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We Were Liars: Amazon Prime’s New Luxe Thriller with an Old Money Twist

Amazon Prime'sWe Were Liars [Amazon Prime]
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Amazon Prime’sWe Were Liars

We Were Liars, Amazon Prime Video’s eight-part adaptation of E. Lockhart’s bestselling novel, is more than just a teen mystery—it’s a chilling portrait of old-money dysfunction set against the backdrop of one of the most privileged families in fiction: the Sinclairs.

Set on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, the story centres on 17-year-old Cadence Sinclair Eastman, played by Emily Alyn Lind (Gossip Girl reboot), and her close-knit group of cousins and friends—the so-called “Liars.” What begins as an idyllic summer of sailing, wealth, and whispered romances slowly unravels into something much darker.

This is The White Lotus meets The OC, drenched in old-money aesthetics and a generational mystery that will leave you breathless.

The Allure of Old Money: The Sinclair Family

The Sinclairs are the embodiment of East Coast aristocracy: perfectly dressed, politically correct, emotionally repressed. From monogrammed tablecloths to summer houses named like aristocratic estates (“Beechwood” being the central island mansion), We Were Liars taps into the enduring fascination with wealth that’s inherited, not earned. But behind every pressed linen napkin lies a family secret.

Each episode peels back layers of control, silence, and appearance—core pillars of old-money culture. Patriarch Harris Sinclair is obsessed with legacy. His daughters are bitter rivals. And the grandchildren—the Liars—carry the burden of keeping up appearances while trying to break free.

What Happens in We Were Liars?

Told in a non-linear format, the series follows Cadence in two timelines: the golden summer of 2016 and her return to the island in 2017 after a mysterious accident leaves her with amnesia and debilitating migraines.

As she pieces together what really happened that summer, we begin to realise the truth is far more devastating than we imagine. Expect betrayal, blurred memories, and one of the most haunting twists in YA fiction.

The ending—already famous among fans of the novel—is devastating, emotional, and perfectly executed for screen.

Meet the Cast of We Were Liars

  • Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence Sinclair Eastman: the fragile yet determined heroine.
  • Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil: Cady’s love interest, who challenges the Sinclair family’s ideals.
  • Esther McGregor as Mirren: glamorous, kind-hearted, and hiding her own truths.
  • Joseph Zada as Johnny: the carefree cousin with a sharp tongue and golden-boy charm.

Each actor brings depth and raw emotion to characters raised in privilege but haunted by the consequences of silence and control.

Visuals: Coastal Granddaughter Meets Gothic Americana

The styling is immaculate: preppy knits, sun-bleached linens, and country club minimalism mixed with coastal New England gloom. Think Ralph Lauren meets melancholy. The cinematography leans into wide, dreamy shots of the ocean, overcast skies, and carefully curated interiors.

It’s the “quiet luxury” aesthetic twisted by tragedy—a hauntingly beautiful watch for fans of style and story alike.

Why We Were Liars Belongs on Your Watchlist

  1. It’s short, sharp, and stylish – Eight perfectly paced episodes with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.
  2. It taps into the cultural obsession with old money – From Succession to Saltburn, 2025 is the year of elite collapse, and We Were Liars delivers it with subtlety and heartbreak.
  3. It’s fashion-forward – Expect cottagecore, quiet luxury, and high-summer wardrobes that feel straight out of The Row and Totême.
  4. It’s deeply emotional – At its core, this is a story about grief, guilt, and the power of rewriting the past.

Will There Be a We Were Liars Season 2?

Unlikely. We Were Liars is a limited series, and the novel ends definitively. However, E. Lockhart also wrote a prequel called Family of Liars, exploring the previous generation of Sinclairs—so if the show becomes a hit, Amazon may expand the franchise.

We Were Liars is more than just a teen drama—it’s a chilling look at wealth, memory, and the price of perfection. For fans of Big Little Lies, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and The Talented Mr. Ripley, this series is your next obsession.

Stream We Were Liars now on Amazon Prime.

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