Summary: In this article, I’ve found 20 of the best books similar to We Were Liars that will keep you hooked with their secrets, twists, and unforgettable stories. Here are my top 3:
- The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
- Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
- Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
TOP 20: Best Books Similar to We Were Liars
- The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
- Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
- Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
- One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
- The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
- The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
- The Girls by Emma Cline
- White Ivy by Susie Yang
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- People Like Us by Dana Mele
- Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
1. The Cousins
- Author: Karen M. McManus
- About: Three cousins are invited to work at their estranged grandmother's resort, uncovering dark family secrets along the way.
- Style of Writing: Suspenseful and engaging, with multiple perspectives.
- Length: Approximately 320 pages.
- Year Written: 2020.
- Emotional Impact: High; leaves a lasting impression with its twists and revelations.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; suitable for young adult readers.
- Why Read It: If you enjoyed We Were Liars, this novel offers a similarly gripping family mystery with unexpected twists.
2. Genuine Fraud
- Author: E. Lockhart
- About: A psychological thriller about a young woman who constantly reinvents herself, leading to a complex web of deceit and identity.
- Style of Writing: Non-linear narrative told in reverse, creating suspense and intrigue.
- Length: Approximately 288 pages.
- Year Written: 2017.
- Emotional Impact: High; thought-provoking and unsettling, leaving readers questioning reality.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; the reverse chronology requires attentive reading.
- Why Read It: Written by the same author as We Were Liars, it delivers a similarly compelling and twisty narrative.
3. Vanishing Girls
- Author: Lauren Oliver
- About: A story of two sisters whose lives are upended after a tragic accident, leading to one sister's mysterious disappearance.
- Style of Writing: Emotional and suspenseful, with alternating perspectives.
- Length: Approximately 368 pages.
- Year Written: 2015.
- Emotional Impact: High; explores complex family dynamics and leaves a lasting impression.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; accessible to young adult readers.
- Why Read It: Offers a gripping mystery with deep emotional undertones, akin to We Were Liars.
4. One of Us Is Lying
- Author: Karen M. McManus
- About: Five students enter detention, but only four leave alive. Secrets unravel as the truth behind the death unfolds.
- Style of Writing: Fast-paced and suspenseful, with multiple viewpoints.
- Length: Approximately 368 pages.
- Year Written: 2017.
- Emotional Impact: High; keeps readers on edge with its mystery and character dynamics.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; suitable for young adult readers.
- Why Read It: Combines high school drama with a compelling murder mystery, offering twists that fans of We Were Liars will appreciate.
5. Sadie
- Author: Courtney Summers
- About: A gripping tale of a girl seeking revenge for her sister's murder, blending podcast transcripts with narrative.
- Style of Writing: Innovative structure combining first-person narrative and podcast transcripts.
- Length: Approximately 320 pages.
- Year Written: 2018.
- Emotional Impact: High; raw and intense, leaving a profound effect on readers.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; addresses mature themes.
- Why Read It: Offers a unique storytelling approach with deep emotional resonance, appealing to fans of suspenseful and heartfelt narratives.
6. The Secret History
- Author: Donna Tartt
- About: A group of classics students become entangled in a murder within their circle, revealing the dark side of academia.
- Style of Writing: Elegant and descriptive prose with a reflective tone.
- Length: Approximately 544 pages.
- Year Written: 1992.
- Emotional Impact: High; thought-provoking and haunting, with complex character development.
- Difficulty Level: Challenging; dense prose and intricate themes.
- Why Read It: Delves into moral ambiguity and the consequences of intellectual hubris, offering a richly layered narrative.
7. Little Fires Everywhere
- Author: Celeste Ng
- About: The arrival of a mysterious artist and her daughter disrupts the perfect suburban life of the Richardson family.
- Style of Writing: Lyrical and insightful, with multiple character perspectives.
- Length: Approximately 352 pages.
- Year Written: 2017.
- Emotional Impact: High; explores complex family dynamics and societal issues, leaving a lasting impression.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; accessible yet thought-provoking.
- Why Read It: Examines themes of motherhood, identity, and the weight of secrets
8. The Virgin Suicides
- Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
- About: A haunting story of five sisters and the neighborhood boys obsessed with their tragic lives.
- Style of Writing: Poetic and nostalgic, with a collective narrative voice.
- Length: Approximately 260 pages.
- Year Written: 1993.
- Emotional Impact: High; deeply melancholic and thought-provoking.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; rich prose requires careful reading.
- Why Read It: Explores themes of isolation, memory, and the mysterious inner lives of others.
9. The Book of Lies
- Author: Mary Horlock
- About: A dual narrative intertwining a modern-day murder with a WWII occupation story on the Channel Islands.
- Style of Writing: Darkly humorous with historical depth.
- Length: Approximately 320 pages.
- Year Written: 2011.
