We Fell Apart is a haunting, atmospheric story full of secrets, strained family ties, and broken people trying to piece themselves together. It had its highs and lows, but I was invested from start to finish. The ending might not be what you expect—or want—but it fits the strange, wild ride this book takes you on. Different in all the best ways. If you like emotional, twisty reads with a moody coastal setting, give this one a try.

At first I wasn't sure why this book was part of this series and even still it felt like it wasn't really a necessary part of the story BUT I liked this! It felt kind of magic-retreat-spooky. There was a mystery but I thought it would be more... sus like the other books. Still a fan though and want to read some more that aren't in this series. Oh, also, i don't think y0u need to read the other books in the series for this one to make sense since it's pretty removed.

title: We Fell Apart

author: E. Lockhart

publisher: Delacorte Press

publication date: November 4, 2025

pages: 320

peppers: 1 (on this scale)

warnings: death, drugs being used against people's wills, drinking alcohol, vomiting, parental abandonment

summary: Shortly after her mother has followed her most recent boyfriend to Mexico, Matilda gets an email from the famous artist claiming to be her father. He invites her across the country to his private island castle and offers to give her a painting (that would be worth millions). The only problem is that when Matilda arrives, the three boys and one grown woman who live there seem not to want her around, and her father has flown off to Italy. Most of the story happens while she waits for him to return.

tropes:

found family
enemies to lovers
the artistic temperament

what I liked: 

the main character's self-sufficiency
the kids she meets on the island
the weaving in of art and video game and literature

what I didn’t like: none of it

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

I thought her last book was good, but this tops it! I was glued to this book for days. Absolutely fantastic writing and such a good story. Should be a Netflix show for sure!

E. Lockhart always makes amazing books and this one has been added to the list! A perfect read just before We were liars comes out as the show. I enjoyed the whole book the writing, the plot, and the characters! Five star book maybe even the best one I’ve read so far this year.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of We Fell Apart through NetGalley. Set in the same universe as We Were Liars, I had high hopes—but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite land for me. While the atmosphere was still moody, the plot felt somewhat flat and the mystery lacked any tension and originality the first. We Were Liars felt fresh and gripping, We Fell Apart came across as more recycled and predictable. I likely wouldn’t say it’s a must read.

When I saw this book announced, I knew it was going to be a must-read for me. It also gave me a great excuse to revisit Family of Liars and We Were Liars, which is never a bad thing. I love E. Lockhart's writing in these books, and We Fell Apart is no exception.

I love that this story didn't go where I was expecting it to. It's a nice fit into the universe of We Were Liars and gives readers an interesting mixture of characters. what didn't work for me was the ending. Now, I'm notoriously picky about book endings, so this could be 100% a me thing. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but if you're someone who already knows the type of endings I prefer, this will make sense to you.

I can already confirm I will be rereading this one and have preordered it, so I will recommend it to those who have loved the other books connected to this universe.

We Fell Apart can be read as a standalone, but it is part of the We Were Liars universe. If you've not read the others and want to, I'd start with them to avoid spoilers in this book. If you have read them and enjoyed them, I think you'll enjoy the way that this book fits in.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, & E. Lockhart for this complimentary copy.))

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me an ARC of We Fell Apart.

This one wasn't really for me BUT that's because it was a bit too YA for my taste. And it IS appropriately labeled as YA. I loved the original, I think I just may be a bit too old to enjoy the "series" now. But if you're into YA and We Were Liars, you'll love this!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart is a standalone interconnected in the We Were Liars series universe. I was very excited when I first learned that there was another book in the series and more so to have the opportunity to read the advanced copy. I really enjoyed the previous two when I read them almost exactly a year ago but this one did slightly disappoint.

We Fell Apart is poetic, emotional, and deeply introspective—very much classic E. Lockhart. The nonlinear structure created some distance for me, and I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped. Still, it explores grief and identity in a creative, beautifully written way.

Overall-good read, quick read, and if you love the series, you will most likely enjoy this book.

This story left me feeling conflicted. I was stuck on eating this 2 or 3 stars. On one hand, the writing style and structure were interesting, but the characters and pacing held me back from fully enjoying the book.

