We Were Liars is Amazon Prime’s 2025 adaptation of E. Lockhart’s New York Times bestseller, which follows the wealthy and seemingly perfect Sinclair family who spend their summer at Beechwood Island, a private island in Massachusetts. The main characters, Cadence (Emily Alyn Lind), Gat (Shubham Maheshwari), Johnny (Joseph Zada), and Mirren (Esther McGregor), are a tight-knit group of childhood friends nicknamed “the Liars.” Although Cadence, Mirren, and Johnny are cousins, Gat is also part of their group.
During the summer referred to as “Summer 16” (because of their age), Cadence suffers a traumatic brain injury that erases all memory of that summer, including the events that led to her injury. After insisting, Cadence returns to Beechwood, trying to find information about the previous summer. As she digs deeper, Cadence uncovers details about her relationship with Gat and family secrets. When tension rises after her grandmother’s death, it causes the Sinclair family’s facade of perfection to begin to unravel. Gradually, Cadence recalls the Liars’ reckless plan to erase their families’ greed by burning the entire estate— an idea that went tragically wrong.
Quinn Plowman, a senior at Calabasas High School, said, “They thought that they were doing everyone a service, but if you look at the big picture it was the worst thing they could have done, and it just hurt everyone, and obviously they died. I just think, it was partially just the way that they were raised, Gat especially, I think since he was raised differently, he was kind of the mediator and he didn’t really have much say in it.”
Cadence finally remembers that the fire they set took the lives of Gat, Johnny and Mirren. This revelation leaves Cadence broken as she realizes the Liars, who she thought had spent the entire summer with her, were haunting the island. She struggles to process and come to terms with her actions, family conflict, and the consequences of the Liars’ choices.
Although both the novel and the series follow the same central plot, there are several key differences between the two. One of the most notable changes is the timeline. In the book, Cadence has her accident on Summer 15, goes to Europe with her father during Summer 16, and only returns to Beechwood on Summer 17. Meanwhile, the series shortens the timeline, making Cadence’s accident happen on Summer 16 and her return on Summer 17. The focus of the story also differs. In the book, the plot focused mainly on Cadence and Gat, giving minimal attention to Mirren and Johnny. In contrast, the series expands on their characters, adding in Mirren’s relationships and exploring Johnny’s anger issues.
“I liked how in the book there was more background on Cadence and Gat’s relationship because in the show it did feel a little rushed or like it didn’t really feel like they had known each other for as long as they did. And there was more of a build up in the book, but also in the book, I didn’t really feel like I knew Johnny and Mirren’s character very well. Like, they were just kind of there, but I knew them more on the show,” Plowman said.
The show further broadens Sinclairs’ family dynamics by showcasing all three mothers’ rocky romantic lives. For instance, Mirren’s mother, Beth, cheats on her husband with a harbor service worker. The series also introduces changes and completely new events, such as the Fourth of July party thrown by the Liars. Additionally, in the adaptation, Harris suffers a fall, resulting in mental issues.
Overall, most students agreed that the show thoughtfully maintained a balance between staying true to the emotion of the novel and adding new layers to the story.
