We Were Liars

We Were Liars - E. Lockhart Disclaimer: This review will contain some minor spoilers. Read on at your own risk

This book was not at all what the description promises it to be. First and foremost: there are no lies. That is not to say everyone tells the truth, but none of the lies are central to the plot. It is also not to say that there are no secrets told, but secrets and lies are very different things. Although I could care less whether lies were a central part of this novel or not, I object strongly to any book which advertises itself in a way that is almost entirely inconsistent with what it actually is.

As for the plot of this book as it was, I would be lying if I said I was even remotely surprised by anything that happened. In fact, I figured out the "twist" early on, and the only reason I didn't manage to work out some of the smaller details was because there was absolutely no foreshadowing whatsoever. While I don't mind a book that tries to hide details for enhanced shock value, I am far from impressed when a writer throws in a plot twist with no warning, especially when that twist is then heavy-handedly presented as an underlying theme of the novel.

All in all, I didn't hate this book. It was entertaining and a rather quick, breezy read. The characters were not adequately fleshed out but were not entirely without merit, and the plot itself was logical, if frighteningly predictable and subject to a host of clichés, tropes, and stereotypes. In short, I wouldn't go out of your way to read this, but if you have the chance and you're in the mood for something simple and fun, it might be worth a few hours of your time.

Rating: 3 stars