Tell Me Lies

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, disordered eating, emotional abuse, and sexual content.

Stephen’s relationships with women in the novel are defined by manipulation and control. As a sociopath, he uses his charm to manipulate them and get what he wants from them. He first attracts them by gathering “as much information as possible about every aspect of her life in order to more closely resemble her ideal partner” (32). He uses this tactic to attract Diana, using her favorite author to get her interested in him. He does the same with Lucy, appealing to her interest in literature and philosophy before offering her comfort and emotional support as she deals with CJ’s infidelity. As the novel shifts between Lucy’s point of view and Stephen’s, it becomes clear that these demonstrations of emotional support are purely performative. Stephen does not care about Lucy’s favorite novels or her feelings toward her mother; he pretends to care so that she will continue to sleep with him.

Every aspect of Stephen’s approach to relationships shares this superficial, performative quality. He gives women nicknames to endear himself to them, such as “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” for Lucy, “Princess Diana” for Diana, and “Alice in Wonderland” for Alice.