Big Little Truths

1. Which character do you think has changed the most in the ten years since Big Little Lies, and who still seems most haunted by the past?

2. A stranger begins asking questions around the school-how effectively does Moriarty use this to build suspense? Did you see where it was heading?

3. What specific vulnerabilities do high-achieving teens have, according to the book? How do authority figures take advantage of the trust that parents place in them?

4. Did Pirriwee's focus on academic success make parents overlook the danger around them? Did their hopes for their children cause them to miss the threat?

5. What motivates someone to enable a predator - and does Melody's ability to be a genuinely gifted teacher and complicit make her more dangerous than a straightforward villain?

6. The mothers were, in theory, primed to recognize abuse after their history with Perry - so why did they miss Melody? Did she target their specific blind spots, or was she just more sophisticated?

7. How does learning the truth about Perry affect Max, Josh, and Ziggy's sense of identity? Were their mothers right to keep the secret for ten years, or did it cause more harm than good?

8. Why do you think the kids felt they had to create a dramatic public event to be taken seriously - and how does that echo or contrast with how their mothers handled Perry back then?

9. The novel suggests that hiding truths, even for good reasons, still has consequences. Do you think there are times a major family secret is the right call?

10. Ten years on, are these women's friendships held together by real affection, shared history, or the secrets binding them - and does it matter which?

11. How does the book address the significant topic of consent through Chloe's story? Chloe states, "I consented." Do you think her perspective will change as she matures into adulthood?

12. Did you see the twist coming that Melody and her husband Seth were grooming and trafficking underage high school girls, or did you notice the clues early on?

13. Do you think Melody has any good or complicated qualities? Are we harder on Melody than on her husband because of society's views on women and teachers?

14. Discuss Jane's decision not to have another baby? Was she justified?

Content Warning: This novel includes themes of sexual abuse and grooming involving minors, domestic violence, cancer, alcohol and drug use, and some disturbing imagery.