Rachel Reviews: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

I liked We Were Liars. It's a book which is to be respected for the way in which the truth is unfurled throughout the book; in the way that the author keeps us guessing from start to finish; in the way that secrets that divide are dripped into the narrative.

The action of the book is set on an island where Cadence, her mum and her aunties spend the summer. Cadence's grandparents are the island's owners and there is initially, this sense of a great family gathering, built on tradition. The first part of the book is spent establishing relationships between the sisters and the cousins as Cadence is joined every summer by Mirren and Johnny. But the most important person in Cadence's life is Gat, not a blood relation; a member of the limited circle by association and for whom Cadence holds a torch.

At first, the sense of their being a close unit is illustrated through summer days and camaraderie, the four of them tight in their activities together. A picture is created of an environment shared and of a lazy summer drifting past, peppered with swimming and boat trips and family meals. But, as if a mist is being lifted, a clearer, less idyllic picture emerges of family tensions and posturing for favour as well as more disturbing mental instabilities and so, as a reader, you are not sure what to think.

The book is not intense in terms of its readability but there is an intensity to it, created by the uncertain feel of what you are being shown as well as the insular location of the island, which can be escaped but with the family connections, has a hold still over everyone who summers there.

And it all leads very windingly to the big reveal which is effectively done, if not wholly surprising, but I think that the strength of this book lies in the build up and the delivery of the denouement, rather than the denouement itself and as this is a Young Adult fiction book, I think, that as a YA, I would have been more than pleased with the given ending. As someone who has read (and written) a lot, it perhaps lacked power for me but please, don't let that put you off.

It has been praised and I can see why as it is a good book.

Rachel Rating: 4/5 stars

This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery:

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