We’ve all had that dream of owning our own private island…of spending our days swimming in the ocean and our nights curled up inside a large waterfront mansion filled with old books and older memories. For several of us, this will remain nothing but a lucid fantasy, but for the Sinclair family, this is real life.
Born into a very wealthy family that owns a small island on the coast of Cape Cod, Cadence Sinclair is living the dream. Every summer, Cadence and her extended family travel to their own island off the coast to vacation and relax. The island harbors four amazing mansions, one for Cadence’s family, two others for Cadence’s aunts, and one for her grandfather.
For most of Cadence’s life, her summers on the island were magical, filled with rendezvous with her cousins and friends, adventures along the beach, but last summer…last summer was different. Prejudice, greed, and family dynamics turned the family against each other and Cadence, along with her posy – The Liars – must figure out what happened…only one problem…Cadence, in a freak accident, seems to have lost all memory of the past summer.
As she works to pick up the pieces, Cadence begins to recollect the events that transpired the summer before. Piece by piece, her past begins to unfold…and this wildly addicting novel quickly picks up pace.
Told from the perspective of Cadence, We Were Liars is a fast novel, filled with clever twists and beautiful imagery. Seemingly meant to simulate Cadence’s confusion, the novel does jump around quite a bit, moving from past to present and telling stories out of order (but it all makes sense in the end, so don’t worry!). And FYI– this is a novel with a surprise twist ending, so be weary of spoilers before jumping in!
For those who love a good YA novel that’s quick and easy to read, We Were Liars is perfect. The characters are not really relatable, but are easy to love…much like the crew of Gossip Girl. Once the book starts going, the plot moves quickly…so don’t be surprised if you’re up late finishing those last few chapters!
A perfect beach or vacation read, We Were Liars will keep you entertained with lovely scenery, romance and family drama, and an ending that will haunt you for long after you put the book down.
Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.
The Hob-bee Hive 