Books › Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies
679 pages
A razor-sharp, sun-drenched suburban mystery that hides devastating secrets behind a facade of schoolyard politics and perfect lattes.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like eavesdropping on the most scandalous, sharply observed gossip at a seaside cafe, only to realize the stakes are life and death. It starts with a deliciously wry look at the competitive sport of modern parenting, drawing you in with biting humor and a chorus of petty neighborhood voices. But beneath the glossy veneer of yoga pants and kindergarten politics lies a deeply empathetic, tension-filled exploration of trauma, survival, and the fierce bonds of female friendship. The narrative moves with a propulsive, countdown-clock energy, balancing lighthearted satire with moments of profound darkness. It is a perfect match for anyone who loves peeling back the pristine layers of affluent suburbia to uncover the messy, dangerous, and fiercely loyal hearts beating underneath.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- tense
- deceptive
- claustrophobic
- Tone
- wry
- satirical
- empathetic
- sharp
- gossipy
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- facade of perfection · female solidarity · domestic abuse · weight of secrets · motherhood and identity
- The writing
- Sharp, conversational, and effortlessly witty, weaving multiple perspectives and Greek-chorus-style police interviews into a seamless narrative.
- The arc
- Begins as a breezy, biting comedy of suburban manners before darkening into a tense, emotionally resonant exploration of trauma and fierce protective loyalty.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love peeling back the glossy veneer of affluent communities to find the messy, dark, and deeply human secrets underneath.
Content notes
- domestic violence
- sexual assault
- bullying
- murder
About the book
Pirriwee Public is a beautiful little beachside primary school where children are taught that ‘sharing is caring.’ So how has the annual School Trivia Night ended in full-blown riot? Sirens are wailing. People are screaming. The principal is mortified. And one parent is dead. Was it a murder, a tragic accident or just good parents gone bad? As the parents at Pirriwee Public are about to discover, sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal...
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, school-yard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. - author's website.
Description from Open Library.
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