My Brilliant Friend

by Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 603
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781609450786
  • Published: 2012-01-01
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99–£14.99

My Brilliant Friend is a poignant tale of friendship, loss, and resilience set against the backdrop of post-war Naples. The story unfolds through the eyes of Elena, who recounts her lifelong bond with Lila, a brilliant and enigmatic woman who vanishes without a trace. Their journey begins in a poor but vibrant neighborhood, where the two girls navigate the harsh realities of life under the shadow of the mafia. The novel is not just a story of two women but also a vivid portrayal of a community, a city, and a nation undergoing profound changes from the 1950s to the present day. /n/n The narrative delves deep into the complexities of their relationship, exploring themes of loyalty, ambition, and the enduring power of friendship. As Elena searches for answers about Lila's disappearance, she reflects on their shared past, revealing the intricate layers of their connection and the indelible mark Lila left on her life. This is a compelling exploration of identity, memory, and the enduring bonds that shape our lives.

Reviews
Theresa Smith Writes · Theresa Smith · 2020-01-27
profound 4.50

This novel creates an unsentimental portrait of female experience, rivalry, and friendship never before seen in literature. The writing is exquisite and deeply moving.

Theresa Smith praises the novel for its profound exploration of female friendship and rivalry, noting that it is unlike anything else in literature. She highlights the exquisite writing and the way Ferrante captures the complexities of these relationships. The novel is described as deeply moving and richly detailed, offering a unique perspective on the female experience.

Quick quotes

    This exquisitely written quartet creates an unsentimental portrait of female experience, rivalry and friendship never before seen in literature.

    The characters are so vividly drawn that they feel like real people with all their flaws and strengths.

    Ferrante's prose is both beautiful and brutal, capturing the raw emotions of friendship and rivalry.

Keeping Up with the Penguins · Keeping Up with the Penguins · 2018-12-11
insightful 4.50

Ferrante's writing is beautiful and insightful, offering one of the most articulate descriptions of a panic attack. The novel is a rich exploration of friendship and growing up.

The reviewer from Keeping Up with the Penguins praises Ferrante's writing for its beauty and insight, particularly noting the articulate description of a panic attack. They describe the novel as a rich exploration of friendship and the complexities of growing up. The characters are deeply affecting, and the novel is seen as a significant contribution to literature.

Quick quotes

    Ferrante's writing is so beautiful, and chock-full of insight!

    She gives one of the most beautiful and articulate descriptions of a panic attack.

    The novel is a rich exploration of friendship and the complexities of growing up.

The Guardian · The Guardian · 2014-10-31
visceral 4.00

Ferrante's novel is tactile and sensual, creating a slightly deranged atmosphere through its vivid descriptions. The characters are intensely real and their interactions are deeply affecting.

The Guardian reviewer highlights the tactile and sensual nature of Ferrante's writing, which creates a slightly deranged atmosphere. They note that the characters are intensely real and their interactions are deeply affecting. The novel is praised for its ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and the emotional turmoil that comes with them.

Quick quotes

    Ferrante's novels are tactile and sensual, visceral and dizzying; they quickly establish a slightly deranged atmosphere through the accrual of detail.

    The characters are so vividly drawn that they feel like real people with all their flaws and strengths.

    Ferrante's prose is both beautiful and brutal, capturing the raw emotions of friendship and rivalry.

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