HONEY BOOKS: Does We Were Liars Really Have a Shocking Twist?

New column by Emilee Gargano - HONEY BOOKS - come back biweekly for new book reviews. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is told from the perspective of a 17-year old girl named Cady Sinclair who spends her summers on a private island with her family. She might come from a rich, beautiful family but she has her issues. On what Cady refers to as summer fifteen, a mysterious accident gives her amnesia. Over the next 2 years Cady must work to uncover what really happened that night.

One of the things that stuck out to me was the aesthetic of the book. The idea of being on this beautiful private island every summer with big houses built just for you seems pretty appealing. I was mostly reading this on the beach so it did make it all the more aesthetically pleasing. One of the other great things about this book is the way Cady defies and questions the norms of her family, which isn’t typical of someone from her background. Cady’s story and character also really embodied the way love can change your perspective. Now, don’t worry, I do have some negatives about We Were Liars. Personally, I think this novel was predictable and somewhat boring. The book is marketed as having a “shocking” plot twist. But honestly, I foresaw it about halfway through the book. I do have to say, though, it is not fully predictable. Even if you can tell what’s coming, you probably won’t predict how it plays out, which makes it a bit more engaging to read.

Overall I’d call We Were Liars a bit cliche and unsurprising. It doesn’t live up to the expectations set for it and it develops very slowly as well. Nevertheless, the story itself is great, along with the character of Cady. I just wish it wasn’t presented in such a predictable way.

Would I recommend it? Depends on the person. If you like a basic and easy plot to understand, absolutely. If you’re not into that, then no. It gets a solid 2.5/5 rating from me.