Secrets, lies and a life changing summer: "We Were Liars" review

There’s nothing I love more than a TV series set in the summertime that explores rich family dynamics and the dramas that lie within them. I’m hooked from the trailer. After receiving the recommendation to watch “We Were Liars” from my friends during our annual beach trip, I binged the series in less than a week. We Were Liars is no stranger to attention. Based on a best-selling book by E. Lockhart published in 2014, the book blew up on “Book Tok” around pandemic time and recently came out as a TV series in June 2025 premiering on Amazon Prime Video. 

Let me set the scene: Set off of Martha’s Vineyard lies Beachwood Island. This island is owned by media moguls Harris and Tipper Sinclair whose family owns “The Boston Sentinel." The Sinclair family resides on this island every summer. Think hydrangeas, million dollar sculptures, tennis courts and a private beach all to themselves. Their family dynasty includes three daughters and a plethora of grandchildren. The show is centered around “the liars” which include the three oldest Sinclair grandchildren: Johnny, Mirren, and Cadence, as well their childhood family friend Gat. Each summer brings beautiful sunsets, cousin bonding, dinner parties and plenty of beach days. But everything begins to change during their 16th summer or what they refer to as Summer 16. Tensions start to rise as family secrets become exposed, complete with money thrown at their problems. At the end of summer, the oldest granddaughter, Cadence suffers amnesia from a terrible event. In an effort to trigger her lost memories, she returns the following summer to help discover the events that led up to her accident. Throughout the series, the plot flashes back and forth to the past and present, as each episode helps her grow closer to discovering the truth behind her accident. Spoiler alert time, be advised if you haven’t binged the series yet. 

It is an understatement to say this show took some dark twists and turns. At the forefront of this madness is a rich, entitled family. Throughout the series we see lies revealed one after another, and not just from the grandchildren. The three daughters of Harris and Tipper all carry financial burdens and lean on their parents to get them out of it. But with money, comes strings attached. One of the first secrets we learn about is when Johnny beats up a kid at his rival private school and nearly kills him. But with the help of his grandfather’s fortune, the kid’s family was paid off to keep it out of the press. In exchange, an agreement was made for Johnny’s mother not to marry her partner Ed. In addition, the youngest daughter Bess Sinclair is cheating on her husband with an employee who they refer to as “Salty Dan.” As you can see, the lies and secrets they all carry with them become exposed, one after another, after another. 

Additionally, the family is stuck in their biased, racist ways. During Summer 16, Cadence falls in love with her best friend Gat. Even though Gat has been summering with the Sinclair’s since he was little, he never felt truly welcomed. While the grandfather never admits disapproval for Gat, he never truly welcomes him in because of his skin color. After realizing her entitlement, Cadence brings up this point of contention to her grandfather whose defensive response back is, “For Christ’s sake, I’m a democrat.”

All of the secrets come to a head one night where arguments between the three daughters break out over dinner. One by one exposing each other in front of their father who they have spent the entire summer trying to please in an effort to get on his good side as he is currently redoing his will and testament. That night changes the trajectory of their lives forever. After Harris is suddenly rushed to the hospital after hitting his head, the liars are left alone. As a grand act of rebellion, they come up with a plan to burn the main house down, with Cadence leading the pack. Yes, commit arson on their own family’s house. Their plan of course fails and leaves behind Johnny, Mirren and Gat in the house as it goes up in flames. Throughout summer 17, we see the characters with Cadence in an effort to help recover her memories, but we later learn it was only her imagination, as they had passed in the fire.

The ending made me feel a plethora of emotions, confusion, sadness, but mostly anger. Cadence grew up with a picture perfect childhood complete with an abundance of privilege. Instead of using that privilege for the better, she lashed out and took psychotic childish measures to get her revenge, leaving for a devastating ending. No one wins in the end. Mothers lost their children; Cadence lost her best friends and love of her life and now will have to live with this, knowing the truth behind her accident. At the end of the day, she only has herself to blame. The ending concludes with Johnny having a conversation with his mother. As Carrie ducks away to sneakily take her pills (she is supposed to be sober fyi) her dead son Johnny appears. She says to him, “I thought you left.” His response haunts me, concluding the series he says, “I don’t think I can.” Chills. Does this mean there will be a season two? The last scene made me assume there would be an additional season, considering there is more than one book in this series. But that decision is up to Amazon and how much money season one made, but I know my vote. 

Overall, this show never left me bored. It was completed with complex and compelling storylines and twists that made me want to stay up late to watch the next episode. My message to Amazon MGM Studios, renew this show for another season.