Set in an Australian seaside community, and focusing on the lives and relationships of a group of parents whose children have just started school, Big Little Lies is a highly entertaining novel, with a ridiculous yet believable cast and a clever structure. It’s very funny and, although superficially light, has some genuine depth. There are definitely echoes of Anne Tyler – Liane Moriarty has the laudable ability to be simultaneously judgemental and sympathetic towards her characters – and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

This book is set around the children and parents at a school. During a school fundraising evening someone dies. You follow what happens to the children and and their parents from when they start kindergarten until the evening of the fundraiser. You get drawn into everyone's lives that aren't always what they seem from the outside. There are single parents, step families and what look like normal happily married couples but are they. When you find out who it is that has died and how it happened you wonder what's going to happen next, but luckily you do get to find out. This was an interesting read which has also been made into a TV series. I would like to watch it to see if it's as good as the book.

What can I say, I absolutely loved this book! Loved the writing style, at first I was thrown too and grow, but soon got used to the pop up characters giving their statements and the flashbacks. I have since seen the TV series and that really brought the setting to life. Highly recommended.

Although I had seen the series based on the book on TV, I was still keen to read the book as I often find the original book is better than seeing the programme or film, and this was again true in this case.

While I often found parts of the series difficult to link together, the way the author writes so seamlessly, it is a comfortable, flowing pace, yet with really endearing characters.

Whether you have seen the adaptation or not, I would certainly recommend this book.

I know this book has been made into a TV show, but i have not watched an episode of it at all. I can say this book is truly phenomenal, a look into some women's lives and how what is on the surface may appear to many to be perfect and serene, sometimes what is underneath the surface never matches the what people see. I found the book very engaging, i could not put it down and seeing as how it is a few hundred pages (460) it certainly did not feel as many pages. This book is very funny in stages but it is oh so incredibly smart as well. Do not take my review lightly when i say read this book, what i mean is read this book, look at how these women interact with each other, their spouses and themselves and finish the story knowing you have read something truly amazing. Only no that i have read the book do i feel i can watch the show

review is on goodreads under the profile name Kimothy

I really enjoyed this book. I've read most of Liane Moriarty's novels and, in my opinion, this is the best! The story is set in a small community and features the children and parents at the local primary school. We find out early on that something awful happened at a charity fund raising event at the school, but the exact details are not revealed until virtually the end. Secrets and lies feature strongly, and the characters are very well observed. I really recommend this book - thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

Thank you to netgallery and the publishers for my chance to read this excellent book.
I loved this book, it centred round the children and parents of the kindergarten of Pirriwee Public school. The book exposes the real lives of the families and the big little lies they tell to hide parts of their lives from others

From the beginning you know something bad has happened at the annual fund raising night and this had me guessing and examining the characters throughout the book. The ending was fantastic and not what I had guessed at all.

Liane Moriarty can not only write an excellent book which kept me intrigued but her understanding and portrayal of life issues such as second marriages, exes, past traumas bullying and domestic abuse are second to none.

Given these issues you may feel this book would be heavy but not so it is written in a way to include humour and intrigue. I recommend this book to everyone, I didn't want it to end .

I was so excited to receive a copy of 'Big little lies' on netgalley in return for an honest review after hearing all the hype for the TV show and the wonderful actors who were chosen to play the roles. This book did not disappoint in keeping me entertained and interested but it missed the punch and excitement I am used to from reading more sinister murder mystery novels. This book is definitely more suited for the rom-com, chick-flick type of reader or viewer.

'Big little lies' by Liane Mortiary is a chick-flick murder mystery that will grab your attention from the start. I particularly liked how you are left guessing "who has been murdered?" and "by whom?" until the very last pages. I also enjoyed how the police statements are carried throughout the story without giving anything away but teasing you with little snippets of information.

The story focussed on 3 woman; Madeline, Celeste and Jane, who couldn't be more different but bonded due to having the same morals, sense of humour and not feeling like they had to follow the crowd. The humour, pettiness and ridiculousness in this book is amazing from parents signing petitions wanting a child banned from the school to how seriously they took the parent's race on sports day. It is so successful at drawing you in because of the way it has been written and due to the fact you don't doubt that there are actually people out their who live their lives like this. I adored the 3 main characters Madeline, Celeste and Jane and would 100% be in their clique if my child went to their school.

