Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Big Little Lies. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Perry Wright, Celeste's abusive husband, falls to his death on the night of the trivia event. In the end, it is revealed that Bonnie pushed him to protect Celeste, and the other women agree to claim that he fell accidentally.
Quick facts
– Book: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
– First published: 2014
– Type: A contemporary mystery novel
– Tone of the ending: Cathartic
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
The story is told through the gossip of parents at Pirriwee Public School and flashes forward to a night of death at a fundraiser. Madeline, Celeste and Jane form a tight friendship while each carries a secret. Celeste is being hidden by her husband's violence.
What Happens at the End of Big Little Lies
As Perry attacks Celeste, Jane recognizes him as the man who assaulted her years ago and fathered Ziggy. Perry follows Celeste at the event, and the women confront him in a struggle. Bonnie pushes Perry to stop him from killing Celeste, and he falls down a flight of stairs. The women agree on a story and do not tell the police. Celeste leaves with her sons and starts a new life.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- As Perry attacks Celeste, Jane recognizes him as the man who assaulted her years ago and fathered Ziggy.
- Perry follows Celeste at the event, and the women confront him in a struggle.
- Bonnie pushes Perry to stop him from killing Celeste, and he falls down a flight of stairs.
- The women agree on a story and do not tell the police.
- Celeste leaves with her sons and starts a new life.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Perry Wright | Dies after a fall |
| Celeste | Leaves with her sons |
| Bonnie | Pushes Perry and is shielded by the others |
| Jane and Madeline | Keep silent to protect their friend |
What the Ending Means
The ending is about the way women protect each other when the system fails. It treats the cover-up as an act of loyalty rather than a crime.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers question the morality of the cover-up. Others feel it is a rare satisfying justice for victims of abuse.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Domestic violence. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with domestic violence in mind changes how the ending reads.
Friendship. Liane Moriarty uses the closing events to show what friendship costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Secrets and gossip. The ending gives secrets and gossip a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Motherhood. Even in the last scenes, motherhood keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Big Little Lies as Cathartic. That reaction usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Liane Moriarty to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2017 HBO series changes the ending by having Bonnie and Jane and Madeline in a more public crisis and by setting up a second season.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Big Little Lies with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about domestic violence, and do you agree with Liane Moriarty's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as cathartic, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Domestic violence: Which moment in the last chapters made domestic violence feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Friendship: How does Liane Moriarty use the closing events to say something about friendship, and do you agree with that view?
- Secrets and gossip: If you could ask a character about secrets and gossip at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Motherhood: Does the ending leave motherhood resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces domestic violence and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Liane Moriarty leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Big Little Lies often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Big Little Lies earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
- Would you recommend Big Little Lies to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
Check price of Big Little Lies on Amazon
Books to Read After Big Little Lies
- The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Related: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Big Little Lies You’ll Love: Secrets, Suburbs and Scandal
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Big Little Lies?
Perry Wright, Celeste's abusive husband, falls to his death on the night of the trivia event. In the end, it is revealed that Bonnie pushed him to protect Celeste, and the other women agree to claim that he fell accidentally.
Is the ending of Big Little Lies happy or sad?
Most readers call it Cathartic.
What does the ending of Big Little Lies mean?
The ending is about the way women protect each other when the system fails.
Is the ending of Big Little Lies the same in the adaptation?
The 2017 HBO series changes the ending by having Bonnie and Jane and Madeline in a more public crisis and by setting up a second season.
Who should read Big Little Lies before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.