We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Summary from NetGalley:
The invitation arrives out of the blue.
In it, Matilda discovers a father she’s never met. Kingsley Cello is a visionary, a reclusive artist. And when he asks her to spend the summer at his seaside home, Hidden Beach, Matilda expects to find a part of herself she’s never fully understood.
Instead, she finds Meer, her long-lost, openhearted brother; Brock, a former child star battling demons; and brooding, wild Tatum, who just wants her to leave their crumbling sanctuary.
With Kingsley nowhere to be seen, Matilda must delve into the twisted heart of Hidden Beach to uncover the answers she’s desperately craving. But secrets run thicker than blood, and blood runs like seawater.
And everyone here is lying.
ARC provided by Random House Children’s Books via Netgalley for an honest review.
Confession:
It has been a few years since I read the first two books in this series, so I only remember the big picture of their plots and characters. It did feel a bit like I was going into this standalone as someone who wasn’t familiar with the other books. So I can honestly say that you don’t need to have read the first two to enjoy this one. But that said, I think your understanding of the characters and some of the connections will be better if you have read the other books first.
I did enjoy this third book set in the same world as the first two. There was something compelling about the story and the characters that makes you want to read the book straight through, even though not a lot happens until the end. The plot does move along, but in a lazy sort of summer day kind of way. You know those summers when you were a teen and the days just sort of blended altogether? That is how the story feels.
The characters were all quite complex and well fleshed out. Matilda was a great character, full of doubt and just wanting to feel wanted and searching for where she belonged. I really felt sorry for her, and was rooting for her throughout the book. I did think she was a bit of a coward though, unable or willing to stand up for herself, especially to June, the only adult she interacts with on the island. She is pretty much docile about her life and willing to be lied to even when she suspects that no one is telling her the truth about her father. But her journey to inner peace and self acceptance was well done and wonderful to watch.
The three boys living with Matilda’s father were wonderful as well. I loved Meer, her half brother, although he was socially awkward and had lived a very sheltered life. I could tell that he was lying from the start, but understood his motives better than the others. Brock was an interesting character, but not one we got to know well. I also really liked Tatum even when he was being horrible to Matilda and trying to get her to leave. He ended up being very sweet and kind.
The story does evolve slowly. The mystery of what was really going on at Hidden Beach was well done, and I loved how things were slowly revealed. The writing was spectacular and the descriptions of the house and surrounding area was beautiful. There were many themes woven throughout the story, themes of loss, neglectful parents, found family and a sense of belonging. Even the depiction of what was really going on with her father was well done. You know from the start that all is not quite as it seems, but the big reveal was a bit of a surprise. The ending was bittersweet but it fit perfectly with the rest o the story.
This is a nice addition to the series, and one that could be read as a standalone. However I think some of the things that are revealed about who Kingsley Cello really is has a bigger impact if you are familiar with the overall story. There also are things that are revealed that perhaps would be considered spoilers for the other two books. Highly recommend if you have read the other books, you won’t be disappointed.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 