# My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

3 Hacker News commenters recommended My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as an absorbing novel, with several saying the English translation reads well and is enjoyable to read.

## Why people recommend it

- Translation reads well in English (2 comments): "the English translation, at least for me specifically, is a monumental achievement" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48668774)) "Finally I just read it in English and enjoyed myself." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48667723))
- Enjoyable and absorbing to read (2 comments): "Finally I just read it in English and enjoyed myself." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48667723)) "Aww, I loved My Brilliant Friend" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48667799))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/crime-and-punishment.md): 39 recommend
- [The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/brothers-karamazov.md): 28 recommend
- [Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinite-jest.md): 26 recommend
- [The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://hackerapproved.com/p/great-gatsby.md): 24 recommend
- [Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand](https://hackerapproved.com/p/atlas-shrugged.md): 23 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0320088324?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780320088322) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante", https://hackerapproved.com/p/my-brilliant-friend/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).