The Interestings cover art

The Interestings

A sweeping American novel about friendship, talent and growing up

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The Interestings

By: Meg Wolitzer
Narrated by: Jen Tullock
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Summary

Whatever became of the most talented people you once knew?


On a warm summer night in 1974, six teenagers play at being cool. They smoke pot, drink vodka, share their dreams and vow always to be interesting.

Decades later, aspiring actress Jules has resigned herself to a more practical occupation; Cathy has stopped dancing; Jonah has laid down his guitar and Goodman has disappeared. Only Ethan and Ash, now married, have remained true to their adolescent dreams and have become shockingly successful too. As the group’s fortunes tilt precipitously, their friendships are put under the ultimate strain of envy and crushing disappointment.


‘The wit, intelligence and deep feeling of Wolitzer’s writing are extraordinary and The Interestings brings her achievement, already so steadfast and remarkable, to an even higher level’ Jeffrey Eugenides

 Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Short Story

Critic Reviews

This is a wonderful book. Intelligent and subtle, it is exquisitely written with enormous warmth and depth of emotion… But what makes The Interestings exceptional is the precision and elegance of Wolitzer’s writing… This should be the novel to make Wolitzer a household name here too (Kate Mosse)
Wolitzer is a writer of prodigious energy and detail, with the knack for comic-satirical perceptions of character and culture (Rachel Cusk)
A complex, cleverly interwoven analysis of the moment when the lives of six friends begin to unravel’ (Viv Groskop)
Wolitzer has a knack for homing in on the kind of pretension-puncturing details that can sum up a minor character in a single sentence (Hepzibah Anderson)
Meg Wolitzer writes fluently about the American Dream and whether you should surrender your goals to reality in this wonderful novel
I love Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings because it’s sprawling and beautifully written and it opens at a summer camp. It’s a truly great novel about friendship, and how it deepens and changes over the years (David Sedaris)
A breakout book (Allison Pearson)
If you enjoy the introspective aspects of Virginia Woolf or the American modernity of Jennifer Egan, you’ll love this sweeping, tragicomic novel of ideas
One of those generation-defining America novels that tackles big historical issues
Full of wit
All stars
Most relevant
Great story and so relatable. How one moment in time, or a certain place brings people together and bonds them for life. Then how lives don’t always turn out how you want them to. Also an honest account of envy in friendships.

Loved this journey from idealistic teens to middle aged reality

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