It might seem odd to start a review in such a fashion but I have a confession to make: I don’t read many mystery books, let alone contemporary mysteries, and it's just so NOT a genre I reach for. Because of this, a lot of the hype and marketing of this genre largely passes me by. However, I don’t think it was possible to exist as a reader and not hear some kind of hype about Liane Moriarty’s books, especially Big Little Lies as it was made into a very successful HBO show which aired in 2017. I am extremely relived to have read the book before seeing anything of the TV show because I wouldn’t have wanted the book spoilt by the show - and it really is that kind of book.

If you’re not sure if a story about 3 women, their children, and their lives is interesting, think again. You will be gripped, I promise. At the heart of the story, Big Little Lies follows the lives of Madeline, Celeste, and Jane, three mothers with three very different home lives and families, all of whom interconnect through their children's school. With it, comes the schoolyard politics and cliques, not of the children but of the alleged "adults" of the piece. The bitching, the gossiping, the inexplicable loyalties, and the shunning of other parents because of their children's behaviour is funny but also hits home on a strange level, even if you don't have children yourself.

Somehow, Big Little Lies managed to be laugh-out-loud hilarious (mainly Madeline's witty sense of humour and attitude) as well as sickeningly dark and twisted, proving you really don't have ANY idea what goes on behind closed doors of a seemingly idyllic little community, or the lengths that some people will go to to maintain their reputation and social standing. I was gripped by the stories of Madeline, Celeste, and Jane, and I found myself constantly guessing as to who would end up being the perpetrator of the crime which is set out at the very beginning of the book. I did NOT guess correctly and, indeed, I'm not sure I ever could have predicted the twisty nature of the big and the little lies that we tell each other and, perhaps more importantly, the big and the little lies we tell ourselves just to get by.

"Children did this. They sensed when there was something controversial or sensitive and they pushed and pushed like tiny prosecutors."

Loved this book so much!
In my opinion, it is so much better than the TV series (watched after reading the book)! Big Little Lies dragged me in and I flew through reading it. I didn’t expect the twist at the end and was genuinely surprised to read it.
The writing was fantastic, well paced and a genuinely believable storyline. The characters were all fantastic and well developed and I really enjoyed reading about them and finding out about all of their lives (and secrets!).

A scandalously good read from a fantastic author; highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, Liane Moriarty and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has sat on my Kindle for over 6 months and I am yet to read it. Whilst I was originally really engaged by the blurb, it's yet to make it to the top of my TBR pile and it no longer really appeals to me. I'm really sorry and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book though.

This is the second book I read by this author, although I didn't like the first, this second book was really amazing and mind blowing. I wasn't expecting to like this much as I did. The book has a bit of everything, drama, murder, domestical abuse, rape and all those dark and heavy theme you can think of it but it is not just that, the book is also funny and it has some great and powerful women behind it. Give a chance if you can, you won't regret it.

When I started this it took me back to my children starting school and what I used to call the "mother's mafia' that populated the school surrounds. I hadn't seen the TV series and I'm glad I didn't as I went in without any expectations, and loved the vision of the Australian backdrop. They say keep your friends close but enemies closer and this bodes well for this story with its twists and turns and very surprising conlusion. Beware of the 'jaw dropping' revelations.

“Champagne is never a bad idea”

That quote sets the tone for what can only be described as a magnifying glass into the world of middle aged, middle class, modern society.

There are 3 main themes in this novel that stood out: modern culture; friendship; and relationships. Lianne could not have written a more relevant reflection of parenting and surviving in the 21st Century!

Yes, it is a drama built around the lives of 3 women, all of whom I can’t really relate to, yet I found myself likening myself to one or the other throughout the entire book. I loved Liane’s use of Chinese whispers in the form of interviews throughout the book. It helped to break up the drama, and dart back and forth in terms of timeline. It also helped to develop the characters in the reader’s mind, and my oh my, were there twists.

The main takeaway I got from the book is that nobody’s perfect. Flashy lifestyles, picture perfect instagrammable relationships & loyal friendships were all put to the test in this book & it really challenged me to look at my own ideals and prejudices.

I can’t wait to watch the show now!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and especially now that the TV Series has come out! I haven't finished the series yet, but the book was so great that I was eager to dive straight into the television series.
I love the set up of the book, instantly knowing that somebody is going to die makes you want to cling on to find out straight away!

I would highly recommend this to lovers of other novels such as Gone Girl, Dear Amy, Bad Sister..

Perfect!

Liane Moriarty has a true gift for spinning a story that is every bit, shockingly real but preposterously funny too! A pleasing combination, definitely. I plan to watch the tv show very soon.

The story revolves around a suburban town (I always wanted to live in one of these but I find that I'm stuck in the city). Jane is a young mother, new to the area. Her son, Ziggy, is to join the kindergarten school. This means playing playground politics with the many adults and possibly, making some friends. Jane claims she chose the area 'on a whim' but, is there something she's not saying?

