WE WERE LIARS BY E. LOCKHART

[@AnnaLucy94x]

It all clicked in my head when it was revealed. It makes everything in the story make sense. Why Johnny's mom walks round in his clothes crying, why the liars never left the house and why the family didn't live in the house anymore

[@jessethereader]

Yeah, it was neat seeing everything just come together and make sense.

[@wanderingshiiip]

agreeeeee.

[@aryakhajuria2268]

And why none of the liars replied to her emails and never said thank you for the gifts that she sent, and why Mirren read the emails only when Cady showed them to her on her laptop.

[@raniaattyamalik6050]

This also explains why at one point caddy’s mother told her that she was spending too much time in the cuddledown house

[@morgantickle4944]

And why grandad called everyone Mirren

[@cliffordstummeschild4614]

On page 90 it says, "last night, was Johnny up?" Then aunt Carrie say "I don't know what you're talking about."

[@cadenceolivia6304]

ohh now I remember that

[@annafrank9342]

That shit creeped me up fr. Weird vibes

[@mkbitch3063]

wait wasn’t his mom walking around in his jacket late at night? like crying and stuff? it all makes sense now!

[@layalehachem2364]

OMGGGG

[@jalebi_baby8]

Chills. Literal chills.

[@tamzynlui323]

Does anyone else really want the book to become a movie ??

[@siriuslyjoelle]

YES!! i think it would make a great movie

[@andrearomero4028]

Tamzyn Lui No it would just ruin everything

[@evelinaaquafina5630]

The whole book centres around cadence being a really unreliable narrator. We see it through her fragmented perspective and that's what makes the narrative as secretive as it is. How do you do that in a film? It just doesn't really translate well.

[@carsoncrouch7895]

actually i saw a movie that had an unreliable narrator called The Uninvited. It was done really well and the whole twist in the end i never saw coming. So I recommend watching that and then think about how good We Were Liars could be as a movie!!

[@nazimali5530]

YESS

[@gabrielledal8290]

Does anyone else think that with the death of the dogs had some foreshadowing of the three liars death. Cady describes the dogs death as the worst way to die being locked up and engulfed by flames.The dogs also aren't mentioned that much in the book. The dogs were also the "naughty" dogs. The liars could have been the "naughty" Sinclairs.

[@rsakina110]

This review just took the words out of my mouth. Finished this a few minutes ago and I don't know how to continue with life. I totally agree that their deaths made me realize how much I actually cared about the characters. I'm probably going to be an emotional mess for the rest of this week.

[@Clara-fy3gs]

i felt the same way

[@noraalsyd8459]

Sakina did you just told me the ending??!!☺

[@zalademsar6100]

Me too😢

[@tashapolis]

I felt the exact same way about The Liars at the end, I was crying for them and for Cadence, I didn't know I cared about them, but I did because the four of the reminded me of my cousins. I can't get over this book, and I really enjoyed it!

[@fabiola_lala]

After reading the book, I found out there were a bunch of clues throughout the book. 1.) The Liars didn't have ANY interactions with the adults during Summer 17, 2.) The little kid (I forgot his name) told Cady about how Cuddledown was haunted and she told him to ask Mirren to read bed time stories so that got me thinking that they were ghosts, not hallucinations (but you never know)

[@Idk-kz2fk]

They actually are! If you read the prequel, which is about Carrie, it’s revealed that they’re all ghosts that anyone can see, hear, or talk to if the ghost wants to talk to them (lol Ik you commented this 5 years ago but still)

[@lacedavies9935]

At the end of this book, I was literally crying so hard, to the point I couldn't see properly, I felt so connected to the characters and as if I knew them personally. I never expected an ending like that, it hit me hard. Also, me too man, I cried about the dog as well, it was so sad.

[@cornflowerblue1234]

Lace Davies Same here!!!!!

[@musicfan1107]

I thought the grandad had harmed Cady or one of the Aunts did. I thought Gat got The other girl pregnant..I thought everything but what had actually happened

[@evilclementine]

**spoilers for if you haven't read the book** The metaphor on page five with her father and the handgun freaked me out so much. I totally thought it was the huge twist everyone was talking about, so it took me reading that page like eight times to realize it was just a metaphor. As for the theories, I had a bunch of weird ones that changed and evolved as I was reading the book, but for awhile I was convinced that the book was going to end with Gat killing the grandfather. I did not see the actual ending coming AT ALL, and it was so crazy and heartbreaking and tragic.

