'Big Little Lies' author hints at 'Big Little Truths' sequel and Season 3

Liane Moriarty, the writer behind the hit novel Big Little Lies, which became a critically acclaimed two-season HBO adaptation, has announced a follow-up book called Big Little Truths.

HBO CEO Casey Bloys mentioned this new project in November 2024.

Set a decade after the original story, Big Little Truths is slated for release on August 25. Similar to Laura Dave’s sequel The First Time I Saw Him, occurring five years after the initial The Last Thing He Told Me and inspiring Season 2 of the Apple TV show, Moriarty's forthcoming novel continues the opulent coastal narrative and will inspire Season 3 of Big Little Lies.

Last year, Deadline confirmed that Season 3 hired Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner Francesca Sloane to craft the initial episode.

“From the start, because of the series, there was buzz about a sequel, but I wasn't keen on it immediately because the characters endure so much and a direct continuation didn't resonate with me,” Moriarty informed USA Today. “A time leap always felt right to me.”

Characters’ kids, played by Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and others, will be at the heart of this new chapter. The inspiration stemmed from her own children reaching their teenage years.

The synopsis for Big Little Truths hints at a mysterious figure seen around the high school, asking what seem to be "harmless inquiries.”

As kids transition to adulthood, the narrative also highlights “farewell to playdates, hello to drugs, sex, and alcohol.”

“The novel opens with the school receiving a severed finger through the mail,” Moriarty described the plot's beginning. “In the original book, the school parents served as the Greek chorus narrating events. In this installment, it's the teenagers − the kids − taking on that role. They get interviewed about the events, starting with, ‘Well, everything kicked off at Madeline’s 50th birthday.’”

She mentioned it was simple to revisit Madeline’s story. Dern’s Renata also plays a significant role in the sequel, which Moriarty credits to the actress and her portrayal in the series.