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Big Little Lies #2
Big Little Truths
In her first-ever sequel, Liane Moriarty examines the complexities of modern women’s lives, shining light on shame and family secrets with wit and compassion. Whether you’ve read Big Little Lies or not, this is the perfect novel for longtime fans and new readers alike.
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 child’s birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed, and the kids are now in high school, with all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).
Now, after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, the 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 forthrightness, 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 strange man 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 show—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them.
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 child’s birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed, and the kids are now in high school, with all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).
Now, after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, the 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 forthrightness, 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 strange man 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 show—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them.
465 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Liane Moriarty
69 books78.9k followersLiane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,148 reviews
May 12, 2026
IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR A THIRD BOOK?
In Big Little Truths, it has been a decade since the events of Big Little Lies and the mystery is about to commence again when a severed human finger arrives in the mail at Pirriwee High school. While everyone is in uproar, we are reunited with Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Bonnie and Renata who have bigger things to be worrying about.
Look I’m probably writing this book very biased because Big Little Lies is one of my all-time favourite books. It got me back into reading and really cemented my love for contemporary mystery thrillers.
From the jump I was immediately drawn back into the lives of my core three girlies and I was hooked!
I could happily read about Madeline, Celeste, Jane and the rest of the clan for the remainder of my life and never be bored!
It’s been 10 years and reading about the kids being teenagers felt surreal! They really had their own voices and big personalities, and I loved every minute of it!
If you are looking for a typical thriller please understand you are not going to get this here.
This is a very much character driven novel about mothers, their spouses, children and how they all navigate their lives.
Yes there is a mystery subplot in the story that for one had my GOB SMACKED AND MY FLABBERS GHASTED! I was truly aghast and did not see it coming AT ALL!
Moriarty has a writing skill that flows effortlessly and has you constantly saying ‘ugh just one more chapter’! The chapters were quick, easy to read and she really gave us the perfect blend of humour, trauma, grief and straight up realism!
Moriarty has spoiled me with this sequel, and I am ready for the trilogy!
I hope she writes another book about my favourite residents of Pirriwee.
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⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Its TIMEEEEEEEEEEE!?! 😍🥰😍🥰😍
Big Little Lies is one of my Top 10 fave book of all time!
I just know I’m going to devour this one!
💚🤍🤍💚
In Big Little Truths, it has been a decade since the events of Big Little Lies and the mystery is about to commence again when a severed human finger arrives in the mail at Pirriwee High school. While everyone is in uproar, we are reunited with Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Bonnie and Renata who have bigger things to be worrying about.
Look I’m probably writing this book very biased because Big Little Lies is one of my all-time favourite books. It got me back into reading and really cemented my love for contemporary mystery thrillers.
From the jump I was immediately drawn back into the lives of my core three girlies and I was hooked!
I could happily read about Madeline, Celeste, Jane and the rest of the clan for the remainder of my life and never be bored!
It’s been 10 years and reading about the kids being teenagers felt surreal! They really had their own voices and big personalities, and I loved every minute of it!
If you are looking for a typical thriller please understand you are not going to get this here.
This is a very much character driven novel about mothers, their spouses, children and how they all navigate their lives.
Yes there is a mystery subplot in the story that for one had my GOB SMACKED AND MY FLABBERS GHASTED! I was truly aghast and did not see it coming AT ALL!
Moriarty has a writing skill that flows effortlessly and has you constantly saying ‘ugh just one more chapter’! The chapters were quick, easy to read and she really gave us the perfect blend of humour, trauma, grief and straight up realism!
Moriarty has spoiled me with this sequel, and I am ready for the trilogy!
I hope she writes another book about my favourite residents of Pirriwee.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Its TIMEEEEEEEEEEE!?! 😍🥰😍🥰😍
Big Little Lies is one of my Top 10 fave book of all time!
I just know I’m going to devour this one!
💚🤍🤍💚
September 16, 2026
We go from Big Little Lies to Big Little Truths. A decade has passed. The group of women now have kids hitting their teen years. Big kids = bigger problems. And a human finger has been sent to the local hs.
Moriarity delivers characters who are narcissistic and selfish yet do care for their own. Perfection comes at a cost which is layered with a healthy amount of flaws.
We have a stalker creeping the teenage girls, cancer, teenage angst, secrets of course, but truths -both past and present - exposed.
For all their melodrama, one thing is true: these friends support each other during all their ups and downs.
4.5⭐️
HBO better pick this one up!
Moriarity delivers characters who are narcissistic and selfish yet do care for their own. Perfection comes at a cost which is layered with a healthy amount of flaws.
We have a stalker creeping the teenage girls, cancer, teenage angst, secrets of course, but truths -both past and present - exposed.
For all their melodrama, one thing is true: these friends support each other during all their ups and downs.
4.5⭐️
HBO better pick this one up!
September 5, 2026
Rounded up from 4.5!
Just as addictive and unputdownable as its predecessor, Big Little Lies! From the moment I started this book, all I wanted to do was read it.
This is the sequel to BLL and follows the same group of moms 10 years later. Their kids are bigger, and so are all of their issues.
I didn’t reread BLL, and the author’s note at the beginning says this can actually be read as a standalone. Honestly, just Googling who played each of the women was a good refresher! The hardest thing I had to keep straight was whose kids belonged to who! But, despite the hefty cast of characters, I was completely hooked from the first page and so happy to be reunited with these characters.
The story kicks off with a severed human finger that’s been sent in the mail to the principal of the high school! More mystery than thriller!
I think women of all ages will feel quite seen in these pages.
Something about this story screams spicy margarita. It’s never consumed on the page, but it just feels right. Swipe for what I mixed up for this book!
Just as addictive and unputdownable as its predecessor, Big Little Lies! From the moment I started this book, all I wanted to do was read it.
This is the sequel to BLL and follows the same group of moms 10 years later. Their kids are bigger, and so are all of their issues.
I didn’t reread BLL, and the author’s note at the beginning says this can actually be read as a standalone. Honestly, just Googling who played each of the women was a good refresher! The hardest thing I had to keep straight was whose kids belonged to who! But, despite the hefty cast of characters, I was completely hooked from the first page and so happy to be reunited with these characters.
The story kicks off with a severed human finger that’s been sent in the mail to the principal of the high school! More mystery than thriller!
