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Big Little Lies
Book Club Night - Cozy night

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

A page-turning peek behind the polished curtains of a seaside school community, where friendships, secrets, and motherhood collide in equal measure.

Reading level: Easy Best for: A close-knit club that loves character-driven stories with a side of intrigue and a lot of heart

Discussion

Warm-up

  1. 1.Curl up and tell us: where did you do most of your reading, and what was in your mug while you read?
  2. 2.Which little moment in the book made you smile or laugh out loud and want to text a friend about it?

Digging in

  1. 1.Madeline, Celeste, and Jane each bring such different energy to the school gate. Whose friendship felt the most comforting to imagine having in your own life, and why?
  2. 2.The book is full of school drop-offs, coffee dates, and beach walks. Which everyday scene felt the most cozy or familiar to you?
  3. 3.Pirriwee is one of those places that feels like a character itself. If you could spend a slow Saturday there, what would your perfect day look like?
  4. 4.Moriarty writes about motherhood with so much tenderness and humor. Was there a parenting moment in the book that touched you or reminded you of someone you love?

Going deep

  1. 1.The story gently peels back what people show the world versus what they carry privately. Without spoiling anything, was there a character whose hidden softness or struggle stayed with you after you closed the book?
  2. 2.By the end, the book leaves you feeling a lot of things at once. What feeling did you walk away with, and is there someone in your life it made you want to reach out to?

On the table

Mini Aussie meat pies
A nod to the novel's Australian seaside setting, served warm and handheld for cozy nibbling
Lemon drizzle loaf with whipped cream
Bright and homey, like Madeline's sunny energy and a beachy afternoon tea
Cheese and fruit board with crusty bread
Casual school-mum trivia night vibes, easy to graze on while you chat

To sip

Pirriwee Public Punch (sparkling wine with peach and raspberry)
A soft pink toast to the infamous trivia night, kept gentle and pretty
Flat white or milky tea (no alcohol)
A warm Australian-style cuppa for slow conversation
Honey lemon hot toddy (warming, low effort)
Cozy comfort in a mug for chilly reading weather

Run of show

7:00
Warm welcome
Greet guests at the door with slippers-on energy, pour drinks, and let everyone settle into the comfiest seats
7:15
Graze and chat
Open the food spread and ease in with the two warmup questions
7:35
Trivia night (the friendly kind)
Run a quick round of trivia as a nod to the book's big school event, with tiny prizes like tea bags or chocolate
7:55
Heart of the discussion
Move through the theme questions, letting tangents and personal stories breathe
8:35
Dessert and the deep questions
Bring out the lemon loaf and shift into the two deeper questions over something sweet
9:10
Scorecards and send-offs
Fill out scorecards together, swap next-read ideas, and send everyone home with a bookmark

Host tips

  • Set out throws and cushions so people can really sink in, this book rewards a slow night
  • Keep food self-serve on a side table so no one has to play waiter mid-conversation
  • If the group gets quiet, share your own answer first to model the warm, personal tone

Playlist

Warm, breezy, slightly bittersweet pop with an ocean-side hush

  1. 01Riptide - Vance Joy
  2. 02To Build a Home - The Cinematic Orchestra
  3. 03Cornerstone - Arctic Monkeys
  4. 04Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
  5. 05Northern Wind - City and Colour
  6. 06Skinny Love - Birdy
  7. 07Big Jet Plane - Angus and Julia Stone
  8. 08Landslide - Fleetwood Mac

Trivia

  1. 1. Who wrote Big Little Lies? (Liane Moriarty)
  2. 2. In what country is the novel set? (Australia)
  3. 3. What is the name of the fictional seaside town and school at the heart of the story? (Pirriwee (Pirriwee Public))
  4. 4. What year was Big Little Lies first published? (2014)
  5. 5. Which prestige TV network adapted the novel into a hit series? (HBO)
  6. 6. Name any two of the three central mothers in the book. (Any two of: Madeline, Celeste, Jane)
  7. 7. Liane Moriarty shares her career as a bestselling novelist with which famous sibling who also writes? (Jaclyn Moriarty (and Nicola Moriarty))
  8. 8. What school event provides the framing device for the novel's mystery? (A school trivia (parents') night)

Rate the book

Coziness factor ☆☆☆☆☆
Characters you'd invite for coffee ☆☆☆☆☆
Heart tug ☆☆☆☆☆
Page-turning pull ☆☆☆☆☆
Reread cuddle potential ☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The character I'd most want as a neighbor: ______________________
A scene I'll be thinking about all week: ______________________
You're invited
Trivia Night, Cozy Edition

Bring your slippers and your softest opinions. We're gathering for warm drinks, easy bites, and a heart-to-heart about Big Little Lies.