[@simoneanastasia8940]

I thought the grandpa tried to drown her to make a point to the mothers of his power. I thought the liars knew about it and I guess I assumed Gat just had this terrible lifestyle and was trying to keep Cadence out of it. I was completely wrong and completely shocked. Plot twist of the century

[@lyndsayreads]

My only crazy theory was that Cady was actually dead. But when they did the big reveal, I kinda felt like maybe I'd known all along and was just denying it. I actually kind of hate the book for how sad it made me at the end. The author made me care about these characters just for me to realize they were actually dead. The writing was so beautiful though. I was really caught up in it.

[@hf4189]

Yeah, like when they revealed, my first question was 'Wait. but she is talking to Mirren and Gat and Johnny. Like they've been on the island.' So then I thought that Cady might be dead too, maybe she drowned herself and she is in some sort of heaven with the Liars

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

it was so interesting hearing about the book from your pov because i feel like this book can be read in so many different ways! / omg i was calling candence or whatever.. cadece the whole time LOL OOPS

[@josefins3675]

I thought that Csdy attempted to commit suicide, following some horrible fight between her and Gat. Possibly that she had given in to her mom's will regarding their relationship. The most impressive, and morbid, clue was Cady saying "Aren't you afraid you'll burn?"... Like... OMG?!

[@moanadraws5671]

Ok after reading this comment I'll have to read the book again

[@bookishsophia]

YOU WROTE ON YOUR HAND. I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. the writing was breathtaking. and yeah those wound metaphors made you stop and think, "is this figurative language or did that literally just happen?" i asked myself that a lot when it got to the part(s) where cady was talking about how gat let her bleed on him and how he wrapped her wounds. it was p crazy. i was completely shocked, too. after finishing, i reread it so that i could pick up all the clues i missed the first time (AND THERE WERE SO FREAKING MANY). i thought this book was so great, and your review is so on point, jesse!

[@MsMinnesota6]

I totally agree with you on the characters! I felt disconnected and they all seemed like of unrealistic and fake to me. Like this whole setup with the private island and being isolated from reality must have made me feel that way. For most of the book, I kept thinking "What is all the hype about?? I don't get it!" But I totally got it when the truth was revealed. I honestly thought when they revealed the deaths that it was a metaphor. But when I realizes they actually did die, I cried my eyes out! SO SAD.

[@lenaertsjelke]

For the longest time I thought Cady was lying about everything.

[@allybootsma1287]

I literally underwent the 5 stages of grief when I found out what happened! I tried not to develop any major theories because I wanted to be totally shocked - and let me tell you - I was SHOCKED!She told the truth so quickly and nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal!! My main theory was that one of the aunties had tried to drown Cadence or something, because the whole inheritance thing was getting waay out of hand. So frustrated about this book, but also quite mesmerized by it!

[@sierradey5401]

I feel like they purposely stayed in the fire, when gat said “see you in another life” could that have referenced him staying on purpose...

[@marie-eve8863]

But whaitt omg I’m crying

[@malikaacharya3216]

omggg no way wow this brings a whole new flavor to book!!!

[@madhurimaagrawal2727]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@mrinalinath3529]

They thought that the problem was the house and they were drunk enough to think that if they burn it down, then the problems will end, the arguments will end and I think, that's why Gat said that. A world without fights and family issues will be a better one. Atleast for them.

[@sierradey5401]

@@mrinalinath3529 I honestly don’t remember this book anymore, I read it 2 years ago. We’re they drinking?

[@mitchellpreston]

I theorized that gat had raped Cady and she ran into water hiting head. I theorized that there was a shark attack because one odd line mentioned there were sharks. I also theorized that Cady was Raquel and that after her head injury adopted this persona of Cady which is why gat was so distant. I also theorized merrin pregnant by Drake, until she said it was a lie. But this book, it was phenomenal. The writing was so unique I thought with the fairy tale parallels and the flashbacks and the vivid metaphors. Ugh! Just amazing!!

