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AUTHOR: E. Lockhart SERIES: none PUBLISHER: Delacorte PUBLICATION DATE: May 13, 2014 ISBN: 9780385741262 PAGES: 240 SOURCE: NetGalley GENRE: mystery, contemporary romance GIVE IT TO: HS |
SUMMARY: A victim of partial amnesia, 17-year old Cadence Sinclair recalls the story of her family, her three cousins, and the boy she loves.
IF THIS BOOK WERE FOOD, IT WOULD BE: Grapefruit. It looks juicy and sweet, but it tastes bitter and is difficult to finish.
WHAT I LIKED: E. Lockhart is a talented writer. We Were Liars unravels slowly, revealing some shocking surprises in its own time. And yes, I was shocked. The poetic way Cadence tells her story will appeal to many readers.
I love the occasional fairy tale allegories that reflect Cadence’s dysfunctional family.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Boorrriinnngggg. I would not have even bothered to finish this book if I weren’t looking so forward to the surprise ending I kept hearing about. And yes, I loved the ending. Was it worth the 200 pages of a dull, privileged teen girl sighing and popping painkillers? I did love the ending, so I guess it probably was worth it. But be forewarned–nothing much happens until maybe the last 25 pages.
I did not care for any of the characters. Not a connection, anywhere.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Not much happens until the very end, but with beautiful writing and a slam-dunk ending, it’s definitely worth reading.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: Lots of F-bombs, so I don’t plan to get it.
RATING BREAKDOWN:
- Overall: 2/5
- Creativity: 5/5
- Characters: 1/5
- Engrossing: 2/5
- Writing: 5/5
- Appeal to teens: 4/5
- Appropriate length to tell the story: 3/5
CONTENT:
- Language: high–multiple F-bombs
- Sexuality: mild–some kissing
- Violence: mild-medium–highlight to see (spoiler!)–>arson, unintended murder
- Drugs/Alcohol: medium-high–prescription painkillers for emotional trauma