#Review: We, Liars by Shalini Prakash

We, Liars examines the everyday deceptions through which we negotiate relationships, social expectations, ambition, identity, and belonging. Organised around seven colour-coded categories of lies, the book moves from familial conditioning and emotional manipulation to romantic illusions, financial pretensions, and the stories we construct about ourselves. Its central premise, “Everyone is living their best lie,” is both provocative and uncomfortably recognisable.

One of the book’s strengths is its use of personal anecdotes to illustrate these categories. Rather than treating dishonesty as an abstract moral failing, Prakash locates it in ordinary experiences: parental expectations, professional insecurities, the pressure to appear successful, and the compromises we make to preserve social harmony. These narratives demonstrate how deception often operates on a spectrum, ranging from self-preservation to deliberate manipulation. The colour-coded framework gives this exploration a discernible structure, while the author’s conversational voice, wit, and pointed observations keep the discussion accessible.

The prose is lively and frequently incisive, although the reliance on humour and anecdotal evidence occasionally leaves complex psychological and social questions insufficiently examined. A more sustained engagement with the underlying motivations behind certain behaviours could have added analytical depth.

Nevertheless, We, Liars is an engaging, reflective read that challenges readers to scrutinise their own narratives. Its greatest strength lies in making uncomfortable self-recognition feel less like a reprimand and more like an invitation to introspection.

Find the book here.