I think women of all ages will feel quite seen in these pages.
Something about this story screams spicy margarita. It’s never consumed on the page, but it just feels right. Swipe for what I mixed up for this book!
September 6, 2026
Big Little Truths is the follow-up to Liane Moriarty's bestselling novel Big Little Lies, which was adapted into an HBO series starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Dern.
While reading the earlier book isn’t a prerequisite, it does help to have a basic familiarity with the events that brought all the players together.
Set 10 years later, the sequel centers on Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie as they navigate the treacherous waters of raising teenagers while carrying unresolved burdens from their past.
The women are now either approaching middle age or squarely in it and juggling health scares, marital strain, aging parents, and teenage rebellion.
Big Little Truths opens with a severed finger mailed to the school principal that in turn sparks a police investigation.
Those who enjoy fast-paced thrillers won't find one here. This is a slow-burn mystery, with the truth surfacing gradually.
Satirical and witty while balancing dark, tense suspense, Moriarty employs a multi-perspective structure that alternates between domestic struggles, teenage transcripts, police reports, and a parent WhatsApp group.
This sequel will likely resonate most with readers who read and/or watched the original Big Little Lies and want closure for these characters.
September 9, 2026
I really enjoyed being back with these characters again. It’s been ten years since Big Little Lies, and it was fun seeing where Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata and Bonnie are now, especially with their children all grown into teenagers. There’s still plenty of gossip, friendship drama and family issues, but this time there are some much more serious themes mixed in. I liked how the story slowly built up the mystery, with little clues along the way that made me want to keep reading. The characters are definitely the strongest part for me, and Moriarty does such a good job of making their emotions and everyday struggles feel realistic and relatable.
It did take me a little while to get fully into the story, and I don’t think it was quite as gripping as Big Little Lies. Some parts felt a bit slow and there was a lot going on, but once the story started coming together, I was hooked. I also really liked the humor mixed in with the darker moments, which kept the book from feeling too heavy. The ending was probably my favorite part, as the different pieces finally came together and left me thinking about it afterwards. A really enjoyable sequel and it was lovely catching up with these characters again.
It did take me a little while to get fully into the story, and I don’t think it was quite as gripping as Big Little Lies. Some parts felt a bit slow and there was a lot going on, but once the story started coming together, I was hooked. I also really liked the humor mixed in with the darker moments, which kept the book from feeling too heavy. The ending was probably my favorite part, as the different pieces finally came together and left me thinking about it afterwards. A really enjoyable sequel and it was lovely catching up with these characters again.
August 28, 2026
Big Little Truths is the sequel to Big Little Lies. But as author Liane Moriarty states in her Author’s Note before the beginning of the book, it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone. Just be aware, if you haven’t read Big Little Lies and think you might want to, you’ll definitely need to read it first as this book gives its ending away.
This book begins ten years later. The children are now teenagers. The mothers are in their forties and fifties. The women are all still friends but the teenagers not so much.
The story begins when the high school principal receives a severed human finger. But the main gist of the story is these women trying to navigate their lives - troubled marriages, health scares, sandwich generation issues. There is also a new history teacher who is charming both parents and students alike. There is gobs of humor but also lots of serious thoughts. In fact, kudos to Moriarty for getting the blend exactly right. And that often, the humor is because the reader will recognize the spot on truth of the scene especially as parents and teens interact. All of us who have lived through those years will totally relate.
The story moves at a brisk pace with short punchy chapters interspersed with a counseling session for the teenagers, announcements from the school head and the detective’s investigation. I flew through the book and finished all fifteen audio hours in two days. I’ll admit I didn’t see the big twist coming at all.
I listened to this. I’m sorry I also didn’t have the book. A story with this many characters and shifting timelines can sometimes be difficult for me when I’m only listening. But I thought Caroline Lee did a great job as the narrator.
This book begins ten years later. The children are now teenagers. The mothers are in their forties and fifties. The women are all still friends but the teenagers not so much.
The story begins when the high school principal receives a severed human finger. But the main gist of the story is these women trying to navigate their lives - troubled marriages, health scares, sandwich generation issues. There is also a new history teacher who is charming both parents and students alike. There is gobs of humor but also lots of serious thoughts. In fact, kudos to Moriarty for getting the blend exactly right. And that often, the humor is because the reader will recognize the spot on truth of the scene especially as parents and teens interact. All of us who have lived through those years will totally relate.
The story moves at a brisk pace with short punchy chapters interspersed with a counseling session for the teenagers, announcements from the school head and the detective’s investigation. I flew through the book and finished all fifteen audio hours in two days. I’ll admit I didn’t see the big twist coming at all.
I listened to this. I’m sorry I also didn’t have the book. A story with this many characters and shifting timelines can sometimes be difficult for me when I’m only listening. But I thought Caroline Lee did a great job as the narrator.
August 23, 2026
The biggest book of the year is here and it did not disappoint! I was so lucky to be invited to the private launch for this fabulous book in Sydney last week and hear Liane Moriarty talk about it which was such a special experience. Excitingly we also received an early copy of Big Little Truths which I spent my weekend lost in.
It has been 10 years since we were last in Pirriwee Peninsula and the kids are now teenagers. Madeleine, Jane, Celeste, Bonnie, Renata are dealing with high school dramas and the ailments of getting older. They are still tight friends who will do anything for each other and I just loved the strong friendships. The kids are no longer as close as they once were, but a new history teacher has them all excited to learn about the past.
This is another chunky novel and yet I flew through it. It was all so familiar, coming back to such well loved characters again. It was highly relatable as a mother who has been through those high school years, it is hard work for the parents as well. Dealing with parents that are getting older, illnesses and mental health, it is all so easy to feel seen reading this.
We get to hear what the children are thinking through their counselling session , that builds up the intensity of the story. We know something bad has happened, but we don’t know what until the last 100 pages or so. I was hooked and just needed to know.
Thank you Liane for bringing us back to Pirriwee and into the fold of these ladies once more.
And thank you to Macmillan Australia for allowing me to read this before Tuesdays publication day.
It has been 10 years since we were last in Pirriwee Peninsula and the kids are now teenagers. Madeleine, Jane, Celeste, Bonnie, Renata are dealing with high school dramas and the ailments of getting older. They are still tight friends who will do anything for each other and I just loved the strong friendships. The kids are no longer as close as they once were, but a new history teacher has them all excited to learn about the past.
