Never Let Me GoNever Let Me Go
Score Modern
What it's about
Kathy H., thirty-one, looks back on her childhood at Hailsham, an English boarding school where the students were told they were special and encouraged to make art. She remembers her friends Ruth and Tommy, their jealousies and loves, and the hints the teachers dropped about what was waiting for them after school. Slowly it becomes clear what Hailsham's children were made for.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker finalist, is on TIME's list of the best novels, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It's quiet, restrained and devastating.
You'll love it if you liked
The Remains of the Day
Klara and the Sun
Brave New WorldGood to know
Its central secret is revealed gradually; it's best not to look it up. The 2010 film stars Carey Mulligan.
By the numbers
- Readers17 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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
- #87 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #106 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #485 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #928 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark, Moving
More by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Remains of the Day
An Artist of the Floating WorldKlara and the SunIf you like this, read next
Infinite Jest
The Road
Anathem
Cloud Atlas
A Song for a New Day
Station ElevenExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Never Let Me Go worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker finalist, is on TIME's list of the best novels, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #928 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Never Let Me Go about?
Kathy H., thirty-one, looks back on her childhood at Hailsham, an English boarding school where the students were told they were special and encouraged to make art. She remembers her friends Ruth and Tommy, their jealousies and loves, and the hints the teachers dropped about what was waiting for them after school. Slowly it becomes clear what Hailsham's children were made for.
How long does it take to read Never Let Me Go?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Never Let Me Go?
If you liked it, try The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro or Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.