This book is imaginative and has at heart, a powerful story about damaging secrets. Having read Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty also, I can say that her stories come with the guarantee of keeping you on your toes. She throws plot twists like flying punches: so efficiently you'll never see them coming!

I received this book through NetGalley.

This is not the kind of book I would normally go for but I am so glad I did. It was really good, I was hooked from the start.

I am defintely going to be reading more from this author.

A definite 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were totally believable. Jane as a victim of a traumatic incident and Celeste as a victim of abuse were particularly well drawn. All of the supporting characters were people that I would recognise and both amused me and reminded me about power and status in the confines of the school playground!

This novel is beautifully written.

It carries you along with the day to day lives of a group of Kindergarten mothers, their children and families. I really felt that I knew these women, they were real to me .They were brilliantly characterised and those of us with children, can recognise the types from our own days at the school gates.

Slowly we start to learn more and more of the backstories of these seemingly unconnected women. Interwoven with this is the present day plot of an "incident" at the annual school quiz night.

There is a strong theme of injustice throughout this novel, and in the final chapters the story comes to a head. The seemingly innocent are not so innocent, and the final twist is exquisitely executed.

It is so clever & I loved it.

I loved this book. It dragged me in and kept me there, turning page after page. I almost missed my train stop. It was not a book to read in tiny chunks, it demands your attention so you don't get confused!

I love this author and was excited to read this as I missed the tv series. I loved this book! It was clever and witty and had me guessing all the way through. Lots of unexpected surprises...

Brilliant book, well written. I always look forward to Liane's books and this one certainly did not disappoint. I haven't seen the film, but if it's as good as the book then I certainly will go and see it.

I had no idea this was a big tv series - that's next. This is really great, along with Liane's other books - one of the best authors currently writing. Really worth reading, especially if you have kids at primary school!

Received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Suspense : 4*
Plot: 5*

I absolutely love this book. It's going straight into my goodreads favourite shelf. It follows the life of 3 women whose lives are connected through their children's school life. The way the 3 narratives overlap, along with the comical end of chapter insights from the other characters, is absolutely genius. I don't want to give too much away but if you like the twist of 'Gone Girl' this won't disappoint. Onwards to the tv mini series and I only hope it's as good as this has been.

Liane Moriarty has a knack for hooking you so that you have to keep reading to see if there'll be a twist. I can't quite remember a lot of the plot a few weeks after reading it, same as with her other books, but I don't read her books for a long-lasting effect. It's pure entertainment that's enjoyable while being read.

I really didn't expect this book at all. I thought it was going to be a lighthearted look at three women with a bit of drama over Jane turning up and maybe she causes some issues with a husband. What I got was 100% better than I imagined, so I'm kind of glad I went into this book not knowing a lot about it.

It was really quite suspenseful, you are introduced to the focal point of the story; the trivia night; first through a complete outsider and then it goes back to a few months before that night and we get to see all the events leading up to it. They are slowly revealed to us in a way that makes you almost frustrated, in the best way of course, because you just really want to know what happened.

The story is told from Madeline, Celeste and Jane's point of view but is also interspersed with snippets from other parents from the school and some of the teachers. I loved reading these little bits, I thought it broke up the story nicely and added some humour, but also showed how different people's opinions can be.

I adored all the main characters, which is unusual for me. Madeline was my favourite, it was quite funny the way she was prone to, what I can only describe as, fits of dramatic rage, always one to make a scene but usually with the best intentions at heart. Celeste who always seemed to be dealing with a lot of guilt over being rich and beautiful and then how she has to grow as a person. I loved how Jane went from being the shy and anxious newcomer to opening up and finding herself and working through her issues.

The plot I won't really go into because there are so many intricate storylines that make up the bigger picture and also because I really think that this is the kind of book that you want to go into knowing as little as possible. What I will say is that, for me, it spoke to how we all perceive things differently, how seemingly small actions or judgements can have massive consequences and how traumas can have such a large effect on people but also their family and friends.

Big Little Lies is a fantastic book, one that will keep you hooked and reading into the small hours of the morning. It has a great story and characters and the perfect amount of humour, drama, and mystery, I would definitely recommend this book.

Little Big Lies is about Women. Strong Independent Women who are crazy as a box of frogs but who take sides against each other, sometimes for good reason, sometimes for no reason at all. The three women you come to know and love are Madeline, Celeste and Jane and they are mothers of Kindergarteners at Pirriwee Public School. On the day of orientation, Jane’s son Ziggy is accused of bullying Renata’s daughter, Amabella. Renata is irate. Madeline sticks up for new friend Jane because she loves the attention, and because she sees Jane struggling and realizes Jane can’t fight Renata on her own.

I preferred the book to the TV Series!