This is another chunky novel and yet I flew through it. It was all so familiar, coming back to such well loved characters again. It was highly relatable as a mother who has been through those high school years, it is hard work for the parents as well. Dealing with parents that are getting older, illnesses and mental health, it is all so easy to feel seen reading this.
We get to hear what the children are thinking through their counselling session , that builds up the intensity of the story. We know something bad has happened, but we don’t know what until the last 100 pages or so. I was hooked and just needed to know.
Thank you Liane for bringing us back to Pirriwee and into the fold of these ladies once more.
And thank you to Macmillan Australia for allowing me to read this before Tuesdays publication day.
September 1, 2026
Liane Moriarty mentions you can read this as a standalone to her hit book and amazing HBO series, I beg to differ. While i never read the book, I loved the screen adaptation, and couldn't help but see the actors play the characters in this follow up book. I think it helps to have some background as to how these group of women come together.
While there is a mystery to this book, I found this book childish, badly written, and not "mysterious" at all. Yes, there's a weird guy in a green Volvo following kids around, there's a seductive teacher and husband, but the majority of this book is about friendships and marriages. Quite frankly, it could have been 100 pages shorter, and god forbid, add some depth already!
I found the final conclusion to the long overwrought mystery to be underwhelming. This follow up is truly about women who are aging, learning more about themselves, and their kids who have dealt with the unfathomable.
This is my second Moriarty book, and maybe my last? We will see!
While there is a mystery to this book, I found this book childish, badly written, and not "mysterious" at all. Yes, there's a weird guy in a green Volvo following kids around, there's a seductive teacher and husband, but the majority of this book is about friendships and marriages. Quite frankly, it could have been 100 pages shorter, and god forbid, add some depth already!
I found the final conclusion to the long overwrought mystery to be underwhelming. This follow up is truly about women who are aging, learning more about themselves, and their kids who have dealt with the unfathomable.
This is my second Moriarty book, and maybe my last? We will see!
September 16, 2026
Well, it’s official- this book is the reason why I do not like to read series!! I loved the first book, “Big Little Lies”. However, this book was super long, the storyline felt tired and rushed, and dare I say I was bored throughout this whole story?! I honestly couldn’t wait for it to be over, or for something groundbreaking to happen (trust me, it doesn’t).
I’m guessing because “Big Little Lies” was such a hit, especially as the HBO adaptation, that they felt a sequel was necessary to produce more episodes (that’s just my theory). Now, I never watched the series on HBO, and it probably was good. But, the characters in this sequel were just flat to me. Zero. Connection. Whatsoever.
I can’t remember when I read the first book, but I know I gave it five stars. I also could not remember any of it (it’s been quite a while). However, this book can be read as a standalone. Just know, that you might have to create an outline at first (as I did), because most of the teenagers are related to each other- and each woman’s husband has had an affair with, or remarried into the friend group. Okay…
There was also supposed to be a “big” mystery in this story. But guess what? The mystery was pretty lame. In fact, I’m not even sure what I just read. This book was long, boring, and a BIG LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT.
I see many others have enjoyed this book more than I have, so please read their reviews to see if this is something that might work out for you. This is also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for September, 2026.
I’m guessing because “Big Little Lies” was such a hit, especially as the HBO adaptation, that they felt a sequel was necessary to produce more episodes (that’s just my theory). Now, I never watched the series on HBO, and it probably was good. But, the characters in this sequel were just flat to me. Zero. Connection. Whatsoever.
I can’t remember when I read the first book, but I know I gave it five stars. I also could not remember any of it (it’s been quite a while). However, this book can be read as a standalone. Just know, that you might have to create an outline at first (as I did), because most of the teenagers are related to each other- and each woman’s husband has had an affair with, or remarried into the friend group. Okay…
There was also supposed to be a “big” mystery in this story. But guess what? The mystery was pretty lame. In fact, I’m not even sure what I just read. This book was long, boring, and a BIG LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT.
I see many others have enjoyed this book more than I have, so please read their reviews to see if this is something that might work out for you. This is also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for September, 2026.
August 27, 2026
I'm obviously a minority here, but I'll try to explain why. This is nowhere near as good as Big Little Lies. I loved checking in with the characters we all love: their relationships with their now teenage children, their problems with their parents, their marital issues; it felt like catching up with good friends. and the writing is exactly is sharp, as funny, as bitchy, as snarky as in Big Little Lies. It's almost worth reading it for that alone. But that's where it ended for me. The story is extremely thin on the ground, with almost all of it consisting of daily grind and more daily grind, the types of things we all have running somewhere in our own lives. There's also some 100% unsuspenseful plot running very slowly somewhere underneath most of it, with the villain identifiable from almost the first time she appears on the page. That's why I don't even label it as thriller, suspense, or mystery or whatever other readers do. There's no suspense at all. If it hadn't been written so well and involved characters I wanted to catch up with, I don't think I would have managed to finish it.
September 1, 2026
In her first ever sequel
Big Little Truths
, Liane Moriarity takes us back to the world of one of her most popular books,
Big Little Lies
, where we are reunited with Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Bonnie, and Renata on the Pirriwee Peninsula in Australia. It is 10 years later and the precocious kindergarteners from the first book are now teenagers in high school. Dealing with all the drama that comes with the territory of parenting teenagers is already fraught and difficult, but add to that a parent having to manage a health crisis, a mother-in-law who may or may not have dementia, an illicit vaping business at school, a marriage at a crossroads, a strange man approaching young girls asking weird questions, and unsurprisingly, parents and kids alike having to deal with the fallout of the incident from the first book. Oh and let’s not forget the inciting incident that opens the sequel – the principal at the high school that all the kids attend receives a severed human finger in the mail, which triggers an investigation by the same bumbling police detective from the first book. All of this allows Moriarty to employ a similar format as the first book – a narrative with short chapters told from the alternating perspectives of the main characters that is interspersed with updates on the investigation from the detective, school announcements from the principal, WhatsApp chat excerpts from the parent groups, and excerpts from interview sessions, though this time around, instead of parents giving their testimony in a police interrogation, it is the children talking to a counselor (about a situation that will be revealed at the end of the story).
