Liane Moriarty's "Big Little Truths" Review: A Lengthy Sequel That Fails to Replicate "Big Little Lies" Success

Liane Moriarty's highly anticipated sequel to her 2014 bestseller, "Big Little Lies," titled "Big Little Truths," has been met with a critical assessment that deems the novel excessively long and ultimately unsatisfying. Clocking in at over 400 pages, the book attempts to tackle a range of contemporary issues, including menopause, teenage vaping, and the presence of a stalker, yet these elements are found to be insufficient in raising the narrative stakes to the level of its predecessor. Moriarty, who achieved significant acclaim with "Big Little Lies" – a novel that debuted at the coveted No. 1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list and was subsequently adapted into a highly successful television miniseries starring prominent actresses Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Zoë Kravitz – faced the considerable challenge of recapturing the magic of the original story in a literary format. Recognizing this hurdle, Moriarty addresses readers directly in a preface to the new novel. She explains her approach, which involves both acknowledging the influence of the television adaptation by giving greater prominence to characters like Renata, portrayed by Laura Dern, and Mary-Louise, played by Meryl Streep, and simultaneously guiding readers back to the familiar setting of the fictional Pirriwee Peninsula, located along Sydney's northern beaches, which served as the backdrop for the original narrative.

Moriarty immediately immerses the reader back into the Australian milieu, employing vivid sensory details such as a magpie swooping "like a missile" at an unsuspecting cyclist, set against a backdrop of "bright yellow native wattle" and "lush-purple" jacarandas. The passage of time is a palpable element; twelve years have elapsed since the initial publication of "Big Little Lies" in 2014. Consequently, the innocent kindergarteners who were central to the first novel have now transitioned into teenagers, while their mothers are navigating the complexities of menopause. This seemingly idyllic setting is dramatically disrupted by a shocking and unsettling event: the discovery of a severed human finger delivered to the local high school. This incident is intended to propel the narrative forward, injecting the intrigue, drama, and suspense that were hallmarks of the first installment. However, the review suggests that despite these narrative devices and the inclusion of new thematic elements, the sequel struggles to replicate the compelling impact and narrative cohesion of its predecessor. The sheer length of "Big Little Truths" is identified as a significant detractor, hindering the reader's engagement and ultimately diminishing the effectiveness of the plot's delivery and resolution.