Big Little Lies
An adult mystery-drama following three mothers in suburban Sydney whose lives converge in a fatal incident at a school trivia night. The book handles serious issues including domestic abuse and sexual violence with unflinching realism, making it firmly adult reading.
Chapters to know about
Jane's traumatic rape, which resulted in her son's conception, is disclosed in her early chapters and revisited across the novel; the perpetrator is confronted in the final chapters.
Celeste's chapters depict a repeated cycle of physical assault and emotional manipulation by her husband Perry; incidents are described with detail and escalate as the book progresses.
Celeste's sessions with her therapist examine how and why victims remain in abusive relationships; these passages are handled thoughtfully and could prompt meaningful discussion.