As she did with its predecessor, Moriarty does a great job here juxtaposing the silly human foibles (i.e. feeling indignant about getting upstaged at one’s birthday party) with the serious life and death issues (i.e. dealing with a family member’s cancer diagnosis), creating a delicate blend of heart and humor that makes this book a simultaneously delightful and reflective read. Again, Moriarty covers a lot of ground in terms of social issues and themes, yet she is such a compelling storyteller that the story flows seamlessly and effortlessly – despite its length, this book never feels overwhelming or tedious to read. Case in point – I finished this book (listening to the audio and reading the physical book in tandem) in 2 days because I just had to know what was going to happen.
With all that said, I have to admit that I enjoyed the first book a tad more than the sequel (I had actually rated Big Little Lies 4.5 stars whereas I rated the sequel 4 stars) – I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but I’m thinking perhaps the drama and politics in that story were lower stakes, so Moriarty could ratchet up the “ridiculous” factor (i.e.: the outlandish actions and reactions of the parents, especially Madeline) a bit more and therefore make the story overall much funnier (and I felt like I could laugh without restraint). Also, the “twist” in the first book, while serious, kind of kept the kids out of it for the most part. By comparisons, some of the themes in the sequel were a lot more serious (definitely went beyond the “typical petty schoolyard drama” from the first book), plus the “twist” here directly involved the kids – I guess for me, the overall higher stakes of the “drama” kind of made it uncomfortable to laugh as freely as I did at some of the events that occurred in this book versus the first one. Still, this is brilliantly written and especially good on audio as narrated by Caroline Lee, who was the narrator for the first book as well. The audio narration was excellent as expected, though my one (minor) complaint would be the segments with the counseling session excerpts – unlike with the audio for the first book, the narrator didn’t identify each person speaking this time around and since all the voices sounded the same, I couldn’t tell who was saying what. Luckily, I had also bought a print copy of the book, so for those sections, I decided to read the conversations in tandem while listening – not a dealbreaker of course, but it did slow things down a little.
Needless to say, if you read and enjoyed Big Little Lies , this sequel is a must-read. If you haven’t read the first book, well, you actually shouldn’t read this one because despite everyone swearing up and down that this sequel can be read as a standalone, that is actually not true, as the sequel not only gives away the ending to the first book, it also refers back to things that happened in that story and some of the aftermath as well as impact on the characters that likely will not make sense without the context from the first book. And no, having watched the HBO series adaptation doesn’t really count because they changed a lot of things in that series, including the ending (besides, as Moriarty makes clear in her Author’s Note, this sequel is to the actual book, not the series).
As she did with its predecessor, Moriarty does a great job here juxtaposing the silly human foibles (i.e. feeling indignant about getting upstaged at one’s birthday party) with the serious life and death issues (i.e. dealing with a family member’s cancer diagnosis), creating a delicate blend of heart and humor that makes this book a simultaneously delightful and reflective read. Again, Moriarty covers a lot of ground in terms of social issues and themes, yet she is such a compelling storyteller that the story flows seamlessly and effortlessly – despite its length, this book never feels overwhelming or tedious to read. Case in point – I finished this book (listening to the audio and reading the physical book in tandem) in 2 days because I just had to know what was going to happen.
With all that said, I have to admit that I enjoyed the first book a tad more than the sequel (I had actually rated Big Little Lies 4.5 stars whereas I rated the sequel 4 stars) – I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but I’m thinking perhaps the drama and politics in that story were lower stakes, so Moriarty could ratchet up the “ridiculous” factor (i.e.: the outlandish actions and reactions of the parents, especially Madeline) a bit more and therefore make the story overall much funnier (and I felt like I could laugh without restraint). Also, the “twist” in the first book, while serious, kind of kept the kids out of it for the most part. By comparisons, some of the themes in the sequel were a lot more serious (definitely went beyond the “typical petty schoolyard drama” from the first book), plus the “twist” here directly involved the kids – I guess for me, the overall higher stakes of the “drama” kind of made it uncomfortable to laugh as freely as I did at some of the events that occurred in this book versus the first one. Still, this is brilliantly written and especially good on audio as narrated by Caroline Lee, who was the narrator for the first book as well. The audio narration was excellent as expected, though my one (minor) complaint would be the segments with the counseling session excerpts – unlike with the audio for the first book, the narrator didn’t identify each person speaking this time around and since all the voices sounded the same, I couldn’t tell who was saying what. Luckily, I had also bought a print copy of the book, so for those sections, I decided to read the conversations in tandem while listening – not a dealbreaker of course, but it did slow things down a little.
Needless to say, if you read and enjoyed Big Little Lies , this sequel is a must-read. If you haven’t read the first book, well, you actually shouldn’t read this one because despite everyone swearing up and down that this sequel can be read as a standalone, that is actually not true, as the sequel not only gives away the ending to the first book, it also refers back to things that happened in that story and some of the aftermath as well as impact on the characters that likely will not make sense without the context from the first book. And no, having watched the HBO series adaptation doesn’t really count because they changed a lot of things in that series, including the ending (besides, as Moriarty makes clear in her Author’s Note, this sequel is to the actual book, not the series).
July 28, 2026
I only recently read Big Little Lies (though had seen the TV series) and really enjoyed it, and Big Little Truths is an excellent sequel.
Set 10 years after the first book, the friendship between Celeste, Madeline and Jane continues, and into the friendship group comes Renata, Bonnie and new history teacher, Melody Montclair. The dynamics between the women is excellent - they're supportive and fun, but have no qualms about telling each other what they really think, especially Madeline (I think she's my favourite)!
Alongside all the drama going on in each of the women's lives, as with Big Little Lies, Big Little Truths also deals with a very serious issue which is eventually brought to light by all of the women's (now teenage) children. We hear snippets from the teenagers throughout the book, aswell as an act which is being investigated by the police. The tension of this underlying story was built so well that I couldn't get through the final 100 pages quick enough - I was so eager to see what was going on!
I'm not a big reader of crime and thriller novels but I am genuinely now a Liane Moriarty fan! The way she has woven these women's lives together is so beautifully done, and the serious nature of what goes on in both books I feel is dealt with sensitively.
Although Liane Moriarty states herself that Big Little Truths can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Big Little Lies first if you haven't done so - they're both brilliant!
