We Were Liars

by: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: Sept. 20 - Oct. 9, 2016
Pages: 225
Source: Own it

Why did I read it?
It seemed like every time I went into Chapters this book was on display as one of the greatest YA Books of all time.  I didn't buy it at Chapters.  I found it in mint condition at Goodwill (which isn't always a good sign) and decided I would spend $2 on a book that was supposedly that good.  

 We Were Liars is about a super rich family who have an entire island to themselves with one house for each "branch."  These people have so much money they can take off 2 months and bring their kids to the island for the entire summer.  Cadence, the main character, can't remember what happened two summers ago and no one will tell her.  Her cousins/best friends won't tell her, her aunts and uncles won't, even the little kids won't let it slip, so she spends the whole summer trying to remember.  The directions in the book sleeve tell me I'm supposed to lie to you about how it ends, so I'll say that she never finds out for sure what actually happened.

Rating: 3/5
If it wasn't for the last 25 pages of this book, We Were Liars would not have been all that great.  It was kind of boring and slow.  It was all a little weird, kind of haunting.  Almost like Jane Eyre: there is romance and good plot but it's all surrounded by darkness somehow.  It was all kind of blah until we find out the truth.  I did not see the truth coming.  This was no mystery where eventually you figured out who dun it before they actually tell you.  This was unexpected.  Looking back, it turns out it was well written and still a little weird.  I just wish I had gotten a little more into the first 200 pages.  

Recommendation: 
You know, I'm almost glad this is a super popular YA fiction book right now.  This isn't the usual girl-meets-boy-they-overcome-an-obstacle-and-they-fall-in-love.  There were no vampires, zombies or other supernatural activities.  I would recommend it to the age group because it's not the usual crap they are served.