Elena Ferrante’s A Amiga Genial (My Brilliant Friend) isn’t just a novel; it’s a drama and reality show just set in 1950s Naples, where fists fly, secrets build, and a pair of shoes (handmade) might just ruin your life. If My Brilliant Friend were a person, it’d be that one friend who drags you into all kinds of drama but also makes you laugh, cry, and question your life choices.
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A Amiga Genial Summary by Elena Ferrante
| Author | Elena Ferrante |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Number of Pages | 331 pages |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.05⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️(as of now) |
| My Rating | 3.75⭐⭐️⭐️ |
At its heart is the friendship between Lenù (Elena Greco) and Lila (Raffaella Cerullo), two girls from a Neapolitan neighborhood who are as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly—if peanut butter might sometime sabotaged the jelly (pun intended).
Let’s start with Lenù, our narrator. She’s smart, hardworking, and perpetually second-guessing her every move. Does Lila make her feel inspired or inadequate? Both. Does she love Lila or lowkey wish she’d trip on those fancy new shoes of hers? Also both. And then there’s Lila: a wild, brilliant, sharp-tongued girl who could probably outwit Einstein in a debate but is just as likely to lob a rock at someone’s head. Who wouldn’t want a friend like that?
The plot unfolds like a greatest hits compilation of childhood chaos. Remember the time Lila and Lenù threw rocks at boys to prove a point? Classic. Or when they bonded over Little Women and dreamed of becoming writers, only to realize life had other plans? Nostalgia overload. And who could forget the moment Lila designed the world’s most sought to pair of shoes Spoiler alert: dreams don’t always fit as perfectly as you’d hope.
Speaking of the neighborhood, it’s practically a character in itself—a messy camaraderie and barely-repressed rage. The neighbors are a delightful cast of characters, if by “delightful” you mean constantly feuding and occasionally throwing fists at weddings. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business—and probably helped spread it.
But let’s talk about this friendship. Lenù spends half her time idolizing Lila and the other half simmering in jealousy. (Honestly, who hasn’t had a friend who’s just a little too good at everything?) Meanwhile, Lila alternates between lifting Lenù up and dragging her down like it’s an Olympic sport. Is this friendship or a survival game? Who’s keeping score? And why does it feel so relatable?
Then there’s the burning question: what’s the deal with these shoes? Lila designs them as a ticket to freedom—a symbol of escape and ambition. But as anyone who’s ever tried to wear a pair of heels for more than two hours knows, dreams can be very uncomfortable. Do the shoes bring Lila success or doom? Let’s just say Cinderella’s glass slipper this ain’t.
Ferrante’s genius lies in her brutal honesty. This isn’t a sweet story about two girls braiding each other’s hair and promising to be besties forever. It’s raw, messy, and uncomfortably real. The friendship between Lenù and Lila is a dance of admiration, competition, love, and occasional sabotage.
So, who’s the real brilliant friend here? Lila, with her fiery genius and rebellious streak? Lenù, who quietly claws her way to success? Or Ferrante, for making us care so much about two girls who are as flawed as the rest of us? One thing’s for sure: if this is just the beginning, we’re in for one heck of a ride.
Similar Read: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ KLUNE
Book Review: A Amiga Genial – Elena Ferrante
Elena Ferrante twins a tale of two girls, Lenù and Lila, whose friendship is equally of love and rivalry—think soulmates, but with more jealousy and flying shoes.
Set in gritty 1950s Naples, this book is brimming with fights, secrets, and more unresolved tension than a family reunion. Why does Lenù idolize Lila while secretly resenting her? Is Lila a misunderstood genius or just an agent of chaos? And how can a pair of handmade shoes cause this much trouble?
Ferrante’s writing cuts deep, capturing the raw messiness of growing up and the delicate balance of friendship. It’s heartfelt, haunting, and hilarious—just don’t expect anyone to hold your hand through it. Who knew heartbreak could be this addictive?
My Rating of A Amiga Genial by Elena Ferrante - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75
GoodReads Rating of A Amiga Genial by Elena Ferrante - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.05
Who should read it?
- If you’re Fans of complex friendships & you’ve ever loved and envied someone at the same time
- Follow Lila and Lenù’s messy, beautiful growth through life.
- Lovers of gritty realism: Naples in all its raw, chaotic glory awaits you.
Excerpt:
“It is a story of two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighbourhood, a city and a country as it is changed in ways that, in turn, it also transform the relationship between her two protagonists.”
Quotes from A Amiga Genial by Elena Ferrante :
“We were still young, but we had begun to grow old.”
“She wanted to be the best, and she wanted me to be the best. But only so she could surpass me.”
Also Read: The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
Similar Books:
- The Neapolitan Series (obviously, keep going!).
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
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About the Author:
Elena Ferrante is a pseudonymous author & novelist of Italian origin. Her books were mainly published in Italian and then published into number of languages. Her Neapolitan book series are her most famous work.
