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57 pages 1 hour read

We Were Liars

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2014

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Book Brief

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E. Lockhart

We Were Liars

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Private island, Massachusetts • Contemporary

Publication Year

2014

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

600L

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Super Short Summary

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart follows nearly 18-year-old Cady Sinclair as she recounts her summers with her wealthy family on their private Beechwood Island. Cady spends her time with her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and family friend Gat, who becomes her love interest. After a traumatic accident at 15 leaves Cady with memory loss, she returns to the island, gradually uncovering the mystery of what happened and the dark family secrets buried there. The story includes topics of memory loss and trauma.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Bittersweet

Emotional

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.0

1,269,021 ratings

60%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

E. Lockhart's We Were Liars captivates with its lyrical prose and gripping plot, centered around a wealthy family's secrets. Reviewers praise its emotional depth and unexpected twists. Some readers criticize its pacing and find the narrative style disorienting, but many agree that the haunting conclusion leaves a lasting impact.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Were Liars?

A reader who would enjoy We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is typically a young adult interested in psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction. Fans of E. Lockhart’s other works or novels like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, which blend mystery with emotional depth, will likely find this book captivating.

4.0

1,269,021 ratings

60%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

Character List

Cady Sinclair

An 18-year-old girl from the affluent Sinclair family, who lives in Burlington, Vermont, and struggles with her family's values and the consequences of a tragic event involving her friends.

Cady's intellectual and justice-driven friend, who is connected to the Sinclair family through his father's relationship with Cady's aunt; his assertive nature makes him stand out in the family.

Cady's kind-hearted cousin, known for her generosity and part of a close-knit group called the "Liars."

Cady's caring cousin, who enjoys playful activities like playing with Legos, and is part of her close circle of friends.

Cady's mother, who embodies the Sinclair ideal of maintaining appearances, but also deeply cares for Cady and plays a crucial role in her recovery.

The patriarch of the Sinclair family, known for his financial power and strict adherence to family ideals, but also displays moments of openness.

Cady's grandmother, noted for her beauty and association with wealth, with limited presence in the story.

One of Cady's aunts, known for instigating family conflicts over property and inheritance issues.

Johnny's mother, who struggles with the aftermath of family tensions but is also involved in disputes over property.

Bess's children, known collectively as the "Littles," who each exhibit varying characteristics and interactions with Cady.

Gat's father and Carrie’s partner, who works in New York and feels unwelcome by the Sinclair family, underscoring the family's complex relationships.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Private island, Massachusetts • Contemporary

Publication Year

2014

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

600L

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