Review: Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty

But beyond the colorful cover was actually a dark story that covered extremely heavy topics. However, I felt Liane Moriarty handles these topics with great care and also counterbalances the dark with the light, with Madeline especially providing comic relief.

After that, I’ve read every single book she’s written, but Big Little Lies has always been the favorite. I also quite enjoyed the blockbuster HBO series with picture-perfect adaptations of all the characters.

So I was thrilled when she announced she was writing a sequel to Big Little Lies. But I was curious how it would feel, as the series is so imprinted in my memory now. The series does divert from the original story quite a bit, especially in season two.

Well, I’m thrilled to say Liane Moriarty found an ideal blend where the sequel feels very strongly like the second book in the series, but the influence of the show is felt too.

It works really well if you’re a fan of both.

What’s the Story About

Ten years ago: Madeline, Jane, Celeste, Renata, and Bonnie are mothers with kindergarten-aged children. While you have the typical playdates and social dynamics among parents, some are hiding secrets. On a school fundraiser night, everything changes when Celeste’s husband dies.

Now the kids are all teenagers, and the moms have, for the most part, moved forward from that night. But now the kids are starting to learn their parents’ secrets.

While life with teenagers can be tough enough, there are also health issues, aging parents, unhappiness in marriages, and more. And when a new teacher and her husband come to town, it certainly shakes things up. But through it all, this group of friends remains strong.

Moving the Story Forward

An aspect that has always made the Big Little Lies story stand out among others in the genre is the character depth. Especially the main three: Madeline, Celeste, and Jane. They are each so different, and life is certainly not easy for any of them, despite the affluent community they live in. I love stories that really highlight the importance of female friendships, and Big Little Lies is one of the best to do so.

And of course, the TV adaptation made it so vivid and absorbing. While it held true to the novel’s core, there were some key changes, including the location and Madeline’s affair, which did not take place in the novel. I’m glad it didn’t carry into the sequel.

I was thinking, this is such a task for Liane Moriarty to put together this story, especially with so many people having the series as their introduction. In her intro, she explains the differences between the book and the series.

But also, the show influenced this novel, such as expanding Renata’s role and bringing in Mary-Louise (played by Meryl Streep in the series), Celeste’s mother-in-law, who was not in the first novel. However, Mary-Louise in the novel is fairly different from the series, thankfully.

As I read this book, I did visualize Reese as Madeline, Nicole Kidman as Celeste, and so on. It truly serves as the sequel to the novel, but incorporates the influence of the show as well, which I quite liked. I feel it stayed true to the core of the first novel overall.

The Characters

This is a character-driven story, and I enjoyed the snapshot of their lives as they navigate midlife.

I liked the teenagers and their different dynamics. It was fascinating to see how their parents’ past behavior and choices have had an impact, even if the kids don’t realize it. But they are also trying to overcome generational trauma as well.

When a teacher and her husband come to town, everyone is enamored with them. Without giving away spoilers, I was quite surprised at the direction some of it took, but it gave the teenagers a lot of agency. It also showed how the kids adapt to challenges differently than their parents.

Verdict

Despite the flashy title and shiny adaptations, both Big Little Lies and Big Little Truths do cover plenty of heavy topics. From aging and menopause to breaking the cycle of abuse, there’s a lot of depth to these stories.

But as I mentioned, there’s plenty of lightness too. Madeline, in particular, really cracked me up in this one, and I laughed out loud at some of her parts, and I don’t often do that when reading. Renata, too, is entertaining. I love how Liane Moriarty can blend the humor with the serious; she’s really a master at that.

I highly recommend Big Little Truths. You don’t have to have read the first book or watched the series ahead of reading it, but you should! It makes the story much more enriching. This one is entertaining, and it will also make you think.

I was sad when it ended and would love to see another book in the series, but I’m also looking forward to the third season, as I’m sure they will incorporate elements of this story into it.