Many readers have been drawn to We Were Liars' narrative shifts, particularly the characters' emotional breakdown. This psychological drama series left viewers wanting even more stories full of secrets, questionable narrators, and a tragic twist.
Fortunately, there are shows on TV that provide the same feel of mystery, memory, and emotional intensity. Are you into Élite secrets, ghostly mysteries, or high-stakes teen drama? Here is a list of 10 shows that get the spirit of We Were Liars, and they should be on your watchlist.
Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
Here is the list of the 10 mystery-filled shows like We Were Liars that fans deserve in their lives:
10. The A List (2018)

The A List follows a group of teens at a mysterious island summer camp, where trust quickly dissolves into paranoia and fear. As in We Were Liars, the story twist happens when Amber appears to commit suicide before walking away unharmed. This is similar to the haunting episode in We Were Liars, in which Cadence's friends' ghosts appear on the beach and torment reality. Check out Netflix's original The A List poster on Instagram.
The sequence in We Were Liars where Cadence discovers that her pals are fake is similar to the scene in The A List where Amber pretends to leap. In the two shows, the hidden danger is heightened by the use of haunting islands. The A List introduces phantom secrets and unreal memories in a new setting while maintaining the ghostly suspense.
9. Outer Banks (2020)

Outer Banks' main character is the Pogues, a group of young treasure seekers on the North Carolina shore. Viewers had witnessed that John B. and Sarah nearly drowned in a storm, but they managed to cling to one another. This sequence is reminiscent of the watercraft accident in We Were Liars (episode 6), where Cadence and Gat almost died.
The couple becomes even closer as a result of the combination of the closeness and danger of both scenes. The ocean turns into a game of faith and life. Outer Banks offers the same savage summer romance and stakes to fans of We Were Liars. The show provides passionate intrigue, sweeping scenery, and unconquerable relationships created through strained circumstances, those aspects of drama that they desire.
8. Big Little Lies (2017)

The plot of HBO's Big Little Lies focused on a group of mothers in a seaside town whose perfect lives were shattered. One of the most touching moments in season 2 was when Jane sobbed as she informed her son Ziggy that he was the result of rape. Cadence's emotional breakdown and impromptu recollection of the fire and the murders of her companions in We Were Liars resemble the girl's raw voice.
Check out a snippet of HBO's Big Little Lies on Instagram:
We Were Liars fans should enjoy this show because it also reveals the profound emotional scars that lie beneath its lovely exterior. It exposes characters who are suffering in secret, evoking the same emotional honesty and gut-punch resonance as We Were Liars.
7. Élite (2018)

Élite is a Spanish youth drama set in an exclusive boarding school where the collision between classes causes lawlessness and conflict. In a scene, viewers might have seen the murder of a student turn the privilege and loyalty to their knees. A similar sequence follows We Were Liars, in which Cadence flees to the remote family compound and the perfection of appearance conceals the worst secrets.
In both shows, the elite's fantasy is broken by loss and shame. Cadence and Gat's forbidden love affair appears in a secret encounter between two Élite students. Élite is an amazing TV show that fans of We Were Liars should check out. The show tells a captivating story about rebellious teenagers and involves themes of inherited wealth and intense drama. The show's thrilling plot and personal conflicts are something that anyone, including Cadence, would relate to and enjoy.
6. The Society (2019)

The Society confines privileged youths in an abandoned village and forces them to create their own laws. In The Society's Episode 3, Cassandra reveals significant leadership qualities. The unexpected murder perpetrated by a peer illustrates a pervasive atmosphere of mistrust and a lack of control. Check out The Society on Instagram.
This scenario is similar to that of the Sinclairs in We Were Liars, who suffer grave consequences for their choices, including the devastation of Clairmont. Their failure to uphold power and order has resulted in damage.
The scene in which an illegal assembly erupts into violence acts as an outlet for Cadence's stress as everything spirals out of control. We Were Liars fans should watch The Society because it captures the optimism and treachery of youth, forcing its protagonists to face harsh realities behind a facade of luxury and power.
5. Cruel Summer (2021)

