To everything its season and a time for all things. So it is with this prequel. I read We Were Liars years ago and remembered being absolutely gripped by it. This book was done well, same great prose and nuanced characters, but it just didn’t grab me in the same way. I think this is because I have moved on my tastes have changed. Still liked the book but ultimately I’m not the target audience.

Because of how good the first one was, this one had a lot to live up to, and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. E. Lockhart's writing style is still so enthralling and immediately draws the reader in.

Beautifully written.

I've read a few things from E. Lockhart before so when Family Of Liars came up on my lists I was intrigued.
What a curious style of story telling, deep and richly layered through dream like interactions and visits from passed loved ones.

I wasn't sure initially as it's a very bold style of writing but I am nothing but impressed. Each character had a very honest and believable tone and realistic reactions to some quite intense situations.

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.

This is the prequal to a book I had not read but had heard a lot about. It is a really good book though it does give spoilers to the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book the characters draw you in and you do realise as the book goes on that the title is very apt.
There are many elements to this book and lots of character interaction that makes it an interesting read and one that keeps you hooked until the end.
I will certainly be reading the first in the series after this one.

3.5 stars

I read we were liars years ago, and don't remember anything about it beyond I liked it.
So this book works just fine as a stand alone. (except for the major spoiler in opening pages for we were liars)
It was quite a deceptive read, a long summer on the beach, on the island your family own.
A trio of sisters, a group of boys, some friends, chilled out adults...all sounds too good
Until it all goes wrong.
There's a lot beneath the surface here.

I am a huge fan of E. Lockhart's 'We Were Liars', having previously read it and then shared it with my students. The mind-blowing twist has stayed with me for many years and so I was incredibly excited to read the new prequel 'Family of Liars'. In this, we join the Sinclair sisters as teenagers, primarily following 17 year old Carrie. Her cousin Yardley comes to visit for the summer, bringing her boyfriend George and his two friends, Major and Pfeff. Carrie is immediately drawn to Pfeff, for better or worse entering into a summer fling with her first love. Of course, nothing is ever simple with the Sinclair family: horrible people at their core, a true 'Family of Liars'.

I think the appeal of the first book was loving to hate the spoiled, privileged family at its centre which returns in this book with a vengeance. The visiting trio of boys and their awe at this private island which its sandy private beaches, and bizarre traditions, like the annual 'lemon hunt', shining a light on how much the sisters take their charmed life for granted. This all happens under the shadow of the death the previous summer of the smallest Sinclair sister, Rosemary. She hangs around as a spectre, permanently stuck as a small child, haunting Carrie who struggles to get through the day without popping a sleeping pill. This is not a light easy read but certainly an interesting one as the layers of corruption within this family are gradually peeled back.

Overall, this is a solid story and compulsive reading. The 'twists' did not quite pack the punch of 'We Were Liars' but adds additional layers to our understanding of the parents in that book. I would read the heck out of any further Sinclair family stories Lockhart is willing to write! Perhaps a Yardley centric book? Bring it on. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An intriguing and gripping read that rounded off We Were Liars really well. I really enjoyed the first book and I enjoyed this one even more and the ending made me gasp out loud. A great read.

A good read. You definitely need to read this having the context of We Were Liars. It wouldn't work on it's own, and doesn't have the same shocking reveal at the end. If it was a stand alone it would even be quite dull. But with the context of this being a prequal and adding layers to the complex Sinclair family, it makes for an intriguing read. Enjoyed it.

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.

3.5 Stars!
I loved how this book was so reflective on the original We Were Liars and I believe that this story is actually more intriguing than the original as well. As far as prequels go this one is pretty good!
I loved the backstory that cemented the Sinclair family and was obsessed with the familial bonds that were shown throughout. The book tackled difficult topics very well and managed to balance the themes of grief with a murder mystery.
The characters were well written and each had their own personalities. I liked how we were shown that our narrator was in fact an unreliable narrator as she corrects her own story and highlights how things can be changed in our memory.
The narrative was fast-paced and I was able to read it within a day. I loved the general tone and atmosphere of the first book was still present in this prequel but overall I feel as though I prefer this one to the original.

Love love loved this book! As a follow on from 'We We're Liars', this really grasped my attention from the get go. Finished it in one sitting!

I'm always have a fear when I read books that are a prequel to a popular book that has been written several years earlier. Even if it's authors I adore, I get a little hesitant over hearing the news. So, when I first heard that E. Lockhart was releasing a prequel of We Were Liars, I was instantly on my guard and think "This can go one of two ways: this prequel is gonna be amazing or it's going to be awful" and "Does this prequel need to be written?"

I even reread We Were Liars earlier this year to see if the book stood after knowing the ending and all the twists (it does, in my opinion. But I know people that disagree). So, when I saw this was on NetGalley for review, I jumped at it, hoping it would help me get out of a possible reading slump/burnout I feel very close to the edge of.

I'm not going to talk too much about this as, if you are going to read this, I think you should go in blind. The same approach as We Were Liars. But I do highly recommend you read We Were Liars first as Family of Liars reveals the big We Were Liars's twist very early on. In fact, it's revealed on the very first page. So, if you are going to read We Were Liars, read that first then read this.

Ok, now with that out of the way, let me get to how I feel about this: it's a bit... I don't want to say meh, because there are elements of this book that are gripping reading. But at the same time, there are elements that take something away from the original.

Which makes me go: Did this prequel need to be written?

Because of this, We Were Liars fans are going to be split. They are going to either love it and think it adds depth and more twists to the Sinclair family. Or they are going to hate it and either pretend the book doesn't exist and reread the original and question the characters and their motivations.

This isn't an awful prequel, but it doesn't live up to the levels of its predecessor.

Did this prequel need to be written? Probably not.

Did I enjoy reading it? I definitely did.

If you like stories about rich teenagers behaving badly then you will like this book.

The writing is always good by Lockhart and this book is no exception. The mystery was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages.