Reviews - De geniale vriendin

16.9k reviews for:

De geniale vriendin

Elena Ferrante

4.05 AVERAGE

vbacchetti's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

saepe's review against another edition

5.0

mai più senza

starlightbright's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

kayaguthrie's review against another edition

4.5

4.5 stars??? For this being a book that was largely the same basic story repeated fifteen times, this was so good?? It follows Elena Greco and her relationship with her super smart best friend Lila from the time she’s a child to her teenage years. The way the author writes is honestly unlike any other books I’ve read—she’s constantly telling and not showing but she’s also apparently just built different because I never once cared. She builds such a complex and real-feeling community in this little Italian city that creates a really compelling backdrop for the progression of the story. The political and social undercurrents drive characters have them make choices that frustrate you so but you understand exactly why they did it. I was so invested in this interconnected drama web that these girls are trying to find their way through. Though the nature of the story is certainly cyclical (Elena envies Lila because she is smart/pretty/mature and feels bad and then feels bad for feeling bad) but also did such an incredible job of capturing the insanity of deep female friendships when you’re a teen where you care about them more than anyone else but also feel you want to absorb them like an amoeba in a slightly sinister way. I think part of what makes this element so good to me is that despite only getting Elena’s limited perspective we see glimpses of Lila returning that same unconditional love paired with extreme jealousy!! Hinting that Lila worships Elena the same way Elena worships her!! I think the whole book got even better towards the end, particularly when we moved into the last third of the book and the dynamics all began to shift. The last paragraph truly made my jaw drop!!! men >:(

shelfcreature's review against another edition

4.0

What an interesting relationship to read about. I honestly forgot these types of friendships existed—the ones that thrive on constantly competing with one another—because I haven’t really had to deal with them since I was a kid. This book reminded me of how exhausting that simultaneous co-dependency and co-resentment can be with someone that everyone else would see as your friend.

Is this a specifically female friendship experience? I genuinely can’t even imagine what guys talk to each other about when they hang out so who knows.

Haven’t read a series in a loooong time so I had forgotten that authors can just end a book without tying up all the loose ends lol. On to the next!

courtneyh62's review against another edition

4.75

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

yungc37's review against another edition

3.75

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Amazing description about how much a young friendship with a manipulative person can consume you but was drawn out and had a lame ending (because it’s a series).