Follow Me
The Husband’s Secret was one of those books that took the women’s fiction world by storm- lots of buzz about it. I read it and I liked it. I wanted to read more by Liane Moriarty. Big Little Lieswas the next one I chose, and I listened to the audiobook. This is one where I looked for more opportunities to listen, because I wanted to know what happened next.
Big Little Lies is set in a seaside community in Australia. The local primary school is the central setting around Madeline, Celeste, and Jane. Each of these women has children starting kindergarten. Madeline is fierce and loyal and is struggling with her ex-husband and his new wife, as well as with her teenage daughter who suddenly seems to prefer her father to her mother.
Celeste is that “perfect mom” – stop-and-stare beautiful with longed-for twin sons and a handsome, successful husband. But sometimes, the price for perfection is high, and Celeste has to decide how much she’s willing to pay.
Jane is a young single mom, new to the community. She fiercely loves her son but also fears what he may be.
Big Little Lies explores relationships between friends and families, but also the lies we tell ourselves about our own lives.
Liane Moriarty is a good storyteller. She creates relate-able, authentic characters. She tells a compelling story in a way that engages and entertains readers. More than once in listening to Big Little Lies, I found myself indignant on behalf of the characters; wondering what I might do in their situation; scoffing at the high-school-like behavior of some adults.
Big Little Lies reveals those parts of ourselves we often try to keep secret. The pieces we may share with our therapists, but may not tell even our best friends. I like this one, and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys good fiction, and especially women’s fiction.