Little Fires Everywhere

Little Fires Everywhere cover
Good Books rating 2.33
Buy online
Technical
  • ID: 2417
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781408709702
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2017-09-12
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Little Fires Everywhere explores the complexities of motherhood, race, and class through the lens of two very different families. The Richardson family, epitomizing the planned perfection of Shaker Heights, finds their world upended by the arrival of Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl. As secrets from Mia's past surface, tensions rise, culminating in a custody battle that forces the community to confront its own biases and prejudices. The novel delves into the themes of identity, belonging, and the often invisible lines that divide us. /n/n Celeste Ng's beautifully written narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of human emotion and societal critique. The story is as much about the characters' internal struggles as it is about the external conflicts that arise from their interactions. With its compelling characters and thought-provoking themes, Little Fires Everywhere is a powerful exploration of the American dream and the cost of maintaining appearances.

Reviews
Reading on a Star · Reading on a Star reviewer · 2020-08-11
disappointed 1.00

The novel is found to be uneventful and boring, with characters that are hard to love. The reviewer struggles to connect with the story.

The reviewer from Reading on a Star finds Little Fires Everywhere to be a disappointing read, describing it as uneventful and boring. They mention that the characters are unrelatable and fail to evoke any emotional connection. The reviewer appreciates the novel's attempt to tackle complex themes but feels that the execution falls flat, making the reading experience tedious and unengaging.


Quick quotes

    The entire novel seemed quite uneventful and honestly boring, and I couldn't bring myself to love any of the characters.

    I appreciate the themes the novel tries to explore, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

    The characters are unrelatable and fail to evoke any emotional response.

Book Club Chat · Book Club Chat reviewer · 2018-05-30
compelling 3.50

The novel is a slow-burn read with multiple perspectives that either captivate or fail to engage readers. The reviewer finds it a compelling yet divisive read.

Book Club Chat's reviewer describes Little Fires Everywhere as a slow-burn read that is told from multiple perspectives, which they find both intriguing and somewhat polarizing. They note that the novel seems to either captivate readers completely or leave them feeling indifferent. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the characters and the exploration of complex themes, but acknowledges that the pacing might not be for everyone. Overall, they find the novel compelling and worth the read, despite its divisive nature.


Quick quotes

    Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is a slow-burn read (pun intended) told from multiple point of views.

    It seems people either love this novel or don't.

    The depth of the characters and the exploration of complex themes make it a compelling read.

The Guardian · The Guardian critic · 2017-11-12
indifferent 2.50

The story is well crafted but leaves the critic feeling indifferent. The exploration of morals and motherhood is noted but doesn't resonate deeply.

The Guardian's critic acknowledges the skillful crafting of the story, particularly the intertwining of morals and motherhood against the backdrop of a mysterious house fire. However, despite the novel's strengths, the critic feels a sense of detachment, finding the narrative compelling yet emotionally unengaging. They appreciate the themes and the mystery but feel the novel falls short of creating a lasting impact.


Quick quotes

    A story of morals and motherhood set against the mystery of a burning house is well crafted but leaves our critic cold.

    The novel's strengths lie in its exploration of complex themes and its well-paced mystery.

    Despite its merits, the story fails to ignite a deep emotional response.