Challenge Corner discussion

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colours 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 teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

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

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak.

I just finished chapter 1 and (view spoiler)[ I already can see that it's something I'll enjoy. I love all the questions and mystery and "who did it" kinda thing. Why Mia and Pearl left same morning as fire started? Maybe it wasn't Izzy as everyone so fast to assume. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ Then they were talking about writting a story and how Pearls mother Mia said "that maybe she didin't want to give up the baby because after seeing the baby she changed her mind.. ". Was she talking from the personal past experience? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ Hm. I don't know. Agree to work at the 'house' just to look at what her daughter is up to? I mean, I don't know. Isn't there a simpler thing, like talking with Pearl? What she is so afraid of? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ Oh geez. Even if that teacher derserved a prank for the way she acted, that was harsh... damn. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ I think Mia just got into someone else mess telling about the baby... I know she just wanted her work friend to know where's her baby, but I'm not sure if it will end well for Mia. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ I am su curious what she will find out from visiting Mia's parents. I think there is something, Mia is hiding things. But is it something bad? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ OMG. So Pearl is someone else baby. I mean, technically she is. Mia was a surogate. Oh man. No wonder she is always changing cities. She is on a run. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[ I loved reading Mia's story. Glad to know how everything happened. I get now why she agreed to be a surogate, but i also get why she run away. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[ It's shitty that Lexie used Pearls name in clinic. Now it's like Pearl will have a record for doing an abortion...
And it was really sweet how Mia and Pearl was here for her through all of it. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[ Geez, I hope she will choke on her words then she will learn that it was her daugher who had an abortion... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[ Oh wow. Izzy sure took Mias words literally.. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I like how it ended and at the same time nothing is finished. It left me guessing, but in a good way. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[
Ohh, so that is what "little fires everywhere" means! I thought it sounded nice and cozy from the title, but now I see it is actually really creepy, lol!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[
I can understand feeling a little awkward about using the student restroom, but waiting so long that you can’t hold it? I can’t believe she did that!

Also, I don’t understand why none of Izzy’s family talk to her about what she did and why. Lexie says it was like Izzy to “freak out for no reason, do something crazy.” Why assume it was for no reason?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[
I understand why Mia told Bebe about the baby. I would have done the same. I can’t believe the county would just refuse to tell her what happened to her baby afterwards. I’m kind of mad at Mr. and Mrs. McCullough too, even though I can see how hard it would be for them, since they’re not even considering whether they should give the baby back now that they know the real mother still wants her. But really, the whole thing would have been so much easier if the county had tried to find the real mother before just giving the baby away.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[
It made me really sad how the lawyer implied Mrs. McCullough was a bad mother for not knowing enough about Chinese culture. I mean, I still think Bebe should get to have her baby back, because she is the mother, but Mrs. McCullough was being a good mother too. It's her own fault for taking it to court instead of giving the baby back to Bebe, I guess. I just felt really bad for her.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I'm glad I picked it up. The fight between Mrs. McCullough and Bebe, and how everyone had a strong opinion about it, was really interesting.
(hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING JANUARY 6TH, 2023

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Chapter 1-6: (view spoiler)[Every character in this book is so very complicated and has many different layers it seems. Pearl’s fascination with the Richardsons is understandable considering the way she grew up, always moving and isolated. Moody being drawn to Pearl was a bit awkward at first but now we can see so many similarities between them. I sometimes find Lexie smug and entitled but then I feel like she’s just a clueless teenager. I was hating Mia at first but then again getting to know her thoughts made me understand her better. Elena offering Mia the housekeeping job was so bad, and Mia’s thoughts on how people push for things they think are a good deed was so on point (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7-10: (view spoiler)[Izzy looking up to Mia is kinda understandable with her own family always putting her down and always calling her crazy or a freak. Even her mom’s behaviour is so absurd towards her and nothing about the complicated pregnancy she had with Izzy changed my mind about how Elena is failing her. I understand why Mia told Bebe about her baby, no one should be left hanging in the air like that especially when there’s a baby involved but now Elena is going to dig into her past and I don’t see any good coming out of it (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11-13: (view spoiler)[I knew it would be bad Elena looking into Mia's past but I could not have guessed Pearl's parentage being questioned. So she's on the run ever since she had Pearl, I don't know how to feel about it. Pearl on the other hand is being so reckless with Trip, it's so clear that he has no interest in seriously dating her but teenage is just that way. Lexie putting in Pearl's name for her abortion is bound to complicate things in the future (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14-16: (view spoiler)[I can't decide whether Mia taking the baby was the right thing to do or not. I can't even come to a conclusion on whose side I am on in the custody case. My opinion keeps swaying with every page and everything is so complicated. The abortion had a huge impact on Lexie and we can see that in her sudden change of behavior. I am wondering now that Elena knows about Mia's past, what would she do with the said information. I really hope she doesn't exploit it in any way (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[This was a very conflicting ending, I liked how it was left open with respect to Izzy's future and whether she found Mia and Pearl or was she reunited with her parents. I am happy that Bebe got her daughter back albeit through stealing but she is back in China now so I am hoping she would be safer and happier. Linda and Mark loved the baby no doubt and they should be able to adobt another baby soon. (hide spoiler)]

ooo excited to get this started today!! looks like you really enjoyed it :)

I have heard mixed opinions on this one so it would definitely be great to hear your thoughts on it Haley!

