Review of We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
When I first picked up We Were Liars, I didn’t expect to fall head over heels for it. Yet here we are—this book is now an obsession of mine. E. Lockhart’s storytelling enveloped me like a warm summer breeze, even as it toyed with my emotions like a cat with a ball of yarn. Perhaps it was that curious blend of privilege and tragedy that captured my interest, or maybe it was the hauntingly beautiful prose that mirrors the complexities of trauma. Whatever the reason, I found a captivating world within those pages that I couldn’t resist.
At its heart, We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman—part of an affluent family accustomed to summers on the idyllic Beechwood Island. As we dive into Cadence’s perspective, we’re treated to a tapestry woven with themes of trauma, privilege, and deception. The Sinclairs embody a polished image: "Beautiful. Privileged. Damaged. Liars." Yet beneath that gilded surface lies a narrative riddled with conflict, internal betrayals, and complicated relationships—akin to the intense court intrigues often found in fantasy novels, only this time set against the backdrop of wealth and familial expectation.
Lockhart’s writing style is where it gets polarizing; you’ll either love it or hate it. Personally, I’m on Team Love. The flowery, metaphorical prose creates a dreamlike quality that pulls you in, despite its drama and occasional melodrama. It’s like listening to Glory and Gore by Lorde—the lyrics dance between beauty and chaos, much like Lockhart’s narrative floats between the dreamlike and the disorienting. A quote that resonated with me, "Tragedy is ugly and tangled, stupid and confusing,” encapsulates the book’s essence. It invites readers to grapple with the realness of trauma, far removed from the narratives that often romanticize it.
The first-person perspective of Cady uniquely colors the narrative. Each character is filtered through her lens, making even the most complex interactions take on shades of her thoughts and feelings. Would the story feel the same from Gat or Mirren’s perspectives? Absolutely not. Lockhart masterfully crafts a singular voice that feels both intimate and isolating, a reflection of Cady’s inner journey.
I would highly recommend We Were Liars to anyone who enjoys profound emotional explorations wrapped in an enchanting narrative. While some might critique it for the dramatic tone or the pacing, I found that it only added to the story’s richness. This book stole my heart and then ripped it to pieces—not in a trashy way, but in a way that makes you reflect on what it means to be “cracked and broken” yet still beautiful and striving for connection.
In essence, We Were Liars isn’t just a story; it holds a mirror up to the human condition and challenges us to confront the tangled realities of life, love, and loss. So if you’re ready for a hauntingly beautiful journey that will stay with you long after you close the book, dive into this enchantingly emotional read—you might just find it resonates with you, too.