I just remember how completely blown away I was when I read We Were Liars - to the point where I think I went back and reread it immediately because I just could not believe how cleverly crafted the whole text was. I never wondered beyond what I was told about the family who reside on Beechwood Island, that breezy, utopian, WASPy summer paradise. But boy, am I glad Lockhart went back and decided to tell us more about them anyway.

Just like in We Were Liars, the veneer is thin over the Sinclair family in Family of Liars—so thin that the cracks begin to open up almost instantly. We know as soon as the narrator opens with "My son Johnny is dead" that we are going to be in for a story as long and twisted as the secrets buried beneath the sand on the Sinclair's island summer home. What should have been a dreamy summer filled with romance, ice cream, Vineyard trips, beach frolicking and cookouts turns into something dark and sinister, skillfully played out in dribs and drabs as the narration flits between present tense—adult Carrie Sinclair—and the past, a 16-year-old Carrie carrying her own hurt and pain and grief around, seemingly for her entire family. The entire story is told as an extended flashbacks, with periodic reminders that Carrie is grown now, and can look back on the events of her past with not longing but somehow both regret and acceptance.

This book is simultaneously a summer dream and a summer nightmare. Additionally, if Tipper Sinclair, the matriarch of the family, ever wanted to come and cook for me for the summer, I would be all for it; this book should come with its own cookbook.

Highly recommend for an intense summer read. Perfect for readers who love a good mystery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was so excited to read this prequel to We Were Liars. I was happy to find that this book was just as good. On the surface, this book seems very similar to We Were Liars (which is one thing I was wary about going into this book) but the plot and details were very different from that of its predecessor. The pacing was great and it was an easy read. I love stories told by unreliable narrators and this one was a doozy! It was full of suspense and uncertainty.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my e-copy of Family of Liars by E. Lockhart.

Family of Liars was a huge anticipated read for me. I was one who read We Were Liars several years ago and loved it. So a prequal was exciting to me! I enjoyed Family of Liars. It reads like We Were Liars but it's definitely not the same story nor does it take away or even add to WWL. You could definitely read this one as a stand-alone book. I'm a fan of E. Lockhart and can't wait to read more from this talented author.

This is the prequel to We We’re Liars. You need to read that before this. This was an easy read and explained the why to the next book. Good overall!

E lockhart has done it again! We Were Liars is one of my favorite books, and I was so excited for this prequel. It gave so much insight into the Sinclair family without feeling redundant or repetitive. There were some great twists that were refreshing and interesting.

Fans of We Were Liars will enjoy this prequel. I enjoyed the summer vibes and the earlier time period. For me the biggest problem with the book was that I expected a plot twist at the end and although I wasn't entirely sure what it would be, it wasn't shocking enough to surprise me.

Family of Liars is the the follow-up story to We Were Liars, which has Carrie Sinclair telling the story of her 16th summer. That summer was where one of the bigger Sinclair lies begins, but only one of the bigger lies because the Sinclairs are full of lies big and small.

Told from the perspective of Carrie as an adult flashing back to that first summer after Rosemary was gone, after she'd learned new ways to "cope". The story just makes the reader feel the island the ebb and flow of the events and the tides, the lazy evenings on the swing, the moonlit kisses and confessions.

It felt like an honest retelling of a life, almost wrapped in fairytale. While I did not love this exactly in the way I loved We Were Liars, I think Family of Liars was still a very very good read.

"Welcome back to the Sinclair family. They were always liars." Flashback to when the moms were kids, before they had their own who we got to know so well in the first book. This story is a prequel to We Were Liars, however, read this second as there are spoilers. Just like the first book, there isn't much I can say; It's better to go into this book with no idea what it's really about. This story was a little slow starting for me, but it did pick up. I enjoyed this story a lot, almost as much as the first! I loved reading this book, as well as listening to the audiobook. The narrator had a great voice, but I did have to up the speed quite a bit. If you enjoyed We Were Liars, then this is a must read. It was so fun to learn more about the Sinclair family and spend another summer with them.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and Edelweiss+. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about how I felt about this prequel. I really enjoyed We Were Liars but I didn’t really need or want a prequel. That being said I really liked it. It is the same but different story and it was just as entertaining and engaging as the first. It really expands on what happened to this family and why they seem to be beyond repair. A solid 4 ⭐️.

I was not a big fan of E. Lockhart's other work, but I wanted to give this book a chance. Sadly, it fell a bit flat for me. It felt like a very surface level book, and it took a lot of energy to finish this one unfortunately.

