E. Lockhart: We Were Liars - review

Author: E. Lockhart
Publish Date: 13 May 2014
Genre: Realism, romance, mystery, thriller
Audience: Young adult


This is my second read off the Zoella Book Club reading list, and MY GOD was it incredible. Both the reviews and blurb made me extremely excited to discover the mystery that lies within this book, and it did not disappoint.

The first thing that must be praised is the superb writing. Lockhart weaves unique metaphors into heart-breaking moments, leaving you wondering what is real and what is not. This distinctive way of personifying events is unlike any other I have seen in YA novels, and adds a mysterious yet emotive depth. In addition, the increasingly frequent line breaks add pauses and repetition, creating an intense amount of emotion to strung situations. I am aware that the writing style is one that many have found infuriating, but I absolutely adorted it as I felt it added an extra layer or meaning and oddness to the unsual atmosphere.

Secondly, it was very easy to form huge attachments to the side characters without knowing a great deal about their background or personalities. They felt incredibly important, despite not having massive amounts of dialogue, and it was easy to gage a sense of their priorites and motives. These side characters weren't exactly relatable as such due to the setting of the novel, but they were delicately and sensitively handled.

The sheer immense mystery and tension that features in 'We Were Liars' is something that I think is severely absent from current YA novels. Throughout the whole book I was theorising the ending, and the characters' refusal to let the main character know what had happened was so infurtiating that I was desperate to reach the end. Speaking of the ending: IT WAS INCREDIBLE. As always, I will give no spoilers, but I simply cannot believe I did not suspect that. Looking back on events, it is so blindly obvious, and I think a re-read will be needed to spot everything that I missed! Having expressed my frustration at myself, I must say it was especially pleasing when everything clicked into place, and a satisfaction that I haven't experienced with a novel in a while.

The use of fairy tales to reflect the current situation was also something that I found unique and enchanting. It added an extra layer of surrealism, and fitted with the plot's intertwining themes of beauty and tragedy. In regards to the overall theme, I loved how the idyllic set-up slowly becomes corrupted as it corresponds with the main character's perceptions of reality.

I am aware that this review is slightly vague in its details , but I am making a conscious effort not to give away a single thing that might spoil the plot as this is a novel that requires you to go in completely blind - hence why I did not even mention that characters' names! In summary, 'We Were Liars' is an insanely addictive novel; unlike anything I've ever read before, it entwines an intense mystery with typical YA themes, creating a unique and unforgettable reading experience. In other words, "there's not even a Scrabble word for how I'm feeling right now"...

Next read: 'On The Other Side' by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Continue reading E. Lockhart: We Were Liars - review

Lynn Weingarten: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls - review

Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publish Date: 7 July 2015
Genre: Thriller
Audience: Young adult

(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and sexual harassment)

I discovered 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' when it was first released last year, promoted as a best-seller in Waterstones, and the blurb immediately captured my attention. Ever since I have been excited to delve into this novel and after finishing yet another classic, a young adult story was greatly needed.

Unfortunately, I was not as impressed with 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' as I was anticipating. The first fault that stood out to me was the writing style; it is occasionally convoluted, in the ironic sense that it aspires to be a little too simplistic. Maybe this is because I have become accustomed to the works of Austen and Brontë, but regardless it definitely took something away from my experience.

The first half of the novel features countless mini cliff-hangers which undoubtedly left me wanting more, but were extremely anticlimactic; solutions to these problems were either disappointingly trivial or very cliché. Contrastingly, the second half bombards the reader with reveal after reveal, which were undeniably surprising, but often over-dramatic and occasionally confusing. To tell the truth, I am still perplexed by the events of the last two chapters, and unfortunately not in the pleasantly ambiguous sense - it didn't keep me guessing, it simply bemused me.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot as a whole. It is complex, and the grandest plot twists are unusual and unique for a young adult novel. Surprisingly for myself, I read the whole book in a mere 3 days, proving that it is a true page turner.

Despite the short(-ish) length, it is easy to develop a strong connection with the main characters. Their captivating back stories and prominent personalities are the most interesting feature of the novel, reinforced by the flashbacks and alternate points of view which help to really get inside the characters' heads. Delia is a delight of a protagonist, and the constant metaphor connecting her with fire is truly wonderful.

In summary, 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' was a bit of a disappointment. I desperately wanted to like it more than I did as it is evidently packed with potential, but the latter half was far too complex to understand. Having said that, I still managed to develop an emotional attachment to both the compelling characters and the idea of the plot, which is truly what got me through this otherwise disenchanting novel.

Next read: 'It's Not Me, It's You' by Jon Richardson

Continue reading Lynn Weingarten: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls - review