Sometimes, one book is too short but a whole series is too long. This is when a short series, such as We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, will perfectly suit your reading needs. This prequel series will keep you on your toes with endings you never saw coming.

We Were Liars follows the main character Cadence Easton and the seemingly perfect Sinclair family. Each summer, the three Sinclair sisters, Carrie, Penny, and Bess, bring their children back to their family’s island “Beechwood” off the coast of Martha Vineyard. We are informed that during summer fifteen at Beechwood, Cadence was in some kind of accident. Due to her accident, she suffers from amnesia and migraines. The story takes place during summer seventeen when Cadence finally returns with a mission, finds out details about the accident, and tries to determine what everyone is trying so hard to keep a secret.

Following this psychological thriller is the prequel Family Of Liars. Family Of Lairs follows the main character Carrie Sinclair, aunt of Cadence, at age 17. This particular story deals with death, grief, addiction, jealousy, and secrets. The book takes place in the summer of 1987; the summer when the youngest Sinclair sister, Rosemary, drowns. Dealing with a mixture of grief and the pressure to be the perfect family, Carrie decides to cover up her stress by using drugs. This novel helps to show how many of the significant events We Were Liars triggered.

Although Family Of Liars is the prequel to We Were Liars, it is highly recommended to start with We Were Liars due to spoilers. This short series is great if you are looking for a psychological thriller or a somewhat spooky book for Halloween.

We Were Liars and Family Of Liars is recommended for ages 12-17. You can typically find these books at your local library, online, or anywhere you get your books.