Book Review: Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty became a household name with her novel The Husband’s Secret and now she’s back with a new book guaranteed to top the best seller lists. In Big Little Lies, a serious subject matter is tackled with a light hand and excellent writing. 

A murder has been committed at an elementary school’s Trivia Night but who did it- and why? The list of suspects grows as we learn why each woman may have committed the crime. The author takes us back in time to get a good look at each suspect before the night in question.

There’s Jane, a young single mom to son Ziggy. No one knows much about this quiet, shy woman who seemingly showed up out of nowhere with her fatherless child. It’s an incident with Ziggy that sets off a chain reaction amongst the mothers at the school, turning everyone against each other leading up to Trivia Night. 

Madeline is a strong willed woman hurt by her teenaged daughter’s desire to live with her father, Madeline’s ex, Nathan and his new age-y wife, Bonnie. Chloe, Madeline’s daughter with husband Ed, is in the same class as Skye, Bonnie’s waifish daughter. 

Gorgeous Celeste seems to have it all together even with rambunctious twin boys Max and Josh. Her handsome, wealthy husband seems almost too good to be true. No one really knows what happens behind closed doors. 

This is a real page turner leading up to an ending that I didn’t see coming. Big Little Lies deftly deals the topics of bullying, domestic abuse, second marriages and friendship and I cannot recommend it enough. A must read!