[@layneedwards1411]

I was so confused the whole time, but the end really brought it all together. I started thinking back to all of the clues that the liars weren’t really there that second summer after the accident. They weren’t waiting on her at the dock with the rest of the family and never ate with the family during their various meals. I definitely want to re-read it to find more clues.

[@Alyssa18633]

Idk I feel like I'm the only one who thinks that cady didn't really use common sense when she was setting the house on fire? I mean. She set the house on fire, without checking if her friends were still upstairs or downstairs. Who would do that? It's just stupid. I don't know... That's just my opinion.

[@jessethereader]

Well obviously they didn't use common sense. Common sense would have been to um ya know NOT SET THE FREAKING HOUSE ON FIRE. LOL. But you have to factor in that they were a bit tipsy on wine when they did it. :P

[@greendaisies08]

No, you're not the only one. But they're drunk so i guess that's the reason why they/cady acted so recklessly

[@cj-seejay-cj-seejay]

Yeah, very foolish. I was reading it thinking, "No. Why. Stop. Why do you need to spread out and burn each floor separately? Why didn't you coordinate the timing? WHY DIDN'T YOU CHECK FOR THE DOGS? Please, no. Stop. Nooooo!"

[@himanisoni8943]

if I was hella drunk and had wanted to have a gat for the rest of my life and felt that that was being threatened...it would logical if I didn't burn down a house and 3 people and 2 dogs with it but when ppl are drunk and in love they do things without thinking. in cadys mind, she was "not accepting evil she could change" (sorry I had to)

[@laurenelizabeth6524]

It reminded me so much of the movie, The Uninvited (which I loved personally). Also, THE DOGS. THE DOGS. WHY.

[@xsooff11x]

omg yes same with me! the uninvited is one of my favourite movies and i've seen it many times so when i was finished i realized the stories looked very much alike, like even with the fire in the end

[@vaniadesmonda]

Me too! I keep theorizing that it will turn out like The Uninvited and it did! They are quite similar with the mysterious vibe going on and even to burning down a house and hallucinating dead people

[@kaiju_k5042]

Yes, same :)

[@natalieclaire6047]

Me too!! The whole story (besides the beginning obv) I was like..the uninvited?? Is that you??

[@mariarost98628]

GOD I THOUGHT THE SAME ABOUT MIRREN PREGNANT

[@reANNAmatedd]

I did end up figuring out the ending, but my first theory was that Gat's girlfriend found out about Cady and SHE caused the accident, which was ridiculously far off. xD I was also more upset about the dogs! When her Grandpa first said they passed away I thought he had given them away because they reminded him of their Grandma too much. Whoops xD

[@jessethereader]

That theory might be far off, but it's an interesting one! xD EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT THE DOGS I GET SO SAD. UGH.

[@Skyleesa]

Raquel just having a great lost,Gat without knowing that Gat was actually in love with Cadence. Gosh..

[@jadegray4123]

I had a really naïve theory. So the theory was of her being a mental patient and instead of only imagining the liars I kind if thought she was imagining the island and everything. It's quite easy to imagine I mean... Being Rich and having a private island just seemed too...fake? And I just thought she was in a coma and imagining the entire thing. I got the theory from when someone said "it was all a lie" and a spoiler type thing BUT IT WAS THROWING ME OFF SO MUCH SO... Now I am still sad about it... :(

[@niyomi_pU]

when it said that Johnny wanted to prove that his lungs were strong by being a runner but now they were filled with smoke it broke my heart

[@rayanasmith6124]

This book is soooo freakin good. I knew when Candence's Grandfather gave her the three flowers before she left for the summer that something terrible had happened to her friends, also her mom woyld always dust over the subject of "that summer" instead of actually telling her what went down...her family shouldn't have been the way they were or it would've never even happened...this book is soo tragic but at the same time I love it even more because of that... lastly when they were explaining what happened to the dogs I was just imaging Marley and Me having a horribler endng than it already did....this book needs a medal or something. :)

[@cj-seejay-cj-seejay]

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE DOGS. I cared WAY more about them than the dead kids. In fact, when I was reading it, I was thinking, "These spoiled little idiots were SO horrible that they didn't think to check for the dogs... they deserved what they got." Harsh, maybe, but hey... don't burn dogs to death.

