Little Fires Everywhere Book Review

Well, this is a tiny bit overdue but life has been a teensy bit crazy lately, as you might know. 😉 I meant to get this review out weeks ago before the launch of the Hulu show, but obviously, life threw a curveball and I didn’t get this posted until…well today! But, what better time to sit down and review one of the biggest books making its rounds across the country, “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng.

It’s been a while since my last book review too here on the blog, so it’s more than about time for one of these.

Last year, I got into checking books out at our local library and I’ve been hooked ever since. From running books to cookbooks to non-fiction and fiction books too, I’ve been checking out quite a variety of books to go through throughout the past year. Now, admittedly, sadly I have had to return a few without finishing them, so I can’t quite tell you I’ve knocked them all out. But, there are a few that have really stuck with me and were quite the page-turners. *I do also need to preface this review with the fact that I’m a very slow-paced reader. My attention span is pretty short most days and I have self-diagnosed Adult ADD. So, sitting down to read doesn’t happen quite as often as I’d like to, but when it does, you know I’ve found a good one.

That brings me to, LFE. (Little Fires Everywhere)Now, if you’ve watched the Hulu show-you may have an idea of what this book is about. However, I’ve seen a few of the episodes and I have to tell you guys that I am honestly NOT a big fan of the show. You know how a lot of times books are better than movies they’re made after? This is definitely the case, in my opinion. This book really was a great read. The detail into the characters and the drama that unfolded kept me glued to each chapter, wanting more with each one. The show, however, feels a tad bit cheesy and just not fitting for the style the book was written in. Now, you MAY be a fan of the show and that’s A-OK too! I’m a big Reese Witherspoon fan, but just not in this show.

Here’s the trailer to give you a glimpse of it:

Anyways, LFE is set in a quaint picture-perfect town called “Shaker Heights” in Ohio and it honestly sounds super similar to one of my favorite beach towns, Seaside Florida. It’s white picket fences, perfectly manicured lawns and not a hair out of place type of town, basically right out of a picture book. You’re taken through the story of a close mother-daughter relationship (Mia and Pearl Warren) that’s been through plenty of ups and downs. You get to know Mia (the Mom) as her story is told (somewhat slowly, but nevertheless still detailed) as she navigates motherhood, alone. She’s the creative artsy type and always on the move, which once you read the book you find out more on why she’s constantly on the go. She and her teen daughter Pearl adjust to a new normal in their rental home in Shaker as Pearl takes on teenage life and love. They rent their home from a super ritzy family, the Richardsons where their lives start to tangle and unfold all kinds of drama together and apart. Elena is the matriarch of the Richardson family and quickly shows her nosy personality from the get-go as she dives head-first into the Warren family drama spilling secret stories of their twisty-turny past. (Yes, twisty-turny is definitely a word in case you were wondering.)LFE is a light yet drama-filled read packed with ethical battles and real-life challenges with plenty of quick turns and plot twists along the way. Literal, little fires are started everywhere. You just have to figure out by who and why…The details unfold more so the second half leaving you unable to put it down the further you get into it. You find yourself coming up with your own narratives about Mia and her past and can’t wait to find out more pieces of her puzzle in the story. You also feel somewhat pulled in towards young teenie Pearl as she is in the trenches of teenage life trying to figure out what path leads to where. I really felt like you could connect with each of the characters in different ways or at least identify each one with someone you actually know in real life. By the end, you’re left wanting more to the story but also oddly satisfied with the results.

If you’re looking for a good read to get you through this quarantine, I’d highly suggest diving into LFE. Then, if you haven’t already go ahead and give the Hulu series a shot once you’re done with the book.

---

RATING:

I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 star review as it did have its slow moments, but I feel like to me, the details really matter in these types of books and learning characters takes time. Overall, it’s a great little drama escape read if you’re into those types of books and I’d definitely give it my recommendation of books to read this summer by the beach or the pool too.I’ll leave you with a few of the reviews I found online to give you a tad bit of a taste from others too!

NYT: “The magic of this novel lies in its power to implicate all of its characters — and likely many of its readers — in that innocent delusion. Who set the little fires everywhere? We keep reading to find out, even as we suspect that it could be us with ash on our hands.”

Several “Good Reads” reviews can be found >>here.

And an Amazon review:

Alright, let me know if you’ve read this one and what your thoughts are in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear what you think! I’ve heard some positive and some negative, so lay it all out here and we can discuss!

Happy Reading!

Questions for you: 

Have you read LFE? 

What are you reading right now? Or, what was your last read?

Are you an audiobook fan or more hardback type of person? 

Do you check books out from the library?