We Were Liars
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:03:41 PM Wikipedia source
We Were Liars is a 2014 young-adult novel by E. Lockhart. The novel has received critical acclaim and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction. It was also listed as an ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults for 2015. We Were Liars focuses on the theme of the consequences of one's mistakes. It is centered on the wealthy, seemingly perfect Scots-American Sinclair family, who spend every summer sitting gathered on their private island. However, not every summer is the same — when something happens to Cadence during the summer of her fifteenth year, the other three "Liars" (Johnny, Mirren, and Gat) re-emerge two years later to prompt Cadence to remember the incident.
Infobox
Author
E. Lockhart
Language
English
Genre
Young adult fiction, psychological thriller
Published
2014
Publisher
Delacorte Press
Publication place
United States
Media type
Print (hardcover, paperback)
Pages
256 pages
ISBN
mw- body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) } }978-0-38-574126-2
OCLC
1474532651
Preceded by
Family of Liars
Tables
Awards for We Were Liars · Release and reception
2014
2014
Year
2014
Award
Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction
Result
Winner
2015
2015
Year
2015
Award
ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults
Result
Top 10
2015
2015
Year
2015
Award
Teen Choice Book Awards' Book of the Year
Result
Finalist
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2014 | Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction | Winner | |
| 2015 | ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults | Top 10 | |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Book Awards' Book of the Year | Finalist |
References
- "Best Books of 2014"https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2014
- "2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults"http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2015-top-ten-best-fiction-young-adults
- "E. Lockhart on We Were Liars"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtE9KMQ48E
- The Horn Book Magazinehttp://www.hbook.com/2014/05/blogs/out-of-the-box/e-lockhart-on-we-were-liars/
- Publishers Weeklyhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/61148-ya-novelist-e-lockhart-s-sleight-of-hand.html
- Publishers Weeklyhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/60640-turning-to-tumblr-for-book-promotion-and-secret-keeping.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttp://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-e-lockhart-20140608-story.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-06-01/young-adult/list.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-09-07/young-adult/list.html
- "What's the "It" Book of 2014?"https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/469-what-s-the-it-book-of-2014
- Bustlehttp://www.bustle.com/articles/46784-e-lockharts-we-were-liars-is-the-it-book-of-2014-were-calling-it-right-now
- Kirkus Reviewshttps://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/e-lockhart/we-were-liars/
- Publishers Weeklyhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0385741262
- School Library Journalhttp://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2014/09/10/we-were-liars/
- The Horn Book Magazinehttp://www.hbook.com/2014/05/choosing-books/review-of-the-week/review-liars/
- The Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304885404579548042981121488
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/05/we-were-liars-e-lockhart-review-cunning-clever-absolutely-gripping
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/children_sbookreviews/10912234/We-Were-Liars-by-E.-Lockhart-review.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/we-were-liars-by-e-lockhart.html?_r=0
- Kirkus Reviewshttps://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2014/section/teen/?page=4
- Publishers Weeklyhttp://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2014/young-adult#book/book-11
- School Library Journalhttp://www.slj.com/best-books-2014/young-adult/lockhart-we-were-liars/
- The Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304885404579548042981121488
- "Award and Reviews Round Up..featuring We Were Liars"http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/2014/12/award-and-reviews-featuring-we-were-liars/
- Publishers Weeklyhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/65638-children-s-choice-book-award-finalists-announced.html
- Kirkus Reviewshttps://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/three-books-by-e-lockhart-will-be-adapted-for-tv/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2022/07/julie-plec-universal-tv-options-we-were-liars-e-lockhart-1235072930/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2023/03/we-were-liars-series-adaptation-series-order-amazon-1235305510/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/tv/news/prime-video-we-were-liars-first-look-images-1236374276/