BOOK REVIEW: The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

 

THE LOVERS, THE LIARS, AND ME
by DeAndra Davis
Available June 23

Jaylia has just graduated high school as valedictorian, but she still feels small and unseen. She's never done anything especially daring, and she's even going to college close to home in Miami just to be safe. When her dad suggests she go to Jamaica for part of the summer to catch up with her uncle and cousins, she rejects the idea. But then an unsigned letter comes in, asking to see her again. Jaylia, convinced it's from her absentee mother, decides to take the trip after all.

Rekindling friendships and family bonds is tough at first, and her cousin is immediately standoffish. But she hits it off again with her childhood friends Deon and Andre, the latter of whom she's crushed on for quite some time. But then there's India: Deon's new friend who seems to like Jaylia instantly, and whom she discovers (much to her own surprise) she might have feelings for in return.

In between days of shopping and sightseeing and nights of partying, the group search for Jaylia's mother, following a seemingly endless string of clues. Before the summer is out, she will have several questions to answer about herself: who does she really love? Who is she as a person? And how much does finding this lost piece of her past matter?

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is very deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, especially in Jaylia's feeling that she is too American for Jamaica and too Jamaican for America. Even if you're not familiar with the minutiae of the culture, this book is a love letter to everyday life: food, concerts, and life in general. But it also doesn't shy away from more difficult topics of family and spirituality. It's a rough read at times, and it won't be for everyone, but it's a good coming-of-age story with an ending that, while not what every reader will want, is probably the most uplifting it could be.

TEA PAIRING: A Dream Within a Dream
This sleepy, Shakespeare-inspired tea seems like a perfect match for the book's young heroes, many of whom spend sleepless nights figuring themselves and their families out. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!