We were liars. E.Lockhart

I purchased this book as part of a buy one get one £1 in my local book shop and since one of my favorite booktubers recommended it I thought I would give it a try, the second book of the deal 'Lobsters' by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison awaits patiently on my desk till I finish my current read.

Book Synopsis: 

The Sinclair family, go to their private island, Beechwood each summer. They are beautiful. They are privileged, and perfect. At least from the outside. But there are secrets.

Rating: 4 stars

Time to read: 

Two days, though it could have been one if I tried. Its clocks in at only 225 pgs so a relatively short read with standard font size.

Front cover (As displayed): 

I think its interesting enough, the image kind of reinforces my first thoughts about it, with the teens in the water it looks like a 90210/The O.C snapshot.

First Thoughts (Prior to reading): 

Its been well reviewed by other book reviews and authors, from what I know about its synopsis and its blurb I get a 90120/The O.C basis with a Pretty Little Liars/Revenge feel to it. I’m anticipating a classic rich kid scandal story, probably involving money and love troubles.

Review (Unspoiled): 

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, at first I was worried that the ‘We’re rich and I don’t need to worry about anything but looking good’ rich kid vibe was gonna get on my nerves but it didn't. Yes there are moments when you think ‘Ah, how the other half live’ but once you get into the story and start trying to figure everything out and piece together the mystery woven fantastically through the book you don’t really care too much. The plot is well thought out and sophisticated, as is the writing.

Recommend: 

Yes, I would recommend this read.

Bottom line: 

A good short read, good plot. I doubt I will reread it now I know the secrets and lies. I would loan it out for sure, but if you’re not sure there’s always the library.

Spoiler Section.................................

Okay so again, I started with the thought “Damn, these rich kids are gonna get on my nerves!”. But the second the main character uttered the words ‘Pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest.’ To describe an emotional breakdown, I was hooked. I wanted like I suspect most readers wanted, to be able to read along whilst simultaneously going all Sherlock on this books arse and predicting what happened before it was revealed, but failed. The twist, so wonderfully shocking, I was not expecting, (Though I expected a twist, I didnt expect that). I had to read the page twice to take it in. It was just the right level of plausible and acceptably shocking. Once you understand the big picture your mind works back, through it all, the way the liars behaved during summer seventeen, the conversations with the remaining Sinclair’s and missing giveaways and unread E-mails. It is all there, but you needed the last little piece to really see it.

Overall I loved the way it was written. In short, blunt, well thought out sentences. All are put in for a reason, to make a point. There is no rambling and you have the feeling you've read a lot more than you have because the author somehow gets more emotion and information into the short chapters without having to write much.

Best Character: 

N/A. I loved no character. All had elements that made them unlikable and none were so unlikeable they were loveable.

Worst Character: 

Harris Sinclair, Granddad. He was pathetically prejudice and power hungry. Both him and the sister’s were blinded by money to the point that I wanted to smack them though the pages. Really it was their fault, that the fire was planned at least, because they drove the liars to take their problems on themselves.

Best moment: 

The short little fairy tales Cadence wrote, they made you think and helped build the narrative.

Worst: 

The fire. No doubt. And I’m not saying so because it was sad and all, but stupid. I understood and value their reasoning. Old Clairmont was a symbol and they wanted it all gone. But their plan was unbelievably, almost ridiculously stupid. They go to separate floors? And light separate fires? Do they know nothing of how fire works? Lay a trail through all the rooms, and cover all the crap you want really burnt up well, than light a match from OUTSIDE. The whole time she was remembering it I was trying not to scream from their idiocy. This is my only real quarry with the entire book, but I know others that agree, as for four well educated beings, supposedly only slightly drunk, they were moronic.

Please feel free to comment your own views on this book if you've read it, I would love to know how others felt about it.