- Emotional Impact: High; blends humor with profound historical tragedy.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; requires attention to dual timelines.
- Why Read It: Offers a unique mix of history, family secrets, and murder mystery.
10. The Thirteenth Tale
- Author: Diane Setterfield
- About: A reclusive author shares her life story, revealing dark family secrets and a tale of twins and ghosts.
- Style of Writing: Gothic and richly descriptive.
- Length: Approximately 432 pages.
- Year Written: 2006.
- Emotional Impact: High; atmospheric and emotionally intense.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; detailed storytelling requires focus.
- Why Read It: Perfect for readers who enjoy Gothic mysteries and multi-layered narratives.
11. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
- Author: Holly Jackson
- About: A high school student investigates a closed murder case for her senior project, uncovering hidden truths.
- Style of Writing: Fast-paced and immersive, with mixed media elements like transcripts and reports.
- Length: Approximately 400 pages.
- Year Written: 2019.
- Emotional Impact: High; keeps readers engaged with twists and suspense.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate; accessible yet gripping.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of mystery and young adult thrillers.
12. Everything I Never Told You
- Author: Celeste Ng
- About: A Chinese-American family grapples with the mysterious death of their eldest daughter.
- Style of Writing: Elegant, introspective, and poignant.
- Length: Approximately 300 pages.
- Year Written: 2014.
- Emotional Impact: High; deeply moving and thought-provoking.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; deals with complex family dynamics and identity.
- Why Read It: Explores themes of race, identity, and familial expectations with emotional depth.
13. Turtles All the Way Down
- Author: John Green
- About: A teen grapples with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder while investigating a missing billionaire.
- Style of Writing: Introspective and emotionally raw.
- Length: Approximately 286 pages.
- Year Written: 2017.
- Emotional Impact: High; offers an authentic portrayal of mental health struggles.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate; accessible with meaningful depth.
- Why Read It: Combines mystery with a heartfelt exploration of mental illness and friendship.
14. The Lovely Bones
- Author: Alice Sebold
- About: Narrated by a murdered girl from the afterlife, the story follows her family and her killer.
- Style of Writing: Lyrical and haunting.
- Length: Approximately 328 pages.
- Year Written: 2002.
- Emotional Impact: Very high; profoundly moving and unsettling.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; heavy emotional themes.
- Why Read It: A deeply affecting exploration of grief, loss, and healing.
15. The Girls
- Author: Emma Cline
- About: A teenager is drawn into a dangerous cult in 1960s California.
- Style of Writing: Atmospheric and reflective.
- Length: Approximately 368 pages.
- Year Written: 2016.
- Emotional Impact: High; unsettling and thought-provoking.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; nuanced prose requires focus.
- Why Read It: Offers a chilling look at vulnerability, manipulation, and identity.
16. White Ivy
- Author: Susie Yang
- About: A Chinese-American woman navigates love, ambition, and the pursuit of the American dream, haunted by her past.
- Style of Writing: Sharp and captivating.
- Length: Approximately 368 pages.
- Year Written: 2020.
- Emotional Impact: High; compelling and morally complex.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; layered storytelling.
- Why Read It: A gripping exploration of identity, desire, and ambition.
17. Sharp Objects
- Author: Gillian Flynn
- About: A reporter returns to her hometown to cover a series of murders and confronts her troubled past.
- Style of Writing: Dark and psychological.
- Length: Approximately 272 pages.
- Year Written: 2006.
- Emotional Impact: High; disturbing and intense.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; dark themes require emotional readiness.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of gritty, psychological thrillers.
18. Before I Fall
- Author: Lauren Oliver
- About: A popular high school girl relives the last day of her life seven times, uncovering truths about herself and others.
- Style of Writing: Emotional and reflective.
- Length: Approximately 470 pages.
- Year Written: 2010.
- Emotional Impact: High; poignant and thought-provoking.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate; accessible yet profound.
- Why Read It: Explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the impact of small actions.
19. People Like Us
- Author: Dana Mele
- About: A murder at an elite boarding school exposes secrets and threatens to unravel a group of friends.
- Style of Writing: Suspenseful and engaging.
- Length: Approximately 384 pages.
- Year Written: 2018.
- Emotional Impact: High; gripping and intense.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; suspenseful but easy to follow.
- Why Read It: A compelling blend of high school drama and murder mystery.
20. Burn for Burn
- Authors: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
- About: Three girls team up to exact revenge on people who have wronged them, but their plans spiral out of control.
- Style of Writing: Fast-paced and dramatic.
- Length: Approximately 368 pages.
- Year Written: 2012.
- Emotional Impact: Moderate; entertaining with moments of depth.
- Difficulty Level: Easy; accessible and engaging for young adults.
- Why Read It: A fun, drama-filled read with relatable themes of friendship and justice.
