Secrets, scandal, complicated marriages, and a murder make Big Little Lies the kind of domestic suspense that pulls you in and refuses to let go.
Release date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Synopsis:
From the author of Truly Madly Guilty and The Husband s Secret comes a novel about the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
A murder…A tragic accident…Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can turn lethal.
Review:
I reread Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, but it had been so long since I first read it that it may as well have been a brand new book. 😂 I genuinely remembered almost nothing, including some of the twists, which made this reread especially fun. I also completely forgot just how dark some of the storylines are, but somehow Moriarty manages to make them both incredibly compelling and completely bingeable.
I absolutely love Liane Moriarty’s writing style. It’s down to earth and relatable, but also gossipy, juicy, and fun while still being smart and clever. Weird combination? Maybe. But it works so well. She creates these incredibly believable characters and a world that feels like somewhere you could actually live, then fills it with secrets, drama, scandal, and plenty of things you probably shouldn’t be listening in on—but absolutely want to know about.
There’s a lot packed into this story, from parenthood and marriage to bullying, abuse, cheating, friendship, jealousy, and the pressure to maintain the appearance of having it all together. I was especially impressed by how invested I became in these women and their lives. And, of course, there’s the murder mystery at the center of everything. Even knowing there was a murder, I had completely forgotten who was responsible, and I definitely forgot some of the twists along the way.
Honestly, Big Little Lies feels like the blueprint for a really solid domestic suspense novel. It’s juicy and entertaining, but there’s plenty of substance underneath all the drama. I loved getting pulled back into this world, and apparently I was invested enough to immediately start the sequel, Big Little Truths. That feels like a pretty good endorsement of a reread to me!
Perfect for readers who love:
- Messy marriages and complicated relationships
- Secrets hiding behind perfect suburban lives
- Schoolyard drama and parental gossip
- Female friendships with plenty of layers
- Domestic suspense with darker themes
- Multiple characters with something to hide
- Twists that actually keep you guessing
- Smart, juicy storytelling with plenty of drama
Overall rating: 5/5
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