Set 10 years after the first book, the friendship between Celeste, Madeline and Jane continues, and into the friendship group comes Renata, Bonnie and new history teacher, Melody Montclair. The dynamics between the women is excellent - they're supportive and fun, but have no qualms about telling each other what they really think, especially Madeline (I think she's my favourite)!
Alongside all the drama going on in each of the women's lives, as with Big Little Lies, Big Little Truths also deals with a very serious issue which is eventually brought to light by all of the women's (now teenage) children. We hear snippets from the teenagers throughout the book, aswell as an act which is being investigated by the police. The tension of this underlying story was built so well that I couldn't get through the final 100 pages quick enough - I was so eager to see what was going on!
I'm not a big reader of crime and thriller novels but I am genuinely now a Liane Moriarty fan! The way she has woven these women's lives together is so beautifully done, and the serious nature of what goes on in both books I feel is dealt with sensitively.
Although Liane Moriarty states herself that Big Little Truths can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Big Little Lies first if you haven't done so - they're both brilliant!
August 5, 2026
No notes. If you loved Big Little Lies (the book), you will love this. It felt so heartwarming to be back in Pirriwee with the characters I loved from the first book. It’s a mystery, don’t go into it expecting a thriller. I would absolutely recommend
September 13, 2026
This is the sequel to Big Little Lies years later.
The women at the forefront, Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie. Their children are teenagers now and getting into trouble the way teenagers do. I was much worse btw 😆.
A finger has been sent to the kid’s school with a threatening message. Everyone’s in an uproar. However, the women have way more serious problems to worry about.
The story is deeply rooted in friendships and family no matter how dysfunctional they are. Serious topics are throughout the novel that happen in every day life. Many will relate. After watching the series, I felt connected to these women and visualized everyone as seen on the screen. I honestly think it helps.
I listened to the audio since this sucker is thick. The narration was spectacular. I really enjoyed it and both of them did a fantastic job with emotions in their tone.
This is definitely a contemporary fiction/ literary fiction with a mystery blended in. Not a thriller. Regardless, I can’t wait for season 3 on HBO and hoping for a 3rd book.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Huge thanks to Crown Publishing for the gifted novel and swag and PRH for the audio.
The women at the forefront, Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie. Their children are teenagers now and getting into trouble the way teenagers do. I was much worse btw 😆.
A finger has been sent to the kid’s school with a threatening message. Everyone’s in an uproar. However, the women have way more serious problems to worry about.
The story is deeply rooted in friendships and family no matter how dysfunctional they are. Serious topics are throughout the novel that happen in every day life. Many will relate. After watching the series, I felt connected to these women and visualized everyone as seen on the screen. I honestly think it helps.
I listened to the audio since this sucker is thick. The narration was spectacular. I really enjoyed it and both of them did a fantastic job with emotions in their tone.
This is definitely a contemporary fiction/ literary fiction with a mystery blended in. Not a thriller. Regardless, I can’t wait for season 3 on HBO and hoping for a 3rd book.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Huge thanks to Crown Publishing for the gifted novel and swag and PRH for the audio.
September 3, 2026
This was so good. It had a similar formula to the first book I still really enjoyed it. It was effortless to get back into the world and read about these characters even though it has been 7 years since I read Big little lies.
RTC.
RTC.
August 30, 2026
12 years! Twelve years later and we get this?!? Liane Moriarty's first ever sequel and hopefully her last. Sorry to say this was painfully boring and never seemed to go anywhere.
September 1, 2026
4+ ⭐️
I loved returning to Celeste, Madeline, Jane, Bonnie, and Renata—and discovering that, ten years later, there are still plenty of buried truths waiting to come to the surface.
This sequel to Big Little Lies was a unique experience for me since I hadn’t read the first book, although I watched the HBO series, and was one of my all-time favorite shows. Thankfully, Moriarty gives us a recap in the author’s note and describes some of the differences between book and show. She says this book works as a standalone. I feel it would be a more gratifying experience to know who’s who though. We’re back in the same community outside Sydney, where the kids are now teenagers dealing with their own troubles, secrets, and drama. Their dialogue can feel a little YA at times, but it worked well enough and there were plenty of funny moments.
The central mystery begins with a severed finger being sent to the school principal, setting off what the story calls “D-Day.” The narrative alternates between Madeline, Celeste, and Jane as they navigate their personal dramas unfolding around them—including an upcoming wedding that has an ominous feeling. There’s also a troubling story involving a possible predator around the school and the fallout from long-buried events that continue to affect both the women and their children. One of the teachers, Melody, is new to the group and has a flirtatious and seductive vibe.
I enjoyed watching these characters deal with real-life problems a decade later: menopause, health scares, parenting teenagers, changing relationships, and the lasting effects of what happened in the first story. Moriarty does a great job at making even the everyday struggles feel dramatic, authentic, complicated, and sometimes hilariously relatable.
Moriarty certainly takes her time, spending long stretches in each woman’s story, and I did think a little editing could have tightened things up. But even with the slower pace, this was a wonderfully dramatic, witty, and entertaining return to a group of women I was happy to spend time with again. I thought the conclusion was done really well.
—Since I’m on a beach vacation, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caroline Lee, Ella Le Fournour, and Liane Moriarty. I found Lee’s voice to be unpleasant and screeching. I really had to work hard at focusing on the storytelling, and not her voice.
I loved returning to Celeste, Madeline, Jane, Bonnie, and Renata—and discovering that, ten years later, there are still plenty of buried truths waiting to come to the surface.
This sequel to Big Little Lies was a unique experience for me since I hadn’t read the first book, although I watched the HBO series, and was one of my all-time favorite shows. Thankfully, Moriarty gives us a recap in the author’s note and describes some of the differences between book and show. She says this book works as a standalone. I feel it would be a more gratifying experience to know who’s who though. We’re back in the same community outside Sydney, where the kids are now teenagers dealing with their own troubles, secrets, and drama. Their dialogue can feel a little YA at times, but it worked well enough and there were plenty of funny moments.
The central mystery begins with a severed finger being sent to the school principal, setting off what the story calls “D-Day.” The narrative alternates between Madeline, Celeste, and Jane as they navigate their personal dramas unfolding around them—including an upcoming wedding that has an ominous feeling. There’s also a troubling story involving a possible predator around the school and the fallout from long-buried events that continue to affect both the women and their children. One of the teachers, Melody, is new to the group and has a flirtatious and seductive vibe.
