Cadence Sinclair Eastman belongs to a wealthy, distinguished family that spends every summer on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. The story centers on the Liars—Cadence, her cousins Johnny and Mirabel, and an outsider named Gat—who formed a tight-knit group during their fifteenth summer. However, a mysterious accident during that season leaves Cadence with debilitating migraines and significant memory gaps. Two years later, she returns to the island to piece together the truth behind her family’s fierce inheritance disputes and the events of that night.
Readers who enjoy psychological mysteries and narratives about family secrets will find a clinical look at trauma and social hierarchy here. The book appeals to those interested in how inherited wealth influences character behavior and the destructive nature of maintaining a perfect public image. Readers finish the story with a clear understanding of the consequence of unaddressed grief and the specific reality of what happened during the Liars' fifteenth summer.
Inward-looking and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
Insights from We Were Liars
“Be a little kinder than you have to be.”
Cadence lived in a bubble of old money and private islands. She never realized that pretending everything is fine can actually kill you.
“Do not accept an evil you can change.”
The aunts spent their whole lives fighting over property and silverware. Meanwhile their children were literally burning down the world to feel something real.
“He was contemplation and enthusiasm. Ambition and strong coffee.”
Gat was the only one who saw the world outside their tiny island. He made Cadence realize that her family's privilege was just a beautiful cage.
“My head is full of ghosts.”
Memory is such a fragile thing after a trauma. Cadence spent years trying to find the truth while her family just watched her struggle.
- Published
- 2014
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- ISBN
- 9780375984402
- Language
- EN
