Little Fires Everywhere

by Celeste Ng

If I’m honest, I’m not entirely sure what I make of this book but I am recommending it anyway so that you can make your own decision! This was a choice from my book club and not something I would have picked up myself and I did find it hard going to begin with. Ultimately though, I am glad I stuck with it and reached the conclusion, though it did leave me with a lot to think about and a number of unanswered questions.

The story begins in 1998. The Richardson family live in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a respected area with lots of rules and regulations on how the area should look and how the people should live. On this night, they return home to find that their house is on fire and as there are multiple small fires involved, arson is suspected. But who would do such a thing?

The story then goes back to the previous year. Elena Richardson, a journalist, lives in Shaker Heights with her lawyer husband Bill and her four children: Trip, Lexie, Moody and Izzy. They obviously lead a good life and the children want for nothing. Elena has a rental house which she lets to travelling artist Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl. In comparison, they have little. Mia takes work where she can to fund her artistic talents and sells occasional pictures through an art gallery. They lead a transient lifestyle, filling their home with rubbish tip finds and whatever fits into their camper van. Mia earns just enough to fund their lifestyle and Pearl has become used to moving frequently and not making friends.

This time, however, Pearl meets Moody and they instantly hit it off. They become good friends and Pearl is introduced and welcomed into the Richardson lifestyle.

The book then develops several different storylines, taking the reader on different journeys. We learn about the relationship between Elena and her children and Mia and her daughter, we learn of the different characteristics of the Richardson children and their privileged lifestyle, the fourth child Izzy who doesn’t quite fit in and the increasing friction between Elena and Mia.

Mia is offered a position as housekeeper for the Richardson’s which she is reluctant to take but agrees to do so because of her concern that Pearl is being swept into a different lifestyle.

Without giving away too much we are introduced to friends of the Richardson’s who are trying to adopt an abandoned baby after years of childlessness. Mirabelle/May Ling Chow was left by a co worked of Mia’s when she was no longer able to cope. Bill Richardson takes on the case to help his friends whilst Mia supports the mother Bebe. When Elena finds out, she is determined to seek out Mia’s secret past and confront her.

There are many hidden secrets: Mia’s past, an unplanned pregnancy and a surrogate baby being just some of them. There are also additional storylines: the development of a relationship between Pearl and Trip, the result of the court case and consequent actions and then the mysterious fires. Who lit them? And why?

The development of each relationship is intriguing. The reason for the constant movement by Mia and Pearl, Mia’s background and the resentment shown by Elena Richardson also capture the reader’s interests.

However, if you like a story that ends neatly with all loose ends tied up and suitably explained, maybe this book will leave you a little frustrated. I wanted to know what happened to various characters, whether Mia and Pearl were able to reconcile with the past and what became of baby May Ling. Apparently it has been made into a TV series which is showing on Amazon Prime. Maybe, there might be a series 2 or a book 2 planned to up all those loose ends!

Have a read and let me know what you think. I’m still a little unsure!