I read this book in two sittings.  The novel takes place in the 1990’s in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a well-to-do, liberal suburb of Cleveland.  It is the story of two families.  The Richardsons are typical of their suburb, father is a lawyer, mother a journalist, oldest daughter beautiful and bright, oldest son handsome and athletic, younger son a sensitive intellectual and youngest daughter a moody loner.  The Richardsons own a duplex on “the other side” of Shaker Heights, and they rent out one floor to Mia Warren and her adolescent daughter, Pearl.  Mia is a vagabond artist with few possessions and a mysterious past.  How these families interact is the crux of the novel.

Little Fires Everywhere is an easy read with a lot of depth to it.  It will grab you on page one.  Also, Celeste Ng not only knows a lot about a lot of things, she knows how to present them in a fascinating way.