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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a book that gets unnecessary backlash on “BookTok” after its resurgence in popularity. It was initially released in 2014 and is part of a criminally underrated series that deserves more recognition. 

We Were Liars is a fast-moving read that deals with drug abuse and conspiracies.

The novel is about a rich and seemingly picture-perfect family with underlying issues. Every summer, the Sinclairs take a trip to their private island in Massachusetts, where they live in separate summer homes. 

The main character, Cadence Sinclair, spends her adolescent years on the island during the summer with her cousins, Johnny and Mirren, and her love interest, Gat. 

All is well until Cadence gets into a mysterious accident, limiting her mobility and giving her severe amnesia. Cadence’s accident leads her to abuse pills and go through depressive episodes. 

The shocking ending leaves a chilling and emotional impact on readers. 

We Were Liars is a short, fast-paced, and eloquently constructed novel that both evokes a lighthearted yet dramatic mood and keeps the reader engaged. The book has a prequel, Family of Liars, which covers the summers of the previous generations of Sinclairs – Penny, Bess, and Carrie – on the same island with twice the suspense and drama. 

Critics of the book claim that it is confusing and boring, yet this is entirely false. The construction of the book is simple and easy to understand. In the first few chapters of the book, the plot has already been established. We Were Liars is a book that gets unnecessary hate and which instead deserves flowers.