"Big Little Lies" was a very unusual book for me. It's not what I would normally read but that was part of its appeal. I really enjoyed the original way in which the author told her story. I was immensely impressed by the way she moved between several different characters and events. It seemed so effortless! I did not feel closer to any particular character since they were all so wonderfully introduced. The whole book reminded me a bit of an american tv series. No wonder someone decided to make it into one.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Absolutely loved this book, all the way through I was convinced I knew which character would be the victim and I was completely wrong.
Excellent writing, kept me hooked from the first page.
Now I need to go and watch the tv series :-)

Having watched the first episode of the TV series adaptation and then decided "meh," and not continued, and being an avid YA reader (the last Adult fiction books I read were probably the confession of a shopaholic series... before I even owned a debit card myself), I have absolutely no idea why I got this book! But I did, and here I am, very glad for it.

All through the first episode of the series, all I could think was "god - I just want to know who is killed." This feeling is trebled in the book, with the first chapter being of an unrelated character observing the trivia night, the back and forth between the plot and the interviews, and the countdown until the trivia night; the structure and pace of this book is magnificent. Although Madeline was absolutely an open-book (and perfectly casted in the show as Reece Witherspoon, in my opinion), loveable and fierce and I'd like to think quite relatable, Celeste and Jane? Not so. Celeste, although she hid her secrets from the outside, was revealed to the reader as what her marriage really entailed rather early on, the abuse getting more gruesome as it goes on, however... Jane was the real page turner. A combination of Jane's mystery, Celeste's secrets and the impending trivia night made this novel guiltily enjoyable.

Madeline was just gorgeous! A happy woman with a nice life and one of those who lives to judge others, but it's okay because she owns up to it. I loved how she clung to Jane because she empathised with how it felt to be a singe mother, and acted like a beacon of hope because she came out of the other side with a husband who will always love her and two beautiful rascals - I mean children. Of course, it was always going to be interesting her being in such close proximity with her ex-husband (Nathan) who abandoned her and now is suddenly doting father to his new child and new wife, and - oh, calamity! (Seriously, thank you Moriarty for introducing this phrase into everyday conversation, I can't wait for my friends and family to give me strange looks) - with this new closeness and security, his daughter with Madeline, Abigail, suddenly loves him more than her mother. Not that I have any experience, but I thought Moriarty portrayed this really well, Madeline making excellent points about feeling betrayed and grieving over losing her daughter, and her confliction with how her new husband Ed is treating the situation, and finally - most importantly - how this made her feel about Nathan and Bonnie. Abigail's sub-plot with her "project" for Amnesty International and the dramatisation Madeline provides because of her work in theatre made this book what it is, too.

Unlike Madeline, Celeste was quite hard to feel as if you could relate to, but I was proud of her nonetheless, in a sort of, watching your little sister's best friend graduate. By the end of the novel, I didn't feel like I knew her - I only knew the Celeste that was a domestic abuse victim - but maybe that was the point, watching her flourish and become a different Celeste (especially one year after the Trivia Night - you know which bit I mean) was beautiful! Still, the "flourishing" wasn't as thorough as the other two women, sometimes her decisions seemed to have come out of nowhere and although I was happy for her to seek counselling and buy an apartment, more build up could have been added.

JANE JANE JANE. Oh, calamity - I really am upset to let her go. What a marvel. Jane arrives at Pirriwee Penninsula with a little boy and a bag full of secrets. She told Madeline her story about half way through, and whilst I'd guessed that she'd been raped, it was still horrifying. Even after she'd told Madeline, it wasn't until the Trivia Night that I realised there were bits to her Moriarty had left out to avoid spoiling the plot twist, artfully done. Even through struggling with her abuse, and her subsequent body image distortions and self confidence issues, she was an excellent mum to Ziggy, and nobody could ever take that away from her. I'm glad Jane and Celeste became close, even if they didn't realise what they bonded about, and oh my god... don't get me started on Jane and Tom... EEEK amazing.

That's all the detail I'm going to go in to, but I will reiterate the structure point, it was truly artful how Moriarty ravelled and unravelled dilemmas and resolutions over and over again, resulting in the Trivia Night which fully absorbed you into the chaos and calamity of the situation, the tensions rising with each page turned.

// Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review //

As usual Liane Moriarty has produced a great read. This book is a page turner......I read it in a week, just couldn't put it down. She begins by "dangling the carrot" and then drip feeding the story, so that you cannot put it down. I also wanted to read this before I watched the TV series! Go on give it a read, definitely recommended!

This was weird for me. I usually read the books before watching the adaptations. However, here, I had seen the show twice (once alone, once with my mom). So I spent most of the time reading the book, trying to figure out the similarities and differences between the two. This also meant I didn’t really have the whole thriller/suspense thing going on since I mostly knew what would happen.
Still, I really enjoyed this and it was almost like the show and the book completed each other in their differences. I was very happy to have all three precise points of view and I related to Jane way too much.
I really enjoyed the characters, especially how flawed they all are. I was often infuriated in their behalf and they made me feel a lot of different things.
Also, feminism.
I would most definitely recommend.

Having watched the mini-series before reading the book, I wanted to dig deeper into the characters that had been portrayed to me by the director Jean- Marc Vallée in an aesthetically beautiful way. I had also read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and thoroughly enjoyed her writing style, and the way she observed every day nuances. Big little lies could be a story about any one of us, a story of the image we project of ourselves to friends, to our neighbours, to work colleagues, to the internet, and the distance between this and our reality.
I was surprised to find that the prose took the same form as the series – almost as if it had been written with a screen-play in mind. Throughout the book there is narrative interjected with short pops of character interviews conducted by a reporter which had the potential to make the story difficult to understand, but actually added energy; helping to build tension, and of course the element of “whodunnit”.

Suffice to say, we are introduced to three women of young children who are just starting kindergarten, who in turn are introduced to the horror that is the school playground – by that, I mean for the parents: cliques and bullying don’t just exist within the school classrooms. Obviously the parents lives are often reflected in the lives of their children, and it is in this that the reader is presented with dual stories that are intertwined – that of the young children and their changing dynamics, alongside the personal lives of the adults with all of their issues and baggage.

Liane Moriarty builds images of personalities that are easy to relate to - real women who are just trying to get along in life. Madeline is the product of her experiences; a single mum now remarried but having to face her flaky ex-husband on a daily basis, who has since turned into Dad of the year with his 5 year old child by his new wife Bonnie. With memories, anger and grudges all bubbling under, Madeline tries to keep a cool and dignified façade, but this is when it hits the hardest. Celeste is so effortlessly beautiful and yet wracked with guilt because of it. She feels she has to live up to everyone’s expectations of her perfection when all she wants to do is scream and cry, and be held by her friends while she asks them if her life is normal. Jane who is trying to fit in while she struggles every day with her son’s violent conception and wondering if he has his father’s traits. Of course, our trio of protagonists are not the only ones in this tale who are telling big little lies, but in this town, it has ended in a murder.

Moriarty has stepped up to the parapet with difficult themes of violent rape and ensuing conception, flaky ex-husbands who are transformed, and current husbands who are not - domestic violence. But she also gifts us the true nature of friendship amongst women, feminism and its strength, and mother\daughter relationship strengths. She has highlighted the way in which women protect each other and themselves when the shit hits the fan.

For such big themes, the author has given us an easy read, a kaleidoscope of characters, vivid imagery, and reasons for introspection. Even if you have watched the mini-series, you will want to read this book – it goes beyond the murder, it focuses on difficult moments in ways the series could not, and it has a different perspective on various aspects of our girls’ lives.

Is there anything you need to change or nurture in yourself? Time is an elusive thing, you think you have lots of it, only to wake up one day and find that youth has gone and you have been careless with yourself.

Big little lies is a story about just that – the way we project who we are and why, and the lengths we will go to, to make sure that no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.

It feels like everyone and their mum has read this book, like to the point where it has even spawned a super popular television show! I’d been debating buying it for some time after failing to locate a copy at the library and then as if Penguin had heard my prayers, they sent me a copy! How wonderfully kind of them! So here we go, my thoughts!

A murder . . . a tragic accident . . . or just parents behaving badly?
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.
But who did what?
Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.
New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

Right, first things first, I haven’t seen the TV show yet, so I don’t know how to two compare, is it any good? Let me know!
Secondly, I have waaaaaay too many thoughts for this review to be in anyway coherent, so you know. Brace yourself.