The television series Cruel Summer spans three summers and explores how a teenager's disappearance and a miscarriage of justice affect memory and identity. In a momentous scene, Kate figures out that her illusory beauty was a myth. The scene is similar to Cadence in We Were Liars, who comes back to the island and crumbles in tears, finally remembering the actual situation with the fire that claimed her friends.
That scene's flashback is replete with feelings of guilt at losing something, and turns into a case involving Cadence. Fans of We Were Liars should see Cruel Summer. The show is undoubtedly one of the most groundbreaking but untrustworthy narrative thrillers. Cruel Summer is ideal for everyone affected by Cadence's trip since it reconstructs memories piece by piece until a terrible truth is revealed.
4. Riverdale (2017)

The US television show Riverdale is based on Archie Comics. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (the chief creative officer at Archie Comics) adapted the series for the CW Network. Viewers have seen that in a small town, an investigation begins when the teenager dies, but his death reveals a lot of secrets, corruption, and lies in his family.
In another episode, Archie shows us that he is more remorseful than he shows when he violently begins revealing his feelings. This can be compared to a scene in We Were Liars, when Cadence confronts her parents when a fire breaks out on the island. Go and watch the premier helicopter episode of the series finale of Riverdale on The CW Network:
The protagonists in these scenes appear to be at peace on the outside, but it is clear that they are grappling with the spitting mysteries of reality on the inside. In the crime scene, the Cadence reveals the shallowness of a community and emotionally pulls the characters into debt. We Were Liars fans will appreciate Riverdale because it features the same dark secrets of a tiny town. The show also depicts emotional breakdowns and a mystery that persists even after the truth is known.
3. Pretty Little Liars (2010)

Pretty Little Liars is a series about four friends in Rosewood being harassed by an anonymous 'A' who exposes them to the unknown. 'A' is a stalker who tortures, coerces, and blackmails the franchise's protagonists. Check out Pretty Little Liars' 15th anniversary post on Instagram:
One of the most striking moments in Season 1, Episode 5, is when a character discovers that someone recorded an embarrassing video of them while they were asleep. To make things worse, they start receiving teasing messages from a mysterious person known as 'A' on their phones. This scene captures the surprise and shock of the situation.
Such a scenario can be compared to the tense one in We Were Liars, because Cadence understands what types of ghost creatures tampered with her memories at the museum on Sinclair Island. Technology or supernatural silence is the element used in both scenes to destroy a sense of safety. Viewers of We Were Liars should binge-watch Pretty Little Liars since it promises constant intrigue, twists, and young friendships at stake.
2. School Spirits (2023)

School Spirits is based on Maddie, who passed away in some weird accident and has returned to high school as a ghost. They move to look into how she died after Maddie finds out in episode 1 that she can see and communicate with the living, especially when Simon is with her, when he sees her at school. This mimics Cadence's shattered memories of the fire in We Were Liars, where she returns to reality by walking through the imprints of her spectral pals.
The two series combine paranormal and emotional suspense. Those who enjoyed Cadence's ethereal trip will adore School Spirits because it features a ghostly atmosphere, memory riddles, and deep ties between the living and the dead. Fans of We Were Liars deserve to watch School Spirits.
1. One of Us is Lying (2021)

American author Karen M. McManus wrote a mystery/suspense book for young adults titled One of Us Is Lying. On May 30, 2017, Delacorte Press, a Penguin Random House division, released her debut book in the United States. Dive into the twisted mystery of One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus:
One of Us Is Lying begins with five students in detention, and only four walk out alive. The other part of the season reveals the death of Simon, concealed secrets, and alliances. One is when the departing students realize that their most private secrets are being exploited against them, betraying their trust. In both TV shows, long-kept secrets that affect friendships are revealed. Therefore, One of Us Is Lying is analogous to Cadence discovering the truth about her island memories in We Were Liars.
Those who liked We Were Liars should watch One of Us Is Lying because it features suspense, switching narrators, and high emotional stakes among high school students. Like We Were Liars, One of Us is Lying has the same feeling of betrayal, revelation, and nerve that made the book impossible to put down.
In conclusion, these shows reflect the same emotional intensity, haunting revelations, and gripping mysteries that made We Were Liars unforgettable. With themes of trauma, betrayal, and twisted truth, each series pulls viewers into a whirlwind of secrets and unforgettable characters. Fans seeking more emotionally charged mysteries will find these shows equally compelling.