We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Audiobook Review

It’s June 1st and the first day of Audiobook Month! I have some special posts planned to celebrate all things audiobooks, and today I’m kicking off the month by discussing one of the most hyped books of the spring- E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars. We’ve been hearing for months about the big twists and secrets (and their page numbers) reviewers must keep under wraps or else! I waited a little for the hype to die down before I started reading. Does it live up? Maybe. The ending sure left me rattled.

we were liars audio

 

Book: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, Listening Library, on sale now

Book Info: Audible purchase, Running time: 6 hrs, 27 minutes. Performed by: Ariadne Meyers. Also available in hardcover or e-book, 240 pages from Delacorte Press

We Were Liars is about a group of four family friends that call themselves the Liars. They summer with their families every year at an exclusive island off Cape Cod. During the 15th summer everything falls apart, and our unreliable narrator Cadence (Cady) Sinclair Eastman suffers a head injury and selective amnesia. The reader follows a scant trail of breadcrumbs to put it all together, but still, the final act will likely shock you.

It took me some time to warm up to this group of privileged teens. But as the book wore on I got more curious about Cady, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and her love interest Gat, the outsider, who only see each other in the summer and live separate lives during the school year. Issues of class, race, gender roles, and privilege are on the table among the Liars, and their old-money families are at the mercy of Cady’s grandfather who holds the purse strings.

Image: wewereliarsbook.tumblr.com
Image source: wewereliarsbook.tumblr.com

After the mysterious incident in the 15th summer, Cady returns two years later a different person. She’s dyed her hair black, has memory loss and migraines, and gives away her belongings. And adding to the mystery angle, all the Liars and family members are instructed not to tell Cady what happened two years ago. My mind was going to all kinds of dark places, but I was still way off base.

With the setting and Cady’s foggy headspace there is a dreamy quality to the book that is further enhanced by the dark fairytales that Cady references in the story.

E. Lockhart’s writing is smart and poetic, and the book is cleverly crafted.  I did feel detached from the story and the characters at times, but I’m thinking that’s part of the design of the book. Even if you feel a lack of connection to the story at first the mystery has a great payoff in the end that gives you all the feels.

I listened to the audiobook, performed by Ariadne Meyers and she made Cady’s confused state of mind believable. Her tone of voice is convincing when portraying these blue blood type characters. The pacing was fine and the male and female voices and age ranges were distinct. One reason you might want to go with the print version instead though is to flip back for reference. With a high concept book like this with so many surprises, the audio makes it tricky to go back and re-listen if you need to. However, listening to the story does make it feel more mysterious and chilling and Meyers does a good job selling this story.

Check out a sample of the audiobook, courtesy of Random House  Audio / Listening Library:

Read We Were Liars if you like: High concept mystery, literary YA, unreliable narrators, and twisty stories.

Have you read the book? What did you think?

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6 thoughts on “We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Audiobook Review

  1. readaholic31 says:

    I’ve picked this one up and put it down so many times. I keep hearing it mentioned on the blogs but somehow I just can’t bring myself to read it! I do enjoy a good plot twist but I’m not sure I could really come to care about these characters.

  2. Amy Sachs says:

    I just finished reading this the other day and absolutely loved it! I started and finished in one sitting because I couldn’t bring myself to stop until I finally knew what happened, and now I can’t stop telling other people to read it too!

  3. BermudaOnion says:

    I’ve got this in print which is probably how I need to experience it.

  4. I got this book signed by the author at BEA. I waited for over an hour with a woman who complained the whole time. It seems worth it, though. I can’t wait to read it! I hope it lives up to the hype. Thanks for the review.

  5. I really like her voice. I’ve read the book and now I want to listen to the audiobook after the little teaser clip!!!

  6. […] E. Lockhart – I know Lockhart is a favorite of many, but her popular We Were Liars was my first introduction to this author. What other book of hers do you […]

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