One sentence summary
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is a realistic fiction story set in the suburbs of Ohio, exploring the ripple effect of secrets and lies.
Book genre
Realistic fiction.
Main topic of the book
The main themes of the book are family, secrets, and identity.
Key ideas
- Identity: We all grapple with who we are and our identity impacted by our families, our communities, and our own secrets.
- Family dynamics: Life-changing events can drastically affect our relationships with our family and how we live our lives.
- Privilege: Differences in social and economic class can make developing relationships difficult, while understanding and respect for one another is paramount.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
The book follows the Richardson family of Shaker Heights, a planned town near Cleveland, Ohio. The eldest of the Richardson children, Lexie, is a talkative teen who loves journalism and is deeply connected to her family’s lifestyle. The middle child, Trip, is charming and outspoken and the youngest, Moody, is shy but book-smart. The core of the book follows Elena Richardson’s interaction with single mother Mia Warren, and her daughter Pearl, who move into the Richardson’s wealthy neighborhood.
The two mothers clash over their parenting styles and very different upbringings, while their teenage children form an unusual bond with each other. The fractures in the Richardson family become more apparent as they grapple with each other’s secrets and lies. Meanwhile, Mia helps Elena re-evaluate her life and redefine her own notions of family.
Key takeaways
- Family dynamics help shape our identities.
- We can learn much from those with a different background to us.
- Similar familial issues can bring two very different people together.
Author’s background and qualifications
Celeste Ng is the author of Little Fires Everywhere and was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist. Her debut novel Everything I Never Told You was a New York Times bestseller, Amazon Book of the Year, and named a best book of the year by multiple publications.
Target audience
Little Fires Everywhere is an adult novel, suitable for people aged 16 upwards.
Publisher and first publication date
Little Fires Everywhere was first published in 2017 by Penguin Random House.