A New York Times Bestseller

One of James Patterson's "Favorite Thrillers for the Beach" (New York Times)

"Haunting, sophisticated . . . a novel so twisty and well-told that it will appeal to older readers as well as to adolescents." --Wall Street Journal

"A rich, stunning summer mystery with a sharp twist that will leave you dying to talk about the book with a pal or ten." --Parade.com

"Thrilling, beautiful, and blisteringly smart, We Were Liars is utterly unforgettable." --John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars

"You're going to want to remember the title. Liars details the summers of a girl who harbors a dark secret, and delivers a satisfying, but shocking twist ending." --Breia Brissey, Entertainment Weekly

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends--the Liars--whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

"An ambitious novel with an engaging voice, a clever plot and some terrific writing." --New York Times Book Review

"No one should be talking about the shocking twist ending. What we can talk about is... Lockhart's] razor-sharp portrayal of a family for whom keeping up appearances is paramount and, ultimately, tragic." --The Chicago Tribune

Item Information Item Information

Format: TradePaperback
Author: Lockhart, E.
ISBN: 9780385741279
Condition: Used
Dimensions: 8.20 x 1.00
Number Of Pages: 320
Publication Year: 2018

Customer Reviews

Rating Snapshot

5 ★ 61%

4 ★ 39%

3 ★ 0%

2 ★ 0%

1 ★ 0%

4.6

18 Ratings

0 Recommendations

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In a world where everyone lies, how will the truth come out?

Samantha B. - 8 months ago

With the popularity of teen fiction rising it is rare to find a novel in the teen fiction section that subverts so many expectations for what a novel for teens is. On the surface, this story of a young girl coming of age in an affluent family, on their own private island none the less, sounds like it's the next CW teen drama. However, the novel tips the idea of these tropes on their sides and surprises the reader at every turn. A family hiding secrets, a romance that has everyone's disapproval, and an unexplained accident all come together to make this well-crafted novel a thrilling read for any age.
HPB Staff Review
My full name is Cadence Sinclair Eastman, and contrary to the expectations of the beautiful family in which I was raised, I am a Liar.

Jennifer E. - 2 years 9 months ago

“Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family. No one is a criminal. No one is an addict. No one is a failure…Our smiles are wide, our chins square, and our tennis serves aggressive…No one is needy. No one is wrong…We believe in outdoor exercise. We believe that time heals. We believe, although we will not say so explicitly, in prescription drugs and the cocktail hour. We do not discuss our problems in restaurants. We do not believe in displays of distress. Our upper lips are stiff, and it is possible people are curious about us because we do not show them our hearts…Perhaps that is all you need to know.” “Me, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. Gat, Mirren, Johnny, and me. The family calls us four the Liars, and probably we deserve it…Most years on the island we’ve been trouble…You know how when you come to Beechwood, it’s a different world? You don’t have to be who you are back home. You can be somebody better, maybe…I didn’t mean to, but I found myself lying…The Liars are beautiful…It doesn’t matter if there are stains on the wall. It doesn’t matter if I have headaches or Mirren is sick. It doesn’t matter if Will has nightmares and Gat hates himself. We have committed the perfect crime.” “One of Granddad’s mottos: Don’t take no for an answer…seemed like the attitude of a privileged guy who didn’t care who got hurt, so long as his wife had the cute statues she wanted to display in her summerhouses…Granddad held so much power…And now he doesn’t. We changed an evil we saw in the world.” “My full name is Cadence Sinclair Eastman, and contrary to the expectations of the beautiful family in which I was raised, I am an arsonist…I am the perpetrator of a foolish, deluded crime that became a tragedy. Yes, it’s true that I fell in love with someone and that he died, along with the two other people I loved best in the world. That has been the main thing to know about me…for a very long time although I did not know it myself. But…There will be more…I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools. I like a twist of meaning. I endure.”
Review

Aspen Y. - 4 years 10 months ago

I liked this book mainly for the ending and the build-up for it. I would recommend it for someone who's willing to read through some boring parts but for a good ending.
YA Best Reads

Gail T. - 4 years 11 months ago

Let me start this review by saying, I'm generally not a fan of the young adult genre. On a whim I decided to read "We Were Liars" and was surprisingly, profoundly moved by this book. The story is around a teenage girl and her wealthy family. Due to the influence of their wealth, none of the adults in the family ever had to earn a place in the world, instead, they've relied on hopes of an inheritance sustaining their lifestyles and the images they have created of themselves. The teenagers of this stiff lipped ruling class family are caught between the need to be their own individual selves and also to meet the expectations within their family. The teenagers make a reckless decision, burning down the family's most prestigious of homes, trying to decimate the family's rule. The surprising twist in this plot comes at the end of the book. I could see all the threads of the plot woven together but still was at a loss at what the big picture was going to be. When I finally came to the climax I literally had goose bumps! Well played young adult book, well played.
HPB Staff Review
A roller coaster of a story

Delia M. - 4 years 11 months ago

This book engaged me from the moment I read the final words of the synopsis "Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE." Safe to say the author was not exaggerating because the book itself is a WILD ride from beginning to end. The Sinclair family is one that hides many secrets, each one darker than the next, where there is no hero and no villain. Knowing that the ending is gonna be a twist does not take away from the shock you will feel at the grand finale. Lockhart does an amazing job of making you feel like you're right alongside the characters on the island of serenity where everything is perfect. You almost feel secure, which makes it all the more terrifying when you are shaken to your core when you're given the twist. Favorite book of the year so far!
HPB Staff Review

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We Were Liars

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In a world where everyone lies, how will the truth come out?

My full name is Cadence Sinclair Eastman, and contrary to the expectations of the beautiful family in which I was raised, I am a Liar.

Review

YA Best Reads

A roller coaster of a story