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Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

123 reviews

jenna_justi2004's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow. Just WOW. I loved it much more than I thought. Maybe more than the 1st one. An eye for an eye. A son for a son.
  Carrie killed Pfeff, causing his mother and father to lose their first born. And years later, she suffered from the same fate. 
I didn’t expect the twist but I spoiled it for myself anyway, it was surprisingly not shocking. She did say she was a liar. Bro and Penny. Ugh, forcing herself to be straight. Wow. The book was heartbreaking, especially considering the people they become. Which isn’t too great, but it makes sense now why they are the way they are.
BRO THE DAD HELPED THEM COVER UP THE MURDER. HE TOOK THE BOARD. Ugh Carrie is also an unreliable narrator just like Candace was. Fuck bro.
And don’t get me started on Rosemary.
She saw her for 5 summers. Her baby sister that drowned.
Ugh. I wish penny could be out. I just want people to be happy in this book, but literally no one is ever.
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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Having recently finished We Were Liars (which was equal parts compellingly clever and emotionally devastating) I was eager to finally delve into the prequel which follows some of the characters from We Were Liars, specifically Carrie (the oldest Sinclair sister and mother to Johnny who we met in We Were Liars) during one pivotal summer on their private island, Beechwood, in the 1980s. 

Now, I will warn that Family of Liars does open with spoilers to We Were Liars in the prologue, so I do suggest reading that before picking this up (as well as checking the TWs.)  

But if you have read it, then you’re going to love delving into more of the Sinclair family’s backstory: the tragedies, complicated family issues and secrets that shaped the lives of Carrie, Penny and Bess as adults. 

The writing is once again really compelling and I loved the emotional depth we see in Carrie who (in her grief from the tragedy that took place the previous year) feels disconnected from her family and its obsessive need for perfection. I admit, Carrie did remind me a little of Cadence (Penny’s daughter) in how jaded she is with her parents and sisters. 
 
I can’t really go into any more detail without spoiling key moments of We Were Liars. But, I will say the twists and turns encountered here didn’t shock or leave me as emotionally distraught as Cadence’s story did. What it did do however, is make me eager to see more of the Sinclair family— if only to dig up even more long buried secrets (because there’s bound to more where Harris and Tipper are concerned.)

Overall, a compelling continuation into the world of We Were Liars that explores wealth, grief, trauma, identity and addiction in such exquisitely immersive detail you definitely won’t want to put it down!  
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sam_calus's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ouch I love it
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kccool12255's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Though I was a bit apprehensive about Carrie being the star of our story, I believe that this prequel absolutely lives up to the original novel. Cadence has a very unique voice, easy to follow along with, and Carrie’s has much of that same tone. I enjoyed the boys in the story
(except for Pfeff, of course)
. I love the plot, and didn’t expect any of the plot twists that came. I DO think that Bess could’ve been included more,
and the whole Pfeff-Penny-r*pe storyline made me uncomfortable . And sorry, but I don’t think that Penny’s bi (if she stuffed it down, fine, but I just don’t think it fits up with her character, sorry)
. Ending could’ve been better. Overall though, an amazing experience. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the first book, and murder mysteries.
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allegra_t's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

it’s a million times better than we were liars
i liked the beginning of the book and i think carrie and pfeff were so cute they were actully adorable they had me smiling and giggling up until he did that thing then i was like he needs to die
there are these silly stories throughout when i first read it i was like i don’t care but it all comes together in chapter 46 
i love yardley 
i want carrie to be happy she deserves to be happy
after
i don’t like part 6 that’s it i just don’t like it
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savyyroberts's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book - I actually listened on audible (my first time listening to a read and it was fine but I still prefer paper) I read “we we’re liars” the prequel last year and thought it was well paced and it remember sobbing at the end. Family of liars follows the same path - really emotional, dark and a little mysterious with a little sprinkle of old money drama and lifestyle. This is a great summer read! 
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zachxxy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I literally finished this in one day it was phenomenal! i loved this one so much better than we were liars which i gave 3 stars i think?? ( read we were liars first idk why this is called the prequel)I dont know why maybe because that was the first time i read it and i wasnt sure of the nondescript plot. but now its so good because im familiar with the world and i dont know how e. lockhart does it! she puts so many random everyday things inside the story but it all builds up for something like character development, personality revealing, just all so cunningly planned, absolutely lovely!!!! though after finishing it i felt a little queasy but that may be because im a younger reader. im 13. anyway, loved this book!!! it is darker than the first one though so watch out! the plot didnt really connect to the title in the first book because only the main girl in the first book cadence had secrets and lied. so that kinda threw me off but this book, everyone had secrets and told insane lies it was do exciting. 
I just didnt like the dad much but that was the whole point.. HES SO SCARY
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kayleejanes's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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book_addict's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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corabookworm's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I actually enjoyed this book a little more than the first, at times. The random bits of poetry were a bit distracting and unnecessary (the writing was prose-like enough already), but E. Lockhart is an amazing author who wrote this mysterious, drama-infused, family-focused story in a gorgeous way. I loved how this book talked about family, and some of the moments between them all (especially towards the end) were absolutely adorable. Highly recommend if you enjoyed the first one or any books like it. 
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