We Were Liars Book Review

⭐️Overall rating: 4.5/5:

Just finished We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and… wow. 😮‍💨✨

This book had me in a CHOKEHOLD. The writing is poetic and dreamy, almost like a fairytale—but underneath it all is this dark, emotional gut punch I didn’t see coming. I’m still recovering from that twist 😭 like HOW did I not catch on sooner?!

The Sinclair family felt so real—beautiful, messy, privileged, broken. I loved the way it explored grief, secrets, and how we convince ourselves of the version of the truth we want to believe.

My only reason for docking that half star is that the writing style might not be for everyone—it’s super lyrical and abstract at times. But honestly? That’s part of what made it stand out for me.

If you haven’t read it yet, don’t look up spoilers. Just dive in blind. You’ll thank me later. 🙃

#currentread📚#booktok #bookinstagram #booktube #bookwormsoflemon8

2025/7/7 Edited to

... Read moreHey bookworms! So, my recent review of E. Lockhart's 'We Were Liars' sparked a lot of questions, and I wanted to dive deeper into some of the things you're curious about, especially since this book is still living rent-free in my head! First off, let's talk about those book covers – because honestly, they're half the mystery! The iconic cover with silhouettes in water, often bathed in summer hues, perfectly captures the eerie, dreamlike essence of the book. It hints at the secrets and tragedies hidden beneath a seemingly perfect surface. I've seen a few editions, from the original hardcover to the more recent paperbacks, and each one cleverly keeps you guessing without giving anything away. That specific cover I showed with the paw print and 'Summer' really does set the mood for the Sinclair family's island retreat, making it feel both idyllic and unsettling. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling, drawing you in before you even read the first page. For those asking about 'We Were Liars' hardcover vs. paperback, both editions typically feature similar thematic covers, so you can't go wrong, but the tactile feel of a hardcover adds to the intensity, in my opinion! You've also been asking if 'We Were Liars' is a gripping thriller, and my answer is a resounding YES. It's not a fast-paced, action-packed thriller in the traditional sense, but it’s a psychological slow burn that builds an incredible amount of tension. The mystery surrounding what happened that fateful summer is compelling, pulling you deeper into the fragmented memories and unreliable narration. E. Lockhart is brilliant at crafting an atmosphere of unease and privilege, making you question everything and everyone. It’s less about jump scares and more about the unsettling realization of truth, which truly gives you an emotional gut punch. The narrative definitely revolves around a group whose lives become interconnected as they uncover hidden aspects of their pasts – it's all about family secrets and the lengths people go to protect their image. And for the burning question: does 'We Were Liars' have spice? While the book delves into complex relationships and a teenage romance, it is firmly a Young Adult (YA) psychological thriller. So, no, you won't find explicit or 'spicy' scenes here. The focus is much more on mental health, grief, family dynamics, and the unraveling mystery, rather than romantic encounters. If you're looking for a steamy romance, this isn't it, but if you're into deep, thought-provoking stories with a shocking twist, you're in for a treat. Lastly, I've seen some queries mentioning 'We Fell Apart a We Were Liars novel.' Just to clarify, 'We Were Liars' is a standalone novel by E. Lockhart. There isn't a direct sequel or companion novel titled 'We Fell Apart.' If you loved the author's style and want more, E. Lockhart has other fantastic books like 'Genuine Fraud' which shares a similar psychological depth, but 'We Were Liars' tells a complete story within its pages. The themes of memory, identity, and the destructive nature of secrets are perfectly contained within this single, impactful read. If you haven't picked up 'We Were Liars' yet, please, go in blind – it’s truly an unforgettable experience!

14 comments

Morgan Ray's images
Morgan Ray

the show that is out on prime did such a good job and stayed very true to the book!

See more(3)

Related posts

The image features the book 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, with its cover showing people in water. Overlaid text reads 'Book Review', accompanied by a color palette, decorative flowers, and the Lemon8 logo with a username.
We were Liars Book Review 🌊🐚
I just finished reading this book yesterday and I honestly think it was pretty good . I thought the ending was a real shocker and I honestly didn’t expect it . I think I would rate this book a 8 out of 10 since it was very interesting but I just think it had a lot of chapters that could’ve been lon
Nicole Denise 🃏

Nicole Denise 🃏

6 likes

We were liars lovers🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️
#Lemon8Diary #bookrecommendation #booklemon8 #bookobsessed #BookReview
ella’s book nook📚

ella’s book nook📚

208 likes

“We Were Liars” -book review ( W T F reaction)
Okay… Without any spoilers, this was my first 2025 read and OMG, am I scared? Am I dreaming, what did I just read? This should be a movie. Is there a movie? Reading it was good, beginning wasn’t boring a lot of good context, good story telling and great POV, this is a book that you WILL
Bellarina 🎀

