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dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn't enjoy it as much as the first one. Wasn't sure what I was expecting from it but it was still good. Short chapters make it easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
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
Ouch I love it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Murder, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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 (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.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the first book, and murder mysteries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Biphobia, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Blood, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Violence
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse
Moderate: Rape