One of the first reviews you find on Goodreads for this book starts with: Probably the funniest book about murder and domestic abuse I’ll ever read and honestly, I think that’s the best way to describe this book… Though with a slight amend, I didn’t think this book was funny, not in the laugh out loud sense anyway, there were a few moments of smirking into the pages, but overall, I found it kinda flippant and shallow in its approach to the core subjects, kind of like the characters within I guess, but it certainly isn’t a serious book about domestic abuse, murder, bullying and the other issues this story. The other thing this book manages to do is be subtle and obvious all at the same time. How is that possible? Does it translate well onto screen? You’re so distracted by the Renata vs Madeline is my kid a bully story that the big issues seem to come flying at you when they’re presented, even though on closer inspection, they were there the entire time.

So here’s the thing, when this book starts, we have what is essentially a lot of tedious playground related nonsense. A group of yummy mummy types bunching together and ganging up on each other, being bitchy and using their children to get at each other and I found myself wondering what exactly everyone was raving about with this book. Like I usually don’t have any time for women tearing each other down, but there was something about the interview extracts littered throughout and the count down to trivia night that made me stick with it. What we have is several stories of differing seriousness being interwoven with a few more trivial life moments. Like on the one hand, Madeline’s vendetta against Renata and her grudge holding against her ex after everyone else has moved on is a bit distracting when you have Celeste and everything going on in her life and the trauma that Jane is unsuccessfully dealing with and come the end when the truth is out and the full story revealed you’re struck by its brilliance, it’s ‘why didn’t I see that coming?’ even though it is there from the very beginning.

Basically, there are many things about this book that annoyed me, but there are also many things that surprised me and captivated me and I think I’ll be hard pressed to find anything else like it.

‘Big Little Lies’ is a fun, intriguing page turner which explores the lives of three mothers from different economic backgrounds and how they exist in a small apparently close knit community. Opening with a murder at a school event, the narrative goes from past to present through a very inventive device using interviews of parents and teachers talking to the police whilst going back to the beginning of the school year that leads to the murderous events.

The story is location gives us a look in of Australia suburban community with over protected mothers who form two groups between the professional mothers or the professional working mothers. This is masterly crafted and handled by Moriarty. She totally visualises and impresses upon the reader a vivid kaleidoscope of flavours, smells and placing you right in this town. Each character is lovingly and realistically realised within the contours of the book creating cornucopia of different personalities providing a relish of situations that totally involves the reader.

This book is a true winner. The HBO series follows rather closely to the novel but moves the action to the US without missing a beat. The novel does have some changes that makes it more involving and there are specific changes that does alter the ending that viewers would be unfamiliar with which makes this book even more fun to read. The interviews are more plentiful in the novel and really lift this above the norm.

Little Big Lies is a rewarding page turner and a book that is very hard to put down. You want more and I personally, would love a sequel to see where the community is currently. This book is a real must read and we have placed this on our summer must reads blog which went out last week. This is a must read and highly recommend this fantastic intricate plotted novel that has humour, murder, suspense and drama and marries these together in one of the best reads I have read in a long time.

This is a must read.

I recently watched the TV adaptation of Big Little Lies and found myself wanting to read the book that inspired it. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. If you love suspense and a slow build-up to a climactic ending, you'll love Big Little Lies. Whether you read it before or after watching the TV show, you'll love it.

I had actually started watching the tv series before reading this book and loved both, there are a few slight changes but nothing too drastic but even so I would recommend both!

The story is told through the eyes of Celeste, Jane and Madeline (With a few excerpts from other Moms and Dads at the school the children attend) all soccer moms in an Australian beach town, with very different stories, each character is flawed and has their own issues.From The beginning we are informed there is a murder/death but don't know who or how it happened. The story builds until the trivia night where the event unfolded.

This was the first book I have read by Liane Moriarty but I loved it, I felt a connection with the characters and found each story believable and sympathetically told.

I loved this book about Australian school mums.

