Big Little Lies vs This is how it always is

Both "This is how it always is" by Laurie Frankel and "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty are popular choices for readers interested in Family secrets and Parents of transgender children. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

FamiliesParentingFictionFiction, family lifeNew York Times reviewed
Cover of Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

2014

From the author of Here One Moment and The Husband’s Secret comes the #1 New York Times bestselling novel about the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. THE INSPIRATION FOR THE AWARD-WINNING HBO® SERIES STARRING REESE WITHERSPOON, NICOLE KIDMAN, SHAILENE WOODLEY, LAURA DERN, ZOË KRAVITZ, AND MERYL STREEP—AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON MAX® A murder...A tragic accident...Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place. Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can turn lethal.

Published 2014
Books like Big Little Lies
Published 2017
Books like This is how it always is

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: This is how it always is or Big Little Lies?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read This is how it always is and Big Little Lies in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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