This book does not give the same emotional punch as We Were Liars. This is a stand alone, however I do think reading WWL first gives you much more context for a lot of scenes in this book. Having just finished the Prime video, I was looking forward to diving back into the Sinclair universe, but I just wasn't invested in this one. Ok for a beach read.

Another winner from Lockhart! Not quite as twisty but every bit as enjoyable as the previous two in this loosely connected series!

I'm tired of the We Were Liars "franchise" becoming a thing. It should've ended with that novel and did not need a continuation. The writing was similar to the other two books but I found it to be more repetitive and boring than before. The book in general did not need to exist and even fans of the original work will likely be disappointed with this one.

This book shows a fatherless young woman wanting to visit her father. She was born not knowing about her father. He left her when her mother was pregnant. When she visits Hidden Beach to meet her father he isn't there. She then met her half-brother. While in Hidden Beach, there are some family connections and other things. The storyline is great and so are the scenes, characters, and everything else.

Thank you, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press, for providing the copy of We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart. This is my first book by this author and I loved how it was in the same world as We Were Liars (I watched it on Hulu). I didn’t expect to get so involved in the story, because the book description didn’t spoil the mystery. Even so, the story was intriguing, even though the ‘mystery’ wasn’t very exciting. I loved the characters, and the ending felt true to each of them. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5

E. Lockhart has long been one of my favorite storytellers. We Were Liars and Family of Liars are two books I still carry with me. Her haunting prose and layered emotional twists are unmatched. Unfortunately, We Fell Apart didn’t resonate with me in the same way, and I found myself very disconnected from the story. While there is no doubt that it is beautifully written, it lacked the emotional pull and quiet devastation I’ve come to expect from her work. Still, I’ll always look forward to whatever she writes next!

Let me clarify: you can’t walk to the ocean in Irvine. You’re like 30 mins away.

I lived this book but of course coming after the we were liars show and having re read the book, this one had big shoes to fill.
However I feel it told its own story, with sprinkles of the Sinclair universe.
It was deep and in a way it said more than we were liars or completed the intent about loved ones and family.

I didn’t go into this book thinking it would be great since it was the third of the series. This book surpassed my expectations. It was suspenseful and kept me reading. The plot with the Dad was a little unbelievable

drawing you into a world where every emotion resonates and every character leaps to life. The storytelling is expert: nuanced, graceful, and powerful, weaving together complex relationships and vividly drawn settings into a tapestry you won’t want to leave behind.

What stood out most for me was how real and varied the characters feel. None are perfect—they struggle, make mistakes, surprise you—and yet each transformation feels earned. I found myself invested in their triumphs and fragile growth long after the final chapter.

The pacing strikes the perfect balance: thoughtful without ever dragging, intense yet never melodramatic. Small moments—a shared silence, a gesture, an unspoken understanding—carry just as much weight as the big turning points. Those scenes are where the author’s emotional precision really shines.

Rather than relying on predictable tropes, the novel surprises. You sense it unfolding along familiar lines at times, but then it takes a bold, authentic turn—leading to nuanced reflections on love, identity, and resilience. There’s an honesty and warmth in the writing that stays with you.

Ultimately, this is a deeply satisfying read: heart-wrenching in places, hopeful in others, but always hopeful overall. It’s the kind of story that sparks introspection—and stays alive in your memory. Highly recommended to anyone who loves character‑driven fiction that feels both intimate and expansive.

She did it again.. everything I read from this author just stuns me into silence bc I can en ever predict how the books are going to start or end. I’m very thankful to have gotten an arc of this copy

A delightful installment in this series, and I felt so lucky that I could read it after watching the Prime series. The story follows Matilda, and her journey meeting her father for the first time. He invites her to spend the summer at his beautiful coastal home on Hidden Beach, and is introduced to her troubled brother Brock, recovering from a childhood in the spotlight. Secrets come out as Matilda digs deeper into her family history in this near haunted beach, and as always there are lots of lies.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the twist (in true E. Lockhart fashion, she keeps things interesting), but overall this one didn’t totally do it for me. The pacing felt a bit off, and I never really connected with the characters - none of them stood out, and I really didn’t like June. The love story was fine, just not super memorable. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic and rushed. It had some intriguing elements, and I enjoyed the found family trope, but I was hoping for a bit more!

I have loved all of the other books in the ":We Were Lairs" universe, but this one fell kind of flat for me. It had all the twists that E. Lockhart is known for, but I just couldn't get into it.

A smart expansion of the WE WERE LIARS world is perfect on the heels of enjoying the tv adaptation. New characters connected to the Sinclair family in unexpected ways breath new life into the Vineyard machinations. A compelling examination of art and artists and those who try to love them.

MUST read We Were Liars first to full understand the Sinclair family dynamics.

The story takes place 5 days after the Sinclair family fire on Beechwood. Mathilda is 18 years old preparing to go to college to design 3D video games. She lives with her mom’s exboyfriend Saar because yet again her mother has fled to Mexico City for another adventure. Mathilda gets an unexpected invite from her father, Kingsley Cello, inviting her to Hidden Beach. She is skeptical but also curious.

Upon arrival Mathilda learns she has a half brother and her father is away and his return is unsure. She is desperate to know him and discover more of herself Mathilda stays at Hidden Beach waiting his return. In the meantime, she gets to know the 3 teens boys currently living at the castle at Hidden Beach and discover more about her father and his art.

I loved the way Lockhart intertwined the Sinclair family to this plot and developing another story with surprises and enemies to lovers plots made this perfect part of the We Were Liars series.

Thank you Netgalley & Publishers@
Is it normal to like the third installment best?
More hidden secrets, more twists, and of course... more lying.
We delve back in a place close to where we left off with the Sinclairs in this just as twisty, edgy third book that has all the fun tropes- including a slow burn romance.
If you liked We Were Liars, and or like me want to read all the books before binging the show, check this one out!

This was a quick read in the We Were Liars series. I didn't like it as much as the two others, but it was still enjoyable. It's fun to make the connections to the characters in the other books. I think teens who enjoyed the first two books would enjoy this one as well. I would keep it in my classroom.

Lockhart is a talented writer, but this book, like the previous WE WERE LIARS sequel, lacked the magic of the original. The references to the Sinclairs felt a little heavy-handed, too.

Emotionally raw and structurally inventive, Lockhart captures the fragility of identity and love. A literary puzzle worth unraveling.

I remember the first time I read "We Were Liars" - I had actually received a hardback copy as an ARC from a conference and I was FLOORED when I was finished. It was truly what hooked me on thrillers and was the first big twist that I read that I hadn't previously seen coming! I loved "Family of Liars" and was STOKED to see this approval in my inbox!

While "We Fell Apart" still has Lockhart's poetic writing and lightning-speed pacing, it's important to note that it's not exactly a sequel - it carries a lot of the same elements and themes but is more of a companion book than a direct sequel. That being said, I was NOT disappointed and loved having another layer added to the story, especially in light of the TV adaptation recently coming out! While this ending was a bit more predictable than others, it didn't prevent it from being a fun and enjoyable read. Thanks so much for the ARC!