HBO’s 2-Part Crime Thriller Will Officially Reclaim Its Status As One Of TV’s Best Book Adaptations

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HBO has a strong history of turning books into fantastic TV shows, like Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers, and Sharp Objects. Now, Big Little Lies is aiming to be recognized as one of their very best adaptations. The show, based on the Liane Moriarty novel of the same name, first aired in 2017 and quickly became a popular and critically acclaimed success.

The HBO series Big Little Lies tells a captivating story of five mothers in affluent Monterey, California, as their idyllic lives are disrupted by a looming murder. With a stellar cast including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Alexander Skarsgård, the show quickly became a TV sensation and a thrilling must-see.

As a huge TV fan, I remember when Big Little Lies really broke through – with its amazing cast, rave reviews, and all those awards (eight Emmys, wow!). It proved that shows led by women could be just as high-quality and respected as anything else on TV. Honestly, the show lost a little steam after a while, but I’m getting the feeling it’s about to make a comeback. Get ready to settle in – think Nicole Kidman gazing out at the ocean – because something special is coming, and you won’t want to miss it!

How Big Little Lies Lost Its Masterpiece Status

The first season of Big Little Lies is widely praised as a fantastic adaptation because it fully captures the story of Liane Moriarty’s novel while also improving upon it – essentially making it a perfect, self-contained series. Its popularity, driven by both the cast and viewers, led HBO to create a second season despite the original story being complete.

After the success of its first season, Big Little Lies was renewed for a second season, changing it from a one-time story into an ongoing series. Adding the acclaimed actress Meryl Streep to the cast further boosted expectations. Everything pointed to season two being even more popular and talked about than the first – except for one significant issue.

The first season of Big Little Lies was adapted from a novel by Liane Moriarty. However, season two didn’t have a pre-existing book. Instead, Moriarty wrote a short story of around 200 pages specifically to help the show’s writers, and it was never published for readers.

The show took a noticeable turn, leading to a drop in quality according to both viewers and critics. While the personal stories of the five women remained, the season lacked the captivating mystery of a major crime, making it feel slow and overly dramatic for many. Without a murder to build towards, the season finale didn’t deliver the same excitement, and the show ended shortly after.

Big Little Lies Season 3 Will Adapt Liane Moriarty’s Upcoming Sequel Novel

Despite some doubts from viewers, the creators and stars of Big Little Lies – Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman – remained confident in the show, and now a third season is confirmed. Along with Witherspoon and Kidman, creator David E. Kelley is back, and Francesca Sloane will be writing the first episode.

The best news is that season 3 of Big Little Lies will be based directly on a new book, just like the first season. Author Liane Moriarty is writing a sequel called Big Little Truths, which comes out on August 25, 2026.

I’ve been following the buzz around Liane Moriarty’s new novel, Big Little Truths, and she’s really been giving fans a lot to chew on! She dropped the cover reveal on Instagram, and then went even further, sharing plot points with USA Today. The biggest news? We’re jumping forward in time – a full decade after the events of Big Little Lies. That means the Monterey Five aren’t just dealing with their own lives anymore, they’re navigating the teenage years with their kids. It sounds like things are about to get even more complicated!

Just like Big Little Lies revolved around a major school fundraiser, Big Little Truths will focus on Madeline’s 50th birthday party. Instead of parents gossiping to the police like in the first book, this time it’s the teenagers who are questioned after a severed finger is sent to the principal. Here’s what Moriarty said about it:

Okay, so the story kicks off with a seriously disturbing event – the principal gets a severed finger in the mail. What’s really interesting is how the narrative unfolds. In the first book, the parents were the ones offering commentary, kind of like a Greek chorus explaining everything. But this time around, it’s the teenagers – the students – who fill that role. We hear the story through their interviews, and it turns out everything started at Madeline’s 50th birthday party. It’s a clever way to build suspense and let the kids drive the storytelling.

If Big Little Truths is as strong as the first season—and given Liane Moriarty’s skill, it likely will be—then the show is poised for a successful return to form.

How The New Novel Could Make Big Little Lies HBO’s Best Book Adaptation

Beyond just having a book to work with, the third season of Big Little Lies could recapture the magic of its first season if it sticks closely to the original story.

Okay, let me tell you, this new book, Big Little Truths, immediately grabbed me. Forget the ‘whodunnit’ of season two of Big Little Lies – that question of whether the Monterey Five would get caught just doesn’t compare. This story starts with a shocking crime – a severed finger! – and throws you right into the mystery. Before you even turn the first page, you’re asking whose finger it is, how it got severed, and, most importantly, why someone would send it to the principal? It’s a far more compelling hook, honestly.

The show feels more like a suspenseful crime story, and the return of the Greek chorus helps with that – it was notably absent in season two. Keeping the parents involved in police questioning was a smart move, constantly reminding viewers that a serious crime had occurred and maintaining a high level of tension.

The chorus added a darkly funny edge to the show, offering sharp, judgmental commentary, and perfectly reflected the central theme of Big Little Lies: the constant, harsh scrutiny faced by mothers, regardless of their wealth. Now, with the chorus reimagined as the Monterey Five’s teenage children in Big Little Truths, we can expect even more shocking secrets to come to light through their interviews.

Everyone is expecting season 3 of Big Little Lies to start filming this fall. It remains to be seen if the new season will revitalize the show, but if it focuses again on the original book’s mystery and suspense, the main characters are likely to be a hit with viewers once more.

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2026-03-27 19:21