Little Fires Everywhere: A Slow Burn....or Just Slow?

This is what you would call one of the "hype" books, a book you see that came out a year or 6 months ago, is already a New York Times Bestseller, and a pick for one or more celebrity book clubs. When I read the premise, I was intrigued and added it to my "holds" shelf on Libby. I waited 6 months for it, turns out. I couldn't believe it when I finally got a notification saying that the book was ready for me. I went to my room, a quiet place so I could really immerse myself in the first reading session. Now that I've finished it in less than 3 days, I have some thoughts.

NON SPOILER

WHAT I LIKED:
This book starts out with the prologue prefacing the events leading up to it. If anyone has seen the hulu commercial for the series (as I know I have multiple times) with Reese Witherspoon, that's the prologue, the burned down house.
Naturally, it caught my attention as it should anyone's so I kept reading.
There are many impactful quotes in the book that have multiple highlights (a perk you can see while reading on Kindle) and really delves into each character's thoughts and motivations throughout, leaving you no room for guessing.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I know some things are a slow burn but this just felt...slow. While I appreciate that it's not just from one character's point of view, I feel there are too many. First, you are in Moody's thoughts, then Pearl's, then Mia's. Sometimes they are so blended you can't figure out what perspective you are reading from.
The ending, I thought, was too rushed and doesn't facilitate a "climax," per se. Again, these are just my thoughts, just one opinion of many.
Even though this book is classified as "adult fiction," it can feel like a young adult novel for the first few chapters since you are seeing the story from the teenager's points of view most of the time, I know it is important to the story but it bends the genre a bit too much (i.e. high school party, high school, crushes, etc.)

Overall rating: 3 stars out of 5

Maybe I was expecting more because I waited for this book for SIX MONTHS or maybe I just didn't think it was worth the hype.




SPOILERS: READ AT OWN RISK

So, you're reading this section so you must have read the book also. If not, major major spoilers ahead.

WHAT I LIKED:
This is basically repeated from the "non section" part since there aren't any "specific" parts I feel I can brag about. Except, I do feel like she fleshed out the Richardson children well and how they end up being horrible in the end (except Trip, poor Trip.) No, Moody does not get a pass. I know he had really deep feelings for Pearl but that is NO reason to sell her out to his mom and ultimately make her and her mom leave town.
Showing all the ways in which the McCulloughs are ignorant of Chinese culture made me crack up a bit. I love it when people say "we don't see race," because ultimately they are racist if they say that, they just don't know it. And also, "we could have gotten her a polar bear or a brown bear but no we chose a panda bear so she can stay close to her culture." That made me laugh out loud and was one of the most comedic, and ultimately sad, parts because it shows just how ignorant us white people can be about other cultures.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Alright, here we go.
First: I can't keep up with P.OV. First Pearl, then Mia, then Mrs. Richardson? And I know her name is Elena and all and I'm sure the author is going for the Rebecca affect since she barely says Elena when referring to her. It's just, Mrs. Richardson is such a clunky name to read multiple times.
Second, Mia leaving all those projects for the Richardsons when she leaves town. Why? I mean, I know it shows she is a nice person and all but I feel it was very unnecessary. It just basically confirmed what readers should have already known about the Richardsons themselves.
Third, the whole "mom" controversy. This will make a lot of people stop reading this probably but again, just my opinion.
I side with the McCulloughs.
It is a tragedy that Mirabelle wouldn't have been as in-touch with her culture if she had stayed with the McCulloughs (but she didn't, thanks to Bebe which I will get to later). BUT this is really the only thing that turns people to Bebe's side.
I'm sorry but as soon as Bebe left her baby at the fire station with a note saying she wanted her to have a "better life" and abandoned her there, she gave up all rights to that child. You can't just come back months later and say you want her back because you have a job now. It doesn't work like that.
As for Mia, I don't agree with her taking Pearl. Yes, she is technically Mia's child but she is also the Ryans' child and she was being paid handsomely for it and they were taking good care of her. For her to run off like that, it's well, crappy. Granted, I am NOT  mother and don't know anything about maternal instinct so I'd like to know what the MOTHERS who read this book thinks on this subject. Maybe, it will give me a different perspective.
The ending: Wow. This happened in only a chapter or two and felt a bit rushed but, since we all knew about the fire in the beginning, we knew what was coming. I don't blame Izzy for running off, she felt her family didn't want and/or understand her. She felt much more attached to Mia than her own mom.
As for Bebe, ugh. I was so disappointed when I read that part. Mirabelle (or May Ling) was kidnapped by her own mother and she fled to China with her never to be seen again. Sorry, but that's just selfish. Again, I'd like to hear the MOTHERS on this part. What do you think? Was Bebe right to take back May Ling or should she have accepted she was now with the McCulloughs?

Again, these are MY thoughts. I'm always open to hear what people have to say.