About the book

In the coastal town of Pirriwee, three mothers find their lives entangled through their children’s kindergarten class. Madeline is a fireball dealing with her ex-husband’s new family, while Celeste hides the physical violence occurring within her wealthy marriage. Jane, a young single mother, arrives in town carrying the trauma of a past sexual assault that resulted in her son, Ziggy. When Ziggy is accused of bullying, the local parents fracture into warring cliques. This domestic friction escalates until a trivia night fundraiser ends in a fatal fall, leaving the community to piece together whether the death was an accident or murder.

Parents and fans of domestic suspense read this to see the dark realities hidden behind suburban perfection. The narrative focuses on the heavy weight of secrets, the nuances of domestic abuse, and the complexities of female friendship. Readers walk away with a cynical look at how competitive parenting can mask deep personal unhappiness. It serves as a study of how small betrayals and social pressures accumulate until they reach a breaking point, showing that no marriage or social status is as stable as it appears from the sidewalk.

Insights from Big Little Lies

“She looked like a small, tired child.”

Jane looks so young and fragile when she arrives in town. You realize she is actually the strongest person there because she carries the heaviest secret.

“She was a woman who cherished her grudges.”

Madeline is loud and funny and seemingly perfect. Underneath it all, she is just terrified of her daughter choosing her ex-husband's new life over hers.

“It was a complicated, sophisticated intimacy.”

Celeste and Perry look like a movie star couple. Their beautiful house hides a violence that feels even more chilling because they love each other.

“I'm a tiger mother.”

Renata is painted as the villain for being a successful working mom. Everyone judges her drive because they are insecure about their own choices.

Details
Published
2014
Publisher
Amy Einhorn Books
ISBN
9780399167065
Language
EN

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