[@pamelamelatan]

True! I felt more for the dogs than those 4. Poor puppies!

[@alexsnightmare]

I don't think it was their actual deaths that made me cry because at that point we still weren't too attached to the characters, it was the description that Cady (however you spell it) had at the end for each of them and how they went into the water at the end. it really made me realize how much i cared for them (mainly Cady bc she was more developed) and it just broke my heart agh. Pro tip: never read the ending of any book in public (for me it was this at a doctor's office) because people will think there's something wrong with you xD

[@PeytonReads]

I was more sad about the dogs too! She kept describing it in different ways and it just killed me. Poor Fatima and Prince Philip and of course the Liars.

[@CronicasMerodeadora]

Do you think she was hallucinating them or do you think they became ghosts?

[@michael-gary-scott]

Crónicas de una Merodeadora definitely hallucinating

[@evanwhitchurch5478]

definitely ghosts

[@jyothirmayee1156]

hallucinating.. bt frm very deep inside her brain...even she dont knw it...she just feels it

[@jyothirmayee1156]

and...i think she will die early...guilt and migraine and stuff😧

[@sss8632]

Ghosts, Carrie said she saw Johnny in chapter 29. Also in the author's original book proposal she says there are ghosts in her story

[@shawne-marinnmurphy2330]

i honestly thought that something happened where like Gat and Cady had sex and then she redretted it or he told her that he loved Raquel ( if I'm spelling that right) and so she went swimming to get out of the situation. this explained why she was half aked and why Gat kind of stayed low for the two years afterwards.

[@isabellakrivorot9692]

This book had one of the best plot twists ever because I never saw it coming

[@mizzcrazygal]

5 years late but same lmfao

[@emmadalby4325]

(Slight Fight Club spoilers below!) My theory was that Gat didn't exist, fight club style. So I mean... I was half way there? But then I realised that the others spoke to him. It seems so obvious now! The twin who was obsessed with ghosts, asking her if she was a vampire (undead? Because she didn't die?), talking about their ashes... How didn't I see it?!

[@vincentvanstop]

I HAVEN'T READ THIS SO I HAVE TO LEAVE BUT I LIKE YOUR SHIRT AND I THOUGHT YOU'D GOTTEN A TATTOO AND I WAS CONFUSED UNTIL I REALIZED IT WAS MARKER OKAY BYEEE

[@jessethereader]

READ THE BOOK AND COME BACK YOU CRAZY. LOL.

[@jessicashaw6815]

This was such an amazing book, I just finished it last night, and didn't expect the ending AT ALL!! I thought that Mirien was pregnant too, and I thought that Candence might have been raped, possibly by Gat, and then she freaked out and ended up in the water that way, or that Gat broke up with her and she couldn't handle it so she tried to commit suicide. That ending was so insane though, I cried for the last 30 pages at least.

[@katiemaymash]

I just thought she'd fallen out with the liars and gone swimming and hit her head.

[@singerxoxogrl9]

This was literally my reaction. Initially I didn't feel connected to the characters until I found out they died then I started crying so hard 😭

[@joanaramacciotti4615]

I swear to God I thought the dogs dying was the sad part. I actually cried. When I read the first line of the truth part of the book I was crying in such a way the entire plane was looking at me and thinking I was crazy. I loved it and I had no idea of the end. I was very happy with this read

[@hf4189]

I finished reading the book less than five minutes ago and the feeling you get at the end of this book is literally undescribable. I am really bad at self control when it comes to books so I always end up googling the ending and ruining it for myself. But by some miracle I managed to pull myself together for this one and I AM SO GLAD I DID LIKE I HAVE NO WORDS FOR IT I AM SPEECHLESS LIKE-

[@shacharlevy]

omg you stole the words from my mouth! the dogs dying was by far the hardest part. i reread some of it and it has so many clues regardng the end its crazzzzy.

[@annikab2713]

This is spot on! When I read the lines about her being shot, I was so shocked because I thought it was real. I think E. Lockhart is So good at deciding when to create strong emotions, and emphasize little moments. And yes, the dogs dying was DEFINITELY the saddest part. I feel safe saying this is my all-time favorite book.

