We’re officially jumping into the summer now! THP’s book team has got your back with plenty of vacation reads and summer releases to keep you busy. Now, how do you feel about a summer in Jamaica? DeAndra Davis’ new novel, The Lovers, the Liars, and Me, takes us straight into the heart of the Caribbean island.
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me follows Jaliya “Lili” Powell, a high school graduate who’s visiting her family in Jamaica. After seven years away, she’s drawn back to the island in the hopes of finding her estranged mother. Jaliya enlists the help of her cousin, their old friends, and a new girl named India.
What happens next is five weeks full of racing across the island searching for clues of Jaliya’s mother’s whereabouts. We loved the adventure, and we hope you will too! Here are three things we love about The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis.
Book Overview: The Lovers, The Liars, And Me
Content warnings: parental abandonment, homophobia, hospitalization, drinking, mentions of car accident, pregnancy, and miscarriage
Summary: Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She’s never even been kissed. Despite being valedictorian of her high school class, Jaliya is used to fading into the background.
But this summer will be different.
This summer, Jaliya is visiting her uncle and his family in Jamaica. Under the guise of one last vacation before college, she plans to find out more about her estranged mother, whose absence has remained an unspoken mystery. But things have changed in the seven years since Jaliya last visited. Her cousin has his own life and is reluctant to let Jaliya in, her childhood crush has only gotten hotter and more unavailable, and her aunt and uncle aren’t everything she remembered, either. Then she meets India, who’s vibrant, gorgeous, and free-spirited. And who makes Jaliya feel something she’s never felt before.
While searching for traces of her mother across the island, Jaliya finds herself entangled in complicated relationships, tricky secrets, and a passionate new love. As she navigates this perfectly complicated summer, Jaliya must choose between who she has always been or who she hopes to become.
Diverse Representation
To start, The Lovers, the Liars, and Me stars a diverse, BIPOC cast. We immediately connected with these characters and their different backgrounds. Not only that, but there were also several LGBTQ+ characters. Some were out, others not, and others still exploring, including our main character. Jaliya knew she always liked boys. But India makes her feel things she’s never experienced around other girls before. Her bisexual awakening is a key part of her whirlwind summer in Jamaica. And though her religious and bigoted uncle had a lot to say about it, we love that Jaliya did not back down.
Jaliya’s Growth
Another thing we love about The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is Jaliya’s coming of age. In the summer between high school and college, she absolutely blossoms into her true self. She gets a taste of adventure with all her friends. She also grapples with her Jamaican American identity, not sure where she fits. Then, of course, she explores her sexuality and opens her heart to more than one potential love interest. The intersection of all these themes makes for excellent character development. And by the end, she’s ready to take on anything the world puts in her path.
The Found Family
Finally, we can appreciate Jaliya’s entire found family in The Lovers, the Liars, and Me. We need to start with Deon and India, who first help her come out of her shell. They take Jaliya out on the town and offer their unconditional help in finding her mother. Then there’s Shevaughn, who’s technically her first cousin, but he fits right in to their group. Filling up the last spot is Andre, Jaliya’s childhood crush. Though there are some interesting dynamics within this group, Jaliya’s found family gets her through the journey. They support her during her lowest, most disappointing moments. They also give her some of the greatest, most beautiful memories.
With a diverse, dynamic found family and a story full of growth and intersectionality, we devoured DeAndra Davis’ new novel The Lovers, the Liars, and Me in record time!
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis comes out June 23rd, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of DeAndra Davis’ new novel? Has The Lovers, the Liars, and Me made its way to your summer reading list yet? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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