Summary
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a YA novel acclaimed for its sophisticated suspense and unexpected twists. Set on a private island owned by a wealthy family, this psychological thriller explores themes of privilege, family secrets, and the consequences of one's actions. The story revolves around Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her three friends, known as “the Liars,” as they navigate the complexities of their seemingly perfect lives. The author's masterful use of an unreliable narrator and non-linear storytelling keeps readers guessing until the shocking conclusion.
Published in 2014, We Were Liars won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction and a place on the ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list. This popular novel has been adapted into a limited series, produced by Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie, premiering on Amazon Prime in June 2025.
Plot
We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman, the eldest grandchild of the wealthy Harris Sinclair family. The Sinclairs spend their summers on their private island near Martha's Vineyard. Cadence, along with her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and family friend Gat Patil, form a close-knit group known as “The Liars.” During “Summer Fifteen,” when Cadence is 15 years old, she falls in love with Gat. She also suffers a mysterious head injury that leaves her with amnesia and chronic migraines.
Two years later, at the start of “Summer Seventeen,” Cadence returns to the island to find everything changed, dramatically. Her grandfather is suffering from dementia. The family's main house has been replaced with a cold, modern structure. Most unsettling of all, the other Liars act strangely around Cadence, refusing to discuss the events of “Summer Fifteen.” As Cadence slowly begins to recover her memories, she recalls the family's bitter arguments over inheritance following her grandmother's death.
Gradually, Cadence remembers what happened during “Summer Fifteen.” Or was it all a horrible nightmare? Keeping readers grappling with what’s true and real until the jaw-dropping end, We Were Liars is a haunting novel about the lies we tell ourselves and the danger of believing them.
Themes
Consequences of one's actions
Family dysfunction and inheritance disputes
Class privilege and wealth
Memory and unreliable narration
Love and loss
Identity and self-discovery
Truth versus lies
Setting
Set in the present day, We Were Liars primarily takes place on Beechwood Island, a private island near Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts. This exclusive setting serves as the summer retreat for the wealthy Sinclair family, providing a stark contrast between their privileged lifestyle and the outside world.
The island itself is home to several estates owned by different branches of the Sinclair family. The most prominent of these is Clairmont, the main house belonging to the family patriarch, Harris Sinclair. Other properties mentioned include Cuddledown, where some of the younger characters spend time. The island's isolation and beauty create an almost mythical backdrop for the unfolding drama.
While most of the action occurs on Beechwood Island during various summer seasons, the narrative also briefly touches on other locations. These include Cadence's home away from the island and a European tour she takes with her father. However, it is the insular world of Beechwood that remains central to the story, symbolizing both the family's privilege and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.
Characters
Cadence Sinclair Eastman: The protagonist and narrator. She is the eldest Sinclair grandchild who suffers a mysterious accident during “Summer Fifteen” that leaves her with amnesia and chronic migraines. Cadence struggles to piece together what happened that summer as she returns to the family's private island two years later. She is introspective, privileged, and grappling with her family's expectations.
Gat Patil: Cadence's love interest and one of the “Liars.” He is the nephew of Aunt Carrie's partner and an outsider to the wealthy, white Sinclair family. Gat is passionate, politically aware, and critical of the Sinclairs' privilege. His relationship with Cadence is a central part of the story.
Johnny Sinclair: Cadence's cousin and one of the “Liars.” He is charming, fun-loving, and close to Cadence. Johnny plays a key role in the events of “Summer Fifteen” and helps Cadence uncover the truth.
Mirren Sinclair: Cadence's cousin and one of the “Liars.” She is kind, emotional, and loyal to her friends. Mirren is an important part of the group dynamic and the tragic events that unfold.
Harris Sinclair: Cadence's grandfather. The wealthy patriarch of the Sinclair family, Harris is controlling, manipulative, and pits his daughters against each other for his approval and inheritance.
Penny Sinclair: Cadence's mother and Harris's middle daughter. She is protective of Cadence and caught in the family's power dynamics.
Carrie and Bess Sinclair: Cadence's aunts and Harris's other daughters. They compete for their father's approval and inheritance, contributing to the family tension.
Ed: Aunt Carrie's partner and Gat's uncle. His presence in the family is a source of tension due to Harris's racism.
Quick facts
We Were Liars won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction in 2014.
The novel spent 13 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list in 2014.
We Were Liars was listed as an ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults for 2015.
The novel is written in five acts, though pieces of each were rearranged during the writing process.
Author E. Lockhart used the writing software Scrivener to easily rearrange segments of text while crafting the story.
The character of Gat was partly inspired by Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
To promote the book without spoilers, a Tumblr blog was created focusing on the aesthetic of the Sinclairs’ private island.
We Were Liars was the most-searched standalone title on Goodreads in 2014.
Author John Green provided feedback that led to changes in the structure of the ending shortly before the book’s publication.
We Were Liars has been adapted for the small screen, with a limited series premiering on Amazon Prime in June 2025.
About the Author
E. Lockhart, a prolific and bestselling author of young adult novels, is the pen name of Emily Jenkins. Lockhart’s works include the popular Ruby Oliver series, beginning with The Boyfriend List, and standalone novels such as the psychological thrillers We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud. Her novel The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, a hilarious tale of a geeky girl turned criminal mastermind, was a finalist for both the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Michael L. Printz Award.
Under her real name, Jenkins has collaborated with illustrators to create numerous children's books and picture books. Honors for her work include the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award for Toys Go Out. She has also ventured into graphic novels with Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero.
Born in New York City in 1957, Lockhart/Jenkins began her studies at Vassar College, focusing on illustrated books, and went on to earn a doctorate in English literature from Columbia University. She maintains an active online presence, engaging with readers and sharing insights into her writing process.