Bellarina 🎀

3 likes

A hand with blue glitter nail polish holds the book 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart against a stone wall. Text overlays highlight themes like 'Messy Family Dynamics,' 'Old Money,' 'Greed,' 'Privilege,' and 'Unreliable Narrator,' indicating a book review.
We Were Liars ☀️🌸🐚
book review | We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 🌾 my rating: ⭐️ setting: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts 🦞 A wealthy old money family has a private island where they spend summers. A group of four cousins/siblings call themselves “The Liars”. They get sick of the adults fighting over inheritan
chelsea

chelsea

20 likes

If you liked We Were liars…
If you liked We Were Liars either the show or the book then these books should be your next read!! 📚 #wewereliars #booktok #book recommendations #lemon8bookclub
DBooks📚

DBooks📚

21 likes

A book cover for 'Family of Liars' by E. Lockhart, a New York Times Bestseller, is displayed against a light background. Overlaid text reads 'BOOK REVIEW' in blue and white, accompanied by white outline graphics of a heart, a smiley face, and a 'wow' expression, along with the Lemon8 logo and username.
Book Review 📖🐚
This was the sequel to another book I read called “ We were Liars “ and I think it was very good ! It took me a while to read it since I’ve been in kind of a reading slump but when I started it again I got more into it. I wouldn’t read it again though since it was kind of boring but it did have som
Nicole Denise 🃏

Nicole Denise 🃏

4 likes

The book cover for 'Family of Liars' by E. Lockhart is displayed against a vibrant tropical beach scene with palm trees, clear blue water, and a pink house. The cover text identifies it as 'THE PREQUEL TO THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER we were liars'.
Family Of Liars Book Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 STARS) Family of Liars by E. Lockhart completely pulled me into the Sinclair family’s secrets once again 😭🌊 This book felt haunting, emotional, beautiful, and tragic all at the same time. Knowing how this family hides the truth while slowly unraveling made every chapter feel heav
TheMalerieverse

TheMalerieverse

7 likes

The image features the book 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, a New York Times Bestseller, lying on a white, rumpled surface. The cover depicts people in water with the title. Overlays include 'Why 'We Were Liars' Blew My Mind', a book emoji, and a coffee cup emoji.
Read We Were Liars!!
The book is narrated by Cadence Sinclair, whose unreliable narration creates an air of mystery and intrigue. The fragmented, lyrical writing mirrors her mental state, pulling readers into her confusion and pain. This style keeps you engaged and leaves breadcrumbs that only make sense after the twis
Alyana Grace

Alyana Grace

5 likes

silent book review
This book was an anticipated palette cleanser for me. I had to set aside another book i was reading for a minute to read this book. And this book did not disappoint. Its like a mix of the show The Outer Banks and the book We Were Liars with a little flair of something supernatural. I did not know w
HeatherBlossom

HeatherBlossom

1 like

We Were Liars 🤫📚
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🥰🥰🥰🥰 When their daughter has an accident, family lies start to unravel. Follow this rich, beach town family while suspense arises around every corner. 🌊🫣 This book has made its way to my most unexpected book of 2025 thus far!!! I was in tears by the very end. 🥲 It’s fa
Cassidy 📖

Cassidy 📖

35 likes

A light blue book titled 'You'd Be Home Now' by Kathleen Glasgow rests on a quilted surface. White pills are arranged on the cover, some integrated into the title. A circular sticker shows '20%' and 'Target RedCard' details. Lemon8 and @momma.hood are at the bottom left.
Book review ✨
I’m going to try to do this with no spoilers incase any of you do decide to pick this book up (I think you should) The book starts out very intense, you get attached to the characters almost immediately. The middle slows a bit as we get to watch these characters life’s play out (teen romance-ish
.

.

17 likes

🌊💔 WILD BOOK REVIEW: Family of Liars 💔🌊

I thought I was ready after We Were Liars. I was NOT. This book grabbed me by the throat, whispered “Sinclair family secrets,” and then shoved me off the dock into a storm of guilt, grief, and generational chaos. E. Lockhart said, “You want answers? Fine. But it’s going to hurt.” And oh, it hu
Diana De Jesus

Diana De Jesus

2 likes

The book cover for E. Lockhart's 'We Fell Apart,' featuring a silhouette of a person and distressed white text, is displayed against a vibrant sunset beach scene with ocean waves and sand. The cover also notes 'A we were liars NOVEL' and 'THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR,' with Lemon8 branding.
We Fell Apart Book Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 STARS) We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart completely messed with my emotions 😭💔 This book felt messy, emotional, chaotic, and painfully real in the best way possible. Every friendship, every secret, every lie slowly unraveled until everything started falling apart right in front of me
TheMalerieverse

