# The best Elena Ferrante books

From My Brilliant Friend, number one on the New York Times list of the century's books, to the short novels: what to read by Elena Ferrante.

- 0 votes · 12 items
- Feb 23, 2025 · Sofia Pellegrini
- https://even.best/en/l/3229/the-best-elena-ferrante-books

## Top 12

1. **My Brilliant Friend** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2011. Lila and Lenù in post-war Naples; the best book of the 21st century for the New York Times.
2. **The Story of the Lost Child** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2014. The finale of the Neapolitan quartet; also in the NYT top 100.
3. **The Days of Abandonment** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2002. A woman left by her husband in Turin; in the NYT top 100.
4. **Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2013. The third volume, in the sixties and seventies.
5. **The Story of a New Name** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2012. The second volume: Lila's marriage and Lenù's university years.
6. **Troubling Love** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1992. The debut: a daughter investigates her mother's death in Naples.
7. **The Lost Daughter** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2006. A seaside holiday and a secret; later made into a film.
8. **The Lying Life of Adults** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2019. Giovanna discovers her family's lies.
9. **Frantumaglia** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2003. Letters and interviews about writing.
10. **Incidental Inventions** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2019. The columns written for The Guardian.
11. **In the Margins** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2021. Lectures on reading and writing.
12. **The Beach at Night** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 2007. An illustrated tale for children.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.