Family of Liars

Welcome back to the Sinclair Family - they were always liars.

It's another beautiful summer on Beechwood Island and Caroline Taft Sinclair is drinking whiskey alone, trying to explain to her son Johnny why he died. But it's complicated, and to tell that story she'll have to unravel an endless web of lies and deceit, uncover all the skeletons buried on Beechwood and shine a light on the lies she told. Starting with that first lie she told herself about a boy all those years ago …

"I've been a liar all my life, you see. It's not uncommon in our family."

I read We We Liars almost as soon it came out back in 2014, and it's the one and only time I've ever thrown a book at a wall in rage. I've reread it countless times over the last 8 years, so it's safe to say I had very high expectations going into this - and that obviously, this book will contain major spoilers for We Were Liars, so read with caution.

From the first line, the distinctive voice that narrated We Were Liars was set and I recognised it right away - a unique, lyrical tone of voice that is so compelling and alienating at the same time. Every page is full of a strange, ethereal prose that feels like a fever dream. I was also very happy to see the story woven with fairy tales and folklore like its predecessor, taking and twisted the morals and lessons into something dark and terrifying.

A tale of family, of first and old loves - Carrie takes us back to her younger days and the beginnings and endings that happened on Beechwood before the homes we see in with Cadence in We Were Liars were even built.

Expect quiet discomfort, darkness hiding in the sunshine, and an entire family of liars that will leave you wondering if you can trust anything written on the pages.

I was torn when I saw this book on Netgalley. I have to admit I wasn't swept away with We Were Liars in the same way I know a lot of people were.

However, the completionist in me hates not to read every book in a series so I requested, was gratefully accepted and I am glad I was.

I really enjoyed this one. I think the book really benefited from the first person narrative from Carrie. Whilst, similar to WWL, there were an awful lot of characters to keep track of, it was a lot easier in this book.

The pacing of the novel was especially good and it felt neither slow nor rushed. Instead it built steadily towards a crescendo we suspected was coming before hitting us with the trademark twist.

A really enjoyable novel and a massive thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK, Hot Key Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read a digital review copy of this title ahead of its publication date next week.*

“What’s the worse thing you did? Come on, spill it…The absolute worst thing you ever did, back then.”

‘We Were Liars’ is one of my favourite young adult fiction books of recent years, so when I heard that E Lockhart was writing a prequel I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of ‘Family of Liars’ and it did not disappoint!

The narrative is set in 1987 and follows the story of Carrie Sinclair, one of the three Sinclair daughters-if you’ve read ‘We Were Liars’, you’ll know Carrie as Johnny’s mother. And that’s exactly how the novel begins, with a visit from Johnny who asks his mother about the worst thing she ever did when she was a teenager. The present-day Carrie then flashes back to a teenage summer spent on Beechwood Island with her family including her cousin Yardley and three teenage boys, one of whom becomes central to Carrie’s story.

E Lockhart’s lyrical, descriptive prose is as gorgeous as it is in ‘We Were Liars’ and there are some really spooky, supernatural elements to the narrative which work really well. I also loved the character of Yardley and would like to hear her story next!

Be warned that the very first page of ‘Family of Liars’ contains a spoiler for ‘We Were Liars’ so if you haven’t read it yet do so before this book.

I will be recommending this book to my high school students although I would say it is probably suitable for age 14+ due to some mature themes, especially in the final stages of the story.