Lovers of all the best teen thrillers and mysteries are going to love this. The classic twists and turns are there along with things you didn't see coming. This book was a thrill to read.

We Were Liars was THE book of the year in 2014. E. Lockhart is back with a beautifully written prequel that screams beach read. The story is set in the 1980's still following the Sinclair family and the lies they told. The story is eloquently written with sharp twists throughout. Lockhart's writing brings readers into the story with her beautiful descriptions of nostalgic moments. There are plenty of pop culture references throughout. Readers could easily get lost in the world of the Sinclairs by first picking up Family of Liars, but you can always read We Were Liars first to prepare. Either way, E. Lockhart brought us two outstanding YA stories in the world of the Sinclairs. Be sure to check out Family of Liars today!

If you’ve read “We Were Liars” this book is a nice prequel to really get a closer look at the family dynamics of the Sinclairs. You learn more about why certain characters behave the way they do even though you are truly getting only one more perspective without seeing how the other family members feel. It was a quick but engaging read.

Years ago, E. Lockhart had the blockbuster of the year on her hands - a book called "We Were Liars". I remember reading it, and although I blasted through it, I was not as enthusiastic as most readers were about the book. The book had tremendous cross over appeal to adults, and has stayed popular. Family of Liars is a prequel to the Sinclair family, and is set in the 1980's (lots of great music and cultural references!) on the same private island off the coast of Nantucket. The main character in this book is Caroline Sinclair, the oldest daughter of Harris Sinclair and Tipper Taft Sinclair (what GREAT pretentious names!). Just like the first book, there are ghosts, family secrets, and an unreliable narrator. Caroline is visited by the ghost of her son, Johnny, who was one of the casualties in "We Were Liars". He wants the truth about their family, and she gives it to him. Very entertaining - would make a great beach reach!

Wow, loved this book! My first impression was very favorable as the multiple characters were well-defined early on and helped me become quickly invested in their stories. The novel starts like a beach read (kind of Elin Hilderbrand-ish) taking place on an island near Martha's Vineyard with lots of lush description of the area, the houses and the party food. The darker side of the family is introduced little by little, escalating into murder and a ghost story. Hard to put down once you get going so make sure you have plenty of time to read the last chapters or you'll be up all night to finish it. The ending, while satisfying, begs a sequel. Update: In fact, this book is the PREQUEL to We Were Liars, previously published, and I"m running out right this minute to buy it!

Having not read "We Were Liars", I met the Sinclair family through this story. Ultra privileged, generous when it suits them, and following a certain script when it comes to interpersonal relationships. It reminded me somewhat of growing up in the 60's and 70's when you half listened to your parents conversations with each other and with guests, but all the while understanding that you weren't to be a bother and should go off and play. I'm not really sure why Claire is an addict - maybe this is explained more thoroughly in the other book. The other characters were interesting, self-centered and entitled. I was/wasn't surprised that Claire was the murderer, as she was furious at being tossed aside by Pfeff and by Penney. I think I was more surprised that he was murdered at all. I was eager to finish the book, but oddly unfulfilled when I did.

Wealth can buy a private island, privilege can buy opportunities, but neither are needed to weave webs of lies that entrap everyone in a family and change the course of their lives. And so, every reader can find themselves wondering “what if it were me?” as they reacquaint themselves with the Sinclairs and Beechwood Island in Family of Liars. In this prequel to We Were Liars, E. Lockhart proves herself an expert at weaving together the interplay of relationships and secrets, creating characters you want to alternately scream at or hug - or at times both. This was a fun, quick read that was a perfect escape from reality.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this engaging prequel.

It was great to be back on the island!! I love that E. Lockhart dedicated this book to the readers, and added in the spoiler warning. Another deceptive summer with the Sinclairs, and it did not disappoint. Many times it seems authors will "cash in" on the popularity and phone in a sequel, prequel, or sidestory, but not this time.

Loved it!!

Who doesn’t love a back story? Every bit as engaging as We Were Liars, Family of Liars explores prior generations and where the need to ignore the truth may have come from. No spoilers here, you just have to read the first chapter and get hooked.

#FirstLine ~ My son Johnny is dead.

I was obsessed with We Were Liars. It was such a great book. One that I have yet to forget about and I read it when it came out. When I saw that there was a prequel coming out I was pumped!!!! I loved this book as much as We Were Liars. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. It had such a compelling story, interesting characters and spectacular setting. I read it super fast and was sad when it ended. A must read and a book I HIGHLY recommend!