A review by casskrug
The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

5.0

wow. not going to get into the weeds with plot here since this is the second book in the series, but what a whirlwind. i remember enjoying my brilliant friend when i read it last summer, but i didn’t feel as invested in it everyone else seemed to be - hence why i waited an entire year to start book 2. after my experience with this book, i absolutely get the hype around the series. from the very first page of the book, ferrante comes out swinging, upping the stakes and kickstarting the character development. lenu and lila become young women and start to deal with incredibly serious issues involving marriage, infidelity, pregnancy, poverty, and abuse, and we see them try to take their futures into their own hands. the push and pull of their relationship is heartwarming at times and frustrating at others, and is such a vivid display of the intricacies of female friendship. i was worried i wouldn’t remember enough from the first book, but the character list at the beginning was a great help, and i think enough context is provided throughout the course of the novel to help you navigate the huge cast of characters. this is the definition of a book you can get lost in, perfect for the heat of the summer. i’m holding myself back from starting the next book in the series but i’m not sure how long i’ll be able to wait!

“If nothing could save us, not money, not a male body, and not even studying, we might as well destroy everything immediately. Her rage expanded in my breast, a force that was mine and not mine, filling me with the pleasure of losing myself.”