TheMalerieverse

3 likes

The cover of the book "Before We Were Strangers" by Renee Carlino, featuring pink text and a silhouetted couple, with a purple-striped bookmark.
A couple brushing their teeth in a mirror, with the woman holding a camera, capturing a candid moment.
A New York City Subway map with the handwritten text "NEW YORK I HAVE SO MUCH TO THANK YOU FOR" displayed inside a subway car.
Before we were strangers book review:
This book was absolutely lovely, the characters felt realistic and I found myself really relating to each of them. The story takes an unexpected turn but is so worth it. At first the dialogue can be a bit unrealistic but once you get past the first few chapter it gets a lotttt better. 🫶🏽 I loved
nat ♡

nat ♡

5 likes

The book cover for Maya Angelou's 'The Heart of a Woman' features a woman's silhouette and red-orange flowers on a dark background, resting on a white fluffy surface. A quote from Kirkus Reviews is visible.
Book Review
This book is absolutely amazing. Maya Angelou’s early life was truly one worth writing about. She eloquently writes of the duality of women and the lives our grandmothers were forced to live. Having a child at 17, receiving the assistance of her mother and shortly after taking full custody. May
Marlesia

Marlesia

499 likes

A family tree diagram titled 'The Sinclair Family Tree,' showing Harris Sinclair & Tipper Taft at the top, their three children (Carrie, Bess, Penny), and their respective grandchildren (Johnny, Will, Mirren, Liberty, Bonnie, Cadence), along with associated locations like Red Gate, Cuddledown, and Windemere.
A family tree diagram titled 'The Sinclair Family Tree,' detailing Harris Sinclair & Tipper Taft Sinclair, Dean Sinclair, their children (Caroline, Penelope, Elizabeth, Rosemary), and grandchildren (Johnny, Will, Cadence, Mirren, Liberty, Bonnie, Taft), plus a list of dogs in 1987.
A detailed map of Beechwood Island, Massachusetts, USA, featuring various family houses like Windemere, Cuddledown, Red Gate, and Clairmont, along with other landmarks such as Staff Dock, Boathouse, and Martha's Vineyard Harbor.
We Were Liars & Family of Liars
My Current Read 📖 Name of the Book: We Were Liars and Family of Liars 📖 Genre: YA psychological thriller/coming of age 💭 My Thoughts: 😵🤯 ⭐ Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5️⃣ #readreadread #reading📖 #lemon8bookclub #bookrecs #BookReview #booktok #bookclub #bookrecommendations #re
AuthorSamanthaParish

AuthorSamanthaParish

9 likes

Overdue review: I finished listening to the Book —
What I up with these books messin me up! This book wrecked me. It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you quietly — soft, sunlit, and beautiful — until it crushes your heart. 💔 We Were Liars is about family, privilege, secrets, and the ways love and loss can twist together into something
Diana De Jesus

Diana De Jesus

1 like

A hand holds the book 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. The cover shows blurred figures in water, and a blue sticker mentions 'Family of Liars'. The background is a dark green fabric.
We were liars
I hope this wrecks me just like the show did #we were liars #currentread #books #lemon8bookclub
wildflowersmama

wildflowersmama

6 likes

Book Review 🏠🌊
𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐄. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 Loved this book! E. Lockhart's writing was sublime-so lyrical and haunting. At first, I thought the dialogue was a bit juvenile, but it all makes sense by the end. That twist? Chilling and unforgettable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 #WeWereLiars #ELockhart #BookRevi
Janem91

Janem91

9 likes

We Were Liars 🌊
#BookReview #wewereliars #books
allan.torres.writes_

allan.torres.writes_

0 likes

A book cover for "Homies, Lovers, and Friends: A Brooklyn Love Story" by Jahquel J., featuring six characters: Kelsie, Milli, Michelle, Mello, Thor, and Patsy, against a textured background.
We over me 😆| book review (HLF 🙌🏾)
⭐️Overall rating: 8/10 Because this whole series STRESSSSEEEDDD ME OUT BUT ALL 5 books ATE DOWN 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Starting with Kelsie and Michelle , the growth of these two I admired so much… they went through hell the whole series, but until book 4 and 5 is when you started to see their happy ending
💕✨TATIANA✨💕

