Jessica Woofter

Jessica Woofter asked:

Why are they called the Liars? Is it just Cadence that refers to them that way? I thought they were known to the whole family as "the liars" and kept waiting for it to be explained...did I miss something?

90 likes · like
10 years ago
30 answers

To answer questions about We Were Liars, please sign up.

K Actually, the truth is that there was supposed to be a section where it explained why they were called liars due to a few scenes occurring in this specific section of the book that never made it be published.

My sister and I had personally asked Lockhart in person at a festival a few months back and this is what she told us. There was a section that was taken off and never got to be published because it was "boring" and "slow". The publishers didn't want to slow down the book so they just cut it out. Result? A title that doesn't make sense and no longer portrays to the story the way the author intended.
It has *nothing* to do with the older women, the grandfather, or the Littles. It had to do with the 'Liars' (Gat, Johnny, Mirren, Cadence) and just never printed. Cady refers to her group as such, but Lockhart didn't explain any further since it was during a signing.

edit after newer version's release: SPOILER!

SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER

*
*
*
*
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER

*
*
*
*
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER

*
*
*
*

The kids were used by their mothers in an attempt in securing an inheritance.
Book analyzing can also include the lie of a perfect and normal life the Sinclairs lived. That beauty was a lie and Gat tried to call attention to it.

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Hart Johnson I took it like this: Cadence says they weren't liars until Gat got there--I think he made them realize the way they lived "be normal" was a lie, but only they were really aware, because Gat was so open so they had a contrast that made them see it.

Tanya

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Jamie Thistle I took it that "Liars" meant to be a metaphor for their seemingly perfect lives that wasn't perfect at all. They were into appearances, etc., but I'm not sure why the 4 were called The Liars and not entire family. I was a little confused about this too.

Hailey For anyone who doesn't have the deluxe copy, they are called the Liars, and originally "The Bad Liars", because the first summer Gat was there they dragged mud all on to carpet. When it is mentioned to them they deny it. They are clearly lying. However, I doubt that E. Lockhart would title a book based on this minor event. I would assume that this is where the nickname originated, but the title is what it is because of everything you guys said. Also, the name is important to the story for everything you all have said.

Al I think they were called the liars because they were always lying to protect their family's name.
Act normal. now.
Because you are.
Because you can be.

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Bana

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Jdsmith43 The whole thing could be one big lie. We don't even know if "they" called "themselves" liars because we only get the point of view of Cadence after the supposed fact. This is a rather simplistic take on the unreliable narrator.

Terry Lim I have the same question! Reread to find an answer but came to the opinion that the term 'liars' really applies to the grown-ups.

Laura Cristescu Because their Nanny was trying to find out who was guilty for some nuisance they did as children, and their lies were so bad, she called them Bad Liars. The name stuck. This explanation is given by the author on the luxury edition of the book.

Lilly She actually explains why they are called Liars in the deluxe edition of this book.

Robin I just interpreted it as since they were the eldest Sinclair children they twisted the "lair" part in Sinclair to have something to themselves, distanced from their parents and the littles. I never really questioned it.

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Jill

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Laney I took it as a twist on the last name, due to the family also being fake. Sinclair’s (like the end of the family name) = Liars.

Meg After the acknowledgments it explains a lot about the book that maybe you didn't understand. It tells you about the backstory and when they were named the liars. It was their grandma that named them that after they lied to her about getting mud on the floor.

Michelle Le I believe it said in the book that they were called the liars because the family thought they were trouble (something along the lines of that).

Toni

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Victor they are lying around like dogs

Rowan C i think that, very simply, they just got themselves into trouble and often lied about it, although there may be a deeper meaning than that

Abigail Tzeggai I think it's because they burned the house down and she has to live with that. I'm not completely sure. Does the rest of the family know the truth?

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Anna My copy of the book came with bonus content, which seems to have been added at least two and a half years after the book came out in 2014 (the note from the author in the bonus section states it's been 2.5 years since the book was published in the U.S.). Under the "How I Wrote We Were Liars" section of the bonus content, there's a part called "Why Are They Called (the) Liars?" Here the author states that the book proposal and early drafts included an explanation of how they got that name, but she ended up cutting it. She "didn't want too much emphasis on the characters in childhood." Then the explanation from the proposal is included.

Angela I felt the same way. Couldn't figure it out at first. But it wasn't meant literally, I guess. Too much in hindsight for me, but still a good read.

More questions about We Were Liars…

Image for We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions