REVIEW: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

REVIEW:

  

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this summer…possibly this year! It was impossible to put down - I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. This novel reminded me a lot of The Great Gatsby in many ways, the clique of friends on the tiny island for the summer.

The writing is lyrical, easy, and smooth. Lockhart weaves a bit of mystery into the novel as main character, Cadence, has lost her memories of one pivotal summer and of the entire accident shrouded in mystery. As the story progresses, so do her memories.

As we find out what transpired in what Cadence calls “summer fifteen”, we learn how the Liars (her group of friends and cousins) acted and shaped the events surrounding the accident, how they were affected, and why in fact, they are called “the Liars”.

Lockhart writes so beautifully, in the first person, then intersperses the dialogue with whimsical, sometimes dark prose that highlights the writing in an unbelievable way. The ending of this novel couldn’t come fast enough…I had to find out what happened during summer fifteen, but I dreaded the end because it was so perfectly written. And the ending absolutely took my breath away and gave me goosebumps over my entire body. Stunning work, Ms. Lockhart, absolutely stunning!!

Published by Random House Books

Publication Date:  May 13, 2014

Rating: 5/5

REVIEW: No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace

Sometimes, the cost of love is too steep.

Olivia's twin brother, Liam, has been her best friend her whole life. But when he starts dating, Olivia is left feeling alone, so she tries to drive away Liam's girlfriends in an effort to get her best friend back.

But she meets her match in Zoey, Liam's latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia's tricks. What starts as verbal sparring between the two changes into something different, however, as they share their deepest insecurities and learn they have a lot in common. Olivia falls for Zoey, believing her brother could never get serious with her. But when Liam confesses that he's in love with Zoey, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself?

REVIEW:

NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW is a fantastic story of friendship and love. Amanda Grace dazzles yet again in this young adult novel that is guaranteed to tug at your heart-strings. Twins, Olivia and Liam, have always been the closest of friends; until they turn 18 and Liam starts setting his own path. In an attempt to regain his attention, Olivia is determined to drive away his new girlfriend – and much to her dismay, her new project partner at school.

Olivia and Zoey are polar opposites and both personalities are strong, relatable, and likeable. Liam is similarly well-developed and the three characters have fantastic chemistry throughout the novel. The girls have very distinct personalities that author Amanda Grace showcases effortlessly. The girls see right through each other and this adds another level of complexity to their uneasy truce of a friendship.

As Liam’s sister, Olivia, is forced to spend more time with Zoey, the two quickly realize they have more in common than meets the eye. As their friendship blossoms, so does something more. The girls begin to have romantic feelings for each other and have to learn to navigate through their lives with this secret. A secret they fear would destroy Liam.

Amanda Grace has written a novel that shocks and leaves you breathless. It is not a hardcore LGBT story, but there are elements where the girls explore their sexuality and feelings. I would definitely recommend this as a book to get you thinking about just what it means to love and be loved.

Review copy provided by Flux Books via Netgalley

Expected Publication Date: September 8, 2014

Rating: 4/5