Ten years after Big Little Lies landed on bestseller lists and living room conversations, Liane Moriarty is bringing the crew back. Her new novel, Big Little Truths, arrives this August and picks up with the same circle of women as their children hit high school.

What the new book covers

The publisher describes a community that has moved on from playdates into teen complications. The kids are now teenagers and the household issues have changed scale. The synopsis teases elements of drugs, sex and alcohol in the teen years. Tension mounts when a stranger starts asking odd questions at the school and the principal receives a severed human finger in the mail. The friends will have to confront the truths they have shared and the ones they have kept secret from their children, from each other, and from themselves.

Moriarty on returning

Moriarty said she enjoyed going back to the beachside town and catching up with Celeste, Madeline and Jane. She noted that both she and the world have changed since the first book, and that it was interesting to imagine how the characters might have changed as they handle life with teenagers.

Designed for old fans and new readers

According to the publisher, the novel lets longtime readers reconnect with familiar characters but can also be read on its own by new readers. It is billed as a sharply observed look at contemporary womanhood, full of insight into social dynamics and written with Moriarty's characteristic wit.

How this ties to TV

HBO announced last year that Big Little Lies will return for a third season. The new season will be based on Moriarty's latest book. Francesca Sloane, co-creator of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, is slated to write the first episode of the new season. HBO chief Casey Bloys said the producers love the show and the property and that the timing made sense, now that the children in the story are teenagers. He also said the producers met writers and responded well to Francesca Sloane.

Cast and reaction

The series that premiered in 2017 starred Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz. The principal cast is expected to return for season three. Laura Dern expressed excitement about reuniting with her co-stars and called the experience of making the show with close friends an incredible gift.

Release details

  • Book title: Big Little Truths
  • Author: Liane Moriarty
  • Publisher: Crown
  • Release date: August 25, 2026

In short, readers get a reunion, a darker high school backdrop, and the mix of domestic drama and social observation that made the original novel a hit. For viewers, expect the book to feed the next season of the HBO series.