Tell Me Lies

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse.

Music is a motif in the novel that supports the theme of Manipulation and Control in Relationships. Lucy, Jackie, and CJ are all fans of Fleetwood Mac and reference and listen to their songs throughout the novel. When Lucy sacrifices her spot in the Writers on the Riviera program to go to Stephen’s graduation party and then skips the ’80s party because Stephen will be there with Diana, she listens to Fleetwood Mac on her headphones, and one of the songs she hears is “Little Lies,” the chorus of which includes the line “Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies” (187). This line, which is referenced in the novel’s title, reflects Lucy’s attitude toward Stephen: Like the song’s speaker, she knows she is being lied to but would rather keep believing the lies than confront the truth. Jackie then references the chorus of the song “Dreams,” which features the line “Players only love you when they’re playing” (295), to try to make Lucy understand that Stephen is playing with her emotions and does not truly love her. Near of the end of the novel, CJ sings along to “Never Going Back Again,” which reflects that Lucy and Stephen’s relationship is over for good and that, now that Lucy knows who Stephen truly is, she will not go back to him when he tries to charm her again.

Another song that highlights the theme is Zac Brown Band’s “Loving You Easy,” which is the song that Bree and Evan dance to at their wedding reception. Lucy watches the couple dance to it and thinks of how healthy, loving, and stable their relationship is. This gives her something to which she can compare her relationship with Stephen, allowing her to confront him and not fall back into her old habits. Seeing them dance to the song allows her to finally let go of any attraction she might still have to Stephen and reject his charms.