As much as this novel is about a murder it is also about friendship, heartbreak, solidarity, bullying and so much more. The characters are so real and flawed that they could be you, your family or your neighbour.

When I discovered who was murdered, why and by whom it really touched me. Especially how all the characters acted during the aftermath. It was extremely touching.

'Big little lies' wasn't exactly to my taste but there's no denying it is beautifully written, intriguing and the characters are portrayed wonderfully.

Who knew preschool could be so dangerous….., 5 Stars 🌟 :

We start the book knowing a murder has been committed and each chapter is interwoven with interviews with parents and teachers setting the seen and building a picture of what happened in the build up to and on the night of the trivia night and the murder.

The story starts six months before the trivia night with an incident on orientation day where one of the children gets strangled by another in the class and from there we are taken down a road of twists and turns, lies by omission and otherwise and as the threads began to unravel you see that the lives aren't so perfect behind the veil. Until the trivia night when all the lies come to a head and the truth comes out but who will survive the fall out and would you lie to protect another.

Ms Liane Moriarty has written a wonderful witty original story which is written in bite size chapters, which will keep you turning the page to see what happens next. She has also shown that playground dynamics are the same at any age and be it parent or child bullying is still bullying and should be stopped.

If you are a member of a book club I think you will love this book and the topics it raises as I am sure we can all relate to the cliques in the school playground and the different characters in the book, for e.g., how would you deal with your child being bullied and them not telling you who it was?

You would have to have been living under a rock not to have heard about this book but I felt it lived up to and surpassed the hype. The question is do I watch the HBO series as in past experience the book is always far superior to the TV adaptation?

What will Ms Moriarty's next book have in store for us, I for one can not wait!

Fyi I received my copy from NetGalley, but this does not influence my opinions as all opinions are my own.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty is both a powerful and disturbing contemporary thriller which made for compulsive reading. Its focus was bullying, domestic abuse and the lies we tell ourselves every day. It was uncomfortable reading at times but life is not always nice and we do not see what goes on behind closed doors.
Big Little Lies had a superb technique of teasing the reader as each chapter consisted of both present day police interview snippets and a narrative moving forward from six months earlier. Try as I might, I could not guess what had happened or to whom. My scenario was completely wrong. Liane Moriarty teased and tempted the reader by revealing snippets bit by bit. To say I was surprised at the outcome, is an understatement.
Domestic violence is complex. Victims lie to themselves believing it is their fault, they are to blame and it will not happen again. It is never the victims fault. "Each time she didn't leave him, she gave him tacit permission to do it again." To leave takes courage and one needs to have somewhere to go. Add children to the mix and it becomes harder. The abuser lies too - they are sorry (and they may be at that moment), it won't happen again. Guilt prompts them to 'try to make it up.' "He bought her the first piece of jewellery she would never wear." Guilty consciences spend money.
The novel shows abuse can happen to anyone, anywhere. There is no 'type.' No one asks to be abused. No one is abused because of the clothes they wear. The cycle of abuse must be broken for fear of the sins of the fathers visiting the next generation.
There is the theme of appearances. "They can all play 'I'm richer than you' " game but its exhausting. People are so concerned with looking good that they forget to be good.
The difficulties of relationships is explored - parents and children, second marriages, blended families etc. Life can be very complex.
The novel warns of the dangers of the school yard gossip. The parents are worse than the children.
In contrast there is the loyalty of the under five's. There is a beautiful friendship that touched my heart. Children are loyal, keeping secrets to protect and not harm.
There is a beautiful friendship also between three unlikely women.
Transparency is best. One of the characters is refreshing for her honesty and openness. Her vulnerability is touching. Her blossoming warms the readers heart.
The difficult topic of bullying is present. It focuses around the five year olds. The parents at the school gate seem to take it to a whole new level.
Big Little Lies was a difficult read at times but one which I devoured. It was a novel that you could really get your teeth into - life is not always what we expect. The face presented to the world is not always a true representation. And if we tell them often enough, we will begin to believe the big little lies.
A cleverly constructed story that is a compulsive read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This book intrigued and annoyed me! But in a good way, and I'm sure this was the intention. We know from the start that someone has died. but who? I keep waiting to see more of the neighbour that we see in the prologue but her part fails to materialise. That said, there is plenty of intrigue, and lots to feel aggrieved about on behalf of jane and her son Ziggy. We approach the book from the point of view of a group of parents of kindergarten children and the kids themselves. We know there's more to the situation than meets the eye. We know there's more to the characters than meets the eye, and the book takes its time to let us know. It kept me reading, kept me guessing and I was happy with the outcome. An easy, pleasant read, even if some of the characters were distinctly unsavourable - and downright evil. There are themes of bullying, domestic violence, female friendships, family dynamics with some humour along the way. I felt I was part of the Pirriwee family! The drinking at the trivia night was written in a way that I could see people getting drunker, and while the outcome was tragic, the picture painted was amusing! A good read, I'd recommend for an on the surface light read but with dark undertones.