I enjoyed watching these characters deal with real-life problems a decade later: menopause, health scares, parenting teenagers, changing relationships, and the lasting effects of what happened in the first story. Moriarty does a great job at making even the everyday struggles feel dramatic, authentic, complicated, and sometimes hilariously relatable.
Moriarty certainly takes her time, spending long stretches in each woman’s story, and I did think a little editing could have tightened things up. But even with the slower pace, this was a wonderfully dramatic, witty, and entertaining return to a group of women I was happy to spend time with again. I thought the conclusion was done really well.
—Since I’m on a beach vacation, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caroline Lee, Ella Le Fournour, and Liane Moriarty. I found Lee’s voice to be unpleasant and screeching. I really had to work hard at focusing on the storytelling, and not her voice.
September 3, 2026
I’m likely in the minority here but this was such a disappointment. I loved Big Little Lies (the book) and was really looking forward to this sequel.
It was nice to be back with the characters we met over 10 years ago and I enjoyed the format being similar to the first book with the texts, interviews and the like to end each chapter. But none of the characters we revisited felt like the ones from the first book. Obviously people change and grow but I genuinely didn’t recognise any of the strong, funny, layered women from before.
Adding to that, the book was far too long and could’ve gotten to the point and twist much faster than it did. The twist and that whole plot line were just an excuse to be able to have some sort of drama. In the first book the drama felt much more plausible and was really effective. Here it was outlandish. I think the main characters got annoying because of how slow and meandering the book was. Instead of getting to like them again, you get to get annoyed by them instead. There’s only so much internal conflict you can read about while there’s some sort of semblance of drama building in the background.
Anyway, rant over. I could actually go on about this for ages but I don’t want to rain too much on other people’s parade. I think a lot of people will enjoy this but sadly, this one wasn’t for me.
It was nice to be back with the characters we met over 10 years ago and I enjoyed the format being similar to the first book with the texts, interviews and the like to end each chapter. But none of the characters we revisited felt like the ones from the first book. Obviously people change and grow but I genuinely didn’t recognise any of the strong, funny, layered women from before.
Adding to that, the book was far too long and could’ve gotten to the point and twist much faster than it did. The twist and that whole plot line were just an excuse to be able to have some sort of drama. In the first book the drama felt much more plausible and was really effective. Here it was outlandish. I think the main characters got annoying because of how slow and meandering the book was. Instead of getting to like them again, you get to get annoyed by them instead. There’s only so much internal conflict you can read about while there’s some sort of semblance of drama building in the background.
Anyway, rant over. I could actually go on about this for ages but I don’t want to rain too much on other people’s parade. I think a lot of people will enjoy this but sadly, this one wasn’t for me.
September 2, 2026
4.5 stars. Definitely my favourite easy read of 2026 so far. It was so much fun catching up with all of these characters, and being the same age as them, I could really relate to the menopause, marriage and teenage issues. There were also quite a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
As with Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty does a brilliant job of mixing very real issues with plenty of humour and a fast-paced story. I really struggled to close this one and go to bed at night — which is always a pretty good sign!
I honestly didn't want it to end. If Moriarty could just make this an annual series so I can check in with these characters once a year, that would be perfect.
As with Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty does a brilliant job of mixing very real issues with plenty of humour and a fast-paced story. I really struggled to close this one and go to bed at night — which is always a pretty good sign!
I honestly didn't want it to end. If Moriarty could just make this an annual series so I can check in with these characters once a year, that would be perfect.
September 6, 2026
The perfect book for this time in my life. My beloved characters from book one, but this time they have teenagers/young adults and they’re dealing with perimenopause and all of the complicated emotions that come with it. Zero notes. Absolute perfection.
August 27, 2026
Outstanding!
I absolutely loved this book. It was phenomenal to revisit some of my favourite literary characters, and their now teen off spring.
The plot is excellent and deals with so many contemporary issues and challenges. By two-thirds of the way I knew my day was going to involve nothing but reading to the end. And I really didn’t want it to end either.
Here’s hoping we get to see this lot in a Book Three!
(PS I am so looking forward to an evening with Liane Moriarty on the Gold Coast next week).
I absolutely loved this book. It was phenomenal to revisit some of my favourite literary characters, and their now teen off spring.
The plot is excellent and deals with so many contemporary issues and challenges. By two-thirds of the way I knew my day was going to involve nothing but reading to the end. And I really didn’t want it to end either.
Here’s hoping we get to see this lot in a Book Three!
(PS I am so looking forward to an evening with Liane Moriarty on the Gold Coast next week).
Read
July 5, 2026Loved going back to Pirriwee and hanging out with the gang again. Less explosive than BLL but just as delicious. Big little slay from Liane.
August 28, 2026
So I was excited about this one because I loved the first book so much that I’ve read it twice. But unfortunately this one was a bit of a let down. It was the same women’s friend group but older. So now they are dealing with menopause, old age, teenagers, cancer, aging parents, loss of parents, all the blah stuff we deal with in our 40’s. There was a bit of a mystery to it like the first one had but here it fell short for me. The story opens with a severed finger being delivered to their kids school! You’d think that would be a gripping story. But every time the story got back to that part I had forgotten it even happened! It just didn’t work a second time around for me. But if you loved these ladies and wondered what happened to them after the last book than you’ll love this.
September 7, 2026
Now she was crying all the tears she hadn’t yet let herself shed, and there were a lot of them, and Bonnie was trying to hug her, and Jane was trying to do the same, and everyone in the car except Celeste was weeping with voluptuous abandon, and Celeste was pulling tissues from the packet and tossing them about like confetti. “Find something to cry about, Celeste,” said Jane as she noisily blew her nose. Celeste pretended to dab under her eyes with a tissue. “I never got to speak to the nice man in the blue T-shirt at the library!” “Oh, and he was so cute!” said Renata. “Now he’s gone forever,” Celeste fake-cried. Then she stopped and said, “You know what? I’m actually genuinely sad about that.” Their tears tipped right over into teen-girl hysterical laughter.