Single mother Jane moves to Pirriwee with her son Ziggy, and enrols him in the local kindergarten.
After an unfortunate incident on the orientation day, she becomes friends with the beautiful, serene Celeste, and giddy Madeline.
Something bad happens at the Trivia night, and the six-month build-up to it uncovers many secrets, and questions various relationships, and the aftermath gives some resolution.
I related to so many of the characters, fraught mothers, put-upon teachers, stroppy teenagers, divorced parents, and loved the Greek chorus of voices that preceded some chapters.
The book addresses some very serious issues, but does it with a great sense of humour (I laughed out loud several times), and irony, but also sympathy.

Five stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK – Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow, this was some convoluted tale. A who-dun-it. It's also a bit of a what have they done to it, as I started watching the TV series on Sky before picking up the book. So, having the book version set in Sydney was weird to say the least.
Also, something wasn't quite right with the formatting of my copy which made it awkward to read at times.The story was great though and the ending. Unforgettable.
As I said, I loved the TV series and was surprised by how closely it followed the book, minus it being set in Monterey, California rather than Pirriwee a fictional Peninsula in Australia. The characters were slightly changed to but still as crazy and OTT as I'd come to expect.

This has everything I love in a book! Real characters, great plot, humor, suspense and a good read!

Loved this book. So well written with great characters. Some exceptionally likeable, some truly despicable. So many secrets in the idyllic beach town of wealthy, successful people. Jane arrives in town with her young boy Ziggy with a secretive past. She then gets swept into a friendship with the exuberant Madeline and the beautiful Celeste who has the seemingly perfect life. Every type of stereotypical school gate mum appears throughout. Lots of mystery continues with some great humour. Who was murdered and who did it? Eventually all is revealed with a stunning conclusion.

I was so excited to read this book having seen the TV adaptation. Unfortunately I felt a little let down. Was it that the TV series had a large budget so could portray the book in the way it as meant to be seen I'm unsure. I found myself flicking through the first 80% frustrated that it was not tackling the issues of domestic violence, bullying and duel families effectively. Having said all that the last 20% was actually wrote with some understanding and was a better plot than the TV adaption. Definitely worth a read even if you have seen the TV series but be prepared for a calmer plot and a sometimes stereotypical characters.

I enjoyed this book although I found the interview style sections confusing at first as I was not sure of all the names. The themes of bullying and abuse were serious but there was a tone of humour throughout the book which lightened the mood. The friendships between the women was well drawn, and the children's characters were true to life. Although you know from early on that there is a crisis, indeed a murder, about to happen, the way the plot built up to the climax was superb, with a big shock near the end. I hope the series is broadcast on UK channels before too long.

What a page turner. I love how the story develops interspersed with the post-party dialogue which slowly reveals the plot through behind the scenes gossip. Makes you wanna look closer at the people around you for signs that you hope you are not missing.

A lively, well written novel woven around the start of schooldays when parents, both mothers and fathers, can be found outside the school gates boasting about their children's abilities and prowess, and children wrongly accusing other children of bullying, etc., etc! This reminded me so much of days long ago spent waiting outside school at the end of the day and eavesdropping on comments from other mothers and fathers! However there is a big twist in the tale when a murder takes place during a parents' quiz night. The story then becomes interspersed with police finding that everyone present on the evening of the murder denies having witnessed the event. Added to this various unexpected twists and turns also come to light, but I don't want to spoil things for readers by revealing more. Buy the book and enjoy a good read.

Secrets rarely remain that way. They often seep out into the clear light of day, with each revelation being devastating to the person who relied on keeping things hidden. This book seeks to unveil what was covert before, as it suggests which lies are big or little to each person's eyes, what can be shared and what should be confined to the ones holding parts of their lives secret from others.

We follow the main characters, Madeline, Jane and Celeste, as they try to settle their offspring into school. Loyalties are tested to the utmost, as are family values, fidelity and truth. Relationships are not all they appear to be on the surface. There are hidden depths, stresses and strains and lies being maintained in what seemed perfect at face value. As the action heats up, tension mounts, tempers rise and the adults appear to lose their grip on things. People are not as malleable or controllable as others want them to be.

Myriad twists and turns keep the reader riveted to the final, surprising denouement. This novel has nuance, depth, beautiful slices of sly humour, psychological insight and totally believable characterisation. I also liked the investigative interviews as a background narrative to the main action unfolding. There’s more than enough within these pages to keep all who read it intrigued and interested to the end. I loved it!

Decided to get the book after watching the tv series as I couldn't quite see what the fuss was about - the book is much better!