It’s felt like it’s been a while since I wrote a book review, but I promise I’m reading! In fact, I’ve just finished the young adult novel, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It reminded me a bit of Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, but you’ll have to read to find out why I think that. In the meantime, here’s my high level review of the novel.
Cadence is going back to Clairmont, a house sitting on an island near Martha’s Vineyard. She hasn’t been there in a few years due to an accident where she was found curled up in a naked ball half on the beach and in the water. Since then, she’s been plagued with severe headaches and can’t seem to remember what exactly happened right before and right after the accident the year she was fifteen. Well, now at eighteen years old, she’s back and is determined to find out what happened.
When she gets to the island, her close friendship seems to pick right back up where it left off with her cousins Mirren and Johnny, and her first love, Gat. They call themselves the Liars, and that exactly what they’ve been doing to Cadence since she got back to the island, though. Sure, they’re still very close, but whenever Cadence inquires about what happened in regards to her accident, they either clam up, tell her they can’t say, or even misguide her. While this frustrates her, she’s missed her friends so much that she’s willing to look past this annoyance.
In fact, she also picks things back up with Gat. Last she remembers is falling in love with him in their fifteenth year, where they would sneak around holding hands and sharing kisses. She’s most confused why he never came for her at the beach, or wrote to her after the accident in the two years that have went by. She’s hurt, but still loves him deeply and is able to forgive him. With that, Gat makes it seem like they don’t have a future together since they are so different and she really doesn’t know him outside of summer on the island.
I really can’t say more without spoiling this mystery, but let me tell you that it was quite the revelation. I think I came to the conclusion slowly so that when Cadence’s memories ultimately came back it wasn’t too surprising, but gosh was it heartbreaking. And excellent young adult novel you should definitely check out! Also, it’s really making me want to go to the beach!