Reviews

What I Saw, and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

danoreading's review against another edition

4.0

Well-written, engaging historical mystery set in the years after World War II in Palm Beach, FL. The main character, Evelyn, was both annoying and endearing and her interactions with her family members and love interests rang true.

jennc's review against another edition

2.0

This book was ok. I’m not really sure why it won awards. It was a bit all over the place with some fairly weak characters. The ending was good, I just wish the rest of the book had been better.

umbrelina's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

anushb's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It's a well-written historical fiction and mystery novel set after World War II and has a plot and characters that are complex and well-developed. The only reason it took me so long to read this book is that the cover and the title make it look more like a Pretty Little Liars read-alike than a National Book Award winner.

alilysong's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

2.75 rounded up. generally a fine read that has its many puts and takes. i was on board for most of the beginning. writing is solid and the plot does build suspense, and can appreciate that this book portrays some truly morally grey characters (none of that typical watered down ya stuff, albeit there are caveats to this noted below). 

had some issues with the pacing.

the hurricane and subsequent search sections could have been cut down substantially

. and there’s some head scratching plot points.

a hotelier wants to strike up a partnership with some dude he meets on vacation?? I get that he’s jewish so needs a partner to put a different name on the deed but felt like a sus plot thread

. 

there is also a hyper fixation on physical appearances in this book, which i feel can be severely off putting for folks, though i think it is important in the main character’s journey with her loss of innocence and sexual awakening, etc. 

i do have a major bone to pick with the ending though.

it’s like the author didn’t have the balls to truly lean into the horridness of the characters and had to redeem evie with some morally upright sanctimonious final act. Know it’s written for a ya audience but that’s gonna lose points from me every single time

.

liz56rose's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It's about a young girl trying to figure out womanhood in a way....

erinthelibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

I'm still mulling this one over. I thought the book had a slow start to it, but once it picked up it stayed fast paced. The writing was good, the characters well drawn and the sense of time and place were well done and vivid. All of that said I don't entirely feel that it deserved the National Book Award for young people. When all was said and done some of the plot points were disappointing and really one of the biggest secrets I saw coming immediately.

mbdwilson's review against another edition

5.0

This book reminded me of a classic movie, like Sunset Boulevard or All About Eve. The description of the characters, the dialogue, and the setting were amazing. I had a hard time putting this book down.

This is the first book that the author wrote under her real name. The members of the Young Adult book club where I work were speculating what her pseudonym was, and we all considered Judy Blume for a bit. I found the author's Web site and saw that she was also known as Jude Monroe, who writes Star Wars books (mainly journals).

I've never read the Star Wars books, so I'm glad I found the author through this genre. She's a great writer.

elsaduck's review against another edition

4.0

I had expected it to be mysterious but I wasn't quite expecting the events that took place in the last 50 pages or so. Nevertheless, it is a good book.

jrosenstein's review against another edition

4.0

I'm becoming a fan of the National Book Award committee. Second year in a row they've made excellent choices for young people's literature. This book stands out in a lot of ways. Not only is it a noir for young adults (I know of no others), but it is historical fiction that does not feel at all pedantic or educational. The atmosphere is perfectly woven, the characters incredibly complex, and the lessons learned are meaningful and never trite. It may be too slow to appeal to a lot of teens, but those who are willing to give it a chance will get pulled in.