My Brilliant FriendMy Brilliant Friend
Score Modern
What it's about
In a poor, violent neighborhood of Naples in the 1950s, Elena Greco, a diligent, cautious girl, becomes friends with Lila Cerullo, a fierce, brilliant and fearless one. Lila is the more gifted of the two, but it's Elena who is allowed to stay in school. The novel follows their friendship, rivalry and dependence through childhood and adolescence, narrated by Elena decades later, after Lila has vanished.
Why it's worth reading
It's on both the New York Times and Guardian lists of the century's best books, and the Neapolitan Novels became an HBO series. The author's identity remains secret, which only adds to the fascination.
You'll love it if you liked
The Copenhagen Trilogy: Childhood, Youth, Dependency
History
Normal PeopleGood to know
It's the first of four novels that tell one story, and it ends on a cliffhanger. The cast is big, but there's an index of characters at the front.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics85 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller68 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #30 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #32 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #142 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #274 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Elena Ferrante
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The Power and the GloryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is My Brilliant Friend worth reading?
Yes. It's on both the New York Times and Guardian lists of the century's best books, and the Neapolitan Novels became an HBO series. It ranks #274 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is My Brilliant Friend about?
In a poor, violent neighborhood of Naples in the 1950s, Elena Greco, a diligent, cautious girl, becomes friends with Lila Cerullo, a fierce, brilliant and fearless one. Lila is the more gifted of the two, but it's Elena who is allowed to stay in school. The novel follows their friendship, rivalry and dependence through childhood and adolescence, narrated by Elena decades later, after Lila has vanished.
How long does it take to read My Brilliant Friend?
About 8 hours (331 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after My Brilliant Friend?
If you liked it, try The Copenhagen Trilogy: Childhood, Youth, Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen, History by Elsa Morante or Normal People by Sally Rooney.