The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed and the kids are in high school, navigating all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).
When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, word quickly spreads throughout the community and parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and bluntness or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.
When a stranger begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating party—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)
Ever since I heard there would be a sequel to Big Little Lies (reviewed here), I have been wanting to get my hands on a copy. Big Little Truths is just as scandalous and addictive! It does not follow season two of the TV series and I am glad about that. It takes place ten years later, when all the kids are in high school and the moms are facing down their fifties (at least some of them are).
This novel focuses on being part of a sandwich generation. The women have different issues to deal with this time, but the aftermath of the events from the first book still haunt them. It was a really good read that felt relatable in some ways. I couldn't get enough of it! There are some heavy parts to the story, so be kind to yourself while reading it.
Throughout the novel, there were many things that surprised me. I thought I was guessing correctly at something and then I would realize I was completely off base. I loved the script-like dialogue between the teenagers, who are divulging everything at a group counseling session. Being the mother of a teenager (along with two adults), I found I could relate even more to the women in this story.
The novel goes back and forth in time. It took me a while to remember when everything was happening in the present vs. half a year before. Also, because the seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in the US, I had to think even harder about the timing of everything. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind when you read it.
If you want to read this as a standalone, there's enough context from the first book to help everything make sense. However, I highly recommend Big Little Lies and you can avoid spoilers by reading it first. It's also a good way to form a bond with the characters. I felt like I was reuniting with old friends this time around.
Overall, an excellent sequel! Maybe Liane can be persuaded to write one for What Alice Forgot someday, as well.
(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)
Listen to this book on Speechify!
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TW: Grooming minors. Cancer. Mental breakdowns. Assault. Dementia. Drug and alcohol use. Receiving a threat. Death of spouse/parent. Trauma.
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