The Elena Ferrante Books That Stay With You

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Dear Joyvity™ Friends,

There’s something about Elena Ferrante’s novels that lingers. Her stories cut deep as they unearth all the raw and complicated layers of women’s existence.

For readers who have devoured My Brilliant Friend or just stumbled into the Ferrante world, this is your guide. Whether you're wondering where to begin, what comes next, or which of her novels you’ll never forget — here’s a look at the books of Elena Ferrante that stay with you.

1. Troubling Love (1992)

Her debut novel explores the complicated bond between mothers and daughters, grief, and identity — all through sharp, visceral prose. It’s raw, gritty, and an early glimpse at the psychological intensity that would define her later work.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

2. The Days of Abandonment (2002)

When Olga is abandoned by her husband, her sense of self unravels. What follows is one of the most unflinching portrayals of emotional collapse and rebirth ever written. Short, scorching, and unforgettable.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

3. The Lost Daughter (2006)

Now a film, this slim novel examines the ambivalence of motherhood. A woman alone at the beach becomes fixated on another family, triggering memories of her own choices. Quiet, eerie, and hauntingly honest.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

The Neapolitan Novels — Ferrante’s Masterpiece

This 4-book series is Ferrante’s best-known work — a sweeping, intimate saga of female friendship set in post-war Naples. It’s not just a story about two girls. It’s a mirror held up to womanhood, class, rage, ambition, and memory.

1. My Brilliant Friend

The beginning of Lila and Elena’s lifelong entanglement. Friendship, rivalry, poverty, brilliance. The book that started it all.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

2. The Story of a New Name

The girls enter adulthood — marriage, betrayal, and the price of choices made too young.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

3. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay

Ambition, politics, motherhood — and the cracks in the foundation of their friendship deepen.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

4. The Story of the Lost Child

A devastating conclusion. Full of echoes, secrets, and the ache of loss.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

✦ Final Thoughts

If you enjoy multi-generational family sagas, don’t miss my post on The Cazalet Chronicles.

For more sweeping stories with romance and history, explore my guide to Santa Montefiore Books.

And if you’re shopping for the writers in your life, here are some Gift Ideas to Support a Writer’s Daily Rituals.

With love and stories that stay,
Ana