Little Fires Everywhere by Celestine Ng

The Richardson family is the perfect family as defined in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  Shaker Heights was a planned community and every aspect of life is defined in advance.  Mrs. Richardson is a part-time journalist while Mr. Richardson is a lawyer.  They have four children, who are all in high school.  Lexie is a senior, already accepted to Yale for next year.  She is popular in high school and hangs with the popular clique; an 'it' girl.  Trip is good-looking and athletic, a hit with the girls.  Moody is the sensitive brother who is more into poetry and songs than the playing field.  Izzy is the baby and a rebel who refuses to believe that nothing can be done about the injustices she sees around her.  All in all, the family has a perfect life where no one is questioning much.

That all changes when Mrs. Richardson rents her apartment to a new family.  Mia is an artist whose camera work is everything to her.  Her daughter Pearl is brilliant although their lifestyle hasn't allowed her to feature that strength as much as if she had always attended the same schools.  Instead, the pair leads a nomadic life, moving into a community until Mia feels she has exhausted the creative spark there, then packing up and moving on.  That means Pearl has not had a stable academic life, or friends or most of the experiences most of her peers have.  Mia has promised that this move will be one that Pearl can stick with until she finishes high school and Pearl is excited at the prospect.

Soon the two families lives are entwined.  Pearl is fascinated with the Richardson family and they with her.  She is Moody's first serious crush.  Pearl idolizes Lexie and is attracted to Trip.  On the other hand, Izzy is fascinated with Mia and her in dependant life and starts working as her assistant.  Mrs. Richardson offers Mia a job cleaning and cooking for the Richardsons and Mia can't find a way to refuse and anyway feels it is an opportunity to keep an eye on Pearl.

When a situation arises in the town that divides it, the lives of these two families are affected.  A local family is in the process of adopting a baby who was surrendered by her mother who is a recent Chinese immigrant.  When she recovers from the illness and inability to acclimate to her life situation, the mother wants her baby back.  Soon the two sides are in court, fighting about who would be the best parent for the baby.  Everyone in town has an opinion and the Richardsons and the Warrens are on opposite sides.  Mrs. Richardson is outraged that Mia is taking the birth mother's side and decides to investigate Mia's background.  Will she discover something scandalous?

Celestine Ng grew up in Shaker Heights herself so understands the environment.  Her clear portrayal of each of the characters in the book allows the reader to visualize each one and decide where their sympathies lie.  The plot twists are revealed slowly enough that they all seem natural.  The novel was named a Best Book by such sources as NPR, Audible, The Washington Post, Esquire, Kirkus Reviews, Entertainment Weekly, People and many others.  This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.