This novel would have been so much better if it had not been built on stereotypes and filled with implausibility, not to mention impossibility. In addition, large sections were devoted to expository material explaining the motivations and actions of the characters, which became awkward in the extreme. All that being said, it is an entertaining take on the precarious relationship of mothers to their teenage daughters and a thought-provoking examination of the cultural divide between those with differing philosophies of life. The side story of a custody fight for a Chinese baby adopted into an Anglo family seemed to be tacked on for its current political relevance and could have been left out of the story entirely.
The Richardson family lives a privileged lifestyle in a perfectly ordered community where everyone (almost everyone) follows the rules. The father is a successful lawyer; the mother reports local news for a second-tier newspaper. Their four children are all in high school and could have come straight out of The Breakfast Club: a handsome jock, a beautiful prom queen, an introverted nerd, and a rebel who rejects their "perfect" life. When they rent out an apartment to free-spirited Mia Warren and her teenage daughter Pearl, their well-ordered existence begins to crumble.
Here's where all the unlikely plot developments enter in. Even though Pearl lacks self confidence and wears thrift-store clothing, she becomes the best of friends with the wealthy Richardson teens. To detail all the improbabilities would be to reveal much of the rest of the story, so I will refrain. Suffice it to say that a reader must necessarily suspend disbelief to enjoy reading the novel.
Nevertheless, I am sure most would find Little Fires Everywhere interesting. I believe it might be a book club natural. It was named a Best Book of the Year by several publications.
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