14 major changes 'Little Fires Everywhere' made from the book

Abby MonteilApr 22, 2020, 18:25 IST

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington costar on "Little Fires Everywhere."Eric Simkin/Hulu

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Little Fires Everywhere."
"Little Fires Everywhere," which is based on Celeste Ng's novel of the same name, aired on Hulu in March and April.
The show deviated from Ng's novel in a number of ways, including who started the story's climactic house fire.
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Celeste Ng's best-selling novel, "Little Fires Everywhere," was turned into a Hulu series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.

The show is set in the 1990s and follows the growing tension between Elena Richardson (Witherspoon) and Mia Warren (Washington), two polar-opposite mothers whose families become intertwined after Elena rents a house to Mia and her daughter, Pearl (Lexi Underwood), in their Ohio suburb.

In the series' opening scene, the Richardsons' house is shown going up in flames. Over the course of eight episodes, the perpetrator of the fire's identity is eventually revealed. As "Little Fires Everywhere" unfolds, topics of motherhood, race, and class are explored.

Although the show is faithful to the book in many ways, it does stray from its source material. Here are the biggest changes the "Little Fires Everywhere" series made from the novel.

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Different culprits are behind the story's climactic house fire.

On the season one finale, Lexie, Trip, and Moody start the Richardsons' house fire. Erin Simkin/Hulu

In the book, Mia (not Elena) tells Pearl the truth about her parentage.

Newcomer Lexi Underwood stars alongside Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

Elena didn't want a fourth child on the show, and her difficult relationship with Izzy has different roots.

Elena and her youngest daughter, Izzy, have a tumultuous relationship. Eric Simkin/Hulu

The show makes Pauline and young Mia more than friends.

Anika Noni Rose and Tiffany Boone appear on episode six of "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

Elena's ex-boyfriend who writes for The New York Times is hardly featured in the book. On the show, he's given a different, expanded role.

Luke Bracey and Reese Witherspoon appear on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

On the show, Pearl and Trip's relationship gets off to a much rockier start.

Trip and Pearl secretly date each other on "Little Fires Everywhere." Erin Simkin/Hulu

In another departure from Ng's novel, Lexie gets an abortion under Pearl's name without her consent.

Lexie often uses Pearl without her permission on the "Little Fires Everywhere" series. Eric Simkin/Hulu

In the book, Pearl voluntarily writes Lexie's Yale admissions essay. On the show, Lexie steals Pearl's personal story.

Lexi Underwood and Jade Pettyjohn costar on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

On the show, Elena offers to pay Bebe to leave the McCulloughs alone. This never happens in the book.

Huang Lu and Reese Witherspoon share a scene on "Little Fires Everywhere." Eric Simkin/Hulu

In the book, a famous artist's photo of a young Mia is in an art museum, not sold to The New York Times.

A photograph of young Mia plays a big role on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

Izzy Richardson's sexuality isn't mentioned at all in the book.

Megan Stott plays Izzy Richardson on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

In the book, Moody pines after Pearl. In the show, it appears they both may have feelings for one another.

Pearl and Moody on Hulu's "Little Fires Everywhere." Eric Simkin/Hulu

Bebe doesn't show up at May Ling/Mirabelle's birthday party in the novel.

Huang Lu plays Bebe Chow on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

In the book, Mia and her daughter Pearl's races weren't specified.

Kerry Washington and Lexi Underwood star on "Little Fires Everywhere." Hulu

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