I truly disliked June, and her decisions and personality just didn’t click with me, and I found her more frustrating than compelling. Meer’s immaturity also got under my skin. The buildup to Kingsley and his reveal dragged on far too long, making a large chunk of the middle feel slow and underwhelming.

That said, the last few chapters redeemed the experience. The ending was satisfying, and I appreciated how things came together in a thoughtful, emotional way. If the rest of the book had matched the strength of its conclusion, this would’ve been a much higher rating for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart is the third book in the We Were Liars series. I was very excited when I first learned that there was another book in the series and more so to have the opportunity to read the advanced copy. I have really enjoyed the previous two and this one did not disappoint.

Description:
The Invitation arrives out of the blue. In it Matilda discovers a father she’s never met. Kingsley Cello is a visionary, a reclusive artist. And when he asks her to spend the summer at his seaside home, Hidden Beach, Matilda expects to find a part of herself she’s never fully understood. Instead she finds Meer, her long-lost openhearted brother, Brock, a former child star battling demons, and brooding, wild Tatum, who just wants her to leave their crumbling sanctuary. With Kingsley nowhere to be seen, Matilda must delve into the twisted heart of Hidden Beach to uncover the answers she’s desperately craving. But secrets run thicker than blood, and blood runs like seawater. And everyone here is lying.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: November 4, 2025

#WeFellApart #NetGalley

OK like, I couldn't put this down but also if I HAD put it down I might have had uhh a few questions. But I'm really soft for manic pixie dream teens what can I say

I also didn't really remember much of the original books but that's fine because this really could work fine as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

We Fell Apart is poetic, emotional, and deeply introspective—very much classic E. Lockhart. The nonlinear structure created some distance for me, and I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped. Still, it explores grief and identity in a creative, beautifully written way. Fans of We Were Liars will likely enjoy the vibe.

Another strong book from E. Lockhart, tangentially and interestingly related to the We Were Liars universe, with a different set of privileged yet troubled fairy-tale teens. I could wish that the video game motifs had been woven in with still more purpose and consistency, but it's still a good and evocative read. Contains one scene of animal mutilation and death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me an ARC of We Fell Apart. I genuinely don’t know how I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of a book set in the We Were Liars universe—but I’m beyond honored and thrilled to have had the chance to read it.

While this isn’t a direct sequel to We Were Liars or Family of Liars, it absolutely belongs in that haunting, emotionally charged world. I was surprised—and impressed—by how connected this story actually is to the original books. The links are there, meaningful and rewarding for longtime fans, but never on-the-nose or overdone. E. Lockhart lets the threads tie together in a way that feels organic, which only deepens the atmosphere and emotional weight of the story.

From the very first page, it felt like stepping back into something familiar and unsettling in the best way. Lockhart crafts each scene with her signature lyrical, razor-sharp style. The pacing is fast and addictive, with short chapters that make it nearly impossible to stop reading. The island itself feels like a character—so vivid and present that its energy lingers on every page, watching, weighing, whispering.

One of the things I especially loved was how Matilda’s passion for games—some of which I’ve played or heard of—was woven into her personality. It helped me connect to her even more. Those references felt authentic and grounded her in a way that made her feel real and relatable.

What stood out to me most, though, was how the story explores complex and often painful family dynamics. That part hit close to home, and I found myself really connecting with the emotional tension as it unfolded—especially around themes of identity, betrayal, and that messy, tangled space between love and resentment. As someone with complicated family relationships and what I’ll lovingly call “daddy issues,” I appreciated how honestly it was portrayed without slipping into cliché.

By the end, I was deeply satisfied. The found family element was beautiful and grounded the story in hope, even amid the secrets and sorrow. It’s the kind of book you finish and sit with for a moment, letting it all settle.

Highly recommended for fans of the Liars universe—and for anyone who’s ever tried to make sense of where they come from and who they choose to be.

As a fatherless girl who's now in her twenties (but has understood that it won't ever stop hurting), I feel entitled to say this was bad (and a little offensive, too).

It’s no secret I haven't enjoyed “Family of Liars” either, but I must say that it’s for completely different reasons in comparison to this novel.
This was just… boring, forced to the point of stupidity, not surprising at all.

