Something has happened in the last few years — probably having to do with deep economic inequality and the affordability crisis — that made “dysfunctional rich families” a highly sought-after narrative genre. The series finale of Succession drew a record-breaking 2.9 million total viewers when it aired in 2023; The White Lotus was initially intended as a one-season limited series, but was so widely watched that it’s now filming season four. When it first dropped, Amazon’s We Were Liars hit number one on Prime Video’s global top 10 shows list (and a second season is currently in the works).
The show follows a wealthy family that summers annually on an island near Martha’s Vineyard, and who are reuniting for the first time after a tragedy shattered their idyllic existence. It’s based on the acclaimed YA novel of the same name by E. Lockhart and has since spawned a whole Liars universe—complete with a prequel about the Sinclair family matriarchs and a companion novel set across the bay.
With production wrapping on season two, we caught up with Lockhart to ask what viewers can expect from the new season, why we’re drawn to these deliciously devious stories, and her newest book, The Pools.
Katie Couric Media: I feel like you've cornered the market on rich New England people hiding dark secrets — and I mean that as a compliment. How do you get into that mindset for your characters?
E. Lockhart: I was a scholarship kid at some fancy educational institutions, and my maternal grandparents had a home on Martha’s Vineyard that they built in the '70s. My childhood was very, very different from the life they led — think single mom, communal living situations, and New Age religion. But I spent parts of many summers on that beautiful island, so its landscape and people became a big part of my imagination.
How do you continuously surprise readers? Do you feel pressure to one-up yourself?
I just try to tell the story the strongest way I know how, and sometimes people start crying or throw the book across the room.
How did you contribute to We Were Liars as it was adapted for TV?
I worked on the show’s first season quite a bit. I wrote the finale episode, and as an executive producer I worked on casting, location scouting, and post-production — plus I was on set for 10 weeks. So watching it on TV meant rewatching episodes and taking notes to share with the showrunners.
Can you tell us anything about the next season?
I’m sworn to secrecy on so much, but I can tell you this: We Were Liars season 2 is based partly on my novel Family of Liars. So if people want to get the jump on what’s next, they could read that! Also, the showrunners have lots of new twists and turns planned. I didn’t work on this season, but I visited the set, and the new cast members are phenomenal.
What makes your latest book The Pools different from your Liars books?
Like the books in the We Were Liars universe, The Pools is a romantic gothic story in a remote, watery location, and as in those books, shocking things happen. But The Pools is a standalone novel set in a town known for its thermal springs, and it’s both a love story and a book about a town reeling from the aftermath of a horrific paranormal event. That’s my idea of a good time — and I think my readers will feel the same way.
What's the last book you read?
I’m reading Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo — the third in her super-dark series about magical secret societies at Yale. New England people hiding dark secrets, absolutely my jam.