4 ½ stars
I can’t quite give it 5 stars, but mostly because that’s what I gave Big Little Lies. It was a worthy sequel. Set 10 years after the events of the first book, it was good to become re-acquainted with the three good friends, plus Bonnie, plus Renata, plus Celeste’s mother in law, Mary Louise. Mary Louise was not in the first book at all, but Liane writes in her introduction that she had such an intriguing role in the mini-series (thanks to Meryl Streep's portrayal,) that she pushed her way into this book. She does have a great character arc. Renata’s role (played in the series by Laura Dern) was thus expanded as well. But this sequel to BLL has nothing else to do with the TV series. Although there are marriages and even lives on the line in this one, the stakes didn’t seem as high as in the first book. The happiness and security of vulnerable innocent children were not in peril in this one. Jane is not a struggling young single mother and fragile outsider in this one. She is happily married (to Tom of the first book), although there is one big problem to resolve, and Ziggy, her bullied child, has grown to be a great kid. In fact, all of the kids are pretty great (Renata’s Amabella, Madeline’s Chloe, Celeste's twin boys, and Bonnie’s Skye.) There was one there that I was really worried about for quite awhile, but I think he will be OK. Although there are repercussions for the parents and their children stemming from the killing of Celeste’s abusive husband 10 years ago, the group is now dealing with another unrelated shocking event.
The format is Liane’s signature one where the book begins with something deeply upsetting and mysterious occurring. We look back on that event through the perspective of the teens, who clearly know more than they are telling through their school counseling session with “Brenda.” Meanwhile, we also alternate between their parents and other main adult characters and the happenings in their lives leading up to what the kids call “D-day.” At last, all roads lead to the big explosion culminating in shock, awe, and huge reveals. In this one, even more than in her others, we have a fully fleshed out aftermath following the climax that was incredibly satisfying and hopeful. At every stage, we have twists, turns, and reveals that both dismay and gratify. Adding to the picture is that along with the parents, we have the stories of their teenagers with agency and personalities of their own. There were a lot of tales to tell: both funny and worrisome alike.
My love for Big Little Lies stemmed largely from the suspense. There is a violent death that begins the story. As we meet the players and get to know them, we fear for the characters we have grown to love and be invested in. Not only that they may be guilty of murder but also that one of them may be the dead victim, the identity of whom is part of the mystery. In this, the sequel, I always felt like the big reveal was going to be shocking in a juicy way, not a devastating one. So again, the stakes were not as high as they were when the vulnerable and powerless are involved. I was not tempted to skip ahead to save my sanity but enjoyed the ride as we made our way to the climax. Now that I think about it, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Why anyone would want to read this one without reading the first book is a mystery to me. I wouldn't recommend it. If you saw the miniseries first, I guess that's better than nothing, but some changes were made there that I did not like.
Although this book ended with hope and enough closure to satisfy me, there were some loose ends that I could definitely see might be tied up in a third book. But one centered on the teens navigating their lives as adults. We saw the beginnings of what their characters might prove to be. I would like to see more of them.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
September 7, 2026
Hello my beautiful girls, oh how I’ve missed you!
I was so beyond excited to see that she was coming back to Big Little Lies, Moriarty has done so much since her time with these women that it was a treat not read this and see her growth as an authour. I was at first a bit confounded by the nearly 500 pages but it didn’t exhaust me at all once I was in, more so, I was grateful for more time.
We pick up a full decade later with our group of women and HELLO RENATA! Moriarty has talked a lot about our group and the show and how Laura Dern’s performance was so striking that she needed to really include more Renata in the plot and she did just that. Every woman shines and has ample time in their plot points. But like before, our true main characters and POVs lie within Madeline, Jane, and Celeste.
I won’t delve into the nitty gritty of the plot points but there’s always something going down in Pirriwee. Yes that’s different than the show. There are quite a few things different between the two but don’t let that scare you from this read. Not only is it accessible coming from the show but as a stand alone as well.
I truly loved most that we got to really see more sides of characters that we didn’t get in the show or first book! It was an absolute blast seeing the kids “all grown up.” They’re in Year 10, battling new challenges, and putting their mothers through the wringer while dealing with their own problems. I loved seeing how the children are coming into themselves and their personalities. And who know I could ever fall in love with Mary-Louise??? Yes you heard that right. It makes me shudder thinking of it. Madeline is always a true stand out. She is wild and chaotic and pent up and my god I love her drama. She is truly going through it in this book and I especially enjoyed her growth, lack of, and the way she fights tooth and nail. One of her chapters truly made me cry.
Big Little Truths is so back baby!! I cannot wait to see our lovely actresses come back to our beloved characters and have them eat up this entire book. Is it as good as the first? Not quite but that’s not her fault, Big Little Lies iconic.
I was so beyond excited to see that she was coming back to Big Little Lies, Moriarty has done so much since her time with these women that it was a treat not read this and see her growth as an authour. I was at first a bit confounded by the nearly 500 pages but it didn’t exhaust me at all once I was in, more so, I was grateful for more time.
We pick up a full decade later with our group of women and HELLO RENATA! Moriarty has talked a lot about our group and the show and how Laura Dern’s performance was so striking that she needed to really include more Renata in the plot and she did just that. Every woman shines and has ample time in their plot points. But like before, our true main characters and POVs lie within Madeline, Jane, and Celeste.
I won’t delve into the nitty gritty of the plot points but there’s always something going down in Pirriwee. Yes that’s different than the show. There are quite a few things different between the two but don’t let that scare you from this read. Not only is it accessible coming from the show but as a stand alone as well.
I truly loved most that we got to really see more sides of characters that we didn’t get in the show or first book! It was an absolute blast seeing the kids “all grown up.” They’re in Year 10, battling new challenges, and putting their mothers through the wringer while dealing with their own problems. I loved seeing how the children are coming into themselves and their personalities. And who know I could ever fall in love with Mary-Louise??? Yes you heard that right. It makes me shudder thinking of it. Madeline is always a true stand out. She is wild and chaotic and pent up and my god I love her drama. She is truly going through it in this book and I especially enjoyed her growth, lack of, and the way she fights tooth and nail. One of her chapters truly made me cry.
Big Little Truths is so back baby!! I cannot wait to see our lovely actresses come back to our beloved characters and have them eat up this entire book. Is it as good as the first? Not quite but that’s not her fault, Big Little Lies iconic.
