Family of Liars

The Prequel to We Were Liars

By: E. Lockhart

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The addictive prequel to the TikTok phenomenon We Were Liars: the story of another summer, another generation, and the secrets that will haunt them for decades to come.

"I anticipated that at some point a shocking twist would come. And, wow, does it ever." —The New York Times

"A perfect beach read." —The Boston Globe

A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts.
A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow.
A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy.
A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.

Welcome back to the Sinclair family.
They were always liars.

Don’t miss any of the We Were Liars novels
WE WERE LIARS • FAMILY OF LIARS • WE FELL APART (Coming in November!)

©2022 Random House (P)2022 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Praise for Family of Liars:

"Besides superb character development, there is a dark, supernatural angle that makes this an interesting novel with unexpected twists…. An atmospheric story that will welcome new and seasoned readers to the Sinclair family." —NPR

"Full of plot twists, betrayal, and ugly family secrets, fans of the first novel will no doubt love it." —Paste Magazine

Very different

I am surprised about how much I am glad I listened to this.
I imagine it rings true in this world of privilege that is bountiful. The hum of wealth and denial pervade these lives. These people make snd then break the rules‼️

Interesting prequel

I am generally not a fan of prequels but this one is better than expected. It was a quick and easy read which sucked me in and I was able to finish in one day.

Adds so much context to We Were Liars

I was nervous about this book at first. I enjoyed We We’re Liars so much, and didn’t want to change my perspective on the Sinclair family. However, Family of Liars did not disappoint. Wonderfully written and beautifully narrated I would highly recommend giving it a listen.

**content warning/spoiler**
As someone who’s lost a younger sister, I was very grateful to have a friend let me know one of the main plot points of this book is the loss of the Sinclair family’s youngest daughter.

Thrilling

One thing after another things happening that are not expected good story but maybe geared more towards young adults

Satisfying

Gorgeously atmospheric, FAMILY OF LIARS, the prequel to WE WERE LIARS drips privilege, snobbery and deception. FAMILY OF LIARS is perfect for listening on Audible. What might have been a slow read kept me interested as the four, now three Sinclair daughters feel the loss of the youngest, Rosemary, who drowned the summer before. No one speaks of the ten-year-old, whose ghost begins to visit narrator Carrie. Or is Rosemary a delusion?

Carrie learns painful truths, about her family and about herself the summer after Rosemary, while her detached parents pretend all is well. All is not well.

Though FAMILY OF LIARS lacks the big reveal of WE WERE LIARS, Lockhart’s poetic prose is a thing to behold and a reason to listen to the audiobook.

I enjoyed it

It’s hard to leave a review without spoiling the story. I’m just going to say I like the back story but Johny story line won’t go anywhere. A good story overall. I like the narrator voice and pace.

Not interested

I was expecting to like it as much as I like We Were Liars. I didn’t. I was rather bored.
After many chapters, it may be my OCD that gets me through to the end.

Wasn’t sure what I was getting into

I enjoyed this book. I was very confused at the beginning but it slowly clicked. I’m reading this in my book club and I’m excited to see what everyone else has to say about it, but I did feel it was quite predictable but it was a good story!

intriguing backstory

"Family of Liars: The Prequel to We Were Liars" is a solid four-star read that provides an intriguing backstory to the events of "We Were Liars." This prequel offers a deeper understanding of the Sinclair family dynamics and the secrets that haunt them. The narrative is well-crafted, with a focus on character exploration and relationships. It sheds light on the motivations and conflicts that shape the lives of the Sinclair family members. However, the pacing can be a bit slow at times, and some readers may find it less compelling than the original. Nonetheless, it's a worthwhile read for fans of the series, adding depth to the enigmatic Sinclair family.

A great prequel to on of my fav books

E. Lockhart gave more great twists in this prequel, highly recommend! I haven’t read a prequel that ties in so well