The Prime Video adaptation of We Were Liars, based on E. Lockhart’s bestselling novel, has attracted attention for its story and atmospheric filming locations. Set on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, the show required a backdrop that could reflect this environment.
Interestingly, the production didn’t film in New England at all. Instead, the crew chose locations in Canada and the US that could visually match the novel’s setting while remaining practical for production work and weather conditions.
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Filming took place mainly in Nova Scotia, Canada

Most outdoor scenes for We Were Liars were filmed along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The production team discovered several locations there that could represent the Sinclair family’s private island:
- Meisners Island served as the main estate. A large house by the shore became the Sinclair summer home in the show, providing beach views and lawns for outdoor scenes.
- Chester was used for the nearby town scenes, with the harbor, shops, and streets of Chester standing in for the community that guests would visit beyond the island.
- Dartmouth offered more varied coastal settings, with parks, docks, and marinas filmed here to depict the characters traveling off the main property.
These locations in Nova Scotia provided the perfect blend of water, trees, and buildings to evoke New England without filming in winter or facing strict local regulations.
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Some interior scenes were filmed in Los Angeles studios
While much of We Were Liars was filmed on location in Canada, interior shots were completed in studio spaces around Los Angeles. Sound stages allowed the crew to manage lighting and weather conditions. Rooms in the main house, hallways, and bedrooms were replicated on sound stages instead of on-site. This method is typical for maintaining production schedules and ensuring indoor sets remain consistent.
Filming happened between June and September 2024

Principal photography for We Were Liars commenced in early June 2024. By opting for a late spring start, the team could take advantage of longer daylight hours for exterior work.
On-location shooting continued throughout the summer and concluded in late September 2024. Following that, post-production work, including editing, effects, and sound, began so the series could meet the planned 2025 release date.
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The chosen sites reflect key story elements
The locations for We Were Liars are not merely backdrops; they resonate with themes of isolation and family ties. The private island setting underscores the characters’ close circle, and the town scenes suggest the world beyond the Sinclair bubble.
Studio interiors focus on private moments, aligning with the novel’s emotional core. Each setting was chosen to enhance the story without distracting from character drama.
Summary of filming locations and timeline of We Were Liars

- Meisners Island, Nova Scotia: main house, beach scenes
- Chester, Nova Scotia: village and harbor scenes
- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia: parks and docks for off‑island sequences
- Los Angeles, California: studio interiors
- June–September 2024: principal photography period
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Why these choices matter for We Were Liars viewers
Understanding where We Were Liars was filmed helps viewers appreciate how a production creates its world. Instead of filming in actual New England, the team found similar settings in Nova Scotia and combined them with controlled studio work. This blend of real-world and studio locations influenced the series' visual style without relying on promotional flair.
The filming of We Were Liars combined outdoor locations in Nova Scotia with interior scenes shot in studios in Los Angeles. This approach enabled the production to create a world that feels authentic to the story’s setting, without needing to film in the precise geographic region.
With filming wrapped up between June and September 2024, the visuals align with the novel’s summer timeline.
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