August 31, 2026
I loved the first book but I really struggled with this one. I found it so dull and it lacked any real tension or jeopardy. It just felt like a lot of waffle for no reward. Hoping it doesn’t become a trilogy 🫠
September 4, 2026
I actually enjoyed this more than the first novel.
This is set in the same place in Australia as the first novel but elements of the show are cleverly incorporated into this novel and that inclusion increased my enjoyment of this story more than I expected.
I’d love to see the cast do a third season and film this as season 3 of Big Little Lies.
This is set in the same place in Australia as the first novel but elements of the show are cleverly incorporated into this novel and that inclusion increased my enjoyment of this story more than I expected.
I’d love to see the cast do a third season and film this as season 3 of Big Little Lies.
July 15, 2026
Not quite as thrilling or suspenseful as “Big Little Lies” but still a very enjoyable read. What a pleasure to meet up with these characters again.
September 10, 2026
4.5/5
I finished my reread of Big Little Lies and immediately jumped into Big Little Truths, and I loved being back with these characters ten years later. The kindergarten aged kids from the first book are now fifteen, which hit especially close to home for me as a mom of two teenage girls, one of whom is fifteen herself. So many of the parenting issues had me thinking, Yep. Uh huh. I get it.
But it wasn’t just the parenting teenagers I related to. The women are ten years older too, and Moriarty explores everything that comes along with this stage of their lives—changing marriages and relationships, raising teenagers, aging parents, midlife, perimenopause, and the general realization that life looks very different than it did a decade ago. Most of the women are slightly older than I am, but there were still so many moments where I found myself nodding along. Once again, Moriarty has such a knack for taking ordinary, relatable parts of women’s lives and making them feel compelling, funny, messy, and incredibly real.
And there is A LOT happening here. Every woman has something going on with her husband or partner, her kids, her family, or herself, so despite the length, the story moves along quickly. There’s also a strong mystery running through everything involving a severed finger sent to the high school principal and the sense that something very bad has happened. Moriarty slowly reveals how all of the pieces connect, and I really enjoyed watching everything come together by the end.
Technically, you could read Big Little Truths without reading Big Little Lies. Moriarty gives you enough context to understand these women, their relationships, and their history. But I absolutely would not recommend doing that if you have any intention of reading the first book because this one will spoil basically everything. And honestly, part of the fun for me was already knowing and caring about these characters and seeing where life had taken them ten years later.
My only tiny complaint is that many of the individual storylines are pretty sad. There are still plenty of those sharp, funny, juicy Moriarty moments I love, but the overall story felt a little heavier and more melancholy than the first book. Because of that, I enjoyed Big Little Lies just a touch more.
Still, this was such a strong sequel and one that actually felt worth returning to these characters for. Moriarty didn’t simply recreate the drama of the first book—she let everyone grow up, changed the problems they’re facing, and explored an entirely different stage of women’s and parents’ lives. I gave this one 4.5 stars and happily rounded it up to 5.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Complicated female friendships
* Parenting teenagers and messy family dynamics
* Midlife stories that actually feel relatable
* Marriage and relationship drama
* Secrets that come back to haunt people
* Domestic suspense mixed with everyday life
* Multiple interconnected storylines
* Mysteries that slowly reveal how everything fits together
I finished my reread of Big Little Lies and immediately jumped into Big Little Truths, and I loved being back with these characters ten years later. The kindergarten aged kids from the first book are now fifteen, which hit especially close to home for me as a mom of two teenage girls, one of whom is fifteen herself. So many of the parenting issues had me thinking, Yep. Uh huh. I get it.
But it wasn’t just the parenting teenagers I related to. The women are ten years older too, and Moriarty explores everything that comes along with this stage of their lives—changing marriages and relationships, raising teenagers, aging parents, midlife, perimenopause, and the general realization that life looks very different than it did a decade ago. Most of the women are slightly older than I am, but there were still so many moments where I found myself nodding along. Once again, Moriarty has such a knack for taking ordinary, relatable parts of women’s lives and making them feel compelling, funny, messy, and incredibly real.
And there is A LOT happening here. Every woman has something going on with her husband or partner, her kids, her family, or herself, so despite the length, the story moves along quickly. There’s also a strong mystery running through everything involving a severed finger sent to the high school principal and the sense that something very bad has happened. Moriarty slowly reveals how all of the pieces connect, and I really enjoyed watching everything come together by the end.
Technically, you could read Big Little Truths without reading Big Little Lies. Moriarty gives you enough context to understand these women, their relationships, and their history. But I absolutely would not recommend doing that if you have any intention of reading the first book because this one will spoil basically everything. And honestly, part of the fun for me was already knowing and caring about these characters and seeing where life had taken them ten years later.
My only tiny complaint is that many of the individual storylines are pretty sad. There are still plenty of those sharp, funny, juicy Moriarty moments I love, but the overall story felt a little heavier and more melancholy than the first book. Because of that, I enjoyed Big Little Lies just a touch more.
Still, this was such a strong sequel and one that actually felt worth returning to these characters for. Moriarty didn’t simply recreate the drama of the first book—she let everyone grow up, changed the problems they’re facing, and explored an entirely different stage of women’s and parents’ lives. I gave this one 4.5 stars and happily rounded it up to 5.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Complicated female friendships
* Parenting teenagers and messy family dynamics
* Midlife stories that actually feel relatable
* Marriage and relationship drama
* Secrets that come back to haunt people
* Domestic suspense mixed with everyday life
* Multiple interconnected storylines
* Mysteries that slowly reveal how everything fits together
September 2, 2026
4.5 stars
This was so much fun. I almost never indulge in a whole day just reading in bed, but this is exactly what happened.
I was sucked straight back int the world of Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie with all their domestic dramas.
Like with the first book, there are sections that take on an interview style narrative, but this time it’s the teens that get a chance to voice their opinions.
As is this author’s style, there were laugh out loud moments, but the story also tackled more serious themes.
If you loved the first book then you will definitely enjoy this one
This was so much fun. I almost never indulge in a whole day just reading in bed, but this is exactly what happened.
I was sucked straight back int the world of Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie with all their domestic dramas.
Like with the first book, there are sections that take on an interview style narrative, but this time it’s the teens that get a chance to voice their opinions.
As is this author’s style, there were laugh out loud moments, but the story also tackled more serious themes.
If you loved the first book then you will definitely enjoy this one
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