Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
I went into We Were Liars knowing it was a much-hyped YA mystery with a twist people either love or hate. The premise, a privileged family on a private island, secrets, and a main character with memory loss, was intriguing. I was ready for an emotional rollercoaster and a bit of a puzzle to solve.

✅ What I Liked:
The writing style is lyrical and distinctive, almost poetic at times. It created an atmosphere of dreamy unreality that suited the theme of memory, trauma, and denial. I also appreciated the book’s commentary on wealth, entitlement, and family dysfunction. The short chapters and sparse prose made it a very fast read, and the twist (while divisive) did genuinely surprise me.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
That same poetic style, while effective in places, sometimes felt overwrought or distracting. The metaphors could be a bit much, and at times it pulled me out of the story rather than deepening my connection to the characters, they felt more like symbols or ideas than real people. The plot felt slow in parts, and the big reveal, though shocking, left me with mixed feelings once the dust settled.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you enjoy twisty YA stories with unreliable narrators and a heavy dose of emotional ambiguity, We Were Liars might be your kind of book. It’s also a good pick if you like experimental prose and stories that deal with trauma in an unconventional way. It’s definitely a conversation starter.

💭 Final Thoughts:
We Were Liars is a polarising book, ambitious in its style and theme, but it didn’t fully land for me. I admire what E. Lockhart tried to do, and I think some readers will absolutely connect with it. For me, though, it was more of an interesting concept than a fully satisfying read.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★ – At times beautifully written, but emotionally distant, a haunting story that didn’t quite hit home.