A book review that isn't....

We Were Liars - E. Lockhart

I'm not really supposed to give too much away about this book while I tell everyone to go and read it. Here's my attempt!

When you hear the words Martha’s Vineyard, Summer, vacation home, what do you imagine? This book might be about some of those imaginings, but probably not. 

What about a love story of two young teens from opposite sides of the “tracks”?  This book has some of that too, but not they way you would expect.  

What about a generational family story of love and the crazy things we do out of love for our family? There is a lot of that in this book, but not in the way you would expect. 

When you hear the phrase “the perfect family” what other phrases come to mind? The Sinclairs, the top of the family tree in Emily Lockhart’s We Were Liars, have lived what outsiders would see as the perfect life with the perfect family, a sort of Facebook version most of us put out for the world to see - only the good things that are fit for public viewing. Their reality and that of their four daughters is something quite different.  The people responsible for uncovering the truth behind the perfect mirage? Four amazing, beautiful, and very real characters, three of whom are cousins, one who is “almost” part of the family. The story takes place over several Summers on an idyllic island, a sort of family compound.  These summers are where Lockhart lays a trap for readers and makes us fall in love with these beautiful teenagers. We start imagining their futures and we cheer them when they make a bold push away from family traditions/expectations/ideals. 

It’s the perfect Summer read, but not for all the reason you would expect.  It’s perfect for Summer because that’s when most of us seem to have time to think about a book long after we finish reading them.  It’s a time when we can read short books by the pool/beach/lake, but don’t let the length of this book fool you.  You will want, probably need, to re-read this it and you won’t be sorry you did.  I truly and thoroughly LOVED this book. It’s everything I thought it wasn’t and that made me love it even  more.  The ending sucker-punched me, but I didn't mind.  How else could I expect this book to end?  It’s too brilliant to wrap up neatly and that is why I will implore my friends to read this when it is available in book stores (May 13, 2014) and also encourage my students who are ready for it, to dive into it.  But I’ll pass on this warning before they dive, “careful, you don’t know what’s lurking underneath”!  

It looks sweet, doesn't it?