💕✨TATIANA✨💕

48 likes

The cover of E. Lockhart's new book, 'We Fell Apart: A We Were Liars Novel,' is displayed, featuring a silhouette against a colorful background. The text 'New Book Release' is overlaid, with a glimpse of another book titled 'Little' underneath.
A hand holds the new book 'We Fell Apart' by E. Lockhart, showcasing its cover with a silhouette and colorful background. The book's spine and page edges reveal a gradient of colors.
An open book displays a detailed map titled 'MAP OF Hidden Beach WEST TISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.' The map illustrates various locations like Pool House, Garage, Cliffside, Chalk Tower, Bone Tower, and Beach.
🚨New Book Release🚨
I totally forgot this book was coming out this month but it was a very good surprise!! If you have read or watched We Were Liars then you should probably read E. Lockhart’s new book because it is a continuation of the We Were Liars books😆 BUT this is a standalone book so you don’t have to read the
DBooks📚

DBooks📚

4 likes

A hand holds the book "Frientimacy" by Shasta Nelson, with the subtitle "How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness." The image is overlaid with "1st Book Review of 2024."
An open book displays a section on "How the Frientimacy Triangle Works," featuring a triangle diagram with P, C, V, representing Positivity, Consistency, and Vulnerability. The text explains these three requirements for healthy friendships.
An open book shows a page detailing "The Eight Vital Friend's Roles," listing descriptions for roles like Builders, Champions, Collaborators, Companions, Connectors, Energizers, Mind-Openers, and Navigators. The "Energizers" role is highlighted.
1st Book Review of 2024 ✨
Frientimacy by Shasta Nelson Genre: self-help Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: I started reading Frientimacy after seeing the book discussed on TikTok and feeling like it would help me develop greater intimacy with my female friends. Understanding the frientimacy triangle which includes positivi
Alex Davis

Alex Davis

591 likes

The book cover for 'Family of Liars,' a prequel to 'We Were Liars,' is shown with distressed white text on a blue-green background, featuring a paw print and silhouettes. Overlaid text reads 'Book Review' with sparkles, and the image includes a Lemon8 logo and username.
Family of Liars Review 📚
Overall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was really excited to read Family of Liars after loving We Were Liars, but this prequel just didn’t hit me the same way. The writing is still beautiful—lyrical and haunting in parts—but the story felt slower and less emotionally gripping. It took a while for me to connect w
Kenderella

Kenderella

3 likes

A hand holds a Kindle e-reader displaying the cover of the book "Things We Hide From The Light" by Lucy Score. The image is titled "Book Review" with a search bar for the book title.
Book Review | Things We Hide From The Light 🚓💋
Nash Morgan is precious and all but … I still want Knox Morgan 🥵 I’d let that man disrespect me any day of the week #bookrecommendations #booksoflemon8 #bookwormsoflemon8 #knockemoutseries #lucyscore #whatimreading #tbrlist #lemon8bookclub #bookaesthetic #kindleunlimited
Laura Sprouse

Laura Sprouse

17 likes

The image shows the book cover of 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, featuring silhouettes of people in water. Overlaid in white text are 'Reading' and 'Review'. A blurb by John Green is visible, along with the Lemon8 logo and username '@hope.fohmann' at the bottom.
Review for We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
⭐️:3 It's true what they're saying: you're better off if I tell you nothing about this book. So l will just say two things: 1) It is worth reading. Even though I only gave it 3 stars. 2) I gave it 3 stars because of the writing style, which irritated the hell out of me. The
Hope Wilhelmina

Hope Wilhelmina

2 likes

We Were Liars: 5 Stars
I was not prepared for this twist! 😮 “Do not accept an evil you can change”. Tell me what you think!
Lisa

Lisa

2 likes

The 100 Book Review
The 100 is a post-apocalyptic dystopian series set 300 years in the future. It follows Clarke, Bellamy, Glass, Wells, and their friends as they learn to survive on the count after spending their lives in space. There are several differences from the TV show, but the concept is the same and they
Kaitlin Graham

Kaitlin Graham

371 likes

Book Review
I was actually really surprised by how much I enjoyed this one given that I didn't care for We Were Liars at all. That being said, I loved the TV show but was definitely more invested in the moms and their story so I had to read this one and find out what they got up to during their own summers
shelby 📚

shelby 📚

3 likes

We Were Liars
Ok this book picked up really quick after part one! I definitely give this book 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ but when she remembered everything I was put into emotional distress and wanted to throw my kindle. Now I need to know is the show going to send me into a spiral like everyone says?! #booktok #wewerel
Maddie🩷

Maddie🩷

4 likes

A book titled "Honey & Spice" by Bolu Babalola, featuring two illustrated figures on the cover, lies on a fluffy white and grey rug. The image has text overlays "My Honest BOOK REVIEW" and a "Reese's Book Club" sticker, indicating a book review.
Honey & Spice Book Review
For the month of April my book club read “Honey & Spice” by Bolu Babalola. I have seen so many reviews on this book and I went in with very high expectations for it and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed this book and it was a great read. To me this book reminds me of the shows “Gro
Denny Price

Denny Price

59 likes

See more