[@blakejackson5340]

Dogs>people...that twist messed me up, didn't see it coming either! 3/5 stars

[@kk8490]

I thought Gat pushed Cady into the water too, and then I felt so bad when I started falling in love with him. And I wonder why Mirren was sick but Gat and Johnny were fine? Is it because she had the most painful death or something?

[@wyn5565]

SPOILERS In the last section, when they said the liars were dead, I was just like "What." And I siriusly thought that Granddad told everyone that they were dead, and that they were just staying at the island, hidden away. I actually cried at the dogs death, but I did cry more when I realized the truth.

[@Sxlanki._x]

Just finished this book, and now I'm just so glad I picked up this book on the shelf of the charity shop, wasn't too intrigued by the cover but never judge a book by it's cover.

[@meganpatty8156]

I literally just finished this book today. I was sitting in class after I had taken my final and I was reading it. My heart broke completely when I found out that Gat, Johnny, and Mirren had died. I was so desperately rooting for Gat and Cady. I honestly felt that this book was way more depressing than The Fault in Our Stars simply because I never thought they were going to die... When I was reading part five I was trying to hold back so many tears... I've also heard that this book now has a movie deal?

[@TD-hu3pd]

Okay, so I read this theory online and I thought it made a lot of sense. Here it is: Cady's accident is actually a suicide attempt. After the house burned down and she realised that Gat, Johnny and Mirren were dead, she felt guilty and humped offthe cliff (the one that The Liars tell her not to in the book) and hit her head, causing the traumatic brain injur and memory block. Thoughts?

[@m_vnusflytrao]

Thaïs Davoine omg that actually could've happened

[@ponkieskyblue]

Totally agree with you about the dogs!

[@isabellaross4032]

Yes I felt much more sad for the dogs than the liars. . . The words were impeccably beautiful, the characters had depth and I loved the snippets of individual story line but somehow I didn't attach myself to the characters. Their death to me was just part of the story. This is so strange because I am usually extremely fond of book characters but something in these words held me back. Strangely at the end I feel confused but content. Surely a sequel would be great but I am also happy without one. I like the questions, the cliff hanger was in the book. I think now all we can do is imagine what happens next.

[@roseberry14]

I'm glad that you loved this book Jesse, personally didn't like it that much. The writing was absolutely beautiful probably one of best written YA books that I've read but the plot kind of lack that same beauty for me. Overall it was a good book and it'll definitely stay with me. * And no you're not the only one who felt a little more heartbroken for the dogs. :)

[@jessethereader]

I can definitely see why this book isn't for everybody!

[@mariae.5795]

the great thing about this book that you mentioned is that it makes you want to read it again to see if you can catch those small details , and I feel like not a lot of books have the power to do that like this one does... the author really thought about everything it seems.

[@kaligerrish7267]

i don’t think i’ve ever been a so heartbroken while reading a book, but when i was finished reading this book, i was utterly and irreversibly heartbroken and grief stricken for Cadence and the rest of the Sinclair’s. i’ve never sobbed reading a book, i’ve never been so impressed by a writing style, but while reading this book i went through so many emotions. I fell deeply in love with the characters relating them to my own. i honestly was slapped i. the face with this ending and can’t express how much i love this book.

[@elletruchan6586]

This is one of my favorite books ever, and the ending shocked me so much, and it made me cry so much, and it's one of of my favorite books but it crushed my heart.

[@tinkerspell4850]

I had to put the book down when I learned about the dogs. I could not deal. I did see the ending coming but I was impressed with how the writer handled it - because it's not a new twist but it was one of the more emotionally wrenching ones I've read. I also felt distanced from the other characters but I just wept at the end. For like a long time. And then I had to sit in the dark and watch Pixar movies until my head stopped hurting. But my heart didn't stop hurting. Yeah, I see myself reading this again, too. But not right now. Too soon.

[@arzen6494]

When I read about Mirren getting sick, I thought it was that she was hiding that she had cancer. I was sooo wrong

[@erikagallant7927]

I just finished this book, I went into it knowing nothing...what a great story, so tragic. I was not one of those people that figured out the twist but I did think that Gat was dead, I thought that maybe he had been with her in the water and he had died. You definitely were not the only one upset about the dogs...I was more upset about them than the liars, probably because the liars died because their plan was stupid and the dogs died because of a tragedy.

[@quinnjohnson3453]

I too went into this knowing nothing and LOVED IT! I was so sad at the end *tears* because I loved the liars and the dogs! Ahhhhh!

[@dimensionless768]

I loved the book so much. The writing, the plot, the mystery. I liked Gat a lot. I did not guess the ending, but I did have theories. I thought the same thing with Gat and the rocks, I remember him saying something about they did something on the rocks.... I loved all the subtle clues. After I finished I went back and found all the clues and I was astonished. Like how Johnny's mom had his jacket on and was walking at night..!!! gahhhhh pure genius

[@briannahillier9425]

We Were Liars Shocked me so much! I didn't see that ending coming at all! But now that I finished the book there were so many clues to the ending that I couldn't beilve I didn't pick up on! Like how The Liars never left that one house or how they jumped of the rocks and walked to the edge of the roof! Or even how the Emails were unread and Johnny's mother cried every night. This book screwed me up big time and I loved how beautifully it was Written. Such an amazing book!

[@TabbyNCD]

I was way more sad about the dogs as well. I wasn't so interested in theorizing about the tragic event but the whole time I kept thinking that Cady was going to take her own life. She changes her appearance, starts giving away her possessions, there is this constant bleeding metaphor, and she even comments that she wishes the pain would just end. It just made so much sense to me so I was shocked when the fire was revealed. Such a good book. I think I will definitely read it again.

[@juliekarlsen1517]

I finished the book yesterday by sitting there 4-5 hours... I LOVED THIS BOOK SO FREAKING MUCH! The writing was incredible! Hah, when I read that with her dad shooting her, I just was like what happend? did he just shot her, but yeah Cx I didn't really feel a connection to the carecthers that much eather, but I really liked Gat xD My theories were kinda crazy... I thought that maybe Mirren had pushed her or something becuse she said she was kinda jelous on Cady because Cady had someone who loved her. But then I thought Gat and Cady had fought about Rachel, and Gat had got so mad he tried to drown Cady. But well id didnt make sense cx Later I thought okay, I dont know I have to wait to the end. Then Gat anf Cady tried to be together again, I got happy, I loved them together, but then we get to know the whole fraking TRUTH! It was so shocking, I never saw it coming! I got so sad and so angry becaus it was so unfair! I MEAN I SAW A FUTURE FOR GAT AND CADY!! AND THE DOGS, THE DOOOGS!! THE DOOOOOOOOGS! OMG! Well and as sensitove I am for books I cried, I FREAKING cried at my fathers work...woops. But yeah I just loved this book!

[@amanda8633]

MY HEART STARTED RACING AT THE END TOO! I thought that Mirren was sick from the fire and that's why she was always throwing up, but I never in a million years would've thought they were all dead. this books made me so sad but it's now one of my favourites. I'm gonna make everyone read it now.

[@Mariie..]

I kind of figured that Gat already died... It just made sense (as he for example didn't contact Cadence after the accident). But when I found out that the other liars died I was totally shocked!! Never did I see that coming.

[@FutureMrsJustinBiebs]

I just finished this book!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so quickly! But that ending though!! I’m wrecked!!

[@Madame-Octa]

I honestly didn't have a solid theory. Several plottwists crossed my mind but every one was shattered due to inconsistency. The ending completly shocked me and I found myself crying and heartbrocken. This is one of those books Ill remember every now and then with a sigh on my face.

[@princesscurtis25]

OMG!! me too! i cant get over the dogs..the way she describe it or imagine it how they have died,i bawled my eyes out like a grandpa or someone dear to me died

[@LaughingatLarisa]

I totally agree about it being best to go into this book knowing nothing. Usually I like to have a general idea about what the book is about before I get into it but holy moly I don't think I would have gotten as much out of WWL otherwise. Fantastic book and I can't wait for the booksplosion liveshow. Really enjoyed this video! :)

[@meganyates8799]

I love how you said Hazey because she herself is in an unwanted high and is stuck in that haze and that is so important to remember throughout the novel to understand Cadence and Lockhearts writing.

