A sharp, darkly funny, and deeply human portrait of suburban life, temptation, and the quiet chaos beneath ordinary routines.
 
In a quiet Massachusetts suburb, Sarah and Todd—two thirty-something parents stuck in the monotony of playground visits and carpool duty—begin an affair that disrupts not only their own lives but the fragile social fabric of their community. As their neighbors gossip and secrets unravel, Perrotta explores love, desire, and the longing for something more within the constraints of modern suburbia.
 
In Little Children, Tom Perrotta (Election, The Leftovers) delivers a razor-sharp social satire that blends humor, heartbreak, and moral complexity. Beneath the sunlit perfection of family life, his characters struggle with discontent, identity, and the consequences of their choices.
Told with compassion and unflinching honesty, the novel reveals how easily ordinary people can be undone by longing and self-deception. Perrotta captures the absurdity and ache of adulthood—where passion collides with responsibility, and happiness is never as simple as it seems.
 
Adapted into an acclaimed Oscar-nominated film, Little Children remains one of the defining suburban dramas of the 21st century: smart, funny, unsettling, and deeply human.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A witty, intelligent exploration of suburban discontent.
Characters who feel uncomfortably real and painfully relatable.
Blends dark humor with emotional depth and moral ambiguity.
Perfect for readers who enjoy literary fiction that challenges comfort zones.
Adapted into an award-winning film starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Revolutionary Road and The Corrections.
Readers drawn to psychological and domestic dramas.
Book clubs seeking layered discussion on love, choices, and identity.
Those who appreciate fiction that mixes satire with sincerity.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Little Children, you might also like:
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates — a classic study of suburban disillusionment.
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen — a sweeping, incisive family drama.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper — a darkly comic look at modern family life.