Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

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In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned - from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren--an enigmatic artist and single mother--who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town--and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.


It feels like it's been a long time since I've read a book that was as well crafted as this one. Every sentence, every chapter, every digression had a purpose; every facet fit together like a crisp, new puzzle. In the end, the book leaves you wanting and desperate, yet satisfied.

My favorite part of the book was the multidimensional characters and the poignant voices. There were so many to keep track of, yet it wasn't difficult at all. Particularly, I loved following Mia. She made some decisions and life movements that I don't approve of or wouldn't make myself, but I was eager to learn more about her and her history. She was dynamic and complex. I also loved Pearl and her science brain and self-assurance.

This review is not refined like the book is, but basically, you should read this. It's about family, it's about privilege, it's about our histories. It's simply fantastic.



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