The 2014 psychological horror novel We Were Liars shocked readers worldwide with its heartwrenching plot twist. Following privileged teenager Cadence ‘Cady’ Sinclair Eastman and her three friends, dubbed ‘the Liars’, the gripping story has been brought to life in an eight-episode television series.
Penned by American author E. Lockhart (Ruby Oliver quartet, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks), we’ve answered all your burning questions about the book-to-screen television series, including the plot and cast details, where to watch season one in New Zealand, and everything we know so far about We Were Liars season two.
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What’s happens in We Were Liars season one?
Leading the story is protagonist Cadence Sinclair Eastman, a 17-year-old girl from a wealthy American family. The thriller follows Cady and her tight-knit circle of three other friends as they return to the Sinclair family’s privately owned Beechwood Island off the Massachusetts coast.
Dubbed ‘the Liars’, the four friends’ relationship quickly turns destructive. Cady struggles to recall the events from two years ago after suffering a head injury. Her friends are not forthcoming, and she suspects something is amiss.
Is there a plot twist in the season one finale of We Were Liars?
We won’t give away any spoilers, but the season’s finale, which follows the ending in E. Lockhart’s namesake book, is a heartbreaker as Cady regains her memory and learns the devastating truth behind her past summer with The Liars. Suddenly, everything makes sense, and Cady is more emotionally torn than ever.
Who stars in We Were Liars season one?
The four Liars are played by Emily Alyn Lind (Cadence), Shubham Maheshwari (Gat Patil), Star Wars favourite Ewan McGregor’s daughter Esther McGregor (Mirren Sinclair Sheffield), and Joseph Zada (Johnny Sinclair Dennis).
Also joining the cast is Caitlin FitzGerald (Inventing Anna) as Penny Sinclair. Meryl Streep’s daughter Mamie Gummer stars as Carrie Sinclair, Candice King (The Vampire Diaries) as Bess Sinclair, Rahul Kohli (The Haunting) as Ed Patil and David Morse (The Green Mile) as Harris Sinclair.
Watch the official season one trailer:
Is there going to be a season two?
On 18 September 2025, Prime Video announced that We Were Liars season two is in the works.
“We loved making this show with so many spectacular humans,” said writers and executive producers Julie Plec and Carina Adly Mackenzie.
“The fan response was truly special. There are still plenty of secrets buried on Beechwood Island and we can’t wait to keep digging them up.”
What happens in season two of We Were Liars?
While season two details are largely under wraps, Prime Video has confirmed that Cadence will return to Beechwood Island to grapple with her new reality and dig deeper into the Sinclair family’s dark past.
The new season will also feature flashbacks to the summer of 1999, sharing the perspectives of Cady’s mother and aunts, Carrie, Penny, and Bess, as they encounter love, rivalry, and even murder.
For now, exactly how The Liars feature in season two is a mystery as it moves beyond the book’s plot, adding to the excitement around the new season.
Who stars in We Were Liars season two?
Alongside Emily Alyn Lind as Cady, newcomers include Josh Dallas as “Young Harris”, Parker Lapaine as ‘Young Carrie’, Peyton List as “Young Tipper”, Elysia Roorbach as ‘Young Penny’, and Madison Wolfe as ‘Young Bess’.
Where can I read E. Lockhart’s original We Were Liars novel?
Want to read the book before you watch the series? We Were Liars (2014) is available in paperback, hardcover, audiobook, and Kindle on Amazon.
Where can I watch We Were Liars in New Zealand?
Stream We Were Liars on Prime Video with a 7 day FREE trial. Subscribe here.