Laugh out loud funny at times this was a captivating book that entertains from start to finish. Doesn't take itself too seriously which I loved.

Jane is a stranger in town when she first takes her son Ziggy to Pirriwee kindergarten school and is delighted when she is befriended by another mother Madeleine. Madeleine then introduces her to her friend the beautiful and glamorous Celeste, who appears to have it all - money, a successful husband and lovely twin boys - so why does she always seem to be so on edge!

It soon becomes clear that all of the women have secrets and so when an incident happens in the playground at school and Ziggy is accused of trying to choke another girl rumours start to fly and these rumours then start to become lies and who knows what is true and what isn't!

A great book that grabs you from the start and is definitely compulsive reading with loads of twists and turns - highly recommended

Suburban “moms”, little lives and little lies. When I looked at reading this I didn’t know about the TV series (I watch very little) but when I saw Nicole Kidman was Celeste, the character fitted well in my mind’s eye. A story of hidden truths, of what goes on unknown to others, irrespective of who has the best car/house/bank balance and of friendships that break or endure. The main storyline is interspersed with “statements” from witnesses to the event, an event we don’t find out about until late in the book. To me, at the beginning I found this a little difficult to get into but was soon into the flow of things- so don’t give up! The characters are likeable albeit a little tenuous in some cases. Others come across as more real and feisty- in a good way, and some appear just up for a fight. True colours always show when there is animosity! A story to make you think. An enjoyable read with a difference.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review and have given it 5 big fat stars.

Like many I was curious after watching the hit show Big Little Lies and wait to dive into the book.

I was not disappointed! This is my first read from Liane Moriarty and she sure did deliver.

It was well written, well crafted and totally mesmerizing!! I was hooked from beginning to end. The author tackled some tricky issues and managed to navigate them with both humor and poise. It made for a brilliantly entertaining read, one that I couldn't put down. The suspense is built up from the beginning and carried through until the big reveal and even though I already knew what had happened, I felt like I was discovering it for the first time. Simply brilliant!

First class writing and I loved every single word!

I really liked the way that this book was written. The switching from viewpoint to viewpoint lends itself to the gossipy nature of the women and men involved in this story. Initially although it appears that a murder has been committed, the book feels lighthearted. However, do not be fooled, the theme of the story is much darker and the reader is drawn in to the 'little lies' told by many of us. Some people have much deeper and darker secrets than others. Ultimately the tension builds as the story progresses and the true nature of the horror of one of the women's lives is uncovered. Also tackled is the subject of small town gossip, of people who spread rumours without knowing the truth and who make judgements about others causing anxiety and misery in their wake. thought provoking and well written. I would recommend this book

I absolutely loved this book. My first ever by the author but I rushed out to buy TMG as soon as I'd finished. Wickedly funny and with wonderful characters, the observational humour was so spot on that I found myself peering round at the school gate mums in a whole new light. Would definitely recommend

I have mixed feelings about this. The characterisation is not very deep and the ploy thin. But, it is a good one to pack when you are away as it will not keep you awake when reading in bed and is pleasant enough for the beach.

Absolutely loved this book, a real page turner and I didn't want to come to the end.

Great book! Couldn't put it down! Loved the story, the characters and the way it was told. Thought the journalist's​ interview interspersed with the story was great. It dealt with domestic violence and other difficult topics sensitively.