“We Were Liars” is a young adult mystery novel, written by E. Lockhart, which tells the twisted tale of the seemingly perfect Sinclair family who hides their secrets, lies, and flaws behind their tall and handsome builds. The story takes place on the family’s private island, off the coast of Massachusetts. The Sinclair family spends every summer there. The novel focuses on the perspective of the main character, Cadence. During one of the family’s summer island trips, Cadence suffers a severe head injury. When she awakens, she can’t remember anything that happened from that trip to the island. From that point forward, Cadence makes it her number one priority to discover what truly happened that fateful summer.

After reading this book, I can conclude it is one of my new favorites. Lockhart does a great job with imagery throughout the story. I found while reading I could easily create a visual representation in my head for each scene. Something else I enjoyed were the characters and their unique personalities. Along with Cadence, there are a few other secondary main characters including her two cousins, Mirren and Johnny, and Johnny’s friend, Gat. I love the dialogue between these four characters. You almost feel like you’re there with them while they bicker and consult about the randomest of things.

Something that really threw me off was the huge plot twist at the end of the book, when Cadence finally discovers what really happened that mysterious summer. It was an emotional and tragic ending. I would rate this book a 5/5. It kept me interested and on edge. I would definitely recommend this book for those who love a short mystery novel.