Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - A Vida Mentirosa dos Adultos

Ferrante can seriously write. This book really compels you to keep reading, even when the experience is not pleasant. There’s a lot to say about girlhood and adolescence here, treated with complexity not often given to girls. But the ending is terrible.

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esraadel__'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lizetteratura's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Despite all their claims to being different, they seemed to be made of the same clay.

a dramatic coming of age story about a girl navigating the messy lives of important adults in her life and a dive in how lying and infidelity affect every aspect of a young developing persons life. one of my fav elena ferrante stories so far.

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courtneyfalling's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and I liked it so much. This captures the intense interiority of girlhood SO WELL. I loved Giovanna's voice. It's much less plot-driven and much more rumination on Giovanna's life and aging, but I loooooove a book that can really get into the surreal darkness of childhood. I WILL be reading more Elena Ferrante.

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