We Were Liars Finale: Author on Netflix Twist Ending
- Lockhart's young adult novel, "We Were Liars," first published in 2014, has found renewed success thanks to social media and a Prime Video series adaptation.
- The eight-episode series, led by showrunners Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie, stars Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence, who grapples with amnesia and a past tragedy.
- Lockhart spoke about the adaptation process and the intense fan reactions to the story's twist ending.She noted the series highlights the isolation of the island and the pressures...
E. Lockhart unlocks the secrets of her novel’s Prime video adaptation, “We Were Liars,” in this exclusive interview. Explore the series’ exploration of the Sinclair family and Beechwood Island’s complex dynamics,uncovering the central family secrets that drive the narrative. Discover how social media rejuvenated the book’s popularity, leading to the screen adaptation. Lockhart discusses the challenges, fan reactions, and twist ending of bringing her young adult novel to life. News Directory 3 dives deep into the author’s creative process. What expansion to the “We Were Liars” universe is set to launch next? Discover what’s next …
E. Lockhart on “We Were Liars” Prime Video adaptation, family secrets
Updated June 23, 2025
E. Lockhart’s young adult novel, “We Were Liars,” first published in 2014, has found renewed success thanks to social media and a Prime Video series adaptation. the story, set on the fictional Beechwood Island off Martha’s Vineyard, follows the affluent Sinclair family and their dark secrets.
The eight-episode series, led by showrunners Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie, stars Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence, who grapples with amnesia and a past tragedy. The show explores themes of wealth,social class,love,and family,maintaining the book’s structure of alternating between flashbacks and the present.
Lockhart spoke about the adaptation process and the intense fan reactions to the story’s twist ending.She noted the series highlights the isolation of the island and the pressures of family expectations.
Lockhart, who holds a doctorate in English literature, initially planned to teach college but realized her passion was in storytelling. ”I wanted to understand fiction making, and so I started writing creatively while I was in graduate school,” she saeid.
The author also addressed the resurgence of “we Were Liars” on social media in 2020. TikTok creators made aesthetic videos showcasing the island setting and vulnerable videos capturing their emotional reactions to the book’s ending.
Asked about the commentary surrounding the story, Lockhart said she avoids deep dives into online reviews to maintain creative freedom.
The adaptation of “We Were Liars” had been in development for years, initially as a feature film before becoming a television series. Lockhart chose Plec and MacKenzie as showrunners due to their experience creating binge-worthy television.
Sometimes they were throwing the book across the room. Sometimes they were weeping copiously, and snot was dripping out of their nose and mascaras running on their face. The essence of those responses was, WTF, this book?
What’s next
Lockhart has expanded the “We Were Liars” universe with a prequel, “Family of Liars,” and a third book, “We Fell Apart,” set for release this fall. ”We Fell Apart” features new characters but intersects with the original story, revealing more Sinclair family secrets on Martha’s vineyard.