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Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Saturday Nite Reader17 Comments

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3 disco balls

Published: September 12, 2017 by Penguin Press
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BOTM $9.99 add-on
Category: Fiction
Goodreads Choice Awards 2017, Best Fiction

With over a 4 star rating on goodreads and on the heels of winning their 2017 Best in Fiction award, I wanted to really love this book. I didn’t love it, but I liked it. I don’t regret reading it and welcome a book discussion on some of the topics covered in the book; the book just hit a few painful spots for me and it was a tough read.The Richardson family is picture perfect: two parents with successful careers, four kids (two boys, two girls), live in a lovely home, do not have to worry about money, go to a good school in a safe neighborhood, etc. Single parent, nomad, drifter, Mia and her daughter Pearl move into the Richardson’s rental and each of the Richardson’s become fascinated with Mia and Pearl in their own way.

A pending adoption of a child left at a firehouse divides the two families, as well as the Richarson’s themselves and the rest of the story is hinged on the unraveling of Mrs. Richardson (whom I was not a fan of, obviously).

Pros:the writing is very strong, solid character development, a bit of mystery in learning of the characters’ pasts, overall engaging story, and I can’t help but also point out: lovely book cover (hey, its important!)

Cons: it moved very slowly for me until the 30% mark when it really picked up, my heart ached for Mrs. McCullough and Mrs. Ryan and I couldn’t bear their families story lines, the ending (I’ll leave it at that as to not give anything away)

It’s a story of love, acceptance, regret, hope and disappointment. It evokes many emotions: it does this very well.

I will say I read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate right before this (another read about losing children and adoption) and I need a break from all the serious stuff. Next up will probably be a romance featuring a handsome cowboy.  😉

If you agree/disagree, would love to hear from you. Share your review links in the comments too.

17 thoughts on “Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng”

  1. Great review. I read and review this last year. Agree entirely about it taking its time to actually get into the story, but it is a great story once you get past that slow start.

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  2. I had to take a break from serious books for a little bit too right before Christmas. I’ve seen a lot of good things written about this book. I just don’t know that I want to commit to it right now.

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  12. I’m reading this right now, at 90% at the moment, and I love it! For a long time I avoided “emotional” books, and only read crime and thriller, and now i’m sitting here, wondering why, when I enjoy this book so much.

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