Little Fires Everywhere has complex family dynamics, flawed characters, and elicited some strong emotions. There is a lot going on in the little town of Shaker Heights with the Richardson's and the Warren's. I was impressed at the way the author implicitly shared history repeating itself. The reader can see the cycle happening and it is both revelatory and heartbreaking.
The characters are very real and written well. They are what make this an intense book at times. While reading, I kept getting Izzy and Lexie confused and would have to figure out which one was which. It was frustrating and they were completely different with different stories so I cannot pinpoint why this was difficult for me. The tension between Mia and Mrs. Richardson is subtle and yet palpable. It stretches throughout the book, like an elastic band being pulled slowly until it snaps. I liked Pearl, but wished she had more character development.
The themes are heavy. Ng is crafty in how she brings you slowly into the lives of the characters and then into an unexpected story of tangled webs, secrets, and the incredible power of motherhood.
There was one time in particular that I didn't buy what was happening. It wasn't as believable as everything else leading up to it, but it didn't ruin the story and I didn't dwell on it. The characters, their relationships and how they each navigate their reality is what made this a memorable book.
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