[@archivedandnoted]

i am so happy you LOVED this. i agree that there needs to be zero expectations when going into it. there's so much subtlety to this book and GAH and the focus is on the twist and there's so much more to it than just the twist and the haziness and dream like quality that you described is well done and adds to cadence's characterization and arc. OKAY I'll stop. again glad you loved it!!

[@laurenb7330]

jessethereader I am very slow off the mark in reading this book (I finished it today) but I just watched your review and wanted to share my thoughts as well. I really enjoyed it. A very compelling read. Early on, the Liars reminded me of Tom and Daisy Buchanan from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby". I thought that Gat was like Gatsby and this quote came to mind when reading it: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made..." I had one of the same theories as you. I thought that Gat pushed Cadence down the rocks. The end shocked me as well when the truth was revealed. It was so sad. I am so sad right now! It is such a beautiful book. I think it could be studied in schools as well.

[@johnluujl]

are you sure that lockhart wrote this book? maybe he just obliviate the real author and just put his Name on the book...

[@annonymously1778]

Potterhead, eh? 😅

[@juliacolan3482]

Lmao

[@cadenceolivia6304]

lockhart is a girl I thought...

[@naomirachel9161]

I had the same theory about Merrin & Gat! I thought that was the huge family secret. Boy, was I shocked :)

[@Abouttoread]

Loved the writing as well. I was surprised that some people didn't like it, but I guess it's not for everyone. I knew they died at pg 65. There was a scene after that when they jump off the cliff though and Cadence said that she could have died, so since they found her in the ocean, I though the others died jumping off the cliff. I didn't think it was a fire until it was pretty much happening (with the fairytale about the guy who wanted to burn the f-ing palace down or something like that).

[@smac07]

As soon as she was back on the island I figured it out. I don't know if it was all the hype about the shocking ending or the fact that I've seen way to many movies like this but I KNEW . I still found the book amazing and the writing was so mysterious. All of the interactions between the liars and Cadence had a dream like quality to them which is what makes the ending work.

[@jinallbb]

I too did not see the ending coming. WHAT?! Is all I could say and this was emotional. Great little review too. Definitely will have to read more by E. Lockhart

[@princejoshuadagomay3660]

Actually, we had the same response to that metaphor! I was also in aghast when I read that.

[@nishthagupta1357]

Your theories are amazing & greatly logical 😂❤

[@Alyssa18633]

Am I the only one who didn't like the book.....?

[@jessethereader]

I've seen several mixed reviews. You're not alone, but I am curious why you didn't like it. :)

[@AlwiyiaYafii]

I didn't like it either. I just wasn't that invested in the story and I felt like it was lacking build up. I wasn't feeling paranoid about the lies and my mind wasn't reeling which is what I was hoping for.

[@emilyg7444]

I didn't feel the buzz about it either. Too much hype might have played a part of it but I just felt it was missing something, and I felt the stupidity of how they actually lit the fire made it feel a little immature.

[@kzrbra10000000]

MissSunshine221 I guess it has different impacts on different people. I ended up bawling my eyes out.

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

Nope, gave it one star on goodreads.

[@annielynnnez3984]

A little late on this but I just finished the book and I'm with you I started bleeding when the dogs died but then I slowly stopped when I kept reading on.

[@bouchrabellouti1295]

I'm sobbing , it really hurts

[@caitlinsadventures3112]

I did not expect it too be soo sad at the end!! What a crazy twist! I kept thinking that why they weren't telling Cadence the truth was that Gat had become unstable and tried to escape with Cadence so they could be together and then I think Mirran and Johnny accidentally caught on to this and they got into a fight and Cadence slipped and fell in the water and hit her head! My theories kept changing though. Such a tragic ending. But looking back it makes more sense and the part with the dogs dying killed me

[@kaylieidc7]

I LOVED the stories that she wrote (the pages that were in italics). I thought they were really cool metaphors for what was happening, and the one right before the fire basically told us what was going to happen.

