We Were Liars is one of those books that’s hard to talk about without accidentally spoiling everything. Seriously it’s a twisty YA psychological thriller masquerading as a dreamy summer read, and the less you know going in, the better. But here’s the gist (no spoilers!):
The story centers on Cadence Sinclair Eastman, a teenage girl born into an ultra-wealthy New England family. The Sinclairs are old money, beautiful, and perfect, or at least they want everyone to think so. Every summer, the entire clan gathers on their private island off the coast of Massachusetts, living in gorgeous beach houses and pretending everything is flawless.
Cadence spends those summers with her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and Gat, the outsider boy she’s half in love with. Together, the four of them are called “The Liars.” They’re inseparable, rebellious, and full of that restless teenage energy.
But then, one summer when Cadence is fifteen, something terrible happens.
The next thing she knows, she’s waking up with amnesia, migraines, and fragments of memories she can’t piece together. Nobody in her family wants to talk about what happened. Everyone’s acting weird. The island feels haunted by secrets.
Two years later, Cadence returns to the island determined to figure out the truth. As she digs deeper, small memories begin surfacing. She starts remembering moments with the Liars, glimpses of fights between the adults, and flashes of something that makes her stomach drop.
When she finally uncovers the truth, it’s a massive twist that recontextualizes everything that came before. The ending is gut-wrenching, shocking, and lingers with you long after you close the book.
What I Thought
I thought We Were Liars was beautifully written and deeply emotional. E. Lockhart has a poetic, almost lyrical style, and she nails the atmosphere of summer haze mixed with growing dread.
Cadence is both sympathetic and frustrating, and the Sinclair family is fascinating in their toxic perfectionism. And the twist? Yeah… I did NOT see it coming. It hits hard and changes how you view the entire story.
It’s one of those books you finish, then immediately want to flip back to the beginning to read again with new eyes. Highly recommend if you like books with secrets, unreliable narrators, and big emotional payoffs!
Ready to uncover the secrets hidden on a private island and experience a twist that’ll leave you stunned?
Grab your copy of We Were Liars and get swept into a summer you’ll never forget.