Kira wrote: "Chapter 1-6: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I'm loving the book so far. I have mixed feelings towards Lexie because it seems like she's taking Pearl in as a charity case. Also I wonder what's going to happen between Pearl, Moody, and Trip... I feel as if there's going to be drama surrounding that shortly especially due to Pearl being a bit naive on other's intentions .

Moody has to be one of my favorite characters so far because he's not pushy with Pearl, but there to keep great company. Mia seemed to take Pearl's question on being wanted to heart and honestly I don't blame her. To have your child question if you were even wanted in the world is a bit of a hard blow.

I can only imagine that Mia working for Elena will only end poorly.

also I'm hoping to get more of Izzy's character brought up. (hide spoiler)]

Kira wrote: "Chapter 7-10: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I don't understand how Elena doesn't see how she's putting Izzy down... she's not allowing her to be like a child... & how does she think she'll respond after stating "what's wrong with you?" what even.... It's not Izzy's fault that Elena had a late start on her career...

I LAUGHED when Ms. Pissers loll peed her pants. she deserved it, my jaw dropped after reading that part.

honestly I would have done the same thing and told Bebe. would you have? I think it's only right & fair, but I have no idea how it'll turn out.. (hide spoiler)]

I love how it's picking up! I'm hoping to finish by tonight :)

Kira wrote: "Chapter 14-16: [spoilers removed]"

sorry never got around to updating on here!!
(view spoiler)[ I can't decide either on Mia, but I think a big factor was her brother's death. Maybe if her brother didn't pass away she might have given her baby up...

also on the custody case, that it SO difficult... It goes both ways, I think if Bebe was able to see her child for visitation then it could be better on both ends... the baby, adoptive family, and the birth mother.

I have a feeling Lexie using Pearl's name with the abortion clinic will come back to harm Pearl (hide spoiler)]

Kira wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ usually I don't like books that end this way with such an open ending and no set closure. However, I LOVED THIS!! There are so many possibilities of what could happen, but ends in a way where there's no need for a follow up book. I smiled after reading Bebe received her baby back, I was nervous that she was going to harm herself because she didn't see a point in life without the baby.

I was disappointed with Moody and his reaction even though it was a bit justified. HOWEVER, he never spoke of his feelings to Pearl so how was she to know how he felt?? He went to apologize a bit too late... I'm happy with the ending Mrs. Richardson received. poor Izzy didn't deserve a family like that who misunderstood her and made her feel like an outcast. I hope she finds Mia and Pearl who welcome her back with open arms. (hide spoiler)]

it was a slow start at the beginning, but once it got to a certain point I found myself immersed into the world with Mia and the Richardsons.

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RESTARTING MARCH 14TH, 2023

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Starting this!!

I'll be starting today as well :)

Chapters 1-5:
(view spoiler)[ I honestly think that it wasn't Izzy who set the house on fire. I'm beginning to wonder if it is Pearl and that's why she and her mother Mia have to keep moving around so much because she's done this before. Just my first thought. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 6-9
(view spoiler)[ I knew as soon as the McCullough told how they came to have the baby they had, and remembered that Mia was working at a Chinese restaurant, it finally all tied together. How incredibly sad for both Bebe and the McCulloughs. This is a tough one. (hide spoiler)]
Sorry I took a day break from this one to read one on NetGalley but I'm back to this one.

Through page 247:
(view spoiler)[ So I am torn when it comes to Mirabelle. I do believe the mother deserves a second chance but then the McColloughs are going to be heart broken and that makes me sad for them. However, I wonder if now that Lexie is pregnant if maybe that baby will go to the McColloughs? (hide spoiler)]

Done:
This started out slow but turned out to be fantastic.
(view spoiler)[ a few things I didn't see coming, Bebe taking her baby and leaving the country, Izzy setting the house on fire, and the ending. I am also pissed that Elena never actually found out that it was in fact her daughter, not Pearl who had the abortion. I sorta like the way the author left the ending open to maybe lead into another book or to let the reader make up their own ending. (hide spoiler)]