[@betsylee6911]

I really didn't see the end coming! I was so sad about the dogs too! While I didn't cry, I felt the pain of the Lairs' deaths. My favorite part of the whole novel were all the fairy tales. They were crafted so elegantly and really let the reader enter Cadence's mind. Overall, I enjoyed it and loved your review!

[@Darianacorn]

I thought she was raped, or had killed someone. I guess I was kind of right about the second one.. I was really upset about the dogs too! I spent two hours in a local bookstore reading this (I didn't have much money with me so I couldn't buy it) and when I finished the book I started bawling my eyes out. The people that were at the bookstore probably think I'm crazy! I didn't really like Cadence until I realized what had happened, and then it all made sense. I'm going to have to look up We Were Liars fanfiction, I can not stop thinking about this book! :3

[@CalynnAli]

Cady's use of metaphor to describe her feelings were my favourite part of the book, by far. I really loved the beginning, because everything about the writing and tone were so unique, but as the book went on I got tired of it(especially the way she described people). By Summer 17 I was getting really bored. It was simply too much of teenagers just hanging around. I realise that this set up a lot of clues, but I think it could have be done just as effectively in fewer pages. I really loved how the ending played out, though. I thought is was very well paced and thoroughly shocking. What would have made me like the book a lot more though, is if it had had a true tragic ending.

[@lovereading879]

I absolutely loved the book and so happy you loved it too. It was mysterious yet beautiful. The ending shattered my heart because summer 17 was so real ya know? At first, I thought Gat pushed her off the cliff. But now that I look back, there were soo many hints.

[@juliahormayer7255]

I had your second theory, too. Can't rememver my others, though. I didn't even enjoy the book that much, you're right with the metaphors (that was SO confusing, not always exactly appropriate in my opinion, also the flashbacks) and that you don't care about the characters, but the ending just blew me away! I actually ended up giving this book five out of five stars though now I doubt that decision.

[@siriuslybooked4916]

I went into this knowing the basis of the twist. However, what actually happened still took me by surprise! I even re-read the book - something that I NEVER do - and it made it so much better, being able to see all the little hints! I gave it to my Mum to read who can tell you any twists in any story about 100 pages in, and even she didn't see it coming! I felt almost numb after reading it!

[@comfortreadsJess]

i absolutely loved this book! i had no idea what was gonna happen and the ending shocked me sooo much! but then i made notes and i found all these clues and i was like HOW DID I NOT GET THAT!! haha

[@Larissapalacios15]

I really thought she was in a coma and getting her memory back while in this coma, but this ending was a huge shocker. And no you weren't the only who was sad about the dogs dying in the fire.

[@yellowhedgehog17155]

Like Jesse said, it was the fire and the deaths of 3 of the liars that caused the aunts and grandad to realize how messed up they were. Even though Cady wasn't trying to kill the liars, they were trying to get everyone to realize how wrong they were. Cadence's goal was accomplished and the aunts and Grandad got along a lot better now. She just didn't know the liars had to die to make them realize that. She would much rather have dealt with the aunts arguing for a few more years instead of losing her Gat, Mirren, and Johnny.

[@eviive8496]

also, i keep thinking back to when taft called cady. for him to know the truth and also experience that cady didn't. heart breaking

[@laravandenberg6740]

I'm rereading it right now and I can confirm it's so interesting to read it all again and pick up on all the clues...

[@bettyreads222]

Great review Jesse. My number one theory was that cadence was a ghost and so when I got to the ending I was super shocked. I think it would be great to reread so we can pick up on all the clues. I adored the liars after we found out the truth because guh you feel for them so bad like they've stuck around just so cadence can come to terms with what happened.

[@todwellondreams3078]

I figured out the ending around the time when Merren was randomly in Cadence's room. That combined with the fact that the aunts only ever mentioned the littles led me to believe they were dead. After the ending was revealed I cried and cried. So tragic. And so beautifully written. My first theory was that Johnny tried to murder Cady in order to gain the firstborn inheritance.

[@justjocelynne]

Yes, to this whole video. I agree with everything you said especially about the characters and the dogs. However, I did catch on to the plot twist early and it was interesting to see all of the clues that were planted.

[@hannahlamb3051]

Love that you wrote your own motto on your hand! Very nice touch :) Great review!