I guess we could find a pattern between the three novels, as in starting strong with big expectations and reaching half of the book already disappointed.
For example, I loved the first connections with “We Were Liars”, and if they had stopped there it would have been even greater because, something that started as a recap, soon became a very unoriginal plot. I mean, how many times can you keep exploiting a story (without success)?!
But here, cherry on top, the narration could only be described as pretentious — something very similar to bad poetry, if you allow.

The worst part, yet? Matilda herself.
Listen, I get it. I was that girl, I might also still be that girl, but someone who’s waited all her life to finally have a paternal figure to fix that missed piece of her, someone so eager to know her father that just accept and instantly love someone else who had the privilege to experience that life with him, someone who's so blind by that stupid etiquette that doesn't see what she has in front of her… she’s never angry, not once.
She has waited eighteen years and he still doesn't show up? It’s okay, she can wait for him.
She gets to know the people who grew up with him around? Why would she ask them questions, it’s not like she would have wanted a dad growing up.
And with all that happened, it’s not like she could react in any way, it’s not as if she had the right to react.

Thanks to Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Press and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

We Fell Apart was an attempt at continuing the story of the Sinclair family. This felt like a book that was reaching for connections to the Sinclair family and none of them quite landed. The friend group that was presented to readers was lackluster and forced. None of them had any defining or likable characteristics.

Meer was annoying and too needy for my liking. Regardless of the story that was trying to be told about him not having any parental guidance, he was just so immature and a confusing character.

Tatum was just your basic broody guy that offered very little. I kept mixing him and Brock up. Brock felt like the most side character ever. The only thing you get to know about him is that he is a child star and he got addicted to drugs.

Lastly, the main character that did not give main character energy at all, Matilda. She was so boring and was trying to be written as an unreliable narrator even though she obviously had no clue what was going on herself.

The whole book was a bunch of mismatched plots that did not go together whatsoever. I felt like it lost a lot of what made We Were Liars a great book. There was no huge reveals, no dazzling characters. It was just a disjointed plot attempting to say important things but no solid ground to fall back on.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy of We Fell Apart.

Although connected, We Fell Apart is a standalone in the series. Don't worry, there are plenty of Easter eggs to keep the series readers happy and connected with their favorite stories and plot lines.

We Fell Apart exceeded my expectations with its strong ties to the original book. What truly stood out was the remarkable character development; the struggles of each individual were evident, but so was their dedication to making the best choices they could. This book was a real page-turner, consistently keeping me guessing. Its relatability was a major draw, especially in its portrayal of navigating complicated family relationships and the profound understanding that family isn't solely defined by blood. Every character grappled with unique challenges, and it was compelling to witness their transformation. I'm eager for another book in the series, especially to delve deeper into Holland's backstory and point of view. For fans of We Were Liars, We Fell Apart is a must-read and easily earns 4 stars!

Sometimes it's the way a book is laid out by chapter and verse that makes you stumble, recover and then read with awe how it winds together.

#WeFellApart does that with the narrator, Matilda Klein, whose voice is sometimes wistful, occasionally longing, but often curious and vulnerable.

At the invitation of her father, a man she's never met, Matilda makes her way to Beechwood Island where she's introduced to her half-brother Meer, his mother June, a former child actor Brock and the rude surfer boy Tatum. But Kingsley, her dad who is also a famous artist, is oddly absent.

While there's a mystery at Beechwood Island, this is also a story about overcoming rejection and realizing family is the one you make and surround yourself with.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC!

Thanks, #NetGalley for this ARC. If you are a fan of books that have a mystery to them. Then I believe you would enjoy this book. Even though I was not a fan of we were liars or a family of liars I did however enjoy this book. It was a real quick read. I would however suggest reading at least we were liars before reading this one. While it can technically be read as a stand-alone, I would not suggest reading it first because you will read things that while it doesn't give the ending of, we were liars away it does tell a big part of the book. I did like the authors writing more in this book than in the other books I have read in the past. While I did give a low rating, I still liked this one the best so far. I will say I feel like the author really tries to let you go on the journey with the MFC Matilda since it is like her POV and lets you kind of figure out what is going on as she does. Whereas most books I feel you already know how the story is going to end before the journey ever begins. Which for me can completely take me out of a book sometimes. I did not feel this way about this book, but I felt like some of the characters needed more development. Like I just wanted to know more of their story, and I did not like June at all.