We Were Liars by E. Lockhart w/ David Joseph Craig
Arson, anmesia, and a private island? It's a wonder how this book could be so boring. This week we read "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart and we can't say it enough: JUST WATCH THE TV SHOW!
Big thanks to our special guest David Joseph Craig who's new film "I Don't Understand You" is now streaming on Hulu. Check it out!
🎙️ Mean Book Club Recap: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
This week, the Mean Book Club hosts—Sarah Burton, Clara Morris, Johnna Scrabis, and Sabrina B. Jordan— join special guest David Joseph Craig in tackling the YA sensation We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. The 2014 novel sold millions of copies and landed on the New York Times bestseller list, but in true MBC fashion, the hosts had some… questions. And a lot of laughs.
Setting the Stage
The episode kicks off with the group immediately riffing on the book’s central premise. Sarah jokes about the danger of labeling children too early:
“I think if your kids are eight and you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re the liars,’ and then you call them that for the rest of their lives, that’s a poor parenting move.”
That framing sets the tone: equal parts literary critique and playful roast.
Missing the “Twist” (Again and Again)
One recurring bit is how often the hosts admit to missing the book’s central clues:
“I missed it when I read the book. I missed it in the TV show, and I missed it the second time I read the book.”
The absurdity of this repeated blind spot becomes a running joke, underscoring the sometimes murky storytelling and how the “shocking” twist wasn’t always so shocking.
The Fire Scene
Perhaps the most infamous moment in We Were Liars—the fire that changes everything—gets roasted heavily. The hosts gleefully skewer the lack of logic in the characters’ decisions:
“You start a fire, stand nearby with your can, soak your own clothes.”
The group’s incredulous laughter makes it clear: this scene strains both plausibility and patience.
Authorial Intent vs. Execution
The conversation then pivots to E. Lockhart’s own description of the book as her “fantasy of having close friends grow.” The hosts poke holes in how that vision translated to the page:
“The relationship between the liars was inspired by Lockhart’s quote, ‘fantasy’ of having close friends grow.”
Their verdict? Whatever Lockhart’s fantasy was, the execution felt more melodramatic than magical.
Comedy in the Critique
As always, the best part of the episode is the hosts’ chemistry. Exaggerated reactions punctuate the discussion:
“Oh no! Oh no! It’s not good!”
“Mysterious! Mysterious! What does the E mean? What does the title mean?”
“Can I say something positive?” — “No! Shut up!”
The humor transforms a critical takedown into a lively, laugh-filled conversation that’s as much about the friends in the room as the book on the table.
Final Take
By the end, the hosts make it clear: We Were Liars may have resonated with millions, but it didn’t quite fool them. Instead, it gave them plenty of material for one of their funniest episodes yet.
✨ Best Pull Quotes:
“Guess what happened to liars? They burned a house down.”
“I missed it in the book, missed it in the TV show, and missed it the second time I read the book.”
“Can I say something positive?” — “No! Shut up!”
“Mysterious! Mysterious! What does the E mean? What does the title mean?”
