we fell apart by e. lockhart

e. lockhart’s we fell apart (note the penchant for lower case spelling!) is a fascinating addition to her Sinclair universe, returning readers to Martha’s Vineyard only five days after the infamous fire. For fans of We Were Liars and Family of Liars, it offers fresh perspective and further exploration of a world where secrets are as deep and shifting as the sea.

lockhart introduces readers to Matilda Klein, a quietly determined eighteen-year-old brushing up for college and game design, whose life is defined by instability. When her mother vanishes to Mexico City, Matilda is left in the care of Saar, who offers little but safety. Unexpectedly, an email arrives from Kingsley Cello, a father she has never known, inviting her to Hidden Beach. Eager to fill a void, she travels to the crumbling coastal estate, only to find Kingsley missing.

Instead she encounters a household rich in mystery: Meer, her exuberant half-brother who welcomes her instantly; June, his mother, reserved and suspicious; Brock, a former child star struggling with sobriety; and Tatum, moody and unwelcoming, who seems to guard the house’s darker corners. Hidden Beach quickly reveals itself as a microcosm of secrecy, artifice, and longing.

lockhart harnesses her signature almost ‘gothic at the beach’ atmosphere effectively. The island setting is simultaneously idyllic and eerie, the foggy landscapes echoing the emotional blotting out of truth. Tension builds not with overt action, but via controlled pacing and subtle structural shifts: unexplained restrictions, herbal tinctures, confiscated phones and locked rooms. Everything Matilda experiences - late-night trespasses, unsettling rituals, whispered half-truths - stirs an abiding unease.

Character development is the novel’s strongest asset. Matilda is quietly resilient; her poignancy lies in her vulnerability and her ability to trust when it may endanger her. Meer’s open-hearted warmth offers relief amidst suspicion, while Brock’s fragility and Tatum’s intensity complicate Matilda's efforts to discern friend from foe. lockhart excels in populating her story with flawed teenagers whose alliances are fluid, whose motives shift like shadows.

Narrative momentum is brisk, moving with breathless urgency suitable to teenage sensibilities while avoiding cliché. Each chapter ends with slight off-balance revelations rather than dramatic cliffhangers, maintaining intrigue without overdramatising.

Some readers may find connection to the Sinclair family fragile without prior context, but lockhart writes deftly enough that newcomers can still engage deeply. Holland’s return offers a clever thread linking we fell apart to the previous series, enriching the story without weighing it down.

Certain moments falter slightly (like the motivational speeches along the way) yet these add to the dreamlike quality, reinforcing the sense that the past here refuses to stay buried. The themes of loyalty, belonging, and obligation are woven into the storyline with restraint and emotional clarity.

In the end, we fell apart is a rich, haunting tale of family, identity, and the illusions we build around history. lockhart delivers another enigmatic, emotionally charged summer on the island. This is a story for anyone willing to chase the unexpected, and to question what remains steady when everything else slips away.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Allen & Unwin