Ugly things hiding under beautiful facades have always been an integral part of storytelling. Add family drama to the mix and the tension just skyrockets.
Family is complicated—especially when they want to be seen as flawless. But when issues can no longer be swept under the rug, everyone needs to face the consequences.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a story with such a premise. Each summer, the wealthy members of the Sinclair family gather on their own private island. Their picture-perfect lives are derailed when, in her fifteenth year, something happens to one of them that she cannot remember.
Books Similar To We Were Liars
If you’re looking for stories where the glamour of wealth slowly fades and where the dark corners of the family are exposed, here is a list of novels with similar themes.
1. Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
Kacey’s the new girl in town and it’s been a strange experience so far. Stepping into a brand new family does that. Fortunately, two girls welcome her into their inner circle.
They do everything together—which is why it’s so odd that her friends begin acting distant. And when one of them disappears, everyone looks to the new girl for answers.
2. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins who barely know each other. And they definitely know nothing about their grandmother, who disowned their parents before they were even born.
So when they all receive an invitation from her to work at her island resort, they’re all surprised and curious. This might be the chance to rebuild bridges. But when they arrive, Grandmother clearly has something else in mind.
3. How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao
Nancy’s parents sacrificed a lot to get her to Sinclair Prep, one of the most prestigious schools in the nation. But when her friend Jamie, a top-ranked student, is found dead, her school life is turned upside down.
Someone called the Proctor is incriminating them for Jamie’s death. Worse, they seem to know each of the group’s deepest, darkest secrets. Now her circle of friends must uncover the real killer before they’re all destroyed for good.
4. Sadie by Courtney Summers
Left to fend for themselves, Sadie’s number one priority has always been her sister, Maddie. Then one day, Maddie goes missing and is later found dead. With no help from the police, Sadie flees home intent on vengeance.
Podcaster West McCray learns of the murder and follows Sadie’s trail through the darkest corners of civilization. But the mystery they’re shining a light on is much bigger and far more sinister than they thought.
5. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Grambs is an orphan with a plan: survive high school, earn a scholarship, and leave for a better life. All of that changes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her with all his fortune. And Avery doesn’t know why.
Stranger still is the requirements she must meet. First, she must move into Hawthorne House, filled with secret passages, puzzles, and codes. The catch? She has to live there with the surviving Hawthornes, who are all aiming to bring her down.
6. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Kate is in the most important meeting of her career when she receives a call. Her daughter, Amelia, has been suspended from her exclusive private school. But when she comes to pick Amelia up, all she arrives to is a body.
They say she jumped from her guilt at being caught cheating. At least, that’s the story the school tells Kate and one she forces herself to believe. Until she receives an anonymous text saying her daughter didn’t jump.
7. Verity by Colleen Hoover
Verity Crawford is the author of a bestselling series but is unable to continue writing due to an injury. Her husband, Jeremy, hires struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh to complete his wife’s books.
Lowen sifts through years of Verity’s notes, hoping to find enough material to work with. But what she finds is an unfinished biography containing the chilling truth about the day Verity and Jeremy’s daughter died.
8. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG
Shaker Heights is a suburb governed by rules. Everything is planned, from its winding roads to the lives that its residents lead. For Elena Richardson, nothing is more important than playing by the rules.
But then Mia Warren, eccentric artist and single mother, enters the picture with her daughter, Pearl. Soon the two families are almost inseparable. But Mia and Elena’s warring natures threaten to upend a tenuously built balance in their community.
9. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
Fern is a creature of routine. She works at the library, avoids crowds and noise, and has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. Disrupting that routine can be…disastrous.
Rose has taken care of her their entire lives. So when Fern learns that her sister can’t get pregnant, she decides to have a baby for her instead. But the plan isn’t as simple as she thought, shaking loose the dark secrets of her past.
10. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Stan and Joy’s relationship is the envy of the community. Their chemistry is off the charts, their tennis skills tremendous, and their four children just as talented as they are in the sport. Now, 50 years later, they’ve sold off their famed tennis academy and moved into retirement. And yet, why are they miserable?
What’s supposed to be their golden years turns into a nightmare when Joy goes missing. Two of their daughters think Stan is innocent, the other two are not so sure. The family begins to fracture, forming two sides raring to square off in their biggest match yet.
Books With Family Drama
All families have secrets and issues. Some of them are easily dealt with while others fester for years until the pressure can no longer be controlled. It is the latter kind of drama that people like reading about, especially if the family involved is rich and privileged.
Perhaps it’s the thought that money and power aren’t good substitutes for happiness that makes these kinds of stories enjoyable. Or maybe it is how these books explore the relationships between family members that makes them so exciting.
Whatever the case, people read books like We Were Liars not only to be entertained but also to learn something about how a family works. While it is fiction, there’s a nugget of knowledge here and there that they might find useful.
Have you read We Were Liars? Share your reading experience in the comments below!
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- 12 Must-Read Family Saga Books
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
