ever be the same.

“We Were Liars” is a book that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Each page is filled with profound detail that draws you right in. Once you pick up the book, you will not be able to put it back down. This is truly a wonderfully written novel that will connect you with the characters instantly. I fell in love with Cadence and Gat’s relationship right away. The love they possess for each other makes your heart all giddy and gives you some sense of hope for your next relationship. The romance between the two of them also adds a deeper connection between the characters and the reader, making the book much more captivating.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. A tragic twist will leave you shattered and crying yourself a river for hours. If you love to read psychological thrillers, then this is the book for you. Even if thrillers aren’t really your thing, but you enjoy reading fist-clenching, heart-warming novels, then this is still the book for you.

I highly recommend you add this book to the top of your must read list. You will not be disappointed.