And now we know how we were liars learned their tricks. Family of Liars tells the back story a generation before that tangled family alliances, truths, and lives. We learn from the Sinclair family how simple choices have vast consequences--that can last for generations.

I have not read Lockhart's earlier book, so this was my first introduction to the Sinclair family and they are definitely a lot. I enjoyed Carrie as a narrator, but felt like there wasn't a great deal of development with the others - maybe this happened in the other book? I'm still wondering if a major plot point was real or imagined and I felt that the big ending was a bit rushed. Still a good read, but not a great one.

I read We Were Liars last year and I loved it, so I was very excited about this book.
Sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as We Were Liars. The plot had lot lot of the same things similar to We Were Liars, which as a prequel that's to be expected. But it felt like I read parts already, so it wasn't a shock that the Sinclairs were always the way they were. There were a lot of plot twists and I saw all of them coming. The book starts out with some major shocking events, so it kinda felt like the book showed its hands of cards too soon.

It's hard not to compare this book to We Were Liars, in terms of the mystery We Were Liars kept me guessing and this book didn't and it was just kind of lackluster.

The book retroactivley made one of the characters gay when its never brought up in We Were Liars. It feels like it was done for shock value and not for any actual character development.

The general theme of the book is how the Sinclair family has the expectation of perfection, no one talks about any problem and anything undesirable is set aside....but I felt that We Were Liars did this well enough on its own. I kinda felt like this book would have been better as a stand alone instead of a prequel.

Another secret-filled summer on the island of the Sinclairs! The atmosphere is so detailed it's like you can taste the "nibbles" set out before dinner and smell the salt air as you cruise over to Martha's Vineyard for ice cream and swimming. Set in the 1980s this book has total Preppy Handbook Vibes mixed with a murder mystery. Rich cousins, handsome young male visitors, family traditions, and plenty of secrets make this a great vacation read that you'll stay up all night to finish!

I loved this book just as much as We Were Liars, and re-reading We We’re Liars after this was such a pleasurable experience and showed me even more that the author did than I noticed my first time reading. Beautifully written.

E. Lockhart always had a twist I don't see coming. I remember really loving We Were Liars. This book definitely kept my attention, but parts of it were just too or there I knew I was reading-not escaping.

I enjoyed this story as a stand-alone as it's been so long since I have read We Were Liars, but of course, now I need to go back a re-read that!
This is a good novel for readers who like family drama and that little bit of the supernatural.

I liked the complex characters and the interesting plot. This book had me hooked from the beginning.

My students are big fans of E. Lockhart, and I don't think they'll be disappointed by this novel! I'm excited to add this to my library!

If I have to be honest I'm not sure this book is necessary. We Were Liars became one of the top books on TikTok recently so many years after its original publication, and that is amazing! I am not sure it is a warranty of another book in the same universe.

I am not saying Family of Liars is an awful book or a complete waste. I am saying that it is not that big of a deal. It is a prequel and also spoils We Were Liars so it's best read AFTER the original work.

I enjoyed the writing, it is very characteristic of the way E. Lockhart writes, and after the fiasco of Again Again, it was nice to be able to enjoy something written by her.

The plot follows some paths similar to what we've read in We Were Liars, and although we do have a big revelation it is nothing compared to the stakes we have in We Were Liars, to the impact e had there, to the complete punch in the gut of a plot twist.

It is enjoyable to come back to Beachwood, to spend another summer on the island with the Sinclair family, the nostalgia and the vibes are all there and that is one of the best, if not the actual best, things about this book. But unfortunately for me, it is still a book that will live in the shadow of We Were Liars and a book I do not deem necessary to exist.

If you go to this without too many expectations I think it can be somewhat enjoyable, especially for the feeling of coming back to a setting and a family that is so dear to readers. For me, it will be a book I'll read once, and I'll just stick to rereading and enjoying We Were Liars for years to come.

