We Were Liars Season 1 Review: Twists, Tears, and Trust Funds Gone Wrong

Welcome to Beechwood Island where the rich cry harder, secrets hide behind every vintage curtain, and the lies are thicker than the lobster bisque. If you’ve just binged We Were Liars Season 1 on Prime Video or you’re wondering whether to dive into this YA mystery-drama rabbit hole, buckle up. This isn’t your typical teen drama. It’s grief-soaked, memory-warped, and full of devastating beauty. Also, there’s fire. Literal fire.

In this We Were Liars Season 1 review, we’re breaking down what works, what fumbles, and why this adaptation of E Lockhart’s bestselling novel might just be your next binge obsession or your biggest “meh” of the year. Spoiler alert: it’s a little bit of both.

What is We Were Liars Season 1 Even About?

For those unfamiliar, We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman, the golden girl of a golden family who summers on a private island with her three cousins and best friends — Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. Only, something very bad happened during her fifteenth summer. Something involving a fire. And ghosts. And amnesia. Yeah, it gets wild.

The eight episode season slowly unravels this tragedy through Cadence’s fractured memories. As she pieces things together, we learn more about her wealthy but emotionally broken family, the toxic legacy of privilege, and the devastating cost of trying to change things.

It’s part Pretty Little Liars, part Big Little Lies, with a healthy dose of The Haunting of Hill House vibes. In other words, it’s moody, mysterious, and emotionally messy.

Strong Performances Make the Sinclairs Almost Sympathetic

Let’s talk about casting. Emily Alyn Lind plays Cadence with the right mix of wide-eyed innocence and broken resolve. You believe her pain even when you’re side-eyeing her poor decision making. Esther McGregor (Mirren) and Joseph Zada (Johnny) bring depth to characters who could have felt flat, and Gat is charming enough to make you forget that this whole romance is doomed from minute one.

But the real MVPs? The Sinclair matriarchs. The show wisely expands on the mothers — Carrie, Penny, and Bess — adding tension and context that the book only hinted at. Watching these women tear each other down with passive aggressive grace is a whole subplot on its own and honestly deserves its own spin off.

The Plot Twist Still Hits Like a Punch to the Gut

If you read the book, you knew what was coming. If not, you probably felt like the rug got yanked out from under you. The twist — that Cadence accidentally caused the deaths of her three cousins in a misguided attempt to rebel against her greedy family — lands hard. And it’s not just a plot device. It reframes the entire season.

The finale doesn’t hold back on the emotional wreckage. It leans fully into the horror and heartbreak, and for a YA series, that’s refreshing. No neat bows. Just tears and therapy waiting in the wings.

Gorgeous Visuals and Melancholy Vibes Carry the Season

Filmed in Nova Scotia masquerading as a private Massachusetts island, We Were Liars is a feast for the eyes. Think golden hour forever, weathered mansions, and boating outfits that scream old money dysfunction. Every frame looks like it was filtered through a Lana Del Rey song.

The moody cinematography perfectly mirrors Cadence’s unraveling mind. It’s soft, shadowy, and soaked in symbolism. Honestly, the island should have been given its own credit in the opening sequence. It’s that central to the story.

Where It Stumbles: Pacing and Overstuffed Subplots

Now for the real tea. While the vibes are immaculate and the cast delivers, the pacing occasionally drags like a hungover debutante at a country club brunch. The show tries to expand the narrative with extra family drama and hints of supernatural elements, but not all of it sticks.

Some viewers found the time jumps and inner monologues a bit overcooked. The script occasionally gets lost in its own poetic fog. And while the expanded world-building adds context, it also bloats a story that was originally razor-sharp in its book form.

Should You Watch We Were Liars Season 1?

That depends. Are you into tragic teens with trust funds and trauma? Do you enjoy slow burns with high emotional payoff? Can you handle stories that are more about grief and guilt than happy endings?

If yes, pour yourself a glass of overpriced lemonade and settle in. We Were Liars is a beautifully sad, gorgeously shot tale that’s part mystery, part character study. It’s a little pretentious, a little too polished at times, but it knows what it’s doing.

Final Verdict: Lies, Losses, and Luxe Aesthetics

We Were Liars Season 1 is a compelling adaptation that mostly nails its ambitious tone. It preserves the core emotional gut punch of the novel while adding dimension to its characters and setting. The result is a haunting story about love, legacy, and the lies we tell to protect ourselves.

Yes, it gets a little carried away with its dramatic flair. And no, it’s not for everyone. But for fans of layered YA dramas and pretty people crying in expensive houses, this is top tier viewing.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Sinclair secrets

Ready to Dive In?

Already watched We Were Liars and need to vent? Or still debating if it’s worth your time? Let’s talk. Drop your hot takes, predictions for Season 2, or favorite emotionally devastating moment. After all, sharing trauma is what being a Liar is all about.

And remember, if anyone asks, we were liars.

What did you think?

Change Image

• Loved it
• Hated it
• So/So