My FriendsMy Friends
What it's about
In 1984, Khaled, a young Libyan studying in Edinburgh, joins a protest outside the Libyan embassy in London and is shot when gunmen inside open fire. Unable to go home under Qaddafi's regime, he builds a life in exile in London alongside two other Libyan friends, Mustafa and Hosam. Decades later, as the Arab Spring offers a chance to return, the three friends must decide what home, loyalty and courage mean to them.
Why it's worth reading
It's a quiet, profound novel about exile and friendship from one of today's finest writers, and it won the NBCC Award and was longlisted for the Booker Prize. It lingers long after you finish.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's reflective and slow-paced, told by Khaled looking back over his life. Based partly on a real 1984 shooting.
By the numbers
- Readers80 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz51 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
- #23 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #29 of the 481 new books we rank
- #178 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is My Friends worth reading?
Yes. It's a quiet, profound novel about exile and friendship from one of today's finest writers, and it won the NBCC Award and was longlisted for the Booker Prize. It ranks #178 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 84.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is My Friends about?
In 1984, Khaled, a young Libyan studying in Edinburgh, joins a protest outside the Libyan embassy in London and is shot when gunmen inside open fire. Unable to go home under Qaddafi's regime, he builds a life in exile in London alongside two other Libyan friends, Mustafa and Hosam. Decades later, as the Arab Spring offers a chance to return, the three friends must decide what home, loyalty and courage mean to them.
How long does it take to read My Friends?
About 10 hours (394 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has My Friends won?
NBCC Award (Fiction) winner (2024).
What should I read after My Friends?
If you liked it, try Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, James by Percival Everett or Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.