E. Lockhart does it again. A beautiful mystery wrapped in lies plagues the Sinclair family, sending siblings dealing with their pain in despicable ways. Set before the events found in We Were Liars, another of Lockhart's creations, we are readers get to know the family in a more intimate way that shares this family's internal struggles. And external dirty deeds. I devoured this book in record time, engulfed in the pain of the narrator and the love between siblings it's a must read. Although I won't be teaching it as a whole class novel in my middle school class, it definitely will be on my bookshelf for more mature readers to check out. Great read!

Family of Liars is, if possible, even better than "We were Liars." I loved this story. It may be YA, but I believe adults will love this tale as much as teens. I don't want to share any spoilers so I will leave you with this.... Read this book when it is released in May. You do not have to have read, "We were Liars" before reading this book, but you will want to read it afterwards!

Family of Liars brings us back into the world of the Sinclair family where everyone is perfect and everyone lies. This prequel is narrated by Carrie, eldest of the Sinclair sisters, and tells the story of her own series of lies and betrayals during her 17th summer. Similar to We Were Liars, E. Lockhart continues to weave both fairytales and Shakespeare references throughout the novel to help tell the story. The English teacher in me loves this feature, but overall I felt that We Were Liars did a better job of it.

We Were Liars was one of my favorite reads this year--so much so that I am considering adopting the text for my classroom last year. Family of Liars was an interesting prequel, but didn't hit me quite the way We Were Liars did. I am glad I read it, and I feel like it gave me some much needed background on why the family has issues of betrayal and backstabbing in it's future, but the story of the girls just wasn't as interesting. Nonetheless, I will still be purchasing a few copies for my classroom library and recommending that my students read it if they enjoyed We Were Liars as much as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

We Were Liars is one of my favorite books. Compelling and readable, that book blew me away. So when I saw that E. Lockhart was back with a prequel, I could not download it fast enough!

Family of Liars tells the story of the Sinclair sisters (the mothers of the We Were Liars foursome). I wish I had re-read WWL before diving into FOL, but I’m fixing that by re-reading it now. It has been long enough that I didn’t remember everything and I’m sure I missed things in the prequel.

If you loved WWL, you will love this prequel. I’m not sure it’s better, or even as good, but visiting the Sinclairs on their private island off the Cape is always a good ride. Will definitely recommend to patrons!

I always expect prequels to disappoint— not this one! Just as good as the first and absolutely worth the read. I didn’t remember too much detail from the first book but it came back. Don’t read this if you haven’t read We Were Liars- it will ruin the ending!

I loved We Were Liars and was so excited to have a prequel! This novel did not disappoint and I highly recommend it. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just say pick this one up! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

The prequel we all knew we needed. A stunning follow up story that breaks down a psychological thriller that astounded me. I absolutely love the new story and was immediately engrossed. I feel like it give me new insight into the characters and the Sinclair family. Absolutely would recommend!

I hate to be trite but, the first one was better. So I read We Were Liars a few years ago and recommend it to my students frequently because of the huge twist. Well it was enjoyable to revisit the Sinclair's but, I was primed for the twist and it fell short of being a big reveal. It was definitely worth reading if you loved We Were Liars but I built it up to much for it to be my new favorite.

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart is the prequel to We Were Liars. Years before the original, this story follows Carrie.

I don’t want to spoil anything by talking about the plot too much, but it’s a very twisty read. E. Lockhart’s writing style is compulsively readable and draws in the reader almost right away.

Ok, first, I have to admit that I am swift denial that We Were Liars came out 8 years ago, probably because I still have students who devour it on the weekly in my classroom library. So this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher is a delight for me to review because I was waiting with bated breath to be able to talk about it. I know We Were Liars is a polarizing read, but I loved every second of the privilege, the private lives of the elite, the drama, and the twists and turns, and thankfully in this juicy prequel, it lives up to the OG.

I delighted in the twists and turns of Carrie’s words, and I always stan an unreliable narrator. This also reads like the perfect beach read. A private island getaway, a family vacation with secrets to be explored, and loads of liars around every turn. If you are looking for a twisty, turny novel that is going to be the buzz of your classroom’s lunch bunch book club, this book is a keeper.